Cowl structure for a vehicle

A cowl structure for a vehicle that drains water drops. A cowl outer panel is provided opposing a front end portion side of an instrument panel. A downflow portion is provided at each of two end portions in the vehicle width direction of a floor wall portion of the cowl outer panel. A drainage member is provided at the lower side of each downflow portion. Hence, water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face of the front glass pass along the floor wall portion of the cowl outer panel, flow down through the downflow portion, and are guided to the drainage member. An outflow port is formed at drainage member. The outflow port is in fluid communication with a drainage port formed at a front pillar inner. Therefore, water in the drainage member may be drained out of the vehicle from the outflow port via the drainage port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cowl structure for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A technology is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1, in which a floor face of a front portion of a cowl is inclined at an angle ß along a vehicle width direction relative to a horizontal plane H, and rainwater and the like drains through a drainage portion that is provided at the lower side of the floor face at a vehicle width direction outer side of the cowl. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which a drainage gutter that drains rainwater is provided at a front portion of a cowl box that supports a lower end portion of a window glass (a front windshield glass). Patent Document 3 discloses a technology in which a rain gutter that drains rainwater is provided at a protector featuring a sealing function that is mounted at a lower end portion of a front glass (a front windshield glass).

RELATED ART REFERENCES

Patent References

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open (JP-A) No. H07-309254

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In a situation in which, for example, a door or window is left open during rainfall or the like, water may ingress to a vehicle cabin interior side and humidity may rise inside the vehicle cabin. Then, in conditions in which the external temperature is low, condensation may form at a glass inner face at the vehicle cabin interior side of a front windshield glass. Water drops may flow along the glass inner face and the water drops may flow to the side thereof at which a cowl is disposed. In this situation, with the related art technologies described above, water may accumulate at the cowl.

In consideration of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a cowl structure for a vehicle that may drain water drops that have flowed down a glass inner face of a front windshield glass out of the vehicle.

Solution to Problem

A cowl structure for a vehicle according to a first aspect includes: a cowl outer panel that extends in a vehicle width direction at a front end portion of a front windshield glass, the cowl outer panel supporting the front end portion of the front windshield glass from a lower side of the front windshield glass via a sealing member; and a drainage apparatus disposed at a rear side, in a vehicle front-rear direction, of the sealing member, at least a portion of the drainage apparatus being provided at the cowl outer panel, and the drainage apparatus draining, out of the vehicle, water drops that have flowed down a glass inner face at a vehicle cabin interior side of the front windshield glass.

In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the cowl outer panel extends in the vehicle width direction at the front end portion of the front windshield glass. The front end portion of the front windshield glass is supported from the lower side thereof at the cowl outer panel via the sealing member.

The drainage apparatus of which at least a portion is provided at the cowl outer panel is provided at the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the sealing member. Water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face at the vehicle cabin interior side of the front windshield glass are drained toward the vehicle exterior by this drainage apparatus.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the drainage apparatus includes: a downflow portion provided at a vehicle width direction end portion or a vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel; a floor wall portion provided along the vehicle width direction at the cowl outer panel, an inclined surface being formed at the floor wall portion, and the inclined surface being angled toward a lower side, in a vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion, from a side of the floor wall portion that is further from the downflow portion; and a drainage member disposed at the lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion, the drainage member draining the water drops out of the vehicle.

In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the second aspect, the drainage apparatus is provided with the downflow portion at the vehicle width direction end portion or the vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel. The drainage member that drains water drops out of the vehicle is disposed at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the downflow portion. In this structure, the floor wall portion is provided along the vehicle width direction at the cowl outer panel. The inclined surface is formed at the floor wall portion and is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the downflow portion from the side of the floor wall portion that is further from the downflow portion.

That is, if the downflow portion is provided at each end portion in the vehicle width direction of the cowl outer panel, the inclined surface of the floor wall portion is formed to be angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction from the central portion toward the end portion in the vehicle width direction. On the other hand, if the downflow portion is provided at the central portion in the vehicle width direction of the cowl outer panel, the inclined surface of the floor wall portion is formed to be angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction from the end portion toward the central portion in the vehicle width direction. Thus, water drops are guided toward the downflow portion by the inclined surface and the water drops are drained out of the vehicle through the downflow portion.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the sealing member is adhered to the front windshield glass or the cowl outer panel at an adhesion portion, a cowl inner panel is disposed at a lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, of the cowl outer panel, the cowl outer panel being joined to the cowl inner panel at a join portion, and a dimension in a normal direction of the front windshield glass from the adhesion portion to the join portion is constant over the whole range in the vehicle width direction of the cowl structure.

A support stiffness for the front windshield glass by the cowl outer panel and the cowl inner panel is specified so as to be in a predetermined range with a view to pedestrian protection and the like. Therefore, in the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the third aspect, it is preferable if the dimension in the normal direction of the front windshield glass from the cowl outer panel to the join portion with the cowl inner panel is constant over the whole range in the vehicle width direction.

When the cowl is considered as a unit, it does not include the front windshield glass. Accordingly, the separation distance in the vehicle up-down direction from the adhesion portion at which the sealing member is adhered to the join portion is specified to be constant over the whole range in the vehicle width direction.

As a result, the separation distance between the front windshield glass and the join portion in the normal direction of the front windshield glass is specified to be constant over the whole range in the vehicle width direction. The meaning of the term “constant” as used herein does not mean constant in a strict sense but “substantially constant”; some amount of error can be tolerated within a range that provides desired support stiffness for the front windshield glass.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a fourth aspect, in the first aspect, the drainage apparatus includes: a downflow portion provided at a vehicle width direction end portion or a vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel; and a drainage member disposed at a lower side, in a vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion, the drainage member draining the water drops out of the vehicle, a sealing position of the sealing member with the front windshield glass being angled toward a lower side, in a vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion from a side of the sealing member that is further from the downflow portion.

In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the fourth aspect, the drainage apparatus is provided with the downflow portion at the vehicle width direction end portion or the vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel, and the drainage member that drains water drops out of the vehicle is disposed at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the downflow portion.

In this structure, the sealing member is specified such that the sealing position with the front windshield glass is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the downflow portion from the side of the sealing member that is further from the downflow portion. That is, the inclined surface is formed by a side face of the sealing member at the vehicle cabin interior side thereof, water drops are guided toward the downflow portion by the inclined surface, and the water drops are drained through the downflow portion towards the vehicle exterior.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a fifth aspect, in the first aspect, the drainage apparatus includes: a downflow portion provided at a vehicle width direction end portion or a vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel; a drainage member disposed at a lower side, in a vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion, the drainage member draining the water drops out of the vehicle; and a mounting member that is mounted at a front end portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle, one end portion of the mounting member being abutted against the front windshield glass, another end portion of the mounting member being abutted against a face of the instrument panel at an opposite side of the instrument panel from a side at which the front windshield glass is disposed, and a central portion of the mounting member that is disposed between the one end portion and the other end portion being follued so as to be angled toward a lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion from a side of the mounting member that is further from the downflow portion.

In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the fifth aspect, the drainage apparatus is provided with the downflow portion at the vehicle width direction end portion or the vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel, and the drainage member that drains water drops towards the vehicle exterior is disposed at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the downflow portion. In this structure, the mounting member is mounted at the front end portion of the instrument panel. The one end portion of the mounting member abuts against the front windshield glass, and the another end portion of the mounting member abuts against the face of the instrument panel at the opposite side thereof from the side at which the front windshield glass is disposed.

The central portion of the mounting member that is disposed between the one end portion and the another end portion is formed so as to be angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the downflow portion from the side of the mounting member that is further from the downflow portion. That is, the inclined surface is formed by the central portion of the mounting member, water drops are guided toward the downflow portion by the inclined surface, and the water drops are drained out of the vehicle through the downflow portion.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a sixth aspect, in the first aspect, the drainage apparatus includes: a downflow portion provided at a vehicle width direction end portion or a vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel; a drainage member disposed at a lower side, in a vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion, the drainage member draining the water drops out of the vehicle; and a water-sealing sponge that is abutted against a front end portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle and the front windshield glass, an abutting position of the water-sealing sponge against the instrument panel being angled to a lower side, in a vehicle up-down direction, of the downflow portion from a side of the water-sealing sponge that is further from the downflow portion.

In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the sixth aspect, the drainage apparatus is provided with the downflow portion at the vehicle width direction end portion or the vehicle width direction central portion of the cowl outer panel, and the drainage member that drains water drops towards the vehicle exterior is disposed at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the downflow portion. In this structure, the water-sealing sponge is abutted against the front end portion of the instrument panel and against the front windshield glass.

The abutting position of the water-sealing sponge against the instrument panel is specified so as to be angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the downflow portion from the side of the water-sealing sponge that is further from the downflow portion. That is, the inclined surface is formed by a side face of the water-sealing sponge at the vehicle cabin interior side thereof, water drops are guided toward the downflow portion by the inclined surface, and the water drops are drained out of the vehicle through the downflow portion.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a seventh aspect, in any one of the second aspect and the fourth to sixth aspects, the drainage member includes an inflow port that is in fluid communication with the downflow portion, and an outflow port that is in fluid communication with a drainage outlet, the drainage outlet being formed at a body side and draining the water drops out of the vehicle.

In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the seventh aspect, the drainage member is structured with the inflow port and the outflow port. Water drops that have passed through the downflow portion and are flowing out from the downflow portion flow into the inflow port. The outflow port is in fluid communication with the drainage port formed at the body side. Water drops that have flowed in through the inflow port flow out through the outflow port to the drainage port and are drained out of the vehicle through the drainage port.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to an eighth aspect, in the first aspect, the drainage apparatus is structured so as to drain water drops, that have dropped onto the cowl outer panel, out of the vehicle by a cross-sectional shape of the cowl outer panel cut along a vehicle up-down direction being varied along the cowl outer panel in the vehicle width direction.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a ninth aspect, in the seventh aspect, the outflow port is formed at a front pillar that is disposed at a vehicle width direction end portion of the cowl outer panel, the water drops being drained out of the vehicle through the outflow port.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a tenth aspect, in the third aspect, the cowl outer panel includes: a glass support portion that is parallel with the front windshield glass and that serves as the adhesion portion; a front wall portion that is inflected toward the lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the glass support portion; a floor wall portion that is inflected toward a rear side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the upper side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the front wall portion, the floor wall portion being parallel with the front windshield glass; a rear wall portion that is inflected toward the lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in a vehicle front-rear direction, of the floor wall portion; and a flange portion that is inflected toward the rear side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the upper side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the rear wall portion, and that is parallel with the front windshield glass, and that serves as the join portion, the flange portion being superposed in the vehicle up-down direction with a joined portion of the cowl inner panel.

In a cowl structure for a vehicle according to an eleventh aspect, in the third aspect, the cowl outer panel includes: a glass support portion that is parallel with the front windshield glass and serves as the adhesion portion; a front wall portion that is inflected toward the lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the glass support portion; a floor wall portion that is inflected toward a rear side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the upper side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the front wall portion, the floor wall portion being parallel with the front windshield glass; a rear wall portion that is inflected toward the lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the floor wall portion; and a joining wall that protrudes toward a lower side, in the vehicle up-down direction, from a rear end portion, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the rear wall portion, and that serves as the join portion, the joining wall being superposed in the vehicle front-rear direction with a joined portion of the cowl inner panel.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the first aspect has an excellent effect in that water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face of the front windshield glass may be drained out of the vehicle.

According to the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the second aspect, an excellent effect is provided in that water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face of the front windshield glass are guided to the downflow portion by the inclined surface of the floor wall portion formed at the cowl outer panel and are drained out of the vehicle from the downflow portion through the drainage member.

According to the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the third aspect, an excellent effect is provided in that a support stiffness of the front windshield glass for pedestrian protection may be assured even though the inclined surface is formed at the floor wall portion of the cowl outer panel.

According to the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the fourth aspect, an excellent effect is provided in that water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face of the front windshield glass are guided to the downflow portion by the sealing member that seals between the front windshield glass and the cowl outer panel and are drained out of the vehicle from the downflow portion through the drainage member.

According to the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the fifth aspect, an excellent effect is provided in that water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face of the front windshield glass are guided to the downflow portion by the mounting member that is mounted at the instrument panel and are drained out of the vehicle from the downflow portion through the drainage member.

According to the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the sixth aspect, an excellent effect is provided in that water drops that have flowed down the glass inner face of the front windshield glass are guided to the downflow portion by the water-sealing sponge that is provided between the front windshield glass and the instrument panel and are drained out of the vehicle from the downflow portion through the drainage member.

According to the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the seventh aspect, an excellent effect is provided in that the water drops that have flowed down from the downflow portion to the drainage member are drained out of the vehicle through the drainage port formed at the body side.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Below, cowl structures for a vehicle according to present exemplary embodiments are described in accordance with the attached drawings. The arrow UP in the drawings indicates a vehicle upper direction, the arrow FR indicates a vehicle front direction, and the arrow OUT indicates a vehicle outer side. In the following descriptions, where the terms front, rear, up, down, left and right are used without being particularly specified, the same refer to the front and rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, up and down in the vehicle up-down direction, and left and right in the vehicle left-and-right direction (the vehicle width direction).

—Structures of the Cowl Structure for a Vehicle—

FIG. 1is a perspective view in which a portion of a vehicle (a car) in which a cowl structure for a vehicle according to a first exemplary embodiment is employed is viewed diagonally from the front side of the vehicle (wiper arms and the like are not shown in the drawing),

As shown inFIG. 1, a cowl22that extends between left and right front pillars24is arranged along the vehicle width direction between a front end portion12A of a front windshield glass (below referred to as “the front glass”)12of a vehicle (a car)11and a rear end portion20A of a hood (an engine hood)20. The cowl22features a function of separating air and water that flow in toward the interior of a vehicle cabin16(seeFIG. 2). A power unit (not shown in the drawings) may be accommodated at the interior of the cowl22.

The cowl22is provided with a cowl main body26fabricated of metal plate, which is arranged along the vehicle width direction at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the front glass12. The cowl22is also provided with a cowl louver28(seeFIG. 1) fabricated of resin, which is arranged at the upper side of the cowl main body26. External air intake portions and the like of the cowl louver28are not shown in these drawings.

FIG. 2is a magnified sectional diagram showing a magnification of a view that is cut along line2-2ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2, an instrument panel14is provided at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the front glass12. Electrical components18, such as an air conditioner that produces air for blowing inside the vehicle cabin16and the like, are disposed in an interior portion15of the instrument panel14.

The cowl main body26is provided with a cowl outer panel30and a cowl inner panel32. The cowl outer panel30is disposed at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the front glass12and extends along the vehicle width direction. The cowl inner panel32extends along the vehicle width direction at the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction of the cowl outer panel30.

A glass support portion30A at a front portion side of the cowl outer panel30is disposed at the front end portion12A of the front glass12. The glass support portion30A is formed to be arranged substantially in parallel with the front glass12, and the glass support portion30A extends along the vehicle width direction. A sealing member34of urethane or the like is provided at the glass support portion30A. The front end portion12A of the front glass12is adhered to (and supported at) the sealing member34.

A drainage apparatus36, which is described below, extends along the vehicle width direction at the rear side of the glass support portion30A of the cowl outer panel30(the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the sealing member34), opposing a front end portion14A of the instrument panel14at the lower side of the instrument panel14.

To be specific, the cowl outer panel30is inflected toward the lower side and the rear side at the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the glass support portion30A, forming a front wall portion30B. The cowl outer panel30inflects toward the upper side and the rear side (an inflection portion30C) from a rear end portion of the front wall portion30B, forming a floor wall portion30D. The floor wall portion30D structures a portion of the drainage apparatus.

The floor wall portion30D is formed to be substantially parallel with the front glass12. The cowl outer panel30inflects toward the lower side and the rear side from a rear end portion of the floor wall portion30D, forming a rear wall portion30E. A flange portion30F that serves as a join portion inflects toward the upper side and the rear side from a rear end portion of the rear wall portion30E. The flange portion30F is formed to be substantially parallel with the front glass12.

A flange portion32A is provided at a rear end portion of the cowl inner panel32. In a state in which the flange portion32A is superposed under the flange portion30F of the cowl outer panel30, the flange portion32A is joined by welding to the flange portion30F. The cowl inner panel32inflects toward the lower side and the front side from a front end portion of the flange portion32A, forming a rear wall portion32B that extends away from the front glass12.

A dash panel38is joined by welding to a lower portion of the rear wall portion32B. A floor wall portion32C is formed to inflect toward the front side from the lower end portion of the rear wall portion32B. A cavity portion40is provided between the cowl inner panel32and the cowl outer panel30. The aforementioned power unit or the like is accommodated in the cavity portion40.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, in the present exemplary embodiment, downflow portions42are provided at the vehicle width direction outer sides of the cowl outer panel30. Each downflow portion42structures a portion of a drainage apparatus at the floor wall portion30D. The downflow portion42represents a location at which water drops46that have flowed down a front glass inner face12B and flowed along the floor wall portion30D flow down to the lower side of the cowl outer panel30. In this structure, end portions of the floor wall portion30D serve as the downflow portions42.FIG. 4is a schematic sectional diagram of a view in which a vehicle cowl structure10is cut along the vehicle width direction, showing a view seen from the vehicle rear side of the front glass12.

A drainage member44is provided at the lower side of each downflow portion42. The drainage member44is provided with a main body portion44A, a cross-sectional shape of which when cut along the up-down direction forms a substantial “L” shape (see the right side of the drawing ofFIG. 4). An inflow port44B is provided at the main body portion44A at a position that is in fluid communication with the downflow portion42. The water drops46that have flowed down through the downflow portion42pass through the inflow port44B and flow into the main body portion44A. An abutting piece44C projects to an outer side of the inflow port44B from a periphery edge portion of the inflow port44B. The abutting piece44C abuts against and is joined to the cowl outer panel30at a side thereof at which a lower face31is provided (seeFIG. 4).

An outflow port44D is also formed at the drainage member44. The outflow port44D is in fluid communication with a drainage port24A1formed at a front pillar inner24A that structures the front pillar24, which serves as the body of the vehicle. An abutting piece44E projects to an outer side of the outflow port44D from a periphery edge portion of the outflow port44D. The abutting piece44E abuts against and is joined to the front pillar inner24A. The drainage port24A1formed at the front pillar inner24A communicates with the vehicle exterior via a rocker (not shown in the drawings). The water drops46that have flowed in through the outflow port44D of the drainage member44pass through the drainage port24A1and are drained out of the vehicle,

In this exemplary embodiment, inclined surfaces30D1are formed at the floor wall portion30D. Each inclined surface30D1is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the downflow portion42from the side of the inclined surface30D1that is further from the downflow portion42. That is, the inclined surface30D1is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the outer side from the vehicle width direction central portion.

FIG. 6Ais a sectional diagram of the cowl outer panel30showing a magnification of a view cut along line6A6A inFIG. 5.FIG. 6Bis a sectional diagram of the cowl outer panel30showing a magnification of a view cut along line6B-6B inFIG. 5.FIG. 6Cis a sectional diagram of the cowl outer panel30showing a magnification of a view cut along line6C-6C inFIG. 5.

As can be seen fromFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, in the present exemplary embodiment, a height dimension C between (an adhesion surface30A1of) the glass support portion30A of the cowl outer panel30and (an upper face30F1of) the flange portion30F is specified so as to be constant over the vehicle width direction. To be specific, the relationships H1+H1′=H2+H2′=H3+H3′=C and H1<H2<H3apply. Here, H1is a height dimension in a normal direction of the front glass12from the adhesion surface30A1of the glass support portion30A to the inclined surface30D1in the view cut along line6A-6A inFIG. 5, H2is a height dimension in the normal direction of the front glass12from the adhesion surface30A1of the glass support portion30A to the inclined surface30D1in the view cut along line6B-6B inFIG. 5, and H3is a height dimension in the normal direction of the front glass12from the adhesion surface30A1of the glass support portion30A to the inclined surface30D1in the view cut along line6C-6C inFIG. 5. Correspondingly, HF is a height dimension in the normal direction of the front glass12from the inclined surface30D1of the glass support portion30A to the upper face30F1of the flange portion30F in the view cut along line6A-6A inFIG. 5, H2′ is a height dimension in the normal direction of the front glass12from the inclined surface30D1of the glass support portion30A to the upper face30F1of the flange portion30F in the view cut along line6B-6B inFIG. 5, and H3′ is a height dimension in the normal direction of the front glass12from the inclined surface30D1of the glass support portion30A to the upper face30F1of the flange portion30F in the view cut along line6C-6C inFIG. 5. That is, in formation of the inclined surface30D1in the present exemplary embodiment, the height direction dimension H between the glass support portion30A and the floor wall portion30D is varied in the vehicle width direction in correspondence with the height dimension H′ of the rear wall portion30E.

—Operation and Effects of the Vehicle Cowl Structure—

Now, operation and effects of the vehicle cowl structure10according to the present exemplary embodiment are described.

If, for example, a door17or window19shown inFIG. 1is left open during rainfall or the like and water ingresses to the inside of the vehicle cabin16shown inFIG. 2, humidity in the vehicle cabin16may rise. In conditions in which the external air temperature is low, condensation may form at the glass inner face12B at the vehicle cabin16interior side of the front glass12and, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the water drops46may flow down the glass inner face12B.

In this situation, as illustrated by the example inFIG. 13, if the water drops46flow down to a side at which a cowl outer panel100is disposed and water102accumulates on the cowl outer panel100, the water102may pass over a distal end portion100A1of a flange portion100A of the cowl outer panel100. Electric components108are disposed in an interior portion106of an instrument panel104. Therefore, the water102on the cowl outer panel100may flow down to the electric components108.

Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, the floor wall portion30D is provided at the cowl outer panel30and, as shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the downflow portions42are provided at the two vehicle width direction end portions of the floor wall portion30D. Further, the drainage member44that drains the water drops (water)46out of the vehicle is provided at the lower side of each downflow portion42. The drainage member44is in fluid communication with the drainage port24A1that is formed at the front pillar inner24A and communicates with the vehicle exterior.

Therefore, the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12are guided to each downflow portion42by the floor wall portion30D of the cowl outer panel30and are drained through the drainage port24A1from the drainage member44to the vehicle exterior. Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12may be drained out of the vehicle.

Thus, for example, even when the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12flow onto the cowl outer panel30as shown inFIG. 2, the water drops46are guided via the floor wall portion30D to the sides at which the drainage members44are disposed. Therefore, pooling of the water drops46on the cowl outer panel30may be suppressed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, each inclined surface30D1is formed at the floor wall portion30D and is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the side at which the downflow portion42is disposed from the side that is further from the downflow portion42. Therefore, the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12are quickly guided along the inclined surface30D1of the floor wall portion30D of the cowl outer panel30to the downflow portion42. That is, pooling of the water drops46on the cowl outer panel30may be even further suppressed.

As described above, the inclined surface30D1that is angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction is formed at the floor wall portion30D shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4. In this structure, the separation distance between the floor wall portion30D and the front glass12is varied.FIG. 7AandFIG. 7Bshow magnified sectional diagrams corresponding toFIG. 6A.FIG. 7Ashows a state just before an impact body (an impactor)47impacts against the front glass12, andFIG. 7Bshows a state when the impact body47has impacted against the front glass12.

As shown inFIG. 7AandFIG. 7B, with a view to pedestrian protection and the like, the cowl22must deform to absorb an impact force when the impact body47impacts against the front glass12. Therefore, a support stiffness of the front glass12by the cowl outer panel30and the cowl inner panel32is specified so as to be in a predetermined range.

Thus, it is desirable if a separation distance C′ between the front glass12and a join portion of the cowl outer panel30with the cowl inner panel32(i.e., the flange portion30F) is specified to be constant over the vehicle width direction. In the present exemplary embodiment, the term “constant” does not necessarily mean constant in a strict sense. That is, the separation distance C′ may be “substantially constant”; fabrication tolerances and the like will of course be allowed within a range that provides the desired support stiffness for the front glass.

To be specific, in the present exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, the inclined surface30D1is formed by the height dimension H between the glass support portion30A and the floor wall portion30D being varied in the vehicle width direction in correspondence with the height dimension H′ of the rear wall portion30E. That is, in the formation of the inclined surface30D1of the present exemplary embodiment, the height dimension C between the glass support portion30A and the flange portion30F is kept constant over the vehicle width direction by the height dimension H between the glass support portion30A and the floor wall portion30D being varied over the vehicle width direction in correspondence with the height dimension H′ of the rear wall portion30E.

When the cowl22is considered as a unit, it does not include the front glass12. Therefore, the height dimension C between the glass support portion30A to which the sealing member34is adhered and the join portion (the flange portion30F) is specified to be constant over the vehicle width direction. In consequence, the separation distance C′ between the front glass12and the flange portion30F is specified to be constant over the vehicle width direction.

In other words, in the present exemplary embodiment as shown inFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, in the formation of the inclined surface30D1of the floor wall portion30D, the position of the inflection portion30C in the vehicle up-down direction is varied and the height dimension C between the glass support portion30A and the flange portion30F is kept constant. Therefore, cross-sectional crushing of the cowl22for pedestrian protection need not be greatly affected by the formation of the inclined surface30D1.

That is, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the support stiffness of the front glass12may be assured even though the inclined surface30D1is formed at the floor wall portion30D of the cowl outer panel30to be angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

(1) In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, the flange portion30F is provided at the rear end portion of the cowl outer panel30, the flange portion32A is provided at the rear end portion of the cowl inner panel32, and the flange portion32A and flange portion30F are joined to one another in a state in which the same are superposed up-and-down. However, it is sufficient if the cowl outer panel30and the cowl inner panel32are joined to one another. Therefore, the flange portions30F and32A are not necessarily required.

For example, as shown inFIG. 8AtoFIG. 8C, a joining wall50A may protrude toward the lower side from a rear end portion of the rear wall portion30E of a cowl outer panel50, a joining wall52A may protrude toward the upper side from the rear wall portion32B of a cowl inner panel52, and the joining wall50A and joining wall52A may be joined to one another in a state in which the same are superposed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

(2) In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4, the downflow portions42are provided at the vehicle width direction outer sides of the floor wall portion30D of the cowl outer panel30. However, locations at which the downflow portion42is provided are not limited thus. For example, as shown inFIG. 9, a downflow portion58may be provided at a vehicle width direction central portion of a floor wall portion56A of a cowl outer panel56.

When the downflow portions42are provided at the vehicle width direction outer sides of the floor wall portion30D of the cowl outer panel30as shown inFIG. 4, the floor wall portion30D includes the inclined surfaces30D1that are each angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

In contrast, as shown inFIG. 9, when the downflow portion58is provided at the vehicle width direction central portion of the floor wall portion56A of the cowl outer panel56, the floor wall portion56A includes inclined surfaces56A1that are each angled to the lower side in the direction from the outer side toward the central portion in the vehicle width direction. A drainage portion60is provided at the lower side of the downflow portion58. In this structure, a duct62may be provided instead of the drainage member44(seeFIG. 4). Water flowing down from the downflow portion58may be drained out of the vehicle through the duct62.

(3) In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown in, for example,FIG. 3, the floor wall portion30D that protrudes toward the lower side is provided at a rear end portion of the cowl outer panel30and each end portion of the floor wall portion30D serves as the downflow portion42. However, a hole portion (not shown in the drawings) may be formed in the floor wall portion30D and this hole portion may serve as the downflow portion.

(4) In the present exemplary embodiment, each inclined surface30D1is formed continuously along the vehicle width direction, and is formed with a single angle (or curvature). However, although not shown in the drawings, the inclined surface30D1may be formed such that plural inclined surfaces with different angles (or curvatures) succeed one another. For example, the inclination angle may be specified to be larger at the side of the central portion in the vehicle width direction than at the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Thus, the water drops46may be more quickly guided to the vehicle width direction outer sides. Further, the inclined surface30D1may be formed with a single gradient, and steps may be provided at predetermined positions of the inclined surface30D1in the vehicle width direction.

(5) In the present exemplary embodiment, the water drops46that flow down in the drainage member44from the downflow portion42formed at the cowl outer panel30are drained out of the vehicle through the rocker from the drainage port24A1formed in the front pillar inner24A. However, for the present invention it is sufficient that the water drops46can be drained out of the vehicle. Therefore, the drainage pathway may be different from the above. Moreover, the drainage member44is not necessarily required. For example, the downflow portion42of the cowl outer panel30may be in fluid communication with the drainage port24A1of the front pillar inner24A.

Now, a vehicle cowl structure according to a second exemplary embodiment is described. Details that are substantially the same as in the first exemplary embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and are not described here.

In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, the cowl outer panel30is employed that structures a portion of the drainage apparatus36and serves as a member that guides the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12. In the present exemplary embodiment, in contrast, the sealing member34that seals the front glass12is utilized instead of the cowl outer panel30, as illustrated inFIG. 10AtoFIG. 10C,FIG. 10AtoFIG. 10Care magnified sectional diagrams corresponding toFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, respectively.

As can be seen fromFIG. 10AtoFIG. 10C, the sealing position of the sealing member34with the front glass12is specified to be angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion toward each outer side in the vehicle width direction. To describe this more specifically, as shown inFIG. 10A, a straight line along the normal direction of the front glass12that passes through a position of an inclined surface34A1of the sealing member34at the vehicle width direction central portion side of the sealing member34(at a position along line6A-6A shown inFIG. 5) is a reference line P. As shown inFIG. 10B, a position of the inclined surface34A1of the sealing member34at a position along line6B-6B shown inFIG. 5is displaced along the glass inner face12B of the front glass12from the reference line P by a dimension h1toward the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and as shown inFIG. 10C, a position of the inclined surface34A1of the sealing member34at a position along line6C-6C shown inFIG. 5is displaced along the glass inner face12B of the front glass12from the reference line P by a dimension h2toward the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction (h2>h1). That is, the inclined surface34A1is formed by a side face34A of the sealing member34at the vehicle cabin16interior side thereof, and the inclined surface34A is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the side of the sealing member34at which the downflow portion42is disposed from the side of the sealing member34that is further from the downflow portion42(seeFIG. 4). Hence, the water drops46are guided along the inclined surface34A1to the downflow portion42and drained out of the vehicle. An inclined surface64C1of a mounting member64(seeFIG. 11AtoFIG. 11C) and an inclined surface66A1of a water-sealing sponge66(seeFIG. 12AtoFIG. 12C), which are described below, are formed in substantially the same form as the inclined surface34A1of the sealing member34. Accordingly, descriptions of their forms are not given below.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B are guided to the downflow portions42by the sealing member34that seals between the front glass12and the cowl outer panel30, and are drained out of the vehicle through the downflow portions42.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the sealing position of the sealing member34is simply varied to be angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, costs may be reduced compared to a structure in which a guide member for guiding the water drops46is provided separately. Furthermore, because there is no need to form the floor wall portion30D at the cowl outer panel30, a conventional cowl outer panel may be used as is, simply with the downflow portions42being formed at the cowl outer panel.

Now, a vehicle cowl structure according to a third exemplary embodiment is described. Details that are substantially the same as in the first exemplary embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and are not described here.

In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, the cowl outer panel30is employed that structures a portion of the drainage apparatus36and serves as a member that guides the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12. In contrast, in the present exemplary embodiment, instead of the cowl outer panel30, the mounting member64is mounted to the front end portion14A of the instrument panel14as illustrated inFIG. 11AtoFIG. 11C.FIG. 11AtoFIG. 11Care magnified sectional diagrams corresponding toFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 11AtoFIG. 11C, a cross-sectional shape of the mounting member64cut along the vehicle front-rear direction forms a substantial “C” shape. An upper end portion (one end portion)64A of the mounting member64abuts against the glass inner face12B of the front glass12, and a lower end portion (another end portion)64B of the mounting member64abuts against a lower face14B of the instrument panel14(a face of the instrument panel14that is at the opposite side thereof from the side at which the front glass12is disposed). The mounting member64is mounted at the front end portion14A of the instrument panel14In this state.

As can be seen fromFIG. 11AtoFIG. 11C, a central portion64C of the mounting member64that is disposed between the upper end portion64A and the lower end portion64B is specified to be angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion toward each outer side in the vehicle width direction. That is, the inclined surface64C1is formed by the central portion64C of the mounting member64, and the inclined surface64C1is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the side of the mounting member64at which the downflow portion42is disposed from the side of the mounting member64that is further from the downflow portion42(seeFIG. 4). Hence, the water drops46are guided along the inclined surface64C1to the downflow portion42and drained out of the vehicle.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B are guided to the downflow portions42by the mounting member64that abuts against the front glass12and the instrument panel14, and are drained out of the vehicle through the downflow portions42. Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, because there is no need to form the floor wall portion30D at the cowl outer panel30, a conventional cowl outer panel may be used as is, simply with the downflow portions42being formed at the cowl outer panel,

Now, a vehicle cowl structure according to a third exemplary embodiment is described. Details that are substantially the same as in the first exemplary embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and are not described here.

In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, the cowl outer panel30is employed that structures a portion of the drainage apparatus36and serves as a member that guides the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B of the front glass12. In the present exemplary embodiment, in contrast, the water-sealing sponge66is utilized instead of the cowl outer panel30, as illustrated inFIG. 12AtoFIG. 12C. The water-sealing sponge66abuts against the front glass12and the instrument panel14at the side of the instrument panel14at which the front end portion14A is disposed.FIG. 12AtoFIG. 12Care magnified sectional diagrams corresponding toFIG. 6AtoFIG. 6C, respectively.

As can be seen fromFIG. 12AtoFIG. 12C, abutting positions of the water-sealing sponge66against the front glass12and the instrument panel14are specified so as to be angled to the lower side in the direction from the central portion towards each outer side in the vehicle width direction. That is, the inclined surface66A1is formed by a side face66A of the water-sealing sponge66at the vehicle cabin16interior side of the water-sealing sponge66, and the inclined surface66A1is angled to the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction in the direction toward the side of the water-sealing sponge66at which the downflow portion42is disposed from the side of the water-sealing sponge66that is further from the downflow portion42(seeFIG. 4). Hence, the water drops46are guided along the inclined surface66A1to the downflow portion42and drained out of the vehicle.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the water drops46that have flowed down the glass inner face12B are guided to the downflow portions42by the water-sealing sponge66that abuts against the front glass12and the instrument panel14, and are drained out of the vehicle through the downflow portions42. Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, because there is no need to form the floor wall portion30D at the cowl outer panel30, a conventional cowl outer panel may be used as is, simply with the downflow portions42being formed at the cowl outer panel.

Hereabove, the present invention has been described in accordance with the exemplary embodiments, but the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments and various variant examples may be used in suitable combinations, and it will be clear that numerous modes may be embodied within a technical scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.