Wind deflector of vehicle sunroof

A wind deflector of a vehicle sunroof for effectively reducing droning noise that is generated when the sunroof is open includes a deflector bar rotating to unfold and fold a mesh deflector and divided into a front deflector bar and rear deflector bars so that a length of the deflector bar is changed by stretching and contracting when rotating the deflector bar. When the mesh deflector bar is unfolded upward with opening of the sunroof, the front deflector bar is linearly moved forward (in a front-rear direction of the vehicle) by guide bars rotatably coupled to a sunroof frame such that an upper end is moved ahead of an lower end of the mesh deflector.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0103246, filed Aug. 14, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a wind deflector of a vehicle sunroof and, more particularly to a wind deflector of a vehicle sunroof for effectively reducing droning noise that is generated when a sunroof is opened.

BACKGROUND

In general, when the sunroof of a vehicle is opened, droning noise, that is, noise and vibration due to interaction of the external air flowing over the opening (which is opened by the sunroof) of the sunroof on the roof of a vehicle and the internal air of the vehicle are generated. This phenomenon is caused by synchronization of an excitation frequency and an indoor sound field due to the flow of external air within a predetermined range of vehicle speed.

Further, when the sunroof is opened outward from a vehicle, the external air hits against the structure of the sunroof, thereby generating wind noise (noise due to a vortex produced by breakage of the streamline of air flowing around the sunroof while the vehicle is driven).

A wind deflector for optimizing airflow over the opening of sunroof is applied to the sunroof to reduce the droning noise and wind noise.

The wind deflector, which is a device that disturbs airflow over the roof of the vehicle to prevent booming droning noise when the sunroof is opened, is classified into a type that lifts airflow over the roof of the vehicle and a type that decreases the speed of airflow.

A mesh deflector is representative of the wind deflector that decreases the speed of airflow when passing through the mesh deflector, whereby the droning noise is suppressed.

The higher the mesh deflector, the more advantageous it is in reducing the droning noise by the sunroof, but the height is also a factor of causing the wind noise by the deflector. Accordingly, there is a limit in reducing droning noise and wind noise due to a sunroof (noise by external air hitting against the structure of a sunroof) by increasing the height of a deflector.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to reduce noise such as droning noise even without increasing the height of a deflector and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a wind deflector of a vehicle sunroof, in which a deflector bar rotating to unfold and fold a mesh deflector is divided into a front deflector bar and rear deflector bars so that the deflector bar changes length by stretching and contracting when rotating, and when the mesh deflector bar is unfolded upward with opening of the sunroof, the front deflector bar is linearly moved forward (in the front-rear direction of the vehicle) by guide bars rotatably coupled to a sunroof frame such that the upper end is moved ahead of the lower end of the mesh deflector.

A wind deflector of a vehicle sunroof according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a mesh deflector reducing a speed of air passing through the mesh deflector; and a deflector actuator rotating to unfold the mesh deflector, in which when the deflector actuator rotates to unfold the mesh deflector, an upper end of the mesh deflector is positioned ahead of a lower end of the mesh deflector.

The deflector actuator may include: rear deflector bars having a first end rotatably coupled to a sunroof frame; a front deflector bar rotating together with the rear deflector bars and combined with the rear deflector bars to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the rear deflector bars; guide bars linearly moving the front deflector bar in the longitudinal direction of the rear deflector bars when the rear deflector bars are rotated about the first end; and elastic members providing rotation force to the rear deflector bars to unfold the mesh deflector.

The upper end of the mesh deflector may be fixed to the front deflector bar, the lower end of the mesh deflector bar may be fixed to the sunroof frame, and the upper end may be moved ahead of the lower end of the mesh deflector when the rear reflector bars are rotated to unfold the mesh deflector.

The guide bars may have a first end rotatably coupled to the sunroof frame, a second end rotatably fixed to the front deflector bar, and when the mesh deflector has been folded and unfolded, the first ends may be positioned ahead of the second ends of the guide bars. Further, when the front deflector bar is rotated with the rear deflector bars, the guide bars are rotated up in the opposite direction to the front deflector bar.

Support springs that can contract and restore may be disposed between the front reflector bar and the rear reflector bars inserted in the front reflector bar and may elastically support the front deflector bar when the front deflector bar is moved forward with rotation of the rear deflector bars. Accordingly, the support springs are restored when the mesh deflector is unfolded, and they are compressed with the mesh deflector is folded.

The wind deflector of a vehicle sunroof according to the present disclosure can effectively reduce droning noise without increasing the height thereof in comparison to the wind deflectors of the related art, so it is also possible to prevent an increase in deflector wind noise due to an increase in height of the wind deflector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First, in order to help understand the present disclosure, a wind deflector using the type of reducing the speed of airflow of the related art is briefly described.

As shown inFIG. 5, a wind deflector10reduces the speed of airflow, which is provided to prevent droning noise by reducing the speed of airflow over the roof of a vehicle. The wind deflector10includes a mesh deflector12which is unfolded or folded, as a single deflector bar14on a sunroof frame20is rotated. In particular, when the sunroof is opened and the mesh deflector12unfolds up, the upper end12aof the mesh deflector12ais positioned behind the lower end12b(in the front-rear direction of a vehicle) (hereinafter, the structure of the mesh deflector12ais referred to as a “rearward-inclined structure”). Accordingly, when air passes through the mesh deflector12, a clockwise rotational force component is generated by a velocity gradient. The rotational force component, which is a rotational force component in the same direction (clockwise) of downward flow that causes droning noise of the sunroof, becomes a factor that may increase droning noise.

Further, the higher the mesh deflector12, the more advantageous it is in reducing droning noise due to the sunroof, but the height is a factor of wind noise (deflector wind noise) by the deflector. Accordingly, there is a limit in reducing droning noise and wind noise due to the sunroof (noise by external air hitting against the structure of a sunroof) by increasing the height of a deflector.

In other words, the conditions for reducing droning noise and deflector wind noise that are influenced by the height of the mesh deflector12conflict with each other, so when the deflector height is increased to reduce droning noise, the deflector wind noise is increased. Accordingly, there is a limit in reducing droning noise and wind noise due to a sunroof by adjusting the deflector height.

Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes a forward-inclined wind deflector that can more effectively reduce droning noise as compared with the rearward-inclined wind deflector according to the related art under the condition that the height is the same, that is, a wind deflector having a structure in which a mesh deflector is unfolded upward with opening of a sunroof, the upper end of the mesh deflector is positioned ahead of the lower end (in the front-rear direction of a vehicle) (hereafter, referred to as a forward-inclined structure).

That is, in the present disclosure, a deflector actuator for unfolding and folding a mesh deflector is configured to longitudinally stretch and contract with rotation for operating the mesh deflector so that when a sunroof is opened, the mesh deflector is unfolded upward with the upper end of the mesh deflector positioned ahead of the lower end, thereby being able to remove the factor increasing droning noise that is generated when air flows through the mesh deflector.

A wind deflector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described hereafter with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4and it should be noted that the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions stated herein are based on the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions of a vehicle equipped with a sunroof and a wind deflector.

FIG. 1shows a plan view of a combination structure of a front deflector bar and rear deflector bars,FIG. 2shows a side view of the combination structure of the front deflector bar and the rear deflector bars,FIG. 3shows the operation state of a wind deflector when a sunroof is opened, andFIG. 4shows the operation state of the wind deflector when a sunroof is closed.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, a wind deflector according to the present disclosure includes a mesh deflector110that can reduce the flow speed of external air and a deflector actuator120for unfolding up the mesh deflector110when a sunroof is opened.

The mesh deflector110, which is a deflector member having a mesh structure that can pass air, reduces the flow speed of air passing therethrough by disturbing airflow over the roof of a vehicle by unfolding when a sunroof is open while the vehicle is driven.

The mesh deflector110is disposed on a sunroof200such that it is folded on the sunroof frame200when the sunroof is closed, and it can be pulled up away from the roof of the vehicle and unfolded upward flat when the sunroof is opened.

The deflector actuator120, which is operated when the sunroof is opened, pulls up and unfolds the mesh deflector110at an inclined over the roof of the vehicle by rotating in a predetermined direction (that is, in a direction in which the mesh deflector is unfolded) when the sunroof is opened.

The deflector actuator120unfolds the mesh deflector110with the upper end111of the mesh deflector positioned ahead of the lower end (based on the up-down direction of the vehicle) when operating to unfold the mesh deflector110, and to this end, the deflector actuator120includes a front deflector bar121, rear deflector bars122, elastic members123, and guide bars124.

The front deflector bar121is longitudinally fitted on the rear deflector bars122and positioned ahead of the rear deflector bars122. Further, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the front portions of the rear deflector bars122are movably fitted in the rear portion of the front deflector bar121, but the rear portion of the front deflector bar121may be movably fitted in the front portions of the rear deflector bars122.

The front deflector bar121has a predetermined length and the upper end of the mesh deflector110is fixed to the longitudinal front portion (in detail, the front end of the front portion) of the front deflector bar121, for example, by bonding.

The rear deflector bars122also have a predetermined length and the longitudinal rear portions (in detail, the rear end of the rear portion) thereof are rotatably coupled to the sunroof frame200.

The elastic members123, which are springs disposed between the rear deflector bars122and the sunroof frame200to provide rotational force to the rear deflector bars122, rotate the rear deflector bars122in the unfolding direction of the mesh deflector110using elastic return force generated when they are compressed. Accordingly, the elastic members123are disposed between the rear deflector bars122and the sunroof frame200to be compressed when the sunroof is closed.

That is, the elastic members123are compressed to generate and keep elastic return force when the sunroof is closed, and they are stretched to apply rotational force to the rear deflector bars122by restoring and acting the elastic return force when the sunroof is opened.

Though not shown in the figures, the elastic members123are compressed when the sunroof is closed because the rear deflector bars122are disposed under the sunroof, but when the sunroof is opened, the sunroof over the rear reflector bars122is removed and the elastic members123are decompressed and restored, so the rear deflector bars122are pushed up by the elastic return force.

That is, when the sunroof is closed, the rear deflector bars122receive the elastic return force from the elastic members123, but cannot be rotated by the sunroof (are locked by the sunroof), and when the sunroof is opened and locking by the sunroof is removed, the rear deflector bars122are rotated by the elastic members123such that the mesh deflector110can be unfolded.

When the rear deflector bars122are rotated by the elastic return force from the elastic member123, the front deflector bar121is rotated together with the rear deflector bars122. Further, even though the sunroof is closed and the rear deflector bars122are rotated to fold down the mesh deflector110, the front deflector bar121is rotated together with the rear deflector bars122.

The sunroof frame200is disposed under the sunroof on the roof of the vehicle, the deflector actuator120is disposed between the sunroof frame200and the closed sunroof, and the lower end of the mesh deflector is fixed to the front portion (in detail, the front end of the front portion) of the sunroof frame200by bonding for example.

As shown inFIG. 1, the rear deflector bars122is provided in pairs and disposed at left and right sides of the sunroof frame200, while the front deflector bar121is a U-shaped single member and disposed ahead of the pair of rear deflector bars122to partially overlap the rear deflector bars122.

Meanwhile, the guide bars124, which are provided to linearly move the front deflector bar121in the longitudinal direction of the rear deflector bars122when the rear deflector bars122are rotated, are rotatably disposed between the sunroof frame200and the front deflector bar121.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the guide bars124have a predetermined length and have a longitudinal first end rotatably coupled in a hinged type to the sunroof frame200and a second end rotatably coupled in a hinged type to the front deflector bar121and the first end coupled to the sunroof frame200is positioned behind the second end coupled to the front deflector bar121. Accordingly, when the front deflector bar121is rotated together with the rear deflector bars122, the guide bars124are rotated in the opposite direction to the front deflector bar121to be erected or laid, thereby linearly moving the front deflector bar121with respect to the rear deflector bars122.

It is preferable that the first ends coupled to the sunroof frame200are always positioned behind the second ends coupled to the front deflector bar121regardless of the rotated position of the guide bars124, but the first end may be positioned in the same vertical line with the second end when the mesh deflector110is fully unfolded.

As described above, since the guide bars124are disposed between the front deflector bar121and the sunroof frame200, when the rear deflector bars122are rotated to unfold the mesh deflector110, that is, when the mesh deflector110has been unfolded, the upper end111of the mesh deflector and the front end of the front deflector bar121are positioned ahead of the lower end of the mesh deflector110. Further, when the sunroof is closed and the rear deflector bars122are rotated to fold the mesh deflector110, that is, when the mesh deflector110has been folded, the front end111of the mesh deflector and the front end of the front deflector bar121are positioned behind the lower end112of the mesh deflector.

That is, since the guide bars124are rotated in the opposite direction to the rear deflector bars122when the rear deflector bars122are rotated, the front deflector bar121is linearly moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the rear deflector bars122fixed in a hinge type to the sunroof frame200when the rear deflector bars122are rotated. In particular, when the rear deflector bars122are rotated to unfold the mesh deflector110, the upper end111of the mesh deflector fixed to the front deflector bar121is moved ahead of the lower end112of the mesh deflector.

The guide bars124may be coupled in a hinged type to mounting brackets201on the sunroof frame200and sides of the front deflector bar121. The rear deflector bars122may have a cross-section with a partially open lower end or may have a hole through which the elastic member123can be inserted so that the deflector actuator120including the guide bars124and the elastic members123can be smoothly operated.

Further, support springs125that can be compressed and restored may be further disposed between the front deflector bar121and the rear deflector bars122inserted in the front deflector bar121.

The support springs125are restored when the mesh deflector is unfolded by rotation of the rear deflector bars122, and they are compressed when the mesh deflector110is folded. Accordingly, the support springs125prevent the front deflector bar121from being pushed rearward by strong wind and elastically support the front deflector bar121when the front deflector bar121is linearly moved forward with respect to the rear deflector bars122.

When the mesh deflector110is unfolded in a high-speed driving state, the air over the roof of the vehicle flows at a high speed through the mesh deflector110, so the front deflector bar121may be pushed rearward. However, when the support springs125are provided, the support springs125elastically support the front deflector bar121to prevent the front deflector bar121from being pushed rearward, so it is possible to prevent shaking of the front deflector bar121.

Further, the support springs125also assist the front deflector bar121moving forward in the early stage of the front deflector bar121moving forward with rotation of the rear deflector bars122.

The wind deflector100having this configuration according to the present disclosure can more effectively reduce droning noise in comparison to the deflector having a rearward-inclined structure (hereafter, referred to as a rearward-inclined deflector) (see wind deflector10inFIG. 5) of the related art when it has the same height as the rearward-inclined deflector of the related art.

This is because when the mesh deflector110is unfolded and inclined forward, as in the wind deflector100of the present disclosure, the airflow that has passed through the mesh deflector110generates a rotational component in the opposite direction to downward flow that causes droning noise, so the intensity of the downward flow vibrating the interior air can be reduced.

In detail, according to the rearward-inclined deflector10(seeFIG. 5) having the method of reducing the speed of airflow, when air flows through the mesh deflector12, a difference in speed of airflow is generated at the upper and lower portions the mesh deflector12, so the rotational component of the airflow and the rotational component of the downward flow causing droning noise are generated in the same direction, thereby vibrating the interior air and increasing droning noise.

However, according to the wind deflector100having a forward-inclined structure of the present disclosure, when air flows through the mesh deflector110, a difference in speed of airflow is generated in the same way at the upper and lower portions of the mesh deflector110, but the rotational component of the airflow and the rotational component of downward flow causing droning noise are generated in the opposite directions, so the rotational component vibrating the interior air is offset and thus droning noise can be reduced (seeFIG. 3).

Accordingly, even if having a smaller height than the rearward-inclined deflector10, the wind deflector100of the present disclosure can reduce droning noise at the same level as the rearward-inclined deflector10by effectively reducing droning noise. Further, since the wind deflector100is smaller in height than the rearward-inclined wind deflector10of the related art, the portion exposed to airflow over the roof of the vehicle is decreased, so deflector wind noise (noise generated by external air hitting against the wind deflector) can also be reduced. Further, the area of the slipstream generated by the wind deflector (airflow that has passed through the mesh deflector) is increased, so sunroof wind noise (noise generated by external air hitting against the sunroof exposed outside the vehicle) is reduced.

When a wind deflector employs the length-fixed single deflector bar14that has been used for unfolding and folding the mesh deflector12of the rearward-inclined wind deflector10, the mesh deflector is folded outward and exposed ahead of the sunroof frame. Accordingly, there is a need for a specific space for the mesh deflector exposed ahead of the sunroof frame, so the opening amount of the sunroof is relatively reduced. Further, when the mesh deflector is folded, it may be stuck between the sunroof glass and the roof panel of the vehicle.

However, according to the wind deflector100having a forward-inclined structure (hereafter, referred to as a forward-inclined deflector) of the present disclosure, the deflector actuator120for unfolding and folding the mesh deflector110has a variable length by stretching and contracting and the length of the deflector actuator120is changed when the deflector actuator120is rotated. Accordingly, the mesh deflector110is folded to the same position as in the rearward-inclined deflector of the related art, so it is possible to prevent the problem that the mesh deflector110is exposed ahead of the sunroof20and it is also possible to prevent the problem that the opening amount of the sunroof is reduced and the mesh deflector is stuck.

Further, since the conditions for reducing the deflector wind noise and the droning noise conflict with each other, there is a need for tuning that appropriately sets the height of the wind deflector; however, since the forward-inclined deflector100of the present disclosure can reduce both of the deflector wind noise and the droning noise, it is possible to decrease the cost that is generated by the tuning process for setting an optimal condition for reducing the deflector wind noise and the droning noise.

On the other hand,FIG. 6shows a graph comparing the results of measuring droning noise when the wind deflector according to the present disclosure and the wind deflector of the related art were applied to a vehicle, in which droning noise was measured under the same conditions (vehicle speed, road surface, noise measurement position etc.) for a forward-inclined deflector and rearward-inclined deflector designed under the same conditions (height of the wind deflectors, material of the mesh deflectors etc.) except for the inclined direction of the mesh deflectors.

As shown inFIG. 6, it was found that the droning noise generated when the forward-inclined deflector was applied was generated less in a relatively high frequency band in comparison to the droning noise generated when the rearward-inclined deflector was applied. In particular, it was found that droning noise at a low frequency band was reduced with a remarkable difference.

Therefore, it can be seen that the forward-inclined deflector can more effectively reduce droning noise, as compared with the rearward-inclined deflector, so it is possible to estimate that it would be possible to sufficiently reduce droning noise even with a forward-inclined deflector lower than common rearward-inclined deflectors, and it can be seen that the smaller the height, the more the deflector wind noise can be reduced. Further, it is possible to estimate reduction of sunroof wind noise by an increase in the slipstream area behind the wind deflector.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure were described in detail above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications from the spirit of the present disclosure defined in the following claims by those skilled in the art are also included in the scope of the present disclosure.