Front structure of a motor vehicle

The front structure of a motor vehicle has a brake device with a brake cylinder extending substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury for a vehicle driver in the event of a crash in the case of a front structure in which a wiping water container is arranged ahead of the brake cylinder with regard to the direction of travel, the wiping water container has a wall section on a rear wall which faces the brake cylinder. The wall section is configured in such a way that, in the event of a crash, the rear wall can be penetrated in this wall section by an end of the brake cylinder which faces the wiping water container.

This application claims the priority of German application 10 2005 010 809.1, filed Mar. 7, 2005, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a front structure of a motor vehicle having a brake cylinder extending substantially in a direction of travel of the vehicle.

A front structure of this type, known, for example, from German documents DE 195 15 852 C2, DE 28 41 988 C2 and DE 30 18 732 C2, comprises a brake device which has a brake cylinder which extends substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

It is customary to equip a motor vehicle with a wiping water container which stores water which is provided for washing a windshield and, optionally, a rear window and headlight panes. In some vehicles, in particular passenger cars, this wiping water container can likewise be arranged in the front structure of the vehicle ahead of the brake cylinder with regard to the direction of travel.

In the event of a crash, in particular in a frontal crash, a relative displacement between the wiping water container and the brake device can occur, which can lead to a collision of the wiping water container with the brake cylinder. In particular if the wiping water container is filled, a collision of this type can drive the brake cylinder counter to the direction of travel, which can lead to an intrusion of a brake pedal via the coupling of the brake cylinder to the brake pedal. That is to say, the brake pedal can move toward the driver as a result of an unfavorable crash, which can lead to considerable injuries. Furthermore, the brake cylinder can collide with the wiping water container, as a result of which the functioning of a brake system of the vehicle is impaired.

The present invention is concerned with providing an improved front structure of the type mentioned which reduces the disadvantageous effects of a collision between the brake cylinder and the wiping water container.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by way of a structure having a wiping water container arranged ahead of a brake cylinder with regard to the direction of travel, in which the wiping water container has a wall section on a rear wall which faces the brake cylinder, and in which the wall section is configured in such a way that, in the event of a crash, the rear wall can be penetrated at this wall section by an end of the brake cylinder which faces the wiping water container. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of dependent claims.

The wiping water container of the invention is configured in such a way that, in the event of a crash, it is possible for the brake cylinder to enter the wiping water container. A collision between the wiping water container and the brake cylinder which may occur in the event of a crash thus does not lead primarily to the brake cylinder being displaced, but to the brake cylinder entering the wiping water container. As a result, the wiping water container can move relative to the brake cylinder, without causing a displacement movement of the brake cylinder, which reduces the risk of brake pedal intrusion. The safety for the driver in the event of a crash is thus increased.

Entry of the brake cylinder into the wiping water container in the event of a crash is made possible by the fact that the wiping water container has a wall section on a rear wall which faces the brake cylinder, which wall section is configured for penetration by the brake cylinder. The wiping water container thus has in this wall section a special adaptation which makes it possible or easier for the brake cylinder to enter the wiping water container. Here, the adaptation is carried out in such a way that the rear wall can be penetrated by the brake cylinder in the wall section without the brake cylinder being displaced relative to the vehicle in the process. The wiping water container is thus designed in this wall section in such a way that a penetration force which has to be applied by the brake cylinder to the wall section, in order to penetrate the rear wall, is smaller than a retaining force with which the brake cylinder or the brake device is fastened to the vehicle. In this way, the wall section yields in the event of a crash before the brake cylinder is displaced relative to the vehicle.

A further particular advantage, according to the invention, of the front structure or the wiping water container is that the invention can be retrofitted, that is to say the wiping water container according to the invention can be inserted into a conventional front structure instead of a conventional wiping water container, in order to realize the front structure according to the invention.

In one preferred embodiment, the wall section can have a reduced wall thickness compared with the remaining rear wall, as a result of which, in the event of a collision, the brake cylinder can penetrate the wall section particularly simply.

In another embodiment, an edge region which encloses the wall section at least partially can be configured as a predetermined break point, as a result of which the wall section is detached from the rear wall along the edge region by the collision with the brake cylinder, as a result of which an opening is produced in the rear wall, through which opening the brake cylinder can enter the wiping water container.

Here, it is entirely possible to shape the wall section with the reduced wall thickness and/or with the edge region which is configured as a predetermined break point integrally on the rear wall or on the wiping water container, as a result of which the manufacture of the wiping water container is inexpensive.

Further important features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings, and from the associated description of the drawings.

Features which are mentioned above and which are still to be explained in the following text can be used not only in the respectively specified combinations, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in the following description. Identical designations relate to identical, similar or functionally identical components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance withFIG. 1, a front region or front structure1of a motor vehicle2, in particular a passenger car, which is shown only partially comprises at least one brake device3and one wiping water container4. The front structure1is divided from a vehicle interior6or a footwell7of the vehicle2in a customary manner by a bulkhead5. The front structure1is thus situated in a front space8of the vehicle, which front space8usually, but not necessarily, serves as the engine bay.

The brake device3is a constituent part of a brake system (not shown otherwise) of the vehicle2and comprises a brake cylinder9and a brake fluid reservoir10. The brake device3is coupled to a brake pedal11which is arranged in the footwell7. For this purpose, the brake device3is expediently attached to the front wall5and penetrates the latter. The brake pedal11is mounted on the vehicle2at12in a pivotably displaceable manner and, when actuated, interacts with the brake device3or with the brake cylinder9. Here, the brake pedal11is shown with solid lines in an actuated state and with dashed lines in an unactuated state.

The wiping water container4is configured in its interior13to store wiping water and is connected to a washing system of the vehicle2in a suitable manner which is not shown in greater detail. For example, a windshield of the vehicle2can be cleaned with the wiping water. It is likewise possible to clean headlight panes and a rear window with the wiping water. The wiping water container4is fastened on the vehicle2, for example, at14. Here, the wiping water container4is arranged in the front structure1in such a way that the wiping water container4is situated ahead of the brake cylinder9with regard to a direction of travel15which is symbolized by an arrow. That is to say, there is a congruence of the wiping water container4and the brake device3or the brake cylinder9in the direction of travel15. In certain vehicles2, this arrangement in the front structure1can prove advantageous for packaging reasons, in order for it to be possible to utilize the limited installation space which is available as effectively as possible.

The wiping water container4has a rear wall16which faces the brake cylinder9. For its part, the rear wall16has a wall section17which is arranged so as to lie opposite an end18of the brake cylinder9which faces the rear wall16with regard to the direction of travel15. The wall section17and the end18of the brake cylinder are preferably arranged so as to be aligned with one another with regard to the direction of travel15. Here, the brake cylinder9is arranged in the front structure1in such a way that its longitudinal center axis extends substantially parallel to the direction of travel15of the vehicle2.

According to the invention, this wall section17is configured in such a way that, in the event of a crash, in particular in a frontal crash, the brake cylinder9or the end18of the brake cylinder can penetrate the rear wall16in the wall section17. A crash of this type is shown inFIG. 2. In the event of a crash, the wiping water container4can move relative to the brake cylinder9on account of a crash-related deformation of the front structure1counter to the direction of travel15. Here, a collision of the end18of the brake cylinder with the wall section17can occur. According toFIG. 2, as a result of the configuration according to the invention of the wall section17, the end18of the brake cylinder can then penetrate the rear wall16in the region of the wall section17, as a result of which the brake cylinder9can enter the interior13. As a result, a further relative displacement of the wiping water container4counter to the direction of travel15is made easier, without excessively high forces being transmitted here between the wiping water container4and the brake cylinder5. In particular, at least at the beginning of the crash, the transmission of forces of this type to the brake cylinder9can be avoided, which forces are so great that they move the brake cylinder9or the brake device3relative to the vehicle2counter to the direction of travel15. A relative displacement of this type of the brake cylinder9or the brake device3would lead to undesirable intrusion of the brake pedal11. In a brake pedal intrusion, the brake pedal11would pivot about its pivot axis12counter to its actuation direction and thus move toward the vehicle driver. As the vehicle driver is usually depressing the brake pedal11in the event of a crash, brake pedal intrusion regularly leads to pronounced force peaks or jolts which are associated with an extremely increased risk of injury for the foot and/or ankle of the driver. In the front structure1according to the invention, as the brake cylinder9can enter the wiping water container4, brake pedal intrusion of this type is precluded, or can at least be reduced, in certain crash configurations. The front structure1according to the invention and the wiping water container4according to the invention thus reduce the risk of injuries in the event of a crash.

In the preferred embodiment which is shown here, the wiping water container4contains, in its interior13, at least one guide element19which is configured here in the manner of a web which extends below the wall section17parallel to the direction of travel15. In the event of a crash, the guide element19interacts with the brake cylinder9if the latter enters the interior13after the penetration of the rear wall16. Here, the guide element19brings about longitudinal guidance in the direction of travel15between the brake cylinder9and the wiping water container4. This has the consequence that, in the event of a crash, a defined relative displacement between the wiping water container4and the brake cylinder9is set, which reduces the risk of undesirable loading of the brake cylinder9with force. The embodiment of the guide element19here is purely by way of example and without restriction to the general nature of the invention. It is likewise possible for a plurality of guide elements19to be provided, in order to realize the desired longitudinal guidance between the wiping water container4and the brake cylinder9.

With regard to entry of the brake cylinder9into the interior13, which is desirable in the event of a crash, the wiping water container4is moreover equipped according to the invention with a cavity20in its interior13. The cavity20is situated ahead of the wall section17with regard to the direction of travel15and is dimensioned here in such a way that, in the event of a crash, the brake cylinder9can enter the cavity20or the interior13unimpeded when the brake cylinder9has penetrated the rear wall16. Here, in particular, the cavity20is adapted to the length of the brake cylinder9.

The wall section17can be configured in a wide variety of ways, such that it makes it possible for the end18of the brake cylinder to penetrate the rear wall16in the event of a crash.

In a first embodiment, for example, there can be provision according toFIG. 3for the wall section17to be provided with a wall thickness d17which is smaller than a wall thickness d16of the remaining rear wall16. The wall section17can be penetrated particularly simply by the end18of the brake cylinder as a result of the reduced wall thickness d17. The wall thickness d17of the wall section17may be at most 50%, at most 30%, or at most 10% of the wall thickness d16of the rear wall16, for example.

According toFIG. 4, the penetrability of the rear wall16in the wall section17can be realized in a second embodiment by virtue of the fact that an edge region21which encloses the wall section17at least partially, and possibly completely, is configured as a predetermined break point. As a result, the wall section17breaks out along the edge region21when it collides with the end18of the brake cylinder. In order to configure it as a predetermined break point, this edge region21can have a wall thickness d21which is smaller than the wall thickness d16of the rear wall16. Moreover, this wall thickness d21of the edge region21can be smaller than the wall thickness d17of the wall section17which is selected in the exemplary embodiment according toFIG. 4to be as large as the wall thickness d16of the rear wall16. It is also true here that the wall thickness d21of the edge region21, for example, may be at most 50%, at most 30%, or at most 10% of the wall thickness d16of the rear wall16and/or the wall thickness d17of the wall section17.

In the preferred embodiments which are shown here, the wall section17is an integral constituent part of the rear wall16or the entire wiping water container4. The wiping water container4or its rear wall16can thus be manufactured in an integrated manner with the wall section17, for example can be injection molded in one piece.

In addition to these container-side refinements of the wall section17which make it easier or possible for the end18of the brake cylinder to penetrate the rear wall16in the region of the wall section17, brake cylinder-side measures are also feasible in principle which make it easier for the end18of the brake cylinder to penetrate the rear wall16in the wall section17. For example, the edge of the end18of the brake cylinder can be configured as a cutting edge. In addition or as an alternative, the end18of the brake cylinder can be chamfered or sharpened, with the result that the end18of the brake cylinder, in the event of a collision, does not collide with the wall section17over its full surface area, but rather in a linear fashion or, in a very favorable case, in punctiform fashion.

The shape of the wall section17is expediently adapted to the cross section of the brake cylinder9. For example, if the cross section of the brake cylinder9is circular, the wall section17is likewise of circular shape.

A conventional front structure1can also be readily rebuilt or retrofitted to form the front structure1according to the invention with the aid of the wiping water container4by merely replacing a conventional wiping water container with the wiping water container4according to the invention.