JP2020049984A - Vehicular defroster device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular defroster device which has an improved pedestrian protection function in the case of a collision with a pedestrian.SOLUTION: A defroster device 1 comprises a front defroster duct 3 extending in a vehicle width direction along a bottom edge of a front glass 5 of a vehicle and blows air passing through an air passage D formed in the front defroster duct 3 to the front glass 5. The front defroster duct 3 is formed with an impact absorption part which deforms when an impact is received. The impact absorption part is constituted of grooves 61-65 which extend in the vehicle width direction. The front defroster duct 3 has a half split structure and is constituted by joining front side and rear side half split bodies 3A, 3B in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The half split body 3A is formed with the grooves 61, 62, 63 and the half split body 3B is formed with the grooves 64, 65.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a defroster device that blows air onto a windshield of a vehicle.

  The vehicle defroster device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a defroster duct (device main body) arranged at a lower edge of a windshield of a vehicle, and blows air passing through the defroster duct to the windshield. The defroster duct is a tubular body that extends vertically and has a rectangular cross section, and is configured by connecting an upper member and a lower member. The upper end of the upper member is connected to an outlet formed in the instrument panel, and the lower end of the lower member is connected to an air conditioner. At the lower end of the upper member, a fragile portion is formed as an annular groove over the entire periphery thereof, and the wall is thinner than other portions and is easily broken.

  In the above defroster device, when a pedestrian collides with the vehicle and a collision load acts on the defroster duct via the windshield and the instrument panel, the weak portion of the upper member is broken and the vertical length of the defroster duct is reduced. It is designed to shrink. As a result, the amount of deformation of the windshield and the instrument panel is increased, and the impact on the pedestrian is absorbed.

JP 2005-47330 A

  In the above-mentioned defroster device, since the formation portion of the weak portion in the defroster duct is the entire circumference of the cylindrical body that extends vertically and forms a complicated curved surface, the load that breaks the weak portion greatly changes depending on the input method of the collision load. I do. For this reason, it is difficult to control the breaking of the fragile portion, the fragile portion does not break, and the vertical length of the defroster duct does not decrease, so that the pedestrian protection function may not be sufficiently satisfied.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a defroster that includes an apparatus main body extending in a vehicle width direction along a lower edge of a windshield of a vehicle, and blows air passing through an air passage formed in the apparatus main body to the windshield. The device is characterized in that an impact absorbing portion that is deformed when subjected to an impact is formed in the device main body, and the impact absorbing portion is formed of a groove extending in a vehicle width direction.

  According to the above configuration, for example, when the pedestrian collides with the vehicle and a collision load is applied to the apparatus main body from the windshield side, the impact absorbing portion is deformed, so that the impact on the pedestrian can be reduced. it can. Since the shock absorbing portion is formed as a groove extending in the same direction in the device main body extending in the vehicle width direction, the shock absorbing portion is easily deformed by a load from the windshield side, and can satisfy the pedestrian protection function.

Preferably, the device body is formed by connecting the front and rear halves in the vehicle length direction in a half-split structure, and the groove is formed in one or both of the halves. ing.
According to the above configuration, since the apparatus main body is formed of the half bodies, the rigidity of the apparatus main body can be reduced, and the half bodies having the grooves extending in the vehicle width direction are arranged in front and rear. As a result, the shock absorbing portion is more easily deformed by a load from the windshield side. Therefore, the pedestrian protection function can be further enhanced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle defroster apparatus which improved the pedestrian protection function at the time of a pedestrian collision can be provided.

It is a perspective view showing the front defroster duct of the defroster device concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the back. It is a perspective view showing the front defroster duct from the front. It is a perspective view which shows the instrument panel to which the same defroster apparatus is attached from back. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional end view taken along line IV-IV in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is a figure which expands and shows the front defroster duct in FIG.

Hereinafter, a vehicle defroster device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, front and rear mean front and rear in the vehicle length direction, and left and right mean left and right in the vehicle width direction.
The defroster device is arranged at the front edge central portion 2a of the instrument panel 2 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the defroster device 1 includes a front defroster duct 3 (device main body) and an air conditioner 4 below the front defroster duct 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front defroster duct 3 has a long shape extending in the vehicle width direction, and is arranged along a lower edge of the windshield 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front defroster duct 3 includes a hollow base 10 arranged at the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, and a pair of main supply ducts that branch right and left from the base 10 and extend forward. 20 and a pair of extending duct portions 30 that branch from each main supply duct portion 20 and extend outward in the vehicle width direction and further extend forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first opening 11 is formed at a lower end of the base 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the first opening 11 is connected to the air outlet 4 a of the air conditioner 4, and air whose temperature is adjusted from the air conditioner 4 is introduced into the base 10.
The internal space of the base 10 is continuous with the internal spaces of the left and right main supply ducts 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a main outlet 21 opening upward is formed at the front end of the main supply duct portion 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a front defroster grill 40 installed at the front edge of the instrument panel 2 is located above the main outlet 21. The front defroster grill 40 is provided with a front defroster nozzle 41, which is connected to the main outlet 21.

The internal spaces of the left and right extending ducts 30 are respectively connected to the internal spaces of the left and right main supply ducts 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an auxiliary outlet 31 that opens upward is formed at the front end of the extension duct portion 30.
Each internal space of the base 10, the main supply duct unit 20, and the extension duct unit 30 forms an air passage D for air from the air conditioner 4 to the main outlet 21 and the auxiliary outlet 31.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of cylindrical connecting parts 50 are formed on the left and right sides of the base 10, and are connected to separate side defroster ducts (not shown). The internal space of the connecting portion 50 communicates with the second openings 51 on the left and right of the first opening 11 shown in FIG. The second opening 51 is connected to the air conditioner 4 so that the temperature-controlled air is sent to the side defroster duct. The outlet of the side defroster duct is connected to a side defroster grill (not shown) installed in the side grill portion 2b of the instrument panel 2 shown in FIG. 4, and air is blown to the side glass.

  The front defroster duct 3 has a half-split structure, and includes a rear half (vehicle compartment side) first half 3A shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and a front half half shown in FIGS. It is constituted by connecting the split body 3B. These half bodies 3A and 3B are obtained by injection molding a resin.

  Specifically, the first opening 11 (FIG. 2) is configured by overlapping the half portions 11A and 11B, and the base 10 is configured by overlapping the half portions 10A and 10B. The main supply duct portion 20 is configured by overlapping half portions 20A and 20B, and the main outlet 21 (FIG. 1) is configured by overlapping half portions 21A and 21B. The extension duct portion 30 is configured by stacking half portions 30A and 30B, and the auxiliary outlet 31 is configured by stacking half portions 31A and 31B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vertical cross section of the air passage D of the base 10 and the main supply duct 20 formed by the first half 3 </ b> A and the second half 3 </ b> B has a substantially S shape. No. 5 indicates a boundary between the base 10 and the main supply duct unit 20.
The rear half portion 10 </ b> A of the base 10 is gradually curved forward as it goes upward from the air conditioner 4 side, and continues to the half portion 20 </ b> A of the main supply duct portion 20. The half portion 20A has a lower curved portion 22 that is sharply curved forward from the half portion 10A, a shelf 23 that is connected to the lower curved portion 22 and extends substantially horizontally forward, and a lower curved portion that is connected to the shelf 23. The portion 22 has an upper curved portion 24 that curves to the opposite side.

  The front half portion 10B of the base 10 extends substantially linearly upward from the air conditioner 4 side and is slightly inclined rearward. The upper end of the half part 10 </ b> B is connected to the half part 20 </ b> B of the main supply duct part 20. The half part 20 </ b> B has an inclined portion 25 that inclines upward as it goes forward, and a curved portion 26 that continues to the inclined portion 25 and curves backward.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in the first half 3A, grooves 61 and 62 are formed in the middle and upper ends of the rear surface of the half portion 10A of the base 10, respectively. A groove 63 is also formed on the rear surface of the lower curved portion 22 of the half portion 20A of the main supply duct portion 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, in the second half 3B, a groove 64 is formed on the front surface of the boundary between the half 10B of the base 10 and the half 20B of the main supply duct 20. ing. Also, a groove 65 is formed on the curved portion 26 of the half portion 20B on the front surface of a portion that bulges forward.

  Each of the grooves 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 is formed to be thinner than the other portion of the first half 3A or the second half 3B, and extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. These grooves 61 to 65 are the starting points of the bending of the half-pieces 3A and 3B with respect to the load F from the windshield 5 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, in the first half 3A, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 27 are provided on the rear surface of the upper curved portion 24 of the half portion 20A along the vehicle width direction (this embodiment). 4) are provided. As a result, the rigidity of the front defroster duct 3 with respect to a load that breaks in the vehicle width direction is improved. Each reinforcing rib 27 is formed with a V-shaped notch 27a protruding forward to prevent deformation of the upper curved portion 24 against a load F from the windshield 5 side. Not to be.

The half bodies 3A and 3B are connected to each other at a plurality of connection points.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the second half body 3 </ b> B on the front side, a connecting claw 71 is formed on a half part 50 </ b> B of the connection part 50, and a diagonally upper part of the half part 20 </ b> B of the main supply duct part 20 Is formed with a connecting claw 73, and a connecting claw 75 is formed on the half portion 30B of the extension duct portion 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the first half body 3 </ b> A on the rear side, a connected part 72 having a connection hole is formed in the half part 50 </ b> A of the connection part 50, and the main supply duct part 20 is formed. A connected portion 74 having a connection hole is formed obliquely above the half portion 20A, and a connected portion 76 having a connection hole is formed in the half portion 30A of the extension duct portion 30.

  The front defroster duct 2 is formed by connecting the half-split bodies 3A and 3B by locking the connection claws 71, 73 and 75 in the connection holes of the connected portions 72, 74 and 76, respectively.

Next, the attachment (temporary fixing, permanent fixing) of the front defroster duct 3 to the front edge central portion 2a of the instrument panel 2 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the first half 3 </ b> A, an engagement claw 81 is formed on the rear surface of the upper curved portion 24 in the half portion 20 </ b> A of the main supply duct portion 20. The front defroster duct 2 is temporarily fixed to the instrument panel 2 by engaging the engaging claw 81 with an engaging hole (not shown) formed in the front edge central portion 2a of the instrument panel 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the first half body 3 </ b> A, mounting portions 91 x and 92 x that are flat in the vehicle width direction are formed in the center in the vehicle width direction, and mounting portions that are flat in the left and right directions are formed at both ends. 93x and 94x are formed. As shown in FIG. 2, in the second half body 3 </ b> B, mounting portions 91 y and 92 y that are flat vertically are formed at the center portion, and flat mounting portions 93 y and 94 y are formed at both end portions. Is formed. With the mounting portions 91x and 91y, the mounting portions 92x and 92y, the mounting portions 93x and 93y, and the mounting portions 94x and 94y superimposed on each other, a tapping screw is passed through each mounting portion, and the front edge central portion 2a of the instrument panel 2 is formed. The front defroster duct 3 is permanently fixed to the instrument panel 2 by screwing into a tapping hole (not shown) formed in the instrument panel 2.

  In the defroster device 1 having the above configuration, air whose temperature has been adjusted from the air conditioner 4 is introduced into the front defroster duct 3. The air introduced into the base 10 from the first opening 11 is sent forward through the left and right main supply ducts 20 and blows upward from the main outlet 21. A part of the air sent to the main supply duct section 20 passes through the extension duct section 30 and is blown upward from the left and right auxiliary outlets 31. The frost and the like attached to the windshield 5 are removed by the blown air.

  In the defroster device 1 having the above configuration, when the pedestrian collides with the vehicle and the collision load F acts on the upper end side of the front defroster duct 3 via the windshield 5, the first half body 3 </ b> A Starting from at least one of the grooves 62 and 63, the second half body 3B can be bent starting from at least one of the grooves 64 and 65. Thereby, the amount of deformation of the front defroster duct 3 is secured, and the impact on the pedestrian can be absorbed.

The grooves 61 to 65 extend in the same vehicle width direction as the direction in which the front defroster duct 3 extends, and can deform the front defroster duct 3 with a low load with respect to a load from the windshield 5 side. Thereby, the pedestrian protection function can be satisfied.
Further, since the front defroster duct 3 has a half-split structure and is constituted by the half-split bodies 3A and 3B, the rigidity can be reduced. Moreover, since the half bodies 3A and 3B have grooves extending in the vehicle width direction and are arranged in front and rear, the half bodies 3A and 3B are easily bent against a load F from the windshield 5 side. Therefore, the pedestrian protection function can be further enhanced.
The grooves 61 to 63 and the groove 65 are formed at curved portions of the half bodies 3A and 3B, respectively, and the groove 64 is formed at a bent part of the half body 3B, and the load concentrates on these parts. Therefore, the front defroster duct 3 can be effectively deformed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be adopted without departing from the gist thereof.
In the above embodiment, the shock absorbing portion is formed as a thin groove. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shock absorbing portion may be formed as a slit and the opening thereof may be closed with a flexible material.
In the above embodiment, the shock absorbing portions are provided on both the first and second half bodies, but may be provided on only one of them.
The shock absorbing portion may be formed at a portion on the side of the air passage in the first and second half bodies.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a defroster device that blows air onto a windshield of a vehicle.

1 defroster device 2 instrument panel 3 front defroster duct (device body)
3A First half body 3B Second half body 4 Air conditioner 5 Windshield D Ventilation path 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 Groove (shock absorbing part)

Claims (2)

A device main body extending in a vehicle width direction along a lower edge of a vehicle windshield,
In a defroster device that blows air passing through an air passage formed in the device body onto a windshield,
In the device body, a shock absorbing portion that is deformed when subjected to a shock is formed,
A defroster device for a vehicle, wherein the shock absorbing portion comprises a groove extending in a vehicle width direction. The device main body forms a half-split structure, and is configured by joining the front and rear half-split bodies in the vehicle length direction,
The vehicle defroster device according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed in one or both of the half bodies.

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