DE102018214105B4 - Front end module for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a front-end module for a motor vehicle, with a bumper cross member (3) that can be fastened to the longitudinal body members (5) and a bumper cover (7) covering the front side of the bumper cross member (3), the bumper cross member ( 3) is connected via vertical struts (9) to a floor-side pedestrian protection cross member (11), namely with the formation of a cross member frame (13) which delimits a front air inlet (15) and with a longitudinal offset in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) behind the bumper cross member (3) arranged lock carrier (1) on which a front hood (17) of the vehicle can be supported and which carries a cooling module (19), with at least one support profile part (37) from the bumper cover (7) protruding from the rear of the vehicle, which is supported in the vehicle vertical direction (z) on a support base (29) of the front end module, in particular loosely, the support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) over a longitudinal -Freigang (f) is spaced from the lock carrier (1) and wherein the bumper cover (7) together with the support profile part (37) is displaced in the direction of the lock carrier (1) using up the longitudinal clearance (f). According to the invention, a protective element (39) is arranged between the support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) and the lock carrier (1), by means of which the lock carrier (1) and / or the cooling module (19) are protected from damage by the in the event of a frontal crash to the rear of the vehicle shifting support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) is protected.

Description

The invention relates to a front-end module for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

In addition to the lighting technology, the vehicle's cooling functions, among other things, can also be integrated in the front-end module of a vehicle. The front-end module also has to meet the statutory pedestrian protection requirements. In addition, the front-end module must guarantee efficient crash management. The task of crash management is to avoid or reduce damage or lower repair costs. In this way, an improved insurance classification is achieved. The amount of damage relevant for the insurance classification is determined in the RCAR crash repair test.

A front-end module of the generic type has a bumper cross member that can be fastened to the longitudinal body members and a bumper cover that covers the front side of the bumper cross member. The bumper cross member is connected via vertical struts to a pedestrian protection cross member on the floor, to be precise with the formation of a cross member frame which delimits an air inlet at the front. In addition, the front-end module has a lock carrier arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by a longitudinal offset behind the bumper cross-member. A vehicle front hood can be supported on the lock carrier. In addition, the lock carrier carries a cooling module. At least one support profile part can protrude from the bumper cover towards the rear of the vehicle. The support profile part of the bumper cover, viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle, is particularly loosely supported on a support base of the front-end module in order to stabilize the bumper cover in its installation position. During normal driving, the support profile part of the bumper cover is spaced apart from the lock carrier or from the cooling module via a longitudinal clearance. In the event of a frontal crash, the bumper cover together with its support profile part is displaced in the direction of the lock carrier or in the direction of the cooling module, using up the longitudinal clearance.

The problem with this crash course is that the rear end of the support profile part of the bumper cover as an interfering contour that moves towards the rear of the vehicle and collides with the rearward-delimiting components, i.e. the lock carrier and / or the cooling module, and damages them.

From the DE 10 2009 041 458 A1 an air guide element is known as part of a front end structure of a vehicle. From the DE 198 31 256 A1 a holder for a heat exchanger, in particular a radiator of a motor vehicle, is known. From the DE 10 2017 005 003 A1 a front vehicle body structure and a method of absorbing a frontal impact are known. From the DE 10 2005 009 768 A1 a body front structure with a pedestrian protection device is known.

The object of the invention is to provide a front-end module for a vehicle that can be repaired inexpensively in the event of a frontal crash and can thus achieve a good insurance rating. In addition, the front-end module should meet the requirements for pedestrian protection and insurance crashes.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

The invention is based on the fact that in the above prior art a collision of the support profile part of the bumper cover with the lock carrier / cooling module leads to a poorer insurance class classification. Against this background, an additional protective element is arranged according to the characterizing part of claim 1 between the support profile part of the bumper cover and the lock carrier / cooling module. In the event of a frontal crash, the protective element protects the lock carrier and / or the cooling module from damage by the support profile part of the bumper cover that is displaced towards the rear of the vehicle.

In a technical implementation, the front end module can also have an air guide element made of, for example, a soft plastic component, in particular foam material, which is installed between the front air inlet, which is delimited by the above-mentioned vertical cross member frame, and the cooling module mounted on the lock carrier and between the front-side air inlet and the cooling module provides an essentially airtight air duct through which ambient air is passed through the cooling module when driving. The air guiding element can preferably be box-shaped, with a floor-side, horizontal floor-wall approximately at the level of the pedestrian protection cross-member, from which vertical side walls protrude on both sides in the transverse direction of the vehicle and merge into an upper, horizontal ceiling-wall. The air inlet side of the box-shaped air guide element is connected to the air inlet on the front of the vehicle via sealing lips in airtight manner. On its rear air outlet side of the vehicle, the box-shaped air guiding element is airtight via a sealing lip Cooling module connected to avoid air leaks to the outside.

When installing such an air guiding element in the front-end module, it is preferred if the protective element is made of the same material and / or in one piece on the air guiding element. The air element can preferably be a foam part which absorbs the crash energy.

As mentioned above, the bumper cover has at least one support profile part protruding towards the rear of the vehicle, by means of which the bumper cover is supported on a support base of the front-end module. In a technical implementation, the support base can be formed on a support strut. It is preferred if the support strut is supported in a force-transmitting manner between the bumper cross member and the lock carrier. In this way, the support strut has the effect that when the front hood is closed, they are passed on to the lock carrier. In a double function, the support strut also provides the above-mentioned support for the bumper cover via the support profile part. The support strut can preferably, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, be arranged in a mounting space between an air guiding element wall and the bumper cover.

In a specific embodiment, the support strut for connection to the upper lock carrier can be forked up in an approximately U-profile shape, namely with a profile base and with strut arms raised from it. The strut arms can be spaced from one another in the transverse direction of the vehicle, to be precise with the formation of a passage which is open in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In this case, the profile bottom of the U-profile-shaped support strut can provide the above-mentioned support base for the support profile part of the bumper cover.

In the open passage delimited by the two strut arms, the support profile part of the bumper cover can preferably protrude towards the rear of the vehicle (because it saves space). In the event of a frontal crash, the support profile part can move over a free deformation path to the rear of the vehicle until it comes into contact with the protective element according to the invention.

The protective element can be designed in the shape of a pocket with an interior that is open towards the front of the vehicle for a perfect protective effect. A free end of the support profile part at the rear of the vehicle can protrude into the interior of the protective element, in particular without contact. The pocket-shaped protective element can preferably have an upper, horizontal cover wall in the vertical direction of the vehicle. This can be followed by vertical side walls that protrude downward on both sides in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Likewise, a vertical rear wall can be attached to the top wall towards the rear of the vehicle, which limits the interior of the protective element towards the rear of the vehicle. The vertical rear wall and the two vertical side walls of the protective element can merge into a horizontal bottom wall that is part of an air guide element wall that delimits an air duct between the front vehicle air inlet and the cooling module. In this case, the protective element can be integrally molded on the outside of the air guiding element as a single material and protrude therefrom towards the top of the vehicle.

The protective element, in particular its horizontal top wall and / or its vertical side walls, can preferably protrude into the support strut opening to save space.

It is preferred if the box-shaped air guiding element is made of an elastically resilient, flexible plastic material, in particular a plastic foam material. In order to achieve a dimensionally stable positioning in the front-end module in spite of the inherently low inherent rigidity, it is preferred if the air guiding element is connected directly to the support strut with a wall, for example by a screw connection or an adhesive connection.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

• 1 in einer teilweisen Seitenschnittdarstellung ein Frontendmodul eines Fahrzeugs;
• 2 das Frontendmodul in perspektivischer Darstellung sowie mit weggelassener Stoßfänger-Abdeckung;
• 3, 4 und 5 jeweils Ansichten entsprechend der 1, die einen Crashverlauf bei einem Frontalcrash veranschaulichen.

Show it:

• 1 in a partial sectional side view, a front end module of a vehicle;
• 2 the front-end module in perspective and with the bumper cover omitted;
• 3 , 4th and 5 respectively views according to the 1 , which illustrate the course of a crash in a frontal crash.

In the 1 is a front end module with a plastic lock carrier 1 shown, which extends in the vehicle transverse direction y. The front-end module also has a bumper cross member 3 on, the lock carrier in the vehicle longitudinal direction x 1 is upstream and a height offset below the lock carrier 1 is positioned. The bumper cross member 3 is at both of its outer ends on the side body side members 5 connected and on the front with a bumper cover 7th covered. In addition, the 1 or 2 the bumper cross member 3 via vertical struts 9 with a pedestrian protection cross member on the floor 11 connected, with the formation of a vertically raised cross member frame 13 , which has a front air inlet 15th of Vehicle bounded by a frame. In the 1 is on the lock carrier 3 an implied front hood 17th supported. In addition, the lock carrier carries 3 a cooling module 19th , which can be made up of several cooling components, such as an LT cooler, an HT cooler, a condenser, an electric suction fan and the like.

Between the front air inlet 15th and the one on the lock carrier 1 mounted cooling module 19th is in the 1 or 2 a box-shaped air guide element 21st positioned. The air control element 21st between the front vehicle air inlet 15th and the cooling module 19th an essentially airtight air duct ready. The air guide element is for this purpose 21st on its front air inlet via sealing lips on the front air inlet 15th airtight. The air guiding element is located at the air outlet on the rear of the vehicle 21st also airtight via sealing lips on the cooling module 19th tied up.

As from the 1 further shows is between the front bumper cover 7th and a wall inclined upwards to the rear 23 of the air guide element 21st a free deformation space 25th available. In the deformation space 25th extend two support struts spaced apart from one another in the vehicle transverse direction y 27 . Each of these support struts 27 is between the bumper cross member 3 and the upper lock carrier 1 force-transmitting supported. In addition, the inclined wall is 23 of the air guide element 21st Via screw connections, not shown, on the support struts 27 attached. For connection to the lock carrier 1 is the respective support strut 27 U-shaped design. The U-shaped support strut 27 has a profile bottom 29 as well as strut arms raised from it 31 on. These are spaced from one another in the vehicle transverse direction y, to be precise with the formation of a passage which is open in the vehicle longitudinal direction x 33 , and attached at their upper ends to the lock carrier.

The profile floor 29 the respective support strut 27 forms a support base for a rear end 35 one on the bumper cover 7th trained support profile part 37 . The support profile part 37 is in the vehicle vertical direction z loosely on the profile floor 29 the respective support strut 27 supported and in normal driving mode ( 1 ) by a longitudinal clearance f from the lock carrier 1 or from the cooling module 19th spaced.

As in particular from the 2 emerges, is between the rear of the vehicle, free end 35 of the support profile part 37 the bumper cover 7th and the lock carrier 1 / the cooling module 19th an approximately pocket-shaped protective element 39 positioned, the functionality of which is based on the 3 to 5 is explained. As from the 2 is the protective element 39 pocket-shaped with an interior that is open to the front of the vehicle 41 educated. In the interior 41 of the protective element 39 protrudes the free end 35 of the support profile part 37 contact-free. The box-shaped protective element 39 is in the 2 with an upper, horizontal cover wall in the vertical direction z of the vehicle 43 formed on the vertical side walls protruding downward on both sides in the vehicle transverse direction y and a vertical rear wall 47 connect. The back and side walls 45 , 47 go into a horizontal floor wall 49 about that part of the air control element wall 23 is.

In normal driving mode ( 3 ) the protective element protrudes 39 with its top wall 43 as well as its side walls 45 into the passage 33 the respective support strut 27 on. In the event of a frontal crash ( 4th and 5 ) becomes the bumper cover 7th including the support profile part 37 using up the longitudinal clearance f in the direction of the lock carrier 1 / the cooling module 19th relocated. By means of the protective element defined above 39 can cause an immediate collision of the support profile part 37 with the lock carrier 1 or the cooling module 19th be prevented. This is the lock carrier 1 or the cooling module 19th from damage by the support profile part shifting to the rear of the vehicle 37 protected.

List of reference symbols

1

Lock carrier

3

Bumper cross member

5

Body side members

7th

Bumper cover

9

Vertical struts

11

Pedestrian protection element

13

vertically raised cross member frame

15th

Air inlet

17th

Front hood

19th

Cooling module

21st

box-shaped air guide element

23

Wall

25th

Deformation space

27

Support struts

29

Profile bottom

31

Strut arms

33

passage

35

free end of the support profile part

37

Support profile part

39

Protective element

41

Protective element interior

43

horizontal top wall

45

vertical side wall

47

vertical rear wall

49

horizontal bottom wall

Claims (8)

Front-end module for a motor vehicle, with a bumper cross-member (3) that can be fastened to the longitudinal body members (5) and a bumper cover (7) covering the front side of the bumper cross-member (3), the bumper cross-member (3) via vertical struts (9) is connected to a floor-side pedestrian protection cross member (11), namely with the formation of a cross member frame (13) which delimits a front air inlet (15), with a longitudinal offset behind the bumper cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) (3) arranged lock carrier (1) on which a front hood (17) of the vehicle can be supported and which carries a cooling module (19), at least one support profile part (37) protruding from the bumper cover (7) to the rear of the vehicle, which in the vertical direction of the vehicle (z) is particularly loosely supported on a support base (29) of the front-end module, the support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) from the lock carrier via a longitudinal clearance (f) (1) is spaced and wherein, in the event of a front crash, the bumper cover (7) together with the support profile part (37) is displaced in the direction of the lock carrier (1) using up the longitudinal clearance (f), characterized in that between the support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) and the lock carrier (1) a protective element (39) is arranged, by means of which the lock carrier (1) and / or the cooling module (19) from being damaged by the rearward displacement of the vehicle in the event of a frontal crash Support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) is protected. Front-end module according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the front-end module has a box-shaped air guiding element (21) which provides an essentially airtight air duct between the front air inlet (15) and the cooling module (19) mounted on the lock carrier (1), and in particular the protective element (39 ) is made of the same material and / or in one piece on the air guiding element (21), and / or that the protective element (39) is a foam part that absorbs the crash energy. Front-end module according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the support base (29) for the support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7) is formed on a support strut (27) which is supported in a force-transmitting manner between the bumper cross member (3) and the lock carrier (1) . Front-end module according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the support strut (27) for connection to the lock carrier (1) is U-shaped with a profile base (29) and strut arms (31) raised therefrom, which are spaced from one another in the vehicle transverse direction (y) and at their free Ends are connected to the lock carrier (1), and that in particular the profile base (29) of the support strut (27) forms the support base of the support profile part (37) of the bumper cover (7). Front-end module according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the two strut arms (31) and the profile base (29) of the support strut (27) delimit a passage (33) open in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) into which the support profile part (37) protrudes to the rear of the vehicle and through which the Support profile part (3) can be displaced to the rear of the vehicle in the event of a crash. Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (39) is pocket-shaped with an interior space (41) which is open towards the front of the vehicle and into which a free end of the supporting profile part (37) at the rear of the vehicle protrudes, in particular without contact, and in particular that Protective element (39) has a top wall (43) which is upper in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle, to which side walls (45) protruding downward on both sides in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y) connect and / or to the rear of the vehicle a rear wall (47) adjoins the protective element -Interior (41) limited to the rear of the vehicle, and / or that the rear wall (47) and the two side walls (45) of the protective element (39) merge into a bottom wall (49) which is part of an air guiding element wall (23). Front-end module according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the protective element (39), in particular its top wall (43) and / or its side walls (45), protrudes into the passage (33) of the support strut (27), and / or that the support strut (27) in the Vehicle longitudinal direction (x) is arranged in a deformation space (25) between an air guiding element wall (23) and the bumper cover (7). Front-end module according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the air guide element wall (23) is connected to the support strut (27), and / or that the air guide element (21) is made of an elastically resilient, flexible plastic material, in particular a plastic foam material.

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