JP3511953B2 - Fan shroud structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fan shroud structure, and more particularly to a fan shroud structure for supporting a radiator fan motor in a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a fan shroud structure for supporting a radiator fan motor in a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-105114.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this fan shroud structure, a fan shroud (also referred to as a front end panel) 100 includes a fan shroud main body 102 which constitutes a skeleton of the fan shroud 100, an outer portion of a radiator, and a radiator ( (Suction) A housing 104 that continuously covers the outer side of the fan, and the fan shroud body 102 and the housing 104 are integrally molded of a resin material. Also, the radiator opening 106
A notch 108 extending in the vehicle width direction is formed in the upper front end of the housing 104 at the rear of the upper part of the housing 104, and the radiator can be inserted into the housing 104 from the notch 108.

[0004]

However, in this fan shroud structure, the fan shroud main body 102 is used.
The housing 104 and the housing 104 are integrally formed of a resin material, and a closed cross-section portion 110, which is a structural member that connects the front end portions of the left and right front side members to each other, is provided along the entire outer periphery of the radiator mounting portion. Has been formed.
As a result, the total length of the high-rigidity portion constituted by the closed cross-section portion 110 is extremely long, and the fan shroud 100 is large and heavy.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a fan shroud structure which can secure the rigidity of the front side member connecting portion in the fan shroud main body and can reduce the size and weight of the fan shroud main body.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a fan shroud structure for a vehicle for supporting a radiator fan motor, the left and right front side members are connected to each other and the mounting center of the radiator fan motor is substantially set. The fan shroud main body is characterized in that a skeleton portion that is linear when viewed from the front is formed.

Therefore, the left and right front side members can be connected at the shortest distance by the skeleton portion which is linear in a front view and substantially passes through the mounting center of the radiator fan motor. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the skeleton portion which becomes heavy in order to obtain a predetermined rigidity. As a result, the rigidity of the skeleton portion, that is, the rigidity of the front side member connecting portion in the fan shroud body that connects the left and right front side members can be ensured, and the fan shroud body can be reduced in size and weight. Further, since the skeleton portion substantially passes through the vicinity of the center of gravity of the radiator or radiator fan motor attached to the fan shroud main body, the moment generated in the skeleton portion by the radiator or the radiator fan motor is reduced. As a result, the rigidity of the skeleton portion can be reduced, and the weight of the fan shroud body can be further reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the first aspect, the fan shroud body and the radiator grill are integrally formed.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, the accuracy of assembling the radiator grill with respect to the vehicle body can be improved, and the fixing member and the number of assembling steps for assembling the radiator grill with the vehicle body can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the first aspect, the fan shroud body and the bumper cover are integrally formed.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, the accuracy of assembling the bumper cover with respect to the vehicle body is improved, and the fixing member and the number of assembling steps for assembling the bumper cover to the vehicle body can be reduced. Further, a seal member for preventing cooling air from leaking from a joint portion between the bumper cover and the duct function portion of the fan shroud main body is not necessary, and the seal portion and the cooling performance are improved by eliminating the joint portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the first aspect, the fan shroud main body is divided into an upper structure portion and a lower duct function portion in upper and lower parts.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, it becomes easy to manufacture the lower duct functional portion and the upper structural portion with different materials. As a result, it becomes easier to form the lower duct functional portion with a material that is thinner and has better molding than the upper structural portion, and the accuracy of the duct shape can be improved, so the sealing performance and cooling performance are improved, and the radiator and cooler condenser Weight reduction can be achieved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the fourth aspect, the lower duct function portion and the bumper cover are integrally formed.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the fourth aspect, the assembling accuracy of the bumper cover with respect to the vehicle body can be improved, and the fixing member for assembling the bumper cover with the vehicle body and the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to any of the first to fifth aspects, the fan shroud body is made of a resin molded product.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in any one of claims 1 to 5, as compared with the case where the fan shroud main body is made of metal, the weight can be reduced, the degree of freedom in design can be improved, and the processing can be facilitated. .

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a fan shroud structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle front direction, and an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle body of this embodiment, the left and right front side members 10, 12 are provided.
Are arranged substantially parallel to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and near the front end portions of these front side members 10 and 12, a fan shroud main body that is installed on the left and right two front side members 10 and 12 is provided. 14 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fan shroud body 14 includes an upper structure portion 16 made of a resin molded product.
And a lower duct function part 18 are divided into upper and lower parts, and a radiator fan motor for fixing the radiator fan motor to a part of the upper structure part 16 which is located slightly leftward from the center in the vehicle width direction. A mounting portion 20 is formed. The radiator fan motor mounting portion 20 has a ring shape when viewed from the front, and the radiator fan motor is arranged on the inner peripheral portion. Further, a semicircular upper opening 21 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the radiator fan motor mounting portion 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sectional shape of the radiator fan motor mounting portion 20 as viewed from the circumferential direction is a U-shape with the opening facing rearward, and the rigidity for supporting the radiator fan motor. Has been secured. On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of the upper opening 21 as viewed in the circumferential direction is a flat plate shape extending rearward. Further, the upper structural portion 16 is provided with a skeleton portion 22 which is linear in a front view and which substantially passes through a center P of the radiator fan motor mounting portion 20 which is a mounting center of the radiator fan motor. The skeleton 22 is extended along the vehicle width direction, and its cross-sectional shape is a U-shape with the opening facing rearward in order to ensure a predetermined rigidity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right ends 22A and 22B of the skeleton 22 reach the lower left and right ends 16A and 16B of the upper structure 16, respectively. Also,
Left and right end portions 16A, 16 of the lower portion of the upper structure portion 16
At B, mounting flanges 24, 26 are provided in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
The upper structure 16 is fixed to the inner side surfaces of the left and right front side members 10 and 12 in the vehicle width direction by bolts 28 that pass through the mounting flanges 24 and 26. Further, a radiator grill 30 is integrally formed on the upper edge of the upper structure portion 16, and the radiator grill 30 is formed with a plurality of slit-shaped openings 32 extending in the vehicle width direction. Further, the front wall portion 30A of the radiator grill 30 is a design surface of the front portion of the vehicle body.

In the fan shroud main body 14 according to the present embodiment, the left and right edge portions 16C and 16D of the upper structural portion 16 are also skeleton portions having a U-shaped cross section with the opening facing the rear of the vehicle body. Left and right edges 16C, 16
The lower ends of D are the left and right ends 22A and 22B of the skeleton 22.
Are linked to. Also, the left and right edge portions 16C, 16D
The upper end portions of the above are connected by an upper skeleton portion 16E that extends in the vehicle width direction and has an opening portion facing rearward and having a U-shaped cross section.
A radiator grill 30 is formed on the upper side of the upper skeleton portion 16E (the radiator grill is omitted in FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 3, at the left and right ends of the upper skeleton portion 16E in the upper structural portion 16, the tip portions 36A and 38A of the left and right float side upper panels 36 and 38 are formed.
Are respectively connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower duct functional portion 1
8, a semicircular lower opening 40 is formed,
A circular radiator fan mounting portion 42 is formed with the upper opening portion 21 of the upper structure portion 16. Further, the lower duct functional portion 18 has a thin plate structure, and the upper edge portion 18A excluding the lower opening portion 40 is connected to the upper structural portion 16 so that the wind from the front is directed to the radiator fan mounting portion 4.
It leads to 2.

A lower part of the bumper cover 43, which constitutes a lower part of the bumper cover 43, is integrally formed on the lower part of the lower duct function part 18, and both end parts 44 of the lower part 44 of the bumper cover are formed.
A and 44B extend outward in the vehicle width direction.
The bumper cover 4 is provided above the lower portion 44 of the bumper cover.
The bumper cover upper part 46 that constitutes the upper part of 3 is fixed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment having the above structure, the left and right front side members 10 and 12 are connected to the fan shroud main body 1.
4 is connected to the skeleton portion 22 which is formed in the upper structure portion 16 and which is substantially linear in a front view and which substantially passes through the attachment center P of the radiator fan motor. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the skeleton portion 22 can be shortened as compared with the configuration in which the skeleton portion is formed over substantially the entire circumference along the outer peripheral portion of the radiator mounting portion. As a result, the left and right front side members 10, 12
The rigidity of the connecting portion, that is, the skeleton portion 22, can be secured, and the fan shroud main body 14 can be reduced in size and weight.
Further, since the skeleton portion 22 substantially passes through the radiator 60, which is attached to the fan shroud main body 14, and is shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3 and the vicinity of the center of gravity of the radiator fan motor,
Skeleton part 22 by radiator and radiator fan motor
The moment generated in the fan shroud body 14 can be reduced because the rigidity of the skeleton portion 22 can be reduced.
Can be further reduced in weight.

Further, in this embodiment, since the upper structural portion 16 of the fan shroud main body 14 and the radiator grill 30 are integrally formed, the assembling accuracy of the radiator grill 30 with respect to the vehicle body is improved and the radiator grill 30 is also improved.
The fixing member for assembling the vehicle to the vehicle body and the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lower duct function portion 18 of the fan shroud body 14 and the lower portion 4 of the bumper cover.
4 is integrally formed, the assembling accuracy of the bumper cover lower portion 44 with respect to the vehicle body is improved, and the fixing member for assembling the bumper cover lower portion 44 to the vehicle body and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Further, a seal member for preventing cooling air from leaking from a joint portion between the bumper cover 43 and the lower duct function portion 18 of the fan shroud main body 14 is not necessary, and since the joint portion is eliminated, sealing performance and cooling performance are eliminated. Is improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the fan shroud body 14 is divided into the upper structure portion 16 and the lower duct function portion 18 into upper and lower parts. Therefore, the lower duct function portion 18 and the upper structure portion 16 are made of different materials. Easier to do. As a result, it becomes easy to form the lower duct functional portion 18 from a material that is thinner and has better molding than the upper structural portion 16. Therefore, the accuracy of the duct shape can be improved, the sealing performance and the cooling performance can be improved, and the weight of the radiator and the cooler condenser can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, since the fan shroud main body 14 is made of a resin molded product, the weight can be reduced and the degree of freedom in design can be improved, and the machining is easy, as compared with the case where the fan shroud main body 14 is made of metal. Becomes

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that For example, in the above-described embodiment, the fan shroud body 14 is divided into the upper structure portion 16 and the lower duct function portion 18 into upper and lower parts, but instead of this, the fan shroud body 14 may be configured as one component. . Further, in the above-described embodiment, the bumper cover lower portion 44 is formed integrally with the lower duct function portion 18 of the fan shroud main body 14,
Instead of this, the bumper cover 4 is attached to the lower duct function part 18.
The entire 3 may be integrally formed. In addition, the fan shroud main body 14 which is one component, the bumper cover 43
It is also possible to have a configuration in which a part of the above or the entire bumper cover 43 is integrally formed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the bumper cover lower portion 44 is integrally formed with the lower duct function portion 18 of the fan shroud body 14, and the radiator grill 30 is integrally formed with the upper structure portion 16. However, the bumper cover lower portion 44 or the radiator grill 30 is integrally formed. The respective members 30 may be separate members from the fan shroud body 14, and in this case, the upper structure portion 16 and the lower duct functional portion 18 of the fan shroud body 14 have the shapes shown in FIG.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a fan shroud structure for a vehicle for supporting a radiator fan motor, the left and right front side members are connected to each other and substantially pass through a mounting center of the radiator fan motor. Since the linear skeleton is formed on the fan shroud main body, it has an excellent effect that the rigidity of the front side member connecting portion in the fan shroud main body is secured and the fan shroud main body can be made smaller and lighter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the first aspect, since the fan shroud main body and the radiator grill are integrally formed, in addition to the effect according to the first aspect, the radiator grill is attached to the vehicle body. It has an excellent effect that the mounting accuracy is improved and the fixing member for mounting the radiator grill on the vehicle body and the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the first aspect, the fan shroud main body and the bumper cover are integrally formed. Therefore, in addition to the effect according to the first aspect, the assembly of the bumper cover to the vehicle body is performed. This has an excellent effect that the mounting accuracy is improved and the fixing member for mounting the bumper cover on the vehicle body and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Further, a seal member for preventing cooling air from leaking from a joint portion between the bumper cover and the duct function portion of the fan shroud main body is not necessary, and the seal portion and the cooling performance are improved by eliminating the joint portion.

According to the present invention of claim 4, in the fan shroud structure of claim 1, the fan shroud main body is divided into an upper structure part and a lower duct function part in upper and lower parts. As a result, the lower duct function portion and the upper structure portion can be easily manufactured with different materials, which is an excellent effect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to the fourth aspect, since the lower duct function portion and the bumper cover are integrally formed, the vehicle body of the bumper cover is provided in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect. It has an excellent effect that the assembling accuracy is improved and the fixing member for assembling the bumper cover to the vehicle body and the assembling man-hour can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud structure according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the fan shroud body is made of a resin molded product.
In addition to the effects described in 5 to 5, as compared with the case where the fan shroud main body is made of metal, the fan shroud main body has an excellent effect that the weight can be reduced, the degree of freedom in design can be improved, and the processing can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan shroud structure according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from the front of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fan shroud structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a fan shroud structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the fan shroud structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from diagonally rearward of the vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional fan shroud structure as seen obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Front side members 12 Front side members 14 Fan shroud body 16 Upper structure of fan shroud body 18 Lower shroud function part of fan shroud body 20 Radiator fan motor mounting part of upper structure 22 Skeleton of upper structure 24 Mounting flange for upper structure 26 Mounting flange for upper structure 30 radiator grill 42 Radiator fan mounting part 43 bumper cover 44 Lower bumper cover 46 Upper part of bumper cover

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-38953 (JP, A) JP-A-5-105114 (JP, A) JP-A-7-165117 (JP, A) JP-A-10- 329756 (JP, A) JP-A-7-61247 (JP, A) JP-A-6-16053 (JP, A) Actual development 63-51112 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F01P 11/00 F01P 7/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a fan shroud structure for a vehicle for supporting a radiator fan motor, a fan shroud main body has a skeleton part which is linear in a front view and which connects left and right front side members and substantially passes through a mounting center of the radiator fan motor. The fan shroud structure is characterized by being formed in. 2. The fan shroud structure according to claim 1, wherein the fan shroud main body and the radiator grill are integrally formed. 3. The fan shroud structure according to claim 1, wherein the fan shroud body and the bumper cover are integrally formed. 4. The fan shroud structure according to claim 1, wherein the fan shroud body is divided into an upper structure part and a lower duct function part. 5. The fan shroud structure according to claim 4, wherein the lower duct functional portion and the bumper cover are integrally molded. 6. The fan shroud structure according to claim 1, wherein the fan shroud body is made of a resin molded product.