Vehicle Cowl Partition Panel Water Leakage Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cowl structure of vehicles allows water to enter the vehicle compartment due to strong airflow in the narrow cowl box, causing water to leak from the air supplying port, which compromises the interior dryness and efficiency of air conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A cowl structure with a partition panel that forms a hollow member portion with the rear and bottom walls, featuring an outside air introducing port, communication ports, and an air supplying port positioned to overlap in the vehicle width direction, preventing water from entering the vehicle compartment by controlling airflow and water ruffling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flows strongly in the vehicle width direction inside the cowl box to supply outside air to the vehicle compartment, then air supply efficiency is improved, but water remaining inside the cowl box is ruffled and leaks from the air supplying port
Solution Approach 1:
The cowl box is divided into two separate spaces by the partition panel: a first space for water accumulation and a second space for air supply. This segmentation prevents water from being ruffled by airflow and leaking into the vehicle compartment, while maintaining efficient air supply through the air supplying port.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition panel acts as an intermediary structure that separates the water-prone area from the air supply pathway. By introducing this intermediate element, the patent prevents direct interaction between strong airflow and water, eliminating water leakage while preserving air supply efficiency.
2Strength
If the cowl box has a narrow shape elongated in the vehicle width direction to connect hood ridge members, then structural integration is improved, but airflow becomes strong causing water ruffling and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The partition panel divides the narrow cowl box into distinct functional zones, allowing the overall narrow structure to maintain structural integration while preventing water leakage through internal spatial separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cowl box are given different functions: the first space (bottom portion) is designed for water accumulation with lower airflow, while the second space (upper portion) is optimized for air supply. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between narrow structure benefits and water leakage risks.
3Quantity of substance
If water enters the cowl box from rain or other sources, then water accumulates inside the cowl box, but strong airflow ruffles the water and causes it to leak from the air supplying port
Solution Approach 1:
The partition panel creates a dedicated water accumulation zone (first space) separated from the air supply pathway (second space). Water can accumulate in the first space without being disturbed by airflow in the second space, preventing leakage while allowing natural water collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition panel serves as a mediator that allows water accumulation to occur without causing water leakage. It isolates the water-prone first space from the airflow in the second space, enabling both water accumulation and leak-free operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A cowl structure including a cowl box (10) having a partition panel (15) joined to both rear (10b) and bottom (10c) walls thereof inside the cowl box. The partition panel constitutes, together with the rear and bottom walls, a hollow member portion (19) extending in a vehicle width direction. An outside air introducing port (14a) is provided in the cowl box, for introducing outside air into the cowl box outside of the member portion. A communication port (15a,15b) is provided in the partition panel, for allowing the inside and outside of the member portion to communicate with each other inside the cowl box. An air supplying port (11a) is provided in the rear wall at a location spaced upward from the bottom wall, for allowing the inside of the member portion and a vehicle compartment (17) to communicate with each other. The communication port and the air supplying port overlap each other in the vehicle width direction.