Cowl Water Box Intake Layout for Fresh Air and Water Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicles with a cab-forward design face challenges in providing a fresh air path with suitable flow parameters and effective water separation due to increased interior volume and flat front hoods, leading to water absorption through intake openings in the water tank.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle design featuring a water tank with intake openings on both sides of the longitudinal center axis, a baffle along the windshield, and a sloped water collecting basin, combined with struts to optimize space usage and enhance water separation, includes a drain at the lowest point to efficiently collect and remove water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the water tank has a single central intake opening, then water separation is improved, but the flow cross section for fresh air intake is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single central intake opening is divided into multiple intake openings (at least two) arranged in the width direction of the vehicle. This segmentation increases the total fresh air intake cross section while maintaining effective water separation through the distributed arrangement of openings and associated separation elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The intake openings are arranged not only in the width direction but also extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This multi-dimensional arrangement optimizes both the intake cross section area and the water separation performance by distributing openings across different spatial positions.
2Volume of moving object
If the water tank is positioned closer to the windshield for space optimization, then interior volume is increased, but water separation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A pre-separation element is integrated into the water tank design to perform preliminary water separation before air enters the interior. This allows the water tank to be positioned closer to the windshield for space optimization while maintaining effective water separation through the preliminary separation stage provided by the pre-separation element.
3Speed
If the front hood is made flat for aerodynamic reasons, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but water drainage capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the water tank features a curved base surface that slopes downward toward drainage openings at the rear. This curved geometry facilitates effective water drainage from the flat front hood area while maintaining the aerodynamic flat hood design, as the curvature is confined to the water tank bottom rather than the hood itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design ensures reliable water separation and efficient air intake with minimal space, preventing large water entry and optimizing flow velocities and cross-sections, while accommodating various steering systems.
Implementation Method 1
a baffle running along the windshield with a baffle channel facing the windshield for draining water to both sides of the motor vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a water collecting basin with a base surface is formed in the base element
Implementation Method 3
The intake opening may have an upwardly projecting, circumferential edge projection. Such an edge projection, which may also be referred to as a circumferential web, forms a further element to prevent water from penetrating through the intake opening.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Motor vehicle (10) with internal combustion engine and/or electric drive, the motor vehicle (10) comprising a windshield (12), a water tank (26) arranged in front of the windshield (12), which is designed to collect and drain water accumulating in a transition region (28) between the windshield (12) and a front hood, wherein the water tank (26) has a base element and a cover element (32) which form an intake chamber for fresh air, a fresh air inlet of an air conditioning unit which is in fluid communication with the intake chamber, wherein the cover element (32) has a baffle (34) running along the windshield (12) with a baffle channel facing the windshield (12) for draining water to both sides of the motor vehicle (10), wherein an intake opening (36) for fresh air is formed in the cover element (32),wherein a water collecting basin with a bottom surface is formed in the bottom element, and wherein the suction opening (36) is formed on both sides of a longitudinal center axis (MA) of the motor vehicle (10) with respect to a width direction (Y) of the motor vehicle (10).