JPH1199964A - Vehicle front end module structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle front end module structure improved with the cooling efficiency of a radiator. SOLUTION: This module structure is equipped with a condenser 4, a radiator being set up at the more rear side of a car body than this condenser 4 and its upper end tank 2a is situated in the lower side than an upper end tank 4a of the condenser 4, a fan 3 set up face-to-face with this radiator 2, and a front end panel 1 storing these elements, and it is so constituted that a first clearance 41 interconnecting a space E between the condenser 4 and the radiator 2 and another space F between the radiator 2 and the fan 3, is formed in an upper part of the upper end tank 2a of the radiator 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle front-end module structure having a front-end panel for holding at least a radiator of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of front end module structure, there is one as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-105115. As shown in FIG. 5, the radiator 5 includes a capacitor 51 having a vehicle front surface 51a and a vehicle rear surface 51b, and a radiator 5 disposed on the vehicle rear side of the capacitor 51 and facing the vehicle rear surface of the capacitor.
2, a fan 53 disposed on the vehicle rear side of the radiator 52 and facing the vehicle rear surface 52b of the radiator 52, a front end panel 54 holding the radiator 52 and the condenser 51 and supporting the fan 53; It is a front end module structure provided with.

The front end panel 54 includes a radiator support upper member 54a, a radiator support lower member 54b, a side wall (not shown), and a panel body 54c formed integrally therewith, and a radiator support upper member therein. 54a, the radiator support lower member 54b, and the side wall are formed as hollow closed cross-sectional structures.

[0004] As is apparent from the figure, the radiator 52 and the condenser 51 are arranged in the front end panel 54 such that the upper end and the lower end thereof have the same height.

[0005]

However, in the prior art described above, since the radiator and the condenser are arranged in the front end panel with the upper end and the lower end at the same height, the radiator and the condenser are driven by the fan. The air supplied from outside the vehicle first passes through the condenser, and the air heated by the condenser is supplied to the radiator. Since the heated air passes through the radiator, the cooling efficiency of the radiator is reduced.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is a technical object of the present invention to improve the cooling efficiency of a radiator at least in a structure of a front end module having a front end panel holding a radiator. It is assumed that.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a capacitor provided with a vehicle front surface and a vehicle rear surface, and a capacitor provided on a vehicle rear side with respect to the capacitor. And a radiator whose upper end is located below the upper end of the capacitor and which is arranged to face the vehicle rear surface of the capacitor, and which is on the vehicle rear side of the radiator and which faces the vehicle rear surface of the radiator. A front end panel that holds the radiator and the condenser and supports the fan, and a space between the condenser and the radiator above an upper end of the radiator, and the radiator. The vehicle has a front end module structure having a first gap communicating with the space between the fan and the fan. It is.

[0008] According to the above invention, the upper end of the radiator disposed facing the vehicle rear side of the condenser is located below the upper end of the condenser, and the condenser and the radiator are located above the upper end of the radiator. Is formed, and the outside air taken into the vehicle from the outside passes through the condenser, exchanges heat with the condenser, and is heated by the first gap communicating the space between the fan and the space between the radiator and the fan. After reaching the space between the condenser and the radiator, then through the first gap formed in the upper part of the radiator to reach the space between the radiator and the fan, sucked by the fan and introduced into the engine rule It is.

As described above, part of the outside air heated by heat exchange with the condenser is introduced into the engine room without passing through the radiator, so that the heated air passes through the radiator, thereby cooling the radiator. It is possible to suppress a decrease in efficiency.

Further, in solving the above technical problem, as in the invention of claim 2, the front end panel has a capacitor upper end holding portion for holding an upper end of the capacitor and a lower portion than the capacitor upper end holding portion. A radiator support upper member that is formed and that holds an upper end of the radiator and that holds an upper edge of the front end panel; a capacitor lower end holding portion that holds a lower end of the capacitor; and a lower end of the radiator that holds the lower end of the capacitor. A radiator support lower member that includes a radiator lower end holding portion that forms a lower edge of the front end panel; and a radiator support upper member that includes a fan support portion that supports the fan and is integrally formed with the radiator support lower member. Panel body It is preferred.

According to this, since the radiator support upper member is provided with the capacitor upper end holding portion and the radiator upper end holding portion formed below the capacitor upper end holding portion, the front end module can be configured with a simple configuration. As well as capacitors,
By providing the upper end holding portion of the radiator, the first gap can be reliably ensured.

In solving the above technical problem, the lower end of the radiator is located below the lower end of the capacitor, and the lower end of the radiator is positioned below the lower end of the capacitor. It is preferable that a second gap communicating the space between the condenser and the radiator and between the condenser and the radiator is formed.

According to this, the lower end of the radiator is located lower than the lower end of the condenser, and the space on the front surface of the condenser and the space between the condenser and the radiator are formed below the condenser. Part of the outside air taken into the vehicle from outside reaches the space between the condenser and the radiator from the space on the front surface of the condenser through the second clearance and passes through the radiator because the air is communicated through the second clearance. Is what you do.

As described above, a portion of the fresh outside air reaches the radiator without passing through the condenser and cools the radiator. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the radiator is reduced by passing the heated air through the radiator. Can be further suppressed.

More preferably, as in the invention of claim 4, the front end panel is formed with a capacitor upper end holding portion for holding an upper end of the capacitor and a lower end of the front end panel formed below the capacitor upper end holding portion. A radiator support upper member having a radiator upper end holding portion for holding the upper end of the front end panel; a capacitor lower end holding portion for holding a lower end of the capacitor; and a radiator formed below the capacitor lower end holding portion. A radiator support lower member that includes a radiator lower end holding portion that holds a lower end of the front end panel, and a radiator support upper member and a radiator support lower member that includes a fan support portion that supports the fan. Panels integrally formed Is that and a body.

According to this, the radiator support upper member is provided with the capacitor upper end holding portion and the radiator upper end holding portion formed below the capacitor upper end holding portion, and the radiator support lower member is provided with the capacitor lower end holding portion and the capacitor. The front end module can be configured with a simpler configuration because the radiator has a lower end holding portion formed below the lower end holding portion, and the upper end holding portions of the radiator and the capacitor are formed of the same member. In addition, since the lower end holding portions are provided on the same member, both the radiator and the condenser can be reliably held while securing the first and second gaps at predetermined positions in the vertical direction.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a front end module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a front end panel 1 made of a resin material includes a radiator 2 for cooling a cooling water of an engine of a vehicle, a condenser 4 for cooling a refrigerant of an air conditioner, a radiator 2 and a fan 3 arranged opposite to the condenser 4, And a pair of left and right head lamps (not shown), and is mounted between a pair of left and right front side members 7 of the vehicle via a bracket 8. The front end panel 1 is also fixed to a pair of left and right front fender reinforcements 9 of the vehicle at both ends in the vehicle width direction.

The front end panel 1 mainly has a plate-shaped panel body 10 having a rectangular shape. A continuous side wall portion 11 and a radiator support lower member 12 extending and protruding in the vehicle front-rear direction are integrally formed on both side edges of the plate-shaped panel body 10 in the vehicle width direction and a vehicle lower edge. Further, a radiator support upper member 13 is formed integrally with the panel body 10 on the upper edge of the panel body 10 in the vehicle width direction. These side wall portion 11, radiator support lower member 12,
The rigidity of the panel body 10 is ensured by the radiator support upper member 13. Also, in the panel body 10,
A circular opening 14 having a flange 14a protruding rearward of the vehicle is formed on the periphery. The radiator 2 and the condenser 4 include a side wall portion 11, a radiator support lower member 12, and a radiator support upper member 1 that protrude forward in the vehicle on the surface of the panel body 10 (front surface of the vehicle).
3 are arranged in series in a space surrounded by 3 so as to cover the opening 14, and are housed and held in the front end panel 1. The fan 3 is rotatably supported by a fan supporting portion 14b which is housed in an opening 14 closed by the radiator 2 and extends integrally from a flange 14a, and is disposed facing the radiator 2.

The ribs 18 protruding outward are integrally formed on the outer side surfaces of both side walls 11 on both side edges of the panel body 10. The rib 18 is thick in the vertical direction of the vehicle and has a width extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It has a U-shaped cross section. The rib 18 is fastened and fixed to the front fender reinforcement 9 of the vehicle by a bolt or the like at its tip.

A rib 18 and a rib 19 arranged at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction of the vehicle are integrally formed on the outer surfaces of the side walls 11 on both side edges of the panel body 10. The rib 19 has a U-shaped cross section or a closed cross section having a thickness in the vehicle vertical direction and a width extending in the vehicle front and rear direction. In addition, the rib 19 has a shape in which the width gradually becomes smaller toward the tip as a whole.

The rear edge of the lower wall of the rib 18 and the rear wall of the rib 19 are integrally connected by a wall 20 continuous from the side wall 11. The headlamp is located on the lower wall of the rib 18,
It is housed in a space surrounded by the upper surface of the rib 19, the side wall 11 and the wall 20, and is fixed to the wall 20 with bolts or the like. Reference numeral 22 denotes a hood lock mechanism which is attached to the radiator support upper member 13 and locks a striker of a hood (not shown); 32, a bumper beam receiving an impact load from the front of the vehicle; 33, a radiator grill for introducing outside air; Is a bumper.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view when main parts are assembled in the front end panel 1, and FIG. 3 is aa-a in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic partial sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a schematic partial sectional view taken along line bb in FIG. Here, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion passing through the front end panel 1 and a spacer 2e. As is apparent from the drawing, the condenser 4 is disposed on the front end panel 1 so as to include a vehicle front surface 4c and a vehicle rear surface 4d, and is located on the vehicle rear side with respect to the capacitor 4 and on the vehicle rear surface 4d of the capacitor 4. The radiator 2 is arranged to face each other. Further, the fan 3 is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the radiator 2 and on the vehicle rear surface 2d of the radiator 2 so as to face each other. And radiator 2
The upper end tank 2a constituting the upper end of the condenser 4 is located below the upper end tank 4a constituting the upper end of the condenser 4,
The lower end tank 2 b constituting the lower end of the radiator 2 is located below the lower end tank 4 b constituting the lower end of the condenser 4.

The lower end 13a of the radiator support upper member 13 constituting the upper edge of the front end panel 1 is formed with a hole 13c as a capacitor upper end holding portion for holding the upper end tank 4a of the capacitor 4. Further, one end of a radiator mounting seat 13b having an L-shaped cross section is mounted on the lower surface portion 13a at a position rearward of the vehicle with respect to the hole 13c. Installed and fixed. A hole 13d as a radiator upper end holding portion for holding the upper end tank 2a of the radiator 2 is formed in a horizontal portion of the radiator mounting seat 13b at a position lower than the hole 13c.

On the other hand, the radiator support lower member 12 constituting the lower edge of the front end panel 1 has a hole 12b.
Are formed. A spacer 16 as a capacitor lower end holding portion for holding the lower end tank 4b of the capacitor 4 is disposed in the hole 12b, and a protrusion 16a formed on the lower surface of the spacer 16 is fitted into the hole 12b so that the spacer 16 is formed. Fixed. The radiator support lower member 12 further has a hole 12a serving as a radiator lower end holding portion for holding a lower end tank 2b of the radiator 2 at a position on the vehicle rear side with respect to the hole 12b and lower than the spacer 16. Is what it is.

A projection 4e is formed on the upper end tank 4a of the capacitor 4, and the projection 4e is fitted into a hole 13c as a capacitor upper end holding portion, whereby the capacitor 4 is held at the upper portion. Further, a spacer 16 as a capacitor lower end holding portion is arranged on the lower surface of the lower end tank 4b of the capacitor 4, and the lower end tank 4b of the capacitor 4 is placed in contact with the spacer 16 so that the capacitor 4 is held at the lower portion. Will be retained. On the other hand, a spacer 2e is formed on the upper end tank 2a of the radiator 2, and the spacer 2e is fitted to a hole 13d as a radiator upper end holding portion formed on the radiator mounting seat 13b, whereby the radiator 2 is held at the upper end. You. A projection 2f is formed on a lower end tank 2b of the radiator 2, and the projection 2f is fitted into a hole 12a as a radiator lower end holding portion, whereby the radiator 2 is held at a lower end.

In this embodiment, the radiator mounting seat 13
Two b are mounted on the upper part of the radiator 2. Accordingly, first gaps 41 are formed above the radiator 2 and on the left and right of each radiator mounting seat 13b when viewed from the direction of arrow C in the figure, and the space E between the condenser 4 and the radiator 2, the radiator 2, and the fan 3 Is in communication with the first space 41 through the space F. Similarly, since two spacers 16 are attached to the lower part of the capacitor 4, the
And a second gap 4 at the left and right of each spacer 16.
2 is formed, and the space D in front of the condenser 4 and the space E are communicated through the second gap 42. Note that three or more radiator mounting seats 13b may be provided in the upper part of the radiator 2 along the vehicle width direction, or only one radiator mounting seat 13b may be provided. Similarly, the spacer 16 is connected to the capacitor 4
May be provided in the upper part along the vehicle width direction, or only one may be provided. Further, the radiator mounting seat 13
Alternatively, a through hole may be provided in the spacer b or the spacer 16 to make each gap.

In the front end module structure having the above-mentioned structure, part of the outside air taken in from the radiator grill 33 during the running of the vehicle is first removed from the space D by the condenser 4.
Pass through. The air that has passed through the condenser 4 is heated by the heat received by the condenser 4 and enters the space E. A part of the heated air introduced into the space E passes through the first gap 41 having a small resistance as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 4 to reach the space F, and from the space F directly into the engine room by the fan 3 (see FIG. 4). (Not shown). In this way, a part of the air warmed by the condenser 4 passes without hitting the radiator 2, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the radiator. Further, since the first gap 41 is provided, an airflow is generated in the space E, and the air heated through the condenser 4 does not stay in the space E. Thus, the cooling efficiency of the condenser 4 can be improved.

The second gap 4 is provided below the capacitor 4.
2, a part of the outside air taken in from the radiator grille has a space D as shown by an arrow B in FIG.
From the space E directly into the space E through the second gap 42, and passes from the space E to the radiator 2. Therefore, more fresh air can be directly guided to the radiator 2, and the cooling efficiency of the radiator 2 can be further improved.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the capacitor 4 having the vehicle front surface 4c and the vehicle rear surface 4d is provided.
And an upper end tank 2 which is located on the vehicle rear side of the condenser 4 and faces the vehicle rear surface 4 c of the condenser 4.
The radiator 2 is located below the upper end tank 4a of the condenser 4, the fan 3 is located on the vehicle rear side of the radiator 2, and is disposed facing the vehicle rear surface 2d of the radiator 2, the radiator 2, and the condenser A front end panel 1 supporting the fan 3 and supporting the fan 3. A space E between the condenser 4 and the radiator 2 and a space F between the radiator 2 and the fan 3 are provided above the upper end tank 2 a of the radiator 2. First gap 41 that communicates with
Is formed in the vehicle front end module structure, the outside air taken into the vehicle from the outside collides with the condenser 4 and exchanges heat with the condenser 4, and after being heated, the space between the condenser 4 and the radiator 2. E is reached,
Next, it reaches the space F between the radiator 2 and the fan 3 through the first gap 41 formed in the upper part of the radiator 2,
It is sucked by the fan 3 and introduced into the engine rules.
Therefore, a part of the outside air warmed by heat exchange with the condenser 4 is introduced into the engine room without passing through the radiator 2, and the cooling efficiency of the radiator 2 is increased by passing the heated air through the radiator 2. Can be suppressed from decreasing.

The front end panel 1 has a hole 13c and a hole 13c for holding the upper tank 4a of the condenser 4.
c is formed below the upper end tank 2a of the radiator 2.
A radiator mounting seat 13b having a hole 13d for holding the radiator support upper member 13 constituting the upper edge of the front end panel 1, the lower end tank 4b of the condenser 4 and the spacer 16 and the lower end tank 2b of the radiator 2 A radiator support lower member 12 having a hole 12a for holding and constituting a lower edge of the front end panel 1, and a fan holding portion 14b for supporting the fan 3
And the panel body 10 integrally formed with the radiator support upper member 13 and the radiator support lower member 12, so that the front end module can be configured with a simple configuration, and the first gap 41 can be reliably formed.
And the flow of the outside air (A and B in FIG. 4) can be effectively guided to the fan 3 by the panel main body 10.

The lower end tank 2b of the radiator 2 is located below the lower end tank 4b of the condenser 4, and below the lower end tank 4b of the condenser 4 is a space D on the vehicle front surface of the condenser 4, the condenser 4 and the radiator 2 Is formed, a part of the outside air taken into the vehicle from the outside reaches the space E through the second gap 42 from the space D, and the space E is connected to the space E. E passes through the radiator 2. Therefore, a part of the fresh cold outside air reaches the radiator 2 without passing through the condenser 4 and cools the radiator 2, so that the heated air passes through the radiator 2 and the cooling efficiency of the radiator 2 is reduced. This can be further suppressed.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle front end module structure, a structure in which air heated by a condenser is less likely to enter a radiator improves the cooling efficiency of the radiator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle front end module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram in which main parts are assembled to a front end panel of a vehicle front end module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line bb in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a vehicle front end module structure according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Front end panel 2 ... Radiator, 2a ... Upper tank (upper part), 2b ... Lower tank (lower part), 2d ... Vehicle rear surface 3 ... Fan 4 ...・ Capacitor, 4a ・ ・ ・ Top tank (top part), 4b ・ ・ ・ Bottom tank (bottom part), 4c ・ ・ ・ Vehicle front side, 4d ・ ・ ・ Vehicle rear side 10 ・ ・ ・ Panel body 11 ・ ・ ・Side wall part 12: Radiator support lower member, 12a
· Hole (radiator lower end holding portion), 12b · · · hole 13 · · · radiator support upper member, 13a ·
..Lower surface portion, 13b ... radiator mounting seat, 13
c: hole (capacitor upper end holding portion), 13d: hole (radiator upper end holding portion) 14: opening, 14a: flange, 14b ...
Fan support portion 16: spacer (capacitor lower end holding portion) 41: first gap 42: second gap

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A capacitor having a vehicle front surface and a vehicle rear surface, and a vehicle rear side of the capacitor and facing a vehicle rear surface of the capacitor, and an upper end portion of the capacitor is higher than an upper end portion of the capacitor. A radiator positioned below, a fan disposed on the vehicle rear side of the radiator and facing the vehicle rear surface of the radiator, and a front end panel holding the radiator and the condenser and supporting the fan A vehicle front end module structure having a first gap formed above an upper end of the radiator and communicating a space between the condenser and the radiator and a space between the radiator and the fan. . 2. The radiator upper end holding part according to claim 1, wherein the front end panel is formed below the capacitor upper end holding part for holding an upper end of the capacitor, and formed below the capacitor upper end holding part to hold an upper end of the radiator. A radiator support upper member comprising an upper edge of the front end panel, a capacitor lower end holding portion for holding a lower end of the capacitor, and a radiator lower end holding portion for holding a lower end of the radiator. A vehicle comprising: a radiator support lower member constituting a lower edge; a fan support portion for supporting the fan; a radiator support upper member; and a panel body integrally formed with the radiator support lower member. Front-end module structure . 3. The capacitor according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the radiator is located lower than a lower end of the capacitor, and a space on a vehicle front surface of the capacitor, the capacitor, and the lower part of the lower end of the capacitor. A vehicle front end module structure, wherein a second gap communicating with a space between the radiator and the radiator is formed. 4. The radiator upper end holding part according to claim 3, wherein the front end panel holds a capacitor upper end holding part that holds an upper end of the capacitor, and is formed below the capacitor upper end holding part and holds an upper end of the radiator. A radiator support upper member comprising an upper edge of the front end panel; a capacitor lower end holding portion for holding a lower end of the capacitor; and a radiator formed below the capacitor lower end holding portion and holding a lower end of the radiator. A radiator support lower member having a lower end holding portion and forming a lower edge of the front end panel; and a radiator support upper member and a radiator support lower member having a fan support portion for supporting the fan. Having a panel body Vehicle front-end module structure characterized.