IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,577,785
Granted Patent B2
US 11,577,785 · App. 17/099,345 · Granted Feb 14, 2023

Vehicle front structure

Inventors: Hye Yeon Kim (Anyang-si, KR); Yong Kew Kim (Gwangmyeong-si, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
B62D21/155B62D25/2018B62D27/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,577,785
App. No.
17/099,345
Granted
Feb 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle front structure includes: a front side member; a fender apron member having a front end portion connected to a front end portion of the front side member; a subframe mounting bracket assembly mounted to the front end portion of the front side member and the front end portion of the fender apron member; and a first subframe disposed under the front side member. In particular, the front end portion of the front side member and the front end portion of the fender apron member are connected side-by-side in a width direction of a vehicle.

Claims (53)

1. A vehicle front structure for a vehicle, comprising:

a front side member;

a fender apron member having a front end portion connected to a front end portion of the front side member;

a subframe mounting bracket assembly mounted to the front end portion of the front side member and the front end portion of the fender apron member; and

a first subframe disposed under the front side member,

wherein the front end portion of the front side member and the front end portion of the fender apron member are connected side-by-side in a width direction of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein the subframe mounting bracket assembly includes: a first mounting bracket joined to the front end portion of the front side member, a second mounting bracket joined to the front end portion of the fender apron member, and a reinforcing member connecting the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2 , wherein the front end portion of the fender apron member has a plurality of flanges attached to the second mounting bracket.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2 , wherein:

the first mounting bracket includes a mounting wall disposed on a bottom end thereof,

the reinforcing member includes a support wall parallel to the mounting wall, and

a front mounting hardware member extends through and is joined to the support wall and the mounting wall.

5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 4 , further comprising a front subframe including:

a front mounting bush located in a front end portion of the front subframe;

a rear mounting bush located in a rear end portion of the front subframe; and

a center mounting bush located between the front mounting bush and the rear mounting bush, and

wherein the front mounting bush is mounted to the front mounting hardware member through a front fastener.

6. The vehicle front structure according to claim 5 , wherein: the center mounting bush is mounted to the front side member through a center fastener, and

the center mounting bush is made of a material having lower strength than a strength of the front subframe.

7. The vehicle front structure according to claim 6 , wherein the front side member has a center mounting portion protruding downwardly from a bottom surface thereof,

a center mounting hardware member is fixed into the center mounting portion, and

the center mounting bush is mounted to the center mounting hardware member through the center fastener.

8. The vehicle front structure according to claim 5 , wherein:

a floor member is connected to the front side member,

the floor member has a front end portion joined to the front side member, and

the rear mounting bush is mounted to the front end portion of the floor member through a rear fastener.

9. The vehicle front structure according to claim 8 , wherein:

a rear mounting hardware member is mounted to the front end portion of the floor member through a rear reinforcing member and a bulkhead, and

the rear mounting bush is mounted to the rear mounting hardware member through the rear fastener.

10. The vehicle front structure according to claim 9 , wherein:

the front end portion of the floor member has an opening extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and

the rear mounting hardware member and a top portion of the rear mounting bush extend through the opening of the floor member.

11. The vehicle front structure according to claim 10 , wherein:

the rear reinforcing member is disposed above the opening of the floor member, and

the rear reinforcing member is made of a material having lower stiffness than a stiffness of the rear mounting hardware member, the floor member, and the bulkhead.

12. The vehicle front structure according to claim 9 , wherein:

the rear reinforcing member includes a support wall to which a bottom surface of the rear mounting hardware member is fixed,

the support wall has a mounting hole through which the rear fastener passes, and

a plurality of through holes is located around the mounting hole.

13. The vehicle front structure according to claim 12 , wherein:

the bulkhead is disposed on the rear mounting hardware member to cover the rear mounting hardware member and the support wall of the rear reinforcing member, and

the bulkhead is joined to the rear reinforcing member.

14. The vehicle front structure according to claim 12 , wherein:

the bulkhead has a cover wall covering the rear mounting hardware member and the support wall of the rear reinforcing member,

the cover wall has an insertion hole into which a top portion of the rear mounting hardware member is inserted, and

a plurality of through holes is located around the insertion hole.

15. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a front subframe including:

a center crossmember;

a pair of longitudinal members extending upwardly and obliquely from the center crossmember toward a front of the vehicle, and

a front crossmember connecting front end portions of the pair of longitudinal members,

wherein:

each longitudinal member of the pair of longitudinal members has a flat portion extending horizontally from a front end of the center crossmember, and

the flat portion is located at a lower height than a front end portion of the longitudinal member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: KIM, HYE YEON; KIM, YONG KEW
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056069/0640 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0095338 · Jul 30, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220033003A1 · Feb 3, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,673,729 US 12,722,715