Truck high roof cab

Abstract

To contribute to improvement of fuel consumption by reducing air resistance during traveling while suppressing a cost increase, in a high roof cab for a truck.SOLUTION: In a high roof cab for a truck, a roof panel 22P made of sheet metal for extending a cabin is attached to an upper part of a cab body 2A whose ceiling portion is open, and the cab body 2A and a roof portion 22 including the roof panel 22P integrally form the cabin of a cab 2. The roof portion 22 includes flow regulating members 4 attached to both side portions of the roof panel 22P, and the flow regulating members 4 each have an inclined surface 41 inclining so as to gradually increase a width of the roof portion 22 outward in a vehicle width direction from the vehicle front side toward the vehicle rear side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a high roof cab for a truck that is suitable for use in a large truck. [Background technology]

[0002] Large trucks and other vehicles are often used for long-distance travel, and drivers need comfort as they drive for long periods of time and then take naps or other rests in the cabin. To meet these needs, high-roof cabs exist to expand the interior space of the cab. High-roof cabs have a high-roof roof panel manufactured by pressing metal sheets and attached by spot welding or other methods to the top of the cab body, which has no ceiling, thereby expanding the interior space above the cab body (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-152168 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Trucks experience significant air resistance because the front of the cab is exposed to the wind as they travel. One of the factors contributing to this air resistance is the bodywork behind the cab. For example, in the case of a van truck with a box-shaped body (cargo box), the front of the cargo box faces directly in the direction of travel of the vehicle, so it is exposed to strong winds and causes significant air resistance. In the case of a cargo box, the top and left and right sides of the front protrude upward and to the side beyond the rear of the cab, so these protruding parts experience significant running resistance when the vehicle is traveling.

[0005] High air resistance during driving leads to a decrease in fuel efficiency, so trucks with normal roofs (not high roof types) are fitted with drag foilers (air deflectors) on top of the cab to reduce air resistance and prevent a decrease in fuel efficiency.

[0006] On the other hand, in the case of high-roof cabs, the rear end of the roof is close to or at the same height as the bodywork, making it difficult to install a drag foiler, and reducing air resistance through a drag foiler is not expected. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce air resistance by some means other than a drag foiler.

[0007] In Patent Document 1, a gap shield is installed that blocks the space between the rear of the cab and the bodywork from above and in the vehicle width direction, thereby diverting the traveling wind received from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle and reducing air resistance.With a gap shield like the one in Patent Document 1, the air flow is changed to the outside of the vehicle in a narrow range in the vehicle length direction between the rear of the cab and the bodywork, so the air flow changes suddenly to the outside of the vehicle, making it difficult to smoothly divert the traveling wind to the rear of the vehicle.

[0008] Therefore, in high-roof cabs, it is thought that air resistance can be reduced by redirecting the wind received from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle using the shape of the roof panel itself. In this case, it is thought that it is possible to smoothly redirect the wind to the rear of the vehicle because the air flow is changed over a wide range in the vehicle length direction.

[0009] However, there are many variations in truck body construction. For example, even van trucks have different heights and widths of cargo boxes, and there are concerns that giving the roof panel a streamlining effect to suit each of these will increase the number of roof panel variations and drive up costs.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a high roof cab for a truck that can reduce air resistance during driving and contribute to improved fuel efficiency while suppressing cost increases in a high roof type cab. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above problems, and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples. (1) The high roof cab of the truck in this application example is a high roof cab of a truck in which a roof panel made of sheet metal that expands the passenger compartment is attached above the cab main body with an open ceiling, and the cab main body and the roof section equipped with the roof panel integrally form the passenger compartment of the cab, and the roof section is equipped with straightening members attached to both sides of the roof panel, and the straightening members have inclined surfaces that slope so that the width of the roof section gradually expands outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side of the vehicle to the rear side of the vehicle. In this type of truck high roof cab, airflow straightening members are attached to both sides of the roof panel, and the inclined surfaces of these airflow straightening members are inclined so that they gradually widen outward in the vehicle width direction from the front to the rear of the vehicle. This means that the wind blowing from the front of the vehicle while traveling is guided outward in the vehicle width direction by the inclined surfaces and flows toward the rear of the vehicle. This reduces the impact of the wind on the bodywork behind the high roof cab, thereby reducing air resistance during travel and contributing to improved fuel efficiency. In addition, by preparing a straightening member shaped to correspond to the shape of the rear bodywork of the high roof cab and attaching it to both sides of the roof panel, it is possible to effectively reduce air resistance during driving while suppressing cost increases.

[0012] (2) It is preferable that the upper surface of the roof panel is inclined so that the vehicle height gradually increases from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side of the cab. This allows the wind blowing onto the front of the high roof cab while driving to flow along the upper surface of the roof panel and towards the rear and upper part of the roof panel, helping to reduce air resistance.

[0013] (3) It is preferable that the upper surface portion of the roof panel is composed of a front upper surface portion located on the front side of the vehicle and having an inclination angle toward the front of the vehicle set within a first predetermined angle range, and a rear upper surface portion located on the rear side of the vehicle and having an inclination angle set within a second predetermined angle range that is smaller than the first predetermined angle range. This allows the front upper surface to guide the traveling wind received at the front of the cab along the roof, and the rear upper surface to smoothly send the traveling wind that flows along the roof to the rear of the cab, contributing to reducing air resistance.

[0014] (4) The airflow rectifying members are preferably attached to the left and right side portions of the rear upper surface portion. This means that the straightening member can be attached only to the left and right sides of the roof panel in the roof section, thereby reducing the size of the straightening member while reducing the impact of traveling wind on the bodywork behind the high roof cab.

[0015] (5) It is preferable that the roof panel has a recess formed integrally with the airflow rectifying member and one of the left and right side portions thereof, and that the recess accommodates an air intake duct. This reduces the air resistance caused by the intake duct while driving.

[0016] (6) It is preferable that the left and right side portions of the roof panel are curved or inclined so as to narrow the width of the roof panel as they go upward, and that the straightening member is positioned in the portion where the width of the roof panel narrows in the middle and upper portions in the vertical direction on the rear side of the vehicle of the left and right side portions of the roof panel. This allows the roof shape to reduce air resistance while also reducing the impact of traveling wind on the bodywork behind the high roof cab. Also, the air straightening member is attached only to the middle and upper parts in the vertical direction on the rear side of the vehicle, which reduces the impact of traveling wind on the bodywork behind the high roof cab while keeping the size of the air straightening member small.

[0017] (7) The material of the rectifying member is preferably resin. This allows the outer surface shape of the airflow regulating member to be set to be most effective in reducing air resistance, taking advantage of the ease of molding of resin. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to this invention, the collision of wind with the rear body of the high roof cab is reduced, reducing air resistance during driving and contributing to improved fuel efficiency. In addition, because the air straightening members are attached to both sides of the roof panel, it is possible to effectively reduce air resistance during driving while suppressing cost increases. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of the right side of the vehicle (the side where the intake duct is disposed) of the upper part of the cab including the roof portion of the high roof cab according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a high roof cab according to one embodiment, viewed from above and in front on the right side of the vehicle (the side where the intake duct is disposed). FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a high roof cab according to one embodiment, viewed from above and in front of the left side of the vehicle (the side where the intake duct is disposed). FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view of a high roof cab according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a high roof cab according to one embodiment. [Figure 6]This is an oblique view of the main parts of the roof part of a high roof cab of one embodiment, viewed from the upper rear on the right side of the vehicle (the side where the intake duct is located), where (a) shows the state with the intake duct and side roof cover (straightening member) removed, and (b) shows the state with the intake duct and side roof cover (straightening member) installed. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main portion of the roof portion of the high roof cab according to the embodiment, viewed from above on the left side of the vehicle. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are schematic plan views illustrating the operation and effect of a high roof cab according to one embodiment, where FIG. 1A is according to the embodiment and FIG. 1B is according to a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is merely an example, and is not intended to exclude various modifications or application of techniques not explicitly described in the following embodiment. Each configuration of this embodiment can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the spirit thereof. Furthermore, it is possible to select and / or combine as needed.

[0021] [1. Equipment configuration] In this embodiment, a large truck will be described as an example of the vehicle. Such a truck will also be simply referred to as a "vehicle." In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle is defined as the front, and the opposite direction (the backward direction of the vehicle) as the rear, with left and right defined based on the state in which the vehicle is facing forward. The front-to-rear direction is also referred to as the vehicle length direction, and the left-to-right direction is also referred to as the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to both the vehicle length direction and the vehicle width direction is referred to as the up-down direction. The vehicle is assumed to be on a horizontal road surface and to be in a position in which the up-down direction coincides with the vertical direction (the downward direction coincides with the direction of gravity). In this position, the vertically upward direction is defined as the height direction.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, vehicle 1 is a so-called cab-over large truck, with a cab 2 provided at the front of vehicle 1 and an engine (not shown) mounted below cab 2. Vehicle 1 in this embodiment is a right-hand drive vehicle, with a driver's seat (not shown) provided on the right side of cab 2. Doors 21 for getting in and out are provided on both the left and right side portions 2S of cab 2 (hereinafter also referred to as cab sides), respectively.

[0023] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is formed as a high-roof vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as a super-high roof vehicle) in which the roof portion 22 on the top surface of the cab 2 is higher than a typical roof (hereinafter also referred to as a "normal roof"), which is a so-called high-roof vehicle. A super-high roof vehicle can ensure a high interior space inside the cab 2, thereby improving the livability inside the vehicle. In large trucks and the like, drivers and others may take a nap or other rest in the vehicle interior during long-distance travel, and this can improve comfort at such times. The cab 2 is also referred to as a high-roof cab.

[0024] The roof portion 22 is provided with a roof panel 22P made of sheet metal, which is attached above the cab main body 2A, which has an open ceiling portion, and the cab main body 2A and the roof panel 22P together form the passenger compartment of the cab (high roof cab) 2, expanding the passenger compartment upward.

[0025] The roof panel 22P comprises a central panel 22a that forms the front portion and roof top, a side panel 22b that forms the right side of the roof, and a side panel 22c that forms the left side of the roof, and is integrally formed by welding the side panel 22b to the right edge of the central panel 22a and the side panel 22c to the left edge of the central panel 22a. Note that a framework member (not shown) is provided inside the roof portion 22 to support the roof portion 22.

[0026] Furthermore, in trucks with standard roofs, the cargo box is higher than the roof, so the part of the front of the cargo box that is higher than the roof directly receives the wind while traveling, resulting in increased air resistance. For this reason, a drag foiler (air deflector) is installed on top of the cab to reduce air resistance and prevent a deterioration in fuel efficiency. On the other hand, in the case of super high roof vehicles, the roof of the cab is as high as the height of the cargo box or other bodywork (such as a van), so a drag foiler cannot be installed, but the roof 22 can be used to reduce air resistance.

[0027] Therefore, in the present vehicle 1, air resistance is reduced by setting the shape of the roof portion 22. In other words, the upper surface portion 221 of the roof panel 22P (the upward surface portion formed by the central panel 22a and the edge portions of the side panels 22b and 22c closer to the central panel 22a) is smoothly inclined so that the vehicle height gradually increases from the front side of the cab 2 to the rear side of the vehicle. The upper surface portion 221 can be divided into a front upper surface portion 221a located on the front side of the vehicle and having an inclination angle toward the front of the vehicle set within a first predetermined angle range, and a rear upper surface portion 221b located on the rear side of the vehicle and having an inclination angle set within a second predetermined angle range that is smaller than the first predetermined angle range.

[0028] The front upper surface portion 221a and the rear upper surface portion 221b are not particularly separated but are smoothly continuous. The inclination angles of both the front upper surface portion 221a and the rear upper surface portion 221b gradually decrease, but the front upper surface portion 221a smoothly continues from the front surface of the cab 2, which includes the windshield 2G and is formed at a large inclination angle close to vertical, and the degree of decrease in the inclination angle is greater than that of the rear upper surface portion 221b. Therefore, the front upper surface portion 221a has a relatively large curvature when viewed from the side, while the rear upper surface portion 221b has a small curvature that is close to flat when viewed from the side (see FIG. 1).

[0029] As a result, the traveling wind received by the front of the high roof cab 2 while traveling flows along the upper surface 221 of the roof panel 22P toward the rear and upper side of the roof panel 22P, thereby contributing to reducing air resistance. In particular, the front upper surface 221a guides the traveling wind received by the front of the cab 2 along the roof portion 22, and the rear upper surface 221b smoothly sends the traveling wind that has flowed along the roof portion 22 toward the rear of the cab 2.

[0030] Furthermore, in the present vehicle 1, as a distinctive air resistance reduction means, the roof portion 22 is equipped with roof side covers 4, 4A as airflow straightening members attached to both sides of the roof panel 22P (both side edges of the side panels 22b, 22c and the central panel 22a). These roof side covers 4, 4A have inclined surfaces 41, 41A facing outward in the vehicle width direction, and these inclined surfaces 41, 41A are inclined so that the width of the roof portion 22 gradually increases outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle. The roof side covers 4, 4A are plate-like members in which the inclined surfaces 41, 41A are formed into a curved surface that is curved mainly in the vehicle height direction, and are also called curved plates.

[0031] In this embodiment, the left side of the vehicle 1 is provided with a full-size roof side cover 4, but the right side of the vehicle 1 is provided with only the lower half of a half-size roof side cover 4A because it is equipped with an intake duct 3. However, in the case of a vehicle that does not have an intake duct 3, a full-size roof side cover 4 can be provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 1.

[0032] In the vehicle length direction, the roof side covers 4, 4A are provided on the rear upper surface portion 221b of the roof portion 22. In the vertical direction (vehicle height direction), the roof side covers 4, 4A are provided in the vertical middle and upper portions of the left and right side surfaces (side panels 22b, 22c) of the roof panel 22P of the roof portion 22. The reason why the roof side covers 4 are provided only on the rear upper surface portion 221b and in the vertical middle and upper portions is to efficiently reduce air resistance with small roof side covers 4, 4A.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cab side surface 2S is curved so that its upper portion is slightly closer to the center of the vehicle body, as shown in Figure 4. The cab main body 2A is very slightly curved and nearly flat, but the roof panel 22P of the roof portion 22 is curved with a curvature slightly larger than that of the cab main body 2A. Therefore, the maximum width Wrpmax of the roof panel 22P defined by the left and right side portions (side panels 22b, 22c) of the roof panel 22P is smaller than the maximum width Wcbmax of the cab main body 2A. Note that the dashed dotted line in Figure 4 is an auxiliary line drawn to illustrate the curved shape.

[0034] As described above, the roof panel 22P is slightly narrower than the cab main body 2A, and therefore, behind the roof portion 22 (particularly the vertically middle and upper portions of the narrowed roof portion 22), the front of the cargo box 5 as a body is not shaded by the cab 2, and therefore, the air resistance caused by the cargo box 5 during travel is likely to be large. From this perspective, the roof side covers 4 are provided in the vertically middle and upper portions.

[0035] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A are inclined so as to gradually widen outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle. This is to guide the traveling wind rearward along the inclined surfaces 41, 41A and prevent the traveling wind from impinging on the front of the cargo box 5, as shown by the arrows in Figure 8(a). However, if the inclination angle θ of the inclined surfaces 41 with respect to the rear of the vehicle is too large, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A themselves will actually create air resistance, so the inclination angle θ of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A is prevented from becoming too large. Because the length of the cab 2 (length in the vehicle length direction) is secured to a certain extent, even if the inclination angle θ of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A is kept within a limit, the front ends of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A can be located after the middle part of the roof portion 22 of the cab 2 in the fore-aft direction, and the roof side covers 4, 4A are provided on the rear upper surface portion 221b.

[0036] In this embodiment, the rear end portions 4r, 4Ar of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A protrude furthest outward in the vehicle width direction from the roof portion 22. These protruding portions, that is, the rear end portions 4r, 4Ar, are located closest to the portion of the cab main body 2A that is located furthest outward in the vehicle width direction (the widest portion). Note that the inclined surfaces 41 may protrude so that the rear end portions 4r, 4Ar are located at approximately the same vehicle width position as the widest portion of the cab main body 2A. In other words, the inclined surfaces 41 may protrude outward in the vehicle width direction so that the maximum width Wrmax of the roof portion 22 defined by the rear end portions 4r, 4Ar of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A is the same as or approximately the same as the maximum width Wcbmax of the cab main body 2A.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4 (front view of vehicle 1), the side panels 22b, 22c of the roof panel 22P are slightly narrower than the sides of the cab main body 2A, and are formed to become narrower as they go upward, but the roof side cover 4 is arranged on the rear side of the vehicle (rear upper surface portion 221b) in the middle and upper parts in the vertical direction, which are the narrower parts of the side panels 22b, 22c.

[0038] The inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A are formed so as to be continuous with the roof panel 22P as a smoothly curved surface. That is, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A are curved so as to gradually widen upward at their lower portions where they are continuous with the side panels 22b, 22c, and the upper portion of the inclined surface 41 of the roof side cover 4 has approximately the same width or slightly narrows upward, and further upward, it curves in an approximately horizontal direction toward the center of the vehicle 1 and smoothly continues with the upper surface portion 221 of the roof panel 22P.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 7, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A protrude outward in the width direction as they move toward the rear of the vehicle, and therefore the curvature of the portion of the lower part of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A that are continuous with the side panels 22b, 22c that gradually widens upward has a larger curvature so that it widens more rapidly as it moves toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0040] In this way, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A are smoothly curved three-dimensionally in the vehicle height direction and vehicle width direction, and since it is not easy to form the inclined surfaces 41, 41A by press-molding a steel panel, in this embodiment, the roof side cover 4 is made of a resin material that can be molded relatively easily into three-dimensional curved surfaces.

[0041] The vehicle 1 is equipped with an intake duct 3 that sends air to an engine (internal combustion engine) serving as a power source. As shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6(b), the intake duct 3 includes an air intake section (hereinafter also referred to as a snorkel) 31 installed in the roof section 22 of the cab 2, and a duct section 32 arranged along the rear surface 2B of the cab 2.

[0042] 6(b), the snorkel 31 comprises a head portion (hereinafter also referred to as the snorkel body) 31a that is hollow and has an opening 31c that communicates with the duct portion 32 and faces the side of the vehicle 1, and a snorkel cover (cover member) 31b that is attached to cover the snorkel body 31a and forms part of the outer surface of the roof portion 22. The snorkel cover 31b is provided with louvers 31d at openings that correspond to the openings (not shown) of the snorkel body 31a, and external air (fresh air) is taken into the snorkel body 31a through the louvers 31d and the openings.

[0043] The duct section 32 is a passage for air between the snorkel 31 and the engine, and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending downward from the rear end of the snorkel 31. The interior of the snorkel 31 and the interior of the duct section 32 are connected to each other, and air taken in by the snorkel 31 is sent to the intake section of the engine through the duct section 32.

[0044] In the case of a vehicle with a normal roof, the snorkel 31 is placed on the roof, but this vehicle 1 is a super high roof vehicle, and a recessed portion 23 (see FIG. 6(a)) is provided by recessing part of the roof portion 22 of the cab 2, and the snorkel 31 is placed in this recessed portion 23. Since the snorkel 31 is placed at the rear right side of the cab 2, the recessed portion 23 is formed in the rear right side (driver's seat side) of the roof portion 22 accordingly.

[0045] 6(a) and (b) are perspective views of essential parts of roof portion 22 of vehicle 1, viewed from above and behind the side where the intake duct is disposed (the right side of the vehicle), and in Figures 6(a) and (b), the contour lines and edge-like bent portions that are bent at a fairly steep angle are shown in bold lines, and explanatory lines for the curved surface shape are shown in thin lines. As shown in Figure 6(a) with the intake duct removed, recessed portion 23 is formed at the rear of right side panel 22b of roof portion 22 so as to be recessed below the roof surface of roof portion 22.

[0046] The recess 23 has a side surface 23a on the vehicle front side, a side surface 23b on the vehicle center side, and a bottom surface 23c, and is formed with continuous smooth curves between the side surface 23a and the side surface 23b, between the side surface 23a and the bottom surface 23c, and between the side surface 23b and the bottom surface 23c. The bottom surface 23c is formed to slope downward to the right toward the outside in the vehicle width direction and to slope downward to the front toward the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle (downward to the right in FIG. 6), so that rainwater dripping onto the roof 22 flows down toward the cab side surface 2S, particularly toward the rear of the door 21.

[0047] 6(a), the bottom surface portion 23c is formed in a curved shape that is slightly convex upward on the vehicle center side and slightly convex downward on the cab side surface 2S side, and these curved surfaces are smoothly connected to form a curved shape. However, the shape of the bottom surface portion 23c is only an example, and it is sufficient that the bottom surface portion 23c is inclined downward at least toward the cab side surface 2S side.

[0048] 6(b), the snorkel 31 of the intake duct 3 is housed in the recess 23 and is fixed to the bottom surface 23c via a mounting member (not shown). In this embodiment, the outer surface of the snorkel 31 is formed into a curved shape that smoothly continues to the curved surface of the roof portion 22.

[0049] In this embodiment, the outer surface of the snorkel cover 31b of the snorkel 31 is formed in a shape that is nearly symmetrical with and similar to the upper half of the inclined surface 41 of the roof side cover 4 attached to the left side of the roof portion 22 of the vehicle 2. The outer surface of the snorkel cover 31b and the inclined surface 41A of the roof side cover 4A form a surface shape that corresponds to the full-size roof side cover 4, and it is possible to obtain the same or similar effects as the roof side cover 4. Furthermore, when attention is focused on the outer surface of the cab 2, the snorkel 31 of the intake duct 3 is housed in a recess surrounded by the recessed portion 23 and the upper edge portion of the roof side cover 4A.

[0050] [2. Actions and Effects] The high roof cab of the truck according to the present invention is configured as described above, and therefore has the following functions and effects.

[0051] Roof side covers 4, 4A, and snorkel cover 31b are attached to both sides of roof panel 22P as airflow straightening members, and inclined surfaces 41 of roof side cover 4, as well as inclined surfaces 41A of roof side cover 4A, and the outer surfaces of snorkel cover 31b are inclined so as to gradually widen outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle, so that wind received from the front of the vehicle while traveling is guided outward in the vehicle width direction by inclined surfaces 41, 41A, etc. and flows toward the rear of the vehicle. This reduces the impact of wind on cargo box 5, which is mounted behind cab 2, reducing air resistance during traveling and contributing to improved fuel efficiency.

[0052] Referring to Figure 8, in the high roof cab of this embodiment, as shown by the arrow in Figure 8(a), the inclination angle θ of the inclined surface 41 relative to the fore-and-aft direction is kept small, so that the wind that flows along the inclined surface 41 and then behind the inclined surface 41 flows along the outer surface of the cargo box 5, thereby suppressing the generation of turbulence and reducing air resistance during driving.

[0053] On the other hand, for example, as in the invention of Cited Document 1, when a gap shield 6 is installed that blocks the space between the rear of the cab 2 and the cargo box 5 from above and in the vehicle width direction, the air flow is changed to the outside of the vehicle in a narrow range in the vehicle length direction between the rear of the cab 2 and the bodywork 5, as shown by the arrow in Figure 8(b), so the air flow changes suddenly to the outside of the vehicle, making it difficult to flow the traveling wind smoothly to the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, the traveling wind that flows away from the outer surface of the cargo box 5 is likely to generate turbulence due to vortices and the like generated near the outer surface of the cargo box 5, which increases the air resistance during traveling.

[0054] In addition, roof side covers 4, 4A are prepared in a shape that corresponds to the shape of the bodywork, such as the cargo box 5 behind the cab 2, and are attached to both sides of the roof panel 22P, thereby effectively reducing air resistance during driving in accordance with the shape of the bodywork, thereby improving fuel efficiency while suppressing cost increases.

[0055] This vehicle 1 is a super high roof vehicle in which the height of the roof portion 22 is even higher than that of a normal high roof truck, and the roof portion 22 of the cab 2 is as high as the height of the bodywork such as the cargo box 5. Furthermore, the upper surface 221 of the roof panel 22P is inclined so that the vehicle height gradually increases from the front side of the vehicle to the rear side of the vehicle of the cab 2. Therefore, the wind received by the front of the high roof cab 2 while traveling flows along the upper surface 221 of the roof panel 22P to the rear and upper side of the roof panel 22P and then along the upper surface of the bodywork, thereby reducing air resistance.

[0056] In particular, of the upper surface portion 221, the front upper surface portion 221a guides the traveling wind received at the front of the cab 2 along the roof portion 22, and the rear upper surface portion 221b smoothly sends the traveling wind that flows along the roof portion 22 to the rear of the cab 2, thereby contributing to reducing air resistance.

[0057] The roof side covers 4, 4A are attached only to the left and right sides of the rear upper surface, and further only to the middle and upper parts in the vertical direction at the rear of the vehicle, thereby reducing the size of the straightening member while reducing the impact of running wind on bodywork such as the cargo box 5 behind the high roof cab.

[0058] In addition, the roof panel 22 has a recess formed integrally with one of the left and right side portions (the left and right side portions in this embodiment) and the roof side cover 4A, and the snorkel 31 of the intake duct 3 is stored in this recess, thereby reducing the air resistance caused by the snorkel 31 of the intake duct 3 when driving. In this embodiment, the outer surface of the snorkel cover 31b is formed in a shape similar to or almost similar to the upper half of the inclined surface 41 of the roof side cover 4, so that the effect of reducing air resistance during driving due to the rectifying effect of the outer surface of the snorkel cover 31b is also obtained.

[0059] In addition, in this embodiment, the maximum width Wrpmax of the roof panel defined by the left and right side portions (side panels 22b, 22c) of the roof panel 22P is set to be smaller than the maximum width Wcbmax of the cab main body 2A, and the maximum width Wrmax of the roof portion 22 defined by the rear end portions of the inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A is close to the maximum width Wcbmax of the cab main body 2A, or is the same as or almost the same as the maximum width Wcbmax.Therefore, while the cab side surface 2S is curved so that it narrows in the width direction as it progresses upward, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A can reduce the impact of traveling wind on the bodywork behind the cab 2.

[0060] Furthermore, the left and right side portions (side panels 22b, 22c) of the roof panel 22p are curved or inclined so as to narrow the width of the roof panel 22P as they go upward, and the roof side covers 4, 4A are arranged in the middle and upper parts of the left and right side portions of the roof panel 22P in the vertical direction on the rear side of the vehicle (parts where the width of the roof panel 22p narrows), so that the roof portion shape can reduce air resistance while also reducing the impact of traveling wind on the bodywork 5 behind the cab 2, thereby reducing air resistance.

[0061] The inclined surfaces 41 of the roof side cover 4 are three-dimensionally curved in the vehicle height direction and the vehicle width direction, and this surface shape contributes to reducing air resistance during driving, but on the other hand, it is not easy to form the inclined surfaces 41. In this regard, in this embodiment, a resin material is used as the material for the roof side cover 4, and by taking advantage of the ease of molding that allows even three-dimensional curved surfaces of resin to be molded relatively easily, the outer surfaces of the inclined surfaces 41 can be designed to be most effective in reducing air resistance.

[0062] [3. Other] As described above, in this embodiment, a large truck with a super high roof is exemplified, in which the roof portion 22 of the cab 2 is as high as the height of the cargo box 5 and other bodywork. However, even in a high roof vehicle in which the roof portion 22 is not as high as that of a super high roof vehicle, it is difficult to attach a drag foiler (air deflector) to the top of the cab, and by utilizing the present invention, it is possible to contribute to reducing air resistance. It is not limited to large trucks either.

[0063] In addition, in this embodiment, the roof side covers 4, 4A are provided on both sides of the roof panel 22P, limited to the middle and upper parts of the left and right sides of the rear upper surface of the roof panel 22P in the vertical direction toward the rear of the vehicle, but the roof side covers 4 may be provided on the left and right sides of the rear upper surface of the roof panel 22P and are not limited to those in this embodiment.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclined surfaces 41, 41A of the roof side covers 4, 4A have a shape that is smoothly curved three-dimensionally in the vehicle height direction and the vehicle width direction, but the inclined surfaces 41, 41A are not limited to such a shape as long as they are inclined so that the width of the roof portion 22 gradually widens outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side of the vehicle to the rear side of the vehicle. Furthermore, from the standpoint of formability, it is preferable that the material of the roof side covers 4, 4A be resin, but the material of the roof side covers 4, 4A is not limited to this.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the intake duct 3 is configured to send air to an engine (internal combustion engine) serving as a power source, but the intake duct is not limited to this. For example, the intake duct may be configured to supply cooling air to an electric motor serving as a power source of an electric vehicle, or a battery unit (device related to the power source) of an electric vehicle. In addition, in the above embodiment, the intake duct 3 is disposed on the right side of the roof portion 22 of the vehicle 1, but the intake duct 3 may be disposed on the left side, i.e., reversed left and right. In this case, the roof side covers 44, 4A as airflow rectifying members are also disposed reversed left and right. Furthermore, if the intake duct 3 is not provided, full-size roof side covers 44 can be disposed on both the left and right sides. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 vehicle 2 cabs 2B Cab 2 rear 2S Cab 2 side (side of cab) 21 Doors 22 Roof section 221 Upper surface of roof portion 22 221a Front top part 221b Rear top part 22P roof panel 22a Central panel of roof panel 22P 22b, 22c Side panels of roof panel 22P 23 recessed part 23a, 23b: Side portions of the recessed portion 23 23c: bottom surface of recess 23 24 Water Conduit Section 25a~25e Linear projection 26a~26e Groove 3. Intake duct 31 Air intake (snorkel) 31a Head part (snorkel body) 31b Snorkel cover (cover material) 31c opening 31d Louver 32 Duct section 4,4A Roof side cover (curved plate) as a straightening member 41,41A Slope 4r, 4Ar Rear end of inclined surfaces 41, 41A 5 Cargo box (mounted) Wcbmax Maximum width of cab body 2A Wrmax Maximum width of roof section 22 Wrpmax Maximum width of roof panel 22P

Claims

1. A high roof cab for a truck has a roof panel made of sheet metal attached above a cab main body with an open ceiling, which expands the cabin, and the cab main body and the roof portion equipped with the roof panel integrally form the cabin of the cab, The roof portion is provided with straightening members attached to both sides of the roof panel, and the straightening members have inclined surfaces that are inclined so as to gradually widen the width of the roof portion outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side of the vehicle toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the maximum width of the roof panel defined by both sides of the roof panel is smaller than the maximum width of the cab body, and the side surfaces of the cab body are curved so as to narrow in the width direction as they extend upward, the upper surface portion of the roof panel is composed of a front upper surface portion located on the front side of the vehicle, the inclination angle of which is set to be within a first predetermined angle range when inclined toward the front of the vehicle, and a rear upper surface portion located on the rear side of the vehicle, the inclination angle of which is set to be within a second predetermined angle range that is smaller than the first predetermined angle range, The material of the rectifying member is resin, The airflow rectifying members are attached only to the left and right side portions of the rear upper surface portion. The truck features a high roof cab.

2. The straightening member is further attached only to the middle and upper portions in the vertical direction on the rear side of the vehicle.

2. The high roof cab of a truck according to claim 1.

3. The upper surface of the roof panel is inclined so that the vehicle height gradually increases from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side of the cab.

3. The high roof cab of a truck according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A recess is formed integrally with either one of the left or right side portions of the roof panel and the airflow rectifying member, and an intake duct is housed in the recess. The high roof cab for a truck according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The left and right side portions of the roof panel are curved or inclined so as to narrow the width of the roof panel as they go upward, The airflow rectifying members are disposed at portions of the roof panel where the width of the roof panel is narrowed at the middle and upper portions in the vertical direction on the vehicle rear side of the left and right side portions of the roof panel. A high roof cab for a truck according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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