Patent Publication Number: US-2016229272-A1

Title: Vehicle water discharge structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-022395 filed on Feb. 6, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle water discharge structure that is provided to an opening for a vehicle sunroof, and that discharges water in a water discharge groove to the vehicle outside. 
     2. Related Art 
     Ordinary sunroofs are provided with a water discharge groove that receives water entering the vehicle cabin from an opening of the sunroof, and water in the water discharge groove is guided to the vehicle lower side by a drain hose and discharged to the vehicle outside. For example, in a vehicle water discharge structure described by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2009-35017, water that has entered a water discharge groove provided at a peripheral edge of an opening of a sunroof is guided downward along a front pillar by a water discharge pipe, and is discharged to an engine room through a water discharge plug. A discharge outlet at the downstream end of the water discharge pipe is attached to a cowl box by the water discharge plug. 
     In the configuration described by the above document, there is a concern that foreign matter may enter through the discharge outlet since the discharge outlet is in an open state. Although it is conceivable that the radius of the discharge outlet could be reduced to suppress foreign matter from entering, reducing the radius of the discharge outlet makes the discharge outlet liable to become blocked due to freezing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In consideration of the above particulars, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle water discharge structure that is capable of suppressing foreign matter from entering through a discharge outlet. 
     A vehicle water discharge structure according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a water discharge groove section provided at a vehicle cabin inner side of a vehicle sunroof opening portion, a water discharge path member that is in communication with the water discharge groove section, and that guides water in the water discharge groove section in a vehicle downward direction, and a cap member that is installed at a water discharge section through which water is discharged through the water discharge path member, and that is capable of moving to an open position that opens a discharge outlet of the discharge section and a blocking position that blocks the discharge outlet. 
     In the vehicle water discharge structure according to the first aspect, water entering into the water discharge groove from the vehicle sunroof opening portion is guided in the vehicle downward direction through the water discharge path member, and is discharged from the discharge section. The cap member is installed at the discharge outlet of the discharge section, and is capable of opening and closing the discharge outlet. Accordingly, the cap member can be disposed in the blocking position, thereby closing the discharge outlet, and this enables entry of foreign matter to be suppressed. Conversely, when there is no concern regarding entry of foreign matter to the discharge outlet, the cap member can be disposed in the open position, thereby opening the discharge outlet, and this enables water to be discharged. 
     In a vehicle water discharge structure according to a second aspect of the present invention, the cap member is ordinarily disposed in the open position, and is disposed in the blocking position when an inside of the vehicle cabin is at lower pressure than a vehicle outside. 
     When the inside of the vehicle cabin is at a lower pressure than the vehicle outside, foreign matter is more liable to enter the inside of the vehicle cabin through the discharge outlet. The vehicle water discharge structure according to the second aspect is therefore configured such that when the inside of the vehicle cabin reaches a lower pressure than the vehicle outside, the cap member is disposed in the blocking position, and the discharge outlet is closed. This enables entry of foreign matter through the discharge outlet to be suppressed. However, the cap member is ordinarily disposed in the open position, thereby opening the discharge outlet. This enables the discharge outlet to be suppressed from freezing in a state in which the cap member is disposed in the blocking position such that the discharge outlet adopts a blocked state due to freezing. 
     In a vehicle water discharge structure according to a third aspect of the present invention, the discharge outlet of the discharge section is disposed inclined toward a vehicle lower side, and the cap member hangs down from an upper edge of the discharge outlet of the discharge section, and can move between the blocking position and the open position by swinging about the upper edge of the discharge outlet. 
     In the vehicle water discharge structure according to the third aspect, the discharge outlet of the discharge section is disposed inclined toward the vehicle lower side. Moreover, the cap member hangs down from the upper edge of the discharge outlet of the discharge section, and can move between the blocking position and the open position by swinging about the upper edge of the discharge outlet. According to the above configuration, the cap member can be moved, and the discharge outlet opened and closed, using a simple configuration. 
     A vehicle water discharge structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention further includes a cover member that covers the cap member, and that is open at a vehicle lower side. 
     According to the vehicle water discharge structure of the fourth aspect, the cap member is covered by the cover member, thereby enabling the cap member to be made less vulnerable to travelling airflow and other external influences. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the vehicle water discharge structure according to the first aspect, since the cap member that opens and closes the discharge outlet is provided, the discharge outlet can be opened and closed as necessary, enabling foreign matter to be suppressed from entering through the discharge outlet. 
     According to the vehicle water discharge structure according to the second aspect, foreign matter can be suppressed from entering through the discharge outlet more effectively, and the discharge outlet can be suppressed from blocking due to freezing. 
     The vehicle water discharge structure according to the third aspect enables the cap member to be configured simply. 
     The vehicle water discharge structure according the fourth aspect enables the cap member to be protected. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle applied with a vehicle water discharge structure according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an expanded cross-section taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a main body member, a cap member, and a cover member, which configure a portion of a vehicle water discharge structure of the exemplary embodiment, prior to assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a main body member, a cap member, and a cover member, which configure a portion of a vehicle water discharge structure of the exemplary embodiment, in an assembled state; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side face view illustrating a state in which snow is piled up on the roof of a vehicle applied with the vehicle water discharge structure of the exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Explanation next follows regarding a vehicle water discharge structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 . In the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front rear direction front side, the arrow OUT indicates the vehicle width direction outside, and the arrow UP indicates the vehicle up-down direction upper side. In the following explanation, reference to the front-rear and up-down directions indicates forward and backward in the vehicle front-rear direction and upward and downward in the vehicle up-down direction, unless otherwise stated. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a substantially rectangular sunroof opening portion  14  is formed on a roof  12  of a vehicle  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a downward bend portion  12 A is formed by bending the roof  12  downward at a peripheral edge portion of the sunroof opening portion  14 . A reinforcement member  12 B running along a corner portion, which is configured by the roof  12  and the downward bend portion  12 A, is joined to the inside of the corner portion. 
     Sliding glass  16  (also referred to as “sliding roof glass”), serving as an openable/closable moving panel, is disposed in the sunroof opening portion  14 . The sliding glass  16  is a glass panel, and as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a rubber weather strip  18  is attached to an outer peripheral edge portion of the sliding glass  16  through a plate member  19 , described below. An outer peripheral lower portion of the sliding glass  16  is provided with the plate member  19  that inclines so as to be disposed more toward the vehicle width direction outside on progression downward. The sliding glass  16  is configured openable and closable by being tilted up, tilted down, or moved in the front rear direction by an operation mechanism, not illustrated in the drawings. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a pair of left and right guide rails  20  are disposed at both sides of the sunroof opening portion  14  inside the vehicle cabin. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the guide rails  20  extend along the vehicle front-rear direction in an elongated shape, and their rear end positions are set further to the vehicle rear side than the rear end position of the sunroof opening portion  14 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a water discharge groove section  22  that is open at the vehicle upper side is formed to each of the guide rails  20 . The water discharge groove section  22  is formed between an upright portion  20 A at which a vehicle width direction outer end portion of the guide rail  20  bends toward the upper side, and a guiding member  20 B to which the operating mechanism, not illustrated in the drawings, is attached for the purpose of operating the sliding glass  16 . The water discharge groove section  22  is disposed at a position at the lower side of extensions from the plate member  19  and a leading end of the downward bend portion  12 A. The water discharge groove section  22  is open at the vehicle cabin inside, and rainwater and the like entering between the weather strip  18  and the downward bend portion  12 A is caught by the water discharge groove section  22 . 
     Upper end portions  24 A of sunroof drain hoses  24 , serving as water discharge path members, are connected to both front and rear ends of the water discharge groove section  22 . Water discharge outlets (not illustrated in the drawings) are formed in the water discharge groove section  22  at portions connected to the upper end portions  24 A, and rainwater and the like received by the water discharge groove section  22  flows into the sunroof drain hoses  24  through these water discharge outlets. 
     Each sunroof drain hose  24  in communication with a front end of the water discharge groove section  22  extends downward along a front pillar  11 A. A lower end portion  24 B of the sunroof drain hose  24  is connected to a grommet  30  that serves as a discharge section. The grommet  30  is attached to a front body section  15 A at a lower front portion of a front side door  13 . 
     Each sunroof drain hose  24  in communication with a rear end of the water discharge groove section  22  extends downward along a rear pillar  11 B. The lower end portion  24 B of the sunroof drain hose  24  is connected to a grommet  30 . The grommet  30  is attached to a rear body section  15 B at the back of a bumper that is further to the rear than a rear wheel RR. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , each grommet  30  includes a main body member  32 , a cap member  40 , and a cover member  50 . The main body member  32  serves as a discharge section and is tube shaped, and a flow path  32 A is formed inside the main body member  32 . A central portion of the main body member  32  is curved. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an inner wall of one end portion  34  of the main body member  32  forms a saw-tooth shaped retaining portion  34 A. The lower end portion  24 B of the sunroof drain hose  24  is inserted into the one end portion  34  of the main body member  32 , and retained by the retaining portion  34 A. A ring shaped contact portion  38  for attachment to the front body section  15 A or the rear body section  15 B of the vehicle  10  is formed to the outer periphery of the main body member  32 . A groove  38 A, to which an outer edge  15 C of a body opening  15 H formed to the front body section  15 A or the rear body section  15 B is engaged, is formed to a base on the one end portion  34  side of the contact portion  38 . 
     A discharge outlet  32 B, which is an outlet of the flow path  32 A, is formed to another end portion  36  of the main body member  32 . The discharge outlet  32 B is disposed inclined such that the opening direction thereof faces downward with respect to the horizontal direction. A claw  36 A, which engages to an engagement hole  58 A of the cover member  50 , described below, is formed to the outer periphery of the other end portion  36  (see  FIG. 3 ). An insertion groove  36 B, into which is inserted an outer fitting portion  58  of the cover member  50 , described below, is formed to a lower portion of the outside of the discharge outlet  32 B of the other end portion  36 , between the discharge outlet  32 B and the contact portion  38 . 
     The cover member  50  includes a cover main body  52 , and the outer fitting portion  58 . The cover main body  52  is open at a lower portion thereof, and includes a bell shaped attachment face portion  53  positioned facing the discharge outlet  32 B on the side at which the main body member  32  is attached. An opening  53 A is formed to the attachment face portion  53 . A main body plate  54  is disposed separated from the attachment face portion  53 , at a position facing the attachment face portion  53  of the cover main body  52 . The main body plate  54  is disposed along the vertical direction. A side plate  55  is disposed between an outer edge of the main body plate  54  and an outer edge of the attachment face portion  53 , so as to connect the main body plate  54  and the attachment face portion  53  together. A slit shaped attachment hole  55 A for attaching the cap member  40  is formed to an upper portion of the side plate  55 . The attachment hole  55 A is disposed at an upper edge of the discharge outlet  32 B. 
     The outer fitting portion  58  is circular tube shaped, and is formed projecting from the outer circumference of the opening  53 A toward the opposite side to the main body plate  54 . The engagement hole  58 A is formed to the outer fitting portion  58 . The claw  36 A of the main body member  32  is engaged to the engagement hole  58 A. The outer fitting portion  58  is fitted over the other end portion  36  of the main body member  32 , and a lower portion of the outer fitting portion  58  is inserted into the insertion groove  36 B. 
     The cap member  40  is plate shaped, and includes a cap main body  42  and an attachment portion  44 . The cap main body  42  has a shape substantially the same as that of the attachment face portion  53 . The attachment portion  44  includes a neck portion  44 B capable of being inserted into the attachment hole  55 A, and a projecting portion  44 A that is wider than the length of the length direction of the attachment hole  55 A. The attachment portion  44  is integrally formed to an upper portion of the cap main body  42 . The neck portion  44 B of the cap member  40  is inserted through the attachment hole  55 A, and the projecting portion  44 A projects upward from the attachment hole  55 A, such that the cap member  40  hangs down in the vertical direction under its own weight, and is attached to the cover member  50 . The cap main body  42  is housed in the cover member  50 . 
     The cap member  40  is configured capable of swinging about the neck portion  44 B, and is ordinarily (when the vehicle cabin is not negatively pressurized) positioned along the vertical direction by its own weight. This position is referred to as an “open position P 1 ” hereafter. When the inside of the vehicle cabin has been negatively pressurized, the cap member  40  is pulled to the flow path  32 A side and is disposed in a blocking position that blocks the discharge outlet  32 B. When the cap member  40  is disposed at the open position P 1 , a lower end of the discharge outlet  32 B is separated from the cap member  40  by a distance L. The distance L is preferably 3 mm or more. This is because it is conceivable that the discharge outlet  32 B could become blocked when water adhered to the vicinity of the discharge outlet  32 B freezes if the distance L is less than 3 mm. The cap member  40  may be formed from a rubber material or a resin material. 
     Explanation next follows regarding operation and advantageous effects of the present exemplary embodiment. 
     First, the cap member  40  is attached to the cover member  50 , and then the cover member  50  is attached to the main body member  32 . The cap member  40  is attached to the cover member  50  by causing the projecting portion  44 A to project from the attachment hole  55 A. The cover member  50  is attached to the main body member  32  by fitting the outer fitting portion  58  over the other end portion  36  of the main body member  32 , inserting the lower portion of the outer fitting portion  58  into the insertion groove  36 B, and causing the claw  36 A to engage with the engagement hole  58 A. 
     Next, main body members  32  are respectively attached to the front body section  15 A or the rear body section  15 B. During the attachment, the one end portion  34  is inserted into the body opening  15 H formed in the front body section  15 A or the rear body section  15 B, the contact portion  38  is caused to contact the front body section  15 A or the rear body section  15 B, and the outer edge  15 C is caused to engage with the groove  38 A. The main body member  32 , the cap member  40 , and the cover member  50  are thereby respectively attached to the front body section  15 A or the rear body section  15 B. The lower end portion  24 B of the sunroof drain hose  24  is then inserted into the one end portion  34  of the main body member  32 , and retained by the retaining portion  34 A. 
     Ordinarily (when the inside of the vehicle cabin is not negatively pressurized), the cap member  40  is disposed in the open position P 1 , and the discharge outlet  32 B is open. Rainwater or the like that has entered between the weather strip  18  and the downward bend portion  12 A is caught by the water discharge groove section  22 , and discharged from the discharge outlet  32 B to the vehicle outside through the sunroof drain hose  24 . 
     However, when the inside of the vehicle cabin is negatively pressurized while the vehicle  10  is travelling due to the sliding glass  16  being tilted up, door glass D being opened, or the like, the cap member  40  is pulled to the discharge outlet  32 B side, and is disposed in the blocking position. This blocks the discharge outlet  32 B and enables foreign matter (for example, exhaust gasses, sand, and dust) to be suppressed from entering the water discharge groove section  22  through the discharge outlet  32 B and via the flow path  32 A. 
     The present exemplary embodiment enables a configuration in which the discharge outlet  32 B is blocked by the cap member  40  when the inside of the vehicle cabin is negatively pressurized, and when the inside of the vehicle cabin is not negatively pressurized, the discharge outlet  32 B is opened and the cap member  40  is separated from the discharge outlet  32 B. Accordingly, the discharge outlet  32 B can be opened and closed when necessary and foreign matter can be suppressed from entering through the discharge outlet  32 B, and the discharge outlet can be suppressed from being blocked due to freezing by separating the cap member  40  from the discharge outlet  32 B. 
     As an example in which freezing is anticipated, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a case can be conceived of in which snow S piled up on the roof  12  is thawed due to being heated by sunlight. When the snow on the roof  12  melts to become water, the water enters between the weather strip  18  and the downward bend portion  12 A, and is discharged from the discharge outlet  32 B to the vehicle outside through the water discharge groove section  22  and the sunroof drain hose  24 . At this time, in cases in which the vehicle  10  is stationary, the vicinity of the discharge outlet  32 B is at a low temperature since it is shaded from the sun, and water from above is liable to freeze. 
     As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the cap member  40  is disposed in the open position P 1  when the vehicle  10  is stationary, thus suppressing blocking due to freezing, and enabling the discharge outlet to be suppressed from blocking due to freezing. Suppressing freezing enables water to be suppressed from backflowing through the flow path  32 A and overflowing into the inside of the vehicle cabin. 
     Although the present exemplary embodiment has a configuration in which the cap member  40  is opened and closed using pressure fluctuations of the inside of the vehicle cabin with respect to the vehicle outside, the cap member  40  may be opened and closed by another method. For example, the cap member  40  may be moved so as to be disposed in the blocking position P 2  coordinated with the sliding glass  16  being tilted up, or the door glass D being opened while the vehicle  10  is travelling In such cases, a solenoid valve or the like may be employed as the cap member  40 , and may be opened and closed using electrical control. The discharge outlet  32 B can be opened and closed using a simple configuration by utilizing a configuration in which the cap member  40  hangs down under its own weight and is moved into the blocking position P 2  using negative pressure inside the vehicle cabin, as in the present exemplary embodiment. 
     Although the cap member  40  is housed inside the cover member  50  in the present exemplary embodiment, the cover member  50  is not strictly necessary. In cases lacking the cover member  50 , the cap member  40  may be attached to a leading end upper portion of the other end portion  36 . Since the cap member  40  is housed in the cover member  50  in the present exemplary embodiment, the cover member  50  functions as a windbreak, and the cap member  40  can be suppressed from swinging due to travelling airflow.