Cowl Louver Windshield Connection Using Spacer Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connecting structures between a cowl louver and a windshield face design constraints due to the presence of a cutout portion for a power feed and sealant, which can lead to reduced versatility and clamping effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A connecting structure featuring a laminated glass with a cutout portion and a spacer closer to the lower edge, where the cowl louver's clamping portion is designed in a U-character shape to clamp both the first glass plate and the spacer, allowing for improved design freedom and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cutout portion is formed in the second glass plate for power feed and sealant, then the windshield can accommodate deicer functionality, but the clamping portion of the cowl louver cannot effectively clamp the lower edge portion of the windshield
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the cutout portion and the clamping portion. The spacer fills the cutout space and provides a clamping surface, allowing the clamping portion to effectively clamp the windshield lower edge even in the presence of the cutout for power feed and sealant
2Reliability
If the sealant thickness is increased to protect the connection portion, then sealing reliability is improved, but the clamping portion cannot clamp the windshield lower edge portion
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer acts as a mediator that allows the clamping portion to clamp the windshield lower edge portion effectively even when the sealant thickness is increased for better protection of the connection portion between power feed and conductors
3Reliability
If the clamping portion is positioned to avoid the cutout portion, then clamping effectiveness is maintained, but the design freedom and versatility of cowl louvers are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer enables the clamping portion to be positioned directly over the cutout portion while maintaining clamping effectiveness, thereby restoring design freedom and versatility to the cowl louver configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer serves multiple functions: it fills the cutout portion, provides a clamping surface for the clamping portion, and allows the cowl louver design to be more versatile and adaptable to different configurations
Data Source
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AI summary
A connecting structure between a cowl louver and a windshield includes a windshield including a laminated glass having a first glass plate disposed on an exterior side, a second glass plate disposed on an interior side and an interlayer bonding the first glass plate and the second glass plate; the laminated glass having a cutout portion formed by removing a part of the second glass plate and the interlayer at a certain area of a lower edge portion of the laminated glass; the first glass having a power feed portion disposed on an interior side surface thereof in the cutout portion; and a spacer disposed in the cutout portion on the lower edge side of the windshield closer than the power supply portion; the cowl louver including a clamping portion formed in a U-character shape in section at a rear end portion thereof, the clamping portion having an upper member disposed along the first glass plate and a lower member disposed so as to be close to the second glass plate; and the clamping portion clamps the first glass plate and the spacer.