JP3006152B2 - Car cowl structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cowl structure of a motor vehicle, and more particularly, to a cowl structure provided at a lower portion of a front window glass having a shape which is largely wrapped rearward from a left-right central portion of the vehicle toward left and right sides. This is related to the improvement of the cowl part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cowl 1 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is usually provided below a windshield (or a windshield) of a four-wheeled vehicle. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the cowl 1 is formed by connecting a cowl top outer panel 2 and a cowl top inner panel 3 made of a sheet metal into a closed cross-sectional shape, and a dash that separates an engine room and a vehicle compartment. It is arranged between the panel 4 and the windshield.

[0003] and, in the cowl 1, the wiper pivot and wiper Rinku or the like is attached. Further, the cowl 1 is provided with an air inlet (not shown) for taking air into the room.

An automobile cowl in which the lower portion of the front window glass is bent in a curved shape from the center in the left and right directions to the left and right sides,
According to the shape, the rear part 5a is largely wrapped around as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows a cowl 5 of this type.
As shown in FIG. 7, there is no cowl top outer panel, and a cowl top is formed by a cowl top inner panel 6, a bracket 7 for attaching wipers, and a dash panel 30 .

[0005]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In automatic <br/> vehicle such as the lower part of the windshield as described above goes around large structure with a closed cross section with the cowl top outer panel 2 and the cowl top inner panel 3 When the cowl 1 is configured, the closed cross section of the cowl 1 is such that the closed cross section at the left and right end portions is extremely longer in the front-rear direction with respect to the closed cross section at the left and right center (the center of the vehicle body) (for example, 2 The cross section becomes flat and the change in the closed cross-sectional shape of the cowl 1 becomes remarkable. Therefore, the cowl 1 is not suitable for functioning as a member (reinforcing member) for maintaining the vehicle body strength.

In the case where the cowl top outer panel is eliminated, the structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is used to reinforce the reduction in body strength by omitting this panel and to obtain sufficient body strength. As described above, it is necessary to attach a separate member such as the pipe 31 to the cowl top inner panel 6 to reinforce it. Therefore, the number of parts increases, and the assembling work becomes troublesome.

Conventionally, the wiper motor and the like are mounted on the engine room side surface, which is an extension of the dash panel surface, so that the wiper link uses a large cross section, and is long on both the left and right sides. The fact is that space is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to secure sufficient vehicle body strength without using a separate member and to store equipment such as a wiper motor and a washer tank. An object of the present invention is to provide a cowl structure of a vehicle suitable for arrangement and mounting.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a cowl formed by connecting a cowl top outer panel and a cowl top inner panel in a closed cross-sectional shape is provided from the left and right central portions of the vehicle. In a cowl structure of an automobile, which is arranged corresponding to a lower portion of a front windshield having a shape which is largely wrapped rearward toward both sides, a rear end flank of the cowl top outer panel is provided.
And rear end flange of the cowl top inner panel
And the joint with the lower edge of the front windshield bay
While being arranged to face the curved shape, the cowl
The cowl top inner panel at the left and right sides
Adjust the length of the front end flange in the front-rear direction
It is longer than the front-to-rear length of the front end flange of the panel
The cowl is formed at both left and right sides of the cowl.
On the rear side of the front end flange of the
Connects the front flange of the cowl top outer panel
By the allowed transition rearward as the coupling portion of the front end of the cowl top outer panel and the cowl top inner panel from the horizontal center portion toward the left and right side portions, which
Depending on the make up the size of the closed section of the cowl I cotton on the left and right side portions from the horizontal center portion so as to substantially the same. Further, in the present invention, the cowl having the closed cross-sectional shape is included.
The front end of the cowl has a substantially linear shape in plan view.
Installation panels on both sides of the car.
Formed between the partition panel and cowl
Wiper motor and washer
Equipment such as ink is arranged.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a four-wheeled vehicle 10 having a front window glass 9 having a shape (a bow shape having a small curvature) which is largely wrapped backward from the left and right central portions toward the left and right side portions. In the figure, 11 is a front window, 12 is a cowl part constituting a lower portion of the front window glass 9, 13 is a front hood, 14
Is an engine room.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cowl section 12 includes a dash panel 1 for separating an engine room 14 from a vehicle compartment.
5, a cowl 16 connected to the upper edge 15a of the dash panel 15, and a partition panel 17 connected to the cowl 16. The above-described cowl 16 is provided with both flange portions 18a, 1 of a cowl top outer panel 18 and a cowl top inner panel 19 made of sheet metal.
8b and 19a, 19b are joined to each other, joined by spot welding or the like, and formed into a closed cross-sectional shape as a whole. The cowl 16 has a front edge F composed of front end flange portions 18a and 19a joined to an upper edge 15a of the dash panel 15 by spot welding or the like, and has both left and right front pillars 20. (See FIG. 1), whereby the cowl 16 is fixedly arranged at the lower part of the front window glass 9.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the dash panel 15 has a flat surface substantially parallel to the left and right direction of the vehicle body in view of the position of the occupant's feet and the arrangement of the pedals. Are arranged linearly in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the rear edge R of the cowl 16 composed of the rear flange portions 18b and 19b of the panels 18 and 19 is greatly curved so as to face the lower edge 9a of the front window glass 9. Therefore, the length in the front-rear direction at both left and right ends of the cowl 16 is set to be at least twice the length in the front-rear direction at the center of the cowl 16.

[0014] Then, Rutotomoni lower edge 9a of the front window glass 9 is disposed above the rear edge R of the above, mosquito
With the rear end flange portion 18b of the ur top outer panel 18
Rear end flange portion 19b of cowl top inner panel 19
Is joined to the lower edge 9a of the front window glass 9.
It is arranged so as to face the curved shape, and the gap between them is shielded by the adhesive 8 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
See) .

Further, in this embodiment, the coupling position of the front end flange portion 18a of the cowl top outer panel 18 with respect to the front end flange portion 19a of the cowl top inner panel 19 is shifted rearward from the left and right central portions toward the left and right sides. The closed cross-section of 16 is disposed at a position retracted on both left and right sides. Specifically, at the left and right central portions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front end flange portions 18a and 19a are joined in a state where their end faces are coincident with each other. A closed section with the same sectional area is configured. Then, at the left and right ends of the cowl 16 ,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cowl top inner panel
The length of the front end flange portion 19a in the front-rear direction is cowl.
Before and after the front end flange portion 18a of the top outer panel 18
Formed longer than the length in the direction
Formed at the left and right sides of the cowl 16
Front end flange portion 19a of cowl top inner panel 19
The front end of the cowl top outer panel 18
The flange 18a is connected. Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the cowl 16 at the left and right sides is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the left and right central portions. Thus, the size of the closed cross section of the cowl 16 from the left and right central portion over the right and left side portions are configured substantially the same.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a partition panel 17 corresponding to the cowl 16 is mounted above the upper edge 15a of the dash panel 15. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the cowl 16 has a front end on the front end flange 18a of the cowl top outer panel 18, that is, the cowl 1 having a closed cross-sectional shape.
A substantially straight line in a plan view at the front end of the cowl portion 12 including
A partition panel 17 having a shape (extending substantially linearly along the left-right direction) is connected and erected.
On the other hand, at both left and right ends of the cowl 16, as shown in FIG. 4, the cowl top inner panel 19 which projects forward from the front end flange portion 18 a of the cowl top outer panel 18 and is connected to the upper end edge 15 a of the dash panel 15.
The partition panel 17 is erected on the front edge of the front end flange 19a. Before
The partition panel 17 is a cowl 1 having a closed cross section.
6 at the front end of the cowl portion 12 having
To extend almost linearly in plan view along the left and right direction
Is disposed, the presence of the partition panel 17 so as not entering hot air and odors of the engine within the cowl 16 having an air intake taking in air into the passenger compartment.

The above-mentioned partition panel 17
The upper end of the cushion rubber 21 as shown in FIGS.
Is mounted so that the front hood 13 contacts the cushion rubber 21 when the front hood 13 is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cowl top inner panel 1 is provided on both left and right sides of the cowl portion 12.
9 and the cowl top outer panel 1
8 and partition panel 17
2 and 23 are formed, and in these spaces 22 and 23, the washer tank 24 and the wiper motor 2 are provided.
5 are stored. Further, as shown in FIG.
A wiper pivot 26 and a wiper arm 27 are arranged on a flat surface extending continuously on the cowl top outer panel 18.

According to the structure of the cowl portion 12 having such a configuration, the connecting front end flange portion 18a of the cowl top outer panel 18 is shifted rearward on both the left and right ends of the cowl 16, so that the left and right central portions are separated from each other. Since the size of the closed cross section of the cowl 16 at both sides can be made substantially the same, the cowl 16 can be made to have a substantially unchanged closed cross section, thereby reinforcing the vehicle body to maintain its strength (rigidity) sufficiently. The cowl 16 can be provided as a member.

When the wiper arm 27 is operated,
A considerably large repetitive load is applied to the cowl 16, but since the cowl 16 has sufficient strength, it can sufficiently withstand the load. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a strong bracket.
This is advantageous in comparison with the conventional example shown in FIG.

Further, since the washer tank 24 and the wiper motor 25 which are conventionally arranged on the engine room side can be housed and arranged in the spaces 22 and 23 formed on both right and left sides of the cowl 16 and in front of the cowl 16, there is another problem. There is plenty of room for equipment layout. In particular, in this type of vehicles to the windshield 11 goes around large, utilization of the space 22, 23 is extremely effective in terms of space factor. In addition, the partition
The flanks 17 allow hot air and odor to enter the vehicle interior.
Equipment can be adversely affected by hot air, etc.
Can be avoided.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the transition path to the rear of the front flange portion 18a of the cowl top outer panel 18 can be changed as necessary. In the spaces 22 and 23, equipment other than the washer tank 24 and the wiper motor 25,
For example, various tanks and jacks may be stored.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the rear end flange portion of the cowl top outer panel and the cowl
The top end of the inner panel with the rear end flange.
It faces the curved shape of the lower edge of the front window glass.
The cowl at both sides of the cowl.
The front end flange of the ur top inner panel
Length of cowl top in front of the front end flange of the outer panel
Formed longer than the length in the rear direction, and on both left and right sides of the cowl
At the front end flange of the cowl top inner panel
Front end flange of cowl top outer panel on rear side
By combining the parts, the cowl top outer panel and
Center the left and right joints on the front end of the cowl top inner panel
From the part to the left and right sides, shift backwards,
In response to this, the cover extends from the left and right
Uru is configured so that the size of the closed section is almost the same
From the left and right center to the left and right sides.
Into a windshield that has a large shape
It is possible to have a cowl part that can be adapted
Even if the cowl has a shape in which the left and right sides are largely wrapped backward according to the lower shape of the front window glass, the cowl is provided with a function as a reinforcing member for maintaining sufficient body strength. be able to. Also,
Make the size of the closed cross section almost the same in each of the left and right directions
Since the cowl becomes strong enough with sufficient strength, an operating part such as a wiper arm is attached to this cowl.
In addition to this, equipment such as a washer tank and a wiper motor can be housed and arranged in a space formed in front of both sides of the cowl. Therefore, the space can be effectively used, and the degree of freedom in the layout of various equipment can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a closed section is provided.
At the front end of the cowl portion including the cowl having a shape in plan view
An almost straight partition panel is installed and
The partition panel on both left and right sides of the vehicle
In the space formed between the cowl and the
Equipment and washers tanks
The partition panel and cowl part
Or the space formed between
A curved shape that wraps backward as it goes to the left and right sides
Shaped cowl front (eg cowl top outer panel
Front surface) and a substantially straight line in plan view along the left and right direction
-Shaped partition panel and cowl top-in
Equipment collection defined by the front flange of the napanel
The cowl part that goes around the space for delivery greatly to the rear side
Can be secured on both left and right sides of the
A washer tank and wiper motor can be arranged.
Space can be used effectively,
This is advantageous in terms of source factor. In addition,
Hot air in the engine compartment
And odor can be prevented from entering the room
(Especially, cushion rubber on top of partition panel
And attach the front hood to this cushion rubber etc.
If they are brought into contact, hot air or odor
More effective in preventing intrusion
No.), hot air, etc. may affect the washer tank and wiper motor.
Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four-wheeled vehicle provided with a cowl structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cowl portion.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cowl showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a cowl showing another conventional example.

8 is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 9 front window glass 9a lower edge 10 four-wheeled vehicle 11 front window 12 cowl portion 15 dash panel 16 cowl 17 partition panel 18 cowl top outer panel 18a front end flange portion (joint portion) 18b rear end flange portion (joint portion) 19 cowl top inner panel 19a front flange portion (coupling portion) 19b rear end flange (coupling portion) 24 washer tank 25 wiper Mota

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lower portion of a front window glass having a shape in which a cowl formed by connecting a cowl top outer panel and a cowl top inner panel in a closed cross-sectional shape is largely wrapped rearward from the left and right central portions of the vehicle toward the left and right sides. In a cowl portion structure of an automobile arranged corresponding to a position, a rear end flange of the cowl top outer panel is provided.
Part and the rear end flange part of the cowl top inner panel
Of the lower edge of the windshield
It is arranged so as to face the shape and
In front of the cowl top inner panel on both right sides
Adjust the length of the end flange in the front-rear direction
Longer than the front-rear length of the front panel flange
The cowl is formed at both left and right sides of the cowl.
The front of the front end flange of the top inner panel
Connect the front flange of the cowl top outer panel
The Rukoto, allowed transition to the rear as the coupling portion of the front end of the cowl top outer panel and the cowl top inner panel extending from the right and left central portions on both left and right sides, in which
In response, cowl structure of an automobile, wherein a size of the closed section of the cowl I cotton on the left and right side portions from the horizontal center portion is configured to be substantially the same. 2. A cowl portion including the cowl having a closed cross section.
A partition panel having a substantially linear shape in plan view is disposed at a front end of the vehicle, and a wiper motor and a washer are provided in a space formed between the partition panel and the cowl portion on both left and right sides of the vehicle. The cowl structure of an automobile according to claim 1, wherein equipment such as a tank is arranged.