Front-end structure of vehicle
An attachment portion between an upper member ( 11 ) and a radiator ( 20 ) is constructed so as to be displaced in a longitudinal direction of the upper member ( 11 ) when an impact force is applied to the upper member ( 11 ) by constructing a mount cushion ( 30 ) so as to be deformed easily in a longer diameter direction thereof. By this structure, when an impact force is applied to the upper member ( 11 ) from a front side of a vehicle, as it is not that the radiator ( 20 ) and the upper member ( 11 ) are deformed together but that the upper member ( 11 ) is deformed prior to the radiator ( 20 ), a bending rigidity to an impact force becomes smaller than a conventional case. Consequently, since the upper member is allowed to be deformed easily at the time of collision without largely reducing the mechanical strength of the upper member ( 11 ), compatibility between the requirements of protection of pedestrians and sufficient strength of the upper member ( 11 ) can be ensured.
1. A front-end structure of a vehicle comprising:
a beam-like upper member fixed to a vehicle body at a front-end part of the vehicle, the beam-like upper member extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle and having a radiator support, and
a radiator assembled to the radiator support of the beam-like upper member, the radiator being supported by the beam-like upper member, wherein
when an impact force is applied to a hood of the vehicle from a front side of the vehicle, the beam-like upper member is positioned with respect to the hood to be displaced prior to displacement of the radiator; and
the radiator is disposed toward the front side of the vehicle in relation to the beam-like upper member.
2. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the beam-like upper member is positioned to be deformed toward a rear of the vehicle when the impact force is applied to the hood.
3. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a shroud constructed to cover a gap between a radiator and a blower so as to prevent an air flow induced by the blower from bypassing the radiator; wherein
part of the shroud is part of the beam-like upper member, and a portion of the beam-like upper member to which the impact force is applied is disposed at a more rearward position of the vehicle than the radiator support; and
the shroud and the beam-like upper member are disposed on the same side of the radiator.
4. A front end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the beam-like upper member and the shroud are formed from a resin to be integral with each other.
5. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein a hood lock for securing an engine hood is provided on the beam-like upper member.
6. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the beam-like upper member is disposed at the same height as a portion of the radiator support holding the radiator.
7. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the hood has an external surface sloping upward from a front side of the vehicle to a rear side thereof.
8. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein a portion of the beam-like upper member to which the front impact force is applied is disposed at a more rearward position than a rearward end of the radiator support.
9. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the front impact force is applied to a hood of the vehicle from a front side of the vehicle.
10. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the radiator support is disposed toward the front side of the vehicle in relation to the beam-like upper member.
11. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a hood lock for securing an engine hood is disposed toward a rear side of the vehicle in relation to the radiator.
12. A front-end structure of a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the upper member is disposed at a more rearward position of the vehicle than the radiator.