JP2005280628A - Cowl top cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively absorb impacts applied to a cowl top cover while securing the rigidity of the cowl top cover. <P>SOLUTION: A recessed cover front side part 33 is provided to the front side of the cowl top cover 11. A plurality of ribs 44 connecting a front wall part 36 to a rear wall part 35 are provided to the cover front side part 33. A thin weak part 50 is formed along both sides of respective rear part connecting parts 45 connecting the rear wall part 35 to ribs 44. When an obstacle hits a bonnet hood 3 from above, the weak part 50 is broken to absorb the collision energy. Furthermore, the breakage of the weak part 50 allows the ribs 44 and the front wall part 36 to move to the front side downward to absorb the collision energy. Furthermore, the rear wall part 35 lowered in rigidity due to the breakage of the weak part 50 is easy to be deformed to smoothly absorb the collision energy against a secondary collision. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cowl top cover disposed, for example, between a windshield of a vehicle and a hood.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cowl top cover that is disposed between a windshield and a hood of a vehicle and covers between the front end of the windshield and the rear end of the hood is used. As a cowl top cover of this type, the front side of the cowl top cover is designed to absorb energy in the event of a collision while ensuring the sealing between the cowl top cover and the hood. A concave-shaped hood seal mounting means with a wall and a rear wall is formed, a seal member is mounted on the tip that is the upper end of the front wall, and the front wall and the rear wall are connected A configuration including a plurality of ribs is known. Further, in this configuration, each rib is formed in a trapezoidal flat cross-sectional shape in which the thickness dimension of the rear side portion is gradually smaller than the front side portion.

Therefore, in this configuration, when a load is applied to the hood hood from above, the hood seal mounting means pushed through the hood hood is plastically deformed to absorb energy. Furthermore, when force is applied, the rib has a front side portion that is higher in rigidity than the rear side portion, so that the rear side portion of the rib breaks and the front wall portion bends forward together with the rib to absorb energy. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-165654 (page 3-4, FIG. 4)

  However, in the above configuration, it is necessary to set the shape of the rib so that the rear side portion of the rib can be easily broken in a state where the hood seal attaching means is pushed through the hood hood. For example, if the rear side portion of the rib is formed thinner than the front side portion, the rigidity of the rib is lowered, and the shape of the cowl top cover is difficult to maintain. In addition, when a pedestrian comes into contact with the rear wall portion of the cowl top cover due to a so-called secondary impact or the like, there is a demand for a configuration in which the rear wall portion easily deforms.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the cowl top cover which can absorb an impact effectively.

  The cowl top cover according to claim 1 is a cowl top cover that covers between the windshield and a hood positioned in front of the windshield, and includes a fixed portion fixed to the vehicle body and a front side portion of the fixed portion. A front wall portion extending upward and at least a part of which is positioned below the hood; a rear wall portion extending upward from a rear side portion of the fixed portion; and the rear wall portion and the front wall portion And a weak portion provided near the rib on the rear wall portion.

  In this configuration, the ribs connect the front wall portion and the rear wall portion in a normal state, so that the rigidity of the entire cowl top cover is improved and the handling becomes easy. On the other hand, when a downward force is applied to the hood and the hood moves downward, the hood presses the front wall portion of the cowl top cover downward. When a force exceeding a predetermined level is applied, the weak portion is broken by the force transmitted from the front wall portion through the rib, and the rear wall portion can be deformed or the front wall portion and the rib can be moved to absorb the impact. Further, when the weak part is broken, the rear wall part can be easily deformed, and when the protection target collides with the rear wall part, the rear wall part is easily deformed to absorb the impact.

  The cowl top cover according to claim 2 is the cowl top cover according to claim 1, wherein the weak portion is formed in a linear shape having a thickness dimension smaller than that of the other portion of the rear wall portion.

  In this configuration, the breaking strength of the rear wall portion can be easily adjusted, and the shock absorption characteristics can be easily set.

  The cowl top cover according to claim 3 is the cowl top cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weak portion is formed in pairs on both sides of the portion where the rib is connected to the rear wall portion.

  And in this structure, the movement of a rib and the front wall part connected with this rib at the time of a fracture | rupture of a weak part is facilitated, and an impact is absorbed effectively.

  According to the cowl top cover of the present invention, in normal times, the rib connects the front wall portion and the rear wall portion, the rigidity of the entire cowl top cover is improved, and handling becomes easy. On the other hand, when a downward force is applied to the hood and the hood moves downward, the weak part breaks due to the force transmitted from the front wall part through the rib, and the rear wall part is deformed or the front wall part and the rib are moved. It becomes possible and can absorb shock effectively. Further, when the weak part is broken, the rear wall part can be easily deformed, and when the protection target collides with the rear wall part, the rear wall part is easily deformed to effectively absorb the impact. it can.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cowl top cover of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a car body of a car, which is a vehicle. The car body 1 includes a hood hood 3 as a hood that covers an engine room 2, and a front windshield that is located in front of the passenger compartment 4. A cowl top cover 11 is attached to the vehicle body 1 so as to cover the upper side of the cowl portion 6 between the glass 5 and the glass 5. Hereinafter, the vehicle body 1 is referred to in the forward (arrow F direction), backward (arrow R direction), upward (arrow U direction), downward (arrow D direction), and both side directions (arrow W direction). This will be described with reference to the straight direction.

  The cowl portion 6 is also called a cowl top or an air box. As shown in FIG. 1, the cowl portion 6 constitutes a cowl top panel 12 made of, for example, an iron plate and a vehicle body made of, for example, an iron plate. An extension panel 14 serving as a vehicle body panel is formed into a bowl shape having an upper opening. A windshield receiving portion 15 is provided on the upper portion of the cowl top panel 12, and the windshield 5 is attached to the cowl top panel 12 by a sealing material 16 such as a hot-melt adhesive that is liquid-tightly adhered. It is fixed to. Further, the extension panel 14 is a bottom plate portion (not shown) whose rear side portion is fixed to the cowl top panel 12, and a front plate portion 19 in which the front side portion of the bottom plate portion is tilted upward to the front side, and the front plate portion 19 An upper end portion of the plate portion 19 is provided with a fixed receiving portion 20 extending substantially horizontally on the front side. The cowl unit 6 is provided with a motor for driving the wiper arm of the wiper.

  Further, the hood hood 3 includes a hood outer portion 25 positioned on the upper side in the outer side, that is, in a closed state, and a hood inner portion 26 positioned on the lower side in the hood outer portion 25 in a closed state, that is, in a closed state. It is formed as a single body or as a separate body.

  The cowl top cover 11 is also referred to as a cowl cover or the like, and covers, for example, polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene, and the like so as to cover the upper side of the cowl portion 6, that is, the cowl top panel 12 and the extension panel 14. A thermoplastic resin such as a styrene copolymer (ABS) or a polyamide-based synthetic resin is injection-molded, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, as a whole, the both sides W of the vehicle body 1 along the cowl portion 6, that is, the vehicle width. It is formed in a long and substantially plate shape whose direction is the longitudinal direction. The cowl top cover 11 has a cross-sectional shape including a plate-like cover main body 31. The cover main body 31 is formed in a curved shape according to the shape of the wiper, for example, as shown in FIG. At the position, the front portion of the vehicle body 1 in the front-rear direction is curved so as to protrude toward the outside, that is, the upper side of the vehicle body 1.

  Further, on the front side of the cover main body portion 31 of the cowl top cover 11, a cover front side portion 33 which is fixed to the extension panel 14 and disposed below the bonnet hood 3, that is, on the back surface is integrally formed. . Further, the front side portion 33 of the cover is formed in a substantially constant shape in the both-side direction W, and has a concave shape in a side section as shown in FIG. 1 and a substantially horizontal plate-like fixing portion 34 and a rear end of the fixing portion 34 A plate-like rear wall portion 35 extending substantially vertically upward from the portion and continuing to the cover body portion 31, and a plate-like front wall portion extending obliquely upward from the front end portion of the fixing portion 34 to the front side 36 and a substantially horizontal plate-like seal receiving portion 37 extending from the front end portion, ie, the upper end portion, of the front wall portion 36 toward the front side. The fixing portion 34 is formed with a plurality of circular holes at predetermined intervals in both side directions W, and a cowl top cover is used by using a separate clip 38 or the like as a fixing means to be inserted into the circular holes. A fixing portion 34 located on the front side of 11 is fixed to the extension panel 14. A cowl top seal 40, which is an elastically deformable seal member, is disposed on the upper side of the seal receiving portion 37, and is fixed using a separate clip 41 or an adhesive as a fixing means. The cowl top seal 40 has a cylindrical shape made of, for example, rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, and is in close contact with the closed bonnet hood 3 in a liquid-tight manner to shield hot air and odor from the engine room 2. It has become.

  Further, the cover front side portion 33 of the cowl top cover 11 is formed between the front wall portion 36 and the rear wall portion 35 and has a flat plate shape for connecting the front wall portion 36 and the rear wall portion 35. A plurality of ribs 44 are formed. Each rib 44 is formed in a plane direction on both sides, that is, along the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and the ribs 44 are arranged substantially in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the both-side direction W. Yes. These ribs 44 have a constant thickness dimension, i.e., strength, at the front side portion and the rear side portion, and are formed integrally with the cover front side portion 33, i.e., the rear side portion is connected to the rear wall portion 35 by the rear connection portion 45. The front side part is connected to the front wall part 36 by the front part connecting part 46, and the lower side part is connected to the fixed part 34 by the lower connecting part 47.

  Further, the rear wall portion 35 is formed with weak portions 50 that form pairs along both sides of the rib 44, that is, along both sides of each rear connection portion 45 where the rib 44 is connected to the rear wall portion 35. ing. In the present embodiment, each weak portion 50 is provided in parallel with the rib 44, but it is not necessarily provided in parallel with the rib 44, and may be provided along the rib 44. Each weak part 50 is recessed from the rear side into a groove shape having a triangular cross section, and is formed as a thin part having a smaller thickness than the other part of the rear wall part 35, with a predetermined force applied. In addition, it can be easily broken from the edge portion of the tip, that is, the front corner portion.

  Further, the distal end portion of the extension panel 14 is disposed at a position substantially along the distal end portion of the fixing portion 34 and is disposed so as not to be located below the front wall portion 36.

  On the other hand, on the rear side of the cover main body portion 31 of the cowl top cover 11, a cover rear side portion 53 to which the windshield 5 is attached is integrally provided continuously. The cover rear side portion 53 can also be called an engagement portion or a clip portion, and is elastically deformable, and has a shape that can also be called a substantially U-shaped cross section or a substantially U-shaped groove shape that opens upward on the rear side. Is formed. The cover rear side portion 53 is a first plate that is a first clamping portion that is formed substantially continuously in the vehicle width direction and extends flush with the rear end portion of the cover main body portion 31. Portion 55, a second plate portion 56 that is a second clamping portion arranged parallel or at a predetermined angle along the lower side of the first plate portion 55, and a front end portion of the first plate portion 55 From the front end of the second plate 56, that is, the rear end of the second plate 56. The facing portion 57 is connected to the front end of the first plate 55 and the second plate 56. Oppositely, an extension 58 is extended. And this cover rear side part 53 is inserted in the lower end part of the windshield 5, and accommodates this lower end part. That is, while making the 1st board part 55 contact the upper surface of the windshield 5, it is a 2nd board part. 56 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the windshield 5 so that both surfaces of the windshield 5 are sandwiched, and the edge of the windshield 5 is covered and held by the windshield 5. Further, a breakable portion 59 having a small thickness dimension is formed at the upper end portion of the facing portion 57. Furthermore, an elastically deformable seal member S made of polyurethane foam or the like is disposed in the space between the edge portion of the windshield 5 and the facing portion 57.

  Next, the operation when the vehicle body 1 of the vehicle equipped with the cowl top cover 11 collides with an obstacle in front and the cowl top cover 11 receives an external input, that is, the operation when receiving an external force will be described.

  In the event of a collision, for example, as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 5, when the dummy head that has run on the hood 3 collides with the hood 3 from the upper side or the like, the hood 3 with an impact moves downward. Then, the front wall portion 36 of the cover front side portion 33 of the cowl top cover 11 is pressed downward via the cowl top seal 40. Then, each part of the cowl top seal 40 is elastically deformed and absorbs impact energy, but when a pressing force such as impact exceeding a predetermined value is applied, this impact is applied from the front wall portion 36 to the rear wall via the rib 44. It is transmitted to the portion 35, and the weak portions 50 provided along both sides of each rib 44 are broken or stretched starting from the edge portion to absorb energy at the time of impact.

  Further, when the weak part 50 is broken, the rigidity of the rear wall part 35 is reduced and the rear wall part 35 can be easily bent and deformed. For example, as shown in FIG. Is deformed so as to be stretched, and the rib 44 and the front wall portion 36 are allowed to move downward on the front side to absorb impact energy. Further, when a force is applied, the rear wall portion 35 is broken at a position where the upper ends of the weak portion 50 are connected to each other, and the rib 44 and the front wall portion 36 are smoothly moved downward in the front direction as shown in FIG. To absorb the impact energy.

  In addition, when a pedestrian comes into contact with the cowl top cover 11 and stress is applied due to a so-called secondary collision, the weak wall 50 has already broken and the rigidity has been reduced, and the rear wall 35 easily deforms, causing a smooth impact. Absorb energy.

  Thus, according to the structure of the cowl top cover 11 of the present embodiment, the rib 44 having the function of ensuring the rigidity of the cowl top cover 11 is provided, and the joint portion between the rib 44 and the rear wall portion 35 is provided. Since the weak portion 50 is provided in the periphery, when the cowl top cover 11 receives an impact, the weak portion 50 is broken, and the rib 44 and the front wall portion 36 are allowed to move, and the rear wall portion 35 is It can be deformed so as to bend easily without stretching, and impact energy can be absorbed effectively. Therefore, it is possible to easily release the impact force and reduce the injury value to the pedestrian, for example, in a secondary collision between the pedestrian and the vehicle, while ensuring rigidity at the normal time such as assembly. it can.

  Further, each rib 44 is formed in a uniform flat plate shape having the same thickness dimension at each part, and has the strength, that is, the rigidity that the rib 44 originally has, which is sufficient as the rib 44 for preventing deformation of the cowl top cover 11. And can be easily handled when the cowl top cover 11 is assembled.

  Further, since the weak portion 50 provided on the rear wall portion 35 is formed as a thin portion such as a groove having a triangular cross section, the breaking strength of the rear wall portion 35 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the thickness and length of the thin portion. Can be adjusted.

  Furthermore, since the weak portion 50 is arranged in pairs along each side of each rib 44, that is, each rear connecting portion 45 so as to sandwich the rear connecting portion 45, when it receives an impact, Against the impact from an oblique direction, i.e., regardless of the angle (direction) or position of the impact, the rear wall portion 35 is surely broken in the vicinity of each rear connecting portion 45, and the impact energy is reduced. For example, it is possible to protect a protection target such as a pedestrian.

  Further, by arranging the extension panel 14 so as not to be positioned below the front connecting part 46 that connects the front wall part 36 and each rib 44, the front wall part 36 is smoothly deformed and moved, It can absorb impact energy effectively.

  For example, when an obstacle directly collides with the cover main body 31 of the cowl top cover 11, the cover rear side 53 provided on the rear side of the cover main body 31 is the edge of the windshield 5. The relative movement of the windshield 5 and the cowl top cover 11 by allowing the relative movement of the windshield 5 and the cowl top cover 11 due to the movement (sliding) of the windshield 5 or the breakable portion 59 of the rear side portion 53 of the cover breaks. Absorption energy can be absorbed effectively.

  In addition, each weak part 50 can be easily broken by the weak part 50 being arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from each rear part connection part 45 in the range of 5 mm or more and 40 mm or less, and the rear wall part 35 is easy. Can be transformed into That is, if the weak part 50 is separated too much from the rear connection part 45, that is, if it is separated beyond 40 mm, the weak part 50 is difficult to break. On the other hand, if each weak part 50 is arranged close to less than 5 mm from each rear connecting part 45, the strength of the rear wall part 35 does not decrease even when the weak part 50 is broken, and it is difficult to deform easily. .

  Further, each weak portion 50 is not limited to a groove shape having a triangular cross section, and can be formed in a thin shape having an appropriate cross sectional shape. In addition, it is also possible to configure the weak portion 50 having a relatively low strength by relatively increasing the thickness dimension of the portion other than the weak portion 50 of the rear wall portion 35.

  Furthermore, the arrangement of the weak portion 50 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the weak portions 60 are arranged on both sides of each rear connecting portion 45 along each rear connecting portion 45, and the upper ends of these weak portions 50, for example, upper ends are connected by a weak portion 61. As a whole, a substantially U-shaped weak portion 62 can be formed. In this way, by forming the weak part 62 that surrounds the three sides of the rear connection part 45, the movement of the rib 44 and the front wall part 36 is allowed smoothly by breaking the weak part 62, and the impact is smoothly absorbed. be able to.

  Further, the cover main body 31 of the cowl top cover 11 can take an appropriate shape, and the positional relationship between the cowl top cover 11 and the hood hood 3 can also be selected as appropriate.

  In each of the above embodiments, the windshield is not limited to glass, and a transparent material such as acrylic can also be used.

  The present invention is used, for example, as a cowl top cover disposed between a windshield of a vehicle and a hood.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to II in FIG. 2 showing a state in which a cowl top cover showing an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. It is a one part perspective view of a cowl top cover same as the above. It is a II-II equivalent sectional view of a cowl top cover same as the above of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the weak part of the same cowl top cover fractured | ruptured and the rear wall part deform | transformed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the weak part of the cowl top cover same as the above fractured | ruptured. It is a partial perspective view which shows other embodiment of the cowl top cover of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3 Bonnet hood as hood 5 Windshield as windshield
11 cowl top cover
14 Extension panel as the vehicle body panel
34 Fixed part
35 Rear wall
36 Front wall
44 Ribs
50 weak

Claims (3)

A cowl top cover that covers between the windshield and a hood located in front of the windshield,
A fixed part fixed to the vehicle body,
A front wall portion extending upward from the front side portion of the fixed portion, at least a portion of which is located below the hood;
A rear wall portion extending upward from a rear side portion of the fixed portion;
A rib connecting the rear wall portion and the front wall portion;
A cowl top cover, comprising: a rear portion of the rear wall portion and a weak portion provided close to the rib. The cowl top cover according to claim 1, wherein the weak part is formed in a linear shape having a thickness dimension smaller than that of the other part of the rear wall part. The cowl top cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weak portion is formed in a pair on both sides of a portion where the rib is connected to the rear wall portion.

Images