Cowl top garnish

Abstract

To provide a cowl top garnish that makes it easy to fit a windshield.SOLUTION: A cowl top garnish includes: a main body plate 11 fixed to a vehicle along a vehicle width direction; a support wall 12 extending along the vehicle width direction, which is parallel to the main body plate 11 by bending at substantially right angles after branching from a rear surface of the main body plate 11; a fitting groove 13 having a U-shaped cross section formed by the main body plate 11 and the support wall 12, and making a lower-end side of a windshield 50 fit in a U-shape; a dummy bottom surface 14a by which a groove bottom surface 12a of the fitting groove 13 is extended toward a lower rear side of the vehicle from the support wall 12; a dummy wall 14b extending upward over the entire area in the vehicle width direction at a rear edge of the dummy bottom surface 14a; and an extra thick portion 16 provided at a connecting corner between the support wall 12 and the dummy bottom surface 14a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cowl top garnish for supporting a windshield of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] The cowl top garnish is a decorative panel that is fixed to the rear end of the engine room of a vehicle in the vehicle width direction. An inset groove for supporting the windshield from below is formed on the end edge of the cowl top garnish in the vehicle width direction. The inset groove has a U-shaped cross section formed by the main plate and a support wall branching off from the main plate to hold the windshield.

[0003] In the groove portion of the inlaid groove having such a U-shaped cross section, it is not easy to fabricate a cooling water channel in the mold for injection molding the cowl top garnish, and such fabrication is costly. Therefore, in the cooling process of the injection molding, the entire inlaid groove is cooled by the cooling water channel arranged in the mold outside the inlaid groove, so the inside of the groove is more difficult to cool than the outside of the inlaid groove.

[0004] As a result, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the groove during the cooling process causes a shrinkage difference, and the two walls that make up the groove collapse inward. Since this type of inward collapse deformation is an obstacle to fitting the windshield into the groove, in the past, ribs were provided on the inside and outside of the U-shaped cross section of the groove to prevent this inward collapse deformation. In addition, the fitting groove is provided with a drainage hole to drain any liquid that has seeped into the fitting groove to an appropriate location so that the liquid does not overflow and wet the components placed below the fitting groove. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-15703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when a rib is provided inside the fitting groove as described above, there is a problem that localized differences in rigidity may cause the design surface to corrugate, reducing the design quality. Furthermore, depending on the relative positions of the ribs and the drain holes, the flow of liquid may be obstructed by the ribs, making it impossible to drain the liquid from the intended location.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a cowl top garnish into which the windshield can be easily fitted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The cowl top garnish of the present invention comprises a main body plate fixed to a vehicle in the vehicle width direction, a support wall extending along the vehicle width direction branching off from the back of the main body plate and then bent at approximately a right angle to become parallel to the main body plate, an insertion groove having a U-shaped cross section formed by the main body plate and the support wall and into which the lower edge of the windshield is inserted, a dummy bottom surface extending the groove bottom surface of the insertion groove further rearward below the vehicle than the support wall, a dummy wall standing upright at the rear edge of the dummy bottom surface across the entire vehicle width direction, and a waste portion provided at the connecting corner between the support wall and the dummy bottom surface. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present invention provides a cowl top garnish into which a windshield can be easily fitted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a configuration around a cowl top garnish of a vehicle provided with the cowl top garnish according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cowl top garnish according to the embodiment taken along line II in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 13A to 13C are top views of a resin model simulating a cowl top garnish according to an embodiment, showing analysis results of temperature distribution after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of cooling of the resin model. [Figure 4] 4(A) to 4(C) are perspective views of a resin model simulating a cowl top garnish according to an embodiment, showing the results of a warpage analysis by flow analysis of the resin model, and FIG. 4(D) to 4(F) are cross-sectional views of the resin model of FIG. 4(A) to 4(C). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, the "upper" or "lower" orientation of each part is defined as the orientation when the part is attached to the vehicle. For example, the "lower edge" of a windshield refers to the edge that is on the lower side when the windshield is attached to the vehicle.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a configuration around a cowl top garnish (hereinafter simply referred to as "garnish") 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, of a vehicle 100 provided with the garnish 10. In Fig. 1, various parts that are not in contact with the garnish 10, such as a side door, a roof, and a vehicle lower part, are omitted.

[0013] 1, the garnish 10 is a resin plate member that extends in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the windshield 50 and the engine hood 60 and is fixed to the vehicle 100. The garnish 10 mainly serves to prevent liquids, such as rainwater, that run down the windshield 50 from entering the engine compartment. In addition, a wiper 70 is provided on the design surface side of the main body plate 11 of the garnish 10.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the garnish 10 according to the embodiment taken along line II in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a support wall 12 is integrally formed along a longitudinal edge 11a on the free end side of the main plate 11 of the garnish 10 on the back surface opposite to the design surface of the main plate 11. The support wall 12 branches off from the rear surface of the body plate 11, bends at a right angle, and extends parallel to the body plate 11 in the vehicle width direction. Here, "approximately right angle" refers to a deviation of within ±10 degrees from a right angle.

[0015] The free end edge 11a of the main body plate 11 and the support wall 12 form an insertion groove 13 having a U-shaped cross section. The lower end edge of the windshield 50 is inserted into this insertion groove 13. In other words, the garnish 10 clamps the lower end edge of the windshield 50 between the free end edge 11a of the main body plate 11 of the insertion groove 13 and the support wall 12, and supports the windshield 50 from below the vehicle with the support wall 12.

[0016] In the garnish 10 according to the embodiment, the groove bottom surface 12a of the fitting groove 13 is extended rearward below the support wall 12 by the dummy bottom surface 14a. At the rear edge of the dummy bottom surface 14a, a dummy wall 14b stands up across the entire width of the garnish 10. The dummy bottom surface 14a and the dummy wall 14b form a dummy portion 14 having an L-shaped cross section behind the support wall 12 in the cross section of the garnish 10 in the short side direction. By storing heat in this dummy portion 14, heat tends to be trapped behind the support wall 12. As a result, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the support wall 12 side of the fitting groove 13 is reduced, and inward deformation of the support wall 12 toward the body plate 11 is suppressed.

[0017] The dummy wall 14b is provided over the entire width of the garnish 10. This is to prevent the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the fitting groove 13 from decreasing only at the location where the dummy wall 14b is provided, and to prevent the support wall 12 from being deformed inwardly at some locations and not at others, causing the design surface to become wavy.

[0018] Moreover, in order to trap sufficient heat on the dummy portion 14 side so that the support wall 12 does not collapse inward, it is desirable that the dummy wall 14b be thicker than the support wall 12. Moreover, it is preferable to design the height of the dummy wall 14b to be 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the height of the support wall 12. By designing the height of the dummy wall 14b in this manner, it is possible to suppress an increase in the weight of the dummy part 14 while also ensuring a sufficient space for storing heat near the dummy bottom surface 14a.

[0019] Further, a dead portion 16 is provided at the connecting corner between the support wall 12 and the dummy bottom surface 14a. Although the cross-sectional shape of the wasted material portion 16 is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the wasted material portion 16 protrudes in an arc shape from the support wall 12 and is connected to the dummy bottom surface 14a. By making the wasted material portion 16 protrude in an arc shape in this manner, the volume of the wasted material portion 16 relative to the surface area can be increased, improving the heat storage capacity of the wasted material portion 16. Even if the space that can be occupied by the dummy portion 14 is limited, the provision of the wasted material portion 16 increases the amount of shrinkage on the dummy portion 14 side of the support wall 12, and reduces the difference in shrinkage occurring inside and outside the fitting groove 13. In this way, by implementing various measures to make it easier for heat to accumulate in the dummy portion 14, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the fitting groove 13 can be reduced, and the support wall 12 can be prevented from being deformed inwardly.

[0020] 3(A) to 3(C) are top views of resin model 18 (18a to 18c) simulating garnish 10, showing analysis results of temperature distribution after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of cooling of resin model 18. FIG. In the analysis of this temperature distribution, the finite element method was applied to an analysis model that simulated the shape and material of the fitting groove 13 of the garnish 10. Figure 3(A) is a resin model 18a that simulates only the fitting groove 13 of the garnish 10, Figure 3(B) is a resin model 18b in which a dummy portion 14 is further added to the fitting groove 13, and Figure 3(C) is a resin model 18c in which an adjustment gap 17 is provided in the support wall 12 of Figure 3(B). The reference numerals in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C) correspond to the reference numerals of the respective members of the garnish 10 simulated by the resin model 18. In addition, this analysis was performed under the assumption that cooling water channels were provided only on the outside of both sides of the fitting groove 13.

[0021] In Figures 3(A) to (C), the darker the color, the higher the temperature and the more difficult it is to cool down. 3(A) and 3(B), the temperature of the groove 13 is slightly higher when the dummy portion 14 is provided. However, in FIG. 3(B), it can be seen that the provision of the dummy portion 14 also causes heat to accumulate in the dummy portion 14. In other words, it can be seen that the temperature difference between the groove 13 and the dummy portion 14 is smaller than when the dummy portion 14 is not provided. Therefore, it can be seen that the shrinkage that occurs during the cooling process of injection molding occurs approximately equally in the fitting grooves 13 and in the dummy portions 14, and inward deformation of the support walls 12 toward the main body plate 11 is suppressed.

[0022] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3(C), it is preferable that the support wall 12 is provided with a plurality of recessed adjustment gaps 17 at predetermined intervals in the extending direction. By providing the adjustment gap 17, as can be seen by comparing Figures 3(B) and 3(C), the temperature within the fitting groove 13 can be actively lowered, thereby reducing the temperature difference with the temperature within the dummy portion 14.

[0023] It is preferable that the depth of the adjustment gap 17 to the lower end side is deeper than half the height of the support wall 12 and shallower than the height of the support wall 12 . In other words, even when an adjustment gap 17 is provided, by leaving the support wall 12 at the lower end of the adjustment gap 17, the support wall 12 is continuous over the entire width of the vehicle, thereby increasing the rigidity of the entire support wall 12. The support wall 12 supports the windshield 50 at the lower end edge of the windshield 50 where the load is concentrated. Therefore, by leaving the support wall 12 so as to cover the entire area of ​​the garnish 10 in the vehicle width direction, the assembly rigidity of the windshield 50 can be ensured.

[0024] 4(A) to 4(C) are perspective views of resin model 18 showing the results of warpage analysis by flow analysis of resin model 18 (18d to 18f) simulating garnish 10. Also, Figs. 4(D) to 4(F) are cross-sectional views of resin models 18 (18d to 18f) of Figs. 4(A) to 4(C) in order. The reference numerals in FIGS. 4(A) to 4(F) correspond to the reference numerals of the respective members of the garnish 10 simulated by the resin model 18. In this flow analysis, an analysis model simulating the garnish 10 was used, and the warpage deformation occurring in this analysis model was calculated by the finite element method. In addition, MOLDFLOW (registered trademark) available from Autodesk, Inc. was used for the injection, holding pressure, gate, injection pressure, warpage analysis, and flow analysis.

[0025] Figures 4(A) and (D) show a resin model 18d that simulates only the fitting groove 13 of the garnish 10, Figures 4(B) and (E) show a resin model 18e in which a dummy portion 14 is further added to the fitting groove 13, and Figures 4(C) and (F) show a resin model 18f in which an adjustment gap 17 is provided in the support wall 12 of Figure 4(B). In Figures 4(A) to (F), the lighter the color, the greater the inward collapse deformation. In addition, the deformation scale of the warpage deformation is doubled in FIGS. 4(A) to (F). In addition, in Figures 4(D) to (F), in order to make it easier to compare the amount of warping deformation, the free end edge 11a of the main plate 11 is aligned with the dashed line α, and a dashed line β serving as a reference line is drawn on the end edge of the support wall 12 in Figure 4(E).

[0026] 4(A) and (D) and FIG. 4(B) and (E), it can be seen that the amount of warping deformation of the support wall 12 is reduced by providing the dummy portion 14 in the fitting groove 13. Furthermore, when comparing FIGS. 4(B) and (E) with FIGS. 4(C) and (F), it can be seen that the amount of warping deformation of the support wall 12 is further reduced by providing the adjustment gap 17. From the analysis results shown in Figures 3(A) to (C) and Figures 4(A) to (F) above, it was confirmed that the inward collapse deformation of the support wall 12 is reduced by providing a dummy portion 14 in the fitting groove 13. Furthermore, from the analysis results, it was confirmed that by providing an adjustment gap 17 in the support wall 12, the inward collapse deformation of the support wall 12 can be further reduced.

[0027] As described above, according to the garnish 10 of the embodiment, the inward collapse deformation of the support wall 12 into the fitting groove 13 is suppressed, so that the windshield 50 can be easily fitted into the fitting groove 13. In addition, since it is not necessary to form ribs inside the fitting groove 13, it is possible to prevent the design surface from becoming wavy due to localized differences in rigidity, which would damage the aesthetic appearance. Similarly, since ribs are not necessary, liquid that has entered can be smoothly discharged from the intended location.

[0028] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0029] For example, the shape of the dummy portion is not limited to that shown in the drawings, the angle at which the dummy wall is connected to the dummy bottom surface is not limited to a right angle, and the cross-sectional shape of the dummy wall is not limited to a rectangular shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10...garnish, 11 (11a)...main body plate (longitudinal end edge on the free end side, free end edge), 12 (12a)...support wall (groove bottom surface), 13...insertion groove, 14 (14a, 14b)...dummy part (dummy bottom surface, dummy wall), 16...waste material part, 17...adjustment gap, 18 (18a to 18f)...resin model, 50...windshield, 60...engine hood, 70...wiper, 100...vehicle.

Claims

1. A main body plate that is fixed to a vehicle along a vehicle width direction; A support wall extending along the vehicle width direction, the support wall branching from a rear surface of the body plate and then bending at a substantially right angle to be parallel to the body plate; A fitting groove having a U-shaped cross section formed by the main plate and the support wall, and fitting a lower end edge of the windshield into the U-shaped cross section; A dummy bottom surface that extends the groove bottom surface of the fitting groove rearward below the vehicle beyond the support wall; A dummy wall standing upright over the entire width of the vehicle at a rear edge of the dummy bottom surface; a dead portion provided at a connecting corner between the support wall and the dummy bottom surface, The cowl top garnish is characterized in that the support wall is provided with a plurality of recessed adjustment gaps spaced at predetermined intervals in the extending direction.

2. 2. The cowl top garnish according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the adjustment gap to a lower end side is deeper than half the height of the support wall and shallower than the height of the support wall.

3. 3. The cowl top garnish according to claim 1, wherein the height of the dummy wall is 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the height of the support wall.

4. 4. The cowl top garnish according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the reduced thickness portion is an arc-shaped portion that protrudes from the support wall and is connected to the dummy bottom surface.

5. The cowl top garnish according to claim 1 , wherein the dummy wall is thicker than the support wall.

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