Vehicle body front structure

Abstract

A vehicle body front structure includes: a front side frame; a lower member placed at an outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction; and a gusset placed between the front side frame and the lower member. The front side frame includes a first bending point which absorbs an impact load by being bent by receiving impact load upon a collision of the vehicle. An inner side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction and extends from a front end of the front side frame to a first bending point. A tapered part which is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from the front end of the gusset is formed in an outer side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle body front structure, comprising:
 a front side frame which extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; 
 a lower member placed at an outer side of the front side frame in a vehicle width direction; and 
 a gusset placed between the front side frame and the lower member, wherein 
 the front side frame has a bending point which is provided at a part along the front side frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front side frame absorbs an impact load by receiving the impact load and being bent at the bending point upon a collision of a vehicle; 
 an inner side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction is joined to an outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction and extends from a front end of the front side frame to the bending point; and 
 a tapered part which is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from a front end of the gusset is formed at an outer side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction, and 
 the gusset is placed laterally between the front side frame and the lower member in the vehicle width direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the gusset has a hollow part, and 
 a first bulkhead which extends along the vehicle front-rear direction is placed in the hollow part. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the gusset has an extension part which extends backward from a rear end of the tapered part to the bending point, and 
 a second bulkhead is placed inside the front side frame at a position that overlaps with the rear end of the tapered part of the gusset along the vehicle width direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the a rear end of the tapered part of the gusset is placed at disposed frontward of the bending point of the front side frame, and
 a stiffener which extends backward at least from the rear end of the tapered part of the gusset is placed inside the front side frame. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 1 , wherein a front end of the lower member extends inward and is joined to the tapered part of the gusset. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 3 , wherein
 a high rigidity rigidity-improving part which extends along the vehicle front-rear direction is formed in the extension part. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the front side frame and includes an inner member which in cross section has three closed sides and one open side, with a pair of flanges that extend along the vehicle front-rear direction at upper and lower ends of the open side of the inner member, the gusset respectively have a hat-shaped cross-section in which has opposing top and bottom walls and an open side between the top and bottom walls, with a pair of flanges that extends extend along the vehicle front-rear direction is formed at upper and lower ends of the open side of the gusset, and the inner member and the gusset are joined together via the flange flanges. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the gusset has a front wall, 
 the tapered part is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from an outer side of the front wall in the vehicle width direction, 
 the lower member includes a curved part which is formed in a front end of the lower member and is curved to toward the gusset side to be joined to the tapered part, and 
 a peripheral surface of a corner formed by the front wall and the curved part forms a curved surface. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the gusset includes a plurality of flange pieces which extend from the front wall and the tapered part, 
 the lower member includes a plurality of flange pieces which extend from the curved part, and 
 the gusset and the lower member are joined together via the flange pieces. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the gusset includes a bottom wall which extends backward from a lower end of the front wall, 
 a dent curved part which resides upward curves upwardly as compared to an inner side of the bottom wall in the vehicle width direction is provided at an outer side in the bottom wall in the vehicle width direction, 
 a lower flange piece which extends downward is provided at an outer side in the dent curved part of the bottom wall in the vehicle width direction, 
 a lower member side lower flange piece which is joined to the lower flange piece is provided in the curved part of the lower member and is joined to the lower flange piece of the bottom wall, and 
 a fog lamp is placed at disposed downward of the lower flange piece pieces and frontward of the corner. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first plate joined to the front end of the front side frame; and a second plate which is placed disposed frontward of the first plate and to which a rear end of a bumper beam extension is attached, wherein 
 an inner side of the front wall in the vehicle width direction is held sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate, and 
 the front wall, the first plate, and the second plate are fastened together. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the gusset includes a top wall which extends backward from an upper end of the front wall, 
 the top wall, the front wall, and the bottom wall are formed together by press molding combined as a single pressed member, 
 a depressed portion which is depressed downward is formed in the top wall at a boundary with the front wall, and 
 a depressed portion which is depressed upwards is formed in the bottom wall at a boundary with the front wall. 
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the gusset includes: an extension part which extends backward from a rear end of the tapered part to the bending point; and an extended a flange which is provided at least one of on an upper end and a lower end of the extension part. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle body front structure according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the extension part is joined to the outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction,   a bead which extends along the vehicle front-rear direction to protrude in a direction opposite to the front side frame, and   a closed cross-section is formed between the bead and the front side frame.   
     
     
       15. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 1, wherein the front side frame is dented locally in the vehicle width direction at the bending point. 
     
     
       16. A vehicle body front structure, comprising:
 a front side frame which extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; and   a gusset which is connected to an outside of the front side frame, wherein   the front side frame has a bending point which is provided at a part along the front side frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front side frame absorbs an impact load by receiving the impact load and being bent at the bending point upon a collision of a vehicle;   an inner side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is joined to an outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction, the outer side of the front side frame also extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the inner side of the gusset extends from a front end of the front side frame to the bending point so that an impact load applied to the gusset from a narrow offset collision propagates to the front side frame;   a tapered part which is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from a front end of the gusset is formed at an outer side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction; and   the gusset has a hollow part, and a first bulkhead which extends along the vehicle front-rear direction is placed in the hollow part.   
     
     
       17. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 16, wherein the gusset extends backward to the bending point, and
 a second bulkhead is placed inside the front side frame at a position that overlaps with a rear end of the tapered part of the gusset along the vehicle width direction.   
     
     
       18. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 17, wherein the gusset includes a rigidity-improving part which projects in the vehicle width direction and extends along the vehicle front-rear direction. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 16, wherein the gusset is substantially triangular in shape in plan view such that a front end thereof is wider than a rear end thereof. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 16, wherein the gusset has an extension part which extends backward from a rear end of the tapered part to the bending point. 
     
     
       21. A vehicle body front structure, comprising:
 a front side frame which extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; and   a gusset which is connected to an outside of the front side frame, wherein   the front side frame has a bending point which is provided at a part along the front side frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front side frame absorbs an impact load by receiving the impact load and being bent at the bending point upon a collision of a vehicle;   an inner side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is joined to an outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction, the outer side of the front side frame also extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the inner side of the gusset extends from a front end of the front side frame to the bending point so that an impact load applied to the gusset from a narrow offset collision propagates to the front side frame;   a tapered part which is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from a front end of the gusset is formed at an outer side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction;   a rear end of the tapered part of the gusset is disposed frontward of the bending point of the front side frame, and   a stiffener which extends backward at least from the rear end of the tapered part of the gusset is placed inside the front side frame.   
     
     
       22. A vehicle body front structure, comprising:
 a front side frame which extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; and   a gusset which is connected to an outside of the front side frame, wherein   the front side frame has a bending point which is provided at a part along the front side frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front side frame absorbs an impact load by receiving the impact load and being bent at the bending point upon a collision of a vehicle;   an inner side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is joined to an outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction, the outer side of the front side frame also extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the inner side of the gusset extends from a front end of the front side frame to the bending point so that an impact load applied to the gusset from a narrow offset collision propagates to the front side frame;   a tapered part which is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from a front end of the gusset is formed at an outer side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction;   the front side frame includes an inner member which in cross section has three closed sides and one open side, with a pair of flanges that extend along the vehicle front-rear direction at upper and lower ends of the open side of the inner member, the gusset has opposing top and bottom walls and an open side between the top and bottom walls, with a pair of flanges that extend along the vehicle front-rear direction at upper and lower ends of the open side of the gusset, and the inner member and the gusset are joined together via the flanges.   
     
     
       23. A vehicle body front structure, comprising:
 a front side frame which extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; and   a gusset which is connected to an outside of the front side frame, wherein   the front side frame has a bending point which is provided at a part along the front side frame in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front side frame absorbs an impact load by receiving the impact load and being bent at the bending point upon a collision of a vehicle;   an inner side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is joined to an outer side of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction, the outer side of the front side frame also extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the inner side of the gusset extends from a front end of the front side frame to the bending point so that an impact load applied to the gusset from a narrow offset collision propagates to the front side frame;   a tapered part which is inclined toward the front side frame as extending backward from a front end of the gusset is formed at an outer side of the gusset in the vehicle width direction; and   the gusset has a bead which extends along the vehicle front-rear direction and protrudes in the vehicle width direction on an outer surface of the gusset.