GB2216072A

GB2216072A - Motor vehicle ventilation and illumination

Info

Publication number: GB2216072A
Application number: GB8805981A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ross Mccallum
Original assignee: Rover Co Ltd
Current assignee: Rover Co Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-14
Filing date: 1988-03-14
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-14
Also published as: GB2216072B; GB8805981D0

Abstract

In a motor vehicle a bodyshell has vent valves (2) to extract air from rear part thereof, the vent valves (2) being associated with a mounting (11) for illumination means to illuminate a rear number plate (24). <IMAGE>

Description

A MOTOR VEHICLE The present invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to rear air extraction vents for the bodyshells of motor vehicles.

It is well known to provide a through flow of air within the bodyshell of a motor vehicle for ventilation purposes. This through flow of air is often achieved by providing air inlet vents near the front of the bodyshell and air extraction vents near the rear thereof arranged to be in a region of low air pressure when the vehicle is in forward motion. Most commonly, rear vents have been placed in the "D" post of the bodyshell requiring a special piece of finishing trim to hide the vent aperture and valve.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the complexity and cost of providing vehicle rear air extraction vents for motor vehicles.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having a bodyshell with vent means to extract air from a rear part thereof, wherein the vent means includes a mounting for illumination means used to illuminate a rear number plate of the vehicle.

This provides the advantage that not only is the need for separate vent means and finishing trim eliminated, but the whole vent means is integral with another necessary component of the vehicle, the illumination means for the rear number plate, thus further reducing production cost and complexity.

Preferably, the vent means is incorporated into a closable lid for the rear part of the bodyshell, for example a boot lid, or a tailgate in the case of a hatchback vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment the vent means may comprise a said mounting in the form of an elongate panel to cover an aperture in the bodyshell in proximity to the rear number plate, a plurality of bulb holders and valves disposed along the panel and extending therethrough and a second elongate panel secured to the first panel and having apertures for venting therethrough and lenses for the illumination means.

The motor vehicle may have vent means which includes at least one non return flap valve having a body with a first wall defining a first aperture therein, a second aperture in the body and a valve member including a flap portion to lay across and close the first aperture, a plug to seat in the second aperture thereby to attach the valve member to the body and a hinge between the plug and the flap in order to allow the flap to open and close the first aperture.

The body of the non return flap valve may be in the form of a hollow turret having the first wall upstanding and a top wall adjacent thereto, wherein the second aperture is defined in the form of a slot at an abutment between the first and top walls and wherein the flap portion of the valve member depends downwardly from its plug when seated in the slot.

The valve member may be of flexible material and the hinge may comprise a portion thereof of reduced thickness.

Preferably the plug has an external groove on one side near a top edge thereof to secure the plug in the slot and is tapered towards the hinge to allow insertion of the plug into the slot.

The vent means may be secured to the vehicle inside an overhanging portion of the closable lid, desirably with finishing trim incorporated adjacent a lip of the lid.

The external finishing trim will preferably form part of a channel into which the lip of the lid extends in order to act as a finisher for the lid.

A seal may extend between the finishing trim and the lip of the lid to prevent ingress of fumes, dirt and water.

As a further illustration of the ability of the invention, to reduce cost and complexity, the vent means may be adapted to be used as a handle for lifting the lid.

The finishing trim may also extend adjacent rear lights of the vehicle to act as a bezel for the lights.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the following drawing of which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a vent means for incorporation into a motor vehicle according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear end of a motor vehicle according to the invention partly cut away to show the vent means in position, and Figure 5 is a sectional cutaway view of part of a valve body and valve member according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a vent means includes a first elongate panel 1 having valves in the form of three double vent valves 2, each having a hollow body 3, a pair of inlet apertures 4 and a pair of flexible valve members 5 each with a plug 6 for cooperation with a slot 7 in the body to mount the valve member 5, with a hinge 8 of reduced thickness and with a flap 9 rotatable about the hinge 8 to open and close each inlet aperture 4. Each vent valve 2 also includes an outlet aperture 10.

Interposed between the vent valves 2 are a pair of bulb holders 11 to carry bulbs to illuminate the number plate 24 (Figs. 2,3). The panel 1 also carries a series of raised portions 12 to receive fastening means (not shown) therethrough by which the vent means is secured to the vehicle.

A second panel 13 has a channel 14 along a rear edge thereof, a rear wall of the channel 14 comprising finishing trim 15 to finish a lip 16 (Figs. 2, 3) of an overhanging portion 17 of a boot panel 26.

The second panel 13 has three sets of elongate slats 18 interposed with elongate apertures 19 to form three grills through which air vented through the vent valves 2 may pass.

The second elongate panel 13 also includes a pair of lens sockets 20 to house a pair of lenses 21 for the bulbs in the bulb holders 11.

Six guides 22 cooperate with the raised portions 12 in the first panel in receiving fastening means (not shown). A flexible seal 23 attaches to the finishing trim 15 to seal the boot lid 26 thereto in order to prevent ingress of fumes, water and dirt.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the vent means is shown secured inside the overhanging portion 17 of the lid 26 to an inwardly extending portion 30 of a lower boot lid panel 31. The rear number plate 24 is attached to a recessed portion 25 of the panel 31.

A sealing gasket 27 is interposed between the portion 30 of the panel 31 and the first panel 1 to seal the vent means to the boot lid 26.

Referring to Figure 4, the finishing trim 15 can be seen extending adjacent rear lights 28 of the vehicle to act as a bezel 29 for the lights 28.

Referring to Figure 5, part of a hollow body 3 of a non return flap valve 2 is shown having a first wall 32 and a top wall 33. The first wall 32 has a first aperture 4 therethrough, and the top wall 33 has a second aperture in the form of a slot 7. A valve member 5 has a tapered plug 6 made of resilient material and having an external groove 34 therein to locate the plug 6 in the slot 7. The plug 6 tapers down to a portion of reduced thickness forming a hinge 8. A flap 9 depends downwardly from the plug 6 and covers the first aperture 4.

In response to a pressure outside the body 3 becoming greater than the pressure inside the body 3, the flap 9 will hinge into the body 3 away from the first wall 32 to allow the internal and external pressures to equalise.

Upon the pressures becoming equal the flap 9 will fall back into contact with the first wall 32 to cover the first aperture 4. The valve 2 thus acts as a non return valve. For most efficient operation of the valve 2 it has been found that an angle made by the first wall 32 with the vertical should be substantially 15 degrees.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle having a bodyshell with vent means to extract air from a rear part thereof, wherein the vent means includes a mounting for illumination means used to illuminate a rear number plate of the vehicle.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein tie vent means is incorporated into a closable lid for the rear part of the bodyshell.

3. A motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vent means comprises a mounting in the form of a first elongate panel to cover an aperture in the bodyshell in proximity to the rear number plate, a plurality of bulb holders and valves disposed along the panel and extending there through and a second elongate panel, secured to the first panel and having apertures for venting therethrough and lenses for the illumination means.

4. A motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent means includes at least one non return flap valve having a body with a first wall defining a first aperture therein, a second aperture in the body and a valve member including a flap portion to lay across and close the first aperture and a plug to seat in the second aperture whereby to attach the valve member to the body, the valve member having a hinge between the plug and the flap in order to allow the flap to open and close the first aperture.

5. A motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the body is in the form of a hollow turret having the first wall upstanding and a top wall adjacent thereto, wherein the second aperture is defined in the form of a slot at an abutment between the first and top walls and wherein the flap portion of the valve member depends downwardly from its plug when seated in the slot.

6. A motor vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the valve member is of flexible material and the hinge comprises a portion thereof of reduced thickness.

7. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the plug has an external groove on one side near a top edge thereof to secure the plug in the slot and is tapered towards the hinge to allow insertion of the plug into the slot.

8. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the vent means is secured to the vehicle inside an overhanging portion of the closable lid and incorporates finishing trim adjacent a lip of the lid.

9. A motor vehicle according to any one of claim 8, wherein the external finishing trim forms part of a channel into which the lip of the lid extends.

10. A motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a seal extends between the finishing trim and the lip of the lid.

11. A motor vehicle according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the external finishing trim extends adjacent rear lights of the vehicle to act as a bezel for the lights.

12. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the vent means is adapted to be used as a handle for lifting the lid.

13. A motor vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.