Vehicle Front Drain Structure Suppressing Water Droplet Entrainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle front structure design allows water droplets from a gutter member to be entrained in high airflow, leading to malfunctions in air conditioning systems due to insufficient drainage and positioning of drainage components.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure with a dash panel extending in the vehicle width direction, featuring an air inlet, a cowl grille with an outside air introduction hole, and a drain member forming a closed cross-section with a gutter member that includes a drain portion aligned with the top deck of the drain member, positioned to match the outdoor air pressure and flow rate, preventing droplet generation and entrainment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the closed cross-section area between the cowl grille and drain member is small, then the air flow rate in the closed cross-section increases, but water droplets are entrained in the high flow rate air and enter the air inlet causing air conditioner malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of the closed cross-section by introducing a through-hole in the drain member that allows air to pass through. This converts the closed cross-section into an open structure, eliminating the high velocity air flow that causes water droplet entrainment while maintaining the necessary air intake function through the through-hole
Solution Approach 2:
The through-hole in the drain member acts as an intermediary element that provides a controlled air passage. It mediates between the need for air flow and the need to prevent water droplet entrainment by offering a direct, low-velocity path for air that does not involve the high-speed flow through the closed cross-section
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the drain portion is positioned away from the air inlet, then water droplets are prevented from entering the air inlet, but the drainage path becomes longer and droplet generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the positioning contradiction by changing the drainage dimension - instead of relying solely on horizontal distance from the air inlet, the through-hole provides a vertical drainage path through the drain member. This allows the drain portion to be positioned optimally for water collection while the through-hole directly discharges air and prevents droplet generation in the drainage path
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cowl grille is positioned away from the air inlet, then water droplets from the cowl grille are prevented from entering the air inlet, but the air intake efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air intake function into two separate pathways: the through-hole in the drain member handles air intake for the air conditioner, while the cowl grille handles external air introduction. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned for its specific function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The through-hole serves as an intermediary air intake pathway that compensates for the reduced efficiency caused by positioning the cowl grille away from the air inlet. It provides an alternative air source that maintains overall air intake efficiency while allowing the cowl grille to be positioned for optimal water droplet 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
This design effectively suppresses the generation and movement of water droplets within the closed cross-section, ensuring they are not entrained in airflow, thereby preventing air conditioner malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure in the closed cross-section in the formation region of the outside air introduction hole is the same as that of the outside air
Implementation Method 2
the drain portion of the gutter member is vertically close to the top deck portion of the drain member and water is drained from the drain portion of the gutter member to the top deck portion of the drain member
Data Source
AI summary
A front structure of a vehicle includes a drain provided below a cowl grille, the drain forming a closed cross-section extending in the vehicle width direction in cooperation with the cowl grille, and a gutter, provided in the closed cross-section above the drain, that receives the water dripping from a front windshield, in which the gutter member has a drain portion that drains the water to the drain, the drain has a top deck portion thereon at a position at which the drain overlaps with an outside air introduction hole in plan view, and the drain portion is provided at substantially the same position as the top deck portion in the vehicle width direction.