Vehicle-body front structure of vehicle

Abstract

A first projection portion projecting outward, in a vehicle width direction, from a front side frame is provided. A front end of the first projection portion is located at the same position, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, as a connection portion of a crash can to the front side frame or located in back of the connection portion. An outward side face of the first projection portion is configured to slant rearward and inward in a plan view. The first projection portion and a power unit are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Accordingly, an impact transmitted to a vehicle-compartment side in a small overlap collision can be reduced, restraining repair costs of the crash can broken in a low-speed collision as well as maintaining appropriate design flexibility of a vehicle-body front portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle, comprising:
 a bumper beam having end portions, said bumper beam being provided at a front portion of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle width direction; 
 a pair of right-and-left front side frames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, front end portions of which are connected to both the end portions of the bumper beam via crash cans, said front side frames each including a front side frame inner portion and a front side frame outer portion, said front side frame inner portion and said front side frame outer portion defining a closed cross section; 
 a power unit arranged between the right-and-left front side frames; and 
 first projection portions projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from the front side frames, 
 wherein a front end of each of said first projection portions is located at the same position, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, as a connection portion of said crash can to said front side frame or located in back of said connection portion, 
 a side face of each of the first projection portion which is portions which are located on an outward side in the vehicle width direction is configured to slant rearward and inward in a plan view, 
 the first projection portion portions and said power unit are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 said first projection portion is portions are made of a member having a U-shaped cross section which comprises a pair of upper-and-lower flange portions extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and joined to a side face of each of the front side frame which is outer portions which are each located on an outward side in the vehicle width direction, an upper wall portion extending outward from a lower end of each of the upper flange portion portions, a lower wall portion extending outward from an upper end of the lower flange portion, and a side wall portion interconnecting outward end portions of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, and a front end portion of each of the first projection portion portions and a front end portion of each of the front side frame frames are joined to a plate member arranged along a face substantially perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a rear end of each of said first projection portion portions is located in an area where said power unit exists in a side view such that the first projection portion portions and the power unit are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein said power unit includes a parallel face portion which is provided substantially in parallel to said front side frame frames in a plan view, facing to the front side frame frames, and the rear end of the first projection portion portions is located in back of a front end portion of said parallel face portion of the power unit such that the first projection portion portions and the parallel face portion of the power unit are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a width, in a vertical direction, of said side wall portion of the first projection portion portions is configured to have the a maximum width at a rear end portion of the side wall portion, and a recess groove extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction is formed at the side wall portion of the first projection portion portions by means of bead process. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein a sub frame supporting a suspension member for a front wheel is arranged below said front side frame frames, and a second projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from said sub frame is arranged to overlap said first projection portion portions at least partially in the plan view. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a sub frame supporting a suspension member for a front wheel is arranged below said front side frame frames, and a second projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from said sub frame is arranged to overlap said first projection portion portions at least partially in the plan view. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle, comprising:
 a bumper beam having end portions, said bumper beam being provided at a front portion of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle width direction; 
 a pair of right-and-left front side frames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, front end portions of which are connected to both the end portions of the bumper beam via crash cans, said front side frames each including a front side frame inner portion and a front side frame outer portion, said front side frame inner portion and said front side frame outer portion defining a closed cross section; 
 a power unit arranged between the right-and-left front side frames; and 
 a first projection portionsportion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from each of the front side framesframe outer portions, 
 wherein a front end of each of said first projection portions portion is located at the same position, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, as a connection portion of said crash can cans to said front side frame frames or located in back of said connection portion, 
 a side face of the first projection portion which is located on an outward side in the vehicle width direction is configured to slant rearward and inward in a plan view, 
 the first projection portion and said power unit are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction, 
 a sub frame supporting a suspension member for a front wheel is arranged below said front side frame frames, and a second projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from said sub frame is arranged to overlap said first projection portion at least partially in the plan view. 
 
     
     
       8. A vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle, comprising:
 a bumper beam provided at a front portion of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle width direction,   a front side frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a front end portion of which is connected to an end portion of the bumper beam via a crash can, said front side frame including a front side frame inner portion and a front side frame outer portion, said front side frame inner portion and said front side frame outer portion defining a closed cross section,   a first projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from the front side frame outer portion,   said first projection portion is made of a member having a U-shaped cross section, said U-shaped cross section having a shape opening towards an inner side in the vehicle width direction, and   a front end portion of the first projection portion and a front end portion of the front side frame are directly joined to a plate member arranged along a face substantially perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction.    
     
     
       9. The vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 8, wherein when viewed from a front side of the vehicle, the front end portion of said first projection portion is positioned at an inner side of the plate member in the vehicle width direction.  
     
     
       10. The vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 8, wherein when viewed from a front side of the vehicle, the front end portion of said first projection portion is wider than the front end portion of the front side frame in the vehicle width direction.  
     
     
       11. The vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:
 another front side frame extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, another front end portion of which is connected to another end portion of the bumper beam via another crash can, said another front side frame including another front side frame inner portion and another front side frame outer portion, said another front side frame inner portion and said another front side frame outer portion defining another closed cross section,   the another front side frame and the front side frame constitute a pair of right-and-left side frames,   another first projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from the another front side frame outer portion,   said another first projection portion is made of another member having a U-shaped cross section, and   another front end portion of the another first projection portion and another front end portion of the another front side frame are directly joined to another plate member arranged along another face substantially perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction.    
     
     
       12. A vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle, comprising:
 a bumper beam having end portions, said bumper beam being provided at a front portion of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle width direction;   a pair of right-and-left front side frames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, front end portions of which are connected to the end portions of the bumper beam via crash cans, said front side frames each including a front side frame inner portion and a front side frame outer portion, said front side frame inner portion and said front side frame outer portion defining a closed cross section;   a first projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from each of the front side frame outer portions,   said first projection portions are made of a member having a U-shaped cross section, the U-shaped cross section having a shape to open toward an inner side in the vehicle width direction,   a front end portion of the first projection portions and a front end portion of the front side frames are joined to a plate member arranged along a face substantially perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and   the cross section of the first projection portions are enlarged toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction.    
     
     
       13. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of claim 12, wherein
 the U-shaped cross section comprises a pair of upper-and-lower flange portions extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and joined to a side face of each of the front side frames which is located on an outward side in the vehicle width direction,   wherein a front end of the upper flange portion of each of the first projection portions is located on a rear side of a front end portion of a side wall portion of the first projection portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction.    
     
     
       14. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of claim 12, wherein
 the crash cans and the first projection portions are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle width direction.    
     
     
       15. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of claim 12, wherein
 each of the first projection portions in said vehicle longitudinal direction with the front side frames make up a second closed cross section.    
     
     
       16. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of claim 12,
 wherein a front end of each of said first projection portions is located at the same position, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, as a connection portion of said crash cans to said front side frames or located in back of said connection portion.    
     
     
       17. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of claim 12, wherein
 the U-shaped cross section comprises a pair of upper-and-lower flange portions extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and joined to a side face of the front side frames which is located on an outward side in the vehicle width direction, an upper wall portion extending outward from a lower end of the upper flange portion, a lower wall portion extending outward from an upper end of the lower flange portion, and a side wall portion interconnecting outward end portions of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion,   wherein the upper wall portion slants upward toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and   the lower wall portion slants downward toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction.    
     
     
       18. A vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle, comprising:
 a bumper beam having end portions, said bumper beam being provided at a front portion of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle width direction;   a pair of right-and-left front side frames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, front end portions of which are connected to the end portions of the bumper beam via crash cans, said front side frames each including a front side frame inner portion and a front side frame outer portion, each said front side frame inner portion with said front side frame outer portion defining a closed cross section;   a first projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from each of the front side frame outer portions,   a sub frame arranged below said front side frames, and a second projection portion projecting outward, in the vehicle width direction, from said sub frame, and   an outward end of the first projection portion is more outward than an outward end of the second projection portion.    
     
     
       19. The vehicle-body front structure of a vehicle of claim 18, wherein
 the crash cans and the first projection portions are arranged to overlap each other in the vehicle width direction.