Dashboard Panel Support for Vibration and Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle front structures face challenges in reducing vibration transmission to the dashboard, preventing water intrusion, improving mounting properties, and enhancing welding workability, particularly in the connection between the dashboard upper and lower panels and damper housings.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle front structure incorporates a dashboard upper panel with a rear inclined wall and a dashboard lower panel featuring an inclined flange, side edge flanges, and a cowl reinforcing member, which supports the upper panel at its center, forms a waterproof L-shaped wall, and improves mounting stability and welding accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dashboard upper panel is joined to the dashboard lower panel at the rear end, then the mounting property is improved, but vibration generated due to inward falling of damper housings is transmitted from the cowl member to the dash panel without being attenuated
Solution Approach 1:
The dashboard upper panel is divided into a front part and a rear part, with the rear part extending obliquely upward and rearward to abut against the inclined flange. This segmentation allows the rear part to serve as a support structure that reduces vibration transmission while the front part maintains mounting properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined flange acts as an intermediary structure between the dashboard lower panel and the rear part of the upper panel. It provides a support surface that attenuates vibration transmission while allowing the upper panel to be mounted securely on the lower panel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cowl member is mounted to extend between front pillars, then the shaping freedom is improved, but water intrusion into the cabin cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The rear part of the dashboard upper panel is designed with specific local quality - it extends obliquely upward and rearward to abut against the inclined flange, creating a localized support structure that prevents water intrusion while maintaining the overall shaping freedom of the cowl member.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear part extends in an oblique direction combining vertical and rearward components, utilizing another dimension to create a waterproof barrier while maintaining the horizontal extension between front pillars.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the rear inclined wall abuts on the inclined flange, then vibration transmission is reduced, but welding accessibility becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dashboard upper panel is segmented into front and rear parts, allowing the rear part to abut against the inclined flange for vibration reduction while the front part provides accessibility for welding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear part extends obliquely upward and rearward, creating spatial separation between the abutment surface and the welding access area, allowing vibration reduction without compromising welding accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A dashboard upper panel is provided with: a front vertical wall extending substantially vertically in a vehicle top/bottom direction; a horizontal bottom wall extending substantially horizontally in a vehicle front/rear direction from the front vertical wall; a rear inclined wall extending from the horizontal bottom wall toward the rear of the vehicle and diagonally toward the top of the vehicle; a front horizontal flange extending from the front vertical wall toward the front of the vehicle; and a rear horizontal flange extending from the rear inclined wall toward the rear of the vehicle. A dashboard lower panel is provided with an inclined flange formed at an upper end of the dashboard lower panel. By joining the inclined flange to a lower portion of the rear inclined wall, the dashboard upper panel is supported by the dashboard lower panel from below at substantially the center in the vehicle front/rear direction.