GB2510163A

GB2510163A - A vehicle wheel arch liner

Info

Publication number: GB2510163A
Application number: GB201301413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iain Back
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2013-01-28
Filing date: 2013-01-28
Publication date: 2014-07-30
Also published as: GB201301413D0

Abstract

A wheel arch liner 2 of a vehicle comprises an integral splash guard (4, fig 3) moveable between a guard position 4G, in which the splash guard prevents or reduces wheel splash from entering an inner compartment 15 of the vehicle, and an access position 4A, in which access to the inner compartment is enabled for assembly or maintenance purposes. The inner compartment may be an engine compartment, and may be located in the front end of the vehicle. The splash guard may be formed from a single moulded panel from which the splash guard extends via an integral hinge 6. The hinge may comprise a fold line formed in the panel about which the splash guard may rotate. The fold line may be formed from a line of reduced thickness in the panel material. The splash guard may be substantially planar and may be substantially vertically orientated in use.

Description

Vehicle Panels

Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a fender protector for a vehicle; to a method of manufacturing such a fcndcr protcctor; to a vchicle comprising such a fender protector; to a method of manufacturing a vehicle comprising such a fender protector; and to a method of maintaining a vehicle comprising such a fender protector.

Background of the invention

Many vehicles are provided with wheel arches and/or fenders, also known as wings, which are lined on the inside with a suitable liner for protecting the inside of the wheel arch or fender from tyre or wheel splash. In many cases, the fender or wheel arch protector or liner consists of a moulded liner ananged to be securely connected to the inside of the fender or wheel arch. These liners are usually of substantially arcuate form, and usually have an open area on the inner side, corresponding to the open area outside the wheel in use. (For clarity, the terms "inner" and "inboard" are used to mean "towards a longitudinal centre line of a vehicle", relative to a fender and/or wheel arch).

In some known liners, a panel known as a splash guard is present; and is located between the wheel and an inner area, such as an engine compartment. Known splash guards can cover a portion or substantially all of the open area on the inner side of the wheel, known as the wheel arch gap; and may include apertures or cut-out portions to allow a component such as a vehicle drive shaft to pass through the splash guard. Such splash guards may be used adjacent to the engine of a front-or mid-engined vehicle; and in a further application, may protect internal panels of a truck. In this latter application, the splash guard may protect, for example, a fuel pump andlor fuel tank, which are located inboard of the wheel arches. Such components may be located in an inner compartment of the vehicle, which may have an open lower side; or may be boxed in, for example by an aerodynamic or acoustic lower panel, or by a skid plate.

Fender protectors and splash guards discourage corrosion of body panels and allow the wheel arch area to be hosed out, without exposing electrical components to excess water. This is particularly useful after a vehicle has been used off-road. Splash guards are useful for keeping water andior mud spray out of the engine compartment.

The terms "fender protector" and "wheel arch liner" are considered by the applicant to be equivalent in scope and meaning; and therefore, are practically interchangeable.

Known splash guards tend to be either a separate panel attached or connected to the wheel arch liner or fender protector, or else are formed as a unitary part of the liner or protector. In both cases, the splash guard is fixed in position in use.

Fixed splash guards of this type suffer from a number of disadvantages. Fixed splash guards which consist of a separate panel arranged to be attached to the liner increase manufacturing complexity, due to the necessity for separate panels and securement means. The extra material may also add weight to the resultant wheel arch liner or fender protector. For splash guards which are either connected panels or unitary extensions of the wheel arch liner or fender protector, a further disadvantage is that once the liner is in place on a vehicle, it is not possible to easily remove the splash guard, if at all. This may cause difficulties if access to the engine compartment through the wheel arch is necessary, for example during assembly of the vehicle, or for subsequent maintenance after use. For yet other embodiments of known splash guards, it is also not possible to view the engine compartment without full removal of the splash guard from the wheel arch liner or fender protector, and it may be desirable to be able to do so.

It is therefore an aim of embodiments of the invention to overcome or mitigate at least one of the problems of the prior art described above.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fender protector or wheel arch liner for use in lining a fender or wheel arch of a vehicle, comprising an intewal splash guard movable in use between: a guard position in which the splash guard prevents or reduces wheel or tyre splash from entering an inner compartment of the vehicle; and an access position in which access to the inner compartment is enabled.

The inner compartment may be an engine compartment; and may be located in the front end of the vehicle.

When the splash guard is in its access position, a splash guard aperture remains open in the vehicle inner wing area in use.

The splash guard and the fender protector or wheel arch liner may be formed from a single moulded panel, and be connected by an integral hinge formed in the panel. The hinge may comprise a fold line formed in the panel, about which the splash guard may rotate, in use. (Such a fold line is often referred to as a "live hinge") In this way, a unitary splash guard and fender protector or wheel arch liner may be manufactured from a single moulded panel; but the splash guard can rotate between the guard position and the access position in use. The fold line may be formed from a line of reduced thickness panel material, and any suitable bendable or flexible material may be used, such as a plastics material, including polypropylene. The panel may comprise a thickness of between 1.25mm and 2mm at the splash guard portion; while the fold line may be less than 1.25mm in thickness.

The fender protector or wheel arch liner may include attachment means, arranged to attach to a vehicle body in use. The splash guard may comprise securement means arranged to detachably secure the guard to a vehicle body or chassis frame or subframe in use. In this way, the splash guard may be secured in a closed position during normal running of the vehicle, but when it is desired to access the engine compartment, the securement means can be detached from the vehicle body or frame, and the splash guard moved from the closed or guard position to the open or access position. Access to the engine compartment through a wheel arch may be needed during assembly of the vehicle, or for maintenance, for example.

The use of an integrated splash guard in a fender protector or wheel arch liner removes the need for separate fixings, clips or the like to connect a separate splash guard, and avoids the need for tools or other equipment to remove a separate splash guard when access to an engine compartment is needed. An integrated splash guard reduces mass and cost of the vehicle; reduces parts inventory in the factory and for replacement parts; and reduces the number of assembly processes in vehicle production.

The splash guard may include cooling slots or apertures, arranged to allow air to enter and exit the engine compartment.

The splash guard may include at least a portion which is embossed or moulded with corrugations or strengthening ribs, to increase the rigidity of the splash guard.

The splash guard may include a component aperture located to enable one or more components of the vehicle to protrude from, or to be threaded through, the aperture from inside the engine compartment.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a fender protector or wheel arch liner comprising: providing a mould comprising the shape of the fender protector or wheel arch liner and including an integral splash guard portion connected thereto by a hinge portion, and moulding a material within the mould.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a fender protector or wheel arch liner of the first aspect of the invention connected thereto.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a vehicle according to the preceding paragraph, wherein the fender protector or wheel arch liner is assembled to the vehicle with the splash guard in its access position; an assembly operation is carried out using the splash guard aperture to access the inner compartment; then the splash guard is secured in its guard position.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating the splash guard of the fender protector or wheel arch liner connected to a vehicle of the third aspect of the invention, comprising securing the splash guard in the guard position during running of the vehicle, moving the splash guard to the access position when access to the engine compartment is required, and returning the splash guard to the guard position before further use of the vehicle.

Detailed description of the invention

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only; with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 illustrates a fender protector or wheel arch liner of the first aspect of the invention, with a splash guard in an access position; Figure 2 illustrates the fender protector or wheel arch liner of Figure 1, with the splash guard in a guard position; and Figure 3 illustrates the fender protector or wheel arch liner of Figures 1 and 2, connected to a part-assembled vehicle.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a fender protector or wheel arch liner (2) comprises a substantially curved body (3), being generally arcuate, and moulded from polypropylene to the shape of a wheel arch of the vehicle, comprising a front portion (8), and a rear portion (10) arranged to be installed as a liner within a wheel arch area (5) of a vehicle. Also formed as a unitary part of the wheel arch liner (2), continuous with the body portion (3), is a splash guard (4) which extends from one side of the front portion (8) of the main body (3), extending backwards so it extends approximately haltkvay towards the rear portion (10) of the main body (3). The splash guard is typically substantially vertical in use, and is therefore substantially parallel to the plane of an adjacent road wheel pointing straight ahead (that is, not steering the vehicle). The splash guard (4) and main body (3) are hingedly connected by an integral hinge (6), consisting of a fold line of material which is thinner than the splash guard (4) and body portion (3), the flexibility of the fold line allowing the splash guard (4) to pivot relative to the body portion (3) about the hinge line in use. This type of hinge arrangement is often referred to as a "live hinge". Figure 1 illustrates the splash guard in an access position (4A), having being rotated about the hinge line (6). In this position access behind the wheel arch liner (2), into the space behind the wheel arch of the vehicle to which it is connected, is enabled.

Figure 2 illustrates the wheel arch liner (2) when the splash guard has been moved to the guard position (40), whereby any material flung or sprayed up from a wheel or tyre (wheel or tyre "splash") within the space bounded by the wheel arch liner (2) in the vicinity of the splash guard (4), is prevented from entering the space behind the wheel arch liner (2).

Referring now to Figure 3, the wheel arch liner (2) is installed in a wheel arch area 5) of a vehicle (12). The wheel arch area is located between a side wall (14) of an engine compartment (15); this side wall also being known as an inner wing; and an outer wing panel (not shown). The wheel arch liner (2) is securely connected on its inner side to a chassis rail (17), and optionally also to a dash side panel (18), by suitable screw or push fit coimeetors (IoFP). The wheel arch liner will also be connected to the outer wing panel when it is fitted; and is contoured to fit snugly into the wheel arch area (5). The wheel arch liner (2) is positioned so that the front portion (8) faces the front of the vehicle (12), and the rear portion (10) faces the rear of the vehicle (12).

The splash guard (4) extends from the front portion (8) of the wheel arch liner (2) towards the rear portion (10), spanning partway, so as to cover a portion of the gap under the wheel arch (5), open to the engine compartment (15).

As shown in Figure 3, the splash guard (4), in the guard position, is securely connected to the chassis frame (17) (also known as a front side member) via at least one suitable screw or push fit connector (1 6SG). In this position, when the vehicle is running, the splash guard (4), in the guard position, prevents material from ground on which the vehicle is travelling from being splashed or flung into the engine compartment (15), through the gap covered by the splash guard (4). The main body (3) of the wheel arch liner (2) also prevents material being splashed into the wheel arch area (5).

When it is desired to access the engine compartment (15) though the wheel arch (5), the splash guard (4) is firstly disconnected by removing the connector(s) (IÔSG), then rotated from the guard position to an access position about the hinge (6).

Access may be required during assembly of the vehicle, or for subsequent maintenance or replacement of components in the engine compartment (15). The splash guard (4) and main body (3) of the wheel arch liner (2) are preferably moulded as a single, unitary component, by way of injection moulding of a suitable plastics material such as polypropylcne. Thc splash guard (4) and main body (3) arc approximately 1.5mm thick, in order to optimize component costs and weight while maintaining adequate rigidity.

In other embodiments, the splash guard (4) can be moulded with suitable strengthening ribs, in order to prevent flexing and breakage of the splash guard (4) during running of the vehicle, or if stones or other material are impacted on the splash guard (4).

In other embodiments, the continuous hinge line (6) may be replaced with a discontinuous hingc line, consisting of two or more flexible hinge portions, which are inteally formed between the splash guard (4) and the main body (3) of the wheel arch liner (2).

The splash guard (4) of the embodiments of the invention may also help to reduce noise transmission from the engine compartment to the outside of the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the splash guard (4) may be coated or otherwise covered with an insulating (sound absorbing/dampening) material to further reduce noise transmission.

Numeral 18 represents an embossed area, included by design to facilitate tyre snow chain clearance.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.