JPH09109841A - Cowl louver for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To utilize a space effectively by a simple structure without installing a tank to an engine room, a room inside and a place where the shock of a body is easy to be added. SOLUTION: A washer tank 18 stored a washer liquid used at the washing time of a front window 13 by a wiper and a reservoir tank 19 stored a radiator liquid, power steering oil, clutch liquid and brake liquid are formed integrally by a resin molding like a blow molding and an injection molding in a cowl louver 11 which is one constitution member of the cowl top part 15 of an automobile. The washer tank 18 and reservoir tank 19 integrated with cowl louver 11 are stored and arranged in the ventilation duct of a cowl inner by that this cowl louver 11 is assembled in the cowl inner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cowl louver for an automobile, and more particularly, to a cowl top portion provided between an engine room at a front portion of a vehicle and a front window to form a ventilation duct between the outside and the inside of the vehicle. Regarding the cowl louvers that make up the section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an engine room 1 provided in a front portion of an automobile, a washer tank 3 containing a washer liquid used for cleaning a front window 2 with a wiper and a radiator liquid as shown in FIG. A reservoir tank 4 containing power steering oil, clutch fluid, brake fluid, and the like is stored and arranged.
These tanks 3 and 4 are usually installed at predetermined exclusive locations in the engine room 1 in terms of vehicle maintenance.

On the other hand, the washer tank 3, the reservoir tank 4, and the like are installed in the engine room 1 as described above, and in addition, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-91442, a vehicle instrument. It is formed integrally with an under tray installed below the panel, or has a structure that uses an armrest of an automobile door as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-17958, and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-28719. As disclosed, there is a structure in which a door garnish provided with a washer tank is attached to an outer panel of a door.

In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-77761, a structure is such that a tank is housed in a fender panel adjacent to the engine room, or in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-62.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. -100259, there is a structure in which a washer tank is integrally formed inside a resin fender panel.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-38853, a bumper having a hollow double-wall structure in which a tank is formed in the hollow portion, and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-12.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5680, there is a structure in which a spoiler attached to the rear part of an automobile is hollow-molded with a synthetic resin and a cleaning liquid is contained inside.

[0006]

By the way, in the case where the washer tank 3, the reservoir tank 4 and the like are housed in the engine room 1 as shown in FIG.
4 is required to be installed at a predetermined exclusive place in the engine room 1 in terms of vehicle maintenance, and thus it is difficult to secure a mounting space. Further, since the washer tank 3, the reservoir tank 4 and the like described above are resin moldings which are independent of each other, it is necessary to use the required number of tanks 3 and 4, resulting in an increase in the number of parts and an increase in cost. It will also happen.

Further, as in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-91442, a tank is integrally formed on an under tray under the instrument panel, and as in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-17958, an armrest of an automobile door is used. In the case of the structure, the liquid pipe is installed in the room, which causes a problem when the liquid leaks due to some reason. Also,
When the amount of the liquid in the tank is low, the sound of the liquid waving in the tank is generated due to the vibration during traveling and the quietness in the room is hindered.

Further, as in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-28719, a structure in which a washer tank is attached to an outer panel of a door, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-77761 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-62.
For example, a structure in which a tank is housed in a fender panel as in JP-A-100259, a tank in which a bumper is formed as in JP-A-60-38853, and a spoiler in JP-A-63-125680. In the case of the structure containing the cleaning liquid, the tank or the like may be damaged by the impact from the outside, and in that case, liquid leakage occurs and causes various troubles. In particular, the actual exploitation Sho 62-10025
In the case of the structure in which the washer tank is integrally formed on the fender panel as in Japanese Patent No. 9, there is a high possibility that it will be damaged due to an impact from the outside, and the problem due to liquid leakage is remarkable.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to simply install a tank in an engine room or a room, or in a place where a shock of a body is likely to be applied. It is possible to effectively use the space with such a structure.

[0010]

As a technical means for achieving the above object, the present invention provides a resin cowl louver for closing a cowl inner portion of a cowl top portion formed adjacent to an engine room in a front portion of a vehicle, The liquid storage tank is formed by resin integral molding, and the liquid storage tank is housed and arranged in the cowl inner.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a cowl louver for an automobile according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The cowl louver 11 for an automobile of the present invention is formed adjacent to the engine room 12 between an engine room 12 and a front window 13 in the front part of the vehicle as shown in FIGS. It is one constituent member of the cowl top portion 15 forming the duct 14. The cowl top portion 15 is attached to the vehicle body 16 by welding or the like, and has a concave metal cowl inner 17 that forms the ventilation duct 14 between the vehicle exterior and the vehicle interior, and the cowl inner 17.
The vehicle cowl louver 11 is attached to the end of the vehicle body 16 protruding from the front and rear sides of the upper opening of the vehicle by screwing or the like and closes the upper opening of the cowl inner 17.

The feature of the present invention is that the cowl top portion 15 is provided.
It is in the cowl louver 11 which is one of the components. The cowl louver 11 is a liquid storage tank, for example, a washer tank 18 containing a washer liquid used when cleaning the front window 13 with a wiper, and a reservoir containing a radiator liquid, power steering oil, clutch liquid, brake liquid, and the like. The tank 19 is integrally formed by resin molding such as blow molding or injection molding. By attaching the cowl louver 11 to the cowl louver 17, the washer tank 18 and the reservoir tank 19 integrated with the cowl louver 11 described above are
It will be housed and arranged in the ventilation duct 14.

In this embodiment, an injection hole 20 is formed in the cowl louver 11 where the washer tank 18 and the reservoir tank 19 are formed, and the injection hole 20 is provided.
The cap 21 that closes is attached detachably. In this structure, the cap 21 projects from the upper surface of the cowl louver 11.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
If the peripheral portion of 0'is formed in a concave shape and the cap 21 is detachably attached to the concave injection hole 20 ', the upper surface of the cap 21 can be made substantially flush with the cowl louver 11'. Therefore, a good appearance can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a substantially L-shaped injection pipe 22 bent upward is integrally extended to the washer tank 18 and the reservoir tank 19 and is bored in the side wall portion of the engine room of the cowl inner 17. If the structure is such that the cap 21 is inserted into the hole 23 and arranged in the engine room 12, and the cap 21 is detachably attached to the tip of the injection pipe 22, it is necessary to provide the injection hole and the cap in the tank forming portion of the cowl louver 11 ″. 3 is obtained, and the appearance is much better than in the case of FIG.

When the washer tank 18 and the reservoir tank 19 are housed and arranged in the ventilation duct 14 of the cowl inner 17 as described above, it may be difficult to confirm the amount of liquid in the tanks 18 and 19. For example, if the float is floated in the tanks 18 and 19 and the float can be visually confirmed by removing the cap 21, it is possible to recognize the liquid amount in the tanks 18 and 19.

[0017]

According to the present invention, a liquid storage tank is formed by resin integral molding on a resin cowl louver that closes a cowl inner of a cowl top portion formed adjacent to an engine room in the front of a vehicle, and the storage tank is formed. By arranging the liquid tank in the cowl inner, it is not necessary to provide the tank in the engine room, so that the space can be effectively used. Further, since the tank is a resin integrally molded product with the cowl louver, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and easily realize cost reduction. Further, since it is not necessary to install the liquid pipe from the tank in the room, trouble due to liquid leakage does not occur and the quietness in the room is not hindered. Further, since the attachment portion of the cowl louver is not a portion to which an external impact is likely to be applied, there is no possibility of causing trouble due to liquid leakage due to breakage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a state in which a cowl louver according to the present invention is assembled to a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which the cap of the tank is substantially flush with the cowl louver.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, showing a structure in which an injection pipe of a tank is extended to an engine room.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a structure in which a washer tank and a reservoir tank are installed in an engine room.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Cowl Louver 12 Engine Room 15 Cowl Top 17 Cowl Inner 18 Liquid Storage Tank (Washer Tank) 19 Liquid Storage Tank (Reservoir Tank)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A liquid storage tank is formed by resin integral molding on a resin cowl louver that closes a cowl inner portion of a cowl top portion formed adjacent to an engine room in a vehicle front portion, and the liquid storage tank is formed by the cowl inner layer. A cowl louver for automobiles, characterized by being stored inside.