U.S. patent application number 11/594227 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for air guide structure adapted for motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shinji Araki, Osamu Ito, Hideki Kobayashi, Eiichi Mori, Toshiharu Watanabe.
Application Number | 20070107677 11/594227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37775167 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070107677 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ito; Osamu ; et al. |
May 17, 2007 |
Air guide structure adapted for motor vehicle
Abstract
An air guide structure includes a radiator core support having a
radiator core support side member, and an air guide integrally that
is integrally formed with the radiator core support side member
through a connecting portion. The air guide is capable of being
bent between a formation state in which it is arranged in a lateral
direction of a motor vehicle body and an in-usable state in which
it projects forward and is fixed to the radiator core support by an
engaging mechanism formed on the air guide and the radiator core
support. A releasing mechanism is provided to release the
engagement of the engaging mechanism when force generated in
vehicle crash acts on the air guide from its front side.
Inventors: |
Ito; Osamu; (Tokyo, JP)
; Kobayashi; Hideki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Watanabe;
Toshiharu; (Tokyo, JP) ; Mori; Eiichi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Araki; Shinji; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
37775167 |
Appl. No.: |
11/594227 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/41.49 ;
123/41.7; 416/179 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 11/04 20130101;
F28F 9/002 20130101; B60K 11/08 20130101; B62D 25/084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/041.49 ;
123/041.7; 416/179 |
International
Class: |
F01P 7/10 20060101
F01P007/10; F01P 1/02 20060101 F01P001/02; B63H 1/16 20060101
B63H001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 11, 2005 |
JP |
2005-327902 |
Claims
1. An air guide structure, adapted for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a radiator core support having a radiator core support side member;
an air guide that is integrally formed with the radiator core
support side member through a connecting portion and is capable of
being bent between a formation state in which the air guide is
arranged in a lateral direction of a motor vehicle body and an
in-usable state in which the air guide projects forward and is
fixed to the radiator core support by an engaging mechanism formed
on the air guide and the radiator core support; and a releasing
mechanism that is capable of releasing the engagement of the
engaging mechanism when force generated in vehicle crash acts on
the air guide from a front side thereof.
2. The air guide structure according to claim 1, wherein the
releasing mechanism includes a peripheral portion of a latch-hole
that is formed in the air guide, and a tapered portion that is
formed on a latch-projecting portion that is provided with the
radiator core support to project forward and be contactable with
the peripheral portion.
3. The air guide structure according to claim 2, wherein the
tapered portion is formed at a front side of the latch-projecting
portion and the latching portion, which constitutes the engaging
mechanism and is contactable with the peripheral portion, is formed
at a rear side of the latch-projecting portion.
4. The air guide structure according to claim 3, wherein the
connecting portion has a first fragile portion, which is weaker in
rigidity than the radiator core support side portion and the air
guide excluding the fragile portion so that the air guide can be
bent at the first fragile portion.
5. The air guide structure according to claim 4, wherein a second
fragile portion is provided on the air guide at rear side of the
releasing mechanism.
6. The air guide structure according to claim 5, wherein the second
fragile portion is provided at a rear side of the latch-hole.
7. The air guide structure according to claim 2, wherein the
connecting portion has a first fragile portion, which is weaker in
rigidity than the radiator core support side portion and the air
guide excluding the fragile portion so that the air guide can be
bent at the first fragile portion.
8. The air guide structure according to claim 7, wherein a second
fragile portion is provided on the air guide at rear side of the
releasing mechanism.
9. The air guide structure according to claim 8, wherein the second
fragile portion is provided at a rear side of the latch-hole.
10. The air guide structure according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting portion has a first fragile portion, which is weaker in
rigidity than the radiator core support side portion and the air
guide excluding the fragile portion so that the air guide can be
bent at the first fragile portion.
11. The air guide structure according to claim 10, wherein a second
fragile portion is provided on the air guide at rear side of the
releasing mechanism.
12. The air guide structure according to claim 11, wherein the
second fragile portion is provided at a rear side of the
latch-hole.
13. The air guide structure according to claim 1, wherein a second
fragile portion is provided on the air guide at rear side of the
releasing mechanism.
14. The air guide structure according to claim 13, wherein the
second fragile portion is provided at a rear side of the
latch-hole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air guide structure
which is adapted for a motor vehicle and includes a radiator core
support, and right and left air guides attached to the radiator
core support.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional air guide structure adapted for a motor
vehicle of this kind is disclosed in Japanese patents laid-open
publication No. 2003-306047 and No. 2003-104235. These conventional
air guide structures have a right air guide attached to a right
radiator core support side member, and a left air guide attached to
a left radiator core support side member, both air guides extending
forward in a longitudinal direction of a motor vehicle body.
[0005] Another conventional air guide structure is disclosed in
Japanese patent laid-open No. 2005-104212. This conventional air
guide structure has a right air guide and a left air guide, which
are fixed to right and left radiator core support side members by
connecting sections having cut-off portions, respectively. The
right and left air guides are attached to extend in a lateral
direction of a motor vehicle body at first, and then they are bent
at the connecting portions so as to extend forward in a
longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle body when used.
[0006] In these three conventional air guide structures, the right
and left air guides are fixed to the right and left radiator core
support side members by using bolts, respectively.
[0007] The above known conventional air guide structures, however,
encounter a problem in that the air guides act as a rigid plate
against the radiator core support to cause cracks and/or fractures
in a bolted portion of the air guide and the radiator core support
when excessive force due to vehicle crash acts on the air guide/air
guides from a front side thereof. In case of the cracks and/or
fractures in the bolted portion, an entire-part replacement for the
radiator core support and the air guide/air guides is needed, which
increases its repair costs.
[0008] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide an air guide structure, adapted for a motor vehicle, which
overcomes the foregoing drawbacks and can prevent a radiator core
support from cracks and fractures when an excessive force due to
vehicle crash acts on an air guide from a front side thereof,
thereby decreasing repair costs of the air guide structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention there is
provided an air guide structure, adapted for a motor vehicle,
includes a radiator core support having a radiator core support
side member, and an air guide that is integrally formed with the
radiator core support side member through a connecting portion. The
air guide is capable of being bent between a formation state in
which the air guide is arranged in a lateral direction of a motor
vehicle body and an in-usable state in which the air guide projects
forward to be fixed to the radiator core support by an engaging
mechanism formed on the air guide and the radiator core support. A
releasing mechanism is provided to release the engagement of the
engaging mechanism when force generated in vehicle crash acts on
the air guide from a front side thereof.
[0010] Therefore, the air guide structure of the present invention
can prevent the radiator core support from the cracks and/or
fractures when excessive force due to vehicle crash acts on an air
guide from the front side thereof, because the releasing mechanism
releases the engagement between the air guide and the radiator core
support, thereby preventing the air guide to act as a rigid plate
against the radiator core support. This can decrease repair costs
of the air guide structure.
[0011] Preferably, the releasing mechanism includes a peripheral
portion of a latch-hole that is formed in the air guide, and a
tapered portion that is formed on a latch-projecting portion that
is provided with the radiator core support to project forward and
be contactable with the peripheral portion.
[0012] Therefore, the releasing mechanism can be built in a simple
structure by using only the peripheral portion and the tapered
portion.
[0013] Preferably, the tapered portion is formed at a front side of
the latch-projecting portion, and the latching portion, which
constitutes the engaging mechanism and is contactable with the
peripheral portion, is formed at a rear side of the
latch-projecting portion.
[0014] Therefore, the latch-projecting portion can be formed to
have both the tapered portion and the latching portion thereon, and
accordingly the engaging mechanism and the releasing mechanism can
be formed in smaller dimensions and at lower manufacturing
costs.
[0015] Preferably, the connecting portion has a first fragile
portion, which is weaker in rigidity than the radiator core support
side portion and the air guide excluding the fragile portion so
that the air guide can be bent at the first fragile portion.
[0016] Therefore, the air guide can be easily bent forward at the
connecting portion when the air guide is set to project forward,
and the first fragile portion can easily bent and tore when large
force due to vehicle crash acts thereon, preventing the radiator
core support from being cracked and/or fractured.
[0017] Preferably, a second fragile portion is provided on the air
guide at rear side of the releasing mechanism.
[0018] Therefore, the second fragile portion can be easily bent and
tore when large force acts thereon, promoting prevention from
cracks and/or fractures of the radiator core support.
[0019] Preferably, the second fragile portion is provided at a rear
side of the latch-hole.
[0020] Therefore, the air guide can surely and easily slide along
the tapered portion by bending and/or tearing-off of the second
fragile portion located at the rear part of the latch-hole and the
tapered portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an air guide
structure of an embodiment according to the present invention when
it is manufactured, but before in-use;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along a
line S2-S2 in FIG. 1, showing a connecting portion between an air
guide and a radiator core support, each constituting the air guide
structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3A is a fragmentary front view showing the air guide
structure shown in FIG. 1 before an in-use state, where the air
guide is fixed to extend a lateral direction of a motor vehicle
body, and FIG. 3B is a fragmentary front view showing the air guide
structure shown in FIG. 1, being in the in-use state where the air
guide is bent to extend in a longitudinal direction of the motor
vehicle body;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along a
line S4-S4 in FIG. 3B, showing the connecting portion, being in the
in-use state where the air guide is bent and fixed to the radiator
core support;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view showing the air guide
structure of the embodiment, in which the air guides are fixed to
the radiator core support, when used; and
[0027] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing the connecting
portion right before vehicle crash, and FIG. 6B is a
cross-sectional view showing the connecting portion after the
vehicle crash.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Throughout the following detailed description, similar
reference characters and numbers refer to similar elements in all
figures of the drawings, and their descriptions are omitted for
eliminating duplication.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown
an air guide structure, which is adapted for a motor vehicle, of a
preferred embodiment of according to the present invention. In the
following description, terms "right" and "left" are used with
respect to a not shown motor vehicle body, not with respect to the
attached drawings.
[0030] The air guide structure is mounted on a front side of the
motor vehicle body. The air guide structure includes a radiator
core support 1, a right air guide 8 and a left air guide 9.
[0031] The radiator core support 1 has a radiator core support
upper member 2, a lower radiator core support lower member 3
arranged under and in parallel with the radiator core support upper
member 2, a radiator core support left side member 4 connected with
left edge portions of the upper and lower members 2 and 3, and a
radiator core support right side member 5 connected with right edge
portions of the upper and lower members 2 and 3. The upper member 2
is formed in a plate shape and extends in a lateral direction of
the motor vehicle body when the radiator core support 1 is mounted
on the front side of the motor vehicle, the lower member 3 is
formed in a letter-U shape with a plurality of ribs. The left and
right side members 4 and 5 extends vertically. A shroud portion 6
is integrally formed at inner sides of the upper, lower, side
members 2, 3, 4 and 5 so as to guide air generated when a motor
vehicle runs toward a not-shown motor-fan which is arranged in a
hole 6b and supported to an inner peripheral portion of the hole 6b
by a plurality of fun-stays 6a.
[0032] The left and right side members 4 and 5 are integrally
formed with a left air guide 8 and a right air guide 9 through left
and right connecting portions 7, respectively. The left and right
connecting portions 7 are set to be weaker in rigidity than
continuous portions of the air guides 8, 9 and the side members 4,
5, for example, they are formed to have a thin wall in the
embodiment as shown in FIG. 2. The connecting portions 7 correspond
to a first fragile portion of the present invention.
[0033] The left and right air guides 8 and 9 extend in the lateral
direction, and each of the air guide 8, 9 has a plate shape formed
with upper and lower square latch-holes 10 being apart vertically
from each other. A partly continuous groove 11 is formed to weaken
rigidity of a portion near around the latch-hole 10. This portion
corresponds to a second fragile portion of the present invention.
The second fragile portion is not indispensable in the present
invention.
[0034] On the other hand, the left and right side members 4 and 5
have upper and lower latch-projecting portions 12 on their inner
side surfaces. The upper and lower latch-projecting portions 12
extend in a forward direction, indicated by an arrow FW in FIG. 1,
and their front end portions are bent toward the left and right air
guides 8 and 9, respectively. The front end portions have a
latching portion 12a formed on a rear surface thereof and a tapered
portion 12b on a front surface thereof.
[0035] The latch-holes 10, formed in the left and right air guides
8 and 9, and the tapered portions 12b, formed on the upper and
lower latch-projecting portions 12 of the left and right side
members 4 and 5, act as a latch-releasing mechanism of the present
invention.
[0036] The upper and lower members 2 and 3 are formed with a
plurality of fixing portions, in various shapes and at various
positions, for fixing not-shown heat exchangers.
[0037] All members, including the upper, lower and side members,
and air guides 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are integrally formed of resin
material, which can reduce its manufacturing costs, ensuring these
parts to be prevented from falling and missing when the radiator
core support 1 with the air guides 8 and 9 is manufactured. In
addition, in this formation by using injection molding, die can be
simplified, decreasing its cost, because the air guides 8 and 9 are
formed to extend in the lateral direction in a formation state and
they are integrally formed with the radiator core support 1.
[0038] Before the thus-formed radiator core support 1 is installed
on the motor vehicle body, the heat exchangers are attached to the
radiator core support 1, and the left and right air guides 8 and 9
are bent forward by rotating them as indicated by an arrow AR in
FIG. 3A, at the connecting portions 7, as shown in FIG. 3B, so that
the latching portions 12a can be engaged with peripheral portions
10a of the latch-holes 10 as shown in FIG. 4. This engagement keeps
the left and right air guides 8 and 9 fixed to the radiator core
support 1 and projected forward therefrom in an in-usable state, as
shown in FIG. 5, so as to guide the air generated while the motor
vehicle runs and prevent blowing-back of hot air from an engine
room. Then, the radiator core support 1 with the heat exchangers
are installed on the motor vehicle body.
[0039] The peripheral portions 10a of the air guide 8 and the
latching portion 12a of the radiator core support 1 act as an
engaging mechanism of the present invention.
[0040] Incidentally, FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B and 4 shows only left sides of
the radiator core support structure, while right sides thereof are
bilaterally symmetrical with the left sides.
[0041] The operation of the air guide structure of the embodiment
will be described.
[0042] The air guides 8 and 9 of the air guide structure of the
embodiment usually guide, along their inner surfaces, the air
generated while the motor vehicle runs and also prevent the
blowing-back of hot air from the engine room.
[0043] In case of vehicle crash where the air guide 8 is
excessively applied by external force F from its front side as
shown in FIG. 6A, the peripheral portion 1Oa is deformed in a
rearward direction, indicated by an arrow RW in FIG. 6B, so that
the front side the air guide 8 slides in the rearward direction
along the tapered portion 12b of the latch-projecting portion 12.
This slide of the peripheral portion 10a due to the deformation of
the air guide 8 brings disengagement between the latching portion
12a and the peripheral portion 10a,the air guide 8 being rotated
toward the outside in the lateral direction, as indicated by an
arrow X in FIG. 6B, at the connecting portion 7.
[0044] Specifically, in the air guide structure of the embodiment,
connection of the air guide 8 and the radiator core support side
member 4 can be released in a vehicle crash where excessive force
acts on the air guide 8 from its front side. This causes the air
guide 8 not to act as a rigid plate against the side member 4,
thereby protecting the side member 4 from its cracks and/or
fractures. The operation of the right air guide 9 and the radiator
core support right side member 5 is similar to that of the left air
guide 8 and the radiator core support left side member 4, and
therefore its explanation is omitted.
[0045] In addition, the portion formed with the groove 11 can
easily be bent and tore when large force acts thereon from the
front side of the air guide 8 in vehicle crash, thereby promoting
prevention from the cracks and fractures of the radiator core
support 1.
[0046] The air guide structure of the embodiment has the following
advantages.
[0047] The air guide 8, 9 and the radiator core support side member
4, 5 can be released from each other when excessive force due to
vehicle crash acts on the air guide 8, 9 from its front side. This
can prevent the radiator core support 1 from being cracked and/or
fractured by influence of the air guide 8, 9 on which large force
acts from the front side in vehicle crash, thereby decreasing
repair costs of the air guide structure.
[0048] The releasing mechanism includes the peripheral portion 10a
of the latch-hole 10 that is formed in the air guide 8, 9, and the
tapered portion 12b that is formed on the latch-projecting portion
12 to be contactable with the peripheral portion 10a. This enables
the releasing mechanism to be built in a simple structure and in a
small dimensions.
[0049] The tapered portion 12b is formed at the front side of the
latch-projecting portion 12, and the latching portion 12a, which is
contactable with the peripheral portion 10a, is formed at the rear
side of the latch-projecting portion 12. This enables the
latch-projecting portion 12 to be formed to have both the tapered
portion 12b and the latching portion 12a thereon, thereby enables
the engaging mechanism and the releasing mechanism to be formed in
smaller dimensions and at lower manufacturing costs.
[0050] The connecting portion 7 has the first fragile portion,
which is weaker in rigidity than the radiator core support side
portion 4, 5 and the air guide 8, 9 excluding the fragile portion
so that the air guide 8, 9 can be bent at the first fragile
portion. This enables the air guide 8, 9 to be easily bent toward
the lateral direction at the connecting portion 7, and the first
fragile portion can easily bent and tore when large force acts
thereon from the front side, preventing the radiator core support 1
from being cracked and/or fractured.
[0051] The portion with the groove 11, constituting the second
fragile portion, is provided on the air guide 8, 9 at rear side of
the latch-hole 10. This enables the portion with the groove 11 to
be easily bent and tore when large force acts thereon from the
front side, promoting prevention from cracks and/or fractures of
the radiator core support 1.
[0052] While there have been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended
to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
[0053] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the right
and left air guides 8 and 9 are fixed to the radiator core support
left and right side members 4 and 5, respectively, while only one
air guide may be fixed to one of the radiator core support side
members so that the other can be removed.
[0054] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No.
2005-327902 filed Nov. 11, 2005 is incorporated herein by
reference.
* * * * *