Patent Abstract:
A structure for the front section of a vehicle body is provided with: a pair of left and right front side frames; a sub-frame which is disposed between the front side frames; a pair of left and right first mount members which are disposed below the front side frames; first affixation members which affix the first mount members to the lower sections of the front side frames; first support members which are provided within the front side frames and which support the first affixation members; and reinforcement members which reinforce damper housings. The reinforcement members are joined to the upper sections of the front side frames. The first support members are affixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames at positions below the portions to which the reinforcement members are joined.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a structure for a front section of a vehicle body. In the structure, mounting members for supporting a subframe is arranged below front side frames. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Conventionally, in some cases, a mounting member formed with a vibration isolating rubber part is arranged above or below each front side frame, and a power unit and a subframe are supported by the mounting members, where the power unit includes an engine and a transmission and is mounted on the subframe. For example, in the case where the mounting members are arranged below the front side frames, the mounting members are fastened with bolts to nuts arranged on lower walls inside the front side frames, and the subframe is supported by the mounting members. 
         [0003]    Meanwhile, Patent Literature 1 discloses an installation structure for a mounting apparatus wherein, when an engine mount is to be arranged above the front side frames, nut members for fixing the engine mount are arranged on upper walls of the front side frames each having a closed cross section, and the nut members are fixed to supporting plates, which extend to form a partition almost dividing the inner spaces of the front side frames. In the structure disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the inclination angles of the above supporting plates with respect to the length direction of the side frames are set such that the positions at which the front side frames are deformed by bending can be optimized. 
       CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURES 
       [0000]    
       
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2006-219068 (FIGS. 4 and 5) 
       
     
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0005]    In the conversional structure in which the mounting members are fastened on the lower sides of the front side frames, the support rigidity of the mounting members can be secured by only the rigidity of the lower walls of the front side frames on which the nuts are fixed, so that the entire rigidity of the front side frames is not actually utilized. Therefore, only the increase in the thickness of the lower walls of the front side frames can increase the support rigidity. That is, the capability of coping with a large load is limited. 
         [0006]    In addition, Patent Literature 1 discloses only the case in which the mounting members are arranged above the front side frames, and does not mention the other portions. Therefore, although the structure disclosed in Patent Literature 1 locally enables a desirable deformation, the structure disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a problem in load absorption over the entire length of the front side frames at the time of a crash. 
         [0007]    The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a structure for a front section of a vehicle body enabling improvement in the support rigidity of mounting members arranged on the lower sides of front side frames. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0008]    The structure for a front section of a vehicle body according to the present invention is characterized in including: a pair of front side frames which are respectively arranged on right and left sides of the front section of the vehicle body, have a hollow structure, and extend in a front-rear direction; a subframe which is arranged between the pair of front side frames; a pair of first mounting members which are respectively arranged on the right and left sides below the pair of front side frames, and respectively support right and left ends of the subframe; first fixing members which fix the first mounting members to lower portions of the front side frames; first supporting members which are arranged inside the front side frames, and support the first fixing members; and reinforcing members which reinforce the vehicle body. In the above structure for the front section, the reinforcing members are joined to upper portions of the front side frames; and the first supporting members are fixed to inner surfaces of the front side frames below positions at which the reinforcing members are joined. 
         [0009]    According to the above structure, the reinforcing members which reinforce the vehicle body are joined to the upper portions of the front side frames, and the first supporting members which support the first fixing members are fixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames below the positions at which the reinforcing members are joined to the front side frames. Therefore, the support rigidity of the first networking members contributed by the front side frames is improved. 
         [0010]    In addition, it is preferable that the reinforcing members extend in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and reinforce damper housings, in the structure. 
         [0011]    According to the above structure, the support rigidity of the first mounting members can be improved by using the reinforce members which reinforce the damper housings. 
         [0012]    Further, it is preferable that the first supporting members include a holding portion and a pair of partition portions, the holding portion hold the first fixing members, and the pair of partition portions be respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the holding portion, and be fixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames. 
         [0013]    According to the above structure, the first supporting members each include the holding portion (which holds the first fixing members) and the pair of partition portions (which are respectively arranged on the front and rear sides of the holding portion and fixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames). Therefore, the support rigidity of the first supporting members is further improved compared with the case in which only a single partition portion is arranged. Thus, the front side frames can be deformed to intended directions. In addition, since the extent of overlap of the reinforcing members and the first mounting members in the vertical direction increases, the support rigidity of the first mounting members is further improved. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, it is preferable that the structure for a front section of a vehicle body according to the present invention further include: second mounting members which are arranged above the front side frames, and support a power unit; second fixing members which fix the second mounting members to upper portions of the front side frames; and second supporting members which are arranged inside the front side frames, and support the second fixing members; where each of the first supporting members and the second supporting members includes a partition portion, which extends across an inner space in the front side frames in the vehicle width direction, and the partition portion is fixed to an inner surface of the front side frames with an individually predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction in which the front side frames extend. 
         [0015]    According to the above structure, the partition portions in the first supporting members and the second supporting members are fixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames with individually predetermined inclination angles with respect to the direction in which the front side frames extend, such that the front side frames appropriately deform when a crash occurs. Thus, the load at the time of a crash can be absorbed by appropriately deforming the front side frames in their entire length when the crash occurs. 
         [0016]    Moreover, it is preferable that the partition portions in the first supporting members and the partition portions in the second supporting members be fixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames with inclination angles, which are set such that the partition portions in the first supporting members and the partition portions in the second supporting members are arranged nonparallel to each other in plan view. 
         [0017]    According to the above structure, the inclination angles of the partition portions in the first supporting members and the partition portions in the second supporting members are set such that the partition portions in the first supporting members and the partition portions in the second supporting members are arranged nonparallel to each other in plan view. Therefore, when a crash occurs, the front side frames deform such that the front side frames project toward the narrower side of the nonparallel arrangement. Thus, the load can be absorbed by appropriately deforming the front side frames. 
       Advantageous Effect of Invention 
       [0018]    According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a structure for a front section of a vehicle body enabling improvement in the support rigidity of mounting members arranged on the lower sides of front side frames. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a structure of a front section of a vehicle body according to a first embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion connecting a front side frame and a subframe. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is an upper front right perspective view of a first supporting member on the left side, and  FIG. 3B  is an upper rear left perspective view of the first supporting member on the left side. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a lower front left perspective view of a connection of the front side frame on the left side and a reinforcing member. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the front side frame on the left side. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an upper front right perspective view of a first supporting member in a variation. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a lower right perspective view of the first supporting member in the variation. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The first embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5  in detail. In the explanations, identical elements respectively are referred to by identical numbers, and the same explanations are not repeated. In the following explanations, the front, rear, right, left, up, and down directions are based on the driver&#39;s position, and the vehicle width direction is the right-left (lateral) direction. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a structure of a front section of a vehicle body according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion connecting a front side frame and a subframe.  FIG. 3  A is an upper front right perspective view of a first supporting member on the left side, and  FIG. 3B  is an upper rear left perspective view of the first supporting member on the left side.  FIG. 4  is a lower front left perspective view of a connection of the front side frame on the left side and a reinforcing member.  FIG. 5  is a plan view of the front side frame on the left side. For convenience of illustration,  FIGS. 2 and 4  are partially cutaway diagrams of the front side frame. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle C having the front-section structure  1  of the vehicle body is an automobile having a power-source mounting room MR in the front section of the vehicle body, for example, an FF (front-engine, front-wheel drive), FR (front-engine, rear-wheel drive), or four-wheel drive car or the like. The model and type of the automobile is not specifically limited as long as a power unit P (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) such as an engine, a transmission, or an electric motor is installed as a power source for the driving wheels in the automobile. 
         [0029]    The front-section structure  1  forms the front section of the vehicle C, and is constituted mainly by a pair of front side frames  2 , a subframe  3 , a pair of first mounting members  4 , first fixing members  5  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), first supporting members  6  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), a pair of damper housings  7 , and reinforcing members  8 . The pair of front side frames  2  are arranged on the right and left sides of the power-source mounting room MR to extend in the front-rear direction. The subframe  3  is arranged between the damper housings  7  arranged on the right and left sides. The first mounting members  4  are respectively arranged below the front side frames  2 . The first mounting members  4  are fixed to the front side frames  2  with the first fixing members  5 . The first supporting members  6  support the first fixing members  5 . The damper housings  7  enclose damper devices (not shown) for the front wheels. The reinforcing members  8  respectively reinforce the damper housings  7 . 
         [0030]    In addition, the front-section structure  1  further includes a pair of upper members  11 , a pair of lower members  12 , a dashboard  13 , and a front bulk head  14 . The upper members  11  are arranged outside and above the front side frames  2  on the right and left sides to extend in the front-rear direction. The lower members  12  arranged on the right and left sides extend from the middle portions of the upper members  11  toward a forward down direction. The dashboard  13  separates the power-source mounting room MR and the vehicle interior R. The front bulk head  14  is arranged on the front side of the power-source mounting room MR. The front ends of the lower members  12  are connected to the front ends of the front side frames  2  via connection members  17 . 
         [0031]    Further, since the front-section structure  1  according to the present embodiment is a bilaterally symmetric structure, only the left side of the vehicle C is explained below, and explanation on the structure on the right side is omitted. Furthermore, in the following explanations, the power-source mounting room MR side may be referred to as the inner side of the vehicle, and the side opposite to the power-source mounting room MR may be referred to as the outer side of the vehicle. 
         [0032]    Each front side frame  2  is a frame member having a hollow shape, and has a function of absorbing shocks by being crushed in the front-rear direction in a bellows-like manner when the vehicle crashes. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the front side frame  2  is formed to be a square tube-like member having a closed cross section, by joining an inner member  21  and an outer member  22 . The inner member  21  has a hat-like cross section and includes an upper wall  2   a , a lower wall  2   b , and an inner wall  2   c . The outer member  22  has a planar shape and constitutes an outer wall  2   d . In addition, the rear end of the front side frame  2  is bent downward and connected to a floor frame  16  below the dashboard  13 . The front end of the front side frame  2  is connected to the front bulk head  14  (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). Further, the front side frame  2  contains therein the first supporting member  6  and two second supporting members  9 A and  9 B, where the first supporting member  6  is arranged for mounting the first mounting member  4 , and the second supporting members  9 A and  9 B are arranged for mounting second mounting members M 1  and M 2  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). The first supporting member  6  and the second supporting members  9 A and  9 B are explained later. 
         [0033]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the subframe  3  is a member which supports the power unit P (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) from the lower side. The subframe  3  includes a body portion  31  and a plurality of arm portions  32 ,  33 , and  34 , where the plurality of arm portions  32 ,  33 , and  34  extend from the body portion  31 . (Although only the left side is illustrated, the subframe  3  according to the present embodiment has six arm portions in total.) Specifically, the arm portions  32  on the right and left sides extend rightward and leftward from the body portion  31 , and are connected to the front side frames  2  via the first mounting members  4 . The arm portions  33  on the right and left sides extend forward from the body portion  31 , and are connected to the front bulk head  14 . The arm portions  34  on the right and left sides extend rearward from the body portion  31 , and are connected to the floor frame  16 . 
         [0034]    The damper housings  7 , as portions of the vehicle body, are portions which receive the damper devices (not shown) arranged for absorbing shocks from the front wheels. The side surfaces of the damper housings  7  are bent to have approximately an arched shape convex to the power-source mounting room MR side. The bottom end  7   a  of each damper housing  7  is connected to one of the front side frames  2 , and the top  7   b  end of the damper housing  7  is connected to one of the upper members  11 . In addition, a strut tower bar  15  is arranged to bridge the damper housings  7  on the right and left sides. 
         [0035]    The reinforcing members  8  are concavely grooved members which are attached to the side surfaces of the damper housings  7 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the reinforcing members  8  are arranged to extend in the vertical direction in such a manner that the opening of a concave groove  81  faces the damper housing  7  side. Each reinforcing member  8  includes a pair of first flange portions  82  and a second flange portion  83 . The first flange portions  82  are arranged along the concave groove  81 , and the second flange portion  83  is arranged at the bottom end. Specifically, the first flange portions  82  are fixed to one of the damper housings  7  by welding, and the second flange portion  83  is fixed to the upper wall  2   a  and the inner wall  2   c  of one of the front side frames  2  by welding. Therefore, a closed cross section is formed with the reinforcing member  8  and the damper housing  7 , so that the strength and rigidity of the vehicle body are improved. In the present embodiment, each reinforcing member  8  is connected to the position of one of the front side frames  2  at which the rear end side of the front side frame  2  begins to bend from the front end side. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first mounting members  4  are members which support the arm portions  32  (extending rightward and leftward from the body portion  31  of the subframe  3 ), and arranged below the front side frames  2 . Each first mounting member  4  is fastened to the first supporting member  6  in one of the front side frames  2  with the first fixing member  5  such as a bolt which is inserted into the front side frame  2  through the first mounting member  4  from the lower side of the first mounting member  4 . In addition, the first mounting member  4  is fastened to the subframe  3  with two bolts inserted into the first mounting member  4  in the horizontal direction through one of the arm portions  32  of the subframe  3  (which extend rightward and leftward). 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the first supporting members  6  are members which support the aforementioned first fixing members  5 , and arranged inside the front side frames  2 . Each first supporting member  6  includes a holding portion  61  and a partition portion  62 . The holding portion  61  has a cylindrical shape, and the first fixing member  5  is inserted into the holding portion  61 . The partition portion  62  is arranged so as to extend across the inside of each front side frame  2  in the vehicle width direction. 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a female screw for holding the bolt as the first fixing member  5  is formed on an inner space  61   a  of the holding portion  61 . In addition, a flange portion  61   b  which extends outward in the radial direction is arranged at the bottom portion of the holding portion  61 . The flange portion  61   b  is in contact with the lower wall  2   b  of the front side frame  2 . Further, a through-hole  2   e  for inserting the first fixing member  5  is formed in the lower wall  2   b  in the front side frame  2  at the position corresponding to the hollow in the holding portion  61  (as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0039]    The partition portion  62  is a wall-like member which separates the inner space of the front side frame  2  into front and rear sides. The partition portion  62  includes a partition body  62   a , a concave portion  62   b , an upper flange  62   c , a lower flange  62   d , an inner flange  62   e , and an outer flange  62   f . The concave portion  62   b  is arranged at approximately the center of the partition body  62   a  to extend in the vertical direction. The upper flange  62   c , the lower flange  62   d , the inner flange  62   e , and the outer flange  62   f  respectively extend from the upper end, the lower end, and the lateral (outer and inner) ends of the partition body  62   a . The holding portion  61  is fitted into the concave portion  62   b  and fixed by welding. The upper flange  62   c  and the outer flange  62   f  extend forward from the partition body  62   a . The lower flange  62   d  and the inner flange  62   e  extend rearward from the partition body  62   a . The upper flange  62   c  is fixed to the inner surface of the upper wall  2   a  of the front side frame  2  by welding, and the lower flange  62   d  is fixed to the inner surface of the lower wall  2   b  of the front side frame  2  by welding. The inner flange  62   e  is fixed to the inner surface of the inner wall  2   c  of the front side frame  2  by welding, and the outer flange  62   f  is fixed to the inner surface of the outer wall  2   d  of the front side frame  2  by welding. The bottom end  62   g  of the outer flange  62   f  is arranged to extend to the level below the partition body  62   a  and the lower flange  62   d , and held between the inner member  21  and the outer member  22  (constituting the front side frame  2 ), as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the first supporting member  6  is fixed to the inner surface of the front side frame  2  below the position at which the reinforcing member  8  is joined to the front side frame  2 . In the present embodiment, a portion of the upper flange  62   c  of the first supporting member  6  is arranged directly under the second flange portion  83  of the reinforcing member  8 , and the other portions are arranged below the second flange portion  83 . However, the arrangement of the first supporting member  6  is not limited to the arrangement explained above. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange the entire first supporting member  6  directly under the position at which the reinforcing member  8  is joined to the front side frame  2 . 
         [0041]    Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the partition portion  62  of the first supporting member  6  is arranged diagonal to the direction in which the front side frame  2  extends (and to the lateral direction), in such a manner that the outer flange  62   f  is located on the front side of the inner flange  62   e.    
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the second support members  9 A and  9 B are members for fixing the second mounting members M 1  and M 2  to the front side frame  2 , where the second mounting members M 1  and M 2  support an upper portion of the power unit P, which is mounted on the subframe  3 . One  9 A of the second support members is arranged inside the front side frame  2  on the front side of the first supporting member  6 . The other  9 B of the second support members is arranged inside the front side frame  2  on the front side of the second support member  9 A. In addition, the second mounting members M 1  and M 2  are fastened to the upper wall  2   a  of the front side frame  2  with bolts as second fixing members  5 A (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in which only the second support member  5 A on the second supporting member  9 B side is illustrated). 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the second supporting members  9 A and  9 B each have a holding portion  91  and a partition portion  92 . The holding portion  91  has a cylindrical shape, and the second fixing member  5 A is inserted into the holding portion  91 . The partition portion  92  is arranged to extend across the inside of the front side frame  2  in the vehicle width direction. The holding portion  91  and the partition portion  92  are fixed by welding. A female screw is formed around an inner space  91   a  of the holding portion  91 . An inner flange  92   a  is formed at an end of the partition portion  92  on the inner side of the vehicle (on the right side in  FIG. 2 ), and fixed to the inner surface of the inner wall  2   c  of the front side frame  2 . An outer flange  92   b  is formed at an end of the partition portion  92  on the outer side of the vehicle (on the left side in  FIG. 2 ), and fixed to the inner surface of the outer wall  2   d  of the front side frame  2 . 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the partition portion  92  of the second supporting member  9 A is arranged diagonal to the direction in which the front side frame  2  extends (and to the lateral direction), in such a manner that the inner flange  92   a  is located on the front side of the outer flange  92   b . Thus, the first supporting member  6  and the second support member  9 A are arranged nonparallel to each other in such a manner that the distance between the first supporting member  6  and the second support member  9 A is narrowed toward the outer side of the vehicle in plan view. 
         [0045]    In addition, the partition portion  92  of the other second supporting member  9 B is arranged diagonal to the direction in which the front side frame  2  extends (and to the lateral direction), in such a manner that the outer flange  92   b  is located on the front side of the inner flange  92   a . Thus, the second support member  9 A and the second support member  9 B are arranged nonparallel to each other in such a manner that the distance between the second support member  9 A and the second support member  9 B is narrowed toward the inner side of the vehicle in plan view. 
         [0046]    The front-section structure  1  according to the present embodiment is constructed as explained above. Next, the operations and the advantageous effect of the front-section structure  1  are explained below. 
         [0047]    In the front-section structure  1  according to the present embodiment, the reinforcing members  8  reinforcing the damper housings  7  constituting the vehicle body are joined to the upper walls  2   a  of the front side frames  2 , and the first supporting members  6  supporting the first fixing members  5  are fixed to the inner surfaces of the front side frames  2 , respectively, below the positions at which the reinforcing members  8  are joined to the front side frames  2 . Therefore, the support rigidity of the first mounting members  4  contributed by the front side frames  2  is improved. That is, since the reinforcing members  8  are joined to the front side frames  2  in the vicinities of the positions at which the first supporting members  6  are joined to the front side frames  2 , the rigidity is improved in the vicinities of the joined positions. Therefore, deformation of the frame which can be caused by the force inputted from the tire side can be suppressed, and resultantly the support rigidity of the first mounting members  4  is improved. 
         [0048]    In addition, according to the above structure, the support rigidity of the first mounting members  4  can be improved by use of the reinforcing members  8  which support the damper housings  7 . Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing is facilitated. 
         [0049]    Further, the support rigidity of the first mounting members  4  can be changed by only changing the structures of the first supporting members  6  (e.g., the length of the holding portion  61  or the thickness of the partition portion  62 ) without changing the structure of the front side frames  2 . Therefore, various types of vehicles receiving different input loads can be coped with, and the front side frames  2  can be used in common. 
         [0050]    Furthermore, since, in the front-section structure  1  according to the present invention, the partition portion  92  of the second support member  9 A and the partition portion  62  of the first supporting member  6  are fixed, nonparallel to each other, to the inner surfaces of each front side frame  2  in such a manner that the distance between the partition portion  92  and the partition portion  62  is narrowed toward one side in plan view, the load at the time of a crash can be absorbed by appropriately deforming the front side frames  2  to project toward the side on which the distance between the partition portion  92  and the partition portion  62  is narrower (i.e., the outer side in the present embodiment). 
         [0051]    On the other hand, since the second support member  9 A and the second support member  9 B are arranged nonparallel to each other in such a manner that the distance between the second support member  9 A and the second support member  9 B is narrowed toward the opposite side to the arrangement of the partition portion  92  and the partition portion  62 , the bending load can be stably generated. Therefore, the load at the time of a crash can be absorbed by appropriately deforming and folding the front side frames  2  in their entire length from the front side to the rear side. 
         [0052]    Next, a variation of the first supporting member  6  is explained with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view, viewed from the inner side of the vehicle, of a first supporting member in the variation, and  FIG. 7  is a lower perspective view, viewed from the inner side of the vehicle, of the first supporting member in the variation. In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a portion of the front side frame  2  and the reinforcing member  8  are illustrated by virtual lines (two-dot chain lines) for convenience of illustration. 
         [0053]    The first supporting members  6 A each include a holding portion  61  and a pair of partition portions  62 A and  62 B. The partition portions  62 A and  62 B are respectively arranged on the rear and front sides of the holding portion  61 . The holding portion  61  is fixed to the pair of partition portions  62 A and  62 B via a bracket  63 , which is arranged to bridge the partition portions  62 A and  62 B. 
         [0054]    The rear-side partition portion  62 A is a wall-like portion which separates the inner space of the front side frame  2  on the rear side of the holding portion  61 , into the front and rear sides of the rear-side partition body  62 A. The rear-side partition portion  62 A includes a rear partition body  62 Aa, an upper flange  62 Ac, a lower flange  62 Ad, an inner flange  62 Ae, and an outer flange  62 Af. The upper flange  62 Ac, the lower flange  62 Ad, the inner flange  62 Ae, and the outer flange  62 Af respectively extend from the upper end, the lower end, and the lateral (outer and inner) ends of the rear partition body  62 Aa. The upper flange  62 Ac, the lower flange  62 Ad, and the inner flange  62 Ae extend rearward from the rear partition body  62 Aa. The outer flange  62 Af extends forward from the rear partition body  62 Aa. The upper flange  62 Ac, the lower flange  62 Ad, the inner flange  62 Ae, and the outer flange  62 Af are respectively fixed to the inner surfaces of the upper wall  2   a , the lower wall  2   b , the inner wall  2   c , and the outer wall  2   d  of the front side frame  2 . 
         [0055]    The front-side partition portion  62 B is a wall-like portion which separates the inner space of the front side frame  2  on the front side of the holding portion  61 , into the front and rear sides of the front-side partition portion  62 B. The front-side partition portion  62 B includes a front partition portion  62 Ba, an upper flange  62 Bc, a lower flange  62 Bd, an inner flange  62 Be, and an outer flange  62 Bf. The upper flange  62 Bc, the lower flange  62 Bd, the inner flange  62 Be, and the outer flange  62 Bf respectively extend from the upper end, the lower end, and the lateral (outer and inner) ends of the front partition portion  62 Ba. The upper flange  62 Bc, the lower flange  62 Bd, and the inner flange  62 Be extend forward from the front partition portion  62 Ba. The outer flange  62 Bf extends rearward from the front partition portion  62 Ba. The upper flange  62 Bc, the lower flange  62 Bd, the inner flange  62 Be, and the outer flange  62 Bf are respectively fixed to the inner surfaces of the upper wall  2   a , the lower wall  2   b , the inner wall  2   c , and the outer wall  2   d  of the front side frame  2 . 
         [0056]    In addition, in the above variation, the outer flange  62 Af in the rear-side partition portion  62  and the outer flange  62 Bf in the front-side partition portion  62 B are continuously formed. In other words, the pair of partition portions  62 A and  62 B is formed with a groove-like member in which the outer flange  62 Af and the outer flange  62 Bf constitute a bottom wall, and the rear partition body  62 Aa and the rear partition body  62 Ba constitute an integrated side wall. 
         [0057]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first supporting member  6 A according to the above variation is arranged below the position at which the reinforcing member  8  is joined to the front side frame  2 . Specifically, the entire first supporting member  6 A is arranged directly under the reinforcing member  8 . 
         [0058]    In the above structure, each first supporting member  6 A according to the variation includes the holding portion  61  (which holds the first fixing member  5 ) and the pair of partition portions  62 A and  62 B (which are respectively arranged on the rear and front sides of the holding portion  61  and fixed to the inner surface of the front side frame  2 ). Therefore, the support rigidity of the first mounting member  4  is further improved compared with the case where only the single partition portion  62  is arranged. Thus, the front side frame  2  can be deformed in intended directions with high reliability when a crash occurs. In addition, since the extent of overlap of the first mounting member  4  and the reinforcing member  8  in the vertical direction increases, the support rigidity of the first mounting member  4  is further improved. 
         [0059]    Although the front-section structures  1  according to an embodiment are explained above in detail with respect to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the explained embodiment, and the embodiment can be modified as needed without departing from the gist of the present invention. 
         [0060]    For example, although the bolts are indicated as examples of the first fixing members  5 , the present invention is not limited to the use of bolts as the first fixing members  5 , and other fixing members such as rivets may be used as long as the joining strength is sufficient. 
         [0061]    In the explained embodiment, the narrower side of the nonparallel arrangement of the first supporting member  6  and the second support member  9 A is directed to the outer side of the vehicle, and the narrower side of the nonparallel arrangement of the second support member  9 A and the second support member  9 B is directed to the inner side of the vehicle. Alternatively, the narrower sides in the above arrangements may be directed to the respectively opposite directions. 
         [0062]    In the explained embodiment, the pair of partition portions  62 A and  62 B in each first supporting member  6 A is realized by the single member, the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and the partition portions  62 A and  62 B may be realized by individually separate members. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
       [0063]      1 : Front-section Structure  2 : Front Side Frame  3 : Subframe  4 : First Mounting Member  5 : First Fixing Member  6 : First Supporting Member  61 : Holding Portion  62 : Partition portion  7 : Damper Housing (Vehicle Body)  8 : Reinforcing Members  9 A,  9 B: Second Supporting Members

Technology Classification (CPC): 1