cover

Abstract

To provide a cover that can more reliably prevent water and snow from entering the blower unit. [Solution] A cover used in a blower unit equipped with an outside air intake for introducing outside air into the vehicle body from the front grille, comprising, when viewed from the front, a covering portion that covers at least the entire outside air intake, and an opening provided in the portion of the cover that does not cover the outside air intake, communicating with and opening to the outside air intake.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cover.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, blower units for vehicle air conditioners are known. For example, a blower unit is provided with a door capable of selectively switching between an outside air introduction port and an inside air introduction port, a fan that sucks outside air or inside air into the unit, a motor that rotates the fan, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In conventional blower units, there is a risk that water and snow may enter the blower unit together with outside air through the outside air introduction port. In particular, when the space between the vehicle body panel supporting the front grille and the outside air introduction port is large, more water may enter the blower unit through the outside air introduction port, or snow that has entered the blower unit may accumulate and block the outside air introduction port.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a drainage passage capable of discharging water that has entered the blower unit, but it is preferable to prevent water and snow from entering the blower unit as much as possible.

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a cover that can more reliably suppress intrusion of water and snow into the blower unit.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] A cover according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a cover used in a blower unit equipped with an outside air intake for introducing outside air into the vehicle body from the front grille, and comprises, when viewed from the front, a covering portion that covers at least the entire outside air intake, and an opening provided in the portion of the cover that does not cover the outside air intake, communicating with and opening to the outside air intake. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to more reliably suppress the intrusion of water and snow into the blower unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing a top-down view of a partial cross-section of the front of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Front view of a blower unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 3] Perspective view of a blower unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 4] Side view of a blower unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 5] Front view of the cover according to the embodiment of this disclosure [Figure 6] Perspective view of the rear side of the cover according to the embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 7] A perspective view showing the cover according to the embodiment of this disclosure before it is attached to the cab front panel. [Figure 8] A perspective view showing the cover according to the embodiment of this disclosure attached to the cab front panel. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Common components in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0011] First, the position of the blower unit 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a partial cross-section of the front of a vehicle as viewed from directly above. In FIG. 1, double-headed arrow A indicates the vehicle width direction, and double-headed arrow B indicates the vehicle length direction (the same applies to other drawings).

[0012] The blower unit 1 according to the present embodiment is a blower unit for a vehicle air conditioning device, and is mounted on a vehicle (for example, an automobile).

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the blower unit 1 is disposed at a predetermined distance from a vehicle body panel 2 (for example, a front end panel) at the front of the vehicle. An outside air introduction port 11 (details will be described later) is provided on a side of the blower unit 1 that faces the vehicle body panel 2.

[0014] Note that the outside air introduction port may also be rephrased as an outside air intake port or a blower suction port. In addition, in FIG. 1, the shape of the blower unit 1 is illustrated in a simplified manner, and the actual shape of the blower unit 1 is the shape shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 described later. Further, in FIG. 1, illustration of a cab front panel 20 (see FIG. 4) described later is omitted.

[0015] A front grille 3 is supported by the vehicle body panel 2. Outside air a (for example, traveling wind) flows into the vehicle body through an opening (not shown) of the front grille 3, and then flows into the blower unit 1 through the outside air introduction port 11.

[0016] Next, a specific example of the blower unit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a front view of the blower unit 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blower unit 1. FIG. 4 is a side view of the blower unit 1. In FIG. 4, double-headed arrow C indicates the vehicle height direction (the same applies to other drawings).

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the blower unit 1 has an opening 10 on its front side (specifically, the side facing the vehicle body panel 2). In addition, the blower unit 1 includes a door 12 that is a movable member capable of selectively switching between the outside air introduction port 11 and an inside air introduction port (not shown).

[0018] In the outside air introduction mode in which outside air a is introduced into the blower unit 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper portion of the opening 10 is blocked by the door 12, and the lower portion serves as the outside air introduction port 11.

[0019] Figure 4 shows a state where the blower unit 1 is attached to a cab front panel 20 extending along the vehicle height direction. The cab front panel 20 is provided with an opening (not shown). This opening has substantially the same size and substantially the same shape as the opening 10 of the blower unit 1.

[0020] When the blower unit 1 is attached to the front panel 20, the opening 10 of the blower unit 1 is aligned with the opening of the front panel 20, and then the blower unit 1 (specifically, the peripheral portion of the opening 10) is fixed to the cab front panel 20 by bolting or the like.

[0021] The blower unit 1 has been described above. Note that a publicly known technology can be applied to the internal configuration of the blower unit 1, so a description thereof is omitted.

[0022] Next, the cover 30 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front side of the cover 30. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the back side of the cover 30.

[0023] The cover 30 is a member attached to the front side of the cab front panel 20 (in other words, the side opposite to the mounting surface of the blower unit 1) corresponding to the position of the opening 10 of the blower unit 1.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the cover 30 includes, as characteristic components, a covering portion 31 and an opening 32.

[0025] The covering portion 31 is provided so as to cover at least the entire outside air introduction port 11 when the cover 30 attached to the cab front panel 20 is viewed from the front.

[0026] The opening 32 is provided in the portion of the cover 30 attached to the cab front panel 20 that does not cover the outside air intake 11 when viewed from the front (in other words, the portion of the cover 30 that does not overlap with the outside air intake 11 when viewed from the front), and communicates with the outside air intake 11.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, when viewed from directly above, the blower unit 1 is positioned offset in the vehicle width direction from the front grille 3, not directly facing it (in other words, not directly facing each other). In other words, the blower unit 1 is positioned diagonally opposite the front grille 3. Therefore, the opening 32 of the cover 30 is also positioned offset in the vehicle width direction from the front grille 3, not directly facing it.

[0028] Although not shown in the illustration, the opening 32 is positioned higher than the front grille 3 in the vehicle height direction.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the cover 30 has multiple slits 33. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a case where the cover 30 has a total of four slits 33, one at the top and three at the bottom, but the number of slits 33 is not limited to this. Also, through holes may be used instead of slits 33.

[0030] A male member 34 is inserted into and fixed in the slit 33. The male member 34 has a head and a shaft, a so-called bolt shape. Figure 5 shows the head of the male member 34, and Figure 6 shows the shaft of the male member 34.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped sponge 35 is provided along the periphery of the opening (not shown in the reference numerals) on the rear side of the cover 30. This sponge 35 seals the space between the cover 30 and the cab front panel 20 when the cover 30 is attached to the cab front panel 20.

[0032] As shown in Figure 6, the cover 30 has a discharge passage 36 that can discharge water that has entered its interior to the outside. The discharge passage 36 is a slit formed by cutting out a part of the sponge 35. As shown in Figure 6, by providing the discharge passage 36 at the bottom of the cover 30, water accumulated at the bottom 37 of the cover 30 flows through the discharge passage 36 and is discharged to the outside of the cover 30.

[0033] In this embodiment, the discharge passage 36 was described as a slit formed in the sponge 35, but it is not limited to this, and may be a through hole provided in the sponge 35 or the bottom 37.

[0034] Next, the method for attaching the cover 30 will be explained using Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the cover 30 before it is attached to the cab front panel 20. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the cover 30 after it has been attached to the cab front panel 20. Note that in Figures 7 and 8, for improved visibility, only one of the multiple slits 33 and male members 34 is labeled with a reference numeral.

[0035] As described above, the blower unit 1 is mounted on the rear side of the cab front panel 20 by aligning the opening 10 of the blower unit 1 with the opening of the cab front panel 20. When viewed from the front side of the cab front panel 20, as shown in Figure 7, the opening 10 (including the outside air inlet 11) of the blower unit 1 is visible through the opening (no reference numerals) of the cab front panel 20.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, multiple insertion holes 21 are provided on the front side of the cab front panel 20. The shaft portion of the male member 34 fixed to the slit 33 is inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 21. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the cover 30 is fixedly attached to the cab front panel 20.

[0037] In Figure 8, when the cover 30 is viewed from the front, the covering portion 31 covers the entire outside air inlet 11. Also in Figure 8, when the cover 30 is viewed from the front, the opening 32 is located in the portion that does not cover the outside air inlet 11 and communicates with the outside air inlet 11.

[0038] As described above, the cover 30 of this embodiment is a cover 1 used in a blower unit equipped with an outside air inlet 11 for introducing outside air into the vehicle body from the front grille 3, and is characterized by comprising, when viewed from the front, a covering portion 31 that covers at least the entire outside air inlet 11, and, when viewed from the front, an opening 32 provided in the portion of the cover 30 that does not cover the outside air inlet 11, communicating with the outside air inlet 11 and opening up.

[0039] Therefore, in the cover 30 of this embodiment, the opening 32 and the outside air inlet 11 are offset when viewed from the front, which makes it possible to more reliably suppress the intrusion of moisture (water or snow) into the blower unit 1. For example, this is particularly effective when a certain distance must be secured between the vehicle body panel 2 and the blower unit 1 in order to comply with collision standards.

[0040] Furthermore, in the cover 30 of this embodiment, the opening 32 is not directly facing the front grille 3, but is offset in the vehicle width direction.

[0041] Therefore, since outside air from the front grille 3 is less likely to flow directly into the opening 32, the amount of moisture entering the cover 30 can be reduced. As a result, the effect of suppressing moisture intrusion into the blower unit 1 can be further enhanced.

[0042] Furthermore, in the cover 30 of this embodiment, the opening 32 is positioned higher than the front grille 3 in the vehicle height direction.

[0043] Therefore, since outside air from the front grille 3 is less likely to flow directly into the opening 32, the amount of moisture entering the cover 30 can be reduced. As a result, the effect of suppressing moisture intrusion into the blower unit 1 can be further enhanced.

[0044] Furthermore, the cover 30 of this embodiment is characterized by having a discharge passage 36 that can discharge water that has entered the cover 30 to the outside.

[0045] Therefore, the effect of suppressing the intrusion of moisture into the blower unit 1 can be further enhanced.

[0046] This disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. [Industrial applicability]

[0047] The cover of this disclosure is useful for covering the outside air inlet of a blower unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Blower Unit 2 Body panels 3 Front Grille 10 Opening of blower unit 1 11. Outside air intake 12 doors 20 Cab Front Panel 21 Insertion hole 30 Cover 31 Covering part 32 openings 33 slits 34 Male component 35 sponges 36 Drainage Channel 37 Bottom of cover 30

Claims

1. A cover used in a blower unit equipped with an outside air intake for introducing outside air into the vehicle body from the front grille, When viewed from the front, the cover has a covering portion that covers at least the entire outside air inlet, When viewed from the front, the cover has an opening provided in the portion that does not cover the outside air intake, which communicates with and opens to the outside air intake. cover.

2. The aforementioned opening is The front grille is positioned not directly opposite the vehicle, but offset in the vehicle width direction. The cover according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned opening is In the vehicle height direction, it is positioned higher than the front grille. The cover according to claim 1.

4. The cover further has a discharge channel that allows water that has entered the cover to be discharged to the outside. The cover according to claim 1.

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