Vehicle exterior part

Abstract

To provide an exterior component for a vehicle capable of contributing to improvement of aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle.SOLUTION: The vehicle exterior component 11 includes a base material 12 and a coating film 13 made of a thermosetting resin formed on the surface of the base material 12. The coating film 13 has an uneven structure 14 having directivity on the surface. The concavo-convex structure 14 is configured to be oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior part for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a known vehicle exterior part provided on a vehicle is an exterior resin member such as that shown in Patent Document 1. Such exterior resin members include, for example, side garnishes, side spoilers, and fenders of a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-66961 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned vehicle, it is desirable to reduce the frictional resistance of the exterior resin member against the air in order to improve the aerodynamic characteristics during driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Various aspects of vehicle exterior parts for solving the above problems will be described below. [Embodiment 1] A vehicle exterior part comprising a substrate and a coating film made of a thermosetting resin formed on the surface of the substrate, wherein the coating film has a directional uneven structure on the surface, and the uneven structure is configured to be oriented in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0006] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the presence of an uneven structure on the surface of the coating film oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle reduces the contact area with the surface of the coating film of air vortices that cause frictional resistance generated near the surface of the coating film while the vehicle is moving. This reduces the frictional resistance of the coating film surface to the air, contributing to improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle.

[0007] [Aspect 2] The vehicle exterior part described in [Aspect 1], characterized in that the uneven structure has a plurality of first grooves extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the concave-convex structure can be simplified. [Aspect 3] The vehicle exterior part described in [Aspect 1], characterized in that the uneven structure has a plurality of scale-like raised portions aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a second groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed on the surface of the raised portion.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the uneven structure is formed by riblets that mimic shark skin, which suppresses turbulence on the surface of the raised portion and promotes laminar airflow, thereby reducing frictional resistance to the air on the surface of the raised portion and contributing to improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle.

[0010] [Aspect 4] The vehicle exterior part according to [Aspect 3], wherein the plurality of raised portions are the same size. According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain a well-balanced effect of reducing the friction resistance of the surface of the raised portion against the air. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present invention can contribute to improving the aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion of a vehicle exterior part according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when a vehicle exterior part is being molded. [Figure 3] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of the surface of a vehicle exterior part according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Vehicle exterior parts 11> 1, the vehicle exterior part 11 is configured, for example, by a vehicle fender, a pillar garnish, a side spoiler, etc. The vehicle exterior part 11 includes a base material 12 made of a thermoplastic resin and a coating film 13 made of a thermosetting resin formed on the surface of the base material 12.

[0014] Examples of thermoplastic resins that make up the substrate 12 include PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin), AS (acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin), PMMA (acrylic resin), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), etc. On the other hand, examples of thermosetting resins that make up the coating film 13 include thermosetting polyurethane and polyurea.

[0015] The surface of the coating film 13 constitutes the design surface of the vehicle exterior part 11. The coating film 13 has a directional uneven structure 14 on its surface. The uneven structure 14 is configured to be oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. The uneven structure 14 has a plurality of first grooves 15 extending in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle and arranged at equal intervals in an orthogonal direction Y that is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and first protrusions 16 extending in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle and disposed between adjacent first grooves 15 in the orthogonal direction Y.

[0016] That is, by forming a plurality of first protrusions 16 arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the orthogonal direction Y on the surface of the coating film 13, first grooves 15 are formed between adjacent first protrusions 16 in the orthogonal direction Y. As an example, the first protrusions 16 have a triangular shape in cross section. As an example, the first grooves 15 have a trapezoidal shape in cross section. The distance A between adjacent first protrusions 16 in the orthogonal direction Y is set to, for example, about 100 micrometers. The protrusion height B of the first protrusions 16 from the surface of the coating film 13 (the bottom surfaces of the first grooves 15) is set to, for example, about 20 micrometers.

[0017] <Method of manufacturing vehicle exterior part 11> As shown in Fig. 2, vehicle exterior part 11 is manufactured by integrally molding coating film 13 onto the surface of substrate 12 by in-mold painting. That is, when manufacturing vehicle exterior part 11, first, a molten resin made by melting a thermoplastic resin material is filled into first cavity 18 formed by clamping a first movable mold (not shown) and a fixed mold 17. Then, when the molten resin cools and solidifies, substrate 12 is molded within fixed mold 17.

[0018] Next, the first movable mold (not shown) and the fixed mold 17 are opened, and then the first movable mold is replaced with a second movable mold 19. Next, the second movable mold 19 and the fixed mold 17 are clamped together, and a second cavity 20 formed between the substrate 12 and the second movable mold 19 is filled with a thermosetting resin material. Next, the thermosetting resin material is heated and cured. As a result, the coating film 13 is integrally molded on the surface of the substrate 12, and the vehicle exterior part 11 is molded. Thereafter, the second movable mold 19 and the fixed mold 17 are opened, and the vehicle exterior part 11 is removed, thereby obtaining the vehicle exterior part 11.

[0019] Thus, unlike spray painting, in-mold painting does not require repeated spraying of paint and drying of the paint sprayed in the spraying process in order to thicken the paint film 13. Therefore, the above-described method for manufacturing the vehicle exterior part 11 of this example can improve the manufacturing efficiency of the vehicle exterior part 11 compared to forming the paint film 13 on the surface of the substrate 12 by spray painting.

[0020] <Operation of the First Embodiment> When a vehicle equipped with the vehicle exterior part 11 is traveling, air flows from the front to the rear along the surface of the coating film 13 of the vehicle exterior part 11. At this time, the presence of the uneven structure 14 oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle on the surface of the coating film 13 reduces the contact area of ​​the air vortex, which causes frictional resistance that occurs near the surface of the coating film 13 while the vehicle is traveling, with the surface of the coating film 13. This reduces the frictional resistance of the surface of the coating film 13 to the air, improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. This, in turn, improves the fuel efficiency and power consumption of the vehicle.

[0021] <Effects of the first embodiment> According to the first embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are achieved. (1-1) A vehicle exterior part 11 includes a substrate 12 and a coating film 13 made of a thermosetting resin formed on the surface of the substrate 12. The coating film 13 has a directional uneven structure 14 on its surface. The uneven structure 14 is configured to be oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.

[0022] According to the above configuration, the above-mentioned <operation of the first embodiment> can contribute to improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. (1-2) In the vehicle exterior part 11, the concave-convex structure 14 has a plurality of first grooves 15 that extend in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle and are arranged at intervals in the orthogonal direction Y that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction X.

[0023] According to the above configuration, the concave-convex structure 14 can be made simple in structure. (Second embodiment) As shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle exterior part 21 of the second embodiment is the same as the vehicle exterior part 11 of the first embodiment, except that the uneven structure 14 on the surface of the coating film 13 in the vehicle exterior part 11 of the first embodiment is changed to an uneven structure 22. Therefore, in this second embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and descriptions that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted. Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the same components as in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals.

[0024] <Vehicle exterior parts 21> As shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle exterior part 21 has an uneven structure 22 on the surface of the paint film 13. The uneven structure 22 has a plurality of shield-scale-shaped raised portions 23 arranged in a zigzag pattern in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle and in an orthogonal direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. That is, a plurality of shield-scale-shaped raised portions 23 are protruding from the surface of the paint film 13 and arranged in a zigzag pattern in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle and in the orthogonal direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. All of the plurality of raised portions 23 are the same size.

[0025] A pair of second grooves 24 extending in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle is formed on the surface of the raised portion 23. The pair of second grooves 24 are arranged parallel to each other in the orthogonal direction Y. Second convex portions 25 extending in the longitudinal direction X are provided on the surface of the raised portion 23 between the pair of second grooves 24 and at positions outside the pair of second grooves 24 in the orthogonal direction Y. In other words, three second convex portions 25 and two second grooves 24 are arranged alternately in the orthogonal direction Y on the surface of the raised portion 23. The uneven structure 22 is formed by riblets that resemble shark skin.

[0026] <Operation of the Second Embodiment> When a vehicle equipped with the vehicle exterior part 11 is traveling, air flows from the front to the rear along the surface of the coating film 13 of the vehicle exterior part 11. At this time, the presence of the uneven structure 22 on the surface of the coating film 13, which is oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle and is made up of riblets resembling shark skin, suppresses turbulence of the air on the surfaces of the raised portions 23 that make up the uneven structure 22, and promotes laminar air flow. This reduces frictional resistance of the surfaces of the raised portions 23 to the air, improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. This, in turn, improves the fuel efficiency and power consumption of the vehicle.

[0027] <Effects of the second embodiment> According to the second embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are achieved. (2-1) In the vehicle exterior part 21, the concave-convex structure 22 has a plurality of scale-like raised portions 23 aligned in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle and in an orthogonal direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. Second grooves 24 extending in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle are formed on the surfaces of the raised portions 23.

[0028] According to the above configuration, the above-mentioned <operation of the second embodiment> can contribute to improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. (2-2) In the vehicle exterior component 21, the plurality of protrusions 23 have the same size.

[0029] According to the above configuration, the effect of reducing the friction resistance of the surface of the raised portion 23 against the air can be obtained in a well-balanced manner. <Example of change> The above-described embodiments can be modified as follows: Furthermore, the above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0030] The plurality of protrusions 23 do not necessarily all need to be the same size. That is, the plurality of protrusions 23 may include some protrusions that are different in size from the others. The first grooves 15 may be arranged at different intervals in the orthogonal direction Y.

[0031] The first protrusion 16 may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The first groove 15 may have a rectangular, semicircular, or semielliptical shape other than a trapezoidal shape in cross section.

[0032] The substrate 12 may be made of metal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 11, 21...Exterior parts for vehicles 12...Base material 13...Paint film 14,22…Uneven structure 15...1st groove 16...First convex part 17…Fixed type 18...First cavity 19…Second movable type 20...Second cavity 23...Protuberance 24…Second groove 25...Second convex part A…Spacing B...Protrusion height X…Anteroposterior direction Y: Perpendicular direction

Claims

1. An exterior part for a vehicle comprising a substrate and a coating film made of a thermosetting resin formed on a surface of the substrate, the coating film has a directional uneven structure on the surface, The vehicle exterior part is characterized in that the concave-convex structure is configured to be oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

2. 2. The exterior part for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the concave-convex structure has a plurality of first grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

3. the concave-convex structure has a plurality of scale-like raised portions arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, The exterior part for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a second groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed on the surface of the raised portion.

4. 4. The exterior part for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of raised portions are the same in size.

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