SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR HEADLAMP COVER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

[0001]
The present invention relates to a support structure for a headlamp cover and, more specifically, a support structure for a headlamp cover which makes it possible to easily control the sizes of respective gaps along the front and rear end edge portions of a headlamp cover and to increase the durability of the headlamp cover.

(2) Description of Related Art

[0002]
Conventionally, as a support structure for a headlamp cover, there have been one which includes a headlamp support body provided with a headlamp; a fuel tank disposed in the rear of the headlamp; an attachment flange that protrudes from the fuel tank in a forward direction and is fixed to the headlamp support body; a headlamp cover disposed above the headlamp; attachment units that are arranged at the center of the headlamp cover in the front-rear direction and are attached to a cover attachment unit of the headlamp; a front end edge portion of the headlamp cover positioned along the front upper end edge portion of the headlamp; and a rear end edge portion of the headlamp cover positioned along the front surface of the fuel tank (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-55851 (refer to Fig. 2)).

In such a technique, however, both front and rear end edge portions of the headlamp cover are a free end without any positioning and vibration isolation mechanisms, which could create a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003]
(First Problem) It is difficult to control the sizes of respective gaps along the front and rear end edge portions of a headlamp cover. Because both front and rear end edge portions of a headlamp cover are a free end without any positioning mechanism, it may be impossible to adjust the positions of the front and rear end edge portions of the headlamp cover, thereby making it difficult to control the sizes of respective gaps along the front and rear end edge portions of the headlamp cover.

[0004]
(Second Problem) There is a possibility that the durability of a headlamp cover could be decreased. Because both front and rear end edge portions of the headlamp cover are a free end without any vibration isolation mechanism, the headlamp cover is likely to vibrate, and this vibration causes stress to be concentrated on the center of the headlamp cover in the front-rear direction at which the attachment units are arranged. As a result, the durability of the headlamp cover may be decreased.

[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a headlamp cover, which makes it possible to easily control the sizes of respective gaps along the front and rear end edge portions of a headlamp cover and to increase the durability of the headlamp cover.

[Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006]
Invention specifying matters according to a first aspect of the present invention will be described below. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a support structure of a headlamp cover which includes: a headlamp support body 1 provided with a headlamp 2; a fuel tank 3 disposed in the rear of the headlamp 2; an attachment flange 4 that protrudes from the fuel tank 3 in a forward direction and is fixed to an upper surface of the headlamp support body 1; a headlamp cover 5 disposed above the headlamp 21 a plurality of attachment units 6 and 6 that are arranged at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in a front-back direction and are attached to a cover attachment unit 15 of the headlamp % a front end edge portion 7 of the headlamp cover 5 positioned along the front upper end edge portion 8 of the headlamp 2.' and a rear end edge portion 9 of the headlamp cover 5 positioned along a front surface 10 of the fuel tank 3. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3A, a front vibration isolation member 11 is interposed between a front end portion 7a of the headlamp cover 5 and an upper front end portion 8a of the headlamp 2, and a plurality of rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are interposed between a rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 and the fuel tank 3.

[Effect of the Invention]

[0007]

(First Aspect of the Present Invention)

The first aspect of the present invention produces the following effects.

[0008]
(First Effect) The sizes of respective gaps along the front and rear end edge portions of a headlamp cover can be controlled easily. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3A, the front vibration isolation member 11 is interposed between the front end portion 7a of the headlamp cover 5 and the upper front end portion 8a of the headlamp 2, and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are interposed between the rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 and the fuel tank 3. Accordingly, by controlling the individual thicknesses of the front vibration isolation member 11 and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12, it is possible to adjust the positions of the front and rear end edge portions 7 and 9 of the headlamp cover 5, and to easily control the sizes of respective gaps 7b and 9b along the front and rear end edge portions 7 and 9 of the headlamp cover 5.

[0009]
(Second Effect) The durability of a headlamp cover can be increased. As illustrated in Fig. 2, even when the headlamp cover 5 vibrates, the vibration is partially absorbed by the front vibration isolation member 11 and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12, and the overall vibration is reduced by this absorption. Consequently, a stress is reduced, which the vibration has caused at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction at which the attachment units 6 and 6 are arranged, so that the durability of the headlamp cover 5 is increased.

[0010]
(Third Effect) The thermal load on rear vibration isolation members can be reduced. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are interposed between the rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 and the fuel tank 3. Because the fuel tank 3 is maintained at a low temperature due to the vaporization of the fuel, the thermal load on the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 which are in contact with this fuel tank 3 is reduced.

[0011]

(Second Aspect of the Present Invention)

A second aspect of the present invention produces the following effect, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention. (Effect) The front-rear and right-left attitudes of a headlamp cover can be controlled easily. As illustrated in Fig. 3A, the front vibration isolation member 11 is provided at the center of the front end portion 7a of the headlamp cover 5 in a lateral direction, and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are arranged on the respective sides of the rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 in the lateral direction. Accordingly, by controlling the individual thicknesses of the front vibration isolation member 11 and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12, the front-rear and right-left attitudes of the headlamp cover 5 can be controlled easily.

[0012]

(Third Aspect of the Present Invention)

A third aspect of the present invention produces the following effect, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention. (Effect) The sizes of respective gaps along the front and rear end edge portions of a headlamp cover can be controlled much easier. As illustrated in Figs. 3A, 3B and 4, a plurality of latch claws 13 and 13 are provided at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction while being oriented in a rear direction, and these latch claws 13 and 13 latch corresponding engagement grooves 14 and 14 of the headlamp 2. This enables the center position of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction to be adjusted, thus making it much easier to control the sizes of respective gaps 7b and 9b along the front and rear end edge portions 7 and 9 of the headlamp cover 5.

[0013]

(Fourth Aspect of the Present Invention)

A fourth aspect of the present invention produces the following effect, in addition to the effects of the third aspect of the present invention.

(Effect) The right-left attitude of a headlamp cover can be controlled much easier.
As illustrated in Fig. 3A, the latch claws 13 and 13 are provided at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction and on the respective sides of the headlamp cover 5 in the lateral direction, and the engagement grooves 14 and 14 are provided on the respective sides of the headlamp 2 in the lateral direction. This makes it much easier to control the right-left attitude of the headlamp cover 5.

[0014]

(Fifth Aspect of the Present Invention)

A fifth aspect of the present invention produces the following effect, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention.

(Effect) The durability of an emblem can be increased.

As illustrated in Figs. 7A, 7B and 8, the upper rim portions of pin insertion holes 21 and 21 are widened in a diameter direction thereof, so as to form drain recess portions 22 and 22. Further, these drain recess portions 22 and 22 communicate with the lower parts of corresponding space portions 19 and 19 of the emblem 16. Therefore, the water 23 that would stay within the recesses of the space portions 19 and 19 whose bottom surfaces are the upper surface of the headlamp cover 5 are caused to flow down to a space under the headlamp cover 5 from the drain recess portions 22 and 22 through the corresponding pin insertion holes 21 and 21. Consequently, water 23 is less likely to stay within the recesses of the space portions 19 and 19, thereby suppressing the surface of the emblem 16 to be corroded with the water 23. This increases the durability of the emblem 16.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a headlamp provided with a headlamp cover, which is used for an engine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. V,

Fig. 3A is a plan view illustrating the headlamp of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3A;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the headlamp cover in the headlamp of Fig. 1 and a surrounding portion thereof;

Fig. 5 is a rear view illustrating the headlamp of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7A is an enlarged plan view illustrating an emblem of the headlamp of Fig. 1 and a surrounding portion thereof, and Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VHI-VIII of Fig.7A;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the headlamp of Fig. 1 from which the headlamp cover is detached, as seen from the front thereof;

Fig. 10 is a plan view illustrating the headlamp of Fig. 1 from which the headlamp cover is detached;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the headlamp provided with the headlamp cover of Fig. 1, as seen from the front thereof;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the headlamp provided with the headlamp cover of Fig. 1, as seen from the rear thereof;

Fig. 13A is a front elevational view illustrating a headlamp support body which is used for the engine according to the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 13B is a partially cutaway plan view illustrating the headlamp support body, Fig. 13C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of Fig. 13A, and Fig. 13D is a side view illustrating the headlamp support body, as seen in the direction of the arrow D in Fig. 13A;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the engine according to the embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front thereof; and

Fig. 15 is a side view illustrating the engine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016]
Figs. 1 to 15 illustrate an engine equipped with a headlamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that a horizontal type single cylinder diesel engine with a headlamp will be described in this embodiment.

[0017]
As illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, a horizontal type single cylinder diesel engine with a headlamp has an engine main unit that includes: a crankcase 51; a cylinder unit 52 which protrudes from the rear end portion of the crankcase 51; a cylinder head 53 which is attached to the protruding end of the cylinder unit 52; and a cylinder head cover 54 which is attached to an end portion of the cylinder head 53.

A fuel tank 3 is disposed above the crankcase 51, a radiator 55 is disposed above the cylinder unit 52 and the cylinder head 53, and a headlamp 2 is disposed in the front of the fuel tank 3. Side covers 56 and 56 cover the respective sides of the fuel tank 3, and a headlamp cover 5 covers the upper portion of the headlamp 2. An emblem 16 is attached to this headlamp cover 5.

[0018]
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the headlamp 2 is attached to a headlamp support body V, the fuel tank 3 is disposed in the rear of the headlamp 2', an attachment flange 4 protrudes from the fuel tank 3 in a forward direction and is fixed to the headlamp support body 1»' the headlamp cover 5 is disposed above the headlamp 2\ a plurality of attachment units 6 and 6 are arranged at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in a front-rear direction and are attached to a cover attachment unit 15 of the headlamp 2," a front end edge portion 7 of the headlamp cover 5 is positioned along the front upper end edge portion 8 of the headlamp 2', and a rear end edge portion 9 of the headlamp cover 5 is positioned along a front surface 10 of the fuel tank 3.

[0019]
As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3A, a front vibration isolation member 11 is interposed between a front end portion 7a of the headlamp cover 5 and an upper front end portion 8a of the headlamp 2, and a plurality of rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are interposed between a rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 and the fuel tank 3.

[0020]
As illustrated in Fig. 3A, the front vibration isolation member 11 is provided at the center of the front end portion 7a of the headlamp cover 5 in the lateral direction, and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are arranged on the respective sides of the rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 in the lateral direction. As illustrated in Figs. 3A, 3B and 4, a plurality of latch claws 13 and 13 are provided at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction while being oriented in a rear direction, and these latch claws 13 and 13 latch corresponding engagement grooves 14 and 14 of the headlamp 2.
As illustrated in Fig. 3A, the latch claws 13 and 13 are provided at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction and on respective sides of the headlamp cover 5 in the lateral direction, and the engagement grooves 14 and 14 are provided on the respective sides of the headlamp 2 in the lateral direction.

[0021]
As illustrated in Figs. 7A and 7B and 8, the emblem 16 attached to the headlamp cover 5 includes a frame 17, a mark portion 18, and a plurality of space portions 19 and 19; part of the frame 17 is connected to part of the mark portion 18; each of the space portions 19 and 19 is provided between the respective remaining parts of the frame 17 and the mark portion 18; and attachment pins 20 that protrude from the emblem 16 downward are inserted into corresponding pin insertion holes 21 of the headlamp cover 5, so that the emblem 16 is attached to the headlamp cover 5 while being along the upper surface of the headlamp cover 5.

Moreover, the upper rim portions of pin insertion holes 21 and 21 are widened in a diameter direction thereof, so as to form drain recess portions 22 and 22, and these drain recess portions 22 and 22 communicate with the lower parts of corresponding space portions 19 and 19 of the emblem 16. Due to this, water 23 that would stay within the recesses of the space portions 19 and 19 whose bottom surfaces are the upper surface of the headlamp cover 5 are caused to fall down to a space under the headlamp cover 5 from the drain recess portions 22 and 22 through the corresponding pin insertion holes 21 and 21.

[0022]
The detail of individual components will be described. As illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13D, the headlamp support body 1 is provided with a lamp support frame 32 that extends from a front portion of a horizontal base unit 31 in a substantially vertical direction. The base unit 31 is attached to the upper portion of the crankcase 51. The lamp support frame 32 has a laterally long, rectangular shape as seen from the front thereof, and is provided with four lamp mounting units 33 at the upper, lower, right and left portions thereof. Each lamp mounting unit 33 has a lamp mounting hole 33a formed therein.

[0023]
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the headlamp 2 has a structure in which a lens 37 is attached to the front portion of a lamp housing 34, and a light source 38 is accommodated in the interior of the lamp housing 34. The inner surface of the lamp housing 34 is formed to be a reflecting surface. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the lens 37 is firmly coupled to the lamp housing 34 at a fitting portion 37a provided on the circumference of the lens 37. This fitting portion 37a is sealed by an adhesive. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 9 to 12, four attachment units 35 are prepared at the upper, lower, right and left points of the lamp housing 34 in the rear direction, and the prepared ends of the attachment units 35 are
abutted against the lamp mounting units 33 of the corresponding lamp support frames 32. Then, the attachment units 35 are attached to the lamp mounting units 33 with lamp mounting tools 36 illustrated in Fig. 1 inserted into the lamp mounting holes 33a illustrated in Fig. 13A. Note that each lamp mounting tool is formed of a bolt.

[0024]
As illustrated in Fig. 4, a first rear-extending leading-out piece 39 is prepared at the front upper end edge portion 8 of the headlamp 2 in the rear direction; a first upper-extending leading-out piece 40 is prepared at the prepared end of the first rear-extending leading-out piece 39 upward; a second rear-extending leading-out piece 41 is prepared at the prepared end of the first upper-extending leading-out piece 40, and a second upper-extending leading-out piece 42 is prepared at the prepared end of the second rear-extending leading-out piece 41. This second upper-extending leading-out piece 42 serves as the cover attachment unit 15.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, a drain hole 43 is formed in the lower portion of the first upper-extending leading-out piece 40. Water 23 that has fallen down from the pin insertion holes 21 and 21 as illustrated in Fig. 8 flows from the upper surface of the first rear-extending leading-out piece 39 to the upper portion of the lamp housing 34 through the drain hole 43 as illustrated in Fig. 6. This prevents the water 23 from entering the fitting portion 37a between the lens 37 and the lamp housing 34 from the upper surface of the first rear-extending leading-out piece 39, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

[0025]
As illustrated in Fig. 3A, the attachment units 6 and 6 of the headlamp cover 5 are arranged at the center of the headlamp cover 5 in the front-rear direction and on the respective sides of the headlamp cover 5 in the lateral direction. These attachment units 6 and 6 are prepared on the headlamp cover 5 downward, and are attached to the cover attachment unit 15 with corresponding cover fixing bolts 44 and 44.

[0026]
As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the fuel tank 3 has a box-shaped structure made of metal sheets, and is assembled by vertically abutting a lower main portion 45 and an upper ceiling portion 46 against each other; and subjecting their abutting portions to flange bonding. The front portion of the bonded flange 47 serves as the attachment flange 4 of the fuel tank 3. This attachment flange 4 is attached to an upper frame portion 48 of the lamp support frame 32 with a tank fixing tool 49. Note that this tank fixing tool 49 is formed of a bolt.

[0027]
As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the interposed location of the front vibration isolation member 11 is present between the front end portion 7a of the headlamp cover 5 and the upper portion of the fitting portion 37a at which the lens 37 and the lamp housing 34 are bonded to each other. Meanwhile, the interposed location of each of the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 is present between the rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 and both the front surface of the ceiling portion 46 and the upper surface of the attachment flange 4 of the fuel tank 3. Each of the front vibration isolation member 11 and the rear vibration isolation members 12 and 12 are made of an urethane elastic material, and bonded to the front end portion 7a or the rear end portion 9a of the headlamp cover 5 with an adhesive.

[0028]
In the emblem 16, as illustrated in Figs. 7A and 7B, the frame 17 has an elliptically ring-shape,' the mark portion 18 has a letter of "K"; the front and rear edge portions of the mark portion 18 are connected to the frame 17; and the space portions 19 and 19 are formed on the respective lateral sides of the mark portion 18. The emblem 16 is made of a synthetic resin, and the surface thereof is plated with a metal.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, each attachment pin 20 is integrally molded with the frame 17 or the mark portion 18 of the emblem 16, and is prepared on the mark portion 18 downward.

Each pin insertion hole 21 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of each attachment pin 20, and a water leakage clearance is formed between each attachment pin 20 and each pin insertion hole 21. Retaining rings 50 are provided to prevent the attachment pins 20 from dropping out of the headlamp cover 5. Each retaining ring 50 is formed of a disc-shaped spring with multiple slits. The outer circumferential portion of each retaining ring 50 is abutted against the lower surface of the headlamp cover 5, whereas the inner circumferential portion thereof is fixed to the outer region of each attachment pin 20.

With the above configuration, water 23 that has passed through the water leakage clearance of each pin insertion hole 21 is caused to flow down to a space under the headlamp cover 5 through the slits of each retaining ring 50 and the like.

What is claimed is-

1. A support structure of a headlamp cover, comprising:

a headlamp support body (1) to which a headlamp (2) is attached;

a fuel tank (3) disposed in the rear of the headlamp (2);

an attachment flange (4) protruding from the fuel tank (3) in a forward direction, the attachment flange (4) being fixed to the headlamp support body (1);

a headlamp cover (5) disposed above the headlamp (2);

a plurality of attachment units (6) and (6) attached to a cover attachment unit (15) of the headlamp (2), the attachment units (6) and (6) being arranged at the center of the headlamp cover (5) in a front-back direction;

a front end edge portion (7) of the headlamp cover (5) positioned along a front upper end edge portion (8) of the headlamp (2);

a rear end edge portion (9) of the headlamp cover (5) positioned along a front surface (10) of the fuel tank (3);

a front vibration isolation member (11) interposed between a front end portion (7a) of the headlamp cover (5) and an upper front end portion (8a) of the headlamp (2); and

a plurality of rear vibration isolation members (12) and (12) interposed between a rear end portion (9a) of the headlamp cover (5) and the fuel tank (3).

2. The support structure of a headlamp cover according to claim 1, wherein the front vibration isolation member (11) is provided at the center of the front end portion (7a) of the headlamp cover (5) in a lateral direction, and the rear vibration isolation members (12) and (12) are arranged on the respective sides of the rear end portion (9a) of the
headlamp cover (5) in the lateral direction.

3. The support structure of a headlamp cover according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a plurality of latch claws (13) and (13) provided at the center of the headlamp cover (5) in the front-rear direction while being oriented in a rear direction, and a plurality of engagement grooves (14) and (14) provided in the headlamp (2), the latch claws (13) and (13) latching corresponding engagement grooves (14) and (14).

4. The support structure of a headlamp cover according to claim 3, wherein the latch claws (13) and (13) are provided at the center of the headlamp cover (5) in the front-rear direction and on the respective sides of the headlamp cover (5) in the lateral direction, and the engagement grooves (14) and (14) are provided on the respective sides of the headlamp (2) in the lateral direction.

5. The support structure of a headlamp cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

an emblem (16) attached to the headlamp cover (5), the emblem (16) including a frame (17), a mark portion (18), and space portions (19) and (19), part of the frame (17) being connected to part of the mark portion (18), the space portions (19) and (19) being provided between remaining part of the frame (17) and remaining part of the mark portion (18);

attachment pins (20) protruding from the emblem (16) downward;

pin insertion holes (21) provided on the headlamp cover (5), the attachment pins (20) being inserted into the pin insertion holes (21) to attach the emblem (16) to an upper surface of the headlamp cover (5) so as to be along the upper surface; and

drain recess portions (22) and (22) formed by widening an upper circumferential portion of the pin insertion holes (21) and (21) in a diameter direction thereof, the drain recess portions (22) and (22) communicating with a lower portion of the space portions (19) and (19) of the emblem (16), wherein water (23) that would stay within a recess of the space portions (19) and (19) whose bottom surface is the upper surface of the headlamp cover (5) is caused to flow down to a space under the headlamp cover (5) from the drain recess portions (22) and (22) through the pin insertion holes (21) and (21).