IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,474,558
Granted Patent B2
US 8,474,558 · App. 12/504,359 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Engine intake passage structure of front vehicle body

Inventors: Takahide Ohira (Hiroshima, JP); Seiji Gono (Hiroshima, JP); Dai Yoshimura (Hiroshima, JP); Yukari Urata (Hiroshima, JP)
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,474,558
App. No.
12/504,359
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a duct, an inlet portion of which is disposed so as to be exposed to an upper-side portion of an air intake opening and an outlet portion of which connects to an inlet of an intake passage of an engine. There can be provided an engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body which can properly reduce a risk of the water coming into the inlet of the intake passage of the engine even when the vehicle travels on the flooded road.

Claims (19)

1. An engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body, comprising:

an intake passage of an engine, an inlet of which is disposed above a heat exchanger which is provided at a front portion of a vehicle body;

an air intake opening to introduce outside air therein, the air intake opening being formed at a specified portion of a bumper fascia which forms an outer face of the front portion of the vehicle body, the specified portion facing to the heat exchanger; and

a duct to guide the outside air, an inlet portion of which is disposed so as to be exposed to an upper-side portion of the air intake opening and an outlet portion of which connects to the inlet of the intake passage of the engine,

wherein said duct includes a crank-shaped bending portion where the outside air introduced therein from the inlet portion thereof is guided upward and then rearward toward the outlet portion thereof in a side view of the vehicle body, and an eaves portion is provided at a corner portion of the crank-shaped bending portion such that the eaves portion projects forward from the corner portion so as to trap water coming in from the inlet portion of the duct therewith and make the water drop therefrom.

2. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein said air intake opening is formed so as to extend outward in a vehicle width direction beyond the heat exchanger in an elevation view of a vehicle, and said inlet portion of the duct is disposed so as to be exposed to a portion of the air intake opening which is positioned outside of the heat exchanger.

3. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein said inlet portion of the duct comprises a plurality of inlets which are disposed away from each other in a vehicle width direction, and there is provided a connection portion which connects downstream portions of the plural inlets and extends in the vehicle width direction at a positioned which is above the inlets of the duct and below said inlet of the intake passage of the engine.

4. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 3 , wherein a drain portion is provided at said connection portion of the duct.

5. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein said duct includes the bumper fascia and a member which is provided so as to face to a back face of the bumper fascia.

6. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 1 , wherein said duct comprises a bumper fascia and a bumper-fascia support member, the bumper-fascia support member including a lower duct portion which comprises a bottom face portion which is provided substantially continuously to the inlet portion of the duct and a rear face portion which rises upward from a rear end of the bottom face portion, the a bottom face portion and the rear face portion constituting said crank-shaped bending portion where the outside air introduced therein is guided upward and then rearward toward the outlet portion thereof, and said eaves portion projects forward substantially horizontally from an upper end of the rear face portion.

7. An engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body, comprising:

an intake passage of an engine, an inlet of which is disposed above a heat exchanger which is provided at a front portion of a vehicle body;

an air intake opening to introduce outside air therein, the air intake opening being formed at a specified portion of a bumper fascia which forms an outer face of the front portion of the vehicle body, the specified portion facing to the heat exchanger; and

a duct to guide the outside air, an inlet portion of which is disposed so as to be exposed to an upper-side portion of the air intake opening and an outlet portion of which connects to the inlet of the intake passage of the engine,

wherein said duct includes a crank-shaped bending portion where the outside air introduced therein from the inlet portion thereof is guided upward and then rearward toward the outlet portion thereof in a side view of the vehicle body, and an eaves portion is provided at a corner portion of the crank-shaped bending portion such that the eaves portion projects forward from the corner portion so as to trap water coming in from the inlet portion of the duct therewith and make the water drop therefrom,

said air intake opening is formed so as to extend outward in a vehicle width direction beyond the heat exchanger in an elevation view of a vehicle, and said inlet portion of the duct is disposed so as to be exposed to a portion of the air intake opening which is positioned outside of the heat exchanger,

said inlet portion of the duct comprises a plurality of inlets which are disposed away from each other in a vehicle width direction, and there is provided a connection portion which connects downstream portions of the plural inlets and extends in the vehicle width direction at a positioned which is above the inlets of the duct and below said inlet of the intake passage of the engine.

8. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 7 , wherein a drain portion is provided at said connection portion of the duct.

9. The engine intake passage structure of a front vehicle body of claim 8 , wherein said duct includes the bumper fascia and a member which is provided so as to face to a back face of the bumper fascia.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2009
From: OHIRA, TAKAHIDE; GONO, SEIJI; YOSHIMURA, DAI; URATA, YUKARI
To: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022966/0839 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-204070 · Aug 7, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100032220A1 · Feb 11, 2010