Front body structure of automotive vehicle

• US 5,472,063 A
• Filed: 08/31/1993
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Yamatoya, Hidemitsu, Morino, Yoshie, Watanabe, Shigeaki, Nakagami, Shuichi, Ohta, Michitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US08/113,624
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 180/297, 180/299, 180/300, 180/312, 180/902, 180/274, 180/298, 296/194, 296/198, 296/203, 296/188, 296/189, 280/784
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/067 characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45 Stops limiting travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4504 using cable or band to prevent extension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/016 allowing controlled deformation during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/60 Subframe construction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/222 during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/082 Engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/02 made of steel or other material having low internal friction characterised by their special construction from fibre-reinforced plastics F16F1/366; spring units consisting of several springs F16F3/02; making springs from wire B21F35/00; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/00 Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 ; belt tensioners F16H7/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/123 Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members F16F7/125, F16F7/128 take precedence

Abstract

A front body structure of a vehicle, in which a power plant is installed, includes a reinforcement secured to a mounting portion of a wheel housing located where an engine mounting bracket is attached. The front body structure also includes another reinforcement, for connecting the reinforcement to a suspension tower, which connects the reinforcement to the wheel housing. The other reinforcement is smaller in plate thickness than the reinforcement so as to absorb impact force applied to the front body during a front end collision. A front frame reinforcement is secured to a front side frame so as to reinforce a portion of the front side frame at a location in which a cut-away portion is formed so as to compensate for a decrease in structural strength of the front side frame. A connecting member connects the power-plant to a rigid structural member so as to suppress a movement of the power-plant during a front end collision.

Claims

1. A front body structure of a vehicle body for an automotive vehicle in which a power-plant is mounted, said front body structure comprising:

a pair of front side frames extending lengthwise of said automotive vehicle;

a cross member extending transversely of said automotive vehicle and connected at opposite ends to said front side frames;

a rigid member disposed behind said power-plant and connected at opposite ends to said front side frames;

a center member disposed below said power-plant, extending in a lengthwise direction of said vehicle body and connected at opposite ends to said cross member and said rigid member, said center member having means for bending downward so as to easily deform downward upon an occurrence of a front end collision of said automotive vehicle;

first mounting means for connecting a rear end portion of said power-plant to said rigid member;

second mounting means for connecting a front end portion of said power-plant to said center member; and

connecting means, disposed between said first mounting means and said second mounting means, for interconnecting said power-plant and said center member and allowing the power-plant to be pulled downward together with downward deformation of said center member upon the occurrence of said front end collision of said automotive vehicle.

2. A front body structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises an elastic connecting member.

3. A front body structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said connecting means is disposed at a middle portion of said center member, and further comprising third and fourth mounting means for connecting said power-plant at opposite sides thereof to said front side frames respectively.

4. A front body structure recited in claim 3, wherein said connecting means is located at a transverse position which approximately corresponds to a position of a portion of a front side frame at which the front side frame shows a maximum upward deformation.

5. A front body structure as recited in claim 3, wherein one of said pair of front side frames is formed, at the middle portion thereof, with a cut-away portion opening to an outside of the vehicle body so as to allow the power-plant to move without interference with one of said front side frames and is provided with an inner reinforcement secured thereto to compensate for a decrease in structural strength of one of said front side frames due to a provision of said cut-away portion.

6. A front body structure as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one of said third and fourth mounting means comprises an engine mounting bracket disposed on one of said pair of front side frames.