JP2005306070A - Vehicle cowl louver - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to remove the entire cowl louver easily and to easily perform various operations below the cowl louver without cutting the groove and the hood seal of the cowl louver.
A cowl louver 11 includes a rear louver portion 12 that extends in the vehicle width direction along the lower edge of the windshield so as to cover a drive portion of the wiper, and a front louver portion 13 that is disposed on the front side of the rear louver portion 12. It is divided into The front louver portion 13 is provided so that a groove 23 extending along the vehicle width direction and a hood seal 25 extend over the entire length, and the rear louver portion 13 is supported by the cowl so that it can be removed while overlapping the rear louver portion 12. . The rear louver portion 12 is configured by connecting the left louver member 12L and the right louver member 12R so as to extend along the vehicle width direction.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cowl louver of a vehicle, and more particularly to a cowl louver of a vehicle that can facilitate maintenance of a portion covered with the cowl louver.

  The cowl louver of the vehicle is provided between the hood of the vehicle and the lower portion of the windshield, and includes an introduction port that covers the wiper motor and the like to improve design and introduce outside air into the vehicle interior. The cowl louver also serves to prevent rainwater and the like from entering the engine room through the gap between the hood and the cowl.

  In recent vehicles, it is required to increase the space in the passenger compartment. If the space in the vehicle compartment is widened without changing the size of the vehicle, the engine, the battery, and the like are densely arranged in the engine room. Further, the cowl louver is in a state of being close to the engine and the suspension, and in some vehicles, the cowl louver is disposed above the inlet of the front suspension, the battery, or the brake fluid reservoir tank. As a result, in a vehicle in which the cowl louver is disposed above the front suspension or the like, it is necessary to remove the cowl louver from the vehicle when performing maintenance such as replacement of the front suspension, replenishment of brake fluid, or battery replacement. It was. The removal of the cowl louver from the vehicle has a problem of causing an increase in work time and an increase in work cost.

Proposal of a cowl louver that has an opening at the position above the front suspension of the cowl louver for easy maintenance of the front suspension, covers the opening, and has a lid that can be exposed during maintenance of the front suspension (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Also, a service lid is formed by cutting out a cowl louver at a portion corresponding to a brake fluid inlet.
JP 2003-276642 A (paragraph [0007] of the specification, FIGS. 1 and 3)

  However, in order to prevent rainwater and the like from entering the engine room through the gap between the hood and the cowl louver, the cowl louver is provided with a groove and a hood seal extending in the vehicle width direction on the front side thereof. Therefore, in the configuration in which the service lid is provided by cutting out the middle of the cowl louver, the groove and the hood seal are cut at the lid portion to form a gap. As a result, there is a problem that rainwater or the like enters the engine room or air in the engine room (engine compartment) enters the room. In addition, in order to improve the workability of other work, for example, battery replacement, if a cover portion is also provided at a position corresponding to the battery, the groove and the hood seal are cut more, and the problem becomes more prominent. Become.

  Further, when only the maintenance of the front suspension is performed as in Patent Document 1, the opening of the cowl louver becomes both ends of the cowl louver in the vehicle width direction, so that the length in the vehicle front-rear direction at both ends of the cowl louver is increased. By doing so, it is possible to provide the opening so as not to cut the groove or the hood seal, but the cowl louver becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its purpose is easier to remove compared to removing the entire cowl louver, and without cutting the cowl louver groove and hood seal. It is in providing the cowl louver which can perform the operation | work of easily.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a cowl louver disposed so as to extend in a vehicle width direction between a vehicle hood and a lower portion of a windshield. And it is divided | segmented into the rear louver part extended in a vehicle width direction along the lower edge of the said windshield in the state which covers the drive part of a wiper, and the front louver part arrange | positioned in the front side of the said rear louver part. The front louver portion is provided such that a groove extending along the vehicle width direction and a hood seal extend over the entire length, and is detachably supported with the rear side overlapping the rear louver portion.

  In this invention, the cowl louver is divided into a front louver portion and a rear louver portion, and the front louver portion is detachably supported. Therefore, the removal operation of the front louver portion is simplified as compared with the conventional configuration in which the entire cowl louver is removed. Then, by removing the front louver portion, the upper part of the portion near the rear of the engine room is opened, and maintenance of the front suspension becomes easy. Unlike the case where a lid is formed by cutting out a part of the cowl louver, the groove and hood seal are cut halfway because the front louver has a groove and hood seal that extends over the entire length in the vehicle width direction. Not. As a result, rainwater, water during car wash, etc. enter the engine room, or hot air in the engine room is discharged from the groove or hood seal gap to the outside of the engine room. Intrusion into the room can be prevented.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the rear louver portion is formed so as not to interfere with the brake fluid container when the brake fluid is injected from the brake fluid container into the brake fluid reservoir tank. Has been. In the present invention, the brake fluid reservoir tank can be replenished without the brake fluid container interfering with the rear louver portion with the front louver portion removed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the rear louver portion corresponds to at least a portion where the equipment is present on the cowl, for example, around the equipment or At the front of the equipment in the vehicle direction, the lower part has a front wall supported by the cowl. Here, the “location where the equipment is present on the cowl” means, for example, a location where a drive unit, a wiper motor, or the like that drives a rotating shaft rotatably supported by the wiper pivot is disposed.

  When the front side of the rear louver is at the free end, when a collision object hits the windshield or directly hits the cowl louver from above, if a downward impact load acts on the cowl louver, When the cowl louver hits the equipment, the impacted object is suddenly subjected to a large impact. However, according to the present invention, the rear louver portion is assembled to the vehicle body with the front wall supported by the cowl. Therefore, when a downward impact load is applied to the cowl louver, even if the cowl louver itself including the front wall is deformed, the impact is applied. Is absorbed, and when the cowl louver hits the equipment, it is possible to prevent a sudden large shock from acting.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rear louver portion is connected so that a pair of louver members extend along the vehicle width direction. It is configured. Accordingly, in the present invention, as compared with a configuration in which the rear louver portion is not divided, the assembly work to the vehicle body is facilitated, and the mold for manufacturing the rear louver portion can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily perform various operations without cutting the groove and the hood seal of the cowl louver as compared to removing the entire cowl louver.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a cowl louver, FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view in the vicinity of a connecting portion of a rear louver, and FIG. 1B is a schematic view (in the line BB in FIG. 1) of a hole portion for a wiper pivot. It is sectional drawing. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view (in the CC line of FIG. 1) in the portion corresponding to the brake fluid reservoir tank, and FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the portion corresponding to the battery (in the DD line in FIG. 1). 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view (in the line EE in FIG. 1) in a portion corresponding to the wiper driving unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cowl louver 11 includes a rear louver portion 12 and a front louver portion 13. The rear louver part 12 and the front louver part 13 are configured by injection molding resin. In this embodiment, for example, polypropylene is used as the resin material. The rear louver portion 12 is formed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction along the lower edge of the windshield 14 (shown by a chain line in FIGS. 2 to 5) so as to cover the drive portion of the wiper. The rear louver portion 12 is configured such that a pair of right louver member 12R and left louver member 12L are connected so as to extend along the vehicle width direction. A flange 15 is formed at the connection side end of the right louver member 12R assembled on the right side in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and a long hole 15a is formed in the flange 15. A pin 15b inserted into the long hole 15a of the right louver member 12R protrudes from the connection side end of the left louver member 12L, and the right louver member 12R and the left louver are inserted by inserting the pin 15b into the long hole 15a. The member 12L is connected. And the flange 16 provided with the bolt insertion hole 16a at the time of attaching to a vehicle body is formed in the vehicle width direction both ends of the rear louver part 12. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the rear louver portion 12 is bent at the upper wall 12a extending substantially along the extension line of the windshield 14 and bent at the front end of the upper wall 12a in the state where it is assembled to the vehicle body. And a front wall 12b extending to the front. Further, the rear louver portion 12 includes a supported portion 12c for supporting an intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the front wall 12b with a cowl lower 17 constituting the cowl. That is, the rear louver portion 12 has a front wall 12b whose lower part is supported by the cowl at a position corresponding to at least a position where the equipment is present on the cowl, for example, around the equipment or in front of the equipment in the vehicle direction. I have.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the length of the upper wall 12 a in the vehicle front-rear direction, the height of the front wall 12 b and the length of the supported portion 12 c in the vehicle front-rear direction correspond to the shape of the cowl lower 17. It is formed in different sizes depending on the location. The cowl lower 17 is configured in a shape that does not hinder various maintenance operations and the like with the front louver portion 13 removed, and the front end position thereof is not constant. The length in the direction, the height of the front wall 12b, and the length of the supported portion 12c in the vehicle front-rear direction are set. Convex portions 12d (for example, shown in FIG. 2A) are formed in places on the lower surface of the supported portion 12c, and holes (not shown) for engaging the convex portions 12d are formed in the cowl lower 17. .

  The rear louver portion 12 is formed so as not to interfere with the brake fluid container when the brake fluid is injected into the brake fluid reservoir tank 27 from the brake fluid container 28. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the length of the upper wall 12a in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed shorter than the other portions.

  Two pivot holes 18 through which the wiper pivot passes are formed in the upper wall 12a of the right louver member 12R. As shown in FIG. 2B, the tip of the wiper pivot 19 protrudes from the pivot hole 18 in a state where the rear louver portion 12 is assembled to the vehicle body. The left louver member 12L is provided with an outside air inlet 20 into the vehicle interior. The outside air inlet 20 is composed of one opening extending in the vehicle width direction.

  The front louver portion 13 is formed with flanges 21 provided with bolt insertion holes 21a when assembled to the vehicle body at both ends in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the front louver portion 13 is provided with a hood seal mounting portion 22 at the front end so as to extend over the entire length of the front louver portion 13 along the vehicle width direction. A groove 23 is provided behind the hood seal attachment portion 22 so as to extend over the entire length of the front louver portion 13 along the vehicle width direction. A hood seal 25 for securing a seal between the hood 24 and the upper surface of the front louver 13 is fixed to the hood seal mounting portion 22 in a state where it is assembled to the vehicle body. The hood seal 25 is made of rubber, for example, and is formed in a tube shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the front louver portion 13 is in contact with the upper wall 12 a of the rear louver portion 12 except for portions corresponding to the wiper pivot 19 in a state where the front louver portion 13 is assembled to the vehicle body. And an upper wall 13b extending obliquely upward from the contact portion 13a and extending substantially along the extension line of the hood 24 in the middle. The resin constituting the front louver portion 13 is injection-molded so that the hood seal mounting portion 22 is one step lower than the front end of the upper wall 13b and the groove 23 has a substantially parallelogram cross section.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the length of the upper wall 13 b of the front louver portion 13 in the vehicle front-rear direction and the length from the front end of the upper wall 13 b to the bottom of the groove 23 are the shape of the cowl lower 17 and the rear louver portion. Corresponding to the 12 shapes, the length is different depending on the location. As shown in FIG. 1, an outside air introduction port 26 into the vehicle interior is provided on the left side of the front louver portion 13 in the vehicle traveling direction. The outside air introduction port 26 includes a plurality of holes. .

Next, the operation of the cowl louver 11 configured as described above will be described.
When the rear louver portion 12 constituting the cowl louver 11 is assembled to the vehicle body, the right louver member 12R is first assembled. The right louver member 12R is positioned in a state where the convex portion 12d of the supported portion 12c is engaged with a hole formed in the cowl lower 17, and is fixed to the vehicle body via a bolt (not shown) inserted through the bolt insertion hole 16a. . Next, the left louver member 12L is assembled. The left louver member 12L is positioned in a state in which the convex portion 12d of the supported portion 12c is engaged with a hole formed in the cowl lower 17, and the pin 15b is inserted into the long hole 15a of the right louver member 12R and the right louver member 12R. Connected to In this state, the left louver member 12L is fixed to the vehicle body via a bolt (not shown) inserted through the bolt insertion hole 16a of the left louver member 12L. The windshield 14 is supported in a state where the lower edge is bonded to the upper surface of the cowl outer 31 with an adhesive 32. And the lower end part of the windshield 14 is also supported by the right louver member 12R and the left louver member 12L by assembling the right louver member 12R and the left louver member 12L.

  Next, the front louver part 13 is assembled. The assembling of the front louver portion 13 is performed by positioning a convex portion provided on the lower surface of the front louver portion 13 with an engagement hole (none of which is shown) provided in the cowl lower 17 and a contact portion. 13a is fixed to the vehicle body via a bolt (not shown) inserted through the bolt insertion hole 16a of the flange 21 in a state in which the upper wall 12a contacts the rear louver portion 12. That is, the front louver part 13 is supported by the cowl lower 17 so that it can be removed with the rear side overlapping the rear louver part 12.

  The front louver portion 13 is removed when performing operations such as front suspension maintenance, brake fluid replenishment, and battery replacement. The removal operation of the front louver portion 13 can be easily performed by moving the front louver portion 13 upward after removing the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole 16a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, when the hood 24 is disposed at the closed position indicated by a chain line in a state where the cowl louver 11 is assembled, the lower surface on the front end side of the hood 24 contacts the hood seal 25. A seal between the hood 24 and the cowl louver 11 is secured over the entire length of the cowl louver 11 in the vehicle width direction. Further, unlike the configuration in which a part of the cowl louver 11 is cut out to form a lid portion, the groove 23 is not cut halfway. Accordingly, rain water or water during car washing is prevented from entering through the gap between the hood 24 and the cowl louver 11 or from the gap between the cut portions of the groove 23. Further, the hot air in the engine room heated by the driving of the engine is discharged to the outside between the hood 24 and the cowl louver 11 or from the gap of the cut portion of the groove 23, and passes through both the outside air inlets 26 and 20 to the vehicle interior. It is also prevented from being introduced into the system.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, when the front louver portion 13 is assembled, the front suspension tightening work space S <b> 1 is covered with the front louver portion 13. However, when the front louver part 13 is removed, the front suspension tightening work space S1 is opened, and the front suspension can be tightened without removing the rear louver part 12.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the front louver portion 13 is assembled, the upper portion of the brake fluid reservoir tank 27 is covered with the front louver portion 13. In this state, the front louver portion 13 is covered with the brake fluid container 28. The brake fluid cannot be injected. However, in a state where the front louver portion 13 is removed, the brake fluid container 28 can be disposed at a position where the brake fluid is injected into the brake fluid reservoir tank 27 as shown by a chain line in FIG. Therefore, the brake fluid replenishment operation can be easily performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in a state where the front louver portion 13 is assembled, a part of the upper portion of the battery 29 is covered with the front louver portion 13. It takes time to take out 29 from the engine room. However, in a state where the front louver portion 13 is removed, the battery 29 can be moved straight up, and the battery replacement operation is facilitated.

  Below the rear louver portion 12, there is a location where equipment such as a wiper drive unit 30 and a wiper motor are disposed depending on the location, as shown in FIG. In a state where the front side of the rear louver portion 12 is a free end, when an impact object hits the windshield 14 from above, or when an impact object hits the cowl louver 11 directly from above, an impact load F directed downward to the cowl louver 11. As a result, the cowl louver 11 easily bends greatly, and when the cowl louver 11 hits the equipment, a large impact is suddenly applied to the collision object. However, since the rear louver portion 12 is assembled to the vehicle body with the front wall 12b supported by the cowl lower 17, when a downward impact load F acts on the cowl louver 11, the cowl louver itself including the front wall 12b is deformed. Also, when the impact is absorbed and the cowl louver 11 hits the equipment, it is possible to prevent a large impact from acting suddenly.

This embodiment has the following effects.
(1) The cowl louver 11 includes a rear louver portion 12 that extends in the vehicle width direction along the lower edge of the windshield 14 so as to cover the wiper drive portion 30, and a front louver portion 13 that is disposed on the front side of the rear louver portion 12. It is divided into and. And the front louver part 13 is provided so that the groove | channel 23 extended along a vehicle width direction and the hood seal 25 may extend over a full length, and the rear side is supported so that removal is possible in the state which overlaps with the rear louver part 12. . Therefore, the removal operation of the front louver portion 13 is simplified as compared with the conventional configuration in which the entire cowl louver is removed. And by removing the front louver part 13, the upper part of the part near the rear part of the engine room is opened, and the maintenance of the front suspension becomes easy. Further, since the groove 23 and the hood seal 25 are present in the front louver portion 13 so as to extend over the entire length in the vehicle width direction, unlike the case where the lid is formed so as to cut out a part of the cowl louver, The hood seal 25 is not cut halfway. As a result, rainwater, water during car washing, etc. enter the engine room, or hot air in the engine room is discharged from the gap between the groove 23 and the hood seal 25 to the outside of the engine room, and the outside air introduced into the cowl louver 11 is introduced. Intrusion into the vehicle compartment from the mouths 26 and 20 can be prevented. Since hot air in the engine room is prevented from entering the vehicle interior from the outside air inlets 26 and 20, air conditioning of the vehicle interior by the air conditioner can be performed efficiently.

  (2) The rear louver unit 12 is formed so as not to interfere with the brake fluid container 28 when the brake fluid is injected into the brake fluid reservoir tank 27 from the brake fluid container 28. Therefore, the brake fluid reservoir 28 can be replenished to the brake fluid reservoir tank 27 without the brake fluid container 28 interfering with the rear louver portion 12 with the front louver portion 13 removed.

  (3) The rear louver unit 12 includes a front wall 12b whose lower part is supported by the cowl lower 17 at a position corresponding to the position where the equipment is present on the cowl lower 17. Therefore, since the rear louver portion 12 is assembled to the vehicle body with the front wall 12b supported by the cowl lower 17, when a downward impact load F acts on the cowl louver 11, the cowl louver itself including the front wall 12b is deformed. Also, when the impact is absorbed and the cowl louver 11 hits the equipment, it is possible to prevent a large impact from acting suddenly.

  (4) A part of the front louver portion 13 is supported by the cowl lower 17 at an intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the stability is improved in the attached state as compared with the configuration in which the vehicle body is supported only at both ends.

  (5) The rear louver portion 12 is configured by connecting a pair of left louver member 12L and right louver member 12R so as to extend along the vehicle width direction. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the rear louver portion 12 is not divided, the assembly work to the vehicle body is facilitated, and the mold for manufacturing the rear louver portion 12 can be reduced.

  (6) The rear louver portion 12 is formed so as not to cover the upper side of the battery 29. Therefore, the battery 29 can be easily replaced by removing the front louver portion 13.

  (7) Since the rear louver portion 12 and the front louver portion 13 are made of injection-molded resin, the rear louver portion 12 and the front louver portion 13 are bent so that the cross-sectional shapes thereof differ depending on the position in the vehicle width direction. Even if it exists, it can form favorably.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be configured as follows, for example.
The rear louver portion 12 is not limited to a configuration in which a pair of left louver member 12L and right louver member 12R are connected so as to extend along the vehicle width direction, and as shown in FIG. The structure integrally formed over the direction full length may be sufficient. In this case, the number of parts is reduced, and a configuration for connecting the pair of left louver member 12L and right louver member 12R without deviation becomes unnecessary.

  The front wall 12b provided in the rear louver portion 12 and supported at the lower portion by the cowl (the cowl lower 17) may be provided only at a location corresponding to a location where the equipment is present on the cowl. Also in this case, the rear louver portion 12 is prevented from colliding with the equipment without the impact of the impact load F acting on the rear louver portion 12 being attenuated as compared with the state where the front side of the rear louver portion 12 is a free end. The impact acting on the object is reduced.

O The front wall 12b of the rear louver portion 12 may be omitted.
The front louver portion 13 may be configured to be supported by the vehicle body only at both ends.
The rear louver part 12 and the front louver part 13 may be formed by bending a resin plate.

The means for fixing the front louver portion 13 and the rear louver portion 12 to the vehicle body is not limited to bolts, and clips or the like may be used.
The following technical idea (invention) can be understood from the embodiment.

  (1) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the rear louver portion is formed so as not to cover an upper portion of the battery.

The model disassembled perspective view of a cowl louver. (A) is a schematic cross section in the connection part vicinity of a rear louver, (b) is a schematic cross section in the part of the hole for wiper pivots. The schematic cross section of the part corresponding to a brake fluid reservoir tank. The schematic cross section of the part corresponding to a battery. The schematic cross section of the part corresponding to a wiper drive part. The model disassembled perspective view of the cowl louver of another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Cowl louver, 12 ... Rear louver part, 12b ... Front wall, 13 ... Front louver part, 14 ... Windshield, 17 ... Cowl lower constituting cowl, 23 ... Groove, 24 ... Hood, 25 ... Hood seal, 27 ... Brake Liquid reservoir tank, 28... Brake fluid container, 30.

Claims (4)

A cowl louver arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction between the vehicle hood and the lower portion of the windshield,
The front louver part is divided into a rear louver part extending in the vehicle width direction along the lower edge of the windshield in a state of covering the driving part of the wiper, and a front louver part arranged on the front side of the rear louver part, A vehicle cowl louver provided with a groove extending along the vehicle width direction and a hood seal so as to extend over the entire length, and detachably supported in a state where the rear side overlaps the rear louver portion.   2. The vehicle cowl louver according to claim 1, wherein the rear louver portion is formed so as not to interfere with the brake fluid container when the brake fluid is poured into the brake fluid reservoir tank from the brake fluid container.   3. The vehicle cowl louver according to claim 1, wherein the rear louver portion includes a front wall having a lower portion supported by the cowl at a location corresponding to a location where equipment is present on the cowl.   4. The vehicle cowl louver according to claim 1, wherein the rear louver portion is configured such that a pair of louver members extend so as to extend in the vehicle width direction. 5.

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