Vehicle front structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front structure in which ambient air flowing in a passage of an intake cover can be efficiently guided into an intake port of a dash panel.SOLUTION: A vehicle front structure 100 comprises: an intake port 102 from which an air conditioning unit 112 installed at a dash panel 108 in a cabin performs air intake; an intake cover 104 fixed at the dash panel which forms a passage which guides ambient air introduced from a cowl part 113 into the intake port; and a waterproof wall 106 which is arranged between the intake port and the intake cover, and erected extending from the dash panel to the front side of the intake port in a vehicle width direction. The intake cover includes: an upper wall 114 which is arranged above the intake port to divide the passage and forms an upper side of the passage; and a pair of lateral walls 116, 118 which continuously extend from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel to divide the passage and form both sides of the passage in the vehicle width direction. The upper wall includes: a rise portion 152 which is arranged behind the waterproof wall and rises up as it goes toward the rear side; and an extension part 154 which is continuous from a front end 155 of the rise portion to extend forward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a vehicle has a resin cowl cover between the windshield and the front hood. The cowl cover has an air intake that draws outside air into the air conditioning unit located behind the dash panel, i.e., on the passenger compartment side. The dash panel separates the vehicle's power unit mounting compartment from the passenger compartment.

[0003] The dash panel has an opening that guides outside air taken in through the cowl cover's air intake port to the air conditioning unit. A resin air intake cover is provided in front of the dash panel opening. The air intake cover not only guides the outside air taken in through the cowl cover's air intake port to the air conditioning unit through the dash panel opening, but also serves to prevent rainwater seeping in through the cowl cover's air intake port or other openings from entering the air conditioning unit through the dash panel opening.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes an outside air intake structure for an automobile. This structure has a duct 30 as an intake cover. The duct 30 has a front surface with a duct opening 30a formed therein, and a bottom surface. A bottom opening is formed in the bottom surface of the duct 30. The bottom opening in the bottom surface is connected to an air intake port 10a formed in a dash panel 10. This allows the duct 30 to form a flow path that takes in outside air through the duct opening 30a on the front surface and further guides the outside air to the air intake port 10a in the dash panel 10 via the bottom opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-264252 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the duct 30 of Patent Document 1, if the lower opening on the bottom surface and the air intake port 10a of the dash panel 10 are located behind and below the duct opening 30a, when rainwater or the like seeps in through the duct opening 30a, the rainwater or the like can easily seep through the lower opening on the bottom surface and into the air intake port 10a.

[0007] One possible solution is to place a waterproof member that opens to the rear on the flow path of duct 30 so that it covers the top of air intake port 10a, creating a labyrinth structure inside the flow path of duct 30. However, placing a waterproof member inside duct 30 reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path inside duct 30, and furthermore, the air (outside air) flowing through duct 30 comes into contact with the waterproof member, causing turbulence and making it impossible to efficiently guide the outside air toward air intake port 10a.

[0008] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front structure that can efficiently guide outside air flowing within the flow path of the intake cover to the intake port in the dash panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a typical configuration of a vehicle front structure according to the present invention is a vehicle front structure comprising: an intake port provided in a dash panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, through which air is drawn in by an air conditioning unit inside the passenger compartment; and an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a flow path that guides outside air introduced into the front of the vehicle from the cowl portion to the intake port; the vehicle front structure further comprises a waterproof wall that is disposed between the intake port and the intake cover and stands upright from the dash panel in front of the intake port in the vehicle width direction, and is either integral with or separate from the intake cover; the intake cover has an upper wall that is disposed above the intake port and defines the upper side of the flow path, and a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and define both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction; the upper wall has a rising portion that is disposed rearward of the waterproof wall and rises upward as it goes rearward, and an extension portion that extends continuously forward from the front end of the rising portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front structure that can efficiently guide outside air flowing through the flow path of the intake cover to the intake port of the dash panel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle front structure and its main parts according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing a waterproof wall of the vehicle front structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2A to 2C are diagrams showing cross sections of the vehicle front structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing an intake cover of the vehicle front structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 5 is a diagram showing the intake cover of FIG. 4 as viewed from another direction. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the airflow in the flow path of the intake cover of FIG. 3 together with a comparative example. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the airflow inside the intake cover following FIG. 6, together with a comparative example. FIG. [Figure 8]1. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing another modified example of the intake cover of the vehicle front structure of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A typical configuration of a vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle front structure comprising: an intake port provided in a dash panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, through which air is drawn in by an air conditioning unit within the passenger compartment; and an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a flow path that guides outside air introduced into the front of the vehicle from the cowl portion to the intake port; the vehicle front structure further comprising a waterproof wall that is disposed between the intake port and the intake cover and stands upright from the dash panel in front of the intake port in the vehicle width direction, and is either integral with or separate from the intake cover; the intake cover has an upper wall that is disposed above the intake port and defines the upper side of the flow path, and a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and define both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction; the upper wall has a rising portion that is disposed rearward of the waterproof wall and rises upward as it extends rearward, and an extension portion that extends forward continuously from the front end of the rising portion.

[0013] In the above configuration, the rising portion of the upper wall of the intake cover is positioned rearward of the waterproof wall, which allows a rearward airflow caused by air (outside air) flowing rearward along the extension of the intake cover and an upward airflow caused by air flowing upward along the waterproof wall to interact between the intake cover and the waterproof wall, and these airflows can be efficiently guided to the intake port along the rising portion of the upper wall.

[0014] Here, we will explain the case where the rear airflow acts on the upward airflow. When the upward airflow flows toward the extension part of the intake cover, the rear airflow pushes the upward airflow backward, thereby guiding the upward airflow to the rising part of the intake cover.

[0015] Next, we will explain the case where the upward airflow acts on the rearward airflow. When the flow direction of the rearward airflow changes from the extension portion along the rising portion, even if part of the rearward airflow flows rearward and downward and tries to separate from the rising portion, the upward airflow pushes the rearward airflow upward, thereby preventing that part of the rearward airflow from becoming turbulent. In this way, with the above configuration, outside air flowing through the flow path of the intake cover can be efficiently guided to the intake port in the dash panel.

[0016] The waterproof wall has an inclined wall that is inclined rearward from a straight line extending from the dash panel toward the intake cover perpendicular to the dash panel, the rising portion is positioned rearward from the inclined wall, and the extending portion overlaps with the inclined wall in the vertical direction.

[0017] This allows air to flow upward and rearward along the inclined wall of the waterproof wall, and further allows this air to be guided to the rising portion of the upper wall located rearward of the inclined wall of the waterproof wall. Also, because the extension portion of the upper wall extends forward from the rising portion to a position where it overlaps with the inclined wall of the waterproof wall in the vertical direction, it is possible to make it easier for air to flow rearward along the extension portion.

[0018] The inclined wall of the waterproof wall preferably has a first inclined wall extending from the dash panel toward the intake cover, and a second inclined wall that is continuous with the upper end of the first inclined wall and inclined further rearward than the first inclined wall.

[0019] In this way, the second inclined wall of the waterproof wall continues from the upper end of the first inclined wall and is inclined further rearward than the first inclined wall, which makes it easier for air to flow upward and rearward from the first inclined wall along the second inclined wall, thereby preventing air from separating from the second inclined wall and making it easier to guide air to the rising part of the upper wall of the intake cover.

[0020] The intake cover may further have a rear wall connecting the pair of side walls in the vehicle width direction, and the upper wall may further have a descending portion that continues from the rear end of the rising portion and slopes downward toward the rear wall, and the descending portion and the rear wall may be connected to each other at an obtuse angle toward the front.

[0021] Because the downward slope of the upper wall and the rear wall form an obtuse angle, when air flows from the upward slope of the upper wall to the downward slope and is then guided from the downward slope to the rear wall, this air is easily guided from the downward slope along the rear wall, which makes it difficult for turbulence to occur around the downward slope and the rear wall, allowing air to be efficiently guided to the intake port.

[0022] The rear wall preferably extends linearly toward the surface of the dash panel on which the air intake port is formed, and the rear wall and the surface preferably form an obtuse angle toward the front.

[0023] This makes it easier for air to flow from the descending portion of the upper wall to the rear wall, and when air is further guided from the rear wall to the surface of the dash panel where the air intake is formed, to be guided from the rear wall along the surface of the dash panel, making it less likely for turbulence to occur around the rear wall and the surface of the dash panel, and allowing air to be efficiently guided to the air intake.

[0024] The descending portion of the upper wall and the rear wall are adjacent to the cowl portion or dash panel and have a shape corresponding to the shape of the cowl portion or dash panel, and the intake cover may further have a sealing member that seals between the descending portion and the rear wall and the cowl portion or dash panel.

[0025] In this way, a sealing member is placed between the descending portion and rear wall and the cowl portion or dash panel, thereby preventing water from seeping in between them and then flowing down into the air intake port of the dash panel.

[0026] The upper wall preferably extends further forward of the vehicle than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, and the front edges of the pair of side walls preferably have an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves from the dash panel toward the front of the vehicle, and an extension portion that extends continuously upward from the front end of the inclined portion and reaches the front end of the upper wall.

[0027] By providing the inclined portions and the extended portions on the front edges of the pair of side walls, it is possible to easily introduce outside air into the intake cover along the area defined by the inclined portions, the extended portions, and the line connecting the edge of the dash panel and the front end of the upper wall. Furthermore, the intake cover prevents the outside air introduced into the inside of the intake cover from escaping outside the defined area of ​​the side walls. This makes it easier to guide air to the upper side of the pair of side walls, while making it more difficult to guide air to the lower side of the side walls, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing along the upper wall.

[0028] The intake cover may further include an upper flange projecting upward from the front end of the upper wall, and outer flanges projecting outward in the vehicle width direction from the extensions of the pair of side walls.

[0029] This makes it easier to guide air along the upper flange and outer flange toward the upper wall and the pair of side walls. [Example]

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention and, unless otherwise specified, do not limit the present invention. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0031] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle front structure 100 and its main parts according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1(a) shows the vehicle front structure 100 as seen obliquely from the front. Fig. 1(b) shows the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100. In the following drawings, the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows Front and Back, the left and right directions in the vehicle width direction are indicated by arrows Left and Right, and the up-down direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows Up and Down.

[0032] The vehicle front structure 100 includes an air intake 102 shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1(a), an air intake cover 104, and a waterproof wall 106. The air intake 102 is provided in a dash panel 108. The dash panel 108 is a panel that separates the front of the vehicle, for example, a power unit mounting room, from the passenger compartment, and has a base surface 110 on which the air intake 102 is formed. Air is taken in through the air intake 102 by an air conditioning unit 112 in the passenger compartment that is located on the vehicle rear side of the dash panel 108.

[0033] The intake cover 104 is a cover made of, for example, resin, and is fixed to a base surface 110 of the dash panel 108. The intake cover 104 also forms a flow path that guides outside air, which is introduced from a cowl portion 113 (see FIG. 3(a)) indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1(a) into a power unit mounting room located on the vehicle front side of the dash panel 108, to the intake port 102.

[0034] The waterproof wall 106 is separate from the intake cover 104 and is arranged between the intake port 102 and the intake cover 104, and is erected, for example, from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 in front of the intake port 102 across the width of the vehicle.

[0035] 1(b), the air intake cover 104 has an upper wall 114 and a pair of side walls 116, 118. The upper wall 114 is disposed above the air intake port 102 and defines the upper side of the flow path. The pair of side walls 116, 118 extend continuously from both ends of the upper wall 114 in the vehicle width direction toward the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108, and define both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] The intake cover 104 further has a connecting portion 120 and a pair of support portions 122, 124. The connecting portion 120 is placed on the waterproof wall 106 below the upper wall 114 and is connected to the waterproof wall 106 by a predetermined fastening member 126. The support portions 122, 124 extend from the upper wall 114 and are connected to the connecting portion 120 to support the connecting portion 120.

[0037] The intake cover 104 further has flanges 128, 130 that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the pair of side walls 116, 118. The flanges 128, 130 are fixed to the dash panel 108 by predetermined fastening members 132, 134, respectively, as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b).

[0038] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the waterproof wall 106 of the vehicle front structure 100 of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the waterproof wall 106 has an inclined wall 136 located in the front of the vehicle and a pair of wall portions 138 and 140. The inclined wall 136 is formed with a hole portion 141 through which the fastening member 126 shown in Fig. 1(b) passes.

[0039] The pair of wall portions 138, 140 extend continuously rearward from both ends of the inclined wall 136 in the vehicle width direction. The wall portions 138, 140 are inclined so that their rear surfaces 142 are positioned higher as they move forward, as shown in FIG. 2(b).

[0040] Here, the straight line C shown in FIG. 2(b) is a straight line that extends from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 (see FIG. 1(a)) toward the intake cover 104, perpendicular to the base surface 110. The inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106 is inclined rearward from this straight line C. The inclined wall 136 also has a first inclined wall 144 and a second inclined wall 146.

[0041] The first inclined wall 144 extends from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 toward the intake cover 104. The second inclined wall 146 is continuous with an upper end 148 of the first inclined wall 144 and is inclined further rearward than the first inclined wall 144.

[0042] Figure 3 is a diagram showing each cross section of the vehicle front structure 100 of Figure 1. Figure 3(a) is an AA cross section of the vehicle front structure 100 including the cowl portion 113 of Figure 1(a). Figure 3(b) is a BB cross section of the vehicle front structure 100 of Figure 1(b). Figure 4 is a diagram showing the intake cover 104 of the vehicle front structure 100 of Figure 1.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3(a), in the vehicle front structure 100, outside air D is introduced through the cowl portion 113 supported by the cowl support portion 150, and air flows E and F, for example, as indicated by the arrows in the figure, flow toward the intake cover 104 and the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3(b), the upper wall 114 of the intake cover 104 has a rising portion 152 and an extending portion 154. The rising portion 152 is disposed rearward of the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106 and rises upward as it moves rearward. The extending portion 154 extends forward continuously from a front end 155 of the rising portion 152 to a position where it overlaps with the inclined wall 136 in the vertical direction. Note that the extending portion 154 has a flat shape as shown in FIG. 3(b). However, the shape is not limited to this, and the extending portion 154 may have a downwardly convex shape, for example, an arc-shaped curved shape.

[0045] The intake cover 104 further has a rear wall 156. The rear wall 156 connects the pair of side walls 116, 118 to each other in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figure 4. In addition, the upper wall 114 further has a descending portion 158, as shown in Figure 3(b).

[0046] The descending portion 158 is continuous with the rear end 160 of the rising portion 152 and slopes downward toward the rear wall 156. The descending portion 158 and the rear wall 156 are connected to each other at an obtuse angle θa toward the front, as shown in FIG. 3(b). The rear wall 156 extends linearly toward a base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 on which the air intake 102 is formed. The direction in which the rear wall 156 extends, indicated by dotted line G in FIG. 3(a), and the base surface 110 form an obtuse angle θb toward the front. The rising portion 152, the descending portion 158, and the rear wall 156 may be continuously formed to draw an arc.

[0047] Furthermore, the descending portion 158 and the rear wall 156 are adjacent to the dash panel 108 and have shapes corresponding to the shape of the dash panel 108. Furthermore, the descending portion 158 and the rear wall 156 are provided with a first sealing member 162 and a second sealing member 164, respectively, as shown in Figure 3(b). These first sealing member 162 and second sealing member 164 seal the gaps between the descending portion 158 and the dash panel 108, and prevent water and the like from entering through these gaps and flowing down into the air intake port 102 of the dash panel 108.

[0048] The air intake cover 104 further has an upper flange 166 and outer flanges 168, 170 shown in Figure 4. The upper flange 166 protrudes upward from a front end 172 (see Figure 3(b)) of the upper wall 114. The outer flanges 168, 170 protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of side walls 116, 118 as shown in Figure 4. This makes it easier to guide air along the upper flange 166 and the outer flanges 168, 170 toward the upper wall 114 and the pair of side walls 116, 118.

[0049] 4, flanges 128, 130 projecting in the vehicle width direction from the pair of side walls 116, 118 are formed with fixing holes 173a, 173b. As a result, flanges 128, 130 are fixed to dash panel 108 by passing fastening members 132, 134 (see FIG. 1) through fixing holes 173a, 173b, respectively.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the connecting portion 120 of the intake cover 104 has a pair of ribs 174, 176 and a connecting surface 178. The pair of ribs 174, 176 are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and are connected by the connecting surface 178. A gap is formed between the pair of support portions 122, 124, and the pair of support portions 122, 124 are further connected to the pair of ribs 174, 176, respectively. The pair of support portions 122, 124 and the pair of ribs 174, 176 are set longitudinally in the vehicle front-rear direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the pair of support portions 122, 124 are inclined so as to move away from each other from the connecting portion 120 toward the upper wall 114, forming an inverted V-shape.

[0051] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the intake cover 104 of Fig. 4 as viewed from another direction. Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b) are a left side view and a bottom view of the intake cover 104, respectively.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5( a), the upper wall 114 of the intake cover 104 extends further toward the front of the vehicle than an edge 180 of the side wall 118 that contacts the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108. In addition, a front edge 182 of the side wall 118 has an inclined portion 184 and an extension portion 186. The inclined portion 184 is inclined so as to approach the upper wall 114 as it moves from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 toward the front of the vehicle. The extension portion 186 extends upward continuously from a front end 188 of the inclined portion 184 and reaches the front end 172 of the upper wall 114.

[0053] 4(a), the side wall 116 also has an inclined portion 192 and an extension portion 194 at its front edge 190. The inclined portion 192 is inclined so as to approach the upper wall 114 from an edge 196 that contacts the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 toward the front of the vehicle. The extension portion 194 extends continuously upward from a front end 198 of the inclined portion 192 and reaches the front end 172 of the upper wall 114.

[0054] In this way, the intake cover 104 has inclined portions 184, 192 and extended portions 186, 194 on the front edges 182, 190 of the pair of side walls 118, 116. This makes it easier to introduce outside air into the interior of the intake cover 104 along areas 200, 202 (see Figures 4(a) and 5(a)) defined by the inclined portions 184, 192, the extended portions 186, 194, and lines H, I connecting the edges 180, 196 on the dash panel 108 and the front end 172 of the top wall 114.

[0055] Furthermore, with the intake cover 104, the outside air introduced into it does not escape to the outside of the partitioned areas 200, 202 of the pair of side walls 118, 116. Therefore, the intake cover 104 makes it easier to guide air to the upper side of the pair of side walls 118, 116 while making it more difficult to guide air to the lower side, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing along the upper wall 114.

[0056] In a vehicle, the closer to the center of the vehicle, the easier it is to guide air from the front, while the closer to the outside of the vehicle, the more air escapes to the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, in the air intake cover 104, as shown in Figure 5(b), the rising portion 152 and the falling portion 158 are inclined so that they are positioned further forward as they move toward the center of the vehicle (right side in the figure). This allows the vehicle front structure 100 to guide air along the inclination of the rising portion 152 and the falling portion 158, making it easier to guide air throughout the entire air intake port 102 formed in the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108.

[0057] The following describes the behavior of the airflows E and F shown in Fig. 3(a) within the flow path of the intake cover 104. Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the airflow within the flow path of the intake cover 104 of Fig. 3 together with a comparative example.

[0058] 6(a), the rising portion 152 of the upper wall 114 is positioned rearward of the waterproof wall 106. This allows a rearward airflow E caused by air (outside air) flowing rearward along the extending portion 154 of the intake cover 104 and an upward airflow F caused by air flowing upward along the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106 to interact with each other between the intake cover 104 and the waterproof wall 106.

[0059] First, we will explain the case where the rearward airflow E acts on the upward airflow F. As shown in Fig. 6(a), the upward airflow F is divided into an airflow fa that flows along the first inclined wall 144 of the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106, and an airflow fb that flows along the second inclined wall 146. When the airflow fa flows toward the extension portion 154 of the upper wall 114, the rearward airflow E pushes the airflow fa backward, thereby guiding the airflow fa in a direction along the extension portion 154 and generating an airflow fc.

[0060] Furthermore, the rearward airflow E also pushes the airflow fb rearward, thereby guiding the airflow fb in a direction along the rising portion 152 and generating the airflow fd. Thereafter, the airflows fc and fd flow rearward along the rising portion 152, and further flow along the falling portion 158 and the rear wall 156, thereby being efficiently guided to the air intake port 102 formed in the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108.

[0061] On the other hand, the intake cover 204 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 6(b) differs from the intake cover 104 in that the rising portion 208 of the upper wall 206 is in front of the waterproof wall 210 or overlaps with the waterproof wall 210 in the vertical direction.

[0062] In the intake cover 204 of the comparative example, when the rearward airflow E pushes the airflow f1, which is part of the upper airflow F, rearward, the airflow f1 becomes an airflow f3 that flows perpendicular to the rising portion 208, making turbulence more likely to occur. Furthermore, the airflow f2, which is part of the upper airflow F, flows perpendicular to the falling portion 212 of the upper wall 206. For this reason, even if the rearward airflow E pushes the airflow f2 rearward, it merely generates an airflow f4, and it is difficult to guide the airflow f2 in a direction along the falling portion 212, making turbulence more likely to occur.

[0063] Next, a case where the upward airflow F acts on the rearward airflow E will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a diagram following Fig. 6, which schematically shows the airflow inside the intake cover 104 together with a comparative example.

[0064] 7(a), when the flow direction of the rear airflow E changes from the extension portion 154 of the upper wall 114 along the rising portion 152, part of the rear airflow E flows rearward and downward as airflow Ea and attempts to separate from the rising portion 152. However, airflow fb, which is part of the upward airflow F, pushes the rear airflow E upward, thereby generating airflow Eb instead of airflow Ea. This makes it possible to prevent part of the rear airflow E from becoming turbulent.

[0065] 7(b), when the rear airflow E flows in a direction along the descending portion 212, the airflow f2, which is part of the upper airflow F, flows perpendicular to the descending portion 212 of the upper wall 206. Therefore, the rear airflow E pushes the airflow f2 toward the descending portion 212, causing turbulence at the descending portion 212 and obstructing the flow of the rear airflow E.

[0066] Moreover, in intake cover 204, falling portion 212 and rear wall 214 are connected at a steep angle, which makes it easy for the rear airflow E to hit rear wall 214 and generate turbulence Ec, as shown in Figure 7(b). As such, with intake cover 204 of the comparative example, it is difficult to efficiently guide rear airflow E and upward airflow F to intake port 102 of dash panel 108A.

[0067] In contrast, according to the vehicle front structure 100, by positioning the rising portion 152 of the upper wall 114 of the intake cover 104 rearward of the waterproof wall 106, the rear airflow E and the upper airflow F shown in Figures 6 and 7 can be caused to interact as described above, and these airflows E and F can be efficiently guided to the intake port 102 of the dash panel 108.

[0068] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 100, the waterproof wall 106 has an inclined wall 136, and the rising portion 152 is disposed rearward of the inclined wall 136. This allows air to flow upward and rearward along the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106, and further allows this air to be guided to the rising portion 152 of the upper wall 114, which is disposed rearward of the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106.

[0069] Furthermore, since the extension portion 154 of the upper wall 114 extends forward from the rising portion 152 to a position where it overlaps the inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106 in the vertical direction, air can be made to flow more easily rearward along the extension portion 154.

[0070] Furthermore, because the second inclined wall 146 of the waterproof wall 106 is inclined further rearward than the first inclined wall 144, it is possible to make it easier for air to flow upward and rearward from the first inclined wall 144 along the second inclined wall 146. This makes it possible to prevent air from separating from the second inclined wall 146 and to make it easier for air to be guided to the rising portion 152 of the upper wall 114 of the intake cover 104.

[0071] In addition, the descending portion 15 of the upper wall 114 8 and rear wall 156 form an obtuse angle θa (see FIG. 3(b)). Therefore, when air flows from rising portion 152 of upper wall 114 to falling portion 158 and is further guided from falling portion 158 to rear wall 156, this air can be easily guided from falling portion 158 along rear wall 156. Therefore, turbulence is less likely to occur around falling portion 158 and rear wall 156, and air can be efficiently guided to air intake port 102 of dash panel 108.

[0072] The rear wall 156 extends linearly toward the base surface 110 of the dash panel 108 on which the air intake 102 is formed, and forms an obtuse angle θb (see FIG. 3(a)) with the base surface 110 on the front side.

[0073] This makes it possible for air to flow from descending portion 158 of upper wall 114 to rear wall 156, and when the air is further guided from rear wall 156 to base surface 110 of dash panel 108, this air can be easily guided from rear wall 156 along base surface 110. As a result, turbulence is less likely to occur around rear wall 156 and base surface 110 of dash panel 108, and air can be efficiently guided to intake port 102.

[0074] 2, the waterproof wall 106 has a pair of wall portions 138, 140, and the rear surfaces 142 of these wall portions 138, 140 are inclined so that they are positioned higher as they move forward. This makes it easier to guide the air that has separated from the rising portion 152, the falling portion 158, and the rear wall 156 toward the air intake port 102. The pair of wall portions 138, 140 also makes it possible to prevent water and the like from entering the air intake port 102 from the outside of the waterproof wall 106 in the vehicle width direction.

[0075] The inclined wall 136 of the waterproof wall 106 has a shape having a first inclined wall 144 and a second inclined wall 146 as shown in Figure 2(b), but is not limited to this and may be formed by a single inclined surface, or may be a curved surface curved in an arc shape.

[0076] Figure 8 is a diagram schematically showing another modified example of the intake cover 104 of the vehicle front structure 100 of Figure 1. The modified intake cover 104A shown in Figure 8(a) has a bottom wall 216. An opening 218 that overlaps with the intake port 102 of the dash panel 108 is formed in this bottom wall 216, and a waterproof wall 106A is further provided upright. In other words, the waterproof wall 106A is integrated with the intake cover 104A.

[0077] Even though the intake cover 104A has a bottom wall 216 and is integrated with the waterproof wall 106A, by positioning the rising portion 152 of the upper wall 114 behind the waterproof wall 106A, air can be efficiently guided to the intake port 102 of the dash panel 108.

[0078] 8(b), the intake cover 104B of the modified example has the rising portion 152A, the extending portion 154A, the falling portion 158A, and the rear wall 156A formed only on the lower surface 220 of the upper wall 114A that forms the flow path. The dash panel 108B is shaped to fit along the outer surface 222 of the intake cover 104B.

[0079] Even with this type of intake cover 104B, by locating rising portion 152A of upper wall 114A behind watertight wall 106, air can be efficiently guided to intake port 102 of dash panel 108B.

[0080] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that such modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0081] The present invention can be used in a vehicle front structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 100...Vehicle front structure 102...Air intake 104, 104A, 104B, 204... Intake cover 106, 106A, 210…Waterproof wall 108, 108A...Dash panel 110...Base surface 112...Air conditioning unit 113...Cowling part 114, 206...Upper wall 116, 118...side wall 120...Connection part 122, 124...Support part 126, 132, 134... Fastening members 128, 130...Flanges 136…Slanted wall 138, 140...Waterproof wall 141... Hole in inclined wall 142...Rear surface of wall 144…First inclined wall 146…Second inclined wall 148...Top of the first inclined wall 150...Cowl support part 152, 208...rising section 154...Extension part 155...Front end of rising part 156, 214...Rear wall 158, 212...Downward section 160...Rear end of rising part 162...first sealing member 164...Second sealing member 166...Upper flange 168, 170...Outer flange 172...Front end of upper wall 173a, 173b…fixing hole 174, 176...Ribs 178…Connection surface 180, 196...Edge of side wall 182, 190...Front edge of side wall 184, 192...Slope part 186, 194...extension part 188, 198...Front end of inclined section 200, 202…area 216...Bottom wall 218...Aperture 220...Underside of upper wall 222...Outer surface of intake cover

Claims

1. an air intake port provided in a dash panel that separates a front portion of the vehicle from a passenger compartment, through which air is taken in by an air conditioning unit in the passenger compartment; an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a flow path that guides outside air introduced into the front part of the vehicle from a cowl portion to the intake port, the vehicle front structure further comprising: a waterproof wall disposed between the intake port and the intake cover, extending from the dash panel forward of the intake port in the vehicle width direction, the waterproof wall being integral with or separate from the intake cover; The intake cover is an upper wall disposed above the intake port and defining an upper side of the flow path; a pair of side walls extending continuously from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and defining both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction; The upper wall is a rising portion that is disposed rearward of the waterproof wall and rises upward toward the rear; and an extension portion extending forward continuously from the front end of the rising portion.

2. the waterproof wall has an inclined wall that is inclined rearward of a straight line that extends from the dash panel perpendicularly to the dash panel toward the intake cover, The rising portion is disposed rearward of the inclined wall, The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion overlaps the inclined wall in the vertical direction.

3. 3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, wherein the inclined wall of the waterproof wall has a first inclined wall extending from the dash panel toward the intake cover, and a second inclined wall continuing from the upper end of the first inclined wall and inclined further rearward than the first inclined wall.

4. the intake cover further includes a rear wall connecting the pair of side walls in the vehicle width direction, the upper wall further has a descending portion that is continuous with the rear end of the rising portion and descends downward toward the rear wall, 4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the descending portion and the rear wall are connected to each other at an obtuse angle toward the front.

5. 5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 4, wherein the rear wall extends linearly toward the surface of the dash panel on which the air intake is formed, and the rear wall and the surface form an obtuse angle toward the front.

6. the descending portion of the upper wall and the rear wall are adjacent to the cowl portion or the dash panel and have shapes corresponding to the shape of the cowl portion or the dash panel, 6. The vehicle front structure according to claim 4, wherein the intake cover further includes a sealing member that seals between the descending portion and the rear wall and the cowl portion or the dash panel.

7. the upper wall extends to a position forward of the vehicle beyond edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, The front edges of the pair of side walls are an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it extends from the dash panel toward the front of the vehicle; 7. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, further comprising an extension portion that extends continuously upward from the front end of the inclined portion and reaches the front end of the upper wall.

8. The intake cover further includes an upper flange extending upward from a front end of the upper wall; 8. The vehicle front structure according to claim 7, further comprising outer flanges that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the extensions of the pair of side walls.

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