INTAKE STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an intake structure for a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that an intake structure for a vehicle includes a windshield lower member supporting a windshield from below; a cross member fixed to the windshield lower member; paired damper housings disposed in front of both ends of the cross member; and paired damper housing supports arranged between the cross member and the damper housing, as is disclosed in United States Patent Specification No. 9, 126,634 hereinafter called a prior art.

In order to expand the utility of the cross member, the prior art takes the outside air into a blower in the manner that the cross member includes outside air intake openings which are positioned at the upper portion of in a rear wall of the damper housing supports for outside air to pass therethrough.

In the prior art, since the gas-liquid separation is performed in the inner space of the damper housing supports by some walls including the rear wall of the damper housing supports, there is a possibility of an increase in a friclion resistance w hich affects to the performance of an airflow of an air intake unit as a blower.

Therefore, the development of the intake structure which performs the gas-liquid separation and suppresses the increase in the friction resistance which affects to the performance of the air intake device is required.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PTL 1 : United States Patent Specification No. 9,126,634

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an intake structure for a vehicle which performs the gas-liquid separation to introduce outside air to the air intake unit and suppresses the increase of a friction resistance of the outside air which is sucked by the air intake unit. In order to achieve the above objective, an embodiment of the present invention provides an intake structure for a vehicle comprising: a partitioning member partitioning an exterior side and an interior side of the vehicle, which includes an opening portion which is fitted with an air intake unit at the interior side of the vehicle; and a water introducing gap that is positioned at said exterior side to said vehicle; wherein the partitioning member further includes a cover member which is formed to extend from a peripheral edge of the opening portion of the partitioning member and covers the peripheral edge of the opening portion, and wherein an upper surface portion of the cover member is overlapped under the water introducing gap when viewed from the top of the vehicle.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since an outside air flowed from the water introducing gap is sucked from the exterior side into the intake unit of the interior side, through the cover member and opening portion of the partitioning member, the cover member serves as an air intake path.

The outside air flowed from the water introducing gap flows on the upper surface portion of the cover member, passes through cover member, and flows to the air intake unit through the opening portion. As such, since it is not necessary to arrange holes and walls for the gas-liquid separation which cause the increase of a friction resistance of the outside air, it is possible to suppress the increase of a friction resistance of the outside air which is sucked by the air intake unit and to increase the flow speed of the outside air from the opening portion. Accordingly, the flow speed of the outside air from the opening portion for keeping the required performance of the air intake unit can be made be reduced, , thereby it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the air intake unit.

Moreover, since the upper surface portion of the cover member is overlapped under the water introducing gap and the outside air flowed from the water introducing gap flows on the upper surface portion of the cover member, the gas-liquid separation is able to be performed on the upper surface portion of the cover member by preventing the outside air containing water flowing into the opening portion directly.

Additionally, since the cover member is formed to extend from a peripheral edge of the opening portion of the partitioning member and covers the peripheral edge of the opening portion, it is possible to install the cov er member into the intake structure without largely changing design of the intake structure. Accordingly, the intake structure which uses the cover member is capable of improving the productiv ity of the vehicle.

In the intake structure for the vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface portion of the cover member is extended forward more than the position of the water introducing gap, and a tip end of the upper surface portion on an opposite side to the opening portion is bended upward.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the tip end of the upper surface portion is bended upward, it is possible to prevent the outside air containing water from the water introducing gap from flowing into the opening portion directly. Accordingly, the gas-liquid separation is able to be sufficiently performed on the upper surface portion of the cover member.

Moreover, since the tip end of the upper surface portion which is extended upward on an opposite side to the opening portion does not become an obstacle for the air intake path from the water introducing gap to the opening potion. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the increase of a friction resistance of the outside air which is sucked by the air intake unit.

In the intake structure for the vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, the cover member includes a lower surface portion which is positioned lower than the opening portion of the partitioning member when viewed from side, the lower surface portion further includes a drain hole which is formed to lead the water to the outside of the cover member, and a groove portion which is formed in a groove-like shape on an inner surface of the lower surface portion and connected with the drain hole, and the drain hole further includes a wall which is formed in a plate shape and located inside the drain hole.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the cover member includes a lower surface portion which is positioned lower than the opening portion of the partitioning member, as well as the lower surface portion includes a drain hole and a groove portion, the water on the inner surface of the lower surface portion is able to be led to the outside of the cover member even if the water flows into the cover member. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the outside air containing water from the water introducing gap from flowing into the opening portion.

Moreover, since the drain hole includes a wall which is formed in a plate shape and is located inside the drain hole, it is difficult for the water discharged from the drain hole to be sucked reversely into the drain hole when the high suction pressure is operated by the air intake unit. Accordingly, the gas-liquid separation is able to be performed in the cover member efficiently without increasing the power consumption of the air intake unit.

In the intake structure for the vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, the partitioning member includes a dashboard extension which is extended below the cover member, and the dashboard extension further includes a recess portion which is formed to be recessed in a downward direction of the vehicle. According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the dashboard extension is extended below the cover member, the cover member which is located at the upside of the dashboard extension is provided in a position apart from the dashboard extension. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the water flowing into the air intake unit.

Moreover, since the recess portion of the partitioning member is located under the cover member, the recess portion is located under the air intake path. Accordingly, by discharging the water from the recess portion, the gas-liquid separation is sufficiently performed without increasing the friction resistance of the outside air which is sucked by the air intake unit.

In the intake structure for the vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface portion of the cover member is formed to be inclined in a width direction of the vehicle.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the upper surface portion of the cover member is formed to be inclined, the water on the upper surface portion becomes flow easily to the lower position of the upper surface portion. Accordingly it is possible to prevent the water from being stored in the intake structure, if the water on the upper surface portion to the outside of the intake structure is discharged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The principle of the present invention and its advantages will become apparent in the following description taking in consideration with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG.1 is a front view of a vehicle front structure including an intake structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.2 is a left side view of the vehicle front structure;

FIG.3 is a schematic rear view of the vehicle front structure;

FIG.4A is a top view of the vehicle front structure;

FIG.4B is an enlarged view of the cowl top and the windshield when viewed from above, in order to explain about the water introducing gap;

FIG.5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG.1 ;

FIG.6 is a sectional view taken along line VI- VI of FIG.1 ;

FIG.7 is a front view of a cover member;

FIG.8 is a left side view of the cover member;

FIG.9 is a rear view of the cover member:

FIG.10 is a bottom view of the cover member;

FiG. l 1 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG.7; and FIG.12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG.7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.l to FIG.12.

In the following detailed description, relative positional terms such as "front", "rear", "right " and "left" of a vehicle front structure V correspond to those directions considered from the vantage point of a driver, seated in the driver's seat and facing forwardly.

As shown in FIG. l to FIG.6, a vehicle front structure V includes front side frames 10, damper housings 20, a cowl top 30, a partitioning member 50 which partitions an exterior side and an interior side of the vehicle, and an air intake unit 40 with an intake passage 44.

The partitioning member 50 includes a w indshield lower member 60 including an opening portion 62 which is fitted with the air intake unit 40 at the interior side of the vehicle, a dashboard 70, a dashboard extension 72 and a cover member 80.

The front side frames 10 are steel members which are arranged at both left and right sides of the vehicle front structure V and extend in the front-rear direction. Each front side flame 10 includes a cross member 1 1 that is formed to connect at the lower part of the front side frame 10 at lateral sides, and a substantially U-shaped main body portion (not shown) which is open toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a fixation portion (not shown) which extends from the inside close to a rear of the main body portion toward the damper housings 20 in the vehicle width direction and is fixed on the damper housings 20.

The damper housings 20 are steel members which are disposed at both the left and right sides of the veh icle front structure V and house and support dampers not shown in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.4A, the damper housings 20 are disposed at the rear end sides, as well as on the vehicle width directional insides of the front side frames 10 and disposed at the front of both the left and right ends of the dashboard 70.

The cowl top 30 is a plastic member which covers the opening formed between the windshield lower member 60 and the engine hood (not shown). The cowl top 30 is fixed on the w indshield lower member 60. As shown in FIG.4A. in an outside air introduction openings area 32 which is divided in the lattice shape along the width direction of the cowl top 30, outside air introduction openings for introducing the outside air from outside of the vehicle are formed.

The air intake unit 40 is a blower and forms an air conditioner together with a condenser 42 so as to generate a cooling inside cabin air of the vehicle. By the air intake unit 40, the outside air is introduced from the outside air introduction openings and a water introducing gap 56 described below to be taken into the air intake unit 40 through the cowl top 30, the dashboard extension 72, the cover member 80 and the intake passage 44, The cowl top 30, the dashboard extension 72, the cover member 80 and the intake passage 44 serve as an air intake path. Then, via the air intake unit 40, the outside air is taken into the both an engine section for a combustion and a generation section of a driving force, and supplied to passenger room as breathing air.

The air intake unit 40 includes an open-close valve 46 which is arranged at the exit side of the intake passage 44. The air intake unit 40 is configured that once the air intake unit 40 is activated, the open-close valve 46 is opened.

The intake passage 44, at the front end of the intake passage 44, is a curved tubular steel member and includes flanges 48a, 48b with openings (not shown) for mounting the cover member

80 on the intake passage 44.

The partitioning member 50 is made by steel member, which partition an exterior side and an interior side of the vehicle. The partitioning member 50 includes a windshield lower member 60 including an opening portion 62 which is fitted with the intake passage 44 of the air intake unit 40 at the interior side of the vehicle, a dashboard 70, a dashboard extension 72 and a cover member

80.

The windshield lower member 60 is a steel member which is longitudinal in the left-right direction. The windshield lower member 60 is fixed on the upper end of the dashboard 70 separating an engine room from the passenger room, and extends frontward from the upper end to support a windshield 52 between front pillars 54.

As shown in FIG.6. the windshield lower member 60 includes a substantially rectangular opening portion 62. As shown in FIG.5, the rear of the opening portion 62 is connected to the intake passage 44 of the air intake unit 40 which supplies the air to the passenger room.

The upper end of the windshield lower member 60 and the windshield 52 are fixed to each other with an adhesive. Also, as shown in F1G.4B and FIG.5, a water introducing gap 56 which introduces outside air containing water from outside of the vehicle into the intake structure 1 is formed between the rear end side of the cowl top 30 and the front end of the windshield 52.

The dashboard 70 is a substantially steel plate member which extends in the width direction and in the vertical direction of the vehicle front structure V and which is arranged between the front pillars 54 when viewed from above. The dashboard 70 is fixed on the lower end side of the windshield lower member 60. The dashboard extension 72 is a substantially steel plate member which. extends in the width direction of the vehicle and which is formed to extend from the upper end of the dashboard 70 in the front direction. The dashboard extension 72 includes a recess portion 74 which is formed to extend in the width direction and to be recessed downward from an upper surface of the dashboard extension 72.

The recess portion 74 is formed to be recessed in a downward direction of the vehicle and is located at the downside of the cover member 80 and in a position apart from the cover member 80 as shown in FIG.5. The reason is as follows. When the water W flows out from the upper surface 82, the water W falls to the dashboard extension 72. Since the recess portion 74 is concaved downward so as to serve as the stocked area of the water W contained in the air intake air, as compared with the flat shape. As a result, the suppression of the water leakage of the water W to the air intake unit 40 is improved.

As shown in FIG.5, a dashboard extension flange 76 which is formed at the front end of the dashboard extension 72 is attached with a cowl top flange 34 which is formed at the front end of the cowl top 30 by fastening means (not shown).

As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.5, the cover member 80 is a plastic member, which is disposed in a space between the cowl top 30 and the dash board extension 72. The cover member 80 is formed to extend from a peripheral edge of the opening portion 62 of the windshield lower member 60 and covers the peripheral edge of the opening portion 62 so as to open in the front-rear direction.

Also, as shown in FIG.8 to FIG. 12. the cover member 80. at the rear end of the cover member 80, includes an annular sealing member 8 1 to prevent the water from flowing into the intake passage 44.

As shown in FIG.5 and FIG.7 to FIG 12, the cover member 80 is formed in a short tube shape and includes an opening which is formed in a cross-sectional substantially rectangular shape. The cover member 80 includes an upper surface portion 82. a lower surface portion 84, a left side surface portion 86a and a right side surface portion 86b which are plate members and which extend in the front-rear direction.

The left side surface portion 86a and a right side surface portion 86b include a left mounting portion 87a and a right mounting portion 87b at the front end of the cover member 80. respectively. The left mounting portion 87a and the right mounting portion 87b are formed in a flange shape and include openings 88a, 88b for mounting the cover member 80 on the windshield lower member 60 and the intake passage 44, respectively. As shown in FIG.6. the cover member 80 is screwed to the windshield lower member 60 and the flanges 48a, 48b of the intake passage 44 by bolts 89. The bolts 89 are inserted into the openings 88a, 88b of the left and right mounting portion 87a, 87b, the openings (not shown) of the windshield lower member 60, and the openings of flanges 48a, 48b of the intake passage 44, in this order, thereby the cover member 80 is mounted and fixed on the windshield lower member 60 and the intake passage 44 in this order.

As shown in FIG.4A and FIG.5, the cover member 80 is disposed to overlap under the water introducing gap 56 when viewed from side. As such, the outside air A flowed from the water introducing gap 56 flows on the upper surface portion 82, thereby the water W which is involved in the outside air is separated from the outside air.

As shown in FIG.7, the upper surface portion 82 is formed to be inclined upward left in a width direction of the vehicle and includes an opening (not shown) for discharging the water to the outside of the cover member 80. As such, the water on the upper surface portion 82 becomes flow easily to the lower position of the upper surface portion 82, thereby it is possible to prevent the water from being stored in the intake structure 1.

As shown in FIG.5, the upper surface portion 82 is formed to extend forward more than the water introducing gap 56. Also, as shown in FIG.5 and FIG.8, a tip end 83 of the upper surface portion 82 on an opposite side to the opening portion 62 is formed to bend upward from the upper surface portion 82. As such, the tip end 83 blocks that the water on the upper surface portion 82 flows into the cover member 80.

As shown in FIG.5, a lower surface portion 84 is positioned lower than the opening portion 62 of the windshield lower member 60. in order to prevent the water stored in the recess portion 74 of the dashboard extension 72 from flowing into the cover member 80.

Also, as shown in FIG.9 to FIG.12, the lower surface portion 84 includes an outer surface 84a which is a lower surface and an inner surface 84b which is an upper surface. The rear end of the lower surface portion 84 includes a drain hole 90 which penetrates from the inner surface 84b to the outer surface 84a and leads the water to the outside of the cover member 80 in the downward direction, and a groove portions 92 which are formed in a groove-like shape on an inner surface 84b and connected with the drain hole 90. As such, the water on the inner surface 84b of the lower surface portion 84 is able to be led to the outside of the cover member 80 even if the water flows into the cover member 80.

The drain hole 90 includes a wall 94 which is formed in a plate shape and located inside the drain hole 90 and slits 96 which are formed between the wall 94 and the drain hole 90. The wall 94 prevents the water discharged from the drain hole 90 from being sucked through the slits 96 of the drain hole 90.

Next, referring to FIG.5, the operation of the intake structure 1 will be provided. It is noted that the arrows each depicted with a solid line in FIG.5 represent the flow of the outside air A, and the arrows each depicted with a dashed line represent the flow of the water W.

Firstly, the outside air is introduced from both the outside air introduction openings of the outside air introduction openings area 32 and the water introducing gap 56 to be taken into the air intake unit 40 through the air intake path which is composed of the cowl top 30, the windshield lower member 60, the dashboard extension 72, the cover member 80 and the intake passage 44. Then, the outside air is taken into the passenger room through the air intake unit 40.

Secondly, as shown in FIG.5, the water flows in either from the outside air introduction openings of the outside air introduction openings area 32 or from the water introducing gap 56, even if the water used to wash the vehicle, rain water and so on fall on the outside air introduction openings area 32 and/or the water introducing gap 56.

The water flowed from the outside air introduction openings of the area 32 and the water W introducing gap 56 is guided directly to the upper surface portion 82, since the upper surface portion 82 of the cover member 80 is overlapped under the water W introducing gap 56. Then, since the tip end 83 of the upper surface portion 82 is formed to extend upward to be positioned at the highest position of the upper surface portion 82, the water W is stored on the lower position of the upper surface portion 82 and guided directly out from the lower position of the upper surface portion 82. Accordingly, the gas-liquid separation is able to be sufficiently performed on the upper surface portion 82 of the cover member 80.

In the case that the water flows into a space between the cowl top 30 and the dashboard extension -72, the water W is guide and stored in the recess portion 74 of the dashboard extension 72 without flowing into the cover member 80. Then, the water W which is stored in the recess portion 74 is guided directly from the recess portion 74 to the outside of the intake structure 1.

Furthermore, in the case that the water W flows into the cover member 80, the water W or water droplets which adhere onto the inner walls of the cover member 80 is guided to the inner surface 84b of the lower surface portion 84. Then, the water W is guided to the drain hole 90 by the groove portions 92 and discharged through the drain hole 90 to the outside of the intake structure 1 .

Therefore, for the purpose of conducting the gas-liquid separation, since it is not necessary to arrange any holes and any walls for the gas-liquid separation which cause the increase of a friction resistance of the outside air A. it is possible to suppress the increase of a friction resistance of the outside air A which is sucked by the air intake unit 40. Also, since the recess portion 74 is located under the cover member 80, the water W stored in the recess portion 74 is discharged to the outside of the intake structure 1 . Namely, the gas-liquid separation is performed without increasing the friction resistance of the outside air which is sucked by the air intake unit 40, as well as the flow speed of the outside air from the opening portion 62 increases. As a result, the flow speed of the outside air A from the opening portion 62 for keeping the required performance of the air intake unit 40 can be made be reduced, thereby it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the air intake unit 40.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described as well as illustrated in the companying drawings, it is simply for the purpose of better understanding of the principle of the present invention and it is not as a limitation of the scope and spirit of the teaching of the present invention. Adaption and modification to various structures such as design or material of the invention, mounting mechanism of various parts and elements or embodiments are possible and apparent to a skilled person without departing from the scope of the present invention which is to be determined by the claims.

List of reference:

V vehicle front structure

I intake structure

10 front side frame

I I cross member

20 damper housing

30 cowl top

32 outside air introduction openings area

34 cowl top flange

40 air intake unit

42 condenser

44 intake passage

46 open-close valve

48a, 48b flange

50 partitioning member

52 windshield

54 front pillar 6 water introducing gap

0 w indshield lower member

2 opening portion

70 dashboard

72 dashboard extension

74 recess portion

76 dashboard extension flange

80 cover member

81 sealing member

82 upper surface portion

83 tip end

84 lower surface portion

84a outer surface of the lower surface portion 84

84b inner surface of the lower surface portion 84

86a left side surface portion

86b right side surface portion

87a left mounting portion

87b right mounting portion

88a, 88b opening

89 bolt

90 drain hole

92 groove portion

94 wall

96 slit

A outside air

W water