JPH11348602A - Defroster structure for instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suitably prevent the reflection of an air diffuser on a windshield, deformation or the like caused by heat history by enabling the efficient removal of cloud or frost on the windshield. SOLUTION: A defrosting air guide duct 30 is integrally formed with an air diffuser 45 and internally defines distribution spaces 37, 43 for communicating the air diffuser 45 with an air conditioning unit 25. On installing the defrosting air guide duct 30 and a panel body 11 on a car body 60, the defrosting air guide duct 30 is positioned in the interior of the panel body 11 at its upper side. The air diffuser 45 is positioned between the exterior of an upper surface end edge part 11a in the panel body 11 and the lower end edge 61a of the windshield 61. The air diffuser 45 is provided with a blow-off guide part 44 set at generally the same angle as the tilt angle inherent to the windshield 61. Temperature conditioning air is blown off along the windshield 61. The air diffuser 45 is less visualized from a passenger compartment, preventing reflection on the windshield 61.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defroster structure for an instrument panel, and more particularly, to suitably remove fogging and frost from a windshield of an instrument panel installed in a passenger compartment of a passenger car or the like. And a defroster structure for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In front of a passenger compartment of a passenger car or the like,
An instrument panel formed into a required shape, extending in the vehicle width direction, and functioning as a base for installing various on-vehicle devices and equipment is provided. For example, in a typical instrument panel, an instrument panel equipped with a speedometer, tachometer, various indicator lights, etc. is arranged at a position that is easily visible from the driver's seat, and a glove box that stores various booths and vehicle verification etc. It is installed on the passenger seat side and the like, and the operation panel and the like of the audio and the air conditioner unit are located substantially at the center. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the air conditioner unit is fixed to a firewall (partition wall) 64 that partitions the inside of the passenger compartment 63 and the front of the vehicle body, and is disposed so as to be covered by the instrument panel 70. By appropriately operating a temperature adjustment dial, a wind direction adjustment switch, and the like disposed on the air conditioning operation panel 71, the temperature of the conditioned air and the blowout amount are set, and comprehensive air conditioning control of the passenger compartment 63 is performed. I am getting it. That is, the conditioned air adjusted to the predetermined temperature by the air conditioner unit 25 is supplied from the front air outlet 73 provided on the front surface of the instrument panel 70 and communicated with the air conditioner unit 25 via the air duct 72 to the passenger compartment. The air is blown backward in the passenger compartment 63 and circulates in the passenger compartment 63.

The instrument panel 70 has a defrost function using the air conditioner unit 25 in order to remove fogging and frost generated on a windshield 61 and a side glass 62 installed on a vehicle body in front of a passenger compartment 63. Have been. That is, a defroster grill 74 having an air outlet 75 which is elongated in the vehicle width direction is formed on the rear side of the upper surface of the instrument panel 70 (below the windshield 61). It is assembled in a state of being communicated through. Thereby, when the defrost mode is set by an appropriate operation on the air conditioning operation panel 71, the temperature-controlled air sent from the air conditioning unit 25 to the defroster grill 74 side is blown into the windshield 61, and The fogging and frost generated on the glass 61 are removed. The defroster grill for the side glass 62 is provided on the instrument panel 7.
0 are installed on the upper surface of both right and left ends.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional instrument panel 70, the windshield 6
As shown in FIG. 10, the defroster grille 74 is located at an appropriate distance from the lower end of the windshield 61 in order to secure a driver's view in a short time when removing fogging and frost. Together with the air duct 7
By inclining the exit side of the vehicle at the required angle to the rear of the passenger compartment, the temperature-controlled air can be intensively blown to the substantially central portion of the windshield 61. Therefore, the temperature-controlled air is blown at a required angle (for example, about 30 degrees) with respect to the windshield 61.
As a result, the vehicle is decelerated and deenergized by the collision, and in some cases, it may not be possible to reach the upper edge of the windshield 61. Therefore, even if it is possible to remove the fogging and frost from the central portion of the windshield 61 in a short time, there is an inherent disadvantage that it takes much time to remove the entire surface. Also,
If the driver of the vehicle starts driving when only the view of the central portion of the windshield 61 is secured, there is also a problem that poor visibility impairs safe driving. It should be noted that even if the temperature-controlled air can be spread over the entire surface of the windshield 61 by increasing the blow-out speed of the temperature-controlled air from the air outlet 75 and increasing the amount of the blow-out, the fan provided in the air conditioner unit 25 However, new problems such as an increase in cost due to an increase in the size of the motor and an increase in the noise of blowing out the temperature-controlled air are caused.

On the other hand, as described above, the defroster grille 74, which also serves as a decoration, is located at a required distance from the lower edge of the windshield 61 and extends elongated over substantially the entire width in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, there is also an inconvenience that, when sunlight rays enter from above the front, the contour of the defroster grill 74 (air outlet 75) is reflected on the windshield 61. As described above, when the defroster grille 74 is reflected on the windshield 61, it has been pointed out that the occupants may be obstructed and have poor visibility, and in particular, may hinder safe driving. Moreover, the defroster grill 74 is formed as a separate member from the instrument panel 70 mainly in terms of cost and the like.
Because of the one-touch fitting structure with respect to 0, distortion occurs due to heat history due to intense direct heat of summer sunlight, and there is also a problem that inconvenience such as floating or warping from the upper surface of the panel 70 occurs. It was left as a solution. Further, since it is necessary to integrally form an engaging portion such as a hook-like hook so as to be a one-touch fitting type, the manufacturing cost of a molding die for the defroster grill 74 is increased, thereby increasing the cost of the instrument panel 70. Was bringing up.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has been proposed in order to solve the problem appropriately. An air outlet for temperature-controlled air delivered from an air conditioner unit is provided at a rear end of an upper surface of an instrument panel. By arranging the air outlet so as to be adjacent to the lower edge of the windshield, the temperature-controlled air is brought into contact with the entire surface of the windshield to enable efficient removal of fogging and frost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a defroster structure of an instrument panel, which can suitably prevent the air outlet from being reflected on a windshield and deformation due to heat history, and can reduce the manufacturing cost of the panel.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and appropriately achieve the intended purpose, a defroster structure for an instrument panel according to the present invention is provided. In an instrument panel having a defrost function of blowing out toward the windshield and removing fogging and frost generated on the windshield, the instrument panel is integrally formed with an air outlet, and the air outlet and the air outlet are formed integrally. A defrost air guide duct in which a circulation space communicating with the air conditioner unit is defined, and a panel body attached to the vehicle body in a state of being close to the front of the passenger compartment, wherein the panel body is attached to the vehicle body. At this time, the defrost air guide duct is located on the upper side inside the panel body,
By aligning the air outlet of the defrost air guide duct along the outer edge of the upper surface of the panel main body, the air outlet is positioned close to the lower edge of the windshield, thereby controlling the temperature from the air outlet. It is characterized in that air is blown to substantially the entirety of the windshield.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a defroster structure of an instrument panel according to the present invention. The same members as those described above in connection with the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an instrument panel in which a defroster structure according to the present invention is implemented.
FIG. 2 shows the instrument panel 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the right and left central portions (center console portion). The instrument panel 10 of the present embodiment has a panel body 11 formed in a required shape, and an instrument panel 12 provided with a speedometer, a tachometer, various indicator lights, and the like is easily visible from a driver's seat (in the embodiment, the center of the upper surface). A glove box 13 and an airbag (not shown) for accommodating various booths, vehicle verification, and the like are installed on the passenger seat side, and a steering column insertion port 14 is provided on the driver seat side. Is attached. An air conditioner operation panel 16 for controlling the operation of an air conditioner unit 25, which will be described later, and audio equipment 17 are disposed vertically above and below the center console unit. Below the audio equipment 17, an ashtray 18 and a cigar lighter 1 are arranged.
9 are provided. For convenience of explanation, the left side in FIG. 1 is the “left side” of the instrument panel, the right side is the “right side” of the instrument panel, and the near side in FIG. 1 is the “front side” and the back side of the instrument panel (FIG. 2 is referred to as “rear side”.

(About the panel body) The panel body 11
Is, for example, one integrally molded from an olefin-based resin material such as polypropylene (PP), and a skin material (not shown) with a pad or the like is completely or partially adhered as necessary. Thus, the texture of the entire instrument panel 10 can be improved. At a required position of the panel main body 11, a plurality of air outlets connected to the air conditioner unit 25 are installed. That is, on the left and right sides of the panel main body 11, the first air blowing portions 20, which have the air blowing ports 20a provided with the wind direction control plates,
20 is installed, and the temperature-controlled air that is aligned with the opening on the outlet side of the air duct 21 connected to the air conditioner unit 25 and that is sent from the air conditioner unit 25 to the air duct 21 is passed through the first air blowing unit 20. To the rear of the passenger compartment 63. In the instrument panel 10 of the embodiment, the air duct 21 is formed integrally with the panel main body 11 (see FIG. 2). Also, the panel body 1
1, the first air blowing portions 20, 2
On the rear side of the upper surface of the air conditioner 0, second air blowout portions 22, 22 having air blowout holes 22 are installed.
The temperature-controlled air delivered from the air conditioner unit 25 is aligned with the opening on the outlet side of another air duct (not shown) connected to the side glass 6 through the second air blowing unit 22.
The air is guided to the two sides. That is, the second
The air blowout portions 22 and 22 are blowout portions of temperature-controlled air used for removing fogging and frost generated on the left and right side glasses 62.

(Regarding Air Conditioning Unit) As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning unit 25 is provided at a lower front portion of a passenger compartment 63 with a firewall 64 for partitioning the passenger compartment 63 from the front of the vehicle body and a reinforcement for reinforcing the vehicle body. It is firmly attached to the bar 65 or the like using a fixing means 26 such as a bolt. By appropriately operating a temperature adjustment dial, a wind direction adjustment button, and the like of the air conditioning operation panel 16 disposed on the panel main body 11, the temperature of the conditioned air, the blowout amount, the blowout position, and the like are comprehensively controlled. It has become. For example, when an appropriate air conditioning mode is set on the air conditioning operation panel 10, the air conditioning unit 25
The air delivery position in the inside is changed and controlled, and the air duct 21 is controlled.
Conditioned air is delivered to the side. The air conditioning operation panel 10
When the defrost mode is set in (1), the conditioned air is sent to the air duct communicating with the second air blowing portions 22 and 22 and a defrost air guide duct 30 described later.

(Regarding Defrost Air Guide Duct) In the instrument panel 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. A defrost air guide duct 30 that guides the air flow from the air conditioner unit 25 to the windshield 61 is attached and fixed to the inside rear side of the panel main body 11 by appropriate fastening means (not shown) such as screws and bolts. This defrost air guide duct 30
For example, an air inflow cylinder portion 31 made of an olefin resin or the like and formed by blow molding or injection molding and connected to the upper surface of the air conditioner unit 25 to form an air inflow port 32 at a lower side; The air flow tube portion 3 extending to the left and right sides of the tube portion 31 and extending in the left-right direction of the passenger compartment 63 below the windshield 61.
8, 38, and an air blow-out tube portion 42 extending upward from the rear end surfaces of the air inflow tube portion 31 and the air flow tube portions 38, 38 and facing the lower end edge 61a of the windshield 61 (see FIG. 1). (See FIG. 4).

The air inflow cylindrical portion 31 is formed in a hollow box shape in which a temperature-controlled air circulation space 37 is defined.
A first inclined surface 3 whose upward directing surface is inclined upward and rearward.
3 and the second that is inclined upward toward the upper right and upper left
It is formed from inclined surfaces 34, 34. In addition, air circulation ports 35 and 36 are formed on the left and right end surfaces and the rear end surface,
The conditioned air from the air conditioner unit 25 that has flowed into the circulation space 37 from the air inlet 32 is supplied to each air passage 3
The air is guided to the air flow tube 38 and the air blow-out tube 42 via the air passages 5 and 36.

The air flow cylinders 38, 38 are formed in a thin rectangular pipe body having a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the temperature-controlled air. , And each end portion is displaced forward and upward to have a gentle curved shape as a whole. And
The air space 35 of the air inlet tube 31 and the air space 39 of each air flow tube 38 spatially communicate with each other through the air inlet 35 formed on the side end surface of the air inlet tube 31. The conditioned air from the unit 25 is supplied to the air circulation port 35.
Is guided into the distribution space 39 through the distribution space. In addition, an air circulation port 40 is formed in the rear end surface of the air circulation cylinders 38, 38 so that the conditioned air that has flowed into the circulation space 39 flows out to the air blowing cylinder 42. It should be noted that the second inclined surface 34 formed on the upper surface of the air inflow cylindrical portion 31 allows
The flow control of the conditioned air from the air inflow tube portion 31 to the air circulation tube portions 38 is smoothly performed.

The air blow-out tube portion 42 is provided in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the air inflow cylinder portion 31 and the rear end surfaces of the air circulation cylinder portions 38, 38 extend rearward and upward at a required angle and at a required angle. It is in spatial communication with each of the tubular portions 31 and 38 through the ports 36 and 40. The air outlet cylinder portion 42 is formed in a side-shape, and the upper end portion thereof is bent at a substantially right angle as a blow-out guide portion 44, and an elongated air outlet 45 is formed at the upper end of the blow-out guide portion 44. Have been. That is, the blowout guide portion 44 is inclined upward and forward at substantially the same angle as the tilt angle inherent to the windshield 61 attached to the vehicle body 60, and the air outlet 45 is located at the rear end of the upper surface of the panel body 11. It extends along the portion 11a. Therefore, the temperature-controlled air flowing from the air inflow cylinder 31 and the air circulation cylinder 38 rises in the circulation space 43 and changes the circulation direction in the blowout guide 44, and finally, the inclination angle of the windshield 61. The air blows from the rear end 11a of the upper surface of the panel main body 11 into the passenger compartment 63 at substantially the same angle as that of FIG. The air outlet 45 extends in a horizontally long curved shape in which the left and right ends are displaced forward on the horizontal plane so as to match the curved shape of the lower edge 61 a of the windshield 61.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the air blowing cylinder 42 is provided on the instrument panel 1.
In order to avoid engaging means (described later) for attaching and fixing 0 to the vehicle body 60 in front of the passenger compartment 63, concave portions 46 are defined at three positions corresponding to the engaging means, and the air outlet is provided. The reference numeral 45 is divided into a total of four pieces. These recesses 4
8 is formed in an inverted trapezoidal shape which expands upward as shown in FIG.
Is formed in a tapered shape toward the air outlet 45. As a result, smooth blowing of the temperature-controlled air and acceleration at the time of blowing can be achieved, and the temperature-controlled air can be spread all at once to the upper end edge and the left and right side edges of the windshield 61, thereby improving the efficiency of the defrost function. It can be planned.

(Installation of Instrument Panel) The instrument panel 10 to which the defrost air guide duct 30 formed as described above is attached is attached to the vehicle body 60 in front of the passenger compartment 63 by using an appropriate engaging means. Fixed.
That is, the upper rear end portion 11 of the panel body 11
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a plurality of engaging projection members 53 having engaging rods 54 projecting rearward are provided at appropriate intervals in the vehicle width direction (5 in this embodiment). ) Are arranged. At a required position of the vehicle body 60, as shown in FIG. 6, an engagement receiving member 50 provided with an engagement hole 52 formed on the rear side of the occupant compartment 63 and having an elastically deformable locking member 51 as appropriate.
Are formed corresponding to the engagement protrusion members 53. Therefore, when positioning the panel main body 11 with respect to the vehicle body 60 from the rear side of the passenger compartment 63, each of the engagement protrusion members 53
The panel body 11 is pressed toward the vehicle body 60 in a state where the and the corresponding engagement receiving members 50 are aligned, so that the engagement holes 52 are formed.
The engaging rod 54 protrudes and the locking member 51 is locked, so that each engaging receiving member 50 and each engaging protruding member 53 are engaged, and the upper rear end portion 11a of the panel body 11 is engaged. Side is body 6
At 0, it is fixed so that it cannot be easily separated. Further, lower portions on both sides of the panel main body 11 are attached and fixed to predetermined positions of the vehicle body 60 using bolts or the like (not shown).

As described above, the instrument panel 10 of the present embodiment mounted and fixed to the vehicle body 60 in front of the passenger compartment 63.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, the air outlet 45 of the defrost air guide duct 30 extends horizontally and horizontally along the lower edge 61a of the windshield 61. . Accordingly, the temperature-controlled air sent from the air conditioner unit 25 to the defrost air guide duct 30 is supplied to the air blow-out tube via the flow space 37 of the air inlet tube 31 and the flow space 39 of the air flow tube 38 of the duct 30. After flowing out into the circulation space 43 of the portion 42, the windshield 61
Blows to the vicinity of the lower edge 61a of the windshield 61 and rises along the inner surface of the windshield 61.
Clouding and frost adhering to the entire surface can be efficiently removed almost entirely.

[0019]

Next, the operation of the defroster structure of the instrument panel according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The defrost air guide duct 30 in the defroster structure of the embodiment is manufactured by blow molding or injection molding. Note that the defrost air guide duct 30 of the embodiment is a hollow body in which flow spaces 37, 39, and 43 functioning as temperature control air flow paths are defined. Can be integrally formed, and in the case of manufacturing by injection molding, it is preferable that each part is assembled after being divided into a plurality of parts and formed. Then, the defrost air guide duct 30 manufactured in a required shape is attached and fixed to the panel main body 11 integrally formed by injection molding or the like on the inner rear side of the panel main body 11 by a required engaging means. The air outlet 45 extends along the upper rear end 11a of the panel body 11 (see FIG. 1).

The instrument panel 10 formed by attaching and fixing the defrost air guide duct 30 to the panel main body 11 is provided with the engagement between the engaging projection members 53 and the engagement receiving members 50. The rear end 11a of the upper surface of the panel body 11 is fixed to the vehicle body 60 so that it cannot be easily separated.
(See FIG. 6). At this time, the air inlet 32 of the air inlet tube 31 in the defrost air guide duct 30 is connected to the air conditioner unit 2 previously mounted and fixed to the vehicle body 60 (firewall 64 and reinforcement bar 65).
5, and the connection between the air conditioner unit 25 and the duct 30 is made at the same time. Further, the air outlet 45 of the defrost air guide duct 30 extends horizontally and horizontally along the lower edge 61a of the windshield 61 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Further, the air inlet of the air duct 21 is also aligned and connected to the upper surface of the air conditioner unit 25. The instrument panel 10 is attached to and fixed to a predetermined position of the vehicle body 60 using bolts or the like on both sides of the panel main body 11, so that the instrument panel 10
It is suitably mounted and fixed to the front vehicle body 60 (see FIG. 2).

In the instrument panel 10 of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the air-conditioning unit 25 is appropriately driven by a button (lever) operation or a dial operation on the air-conditioning operation panel 16 disposed on the panel main body 11. By doing so, air conditioning in the passenger compartment 63 is performed. That is, when the required air-conditioning mode is set on the air-conditioning operation panel 16, the temperature-controlled air from the air-conditioning unit 25 is sent to the air duct 21 side. The air is blown rearward in the occupant compartment 63 through the air outlet 20a of the outlet section 20, and the entire occupant compartment 63 is air-conditioned to a predetermined temperature.

When the air conditioning operation panel 16 is set to the defrost mode, the conditioned air from the air conditioner unit 25 is supplied to the defrost air guide duct 3.
The temperature-controlled air at a predetermined temperature is blown out to the front side in the passenger compartment 63 through the air outlet 45. At this time, the temperature-controlled air from each air outlet 45 blows out at substantially the same angle as the angle of inclination of the windshield 61, so that it rises to the upper edge and the left and right edges while contacting the windshield 61, and The fogging generated on the inner surface and the frost adhering to the outer surface are suitably removed. In addition, since the air blow-out tube portion 42 in the defrost air guide duct 30 is tapered toward the air blow-out port 45 by the inverted trapezoidal concave portion 46 as described above.
(Refer to FIG. 8 (b)), the temperature-controlled air blown out from the air outlet 45 is accelerated as appropriate, and spreads all at once to the upper edge, the right and left edge, and the upper right and left corner portions of the windshield 61. Thus, the fogging and frost of the glass 61 can be almost completely and efficiently removed in a short time (see FIG. 8A).

As described above, in the instrument panel defroster structure according to the present embodiment, the temperature-controlled air used for defrosting and defrosting the windshield 61 is blown from a position adjacent to the lower edge 61a of the windshield 61. In addition, the air is blown out at substantially the same angle as the inclination angle of the windshield 61, so that the temperature-controlled air comes into uniform contact with the entire inner surface of the windshield 61, and clouding and frost are efficiently removed. There are advantages that can be eliminated. Moreover, the temperature-controlled air blown out from the air outlet 45 does not collide with the windshield 61, so that the temperature-controlled air is hardly decelerated and de-energized.
1 Air conditioner unit 2
The high load operation of No. 5 eliminates the need to increase the blowing speed of the conditioned air or increase the blowing amount. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the cost can be reduced by downsizing the fan and motor provided in the air conditioner unit 25, and the blowing noise can be suppressed.

The air outlet 45 of the defrost air guide duct 30 is located between the lower edge 61 a of the windshield 61 and the rear end 11 a of the upper surface of the instrument panel 10. Since there is little obstruction, no obstruction occurs, and since no air outlet is provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel 10, the appearance of the panel 10 is extremely simple. Furthermore, the contour shape of the air outlet 45 is hardly reflected on the windshield 61 due to the insertion of the sun rays, and there is no fear that the occupant gets in the way or has poor visibility. Even if the outline shape of the air outlet 45 is reflected on the windshield 61, the windshield 61
Is located near the lower end edge 61a (below the conventional case), and does not hinder the view.

On the other hand, in the defroster structure of the embodiment, since the air outlet 45 of the defrost air guide duct 30 is not formed in the panel main body 11, a defroster grill which also serves as a conventional decoration is not required, and the intense sunshine in summer. There is no deformation due to heat history due to light. In addition, since there is no need to manufacture a defroster grill, the manufacturing cost of the instrument panel 10 can be reduced.

[0026]

FIG. 9 shows another example of a defrost air guide duct implemented in the instrument panel defroster structure according to the present invention. In the defrost air guide duct 56 according to this another example, as shown in FIG. 9B, compared with the defrost air guide duct 30 of the above embodiment,
The shape of the concave portion 46 is changed. That is, in the defrost air guide duct 30 of the embodiment, as described above, the concave portion 46 is formed in an inverted trapezoidal shape to accelerate the blowing speed of the temperature-controlled air, and the upper edge, the left and right edge, and the upper The temperature-controlled air can be spread all at once to the left and right corners, thereby improving the efficiency of the defrost function. On the other hand, in another example of the defrost air guide duct 56, the tapered shape of the concave portion 46 is reversed so that the air blow-out tube portion 42 is formed to have an expanded taper shape toward the air blow-out port 45, thereby blowing out the temperature-controlled air. By widening the range, as shown in FIG. 9A, it is possible to completely remove fogging and frost in an area other than the vicinity of the upper end edge and the upper right and left corners of the windshield 61 in a short time. Become. In addition, by forming the lower end of the concave portion 46 into a curved shape, smooth flow of the temperature-controlled air guided to the air outlet 45 is achieved.

That is, in the defrost air guide duct 30 shown in the above-described embodiment, even if a portion requiring a little time for defrosting and defrosting occurs at an appropriate position in the center of the windshield 61, the outer peripheral edge of the glass 61 There is an advantage that the temperature-controlled air can be spread all at once to the respective parts, and a front view required for safe driving can be secured on the windshield 61 in a short time. On the other hand, in the defrost air guide duct 56 shown in another example, even if a portion that takes a little time for defrosting and defrosting occurs near the upper end edge of the windshield 61, most of the lower portion and the central portion of the glass 61 There is an advantage that the temperature-controlled air can be spread over the entire area, and a front view required for safe driving can be secured on the windshield 61 in a short time. Therefore, the defrost air guide ducts 30 and 56 according to the embodiment and another example have only a slight difference in defrosting and defrosting due to a difference in the form of blowing out the temperature-controlled air. Can be secured in a short time.

In the instrument panel 10 of the embodiment, the defrost air guide duct 30 is assembled to the panel main body 11, and the panel main body 11 to which the duct 30 is assembled is attached and fixed to the vehicle body 60. However, these members 11 and 30 may be individually attached and fixed to the vehicle body 60. That is, first, only the defrost air guide duct 30 is aligned with the air inlet 32 and the air conditioner unit 25, and the air outlet 46 is positioned close to the lower edge 61a of the windshield 61.
It is fixed to the vehicle body 60 in front of the passenger compartment 63 by an appropriate attachment means such as a bolt. Next, the panel main body 11 is
It is attached to the vehicle body 60 in front of the occupant compartment 63 by utilizing the engaging action of the engagement receiving member 3 and the engagement receiving member 50 and a bolt or the like. Even in such a configuration, the air outlet 45 of the defrost air guide duct 30 is connected to the lower end edge 61a of the windshield 61,
It is located between the rear end 11a of the upper surface of the panel main body 11 and the above-described respective effects can be similarly obtained in the defroster structure in this embodiment.

[0029]

As described above, according to the instrument panel defroster structure of the present invention, the temperature-controlled air used for removing the fogging and adhering frost generated on the windshield is removed from the lower edge of the windshield. By being configured to blow out at substantially the same angle as the tilt angle inherent to the glass,
The temperature-controlled air comes into uniform contact with substantially the entirety of the windshield, and there is an advantage that clouding and frost can be efficiently removed in a short time. Moreover, the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet is
Since it does not collide with the windshield, it spreads over the entire glass without being decelerated or de-energized, and there is no need to increase the blowing speed or increase the blowing amount of the temperature-controlled air. Thus, there is an advantage that the cost can be reduced by downsizing the motor and the blowing noise can be suppressed. Further, since the air outlet of the temperature-controlled air is located between the lower edge of the windshield and the rear end of the upper surface of the instrument panel, the contour of the air outlet can be reflected on the windshield. There is no need to worry about occupants getting in the way or having poor visibility. Furthermore, since a defroster grill which also serves as a decoration is not required, deformation is not caused by heat history due to intense sunlight in summer, and advantageous effects such as a reduction in instrument panel manufacturing cost are achieved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an instrument panel implementing a defroster structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the instrument panel shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a defroster structure according to the present embodiment in relation to an instrument panel seen through.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a defrost air guide duct employed in the defroster structure according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view showing a connecting portion between a defrost air guide duct and an air conditioner unit.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing an example of an engaging means for assembling and fixing an instrument panel to a vehicle body.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the defrost air guide duct broken at an appropriate position in front of the driver's seat.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state in which fogging (defrosting) is performed on a windshield by temperature-controlled air blown out from a defrost air guide duct according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9: Defrosting (defrosting) on a windshield by temperature-controlled air blown out from a defrost air guide duct according to another example.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state in which the operation is performed.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional side view of an instrument panel showing a flow of temperature-controlled air blown to a windshield in a conventionally-implemented defroster structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel 11 Panel main body 11a Upper surface rear end part (upper surface edge part) 25 Air conditioner unit 30 Defrost air guide duct 37, 39, 43 Flow space 44 Blow-out guide part 45 Air outlet 60 Body 61 Front glass 61a Lower edge 63 Crew room

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Suzuki 3-36 Imaikecho, Anjo-shi, Aichi Pref. INOAC CORPORATION

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A defrost function for blowing temperature-controlled air from an air conditioner unit (25) from an air outlet (45) toward a windshield (61) to remove fogging and frost generated on the windshield (61). In the instrument panel (10) provided with, an air outlet (45) is integrally formed with the instrument panel (10) to communicate the air outlet (45) and the air conditioner unit (25). Distribution space (37,39,43)
A defrost air guide duct (30) defined inside,
A panel body (11) attached to the vehicle body (60) in a state of being brought close to the front of the passenger compartment (63).
When the (1) is mounted on the vehicle body (60), the defrost air guide duct (30) is located above the inside of the panel body (11), and the air outlet ( 45) with the top edge (11) of the panel body (11).
a), the lower edge (61a) of the windshield (61) is also located close to the lower edge (61a), whereby the conditioned air from the air outlet (45) allows the temperature-controlled air from the windshield (6).
The defroster structure of the instrument panel, characterized in that it can be sprayed on almost the entirety of 1). 2. The air outlet (45) of the defrost air guide duct (30) includes an outlet guide (44) set at substantially the same angle as the inclination angle inherent to the windshield (61). The instrument according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-controlled air blown out from the air outlet (45) through a blow-out guide (44) rises along the surface of the windshield (61). Panel defroster structure.