Vehicle body structure

Abstract

This vehicle body structure includes a cowl top panel provided with a duct connection port, and a cowl top cover provided with an outside air introduction port. The vehicle body structure includes a first flow path component accommodated in a cowl space between the cowl top panel and the cowl top cover, and a second flow path component accommodated in the cowl space. The first flow path component includes a first plate extending downward from the cowl top cover and facing the outside air introduction port. The second flow path component includes a second plate facing a gap between the first plate and the cowl top cover. The second plate includes a notch that guides air from a first surface on the outside air introduction port side to a second surface on the duct connection port side.

Description

Body structure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle body structure.

[0002] A vehicle body constituting a vehicle such as an automobile includes a cowl top panel joined to the upper end of a dash panel and a cowl top cover attached to the cowl top panel (see Patent Documents 1 to 4). The cowl top panel also has a duct connection port formed therein for connecting an air conditioning duct.

[0003] JP 2013-60158 A JP 2023-138874 A JP 2023-138875 A JP 2023-138876 A

[0004] However, when it snows or rains, not only air but also snow and rain are drawn into the cowl top panel, which may result in the snow or rain being sucked into the duct connection opening. Because snow and rain being sucked into the duct connection opening can cause malfunctions in air conditioning equipment, there is a need to prevent snow and rain from being sucked into the duct connection opening.

[0005] According to the present disclosure, a vehicle body structure includes a cowl top panel that supports a lower end of a windshield and has a duct connection port to which an air conditioning duct is connected. The vehicle body structure includes a cowl top cover that is attached to the cowl top panel and defines a cowl space, and that has an outside air inlet port that opens to the outside. The vehicle body structure includes a first flow path component that is housed in the cowl space and extends in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle body structure includes a second flow path component that is housed in the cowl space and extends in the vehicle width direction. The first flow path component includes a first plate that extends downward from the cowl top cover and faces the outside air inlet port. The second flow path component includes a second plate that faces a gap between a lower end of the first plate and an inner wall surface of the cowl top cover. The second plate includes a notch that guides air from a first surface on the outside air inlet port side to a second surface on the duct connection port side.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, the notch in the second plate can generate an air vortex, thereby preventing snow and rain from being sucked into the duct connection port.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the vehicle body structure taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of range III in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a view showing a cowl top panel and a cowl top cover from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of range V in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a view showing a portion of the cowl top cover from the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a view showing the air flow direction using arrows. FIG. 9 is a view showing the air flow direction using arrows. FIG. 10 is a view showing the air flow direction using arrows. FIG. 11 is a view showing the air flow direction using arrows.

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical or substantially identical configurations and elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted. In addition, arrow D1 shown in each drawing indicates the vehicle width direction, arrow D2 indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 16, and arrow D3 indicates the up-down direction of the vehicle body 16, i.e., the vertical direction.

[0009] <Vehicle Body Structure> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle 11 equipped with a vehicle body structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 11 has a vehicle body 16 including a front body 12, a rear body 13, and side bodies 14, 15. The front body 12 includes a cowl top panel 18 disposed near the lower end of a windshield 17. The cowl top panel 18 extends in the vehicle width direction D1 and connects left and right front pillars 19, 20 to each other.

[0010] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the vehicle body structure 10 taken along line II-II in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the front body 12 includes a dash panel 21 joined to the lower part of the cowl top panel 18 and a front hood 22 disposed in front of the cowl top panel 18. The cowl top panel 18 is composed of a main panel 18a and a sub-panel 18b, and the lower end 17a of the windshield 17 is bonded to the sub-panel 18b. In other words, the cowl top panel 18 supports the lower end 17a of the windshield 17. Furthermore, a reinforcing part 23 is joined to the center of the cowl top panel 18 across the vehicle width, and this reinforcing part 23 supports the sub-panel 18b.

[0011] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of range III in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a view showing the cowl top panel 18 and the cowl top cover 30 from the direction of arrow IV in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of range V in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a view showing a portion of the cowl top cover 30 from the direction of arrow VI in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows portions of the cowl top panel 18, the cowl top cover 30, and the air conditioning equipment 45, and Fig. 5 shows a portion of the cowl top cover 30.

[0012] 2 and 3, a cowl top cover 30 that defines a cowl space 50 is attached to the cowl top panel 18. The cowl top cover 30 includes a top wall portion 31 that overlaps the lower end 17a of the windshield 17, an inclined wall portion 32 that faces the top wall portion 31 and contacts the flange 24 of the cowl top panel 18, and a front wall portion 33 that is continuous with both the top wall portion 31 and the inclined wall portion 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the front wall portion 33 of the cowl top cover 30 bends downward and extends from the top wall portion 31, and is located below the rear end portion 22a of the front hood 22. The cowl top cover 30 also includes a support portion 34 that is continuous with the inclined wall portion 32, and a gasket 35 that contacts the front hood 22 is attached to the support portion 34.

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a through hole 36 is formed in the top wall portion 31 of the cowl top cover 30, through which the pivot shaft 41 of the wiper unit 40 protrudes. Furthermore, an outside air inlet (a group of outside air inlet holes) 38 consisting of a plurality of outside air inlet holes 37 that open to the outside is formed in the front wall portion 33 of the cowl top cover 30. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, a duct connection port 25 is formed in the cowl top panel 18, to which an air conditioning duct 46 of an air conditioning device 45 is connected. Here, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, if the cowl space 50 is divided into a first space 51 and a second space 52 with the vehicle width center CL as the boundary, the outside air inlet port 38 is disposed across both the first space 51 and the second space 52, and the duct connection port 25 is disposed in the first space 51. A wiper unit 40 including a wiper motor, a link mechanism, etc. (not shown) is attached to the cowl top panel 18 and disposed in the second space 52 .

[0014] As described above, the cowl top cover 30 is provided with the outside air inlet 38, and the cowl top panel 18 is provided with the duct connection port 25, so that air taken in through the outside air inlet 38 passes through the cowl space 50 and is drawn into the duct connection port 25. That is, as shown in FIG. 3 , when the blower motor 48 is driven with the flap 47 of the air conditioning unit 45 moved to the outside air intake position, air is drawn from the outside air inlet 38 through the cowl space 50 and the duct connection port 25 into the air conditioning duct 46. The air drawn into the air conditioning duct 46 is then pressure-fed from the blower motor 48 toward an evaporator and heater core (not shown).

[0015] During snowfall or rainfall, snow and rain may enter the cowl space 50 through the outside air inlet 38, potentially resulting in the snow and rain being sucked into the duct connection port 25. Since the ingestion of snow and rain into the duct connection port 25 can cause malfunctions in the air conditioning equipment 45, it is necessary to prevent the snow and rain from being sucked into the duct connection port 25. Therefore, the vehicle body structure 10 of the present disclosure includes a water-blocking plate component 60 and a vortex plate component 70 in the cowl space 50 in order to separate the snow and rain that has entered the cowl space 50. Drainage holes (not shown) are formed in the lower portion of the cowl top panel 18, and the snow and rain separated in the cowl space 50 is discharged outside the vehicle through the drainage holes.

[0016] 3 to 7, a water shielding plate component (first flow path component) 60 and a vortex flow plate component (second flow path component) 70 extending in the vehicle width direction D1 are housed in the cowl space 50 inside the cowl top cover 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water shielding plate component 60 and the vortex flow plate component 70 are disposed in a first space 51 that constitutes the cowl space 50.

[0017] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the water shielding plate component 60 includes a base plate portion 61 joined to the cowl top cover 30 and a water shielding plate (first plate) 62 extending downward from the base plate portion 61. The water shielding plate component 60 also includes a drainage tray 63 extending downward from the base plate portion 61 and a pair of mounting struts 64, 65 extending downward from the base plate portion 61. The vortex plate component 70 also includes a vortex plate (second plate) 71 extending in the vehicle width direction D1 and a pair of engagement pieces 72, 73 provided on both ends of the vortex plate 71. The vortex plate 71 also includes a pair of notches 74, 75 that open to an upper end 71a of the vortex plate 71. As indicated by the symbol α in Figure 6, the upper end 71a of the vortex plate 71 is formed in a straight line. As described below, the notches 74 and 75 of the vortex plate 71 have the function of guiding air from the front side to the back side of the vortex plate 71, that is, the function of guiding air from the first surface 81 on the side of the outside air inlet 38 to the second surface 82 on the side of the duct connection port 25.

[0018] 5 and 6, the engaging pieces 72, 73 of the vortex plate component 70 are attached to the mounting struts 64, 65 of the water-shielding plate component 60. In other words, the water-shielding plate component 60 is attached to the cowl top cover 30, and the vortex plate component 70 is attached to the water-shielding plate component 60. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the water-shielding plate 62 of the water-shielding plate component 60 extends downward from the cowl top cover 30 and faces the fresh air inlet 38. Furthermore, the vortex plate 71 of the vortex plate component 70 faces the gap G between the lower end 62a of the water-shielding plate 62 and the inner wall surface 39 of the cowl top cover 30.

[0019] Here, the fact that the water shield plate 62 faces the fresh air inlet 38 means that the water shield plate 62 faces the fresh air inlet 38 in the flow direction FL1 of air passing through the fresh air inlet 38. In other words, at least a portion of the air sucked through the fresh air inlet 38 is blocked by the water shield plate 62, thereby controlling the flow direction. Furthermore, the fact that the swirl plate 71 faces the gap G between the water shield plate 62 and the cowl top cover 30 means that the swirl plate 71 faces the gap G in the flow direction FL2 of air passing through the gap G. In other words, at least a portion of the air passing through the gap G between the water shield plate 62 and the cowl top cover 30 is blocked by the swirl plate 71, thereby controlling the flow direction.

[0020] <Air Flow> The flow of air from the outside air inlet 38 toward the duct connection port 25 will now be described. Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 use arrows to show the direction of air flow. Figure 8 shows the same parts as in Figure 3, Figure 9 shows the same parts as in Figure 4, Figure 10 shows the same parts as in Figure 6, and Figure 11 shows the same parts as in Figure 7.

[0021] 8 and 9 , air taken into the first space 51 from the fresh air inlet 38 flows along the water shielding plate component 60 and the vortex flow plate component 70 and is drawn into the duct connection port 25. Meanwhile, air taken into the second space 52 from the fresh air inlet 38 flows toward the reinforcing component 23 provided at the vehicle width center CL, and then flows along the water shielding plate component 60 and the vortex flow plate component 70 in the first space 51 and is drawn into the duct connection port 25. As shown in FIG. 2 , the reinforcing component 23 provided on the cowl top panel 18 narrows the flow path 53 connecting the first space 51 and the second space 52. This increases the flow velocity of air passing near the reinforcing component 23, thereby increasing the flow velocity of air toward the water shielding plate component 60 and the vortex flow plate component 70.

[0022] As shown in Figure 10, when air flows near the vortex plate component 70, it flows into the notches 74 and 75 of the vortex plate 71, generating a swirling flow FL3, i.e., an air vortex, originating from the notches 74 and 75. In other words, a portion of the air passing near the vortex plate component 70 flows into the notches 74 and 75 of the vortex plate 71 and is guided from the first surface 81 to the second surface 82 of the vortex plate 71. As such, the flow direction of the air changes significantly when passing through the notches 74 and 75, which is believed to be the origin of the vortex flow FL3. Furthermore, forming the upper end 71a of the vortex plate 71 in a straight line is believed to suppress interference with the air flow and generate a strong vortex flow FL3.

[0023] In this way, by generating swirling flow FL3 using vortex plate component 70, the movement path of air toward duct connection port 25 can be extended. As a result, even if snow or rain is sucked in along with the air from outside air inlet 38, the longer air movement path ensures that the snow or rain has a chance to fall, thereby preventing the snow or rain from being sucked into duct connection port 25. In addition, the flow velocity of air flowing near reinforcing component 23 can be increased, allowing high-speed air to flow toward vortex plate component 70. As a result, a strong swirling flow FL3 can be generated starting from vortex plate component 70, preventing the snow or rain from being sucked into duct connection port 25.

[0024] Furthermore, since the vortex plate 71 has multiple notches 74, 75, a strong and stable swirling flow FL3 can be generated, thereby suppressing the inhalation of snow and rain into the duct connection port 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the notches 74, 75 and the duct connection port 25 are located at different positions in the vehicle width direction D1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the swirling flow FL3 can be generated before the duct connection port 25, thereby separating snow and rain from the air before the duct connection port 25. Furthermore, the air that passes through the notches 74, 75 does not directly flow into the duct connection port 25, which also suppresses the intrusion of snow and rain into the duct connection port 25. Furthermore, it is believed that the deeper the notches 74, 75 of the vortex plate 71 are formed, the stronger the swirling flow FL3 can be generated. As shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 6, in the vehicle body structure 10 of the present disclosure, the depth dimension X1 of the notch 75 is set to be greater than the width dimension X2. The notch 74 has the same shape as the notch 75 .

[0025] 11, the air taken into the cowl space 50 through the fresh air inlet 38 passes through the gap G between the water shielding plate 62 and the inclined wall portion 32, and then splashes upward along the vortex plate 71. The air splashed up along the vortex plate 71 is then pushed down along the drain tray 63, and is transformed into the swirling flow FL3. In this way, it is believed that even the air that does not pass through the notches 74, 75 of the vortex plate 71 is transformed into the swirling flow FL3 and flows.

[0026] <Modifications> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the outside air inlet 38 is formed in the front wall portion 33 of the cowl top cover 30. However, this is not limited to this. The outside air inlet may be formed in the top wall portion 31, or the front wall portion 33 and the top wall portion 31 may be formed in the same. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the outside air inlet 38 is disposed in both the first space 51 and the second space 52. However, this is not limited to this. The outside air inlet may be disposed only in the first space 51, or the outside air inlet may be disposed only in the second space 52. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the reinforcing component 23 is joined to the vehicle width center CL of the cowl top panel 18. However, this is not limited to this. The reinforcing component 23 may be omitted from the vehicle width center CL of the cowl top panel 18.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the outside air inlet 38 is formed by multiple outside air inlet holes 37, but this is not limited thereto, and an outside air inlet consisting of a single opening may also be used. In the illustrated example, two notches 74, 75 are formed in the vortex plate 71, but this is not limited thereto, and a single notch or three or more notches may also be formed in the vortex plate 71. In the illustrated example, the depth dimension X1 of the notches 74, 75 is set to be greater than the width dimension X2, but this is not limited thereto, and the depth dimension X1 of the notches 74, 75 may be set to be equal to or less than the width dimension X2. In the illustrated example, the water shielding plate 62 extends diagonally downward, but this is not limited thereto, and the water shielding plate 62 may extend vertically downward. In the illustrated example, the vortex plate 71 extends diagonally upward, but this is not limited thereto, and the vortex plate 71 may extend vertically upward.

[0028] 10...Vehicle body structure, 16...Vehicle body, 17...Windshield, 17a...Lower end, 18...Cowl top panel, 22...Front hood, 22a...Rear end, 23...Reinforcing part, 25...Duct connection port, 30...Cowl top cover, 31...Ceiling wall portion, 33...Front wall portion, 37...Outside air introduction hole, 38...Outside air introduction port (outside air introduction hole group), 39...Inner wall surface, 40...Wiper unit, 46...Air conditioning duct duct, 50... cowl space, 51... first space, 52... second space, 53... flow path, 60... water shielding plate component (first flow path component), 62... water shielding plate (first plate), 62a... lower end portion, 70... vortex plate component (second flow path component), 71... vortex plate (second plate), 71a... upper end portion, 74, 75... notch, 81... first surface, 82... second surface, G... gap, D1... vehicle width direction

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure comprising: a cowl top panel that supports the lower end of a windshield and has a duct connection port to which an air conditioning duct is connected; a cowl top cover that is attached to the cowl top panel and has an outside air inlet port that opens to the outside and that defines a cowl space; a first flow path part that is housed in the cowl space and extends in the vehicle width direction; and a second flow path part that is housed in the cowl space and extends in the vehicle width direction, wherein the first flow path part has a first plate that extends downward from the cowl top cover and faces the outside air inlet port, and the second flow path part has a second plate that faces a gap between the lower end of the first plate and an inner wall surface of the cowl top cover, and the second plate has a notch that guides air from a first surface on the outside air inlet port side to a second surface on the duct connection port side.

2. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the second plate has a plurality of the notches.

3. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the notch opens to an upper end of the second plate, and the upper end of the second plate is formed in a straight line.

4. A vehicle body structure as described in claim 1, wherein the outside air inlet is a group of outside air inlets consisting of a plurality of outside air inlets, and when the cowl space is divided into a first space and a second space with the center of the vehicle width as the boundary, the duct connection port, the first flow path parts and the second flow path parts are arranged in the first space, and the group of outside air inlets is arranged in both the first space and the second space.

5. A vehicle body structure according to claim 4, further comprising a wiper unit attached to the cowl top panel and disposed in the second space.

6. A vehicle body structure as described in claim 4, further comprising a reinforcing part joined to the center of the vehicle width of the cowl top panel, the reinforcing part narrowing the flow path connecting the first space and the second space.

7. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path part is attached to the cowl top cover, and the second flow path part is attached to the first flow path part.

8. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the notch and the duct connection port are provided at different positions in the vehicle width direction.

9. A vehicle body structure as described in claim 1, wherein the cowl top cover comprises a top wall portion overlapping the lower end of the windshield and a front wall portion bent downward from the top wall portion and positioned below the rear end of the front hood, and the outside air intake opening is in the front wall portion.

Images