Cowl Drainage Structure Isolating Collision Load From Water Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cab-forward vehicle design increases air resistance and internal space but reduces engine compartment space, leading to deteriorated noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) alleviation performance, and causes corrosion in the fender apron member due to reduced drainage efficiency and increased collision load on the cowl drainage structure.
Innovation Solution
A cowl drainage structure is designed with a lower inner member, a lower outer member, and an upper outer member that define a closed space with a main hole, isolating the collision load path from the drainage path to prevent corrosion and improve drainage efficiency, allowing for larger drain holes without compromising NVH alleviation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cowl point is displaced forwards in cab-forward design, then internal space is increased, but engine compartment space is reduced and NVH alleviation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fender apron member is divided into an outer member and an inner member, creating separate functional zones. The outer member handles collision loads while the inner member manages drainage, allowing independent optimization of each function without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage function is extracted from the traditional fender apron structure and implemented through a separate inner member with dedicated drainage holes. This extraction allows the outer member to focus solely on collision resistance while the inner member handles water drainage.
2Productivity
If large holes are formed in the fender apron member to improve drainage, then drainage efficiency increases, but collision performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fender apron member is segmented into outer and inner members with distinct functions. The outer member maintains structural integrity for collision resistance, while the inner member provides drainage pathways, eliminating the trade-off between hole size and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fender apron system are assigned different properties: the outer member has high strength properties for collision resistance, while the inner member has high permeability properties for drainage, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific function.
3Productivity
If the drainage structure is connected through the outer and inner portions of the fender apron member, then drainage path is established, but water enters the inner portion causing corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted and isolated into a separate inner member that is coupled to the outer member. This separation creates an independent drainage pathway that does not compromise the outer member's structural integrity or allow water penetration into critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner member acts as an intermediary element between the cowl drainage structure and the outer fender apron member. It provides a dedicated drainage pathway while protecting the outer member from water exposure, preventing corrosion.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment cowl drainage structure includes a lower inner member, a lower outer member disposed outside the lower inner member and coupled to the lower inner member so as define a closed space therebetween, and an upper outer member coupled to both the lower outer member and the lower inner member, wherein the upper outer member includes a main hole, and wherein a portion of a space defined between the upper outer member and the lower inner member is configured to communicate fluidly with an outside.