Front vehicle-body structure of vehicle

• US 9,878,743 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Maruyama, Kenji, Matsuoka, Hidenori, Watanabe, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US15/345,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/02 comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/03 transverse members providing body support
• 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: B62D 25/088 Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers

Abstract

A front vehicle body comprises a front frame, an apron reinforcement, and a suspension housing. The suspension housing comprises first and second open cross-sections extending in a vehicle width direction and interconnecting the front frame and the apron reinforcement. The suspension housing includes first joint portions which are joined to an outer face of the front frame and second joint portions which are joined to an inner face of the front frame. The first joint portions and the second joint portions are arranged on an end portion of the suspension housing which is positioned on a front-frame side such that they are alternately aligned in a vehicle longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a front frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and having a closed cross-section;

an apron reinforcement extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and arranged above and on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the front frame; and

a suspension housing connecting the front frame and the apron reinforcement, to which a suspension component is attached,

wherein said front frame includes an outer face facing an outward side in the vehicle width direction, an inner face facing an inward side in the vehicle width direction, and an upper face positioned upward between the outer face and the inner face, said suspension housing includes a first joint portion joined to said outer face of the front frame and a second joint portion joined to said inner face of the front frame, and said first joint portion and said second joint portion are arranged on an end portion of the suspension housing which is positioned on a front-frame side such that the first and second joint portions are alternately aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

2. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said suspension housing comprises plural open cross-sections extending in the vehicle width direction and interconnecting said front frame and said apron reinforcement, the plural open cross-sections being spaced apart from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a longitudinal area of the suspension housing where each of said open cross-sections exists is joined to the front frame by said second joint portion.

3. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of claim 2, wherein an end portion of each of said open cross-sections which is positioned on a front-frame side is formed by a pair of side plates which have a width corresponding to a width, in the vehicle width direction, of said upper face of the front frame and a connecting plate which connects end edges of respective inward sides, in the vehicle width direction, of said pair of side plates, and said second joint portion is a connection portion which is continuous to an end portion of said connecting plate.

4. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said suspension housing further comprises a suspension top portion to which the suspension is attached and a flat face portion which extends downward from said suspension top portion, and a first extension portion which constitutes said first joint portion is provided continuously to a lower end of said flat face portion.

5. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of claim 2, wherein said suspension housing further comprises a suspension top portion to which the suspension is attached and a flat face portion which extends downward from said suspension top portion, and a first extension portion which constitutes said first joint portion is provided continuously to a lower end of said flat face portion.

6. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of claim 3, wherein said suspension housing further comprises a suspension top portion to which the suspension is attached and a flat face portion which extends downward from said suspension top portion, and a first extension portion which constitutes said first joint portion is provided continuously to a lower end of said flat face portion.

7. The front vehicle-body structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said suspension housing comprises a first open cross-section and a second open cross-section which extend in the vehicle width direction and interconnect said front frame and said apron reinforcement, respectively, the first and second open cross-sections being spaced apart from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a longitudinal area of the suspension housing where each of said first and second open cross-sections exists is joined to the front frame by said second joint portion,

an end portion of each of said first and second open cross-sections which is positioned on a front-frame side is formed by a pair of side plates which have a width corresponding to a width, in the vehicle width direction, of said upper face of the front frame and a connecting plate which connects end edges of respective inward sides, in the vehicle width direction, of said pair of side plates, said second joint portion is a connection portion which is continuous to an end portion of said connecting plate,

said suspension housing further comprises a suspension top portion to which the suspension is attached and a flat face portion which extends downward from said suspension top portion, first, second and third extension portions which constitute said first joint portion are provided continuously to a lower end of said flat face portion,

said first and second open cross-sections are provided such that said flat face portion of the suspension housing is interposed therebetween, and the connection portion of said second joint portion for the first open cross-section is interposed, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, between said first and second extension portions and the connection portion of said second joint portion for the second open cross-section is interposed, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, between said first and third extension portions.