JP2003252247A - Running water splash drainage device of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent visibility for an oncoming vehicle or a parallel running vehicle from obstructing due to misty water spray thrown up by the vehicle at high-speed running. <P>SOLUTION: A suction blower 23 equipped with a suction port 23a, a discharge port 23b and an external input shaft 23c is installed in an engine room R1 and a trunk room R3. Slit-like suction holes 22f, 22f installed along the wheel arches of tire houses H1, H2 of the front wheel and the rear wheel are connected to the suction port 23a of the suction blower 23 through suction ducts 22, 22 respectively. The discharge port 23b of the suction blower 23 is connected with a discharge hole 24r opening toward a road surface to the bottom of a chassis through the discharge duct 24, and external input shaft 23c of the suction blowers 23, 23 are driven by a drive motor 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle running water splash drainage device for preventing a situation in which the field of view of a side or rear vehicle is obstructed by the splash of water splashing on a tire of the vehicle when traveling in the rain.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art On a highway or the like when traveling in the rain, there is a case where the visibility cannot be sufficiently ensured due to water splashing by a vehicle traveling laterally or forward. For example,
If there is a large amount of water splashing from the vehicle in front, the visibility cannot be secured even if the wiper is operated most rapidly.In such a case, if the following vehicle approaches the rear, apply a sudden brake. You cannot extend the distance between cars. Therefore, there are not a few experienced people who have to gradually slow down in a blind driving state for a while.

[0003] Water splashes caused by the running of a vehicle are generated by the rainwater caught in the tread pattern of the tire being sprinkled around by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the tire. Is impossible. However, even if it is not possible to suppress the occurrence itself, as a second best measure, the shape of the tire house is devised so that water splashes will not be scattered around the vehicle as much as possible, and the wheel arch part of the tire house is also devised. Measures have been taken to install an over fender on the car and a mudguard on the rear end of the tire house.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional countermeasures for preventing water splashes associated with the traveling of a vehicle have satisfactory performance at low speeds, but the speed is 60% per hour.
There is a problem that it is not possible to exert a sufficient effect when traveling at high speeds near the kilometers. That is, when the vehicle speed increases and the tire rotates at a high speed, a stronger centrifugal force acts on the tire accordingly. As a result, the water droplets scattered from the tire collide with the inner wall of the tire house at high speed, and the colliding water droplets are decomposed into finer mist. That is,
The collision of water droplets causes secondary fog-like water droplets in the foil arch. Then, the mist-like water droplets generated secondarily pass through the wheel arch through the air flow passing through the tire house, diffuse obliquely rearward of the vehicle, and spread to the front windshield of the vehicle traveling around. Attached,
It blocks the driver's view.

In view of the above problems in the prior art, the present invention focuses on the fact that atomized water droplets move according to the air flow, and forcibly guides the air flow near the wheel arch under the chassis. The secondary water droplets generated in the wheel arch are placed on the air flow and drained under the chassis.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a traveling water droplet drainage device for an automobile, which effectively prevents the deterioration of the visibility due to the water droplets between the vehicles when the vehicles travel close to each other on a highway in the rain.

[0006]

As a means for achieving this object, the present invention employs the following configurations.

The traveling water splash drainage system for an automobile of the present invention comprises:
An air intake opening in the direction of travel of the vehicle,
The exhaust port that opens under the chassis of the automobile is connected to the road surface by a venturi duct whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases at an intermediate position, and a slit-shaped suction port is provided along the wheel arch of the tire house. Is connected to an intermediate position of the Venturi duct via a suction duct.

According to this structure, since the air intake port is opened toward the traveling direction of the automobile, air automatically flows into the air intake port as the vehicle speed increases. Then, the inflowing air is exhausted from the exhaust port directed to the road surface via the venturi duct. At this time, since the venturi duct is set so that the cross-sectional area gradually decreases at the intermediate position, the flow velocity of the air flow in this part becomes faster than that in the other parts, and the air pressure in this part is changed to the venturi pipe. It is lower than other parts by the principle of. Further, the suction port provided along the wheel arch of the tire house is connected to an intermediate position of the venturi duct having a low atmospheric pressure via the suction duct. Therefore, the air in the vicinity of the suction port is drawn from the suction port to the venturi duct side through the suction duct and discharged from the discharge port. As a result, the secondary water droplets generated in the tire house are discharged from the discharge port toward the road surface along with the airflow drawn into the suction port.

The traveling water splash drainage system of an automobile is equipped with a suction blower having a suction port, a discharge port, and an external input shaft, and a slit-shaped suction port provided along a wheel arch of a tire house is sucked through a suction duct. In addition to being connected to the suction port of the blower, the discharge port of the suction blower is connected to the discharge port that opens under the chassis of the car toward the road surface through the discharge duct, and the external input shaft of the suction blower is driven by the motor. can do.

According to this structure, the suction blower drives the external input shaft by a motor, and thus can be operated at any time by using the battery or generator of the automobile as a power source. When the suction blower is operated, negative pressure is generated in the suction port of the suction blower and positive pressure is generated in the discharge port. Further, the suction port provided along the wheel arch is connected to the suction port via the suction duct, and the discharge port provided toward the road surface is connected to the discharge port via the discharge duct. Therefore, the mist-like water droplets secondarily generated in the tire house are sucked together with air from the suction port into the suction blower through the suction duct, and through the discharge duct to the road surface under the chassis from the discharge port. Is discharged to.

The traveling splash drainage system of an automobile comprises a suction blower having a suction port, a discharge port and an external input shaft,
The slit-shaped suction port provided along the wheel arch of the tire house is connected to the suction port of the suction blower via the suction duct, and the discharge port of the suction blower is directed to the road surface under the chassis of the car through the discharge duct. The external input shaft of the suction blower may be connected to a rotating member driven by the engine via an electromagnetic clutch.

In this structure, the drive motor as the drive source of the suction blower in the above structure is replaced with a rotating member driven by an engine. Therefore, the operation other than that the suction blower is driven by the rotating member of the engine conforms to the above configuration. However, at this time, since the suction blower is driven via the electromagnetic clutch,
The suction blower can be stopped without stopping the engine by the opening / closing switch for the electromagnetic clutch, and by controlling the electromagnetic clutch by combining the rainfall sensor and the vehicle speed sensor, suction can be performed depending on the rainfall and vehicle speed conditions. The blower can be automatically ON / OFF controlled.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

There are no particular restrictions on the vehicle type or model of the automobile to which the traveling droplet discharge device 20 of the automobile according to the present invention is attached. Here, an ordinary passenger sedan type vehicle 10
Will be described as an example.

The vehicle 10 is a monocoque chassis 1
1 is provided with an engine room R1 on the front side and a trunk room R3 on the rear side, with a cabin R2 partitioned and formed at a central position on the vehicle 1 (FIGS. 1 to 3). The cabin R2 is covered by a roof 13, the engine room R1 is covered by a front hood 12, and the trunk room R3 is covered by a trunk lid 14. Doors 15 and 15 are provided on the left and right of the cabin R2, and tire houses H1 and H for the front wheels W1 are provided on the left and right of the engine room R1 and on the left and right of the trunk room R3, respectively.
1 and the tire houses H2 and H2 for the rear wheel W2 are formed.

The vehicle running water splash drainage device 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as "drainage device") is provided independently for the front wheels W1 and the rear wheels W2. The drainage device 20 for the front wheel W1 is mounted on the front hood 12 of the vehicle 1
An air intake port 21f opening in the traveling direction of 0,
A venturi duct 21 formed with a discharge port 21r opening toward the road surface under the chassis 11 of the vehicle 10 and a pair of suction ducts 22, 22 connected from the left and right tire houses H1, H1 to an intermediate position 21m of the venturi duct 21. And (Figs. 1 and 2).

Venturi duct 21 and suction duct 2
Nos. 2 and 22 are formed by stacking a pair of upper and lower pressed steel sheets so as to form a gap between them and air-tightly welding the peripheral edge portions. The venturi duct 21 is attached to the center position of the front bonnet 12 so as to extend rearward along the back surface thereof and to bend downward at a position immediately before the cabin R2 to reach below the chassis 11. In addition, Venturi duct 2
1 is formed in a shape in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the intermediate position 21m (FIGS. 1 and 4), and is set such that the atmospheric pressure at the intermediate position 21m decreases due to the principle of the Venturi tube.

On the other hand, each suction duct 22 has a slit-shaped suction port along a wheel arch formed in an upward arc shape in the tire house H1 of each corresponding front wheel W1, and the other end of the venturi duct 21. The air passage is connected to the intermediate position 21m. Each suction duct 22 is assembled so as to be in close contact with the inner wall of the tire house H1 so as not to hinder the behavior of the front wheel W1.

On the other hand, in the drainage device 20 for the rear wheel W2, the air intakes 21f, 21f are formed in the outer plates of the left and right doors 15, 15.
And a pair of venturi ducts 21 and 21 extending from the left and right corners of the trunk room R3 to the outlets 21r and 21r at the lower level of the chassis 11 through the insides of the fenders immediately above the tire houses H2 and H2 of the rear wheel W2. (FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 5). Intermediate position 21m of each venturi duct 21
Are formed so as to be thinner than the other parts like the one for the front wheel W1, and the suction duct 22 for each rear wheel W2 is connected to the intermediate position 21m of the corresponding venturi duct 21 (FIG. 3, FIG. Figure 5). In addition, each venturi duct 21
Since the door 15 is opened and closed, the door 15 and the fender of the rear wheel W2 are separated from each other, but communicate with each other when the door 15 is closed. Further, the suction port 22f in each suction duct is similar to the front wheel W1 side in the tire house H2.
It is formed in an arc shape along the wheel arch.

Drainage device 20 for front wheel W1 and rear wheel W2
All of the drainage devices 20 for use automatically operate when the vehicle speed of the vehicle 10 exceeds 60 kilometers per hour. That is, as the vehicle speed increases, air comes into the air intake port 22f of each drainage device 20 with a strong pressure, and the air intake port 22f enters the venturi duct 21.
A flow of air is formed from to the exhaust port 22r below the chassis 11. At this time, since the cross-sectional area of the venturi duct 21 at the intermediate position 21m is small, the flow velocity of the air passing through this portion increases and the atmospheric pressure decreases.

Therefore, the air in the suction duct 22 connected to the intermediate position 21m of the venturi duct 21 is drawn into the venturi duct 21. As a result, a flow of air is formed in the suction duct 22 from the slit-shaped suction port 22f toward the venturi duct 21. Therefore, the mist-like water droplets generated in the front and rear tire houses H1 and H2 are sucked into the suction port 22f together with air when trying to flow out through the wheel arch,
It will be discharged from the discharge port 21r.

The drainage device 20 according to the present invention can be constructed so that the water spray sucked from the suction ducts 22 and 22 is discharged below the chassis 11 by a suction blower 23 forcibly driven by using a drive motor 25. (FIGS. 6 and 7).

The suction blowers 22 and 22 include an external input shaft 23c, a discharge port 23b, and a pair of suction ports 2 respectively.
3a, 23a, and an engine room R1 of the vehicle 10
And is located in the center of the trunk room R3 (Fig. 6). The suction ducts 22, 22 from the left and right front wheels W1 or the left and right rear wheels W2 are connected to the suction port 23 of the suction blower 23.
a, 23a. In addition, each discharge port 23
An exhaust duct 24, which extends rearward of the engine room R1 and rearward of the trunk room R3 and is bent downward and has an exhaust port 24r under the chassis 11, is attached to b.

A drive motor 25, which uses the rectified voltage of an automobile battery or a generator as a power source, is disposed beside the suction blower 23. The drive motor 25 and the suction blower 2 are provided.
The external input shaft 23c of No. 3 and the pulleys 23d, 25
They are connected by a timing belt 25b that is hung between d (FIG. 7).

That is, when the suction blower 23 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 25, the left and right suction ducts 22, 2 are
This is a mechanism in which water droplets sucked from the suction ports 22f and 22f of the second passage pass through the suction blower 23 and are discharged from the discharge duct to below the chassis 11. The drive motor 25 is
A power switch may be provided at an appropriate position in the cabin R2 to be operated at the driver's discretion, and the detection signals from the rainwater sensor and the vehicle speed sensor automatically turn on and off under certain conditions. It may be controlled.

Further, the drainage device 20 can be rotationally driven by a rotary member 26 as a branch output of the engine instead of the drive motor 25 (FIG. 7). However, in this case, the condition is that the electromagnetic clutch 27 is provided between the rotating member 26 and the suction blower 23. This is because it is necessary to rotate the engine without operating the suction blower 23 in fine weather. Further, the electromagnetic clutch 27 in this case may be arbitrarily operated by the driver, or may be automatically controlled by using a sensor, as in the above-described embodiment.

[0027]

The traveling water splash drainage system for an automobile according to the present invention has an air intake port that opens in the traveling direction of the automobile and an exhaust port that opens under the chassis of the automobile toward the road surface at an intermediate position. While connecting by a venturi duct whose cross-sectional area decreases gradually, a slit-shaped suction port is provided along the wheel arch of the tire house, and this suction port is connected to the middle position of the venturi duct via the suction duct, thereby The Venturi duct is operated by using the wind pressure associated with the running, and the mist-like water droplets generated in the tire house can be sucked into the Venturi duct and discharged under the chassis, so it is possible to use the oncoming vehicle or It is possible to effectively prevent the view of the parallel running vehicle from being obstructed.

Further, the one provided with a suction blower driven by a drive motor or an engine instead of the venturi duct has the same effect by forcibly sucking the mist-like water droplets generated in the tire house by the suction blower. Can play.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an attached state showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the above embodiment in a mounted state.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the attached state of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part showing the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an attached state showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

H1 tire house H2 tire house 10 vehicles 11 chassis 21 Venturi duct 21f Air intake 21r outlet 21m middle position 22 Suction duct 22f suction port 23 Suction blower 23a Suction port 23b discharge port 23c External input shaft 24 exhaust duct 24r outlet 25 drive motor 26 Rotating member 27 Electromagnetic clutch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An air intake opening that opens in the traveling direction of the automobile and an exhaust opening that opens below the chassis of the automobile toward the road surface are connected by a venturi duct whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases at an intermediate position, A slit-shaped suction port is provided along the wheel arch of the tire house,
A traveling water splash drainage device for an automobile, wherein the suction port is connected to an intermediate position of the venturi duct via a suction duct. 2. A suction blower having a suction port, a discharge port, and an external input shaft, wherein a slit-shaped suction port provided along a wheel arch of a tire house is connected to the suction port of the suction blower via a suction duct. At the same time, the discharge port of the suction blower is connected to a discharge port that opens below the chassis toward the road surface through a discharge duct, and the external input shaft of the suction blower is driven by a drive motor to cause traveling water droplets of an automobile. Drainage device. 3. A suction blower having a suction port, a discharge port, and an external input shaft, wherein a slit-shaped suction port provided along a wheel arch of a tire house is connected to the suction port of the suction blower via a suction duct. At the same time, the discharge port of the suction blower is connected to a discharge port that opens under the chassis of the automobile toward the road surface via a discharge duct,
A traveling water splash drainage device for an automobile, wherein an external input shaft of the suction blower is connected to a rotating member driven by an engine via an electromagnetic clutch.