Awning grille and windshield arrangement for motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a cowl grille (1) intended to extend at the base of a front windshield of a motor vehicle, the cowl grille (1) comprising a first flow channel (12) for fluid running from the windshield, the first flow channel (12) being located near a rear edge of the cowl grille (1), - a second flow channel (13) for fluid flowing over the cowl grille (1), the second flow channel (13) being located at a front edge of the cowl grille (1), a base extending projecting between the first flow channel (12) and the second flow channel (13), the base supporting at least one opening located directly above an air inlet, a rear wall (111) delimiting the base comprising a thin collar forming a flexible hinge in case of impact with a hood lining covering The canopy grille (1). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

[0087] - a second fixing zone 14B located in the middle position of the awning grille 1;

[0088] - a third attachment zone 14C located at the level of the second opening 1 IB of the base.

[0089] Each fixing zone 14A, 14B, 14C is supported against the central stiffener 23 located directly below it. This advantageous configuration allows for a stable and robust fixing of the canopy grille 1, in the absence of the collector 22 used in previously known canopy grilles.

[0090] As can be seen in FIGURES 2 to 7, between the rear edge 118 of the cowl grille 1 and the rear wall 111 of the base, the cowl grille 1 has a first drainage channel 12 for the water flowing from the windshield 21. The first channel flow 12 forms a runoff water recovery channel upstream of the base, relative to the longitudinal axis X.

[0091] Additionally, between the front edge 119 of the canopy grille 1 and the front wall of the base, the canopy grille 1 has a second drainage channel 13 for the water flowing from the upper face 112 of the base. The second drainage channel 13 forms a runoff recovery channel downstream of the base, relative to the longitudinal axis X.

[0092] The first drainage channel 12 extends along the transverse axis Y between the two lateral edges of the canopy grid 1. The first drainage channel 12 is inclined towards one and / or the other of the lateral edges of the canopy grid 1. In the embodiments illustrated in the FIGURES, the first drainage channel 12 is inclined simultaneously towards both lateral edges of the canopy grid 1, for optimal management of the evacuation of runoff water from the windshield 21.

[0093] Similarly, the second flow path 13 extends along the transverse axis Y between the two lateral edges of the canopy grid 1. The second flow path 13 is inclined towards one and / or the other of the lateral edges of the canopy grid 1. In the embodiment examples illustrated in the FIGURES, the second flow path 13 is inclined simultaneously towards the two lateral edges of the canopy grid 1, for optimal management of the runoff water evacuation from the upper face 112 of the base.

[0094] As shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, in order to facilitate the drainage of the water recovered in the first drainage channel 12, i.e. the evacuation of the water thus recovered from the first drainage channel 12, the first drainage channel 12 includes a first evacuation 121 of the water collected by the first drainage channel 12. The first evacuation 121 is located in the immediate vicinity of a lateral edge of the canopy grid 1. The first evacuation 121 is located between a lateral wall 113 of the base and the lateral edge of the canopy grid 1.

[0095] Similarly, the second flow path 13 includes a second discharge 131 of the water collected by the second flow path 13. The second discharge 131 is located in the immediate vicinity of a lateral edge of the canopy grid 1. The second discharge 131 is located between a lateral wall 113 of the base and the lateral edge of the canopy grid 1.

[0096] With reference to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, in order to prevent mixing the runoff water collected by the first drainage channel 12 and that collected by the second drainage channel 13, the first outlet 121 is separated from the second outlet 131 by a partition 16. The partition 16 extends between the side wall 113 of the base and the side edge of the canopy grate 1. The partition 16 forms a wall that projects from each drainage channel of the grate Awning 1. The partition 16 rises to a height of at least a few millimeters, or even a few centimeters. In the embodiment illustrated in the FIGURES, the partition 16 forms a flat, straight wall; and the partition 16 has a constant height between the lateral edge of the awning grille 1 and the lateral wall 113 of the base. In this embodiment, the partition 16 extends along the transverse axis Y.

[0097] Of course, depending on the needs, the available space and the style constraints, the partition 16 can take any shape, and in particular it can be curved.

[0098] In order to ensure the flow of runoff water on the upper face 112 of the base towards the second flow path 13, each fixing zone 14A, 14B, 14C is associated with a deflector 15 which prevents said runoff water from falling into the corresponding fixing zone 14A, 14B, 14C.

[0099] As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the deflector 15 is shaped like a rib that projects from the upper face 112 of the base. The deflector 15 has a height greater than 1 mm, for example, between 1.5 mm and 5 mm. The height of the deflector 15 is constant along its entire length. The thickness of the deflector 15 is approximately 1 mm.

[0100] Each deflector 15 associated with a fixing zone 14A, 14B, 14C comprises:

[0101] - a first segment 152 which extends around the periphery of the attachment zone 14A, 14B, 14C to which the deflector 15 is associated. Thus, the first segment 152 of the deflector 15 follows a peripheral outline of the attachment zone 14A, 14B, 14C. The first segment 152 of the deflector 15 is associated with a rear portion of the attachment zone 14A, 14B, 14C; and / or

[0102] - a second segment 151 which extends behind the attachment area 14A, 14B, 14C to which it is associated. The second segment 151 is distinct from the first segment 152. The second segment 151 extends mainly along the longitudinal axis X. The second segment 151 of the deflector 15 allows the water flowing over the upper face 112 of the base to be channeled and prevented from dispersing along the transverse axis Y.

[0103] As can be seen in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the canopy grid 1 comprises:

[0104] - a first fixing zone 14A located at the level of the first opening 1 IA of the base. The first attachment zone 14A is associated with a first deflector 15 comprising a first segment 152 peripheral to the first attachment zone 14A and a second segment 151 extending along the first opening 11A, towards the rear wall 111 of the base. The first attachment zone 14A is located at a lateral edge of the first opening 1IA, proximal to a median axis of the canopy grid 1. Also, the second segment 151 of the deflector 15 associated with the first fixing zone 14A runs along the first opening 11 A. This advantageous configuration allows the waters which run off the upper face 112 at the level of the first opening 11A to be channeled into the second flow path 13 below the first opening 1 IA, rather than into the first fixing zone 14A;

[0105] - a second fixing zone 14B located in the middle position of the awning grille 1. The second fixing zone 14B is associated with a second deflector 15 comprising only a first segment 152 peripheral to the second fixing zone 14B. The second fixing zone 14B is located at the median axis of the canopy grid 1. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to channel the waters which run off the upper face 112 at the median part of the canopy grid 1 and to send them into the second flow path 13 below the base rather than into the second fixing zone 14B;

[0106] - a third attachment zone 14C located at the level of the second opening 1 IB of the base. The third attachment zone 14C is associated with a third deflector 15 comprising only a first segment 152 peripheral to the third attachment zone 14C. The third attachment zone 14C is located in the middle of the second opening 11B, relative to the transverse axis Y. Thus, this advantageous configuration allows the water running off the upper face 112 along the second opening 11B to be channeled into the second flow path 13 below the base rather than into the third attachment zone 14C.

[0107] With reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, the base of the canopy grille 1 has a specific design that reduces damage and consequences caused by a pedestrian impact. This design is compatible with, or an alternative to, the provisions described above regarding the drainage of runoff water.

[0108] In order to reduce the rigidity of the base during a pedestrian impact – where the head or helmet strikes the rear of the hood liner 24 – at the level of the cowl grille 1, the cowl grille 1 has a flexible hinge that allows the cowl grille 1 to deform under the effect of the impact. This deformation leads to a lowering of the base and thus greater mobility of the hood liner 24 along the vertical axis Z. Furthermore, this flexibility introduced at the level of the cowl grille 1 – and more particularly at the base – makes it possible to reduce the rigidity of the base and to allow for a deformation – elastic or plastic – that is beneficial for the pedestrian involved in the impact.

[0109] To this end, the rear wall 111 of the base has a local thinning of material forming a thin neck 116. The thin neck 116 extends along the rear wall 111 and relative to the transverse axis Y. Preferably, the thin neck 116 extends from one lateral edge to the other of the rear wall 111.

[0110] The thin collar 116 is located where the rear wall 111 forms a lower fold 115 with the lower part 120 of the canopy grille 1, behind the base and in front of the rear edge 118 of the canopy grille 1. Alternatively, the thin collar 116 could have been located at an upper fold 114, at the interface between the rear wall 111 and the upper face 112 of the base. However, the configuration shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is preferable, as it provides leverage when the base tilts backward upon impact.

[0111] Indeed, in the event of an impact on the hood lining 24, it depresses and strikes the cowl grille 1 – and more specifically its base – located directly below. Without the thin collar 116, the base could not depress and would exhibit excessive rigidity, causing serious injury to the pedestrian struck. The thin collar 116 solves this problem by concentrating the mechanical stresses produced by the impact at the level of said thin collar 116, leading to its deformation, facilitated by the reduced transverse dimensions of the rear wall 111 at the level of the thin collar 116.

[0112] Consequently, the rear wall 111 deforms at the thin neck 116 - at the lower fold 115 of the rear wall 111 - and it therefore sags towards the rear, thus offering additional mobility along the vertical axis Z.

[0113] The thin neck 116 is delimited by a circular profile on either side of the back wall 111. A residual thickness of the back wall 111 taken at the level of the thin neck 116 is less than that of the back wall 111 taken outside the thin neck 116. For example, the thinning is on the order of 20% to 80% of the thickness of the back wall 111 taken outside the thin neck 116.

[0114] In summary, the invention relates to a cowl grille 1 intended to extend to the base 211 of a front windshield 21 of a motor vehicle 3, the cowl grille 1 comprising a first flow channel 12 for a fluid flowing from the windshield 21, the first flow channel 12 being located near a rear edge 118 of the cowl grille 1, a second flow channel 13 for the fluid flowing over the cowl grille 1, the second flow channel 13 being located at a front edge 119 of the cowl grille 1, a base extending projecting between the first flow channel 12 and the second flow channel 13, the base supporting at least one opening located directly above an air inlet 221, a rear wall 111 delimiting the base comprising a thin collar 116 forming a flexible hinge in case of impact on a hood lining 24 covering the canopy grille 1.

[0115] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of The invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Specifically, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Demands

1. A cowl grille (1) intended to extend to the base (211) of a front windscreen (21) of a motor vehicle (3), the cowl grille (1) comprising: - a first flow path (12) for a fluid running from the windscreen (21), the first flow path (12) being located at the rear of the cowl grille (1); - a recovery channel located at the front of the cowl grille (1), the recovery channel forming a second flow path (13) for the fluid flowing over the cowl grille (1); - a base which extends outward from the first flow path (12) and the second flow path (13), the base supporting at least one opening located in line with an air inlet (221) of a sheet metal collector (22) intended to be associated with the canopy grille(1);characterized in that a wall delimiting the base has a thin neck (116) forming a flexible hinge in case of impact on a cover capping the canopy grille (1).;

2. Canopy grid (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the thin neck (116) is formed by a local thinning of material forming the wall delimiting the base.

3. Canopy grid (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the local thinning of material is between 20% and 80% of a wall thickness taken outside said local thinning, preferably between 40% and 60% of the thickness.

4. Canopy grid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thin neck (116) extends along its own elongation direction along the wall delimiting the base, so as to form the flexible hinge.

5. Canopy grid (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the proper elongation direction of the thin neck (116) is parallel or substantially parallel to a transverse axis (Y) of the canopy grid (1).

6. Awning grille (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thin collar (116) is located at the level of a rear wall (111) of the base, proximal to the windshield (21) with which the canopy grille (1) is intended to collaborate.

7. Canopy grid (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the thin collar (116) is formed at the level of a fold delimiting the rear wall (111) of the first escape route.

8. Windscreen arrangement (2) (21) for motor vehicle (3), the windscreen arrangement (2) (21) comprising: - a front windscreen (21) extending across the motor vehicle (3) between two front pillars of the motor vehicle (3); - a sheet metal collector (22) extending at the base (211) of the windscreen (21), the sheet metal collector (22) comprising an air inlet (221) for an air conditioning and ventilation system of the motor vehicle (3); - a central stiffener (23) extending at a front end of the sheet metal collector (22) and across the motor vehicle (3); - a canopy grille (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the canopy grille (1) extending to the base (211) of the front windscreen (21) and directly below the sheet metal collector (22), the canopy grille (1) being fixed to the central stiffener (23) via at least one fixing area (14A, 14B, 14C).

9. Motor vehicle (3) comprising a windscreen arrangement (2) (21) according to the preceding claim.

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