Additional water deflector for the air intake of the automotive air conditioning system

Abstract

The invention relates, firstly, to an additional deflector (2) intended to supplement the channeling of water flows above an air inlet grille (3) of a motor vehicle air conditioning system by being mounted on a main deflector (1) comprising an upper channel (11) and lateral channels (12) which at least partially surround said grille, characterized in that it comprises, firstly, an inclined upper wall (21) and a lower wall (22) locally covering said upper channel (11) of the main deflector (1) and, secondly, at least one fixing and shimming element (20) intended to cooperate with a complementary element (10) carried by the main deflector (1) and, thirdly, a sealing assembly for an air inlet of an air conditioning system. (Fig. 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Additional water deflector for the air intake of the air conditioning system of motor vehicles

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of protecting the air intake of the air conditioning system of motor vehicles. In particular, the invention concerns an additional deflector intended to be assembled to the main deflector in order to improve the channeling of water flows (rainwater or cleaning water) and to prevent their penetration into the air intake duct of the air conditioning system.

[0002] The invention also relates to a sealing assembly for the air inlet of a motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising a main deflector and an associated additional deflector.

[0003] Generally, the air inlets of air conditioning systems equipping motor vehicles are provided with grilles mounted in the cowl located under the windshield of the vehicle and intended to prevent, or at least limit, the occlusion of this inlet by debris.

[0004] In order to prevent the harmful penetration of water into the air intake duct and thus protect the air conditioning system, these grilles are already provided with means allowing the diversion and evacuation of water to the outside.

[0005] These means include, in particular, a peripheral deflector designed to collect and channel laterally water runoff originating primarily from the lower part of the windshield cowl and flowing over these grilles to prevent its aspiration through the air intake vents. Such a deflector includes, in particular, an upper channel and lateral channels that at least partially surround the grille. Such a deflector is described in French patent application FR 2213165.

[0006] Furthermore, patent FR2919565B1 describes a water deflector positioned at the air inlet of the air conditioning unit. This deflector has an upward-facing wall whose function is to prevent water droplets from being carried by the incoming airflow and projected into the air inlet of the air conditioning unit.

[0007] However, these existing deflectors do not ensure sufficiently effective channeling of water runoff. In particular, they do not allow the water flow from the windshield pillar and seal to be broken up and redirected onto the peripheral deflector to prevent it from splashing onto the side support of the windshield wiper motor located in the cowl before being drawn through the air intake grille.

[0008] Consequently, it is now necessary to solve the problems techniques posed by previous solutions by seeking a solution to complement the action of current deflectors by means capable of locally perfecting the insulation of the grid and therefore the water tightness of the air intake duct while being able to be mounted easily and quickly on existing main deflectors.

[0009] In this context, the invention proposes an additional deflector intended to be mounted in the awning on the main deflector and at the right of the window frame as well as a sealing assembly comprising a main deflector and an additional deflector.

[0010] This goal is achieved, according to the invention, by means of an additional deflector intended to complete the channeling of water flows above an air inlet grille of a motor vehicle air conditioning system by being mounted on a main deflector comprising an upper channel and side channels which at least partially surround said grille, characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, an inclined upper wall and a lower wall locally covering said upper channel of the main deflector and, on the other hand, at least one fixing and bracing element intended to cooperate with a complementary element carried by the main deflector.

[0011] According to an advantageous feature of the additional deflector of the invention, its upper wall is delimited on its outer longitudinal edge and its lateral edges by projecting sides.

[0012] According to another feature of the deflector of the invention, its lower wall is provided with an inclined longitudinal rib forming drip breakers.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the deflector of the invention, the fixing and shimming element is formed of a transverse tab in which is provided an opening for receiving a lug carried by the upper channel of the main deflector.

[0014] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the additional deflector comprises three fixing and shoring tabs cooperating by snap-locking or by butt-rolling with three lugs carried by the upper channel of the main deflector.

[0015] According to yet another feature of the deflector of the invention, its upper and lower walls are inclined downwards between their outer and inner longitudinal edges in the direction of the upper channel of the main deflector.

[0016] Preferably, its inclined upper wall has a flared U-shaped section delimiting a pouring spout.

[0017] Another object of the invention is a sealing assembly for an air inlet of a motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising a main deflector and an additional deflector as defined above which is mounted on said main deflector.

[0018] Yet another object of the invention is a method for assembling an assembly sealing as defined above on a motor vehicle, characterized in that, prior to its assembly in the canopy, the additional deflector is fixed on the main deflector on the outside intended to be positioned next to the grille and under the windshield pillars and seal.

[0019] A final object of the invention is a motor vehicle equipped with an air conditioning system comprising an air inlet sealed by a grille and a sealing assembly as mentioned above for channeling water flows around said grille.

[0020] In principle, the invention proposes an improved technical solution for completing and perfecting the sealing of the air intake of the air conditioning system. Thus, any water that might run down the windshield frame is collected locally by the additional deflector before being directed to the main deflector to be drained away without falling in front of the air intake grille.

[0021] In parallel, the invention relates to a pre-assembled sealing unit ready for installation in the vehicle's canopy at the factory. The installation process is thus quicker and easier.

[0022] In addition, the fixing and bracing elements which cooperate mutually are made in one piece with each of the deflectors which make up the assembly and can therefore be made by an injection molding process.

[0023] The invention as a whole thus provides effective air-water separation despite the off-center positioning of the air intake of the air conditioning unit in the cowl, which exposes the grille to water infiltration from the windshield pillar and seal. Thanks to the combination of the main deflector and the additional deflector, all water flows are perfectly channeled.

[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, for which:

[0025] [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective view of a motor vehicle canopy with the air intake of an air conditioning system provided with an embodiment of the sealing assembly of the invention.

[0026] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a sealing assembly with a deflector main and an additional deflector according to the invention.

[0027] [Fig.3] is a detailed perspective view of the sealing assembly of [Fig.2].

[0028] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by symbols identical reference points across all figures.

[0029] Naturally, the embodiments of the additional deflector and the sealing assembly of the invention, as schematically illustrated in the figures above and described below, are given only by way of non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided for in the invention that different modes can be proposed and combined to propose others.

[0030] The invention relates to the field of protecting the air conditioning system of motor vehicles against water infiltration or leaks that may enter through the air intake vents located in the vehicle's cowl below the level of the windshield. Indeed, the penetration of water, even in the form of droplets, into the air conditioning system would cause damage or at least serious disruptions to its operation.

[0031] Generally, and as illustrated in [Fig. 1], the air intake of the air conditioning system is insulated by a deflector 2 mounted above and around the front grille 3, which is mounted in front of the air inlet. This deflector, hereafter referred to as the main deflector 1, serves to channel and drain water from the external environment of this grille. To this end, the main deflector 1 includes an upper channel 11 that collects the water flow and directs it towards lateral channels 12, which drain it by gravity.

[0032] In the vicinity of this grille 3, and here on its outer side, the vehicle structure typically carries a windshield wiper support (not shown) mounted on an inner lining of the front side wing. Traditionally, this deflector 1 is provided with at least one attachment element to the vehicle structure. Above this lateral area of ​​the cowl are the windshield pillar and its seal (not shown). These latter elements facilitate the flow of significant amounts of water into the cowl in the immediate vicinity of the grille and onto a corner portion of the deflector 1 that is not designed to channel such flows.

[0033] Consequently, the invention proposes means complementary to those used to date for improving the channeling of water that may flow laterally into the cowl from the pillar or the windshield frame seal. The invention also aims, in a second aspect, to provide an improved and adapted sealing assembly to allow for its quick and easy assembly and subsequent mounting on the vehicle structure.

[0034] These means consist of an additional deflector 2 comprising an inclined upper wall 21 and a lower wall 22 locally covering the upper channel 11 of the main deflector 1. The additional deflector 2 further comprises at least one fixing and bracing element and, where appropriate, as in the embodiment shown here, three fixing and bracing elements 20 intended to cooperate with complementary elements 10 carried by the main deflector 1 and which will be described in detail later.

[0035] The upper wall 21 of the additional deflector 2 is delimited on its outer longitudinal edge and its lateral edges by projecting sides 23 preventing the de- lateral edge of the collected water, as illustrated by [Fig.2].

[0036] This wall 21 of the additional deflector 2 is inclined downwards between its outer longitudinal edge 2a and its inner edge 2b in the direction of the upper chute 11 of the main deflector 1, as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2. This configuration allows gravity flow of the collected water towards the upper chute of the main deflector 1. Preferably, the inclined upper wall 21 has a flared U-shaped section delimiting a spout 21a oriented towards the upper chute 11, as illustrated by [Fig. 1] so as to accelerate the flow rate of the water.

[0037] The lower wall 22 is provided with an inclined longitudinal rib 24 forming a drip breaker, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. Similarly, like the upper wall 21, the lower wall 22 of the additional deflector 2 is inclined downwards between its outer longitudinal edge 2a and its inner edge 2b in the direction of the main deflector 1. This configuration allows the water droplets to fall into the upper channel 11 of the main deflector 1.

[0038] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the fixing and bracing elements 20 of the additional deflector 2 of the invention are formed of transverse, substantially horizontal tabs, in which orifices 20a are provided. These orifices 20a are intended to receive lugs 10a carried by the walls of the upper channel 11 of the main deflector 1. The tabs 20 and their orifices 20a cooperate by snap-fitting or by snap-locking with the lugs 10a.

Claims

Claims

1. Additional deflector (2) intended to complete the channeling of water flows above an air inlet grille (3) of a motor vehicle air conditioning system by being mounted on a main deflector (1) comprising an upper chute (11) and lateral chutes (12) which at least partially surround said grille, characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, an inclined upper wall (21) and a lower wall (22) locally covering said upper chute (11) of the main deflector (1) and, on the other hand, at least one fixing and wedging element (20) intended to cooperate with a complementary element (10) carried by the main deflector (1).

2. Additional deflector according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper wall (21) is delimited on its external longitudinal edge and its lateral edges by projecting flanks (23).

3. Additional deflector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower wall (22) is provided with an inclined longitudinal rib (24) forming a drip breaker.

4. Additional deflector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing and wedging element (20) is formed of a transverse tab in which is provided an orifice (20a) for receiving a lug (10a) carried by the upper chute (11) of the main deflector (1).

5. Additional deflector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises three fixing and wedging tabs (20) cooperating by snap-fastening or by riveting with three lugs (10a) carried by the upper chute (11) of the main deflector (1).

6. Additional deflector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper (21) and lower (22) walls are inclined downwards between their outer (2a) and inner (2b) longitudinal edges in the direction of the upper chute (11) of the main deflector (1).

7. Additional deflector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the inclined upper wall (21) has a flared U-shaped section delimiting a pouring spout (21a).

8. Sealing assembly for an air inlet of a motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising a main deflector (1) and an additional deflector (2) according to one of the preceding claims preceding, mounted on said main deflector (1).

9. Method of mounting a sealing assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that prior to its mounting in a vehicle canopy, the additional deflector (2) is fixed to the main deflector (1) on the outer side intended to be positioned next to the grille (3) and under the pillars and windshield seal of the vehicle.

10. Motor vehicle equipped with an air conditioning system comprising an air inlet mouth closed by a grille (3) and a sealing assembly (1, 2) according to claim 8 for channeling water flows around said grille.

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