JP7061541B2 - Vehicle roof temperature control structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a structure that controls the temperature of the roof space of a vehicle.

When the vehicle is stopped under the scorching sun with the air conditioner stopped, the roof panel of the vehicle becomes hot due to the radiant heat from the sun, and the heat enters the vehicle interior through the roof trim, so that the vehicle interior also becomes hot. Even if the vehicle is started to operate in this state and the air conditioner is operated, the temperature inside the vehicle is maintained at a high temperature for a while, which causes discomfort to the occupants. In addition, the load on the air conditioner is large and the energy consumption is also large.
Further, even when the vehicle is driven under the scorching sun, the heat from the high-temperature roof panel continuously enters the vehicle interior, so that the load on the air conditioner is large and the energy consumption is large.

In the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof disclosed in Patent Document 1, outside air is taken in from the outside air intake formed in the bonnet of the vehicle, and this outside air is allowed to flow into the roof space through the left and right ducts and the internal space of the A pillar. It is discharged through the internal space of the rear aquater. The air flowing through this roof space exhausts the heat of the roof space to the outside of the vehicle, and at the same time, takes the heat of the roof panel and discharges it to the outside of the vehicle.
As another embodiment, Patent Document 1 also discloses a structure in which air from an air conditioner is sent to an A-pillar through a duct and flows from the A-pillar to a roof space instead of the outside air.

Jikkai Sho 54-21324 Gazette

Patent Document 1 requires a duct for sending air from the outside air intake or the air conditioner to the A pillar, which complicates the structure of the front part of the vehicle and causes an increase in manufacturing cost. Further, since the air is sent to the roof space through the duct and the A pillar, the air flow is not smooth and the heat of the roof space cannot be efficiently discharged. Further, in a vehicle equipped with a curtain airbag, the internal space of the A-pillar is blocked by the airbag, and air cannot be sent through the A-pillar.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is used in a vehicle roof temperature control structure for controlling the temperature of the roof space formed between the roof panel and the roof trim facing the vehicle interior.
An air inlet that introduces air flowing from the front defroster along the windshield into the roof space is formed between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim, or at the front edge of the roof trim. The roof space is characterized by a series of air discharge paths for discharging the air flowing through the roof space to the outside of the vehicle.

According to the above configuration, the hot air or cold air in the roof space can be discharged by the air flowing through the roof space, and the temperature inside the vehicle interior can be efficiently controlled. In addition, the air from the front defroster can be smoothly guided to the air inlet of the roof along the windshield, and the air in the roof space can be efficiently discharged. In addition, no additional parts such as ducts for guiding air to the roof space are required, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Preferably, the air inlet is formed by a gap between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim and extends in the vehicle width direction.
According to the above configuration, the air inlet can be easily formed.

Preferably, the front edge of the roof trim protrudes forward from the front edge of the roof panel and faces the indoor surface of the windshield.
According to the above configuration, the air flowing along the windshield can be sent to the air inlet more smoothly.

Preferably, the air exhaust passages are arranged in pairs on the left and right, and these air exhaust passages are connected to the left and right of the roof space. More specifically, the internal space of the pair of left and right rear pillars or the pair of left and right rear quarters is provided as the pair of air exhaust passages.

Preferably, a main guide member is arranged in the central portion of the roof space in the vehicle width direction, and the main guide member has a pair of left and right main guide surfaces that are spaced apart from each other toward the rear. The pair of main guide surfaces separates the air flowing through the roof space into left and right toward the pair of air discharge paths.
According to the above configuration, the air flowing through the roof space can be smoothly sent to the left and right air discharge paths.

Preferably, when there is an obstacle in the roof space, a guide means for smoothing the air flow is provided. Hereinafter, specific embodiments will be described.
When a central obstacle is arranged in front of the main guide member in the central portion of the roof space in the vehicle width direction, a sub guide member is fixed to the front side of the central obstacle, and the sub guide member is It has a pair of left and right sub-guide surfaces that widen toward the rear, and these pair of sub-guide surfaces divide the air flow toward the central obstacle into the left and right sides of the central obstacle.

A pair of central guide plates extending rearward from the central obstacle are fixed to the left and right of the central obstacle, and the pair of central guide plates suppresses air from wrapping around behind the central obstacle.

When side obstacles separated in the front-rear direction are arranged in at least one of the left and right edges of the roof space, the front side of the front side obstacle is on the center side in the vehicle width direction. A side guide plate extending rearward from the partial obstacle is fixed, and the side guide plate suppresses the inflow of air between the front and rear side obstacles.

When another obstacle is arranged in the vicinity of the air exhaust passage in the roof space, an auxiliary guide member is fixed to the front side of the other obstacle, and the auxiliary guide member faces rearward. It has a pair of left and right auxiliary guide surfaces that are spaced apart from each other, and these pair of auxiliary guide surfaces divide the air flow toward the other obstacle into the left and right sides of the other obstacle.

Preferably, a valve for controlling the flow of air in the roof space is installed in any one of the air discharge path, the connection portion with the air discharge path in the roof space, and the air introduction port.
According to the above configuration, when the temperature control of the roof space is not necessary, the valve is closed to stop the air flow in the roof space, thereby preventing the temperature-controlled air from the front defroster from being discharged unnecessarily. , You can eliminate the waste of energy.

More preferably, a temperature sensor is installed in the roof space or the air exhaust passage, and the valve is opened and closed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
According to the above configuration, the valve can be opened and closed with high accuracy based on the temperature of the temperature sensor.

According to the present invention, the temperature of the roof space can be efficiently controlled without increasing the manufacturing cost.

The temperature control structure of the vehicle roof according to the embodiment of the present invention is a front view seen from the front of the vehicle, and the front defroster is schematically shown. It is a top view of the roof trim used in the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line in FIG. It is a vertical sectional view which cut the C-pillar used in the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof along the plane extending in the vehicle width direction.

Hereinafter, the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the roof 1 of a vehicle includes a metal roof panel and 10, and a resin roof trim 20 arranged under the roof panel 10 and facing the vehicle interior. As shown in FIG. 3, a flat roof space 30 extending over substantially the entire roof 1 is formed between the roof panel 10 and the roof trim 20.

The roof 1 is supported by a pair of left and right A pillars 2 (front pillars; only the pillar trim is shown in FIG. 1), B pillars (center pillars; not shown), and C pillars 3 (rear pillars; see FIG. 4). ..
A windshield 4 (shown only in FIG. 3) is installed between the pair of left and right A pillars 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a front defroster 5 is installed on the instrument panel along the lower edge of the windshield 4. The front defroster 5 blows air from the air conditioner toward the windshield 4.
Since the above configuration is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the roof 1 of the present embodiment has an air introduction port 35 connected to the roof space 30 at the front end edge thereof. More specifically, the front edge 20x of the roof trim 20 is separated from the front edge 10x of the roof panel 10 over substantially the entire length in the vehicle width direction, whereby a narrow gap extending in the vehicle width direction is formed, and this gap is formed. It is provided as an air inlet 35.
As shown in FIG. 3, the front end edge 20x of the roof trim 20 protrudes forward from the front end edge 10x of the roof panel 10 and is arranged so as to face the surface of the upper edge portion of the windshield 4 on the vehicle interior side.

The roof 1 has pillar connecting portions for A to C pillars separated from each other in the front-rear direction on the left and right edges thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, pillar trim connection portions 20a, 20b, 20c for A to C pillars are formed on the left and right edges of the roof trim 20 corresponding to these pillar connection portions.

The C-pillar 3 includes a pillar panel 3a and a pillar trim 3b, and an internal space 3x between the pillar panel 3a and the pillar trim 3b is provided as an air discharge path described later. The upper end of the internal space 3x is connected to the left and right corners (positions corresponding to the pillar trim connection portion 20c of the roof trim 20) of the rear end edge of the roof space 20. An opening (not shown) connected to the outside air is formed at the lower end of the internal space 3x.

The basic configuration of this embodiment is as described above, and its operation will be described below.
When the vehicle is stopped under the scorching sun with the air conditioner stopped, the roof panel 10 of the vehicle becomes hot due to radiant heat from the sun, and the heat enters the vehicle interior through the roof space 30 and the roof trim 20. The room also gets hot.
When the operation of the vehicle is started in this state and the air conditioner is operated, cold air is sent from the register of the instrument panel to the passenger compartment to start cooling the passenger compartment. At the same time, the cooled air from the front defroster 5 is blown onto the windshield 4, rises along the windshield 4, enters the air inlet 35 of the roof 1 from the upper edge thereof, and enters the roof space 30. It flows backward, passes through the internal space 3x of the C-pillar 3, and is discharged to the outside through the lower end opening of the C-pillar 3.

As described above, the air flowing through the roof space 30 pushes out the high-temperature air accumulated in the roof space 30, cools the inside of the roof space 30, and at the same time, takes away the heat of the roof panel 10. As a result, the heat from the ceiling can be suppressed from entering the vehicle interior, and the vehicle interior can be brought to a comfortable temperature in a relatively short time. In addition, the load on the air conditioner can be reduced and energy loss can be suppressed.
Since the heat of the roof space 30 can be continuously dissipated even when the vehicle is running under the scorching sun, the interior of the vehicle can be maintained at a comfortable temperature without imposing a large load on the air conditioner.

It is also possible to send uncooled air from the front defroster 5 to the roof space 30. In this case, the roof space 30 can be cooled while saving energy.
In cold weather, heated air from the front defroster 5 may be sent to the roof space 30. In this case, the temperature inside the vehicle can be raised to a comfortable temperature in a relatively short time.

In the present embodiment, the air flowing from the front defroster 5 along the windshield 4 is introduced into the roof space 30 as it is, so that the air flow does not need to be significantly changed and is smoothly introduced into the roof space 30. Can be done. In addition, no special equipment such as an air duct is required, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be avoided.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the front edge 20x of the roof trim 20 protrudes from the front edge 10x of the roof panel 10 and faces the upper edge of the windshield 4, the air flowing along the windshield 4 flows. , The air inlet 35 can be entered more smoothly.

Next, additional features of the present embodiment will be described.
The roof trim 20 is provided with an obstacle that obstructs the flow of air in the roof space 30. More specifically, in the central portion of the roof trim 20 in the vehicle width direction, the monitoring unit 21 of the collision avoidance system, the room lamp device 22 (central obstacle), and the high mount mounting seat 23 are spaced apart from the front to the rear. Is installed. Sun visor mounting seats 24 are mounted on the left and right corners on the front side of the roof trim 20. Further, shock absorbing pads 25 and 26 (side obstacles) and shock absorbing pads 27 (other obstacles) are mounted along the left and right edges of the roof trim 20 at intervals from front to back. ing.

Due to the obstacle, the air introduced from the air introduction port 35 passes through two main flow paths in the roof space 30. That is, it is a flow path between the central monitoring unit 21, the room lamp device 22, the high mount mounting seat 23, and the left and right shock absorbing pads 25, 26, 27.

In the present embodiment, various types of guide means are arranged so that air can flow smoothly through the two main passages on the left and right. Hereinafter, the description will be given in order along the flow of air.
The air introduced from the air introduction port 35 passes between the monitoring unit 21 and the left and right shock absorbing pads 25. On the front surface of the shock absorbing pad 25 (on the right side), a guide member 41 having a triangular planar shape is fixed with its apex facing forward. The guide member 41 has a pair of left and right guide surfaces 41a whose distance from each other increases toward the rear. The guide member 41 allows air to flow smoothly between the impact pad 25 on the right side and the monitoring unit 21. In this embodiment, the guide member 41 is not provided on the left shock absorbing pad 25 for the convenience of design, but if the design allows, the left shock absorbing pad 25 may also be provided with the guide member 41. good.

A guide plate 42 (side guide plate) is fixed to the center side of the left and right shock absorbing pads 25 in the vehicle width direction. The guide plate 42 extends rearward from the shock absorbing pad 25 and curves toward the center so as to close between the shock absorbing pads 25 and 26. These guide plates 42 prevent air flowing through the main flow path from entering between the shock absorbing pads 25 and 26 and causing turbulence, so that the air flow can be smoothed.

A flat triangular guide member 43 (sub-guide member) is fixed to the front surface of the room lamp device 22 with its apex facing forward. The guide member 43 has a pair of left and right guide surfaces 43a (secondary guide surfaces) whose distance from each other increases toward the rear. The guide member 43 can smoothly return the air flowing from the left and right main flow paths between the monitoring unit 21 and the room lamp device 22 to the left and right main flow paths.

Guide plates 44 (central guide plates) are fixed to the left and right of the room lamp device 22. These guide plates 44 extend to the rear of the room lamp device 22 and are curved in a direction slightly away from the center. These guide plates 44 can suppress the air passing to the left and right of the room lamp device 22 from wrapping around to the rear to generate a vortex.

A guide member 45 (main guide member) forming a flat triangular shape is fixed to the front surface of the high mount mounting seat 23 with its apex facing forward. The guide member 45 has a pair of left and right guide surfaces 45a (main guide surfaces) whose distance from each other increases toward the rear. The guide member 45 changes the direction of the air flowing through the main flow paths on the left and right so as to face the internal space 3x of the left and right C pillars 3, and is centered between the room lamp device 22 and the high mount mounting seat 23. The air flowing closer to it is divided into two parts and directed to the internal space 3x of the C-pillar 3.

The left and right shock absorbing pads 27 are arranged in the vicinity of the C pillar 3, and a guide member 46 (auxiliary guide member) forming a flat triangular shape is fixed to the front surface thereof with its apex facing forward. .. The guide member 46 has a pair of left and right guide surfaces 46a (auxiliary guide surfaces) whose distance from each other increases toward the rear. The guide member 46 divides the air toward the C-pillar 3 through the main flow path into two parts, suppresses the turbulence generated when the air directly hits the shock absorbing pad 27, and smoothly directs the air toward the C-pillar 3. It can be changed.

A guide plate 47 is fixed to a corner portion away from the center of the rear end edge of the left and right shock absorbing pads 27. The guide plate 47 extends rearward, suppresses the air flowing on the outside separated by the guide member 46 from wrapping around behind the shock absorbing pad 27 to generate a vortex, and smoothly flows to the pillar connection portion 20c. Can be done.

As shown in FIG. 4, a valve 50 may be provided in, for example, the lower end opening of the internal space 3x (air discharge path) of the C-pillar. The valve 50 is open / closed controlled by a controller (not shown) installed in the vehicle based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 51 arranged in the internal space 3x. For example, when the detected temperature is within a predetermined temperature range, the valve 50 is closed and the air flow in the roof space 30 is stopped. As a result, all the cold air and warm air from the front defroster 5 can be supplied to the vehicle interior, and waste of energy can be eliminated.

The valve 50 may be installed at an arbitrary position in the internal space 3x, at a connection portion with the internal space 3x in the roof space 30, or may be installed at the vacant space introduction port 35.
The temperature sensor 51 may be installed in the roof space 30.
The valve 50 may be opened and closed in response to an operation signal by the occupant without using the temperature sensor 51.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various aspects are possible.
The air discharge path may be the internal space of the D pillar as the rear pillar or the internal space of the rear quarter. In addition to the rear pillars, or in place of the rear pillars, the interior space of the center pillar may be provided as an air exhaust path.
The interior space of the door may be provided as an air exhaust path.

The front edge of the roof trim is formed so as to stand up toward the roof panel, and a plurality of air inlets are formed at the front edge at intervals in the vehicle width direction, or an elongated air introduction in the vehicle width direction is formed. The mouth may be formed.
When the roof trim is provided twice and the roof space is divided into two spaces, air may flow in the space between the upper roof trim and the roof panel, or the passenger compartment may be used. Air may flow in the space between the lower roof trim and the upper roof trim facing the air.

The present invention can be applied to a structure in which the temperature of a vehicle roof is controlled.

1 Vehicle roof 3 C pillar (rear pillar)
Internal space of 3x C pillar (air exhaust path)
4 Windshield 5 Front defroster 10 Roof panel 10x Roof panel front edge 20 Roof trim 20 x Roof trim front edge 22 Room lamp device (central obstacle)
25,26 Impact absorption pad (side obstacle)
27 Impact absorption pad (other obstacles)
30 Roof space 35 Air inlet 42 Guide plate (side guide plate)
43 Guide member (secondary guide member)
43a Guide surface (secondary guide surface)
44 Guide plate (central guide plate)
45 Guide member (main guide member)
45a Guide surface (main guide surface)
46 Guide member (auxiliary guide member)
46a Guide surface (auxiliary guide surface)

Claims (5)

In the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof that controls the temperature of the roof space formed between the roof panel and the roof trim facing the passenger compartment,
An air inlet that introduces air flowing from the front defroster along the windshield into the roof space is formed between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim, or at the front edge of the roof trim. Being done
The roof space is connected to an air discharge path that discharges the air flowing through the roof space to the outside of the vehicle.
The air inlet is formed by a gap between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim, and extends in the vehicle width direction.
A vehicle roof temperature control structure characterized in that the front end edge of the roof trim protrudes forward from the front end edge of the roof panel and faces the indoor surface of the windshield. In the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof that controls the temperature of the roof space formed between the roof panel and the roof trim facing the passenger compartment,
An air inlet that introduces air flowing from the front defroster along the windshield into the roof space is formed between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim, or at the front edge of the roof trim. Being done
The roof space is connected to an air discharge path that discharges the air flowing through the roof space to the outside of the vehicle.
The air exhaust passages are arranged in pairs on the left and right, and these air exhaust passages are connected to the left and right of the roof space.
A main guide member is arranged in the central portion of the roof space in the vehicle width direction, and the main guide member has a pair of left and right main guide surfaces that widen the distance from each other toward the rear, and these pair of main guide surfaces. Due to the guide surface, the air flowing through the roof space is divided into left and right toward the pair of air discharge paths.
A central obstacle is arranged in front of the main guide member in the central portion of the roof space in the vehicle width direction, and a sub guide member is fixed to the front side of the central obstacle, and the sub guide member is rearward. It has a pair of left and right sub-guide surfaces that widen the distance from each other toward the center, and these pair of sub-guide surfaces divide the air flow toward the central obstacle into the left and right sides of the central obstacle. Vehicle roof temperature control structure. A pair of central guide plates extending rearward from the central obstacle are fixed to the left and right of the central obstacle, and the pair of central guide plates suppresses air from wrapping around behind the central obstacle. The temperature control structure for a vehicle roof according to claim 2 . In the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof that controls the temperature of the roof space formed between the roof panel and the roof trim facing the passenger compartment,
An air inlet that introduces air flowing from the front defroster along the windshield into the roof space is formed between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim, or at the front edge of the roof trim. Being done
The roof space is connected to an air discharge path that discharges the air flowing through the roof space to the outside of the vehicle.
The air exhaust passages are arranged in pairs on the left and right, and these air exhaust passages are connected to the left and right of the roof space.
A main guide member is arranged in the central portion of the roof space in the vehicle width direction, and the main guide member has a pair of left and right main guide surfaces that widen the distance from each other toward the rear, and these pair of main guide surfaces. Due to the guide surface, the air flowing through the roof space is divided into left and right toward the pair of air discharge paths.
In the roof space, side obstacles separated in the front-rear direction are arranged at at least one of the left and right edges thereof, and the front side obstacle is located on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the front side obstacle. A vehicle roof temperature control structure characterized in that a side guide plate extending rearward from an object is fixed, and the side guide plate suppresses the inflow of air between front and rear side obstacles. In the temperature control structure of the vehicle roof that controls the temperature of the roof space formed between the roof panel and the roof trim facing the passenger compartment,
An air inlet that introduces air flowing from the front defroster along the windshield into the roof space is formed between the front edge of the roof panel and the front edge of the roof trim, or at the front edge of the roof trim. Being done
The roof space is connected to an air discharge path that discharges the air flowing through the roof space to the outside of the vehicle.
The air exhaust passages are arranged in pairs on the left and right, and these air exhaust passages are connected to the left and right of the roof space.
A main guide member is arranged in the central portion of the roof space in the vehicle width direction, and the main guide member has a pair of left and right main guide surfaces that widen the distance from each other toward the rear, and these pair of main guide surfaces. Due to the guide surface, the air flowing through the roof space is divided into left and right toward the pair of air discharge paths.
In the roof space, other obstacles are arranged in the vicinity of the air exhaust passage, and an auxiliary guide member is fixed to the front side of the other obstacle, and the auxiliary guide members are mutually toward the rear. The vehicle roof is characterized by having a pair of left and right auxiliary guide surfaces that widen the space between the two, and the pair of auxiliary guide surfaces divides the air flow toward the other obstacle into the left and right of the other obstacle. Temperature control structure.

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