JP2013049314A - Cowl part structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cowl part structure which can improve pedestrian protection performance by sufficiently absorbing shock.SOLUTION: In the cowl part structure 100, which includes a cowl top panel 108 arranged between a front hood 102 and windshield glass 104 of a vehicle, and a cowl top garnish 106 extending in a vehicle width direction and covering a cowl top panel, the cowl top garnish consists of: a top face part 114 disposed along the cowl top panel; a front end 116 arranged below the front hood, and having a tip inclined diagonally upward toward the front hood; an extension part 118 separating forward its front end position from the top face part by extending forward from the top face part and being connected to the rear end of the front end; and hood rear seal 112 fixed to the tip of the front end to come into contact with the front hood.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cowl portion structure including a cowl top garnish disposed between a front hood and a windshield glass and extending in the vehicle width direction.

  A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a cowl top garnish extending in the vehicle width direction between the vicinity of the rear end of the front hood and the windshield glass.

  In recent years, interest in pedestrian protection has increased, and an increasing number of vehicles place importance on pedestrian protection performance. For this reason, even when a collision object such as a pedestrian collides with the front hood from above, a cowl structure that sufficiently absorbs shock and improves pedestrian protection performance is required.

  Patent Document 1 describes a cowl portion structure including a cowl top garnish. In this cowl structure, the cowl top garnish is inclined toward the front hood in the middle of reaching the front end of the vehicle, and this end is substantially parallel to the front hood. A seal member is disposed between the end of the cowl top garnish and the front hood.

JP 2008-137534 A

  In the cowl structure described in Patent Document 1, since the end of the cowl top garnish is substantially parallel to the front hood, when this end receives a collision load from above, the collision load is dispersed by the end. And may not be easily deformed.

  In this case, the collision target that collided with the front hood from above receives a reaction force from the cowl top garnish. That is, in the cowl part structure described in Patent Document 1, sufficient measures are not taken for the pedestrian protection performance when the collision target collides with the front hood from above.

  In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a cowl structure that can sufficiently absorb impact and improve pedestrian protection performance.

  In order to solve the above problems, a typical structure of the cowl structure according to the present invention includes a cowl top panel disposed between a front hood of a vehicle and a windshield glass, and a cowl extending in the vehicle width direction. In the cowl structure with a cowl top garnish that covers the top panel, the cowl top garnish is located on the upper surface along the cowl top panel and the front hood is tilted forward and obliquely upward toward the front hood. A front end portion that extends forward from the upper surface portion and is connected to the rear end of the front end portion so that the position of the front end portion is separated from the upper surface portion forward, and is fixed to the front end portion of the front end portion And a seal member that is in contact with the front hood.

  According to the above configuration, when the front hood is subjected to an overload downward by a collision object such as a pedestrian, the energy of the collision object is transmitted to the front end of the cowl top garnish via the seal member. The The front end portion is inclined obliquely forward, and its position is extended forward by the extension portion. For this reason, the front end portion and the extension portion are easily deformed by the energy of the collision target and absorb the energy. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the impact and improve the pedestrian protection performance.

  The extension portion may have an inclined surface extending obliquely upward and continuously from the upper surface portion, and a horizontal surface extending forward from the inclined surface. Thereby, the inclination of a front-end part can be hold | maintained and the position of a front-end part can be extended ahead on it.

  The extension portion may have a notch shape at the corner portion between the upper surface portion and the inclined surface and at the corner portion between the inclined surface and the horizontal surface. Thereby, when the extension part receives the energy of the collision object, the extension part is deformed starting from the notch shape. Thus, the energy absorption characteristic can be adjusted by setting the notch shape.

  The cowl top garnish may further include a vertical wall portion that extends upward from the rear end of the upper surface portion, and a rib that connects the upper surface portion and the vertical wall portion over the inner corners of the corners formed by them. Thereby, since the upper surface part is reinforced by the rib, when the energy of the collision target is received, not the upper surface part but the extension part is deformed. Thus, the energy absorption characteristic can be adjusted by setting the rib.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cowl part structure which fully absorbs an impact and can improve a pedestrian protection performance can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the vehicle to which the cowl part structure in this embodiment is applied. It is a disassembled perspective view of the cowl part structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross section of the cowl part structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cowl part structure of a comparative example. It is a figure which shows the cross section of another cowl part structure.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle to which a cowl structure in the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cowl structure of FIG. The cowl part structure 100 includes, for example, a cowl top garnish 106 that is disposed between the front hood 102 and the windshield glass 104 and extends in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the cowl top garnish 106 is disposed so as to cover the cowl top panel 108 from above, and is fixed by a plurality of (here, three) clips 110.

  The cowl top garnish 106 is made of, for example, resin, and a rubber hood rear seal (seal member) 112 that is in contact with the front hood 102 is fixed to a front end portion 116 (described later in FIG. 3).

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section of the cowl structure 100 of FIG. FIG. 3A shows a cross section taken along line AA of the cowl structure 100 of FIG. The front hood 102 has an outer panel 102a and an inner panel 102b, and the hood rear seal 112 is in contact with the inner panel 102b at an angle as shown in the figure. The hood rear seal 112 is used to prevent water from being applied to electrical components in the engine room and to prevent the windshield glass 104 from fogging due to engine heat. For this reason, the hood rear seal 112 and the inner panel 102b of the front hood 102 are in contact with each other, thereby ensuring sealing performance.

  The cowl top garnish 106 includes an upper surface portion 114 along the front end 108a of the cowl top panel 108, a front end portion 116 in which a hood rear seal 112 is sandwiched and fixed at the front end, and an extension connecting the upper surface portion 114 and the front end portion 116. Part 118.

  As shown in the figure, the front end portion 116 is disposed below the front hood 102, and the front end portion is inclined obliquely forward and upward toward the front hood 102. The hood rear seal 112 has a groove portion 112a extending in the vehicle width direction, and the front end portion 116 of the cowl top garnish 106 is inserted into and fixed to the groove portion 112a.

  The extension portion 118 has, for example, an inclined surface 118a that extends continuously and obliquely upward from the upper surface portion 114, and a horizontal surface 118b that extends forward from the inclined surface 118a. The extension 118 extends forward from the upper surface portion 114 and is connected to the rear end of the front end portion 116, thereby separating the position of the front end portion 116 from the upper surface portion 114. That is, the extension 118 extends the position of the front end 116 forward while maintaining the inclination of the front end 116.

  The cowl top garnish 106 includes a vertical wall portion 120 and a triangular rib 122. The vertical wall portion 120 extends upward from the rear end of the upper surface portion 114. The triangular rib 122 connects the upper surface part 114 and the vertical wall part 120 over the inner corners of the corners formed by them.

  Next, the state of the cowl part structure 100 when the front hood 102 is subjected to an overload downward by a collision object such as a pedestrian will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state of the cowl structure 100 when the collision target collides with the front hood 102 from above. In the figure, an arrow B indicates an overload from above. Further, in the drawing, the state of the cowl part structure 100 before receiving the overload is indicated by a chain line, and further, the state of the cowl part structure 100 after receiving the overload is indicated by a solid line.

  First, when the front hood 102 is subjected to a downward overload by the collision target, the energy of the collision target is transmitted to the front end portion 116 of the cowl top garnish 106 via the hood rear seal 112. The front end part 116 is inclined obliquely forward, and its position is extended forward by an extension part 118.

  For this reason, a moment that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow C in the figure acts on the front end portion 116. Further, the upper surface portion 114 is reinforced by the triangular ribs 122. For this reason, the energy of the impacted body is mainly received by the extension 118 instead of the upper surface 114. For example, the boundary between the upper surface 114 and the inclined surface 118a, or the boundary between the inclined surface 118a and the horizontal surface 118b. It will be deformed and broken.

  That is, the extension part 118 is easily deformed by the energy of the collision object and can absorb the energy. In addition, by setting the triangular rib 122, the energy absorption characteristic can be adjusted. The adjustment of the absorption characteristics is assumed to be, for example, adjusting the degree of rotation of the front end portion 116 of the cowl top garnish 106 and the bending of the extension portion 118. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the impact and improve the pedestrian protection performance.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a cowl structure 100A of a comparative example. In addition, in the figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as the member shown in the cowl part structure 100 of the said embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The cowl portion structure 100A has the triangular rib between the upper surface portion 114 and the vertical wall portion 120 in that the extension portion 118 does not exist on the cowl top garnish 106A and the upper surface portion 114 and the front end portion 116A are connected. It differs from the above-mentioned cowl part structure 100 in that 122 is not formed.

  Therefore, in the cowl part structure 100A, the hood rear seal 112 inserted and fixed to the front end part 116A of the cowl top garnish 106A is inclined obliquely forward from the upper surface part 114 directly toward the inner panel 102b of the front hood 102. Protruding.

  In such a cowl part structure 100A, when the front hood 102 receives a downward overload (arrow B in the figure) by the collision object, the front end part 116A of the cowl top garnish 106A does not bend and buckles. There is a possibility. In this case, in the cowl part structure 100A, a large reaction force as indicated by an arrow D in the figure is generated, and it becomes difficult to absorb the impact, and sufficient pedestrian protection performance cannot be ensured.

  On the other hand, in the cowl part structure 100 according to the present embodiment, when the front hood 102 is subjected to an overload downward by the collision object, the energy of the collision object is passed through the hood rear seal 112 to the cowl. It is transmitted from the front end portion 116 of the top garnish 106 to the extension portion 118. The extension 118 is easily deformed by the energy of the collision object. Therefore, in the cowl part structure 100, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the impact and improve the pedestrian protection performance.

  Further, since the triangular rib 122 that reinforces the upper surface portion 114 is formed, the extension portion 118 is more easily deformed, and the energy absorption characteristics of the collision target can be adjusted.

  Further, since the hood rear seal 112 has the groove portion 112a, the hood rear seal 112 can be inserted and fixed to the tip of the front end portion 116 of the cowl top garnish 106 without using a separate part.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a cross section of another cowl structure 100B. The cowl part structure 100B is different from the cowl part structure 100 in that notches 124a and 124b are formed in the extension part 118 of the cowl top garnish 106B.

  The cutouts 124a and 124b are formed at the corners of the upper surface 114 and the inclined surface 118a of the extension 118 and at the corners of the inclined surface 118a and the horizontal surface 118b.

  In such a cowl portion structure 100B, when the extension 118 receives the energy of the collision object, the extension 118 is deformed starting from the notches 124a and 124b. Thus, the energy absorption characteristics can be adjusted by setting the notch shapes 124a and 124b. Note that setting the notch shapes 124a and 124b to adjust the absorption characteristics is particularly effective when, for example, a layout restriction is large and a small-scale change such as a minor change is performed.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a cowl part structure including a cowl top garnish that is disposed between a front hood and a windshield glass and extends in the vehicle width direction.

100, 100B ... Cowl structure, 102 ... Front hood, 102a ... Outer panel, 102b ... Inner panel, 104 ... Windshield glass, 106, 106B ... Cowl top garnish, 108 ... Cowl top panel, 108a ... Front end, 110 ... Clip 112 ... Hood rear seal, 112a ... Groove portion, 114 ... Upper surface portion, 116 ... Front end portion, 118 ... Extension portion, 118a ... Inclined surface, 118b ... Horizontal surface, 120 ... Vertical wall portion, 122 ... Triangular rib, 124a, 124b ... Notch shape

Claims (4)

In a cowl structure comprising a cowl top panel disposed between a front hood of a vehicle and a windshield glass, and a cowl top garnish extending in the vehicle width direction and covering the cowl top panel,
The cowl top garnish is
An upper surface portion along the cowl top panel;
A front end portion disposed below the front hood and having a front end inclined obliquely upward toward the front hood;
An extension portion that extends forward from the upper surface portion and is connected to the rear end of the front end portion, thereby separating the position of the front end portion from the upper surface portion;
A cowl structure, further comprising a seal member fixed to the front end of the front end and in contact with the front hood.   2. The cowl structure according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion has an inclined surface extending obliquely forward and continuously from the upper surface portion, and a horizontal surface extending forward from the inclined surface.   The cowl portion structure according to claim 2, wherein the extension portion has a cutout shape at a corner portion between the upper surface portion and the inclined surface and at a corner portion between the inclined surface and the horizontal surface. The cowl top garnish has a vertical wall portion extending upward from a rear end of the upper surface portion,
The cowl part structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a rib connecting the upper surface part and the vertical wall part over an inner angle of a corner part formed by the upper surface part and the vertical wall part.

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