JP2001219869A - Front-end module - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a front-end module capable of improving impact energy absorption characteristics at the time of a vehicle collision and improving damage performance and repairability at a light collision. A radiator support is composed of three parts: a radiator support upper mounted on an upper part of a cooling system component, and left and right radiator support sides mounted on a side of the cooling system component. ing. Radiator support side 18, projecting part 18A of 20, crash box mounting part 18 of 20A
B and 20B have crash boxes 2 welded to the rear wall 10A of the front bumper reinforcement 10.
2, 24 are attached. At the time of a light collision, the crash box 22 is axially compressed and deformed before the front side member 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a front-end module, and more particularly to a front-end module constituting a front end of a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a front end module constituting a front end of a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 105115 is known.

As shown in FIG. 10, in this front end module, a radiator support upper member 102 of a front end panel 100 supporting a radiator, a side portion 104A of a support portion 104 opposed to an outer portion in a vehicle width direction of the radiator, 104B and a bottom portion 104C of the support portion 104 facing the lower portion of the radiator have a closed cross-sectional structure, and are connected to each other.
For this reason, the structure around the radiator opening 106 of the front end panel 100 is surrounded by the closed sectional structure, and the rigidity of the front end panel 106 is improved.

[0004]

However, in such a front-end module, the main structural members are integrated so that the weight and productivity can be improved. However, the impact energy absorption characteristics at the time of a vehicle collision can be further improved. There is a demand for improved damage reduction and repairability during light collisions.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a front-end module capable of improving the impact energy absorption characteristics at the time of a vehicle collision and improving the damage reduction and repairability at the time of a light collision.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a radiator support upper mounted on an upper part of a cooling system component, a radiator support side mounted on a side of the cooling system component, and the radiator support. A crash box connected to the side, a bumper reinforcement connected to the crash box,
It is characterized by having.

Accordingly, the load on the front end module can be absorbed by the bumper reinforcement and the crash box, so that the impact energy absorption characteristics at the time of a vehicle collision can be improved. Further, at the time of a light collision, only the bumper reinforcement and the crash box, which are damaged parts, need to be replaced, so that the damage reduction and repairability at the time of a light collision can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, the crush box has a flange portion for connecting with an overhang portion made of a plate material of the radiator support side. The overhanging portion and the flange portion are mounted so as to overlap with the front surface of the front side member.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
Since the connection between the crash box and the front side member only requires the thickness of the overhanging part and the flange part made of a plate material, the crash box and the side member can be completely axially compressed and deformed, and the impact energy can be efficiently reduced. Can be absorbed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, the crush box has a lower proof strength against an axial compressive load than the proof box has a lower strength against an axial compressive load. I do.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
Since the crash box is axially compressed and deformed before the front side member, damage during a light collision is mainly done by the crash box, and the front side member is not damaged. As a result, the repair cost can be reduced and the repairability can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, an allowance of the crash box in the axial direction of the crash box is larger than a dimension of the cooling system component in the vehicle longitudinal direction. And

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
When the crash box undergoes axial compression deformation, the bumper reinforcement hardly interferes with the cooling system components, so that the input load to the cooling system components can be suppressed. As a result, the cooling system components are hardly damaged, so that repair costs can be reduced and repairability can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the crash box comprises an aluminum extruded part and a flange part. And

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in any one of claims 1 to 4, axial compression deformation of the crash box is facilitated, and impact energy can be efficiently absorbed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, the radiator support side has a lamp mounting portion.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
Since the radiator support side is deformed before the lamp at the time of a front collision, the lamp can be prevented from being damaged at the time of a light collision, so that repair cost can be reduced and repairability can be improved.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a front-end module according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, an arrow FR indicates a forward direction of the vehicle body, an arrow IN indicates an inward direction of the vehicle width, and an arrow UP indicates an upward direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front bumper reinforcement 1 made of extruded aluminum is provided at the front end of the front body of the vehicle body along the vehicle width direction.
0 is arranged, and the cross-sectional shape of the front bumper reinforcement 10 is a Japanese character. Also,
A cooling system component 12 such as an air conditioner condenser and a radiator is disposed behind the front bumper reinforcement 10 on the vehicle body side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling system component 12
Are supported by a radiator support 14. The radiator support 14 includes a radiator support upper 16 attached to an upper portion of the cooling system component 12 and a cooling system component 1.
And two radiator support sides 18 and 20 attached to the two side parts.

The radiator support sides 18 and 20 are formed with projecting portions 18A and 20A, respectively, made of a plate extending outwardly from the vehicle width, and the lower portions of the projecting portions 18A and 20A are provided with a crash box mounting portion. The parts 18B and 20B are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the crash box mounting portion 18B on the left side of the vehicle body has a flat plate shape, and a plate 30A disposed on the front surface of the front side member 30.
It is mounted on top of. The crash box mounting portion 20B on the right side of the vehicle, not shown, has the same configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, left and right crash boxes 22 and 24 are attached to the crash box attachment portions 18B and 20B, respectively, which are disposed along the vehicle longitudinal direction. Crash boxes 22, 24
Are extruded portions 22A, 24 of aluminum with a cross-section in the shape of a letter.
A and the rear end flange portions 22B and 24B. At the flange portions 22B and 24B, the crash box mounting portions 18B and 2C of the radiator support sides 18 and 20 are formed.
It is fixed to a plate 30A (see FIG. 3) disposed on the front surface of the front side member 30 with the OB interposed therebetween by a fixing member 26 such as a bolt or a nut. Also, the tip portions 22C, 24C of the left and right crash boxes 22, 24,
Means front bumper reinforcement 10
Is welded to the rear wall 10A.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a load (arrow F1 in FIG. 4) is applied to the front bumper reinforcement 10 from substantially the front of the vehicle body, the crash box 22 is moved ahead of the front side member 30 and solid lines in FIG. Axial compression deformation is performed from the state shown by the dotted line to the state shown by the two-dot chain line. That is, the strength of the crash box 22 against the axial compression load is lower than the strength of the front side member 30 against the axial compression load. Also, the remaining uncrushed portion L1 of the deformed crash box 22 shown by the solid line in FIG.
Is set to a value that is larger than the dimension L2 of the cooling system component 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction, so that the rear wall portion 10A of the front bumper reinforcement 10, the cooling system component 12, and the radiator support side 18 do not easily interfere with each other. It should be noted that a crash box mounting portion 20B on the right side of the vehicle body, not shown
Has a similar configuration.

As shown in FIG. 1, overhang portions 18A, 2A on left and right radiator support sides 18, 20 are provided.
Lamp mounting portions 18C and 20C are formed in the upper part of 0A, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the headlamp 36 as a lamp has a vehicle width direction inner upper portion 36A fixed to a lamp mounting portion 20C on the right side of the vehicle body by a fixing member 38 such as a bolt. The upper portion 36B of the headlamp 36 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the front fender 44 by a fixing member 42 such as a bolt via a bracket 40.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, when the load (arrow F2 in FIG. 6) acts on the headlamp 36 from substantially the front of the vehicle body, the lamp mounting portion 20C easily moves substantially toward the rear of the vehicle body. It is designed to be deformed. Therefore, a load is applied to the headlamp 36 from substantially the front of the vehicle body (arrow F in FIG. 6).
When 2) acts, the lamp mounting portion 20C is deformed as indicated by the two-dot chain line, and the head lamp 36 escapes substantially to the rear of the vehicle body as indicated by the two-dot chain line, so that damage to the head lamp 36 can be prevented. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 7, a lower portion 36C of the headlamp 36 is connected to a bumper cover 48 via a clip 46.
An engaging portion 46A formed on the clip 46 from the front side of the vehicle body is engaged with a pin 50 formed on a lower portion 36C of the headlamp 36.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bottom portion 46B of the engagement portion 46A is wider than the neck portion 46C, and the neck portion 50A of the pin 50 is fitted to the bottom portion 46B. Therefore, when a load (arrow F3 in FIG. 8) acts on the bumper cover 48 from substantially the front of the vehicle body, the neck 50A of the pin 50 comes out of the bottom 46B of the engaging portion 46A of the clip 46, and the bumper cover 48 and the clip 46 Moves substantially rearward of the vehicle body (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8), and the bumper cover 48 moves.
Is detached from the lower portion 36C of the headlamp 36. The headlamp 36 on the left side of the vehicle, not shown, has the same configuration.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, when a load is applied to the front bumper reinforcement 10 substantially from the front of the vehicle body, the crash boxes 22, 24 are positioned before the left and right front side members 30, for example, as shown by solid lines in FIG. From axial compression deformation to the state shown by the two-dot chain line,
/ 3 length. As a result, the load acting on the front end module at the time of a collision can be absorbed by the deformation of the bumper reinforcement 10 and the axial compression deformation of the crash boxes 22, 24, so that the impact energy absorption characteristics at the time of a vehicle collision can be improved.

Also, the crash box 22 after the deformation,
The crush remaining allowance L1 of 24 is larger than the longitudinal dimension L2 of the cooling system component 12 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, so that the rear wall portion 10A of the front bumper reinforcement 10 does not easily interfere with the cooling system component 12 and the radiator support sides 18, 20. ing. As a result, during a light collision (for example, when the vehicle speed is 15 km /
h), the load applied to the cooling system component 12 can be suppressed, and the only damaged components are the bumper reinforcement 10 and the crash boxes 22 and 24, so that the front side member 30 is not damaged. Therefore, the property of reducing damage at the time of a light collision can be improved. In addition, since only these damaged parts need to be replaced, repairability at the time of a light collision can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the connection between the crush boxes 22, 24 and the front side member 30 is made up of the crush box mounting portions 18B, 20B made of a plate material on the radiator support sides 18, 20, and the crush box 22, 24 flange portions 22B, 2
Only the thickness of the plate 4A and the plate 30A disposed on the front surface of the front side member 30 are required. As a result, in the event of a light collision, only the crash boxes 22 and 24 can be completely axially compressed and deformed, and in the case of a collision larger than a light collision, the front portions of the crash boxes 22 and 24 and the side members 30 can be completely compressed without being disturbed by the radiator support 14. Therefore, impact energy can be efficiently absorbed.

In the present embodiment, the crush boxes 22, 24 are formed by extruded portions 22A, 24A of aluminum having a cross-section in a cross section and flange portions 22B, 24B at the rear end. , 24 can be easily subjected to axial compression deformation, and also in this regard, impact energy can be efficiently absorbed.

In this embodiment, the radiator support sides 18 and 20 are provided with lamp mounting portions 18C and 20C, respectively. The lamp mounting portions 18C and 20C load the headlamp 36 from substantially the front of the vehicle body (see FIG. 4). Arrow F of 6
When 2) acts, it is easily deformed substantially rearward of the vehicle body. As a result, the head lamp 36
When a load (arrow F2 in FIG. 6) is applied from substantially the front of the vehicle body, the headlamp 36 escapes substantially to the rear of the vehicle body as indicated by the two-dot chain line to prevent damage. Therefore, the repair cost can be reduced and the repairability can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of a light collision, a load is applied to the bumper cover 48 from substantially the front of the vehicle body (arrow F3 in FIG. 8).
When the bumper cover 48 and the clip 4
6 moves substantially rearward of the vehicle body (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8), and the bumper cover 48 comes off the lower portion 36C of the headlamp 36. As a result, in the front-end module 70 having the conventional structure shown in FIG. 9, the applicator 71 supporting the bumper cover is deformed and needs to be replaced. However, in the present embodiment, this is not necessary. The repair cost can be greatly reduced.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that is possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the front bumper reinforcement 10 and the crash boxes 22, 24
Is made of extruded aluminum, but other metals such as iron may be used instead of extruded aluminum. Further, the cross-sectional shapes of the front bumper reinforcement 10 and the crash boxes 22 and 24 are not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The left and right radiator support upper side 72 and the radiator support 74 used in the above are omitted, but these radiator support upper side 72
At least one of the radiator support 74 and the radiator support 74 may be configured to be added to the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the overhanging portions 18 on the left and right radiator support sides 18 and 20 are provided.
Although the head lamp 36 as a lamp is attached to the lamp attachment portions 18C and 20C of A and 20A, other lamps such as fog lamps may be attached instead of the head lamp 36.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiator support upper mounted on an upper part of a cooling system component, a radiator support side mounted on a side of the cooling system component, and a crash connected to the radiator support side. Since it has a box and a bumper reinforcement connected to the crash box, it has an excellent effect of being able to improve the impact energy absorption characteristics at the time of a vehicle collision and to improve the damage reduction and repairability at the time of a light collision. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, the crash box has a flange portion for connecting to an overhang made of a plate material on a radiator support side. And the flange portion are mounted on the front side of the front side member so as to overlap with each other, so that in addition to the effect of claim 1, the crash box and the side member can be completely axially compressed and deformed, and the impact energy can be reduced. It has an excellent effect that it can be efficiently absorbed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, the crush box has a lower resistance to the axial compression load than the front side member has a lower resistance to the axial compression load. In addition to the effects described above, there is an excellent effect that the front side member is not damaged at the time of a light collision.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, the remaining amount of the crash box in the axial direction of the crash box is larger than the dimension of the cooling system component in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In addition to the effects described in the above, there is an excellent effect that the input load to the cooling system components can be suppressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the crush box includes an aluminum extruded portion and a flange portion. 1 to claim 4
In addition to the effects described in any one of the above, there is an excellent effect that the axial compression deformation of the crash box is facilitated and the impact energy can be efficiently absorbed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the front end module according to the first aspect, since the radiator support side has a mounting portion for a lamp, the radiator support side has an advantage in addition to the effect described in the first aspect. Has an excellent effect that damage to the lamp can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front end module according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from diagonally forward of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the front end module according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a deformed state of the front-end module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lamp mounting portion on the right side of the vehicle body in the front end module according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a lamp mounting portion on the right side of the vehicle body in the front end module according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional front end module as viewed obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another conventional front end module as viewed obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 front bumper reinforcement 12 cooling system parts 14 radiator support 16 radiator support upper 18 radiator support side 18A radiator support side overhang 18B radiator support side crash box mounting 18C radiator support side lamp mounting 20 radiator support side 20A radiator Projection part of support side 20B Crash box attachment part of radiator support side 20C Light fixture attachment part of radiator support side 22 Crash box 22A Extrusion molding part of aluminum of crash box 22B Flange part of crash box 24 Crash box 24A Extrusion of aluminum of crash box Molding part 24B Nji section 30 front side member 36 head lamp (lamp)

Claims (6)

[Claims] A radiator support upper mounted on an upper part of a cooling system component; a radiator support side mounted on a side of the cooling system component; a crash box connected to the radiator support side; And a front end module comprising: 2. The crush box has a flange portion for connecting to an overhang portion made of a plate material on the radiator support side, and the overhang portion and the flange portion are mounted on a front surface of a front side member so as to overlap with each other. The front-end module according to claim 1, wherein 3. The front end module according to claim 1, wherein a proof strength of the crash box against an axial compressive load is lower than a proof strength of the front side member against an axial compressive load. 4. The front end module according to claim 1, wherein a remaining margin of the crash box in the axial direction is larger than a dimension of the cooling system component in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 5. The front end module according to claim 1, wherein the crush box comprises an aluminum extruded part and a flange part. 6. The front end module according to claim 1, wherein the radiator support side has a mounting portion for a lamp.