GB2096548A

GB2096548A - A drip moulding for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2096548A
Application number: GB8205629A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1981-02-26
Filing date: 1982-02-25
Publication date: 1982-10-20
Also published as: IT1169289B; DE3107218A1; GB2096548B; FR2500388B1; IT8125743A0; FR2500388A1

Abstract

Along a windscreen pillar (6) and a roof frame of a motor vehicle, there extends a drip moulding (10) whose cross-bridge (12) and free leg (13) are covered with a strip (14). In order to ensure that the drip moulding (10) and the strip (14), on the one hand, form a channel to guide water; and, on the other hand, feature an aerodynamically favourable design, there is a lip (26) at the strip (14), and this lip forms a flow-promoting path (A) between the outer contour of the windscreen pillar (6) and the strip (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A drip moulding for a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle The invention relates to a drip moulding for a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle, which extends along a windscreen pillar and a roof frame and has an approximately U-shaped cross-section; a crossbridge and a free leg of the drip moulding being covered with a strip.

A drip moulding of the type indicated above is described in the technical book "Plastics in Automobile Construction" from the VDI [Association of German Engineers] - Press, 1977 Edition, page 165, Figure 5. This drip moulding has an open U-shaped water guide channel both along the windscreen pillar and in the area of the roof frame. This arrangement has the disadvantage that turbulences are created in the stream of air striking the drip moulding, in particular, in the area of the windscreen pillar. This generates annoying wind noises and negatively affects the drag coefficient.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a drip moulding and a strip which covers it which, on the one hand, forms a channel for guiding water and, on the other hand, provides an aerodynamically favourable design, in particular, in the area of the windscreen pillar. A further object is for the strip to be simple in structure and easily installed.

The present invention consists in a strip moulding of a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle, which extends along a windscreen pillar and a roof frame and has an approximately U-shaped cross section, wherein a cross-bridge and a free leg of the drip moulding are covered with a strip, the strip being, at least in some sections, provided with a lip which forms an aerodynamically favourable flowpromoting path between an outer contour of the windscreen pillar and the strip, whereby the drag coefficient is reduced and wind noises suppressed.

Preferably, lip extends at least along the windscreen pillar column, and terminates in a transition area between the pillar and the roof frame. In addition, the lip is designed in such a way that a channel is preferably formed between it and the drip moulding. The lip may be an integral part of the strip, the strip being made of a dimensionally stable (rigid) material, and the lip may be formed of a resilient material.

The principal advantages which are achieved by the invention are that the flow-promoting path of the lip contributes to reducing the drag coefficient and suppressing wind noises to a large extent. Integration of the lip and the strip ensures a simple structure and easy installation and accessories for securing the lip to the strip are not required.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a partial side view of a motor vehicle having a drop moulding according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section taken along the line ll-ll of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale; Figure 3 is a section taken along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale; and Figure 4 shows a perspective detail X from Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

A motor vehicle 1 comprises a body 2, which, in the area shown, includes a side front panel 3, a door 4 with a window 5, a windscreen pillar 6, a windscreen 7 and a roof 8 (Figure 1). The roof is supported by roof frames 9 which extend longitudinally of the vehicle. To direct or drain water running off to the side from the roof 8 or from the windscreen 7, a drip moulding 10 is positioned along the windscreen pillar 6 and roof frame 9 (Figure 2).

The drip moulding 10, which is open in the direction of the inflow of water and on the top, has an approximately U-shaped cross-section 11. A cross-bridge 12 and a free leg 13 of a retention strip 16 are covered with a strip 14. The cross-bridge 12 consists of a section 15 of the retention strip 16 and a parallel section 17 of windscreen pillar 6 or roof frame 9. The retention strip 16 extends along the pillar 6 and roof frame 9 and is rigidly connected to the above-mentioned parts of the body.

The strip 14 has a bent section 18 which encloses the leg 13 of the strip 16 of moulding 10 in a clip-like manner. Bridges 19, 20, which are connected to the cross-bridge 12 on opposite sides, are connected to the bent section 18. A butyl rubber cord 21 is placed in the bent section 18, during manufacture, in order to further provide additional mounting support of the strip 14 on the leg 13 and prevent corrosion at the leg 13. Such a construction is known from the initially cited prior art.

A leg 22 having a similar U-shaped cross section 11 is formed by a drawn-in piece or retraction 23 which is positioned both at the outer contour 24 of the roof 8 and at the outer contour 25 of the pillar 6.

To improve the aerodynamics of the motor vehicle, in the area of the windscreen pillar 6, the strip 14 is provided with a lip 26 which forms a flowpromoting path A between the outer contour 25 of the pillar 6 and strip 14. This improves the drag coefficient and suppresses noise to a large extent since the oncoming stream of air does not separate prematurely in the area of the drip moulding 10 and thus not create turbulences. The lip 26 is rigidly connected at 27 to the bent section 18 of the moulding 14. In addition, the lip 26 preferably extends over the entire length of the pillar 6 and ends, in the longitudinal direction of strip 14, in a transition area 28 (Figure 4) between the windscreen pillar 6 and the roof frame 9 (Figure 4).The lip 26 is designed in such a way that between it and the drip moulding 10 a channel 29 is formed which guides the water flowing off the roof 8 and causes this water to drain off at the lower end of the pillar 6. On the other hand, water running off to the side from the windscreen 7, unlike the prior art construction, is unable to enterthe channel 29, and, instead, flows off the windscreen over the lip 26, except, optionally, at openings provided in the lip 26 over a minor portion of the area of the windscreen pillar 6.

The lip 26 is integrally connected to the strip 14 and is preferablyformed of a resilient material such as rubber or plastics; however, it is also possible to design the lip 26 as a rigid piece. The strip 14 is made of a dimensionally stable (rigid) material that may be formed of metal, as well as plastics, rubber, or the like, with the appropriate degrees of hardness suitable for this purpose. To integrally connect the lip 26 to the strip 14, after bending of the strip 14 into the illustrated cross-sectional profile shown, it is preferably coated with an adhesive in an area of the bent section 18 to which the lip 26 is to be attached.

The strip 14 is then placed in a tool having a shaping cavity conforming to the shape of the lip 26, adjacent a lateral opening of the cavity. Thus, during forming of the lip 26, by injection moulding or foaming, the material of the lip 26 is immediately bonded to the adhesive coated area of the strip 14.

The invention is not restricted, however, solely to the path of the lip 26 in the area ofthewindscreen 6.

Rather, it is also possible to run the lip 26 over the entire area of the strip 14 which ensures that the lip performs the function of a covering strip. To drain water, however, openings, which are not shown in detail here, must then be provided in the lip 26. Since the lip 26 is preferably designed as a resilient piece, ski racks can be mounted in the conventional manner on the strip 14 without interference from the lip 26.

Claims

1. A drip moulding of a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle, which extends along a windscreen pillar and a roof frame and has an approximately U-shaped cross section, wherein a cross-bridge and a free leg of the drip moulding are covered with a strip, the strip being, at least in some sections, provided with a lip which forms an aerodynamically favourableflow-promoting path between an outer contour of the windscreen pillar and the strip, whereby the drag coefficient is reduced and wind noises suppressed.

2. A drip moulding of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lip extends at least along the windscreen pillar.

3. A drip moulding of a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, the longitudinal extent of the lip terminates in a transition area between the windscreen pillar and the roof frame.

4. A drip moulding of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said lip forms a channel between itself and the drip moulding.

5. A drip moulding of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,wherein said lip is integrally connected to the strip.

6. A drip moulding of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,wherein said strip is formed of a rigid material and the lip is formed of a resilient material.

7. A drip moulding of a vehicle substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.