Structure for front portion of vehicle

• US 6,402,229 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Suganuma, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US09/407,349
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 296/204, 296/203.02, 296/203.01, 296/194, 296/188, 180/68.5, 180/311, 180/312, 180/53.8, 280/781, 280/784, 280/783, 248/678, 248/676, 248/346.01
• US Class Current: 296/203.02
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/02 comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/08 built up with interlaced cross members
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/09 Means for mounting load bearing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F

Abstract

A structure for a front portion of a vehicle having a ladder type frame installed on left and right side frames arranged longitudinally of a vehicle at a position a predetermined distance rearward from front tips of impact absorption beams at front ends of the side frames and forward of a dash panel in such a manner as to extend between the left and right side frames. The ladder type frame is disposed rearward of the impact absorption beams and forwardly of the dash panel so that auxiliary machines of the vehicle, such as a battery an air conditioning compressor, and the like, are mounted thereon. A crushable zone is provided in front of front side frames. In the above construction, the length of the zone for accommodating the auxiliary machines of the vehicle is markedly shorter than that provided by the prior art, and therefore it is possible to sufficiently reduce the length of the nose of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle having a front dash panel, comprising:

left and right side frames arranged longitudinally of said vehicle;

a ladder type frame installed on said left and right side frames forward of said dash panel in such a manner as to extend between said left and right side frames; and

at least one of a battery and an auxiliary machine of said vehicle supported by said ladder type frame;

said ladder type frame including a pair of main beams extending transversely of the vehicle and a plurality of sub-beams connected between said main beams in a substantially planar, ladder shape; and

said ladder type frame is disposed at a level above said side frames.

2. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an impact absorption beam in front of said left and right side frames;

wherein said ladder type frame is installed on said left and right side frames at a position a predetermined distance conforming to a length of said impact absorption beam rearward from front tips of said impact absorption beam.

3. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said impact absorption beam extends longitudinally of the vehicle.

4. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said impact absorption beam has a cross section shaped as a framed cross.

5. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said impact absorption beam includes a pair of beam members extending forwardly from said left and right side frames.

6. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claims 5, wherein said pair of beam members of said impact absorption beam extend longitudinally of the vehicle.

7. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said ladder type frame further comprises leg portions for attaching said main beams to said side frames at said level above said side frames.

8. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said at least one of said battery and said auxiliary machine of the vehicle is supported by said sub-beams of the ladder type frame.

9. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claims 8, wherein said auxiliary machine is one of an air conditioning compressor, an air conditioning inverter and an ABS unit.

10. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle comprising:

left and right side frames extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and

auxiliary frame means extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle and connected between front portions of the left and right side frames forward of a dash panel of the vehicle, for supporting a plurality auxiliary machines of the vehicle;

said auxiliary frame means comprising a ladder type frame including a pair of main beams extending transversely of the vehicle and a plurality of sub-beams connected between said main beams in a substantially planar, ladder shape.

11. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said ladder type frame further comprises leg portions for attaching said main beams to said side frames at a level above said side frames.

12. A structure for front portion of a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of auxiliary machines is supported by said sub-beams of said ladder type frame.

13. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said auxiliary machines are mounted to said ladder type frame.

14. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said auxiliary machines are an air conditioning compressor, an air conditioning inverter and an ABS unit.

15. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising an impact absorption beam in front of said left and right side frames, and said auxiliary frame means is connected to said left and right side frames at a position a predetermined distance conforming to a length of said impact absorption beam rearward from front tips of the impact absorption beam.

16. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said impact absorption beam includes a pair of beam members extending forwardly from said left and right side frames.

17. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle, comprising:

left and right side frames arranged longitudinally of said vehicle;

a ladder type frame installed on said left and right side frames forward of a dash panel in such a manner as to extend between said left and right side frames; and

a plurality of auxiliary machines of the vehicle supported by said ladder type frame;

said ladder type frame including a pair of main beams extending transversely of the vehicle and a plurality of sub-beams connected between said main beams in a substantially planar, ladder shape.

18. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said auxiliary machines are an air conditioning compressor, an air conditioning inverter, and an ABS unit.

19. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said auxiliary machines are mounted to said ladder type frame.

20. A structure for a front portion of a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said ladder type frame further comprises leg portions for attaching said main beams to said side frames at a level above said side frames.