Sloped Vehicle Cowl Structure for Wiper Water Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recent vehicle design trends eliminating the underbody structure under the front wiper assembly increase manufacturing costs and assembly complexity due to the need for additional parts to manage water ingress into the engine compartment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cowl structure with a sloping cowl top panel and integrated pivot holes, islands, and wiper pivot caps that guide water away from sensitive components, eliminating the need for additional parts like wiper covers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the underbody structure is eliminated to simplify the vehicle design, then manufacturing costs and assembly complexity increase due to the need for additional parts like wiper covers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water management function into the cowl top panel itself by integrating gutters and channels directly into the panel structure. This eliminates the need for separate underbody structures and wiper covers, thereby reducing part count and assembly complexity while maintaining effective water drainage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cowl top panel is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the structural cowl component, provides water drainage through integrated gutters, and manages water flow away from the engine compartment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated separate components for each function, reducing overall complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional parts like wiper covers are added to manage water ingress, then water protection improves but manufacturing costs and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water protection function is merged into the cowl top panel through integrated gutters and channels. Instead of adding separate wiper covers and underbody structures, the panel itself is designed with water management features that guide water away from sensitive areas, reducing the total number of parts required.
Solution Approach 2:
The cowl top panel is designed to manage its own water drainage needs through self-contained gutters and channels. The structure uses its own geometry and integrated features to redirect water flow, eliminating the need for additional protective components while maintaining effective water ingress prevention.
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
Reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies assembly by effectively managing water ingress without additional components, protecting water-sensitive engine components.
Implementation Method 1
The cowl top panel includes a top surface that slopes downwardly from the first side end to the second side end
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle cowl structure comprises a cowl top panel extending in a vehicle width direction along a lower end portion of a front windshield. The cowl top panel extends between a first side end and a second side end. The cowl top panel includes a top surface that slopes downwardly from the first side end to the second side end. The cowl top panel further includes a plurality of pivot holes spaced apart from each other and extending through the cowl top panel. The plurality of pivot holes is disposed on the top surface. Each pivot hole is adapted to receive a corresponding wiper shaft therethrough. Furthermore, the cowl top panel includes a plurality of islands spaced apart from each other and corresponding to the plurality of pivot holes. Each island of the plurality of islands is disposed proximal to a corresponding pivot hole of the plurality of pivot holes.