Title: Reinforcement structure for front end module carrier
Abstract: The reinforcement structure for a front-end module carrier is the reinforcement structure comprises an upper member installed with a hood latch, a vertical member connected to a middle portion of the upper member so as to support the upper member, and a lower member fixed to a lower portion of the vertical member, the lower member having a downwardly dented concave shape. According to the present invention, when an automobile is in motion, by virtue of the use of the lower member formed so as to have the downwardly dented concave shape, it is possible to easily distribute a vertical upward load generated when the hood latch is liable to be raised upward by wind resistance, resulting in the prevention of deformation of the lower member.
Patent Number: 6,979,053 Issued on 12/27/2005 to Kim
| Inventors:
|
Kim; Mycong-ki (Yongin-shi, KR)
|
| Assignee:
|
Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (Seoul, KR)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
713249 |
| Filed:
|
November 17, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Oct 17, 2003[KR] | 10-2003-0072659 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
296/193.09; 296/203.02; 296/193.1 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B60J 007/00 |
| Field of Search: |
296/18701,187.03,187.09,187.1,193.01,193.09,193.1
180/684
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2662794 | Dec., 1953 | Lindsay.
| |
| 3086606 | Apr., 1963 | Schwiering et al.
| |
| 4141426 | Feb., 1979 | Hamada et al.
| |
| 4194763 | Mar., 1980 | Reidelbach et al.
| |
| 4358152 | Nov., 1982 | Mayer et al.
| |
| 4428447 | Jan., 1984 | Malen.
| |
| 4542934 | Sep., 1985 | Komatsu et al.
| |
| 4940281 | Jul., 1990 | Komatsu.
| |
| 5048345 | Sep., 1991 | Hagiwara et al.
| |
| 5106148 | Apr., 1992 | Ikeda et al.
| |
| 5271473 | Dec., 1993 | Ikeda et al.
| |
| 5348114 | Sep., 1994 | Yamauchi.
| |
| 5409288 | Apr., 1995 | Masuda.
| |
| 5573299 | Nov., 1996 | Masuda.
| |
| 5575526 | Nov., 1996 | Wycech.
| |
| 5597198 | Jan., 1997 | Takanishi et al.
| |
| 5865500 | Feb., 1999 | Sanada et al.
| |
| 6155633 | Dec., 2000 | Minami et al.
| |
| 6170906 | Jan., 2001 | Kasuga.
| |
| 6293617 | Sep., 2001 | Sukegawa.
| |
| 6338510 | Jan., 2002 | Kanamori et al.
| |
| 6357821 | Mar., 2002 | Maj et al.
| |
| 6364403 | Apr., 2002 | Ozawa et al.
| |
| 6382709 | May., 2002 | Chirifu et al.
| |
| 6386624 | May., 2002 | Schultz et al.
| |
| 6502653 | Jan., 2003 | Balzer et al.
| |
| 6508506 | Jan., 2003 | Ozawa et al.
| |
| 6533347 | Mar., 2003 | Sanada.
| |
| 6547317 | Apr., 2003 | Cheron et al.
| |
| 6634702 | Oct., 2003 | Pleschke et al.
| |
| 6676179 | Jan., 2004 | Sato et al.
| |
| 6679545 | Jan., 2004 | Balzer et al.
| |
| 6708790 | Mar., 2004 | Ozawa et al.
| |
| 6729424 | May., 2004 | Joutaki et al.
| |
| 6789606 | Sep., 2004 | Ohki.
| |
| 6923495 | Aug., 2005 | Kishikawa et al.
| |
| 2002/0017806 | Feb., 2002 | Funakoshi et al.
| |
| 2004/0011577 | Jan., 2004 | Jung.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 10329753 | Dec., 1998 | JP.
| |
| 10329755 | Dec., 1998 | JP.
| |
| 11-34920 | Feb., 1999 | JP.
| |
Other References
English Language Abstract of JP 10-329755.
English Language Abstract of JP 11-34920.
English Language Abstract of JP 10-329753.
|
Primary Examiner: Patel; Kiran B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C.
Claims
1. A reinforcement structure for a front-end module carrier comprising:
an upper member having a hood latch;
a vertical member connected to a middle portion of the upper member so as to
support the upper member;
a lower member fixed to a lower portion of the vertical member, the lower member
having a downwardly curved shape and extending forward from the reinforcement structure; and
side members, wherein the lower member comprises side fixing portions which contact
said side members, and a height of the lower member at said side fixing portions
is substantially greater than a height of the lower member at the location that
the lower member is fixed to the lower part of the vertical member.
2. The reinforcement structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lower member
has a constant curvature toward a front side.
3. The reinforcement structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lower member
bends forwardly so as to absorb shock applied to the front side of the front-end
module carrier, to thereby prevent transmission of the shock to internal components
of the carrier.
4. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the narrowest portion
of the lower member includes a region to which the vertical member is fixed, the
narrowest portion comprising part of the downwardly curved shape.
5. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower member
comprises a narrowest portion that is positioned at a central region of the lower member.
6. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower member
comprises a narrowest portion that is positioned more forwardly than the side members.
7. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper member
has a curved shape so as to extend forwardly at a central portion of the upper member.
8. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical member
is fixed to a middle portion of the lower member.
9. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower member
comprises a substantially continuous curve.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
The present disclosure relates to subject maw contained in Korean application
No.2003-72659, filed on Oct. 17, 2003, which is herein expressly incorporated by
reference its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforcement structure for a front end module
carrier, and more particularly to a reinforced front end module carrier comprising
a lower member, which is configured to have a downward concave shape and adapted
to reinforce the overall rigidity of the carrier against an upward force caused
by a hood latch provided on the carrier
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, body structures of automobiles are basically classified into monocoque
body structure and frame structures, and again monocoque body structures are differentiated
in accordance with their driving manners, such as FF (front engine front wheel
drive) or FR (front engine rear wheel drive), and the automobile suspension type.
Further, according to manufacturers, the monocoque body structures have slight
differences in assembly order of its components, division manners thereof and the like.
Explaining the generic structure of a monocoque body, it is basically
divided into a front body, a center body, and a rear body. Certain exterior components
of the monocoque body, for example, a front fender, hood, front balance panel,
and the like included in the front body thereof are fastened with bolts, and most
other structural members constituting the framework of the monocoque body are welded
to its main body by spot welding. Such a monocoque body is a frameless body.
Nowadays, most automobiles have adopted the monocoque body due to its various
advantages. That is, since the monocoque body is integrally formed with a chassis
frame, it is lighter, and capable of effectively absorbing shock generated in an
automobile crash, and of uniformly absorbing an external force with the entire body.
As shown in FIG. 1, the monocoque body, designated as reference numeral 1,
comprises a front body 3, a center body 5, and a rear body 7,
which are successively arranged in a longitudinal direction of an automobile.
The front body 3 comprises an inner panel portion including a dash panel,
a wheelhouse and front fender, and an outer panel portion having a hood and front
leading panel. In the case of the center body 5, since it is essentially
free from external forces except for the rear portion of its floor where a driving
device is installed, it can be formed to have a box shape by processing a thin
panel with a press. The center body 5 comprises a floor panel, both side
panels, a roof panel 8, a cowl panel 9, doom and the like. The rear
body 7 includes a rear floor panel, rear fender, lower back panel, and the like.
The monocoque-body further comprises lower body frames, which are arranged on
the left and right sides of the lower side thereof while being spaced apart from
each other. These lower body frames build up a basic framework at the lower side
of the body for supporting the entire body. The lower body frames are adapted to
initially receive a shock generated in an automobile crash, thereby dispersing
it across the entire body of an automobile.
At the front side of the front body 3 is mounted a carrier 10 which
is obtained by applying a front-end module (FEM) technique. Such a, front end module
carrier is used to assemble left and right head lamps, a radiator, a condenser,
a bumper, and the like within a body panel, thereby improving the ease with which
the above components are assembled, shortening assembly time by reducing the number
of components to be assembled, and ensuring greater assembly.
Referring to FIG. 2 illustrating the conventional front end module carrier
10, it comprises head lamp mounting portions 11 formed at both sides
of the upper portion thereof a cooling module mourning portion 12 in front
of which a cooling module including a radiator and a condenser is mounted a vertical
member 14 extending downward from the middle portion of an upper member
13 provided at the upper side of the cooling module mounting portion 12
and used for the installation of an automobile's horn and the like, and a lower
member 15 formed at the lower side of the cooling module mounting portion
12 and used for the installation of a bumper, fog lamps and the like.
Referring to FIG. 3, the upper member 13 is installed with a hood
latch 17 at the middle portion thereof connected to the vertical member
14. The hood latch 17 serves as a locking device for a hood covering
the front top portion of an automobile.
When the automobile is in motion the hood moves upward due to wind resistance,
hence a vertical upward load is applied to the hood latch.
As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical upward load applied to the hood latch 17,
which is installed at the upper member 13, is transmitted to the upper member
13, and hence to the vertical member 14 connected to the upper member
13. In turn, the load is transmitted to the lower member 15, and
consequently, to side members 19 located at both sides of the lower member 15.
The lower member 15 is configured to have a relatively long length and
a constant height across the overall length. With this structure, when the vertical
upward load applied to the hood latch 17 is transmitted to the lower member
15 through the vertical member 14, the lower member 15 cannot
support the transmitted load, resulting in its distortion.
Further, since the lower member 15 comes into contact with the side
members 19 over a relatively small contact area, the load transmitted to
the lower member 15 cannot be easily transmitted to the side members 19,
thereby causing the load to be concentrated only to the lower member 15.
Furthermore, the lower member 15, as shown in FIG. 2, is linearly
formed at the center portion thereof. In this case, if an external shock is applied
to the front side of the carrier 10, the carrier 10 cannot absorb
the shock, thereby causing the shock to be directly applied to the internal components thereof.
For the above reasons, the carrier 10 is easily deformed even by a relatively
light external shock due to its poor durability, thereby damaging its internal components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
and it is an object of the present invention to provide the reinforcement structure
for a front end module carrier comprising a lower member, which has high durability
against a vertical upward load caused by a hood latch.
It is another object of the present invention to provide the reinforcement structure
for a front end module carrier, which is configured to allow an external force
transmitted to its lower member to be easily transmitted to side members located
at both sides of the lower member.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the reinforcement
structure for a front-end module carrier having a high durability against a shock
applied to the front side thereof.
In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be
accomplished
by the provision of reinforcement structure for a front end module carrier comprising:
an upper member having a hood latch, a vertical member connected to a middle portion
of the upper member so as to support the upper member; and a lower member fixed
to a lower portion of the vertical member, the lower member having a downward dented
concave shape.
Preferably, the lower member may be curved toward its front side.
According to the present invention, when an automobile is in motion, it
is possible to allow a certain vertical upward load applied to a front end module
carrier, the vertical upward load being generated by a force liable to lift a hood
latch installed at the front end module carrier due to wind resistance to be easily
dispersed, by virtue of a lower member consisting the front end module carrier,
the lower member having a downwardly dented concave upper shape so as to prevent
it from being deformed by the load.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention
will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a monocoque body of a general automobile;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional front-end module carrier,
which is mounted at the front portion of the monocoque body shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the reinforcement structure for a
font end module carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown the reinforcement structure
of a front-end module carrier, designated as reference numeral
30. The front
end module carrier
30 comprises an upper member
40 for supporting
the upper side of the carrier
30, a lower member
50 for supporting
the lower side of the carrier
30, and a vertical member
60 and a
pair of side members
70, which are installed between the upper and lower
members
40 and
50.
The side members
70 are formed with mounting portions
72 for the
installation of headlamps.
Considering the shape of the lower member in detail, first, as can be
seen well from FIG. 5 shown as a front view, the lower member
50 is downwardly
dented so as to form a concave shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower member
50 is formed so as to have a protruding convex shape of a constant curvature.
The lower member
50 comprises a centered fixing portion
52 connected
to the vertical member
60, and both side-fixing portions
54 connected
to the side members
70.
With the above configuration of the lower member
50, as shown in FIG.
5 illustrating the front side of the front-end module carrier
30, the lower
member
50 is gradually dented from the side fixing portions
54 toward
the center fixing portion
52. That is, the center fixing portion
52
forms the lowest portion of the concave lower member
50, and the side fixing
portions
54 having a certain height compared with the center fixing portion
50.
Therefore, from a vertical distance h
1, which is obtained by measuring
the distance between the upper surface of the lowest center fixing portion
52
and the upper surfaces of the side fixing portions
54, it is possible to
calculate the degree of concavity of the lower member
50.
Further, when the lower member
50 is viewed in a horizontal direction
thereof, since the lower member
50 has the convex bent shape, which protrudes
forward from the side fixing portions
54 toward the center fixing portion
52, a horizontal distance h
2 between the side fixing portions
54
and the center fixing portion
52 indicates the degree of convexity of the
lower member
50, namely, the curvature thereof.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper member
40 is installed
with a hood latch
42 at a portion where the upper member
40 is connected
to the vertical member
60. The hood latch
42 serves as a locking
device for a hood.
The operation of the reinforcement structure for the front-end module carrier
in accordance with the present invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Due to wind resistance, which is usually applied to a hood of an automobile when
it is in motion, the hood latch
42 is subjected to a vertical upward load.
If the hood is damaged in the case of an automobile crash, such a vertical upward
load is directly applied to the corresponding portion of the upper member
40
of the front end module carrier
30.
The vertical upward load applied to the upper member
40 is transferred
to the lower member
50 through the vertical member
60.
In case of the load transmitted to the lower member
50 through the vertical
member
60, however, by virtue of the downwardly dented concave shape, which
is given by the vertical distance h
1, the lower member
50 has an
improved rigidity against the vertical load transmitted thereto, compared with
conventional carriers, thereby constituting the reinforcement structure for the
front end module carrier
30.
With the downwardly dented concave shape, the lower member
50, especially
its side fixing portions
54 can come into contact with the side members
70 across a relatively wide area.
This enables the load transmitted to the lower member
50 to be easily
transmitted to the side members
70.
Further, since the lower member
50 is bent to protrude forward at
a constant curvature, which is given by the horizontal distance h
2, the
lower member
50 can function to absorb the predetermined amount of shock
even when the shock is directly applied to the front side of the carrier
30,
thereby preventing transmission of the shock to its internal components.
As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a reinforcement
structure for a front end module carrier comprising a lower member, which is formed
to have a downwardly dented concave shape or achieving high durability against
a vertical upward load caused by a hood latch, and which comes into contact with
side members provided at both sides thereof at a contact area gear than that of
conventional carriers for allowing the vertical upward load applied to the lower
member to be easily transmitted to the side members, thereby preventing deformation
or distortion of the lower member itself and consequently improving its durability.
Further, according to the present invention, as the lower member is bent
forward to have a certain curvature, it can have a high rigidity against a shock
applied to the front side thereof thereby having improved durability and stability.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed
for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
*
