Abstract:
A motor vehicle hood assembly includes a hood shell and a fluid reservoir having a body including a stringer section and a plurality of finger sections that are connected to and extend from the stringer section. The fluid reservoir may be provided packaged between the hood shell and an insulation layer of the hood assembly. A filling port is provided to assure the fluid is replenished by gravity once it&#39;s emptied from the reservoir.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a hood assembly incorporating a fluid reservoir as well as to a fluid reservoir having a body including a stringer section and a plurality of finger sections. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    For many years now, motor vehicle manufacturers have equipped motor vehicles with a washer fluid reservoir that stores washer fluid for cleaning the windshield of a motor vehicle. Such a reservoir may also be utilized to clean the headlamps on some motor vehicles. 
         [0003]    Such a washer fluid reservoir occupies useful space in an already crowded engine compartment. This document relates to a hood assembly that incorporates the washer fluid reservoir. More specifically, the washer fluid reservoir is carried against the inner surface of the hood shell. Such a reservoir is thin enough so as to not intrude substantially into the engine compartment. Further, the fluid reservoir has a body that is shaped to minimize the production of waves during motor vehicle operation and thereby reduce the sloshing of fluid in the washer reservoir. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a hood assembly is provided for a motor vehicle. That hood assembly comprises a hood shell and a fluid reservoir having a body including a stringer section and a plurality of finger sections connected to and extending from the stringer section. An insulation layer may be carried on the hood shell and the fluid reservoir may be packaged between the hood shell and the insulation layer. 
         [0005]    The body may define a fluid retention cavity that extends uninterrupted through the stringer section and the plurality of finger sections. Further, the body may include a filler port wall defining a fill port or fill spout. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments the hood includes an opening and the filler port wall extends into the opening. Further, the fluid reservoir may include a removable cap that is secured to the filler port wall and closes the fill port. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments the plurality of finger sections all extend in a first direction from the stringer section. That first direction may extend along a longitudinal axis of the hood shell. Alternatively, that first direction may extend along a lateral axis of the hood shell. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments the plurality of finger sections may include a first group of finger sections extending in a first direction from the stringer section and a second group of finger sections extending in a second direction from the stringer section. 
         [0009]    In accordance with an additional aspect, the hood assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a hood shell, an insulation layer carried on the hood shell and a fluid reservoir packaged between the hood shell and the insulation layer. That fluid reservoir may include a fill spout extending through the insulation layer. Further, a removable cap may be provided for closing the fill spout. 
         [0010]    In accordance with still another aspect, a fluid reservoir is provided. That fluid reservoir comprises a body including a stringer section and a plurality of finger sections connected to and extending from the stringer section. The body defines a hollow cavity that extends continuously through the stringer section and the plurality of finger sections. 
         [0011]    The body further includes a filler port wall defining a fill port. A removable cap may be provided for closing the fill port. 
         [0012]    The plurality of finger sections may extend in a first direction from the stringer section. Alternatively, the plurality of fingers sections may include a first group of finger sections extending in a first direction from the stringer section and a second group of finger sections extending in a second direction from the stringer section. 
         [0013]    In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the hood assembly and the fluid reservoir. As it should be realized, the hood assembly and the fluid reservoir are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the hood assembly and the fluid reservoir as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the hood assembly and fluid reservoir and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a motor vehicle incorporating the hood assembly with the fluid reservoir. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1 a    is a schematic, detailed cross-sectional view illustrating a fill port arrangement for allowing one to fill the fluid reservoir contained in the hood assembly between the hood shell and insulation layer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a detailed schematic view illustrating an alternative embodiment wherein the fill spout extends through the insulation layer of the fluid assembly on the inside of the hood shell. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 3-6  are schematic illustrations of various embodiments of the fluid reservoir showing different stringer and finger arrangements. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the hood assembly and fluid reservoir, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1  illustrating a first embodiment of the hood assembly  10  that is mounted by means of a hinge assembly (not shown) to the motor vehicle  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the hood assembly  10  is in a raised position. 
         [0021]    The hood assembly  10  includes a hood shell  14 . The hood shell  14  may be stamped from a sheet metal material. When the hood assembly  10  is closed, the hood shell  14  functions as a cover for the engine bay  16  while providing aerodynamic benefits, structural integrity and design appeal to the motor vehicle  12 . 
         [0022]    The hood assembly  10  also includes a fluid reservoir  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid reservoir  18  is designed to hold washer fluid. 
         [0023]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 1   a  and  3 , the fluid reservoir  18  has a body  20  that includes a stringer section  22 . A plurality of finger sections  24  are connected to and extend from the stringer section  22 . Here it should be appreciated that the body  20  defines a fluid retention cavity  26  that extends uninterrupted through the stringer section  22  and the plurality of finger sections  24 . 
         [0024]    A washer fluid pump  28  is carried on the hood shell  14 . The washer fluid pump  28  functions to pump washer fluid from the fluid retention cavity  26  in the fluid reservoir  18  through the feed lines  30  to the spray jets  32  which direct that washer fluid onto the windshield  34  of the motor vehicle  12  when an operator desires to clean the windshield. This may be done by manipulating an appropriate actuator (not shown) in the motor vehicle passenger compartment in a manner known in the art. 
         [0025]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 1   a , the fluid reservoir  18  includes a filler port wall  36  that forms a fill port or fill spout  38 . A removable cap  40  closes the fill port  38 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 a   , the fill port  38  opens toward the hood shell  14 . The hood shell  14  includes a filler door  42  connected by means of a hinge assembly  44  to the hood shell. 
         [0026]    When one wishes to add washer fluid to the fluid reservoir  18 , one opens the filler door  42  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 a   . Next, the individual removes the removable cap  40  from the filler port wall  36  in order to open the fill port  38 . Fluid is then poured into the fill port  38  when the hood  10  is in the raised position illustrated in  FIG. 1 . That fluid then flows by gravity, filling the stringer section  22  and the finger sections  24 . After filling with washer fluid, the removable cap  40  is again secured on the filler port wall  36  and secured in position so as to close the fill port  38 . The connection between the removable cap  40  and the filler port wall  36  may be by means of cooperating threads or other appropriate means. 
         [0027]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 a   , the hood assembly  10  may also include an insulation layer  46 . That insulation layer  46  may be made from any appropriate material having sound and/or temperature insulating properties. As illustrated, the fluid reservoir  18  is packaged between the hood shell  14  and the insulation layer  46 . 
         [0028]    In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the filler port wall  36  extends through the insulation layer  46  at the rear of the hood shell  14 . When the hood assembly  10  is raised as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the removable cap  40  is easily accessible. Once removed as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the fill port  38  is opened and held at a useful angle for one to pour washer fluid into the fill port  38 . That washer fluid then flows down through the filler port wall  36  into the stringer section  22  of the fluid reservoir  18  where it can fill the stringer section and the finger sections  24  in communication therewith. 
         [0029]    The plurality of finger sections  24  provided in the fluid reservoir may be shaped and oriented in an appropriate manner to minimize the generation of waves in the washer fluid so as to thereby reduce sloshing of the washer fluid in the fluid reservoir  18  during motor vehicle operation. Of course, if desired, it should be appreciated that baffles  48  of appropriate size and shape may be provided in the fluid retention cavity  26  along the stringer section  22  and/or along one or more of the finger sections  24  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3-6  illustrating various embodiments of the fluid reservoir  18 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  is consistent with that illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the fluid reservoir  18  includes a stringer section  22  that extends along or parallel to a longitudinal axis A 1  of the hood assembly  10  from the front end  50  to the rear end  52 . The plurality of finger sections  24  extend in a first direction from the stringer section  22  and are aligned with the lateral axis A 2  of the hood assembly  10 . Four finger sections  24  are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . It should be appreciated that fewer or more finger sections may be provided if desired. 
         [0031]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the stringer section  22  extends laterally across the hood assembly  10  near the front end  50 . Four finger sections  24  extend in a first direction from the stringer section  22 . That direction is aligned with the longitudinal axis A 1  of the hood assembly. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , there are four finger sections  22 . It should be appreciated that a greater or smaller number of finger sections may be provided if desire and in order to better control washer fluid sloshing. 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the fluid reservoir  18  includes a body  20  with a stringer section  22 , a first group  58  of finger sections  24  extending in a first direction from the stringer section and a second group  60  of finger sections extending in a second direction from the stringer section. In the illustrated embodiment, the stringer section  22  extends down the center of the hood assembly  10  along the longitudinal axis A 1  while the finger sections  24  all extend laterally across the hood assembly parallel to the lateral axis A 2 . In this embodiment, the fill cap  40  extends through the hood shell  14  and may serve a dual function as a motor vehicle badge. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the fluid reservoir  18  includes a stringer section  22  that extends from the front left corner  62  toward the right rear corner  64  of the hood assembly  10 . The first group  58  of finger sections  24  extends toward the front right corner  66  while the second group  60  of finger sections extends toward the left rear corner  68  of the hood assembly  10 . In this embodiment, both the stringer section  22  and the finger sections  24  extend at a bias to the lateral axis  54  and the longitudinal axis  56 . 
         [0034]    The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.