Front part of a motor vehicle having a fender unit

• US 7,013,951 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2001
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Rathje, Klaus, Bauer, Ralph, Frank, Thomas, Brown, Garry
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKINNON, TERRELL L
• Application Number:
  US10/471,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20040144522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,704 Days
• Field of Search: 165/41, 165/51, 165/99, 165/98, 165/44, 180 681- 686
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/12 vertically spaced
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/48 combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1833 made of plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1886 Bumper fascias and fastening means therefor on fenders B60R2019/247
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a front part of a motor vehicle having a fender unit which comprises a front fender which is covered on the outside by a fender covering, and which is connected in its lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, an air guiding part being arranged underneath the fender.

According to the invention, in the event of a head-on impact the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens it in a region which is positioned in front of the fender, the air guiding part being supported on the bottom supporting structure.

Claims

1. A front part of a motor vehicle having a bumper unit which comprises an air guiding part which is disposed under a cooling air opening defined by a fender covering and which is connected in a lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle and wherein a region of connection between the fender covering and the air guiding part extends beyond a portion of the fender covering that is disposed above the cooling air opening, wherein in an event of a head-on impact, the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens the fender covering in a region which is positioned in front of a front fender.

2. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guiding part extends over an entire width of the motor vehicle.

3. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guiding part is supported by a front end of two longitudinal carrier sections which are associated with the bottom supporting structure.

4. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein a rear end collision protection element is connected to the air guiding part and is fitted over each of the front ends of the longitudinal carrier sections.

5. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the air guiding part is constructed as one piece with the rear end collision protection element as a plastic part.

6. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air guiding part extends laterally beyond supports disposed on the longitudinal carrier sections.

7. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a contour of the air guiding part which faces the fender covering is adapted to an internal contour of the fender covering and wherein the contour of the air guiding part bears against and is connected to the internal contour of the fender covering.

8. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guiding part is embodied in one piece with the fender covering.

9. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guiding part has a wing-like shape and a plurality of reinforcement ribs which are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, and are arranged on an upper side of the wing-like shape.

10. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of reinforcement ribs is arranged on an underside of the wing-like shape, the contour of the at least one reinforcement rib which lies opposite the fender covering being matched to an internal contour of the fender covering.

11. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the air guiding part forms a closed hollow section together with a region of the fender covering which is positioned in front of the air guiding part.

12. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein a support is provided on a transverse carrier and wherein the transverse carrier connects the two longitudinal carrier sections.

13. A front part of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fender;

a cover disposed over the fender and defining a cooling air opening; and

an air guiding part, wherein the air guiding part is disposed under the cooling air opening and is connected to the cover at a front end and to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle at a rear end and wherein a region of connection between the cover and the air guiding part extends beyond a portion of the cover that is disposed above the cooling air opening.

14. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein a contour of the air guiding part matches a contour of the cover.

15. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the air guiding part extends over a width of the motor vehicle.

16. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the air guiding part is supported by a front end of two longitudinal carrier sections which are associated with the bottom supporting structure.

17. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein a rear end collision protection element is connected to the air guiding part and is fitted over each of the front ends of the longitudinal carrier sections.

18. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the air guiding part is constructed as one piece with the rear end collision protection element as a plastic part.

19. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the air guiding part extends laterally beyond supports disposed on the longitudinal carrier sections.

20. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the air guiding part has a wing-like shape and a plurality of reinforcement ribs which are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, and are arranged on an upper side of the wing-like shape.

21. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of reinforcement ribs is arranged on an underside of the wing-like shape, the contour of the at least one reinforcement rib which lies opposite the cover being matched to an internal contour of the cover.

22. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the air guiding part forms a closed hollow section together with a region of the cover which is positioned in front of the air guiding part.

23. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein a support is provided on a transverse carrier and wherein the transverse carrier connects the two longitudinal carrier sections.

24. A front part of a motor vehicle having a bumper unit which comprises an air guiding part which is arranged underneath a fender covering and a front fender and which is connected in a lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, wherein the air guiding part is supported by a front end of two longitudinal carrier sections which are associated with the bottom supporting structure, and wherein in an event of a head-on impact, the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens the fender covering in a region which is positioned in front of the front fender.

25. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 24, wherein a rear end collision protection element is connected to the air guiding part and is fitted over each of the front ends of the longitudinal carrier sections.

26. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 25, wherein the air guiding part is constructed as one piece with the rear end collision protection element as a plastic part.

27. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 24, wherein the air guiding part extends laterally beyond supports disposed on the longitudinal carrier sections.

28. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 24, wherein a support is provided on a transverse carrier and wherein the transverse carrier connects the two longitudinal carrier sections.

29. A front part of a motor vehicle having a bumper unit which comprises an air guiding part which is arranged underneath a fender covering and a front fender and which is connected in a lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, wherein the air guiding part has a wing-like shape and a plurality of reinforcement ribs which are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, and are arranged on an upper side of the wing-like shape, and wherein in an event of a head-on impact, the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens the fender covering in a region which is positioned in front of the front fender.

30. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least one of the plurality of reinforcement ribs is arranged on an underside of the wing-like shape, the contour of the at least one reinforcement rib which lies opposite the fender covering being matched to an internal contour of the fender covering.

31. The front part of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 29, wherein the air guiding part forms a closed hollow section together with a region of the fender covering which is positioned in front of the air guiding part.

32. A front part of a motor vehicle having a bumper unit which comprises an air guiding part which is arranged underneath a fender covering and a front fender and which is connected in a lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, wherein the air guiding part is arranged underneath a cooling air opening defined by the fender covering and wherein the air guiding part extends over an entire width of the motor vehicle, and further wherein in an event of a head-on impact, the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens the fender covering in a region which is positioned in front of the front fender.

33. A front part of a motor vehicle having a bumper unit which comprises an air guiding part which is arranged underneath a fender covering and a front fender and which is connected in a lower region to a bottom supporting structure of the motor vehicle, wherein the air guiding part is embodied in one piece with the fender covering, and wherein in an event of a head-on impact, the air guiding part interacts with the fender covering and stiffens the fender covering in a region which is positioned in front of the front fender.