Patent Publication Number: US-2016236725-A1

Title: Vehicle flow-regulating structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-28057 filed on Feb. 16, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle flow-regulating structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2005-291808 describes a structure in which a sensor such as a camera or radar is mounted on a roof of an autonomous vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, the above-described conventional example does not particularly take airflow or noise and vibration (NV) performance in a vicinity of the sensor (surrounding information detection section) on the roof while the vehicle is travelling into consideration. 
     An object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to improve aerodynamic performance and NV performance in vehicles including a surrounding information detection section on the roof. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A vehicle flow-regulating structure according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a surrounding information detection section that is provided on a roof of a vehicle and that detects surrounding information of the vehicle, and a flow-regulating means that is provided on the roof and that regulates airflow at the surrounding information detection section while the vehicle is travelling. 
     In this vehicle flow-regulating structure, the airflow at the surrounding information detection section provided on the roof while the vehicle is travelling is regulated by the flow regulating means provided on the roof. The air resistance and noise while the vehicle is travelling is thereby reduced. 
     A second aspect is the vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the first aspect, wherein the flow-regulating means is provided at a vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section, or in a vicinity of the vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section, and is a roof visor that extends diagonally upward toward a vehicle rear side. 
     In this vehicle flow-regulating structure, the roof visor that extends diagonally upward toward the vehicle rear side is provided at the vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section, or in the vicinity of the vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section, such that airflow is guided to the vehicle upper side of the surrounding information detection section while the vehicle is travelling. The airflow is accordingly less liable to hit the surrounding information detection section. 
     A third aspect is the vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the second aspect, wherein at least one of a length of the roof visor, or an angle of the roof visor with respect to a horizontal direction, in a vehicle side view is variable. 
     In this vehicle flow-regulating structure, changing at least one of the length of the roof visor, or the angle of the roof visor with respect to the horizontal direction, in vehicle side view enables the airflow to be controlled according to the configuration and placement of the surrounding information detection section. 
     A fourth aspect is the vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the first aspect, wherein at least part of the surrounding information detection section is incorporated in the flow-regulating means. 
     In this vehicle flow-regulating structure, at least part of the surrounding information detection section is incorporated in the flow-regulating means, such that less of the surrounding information detection section is exposed on the roof. 
     A fifth aspect is the vehicle flow-regulating structure according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, wherein a wire harness extending from the surrounding information detection section is passed through a wire harness passage section provided at the roof. 
     In this vehicle flow-regulating structure, the wire harness extending from the surrounding information detection section is passed through the wire harness passage section, such that the wire harness is suppressed from being exposed on the roof. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     The vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the first aspect of the present invention obtains an excellent advantageous effect of enabling the aerodynamic performance and NV performance of the vehicle including the surrounding information detection section on the roof to be improved. 
     The vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the second aspect of the present invention obtains an excellent advantageous effect of enabling the aerodynamic performance and NV performance of the vehicle to be improved by the roof visor. 
     The vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the third aspect of the present invention obtains an excellent advantageous effect of enabling the roof visor to be commonly used in vehicles that have a different configuration or placement of the surrounding information detection section. 
     The vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the fourth aspect of the present invention obtains excellent advantageous effects of enabling the air resistance to be reduced, and the appearance of the vehicle to be improved. 
     The vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the fifth aspect of the present invention obtains an excellent advantageous effect of enabling the appearance of the vehicle to be improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle including a vehicle flow-regulating structure according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating an airflow regulating operation by a vehicle flow-regulating structure according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an example in which a roof visor is disposed in a vicinity of the vehicle front side of a surrounding information detection section; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-section illustrating a wire harness housed inside a inverted-Mohican-shaped section of a roof; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle in which a vehicle flow-regulating structure according to a second exemplary embodiment is provided at a roof rail; and 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-section taken along arrows  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 , illustrating an internal structure of a front end portion of the roof rail. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Explanation follows regarding exemplary embodiments of the present invention, based on the drawings. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a vehicle flow-regulating structure S 1  according to an exemplary embodiment is employed in an autonomous vehicle  10 , for example, and includes a surrounding information detection section  12 , and a roof visor  14  that is an example of a flow-regulating means. 
     The surrounding information detection section  12  is millimeter-wave radar, microwave radar, laser radar, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical camera, or the like, which is provided on a roof  16  of the vehicle  10 , and detects surrounding information of the vehicle  10 . The surrounding information detection section  12  is provided at a center portion of the roof  16 , for example, and detects surrounding information of the vehicle  10  while rotating 360 degrees with its rotation axis along the vehicle up-down direction. 
     Although not illustrated in the drawings, the vehicle  10  is provided with a travel planning section and a travel control section. The travel planning section generates a travel plan along a pre-set target route based on map information, and surrounding information of the vehicle  10  detected by the surrounding information detection section  12 . The travel control section automatically controls travel of the vehicle  10  based on the travel plan generated by the travel planning section. 
     The roof visor  14  is provided on the roof  16 , and is a substantially rectangular shaped flow-regulating panel that regulates an airflow A at the surrounding information detection section  12  while the vehicle is travelling. The roof visor  14  is provided at the vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section  12 , for example, and extends diagonally upward toward the vehicle rear side. As an example, the roof visor  14  is provided running along the vehicle width direction across an entire front end of the roof  16 . Left and right corner portions of an upper end of the roof visor  14  are rounded into a circular arc shape. It is preferable that the roof visor  14  runs along the slope or curve of a front windshield  18 . Note that there is no need for the surrounding information detection section  12  to be covered from the vehicle front side by the roof visor  14 , and it is sufficient that the roof visor  14  acts as a trigger to control the airflow A. 
     In  FIG. 2 , it is preferable a length L from a lower end as far as the upper end of the roof visor  14 , and an angle θ of the roof visor  14  with respect to a horizontal direction H, are set such that the roof visor  14  does not impair detection by the surrounding information detection section  12 . In cases in which the roof visor  14  is bent or curved in vehicle side view, the angle θ is an angle (an acute angle, for example) formed by a line segment linking the upper end and lower end of the roof visor  14 , and the horizontal direction H in vehicle side view. 
     Note that at least one of the length L of the roof visor  14 , or the angle θ of the roof visor  14  with respect to the horizontal direction, may be variable. Specifically, configuration may be such that only the length L of the roof visor  14  is variable, or only the angle θ of the roof visor  14  is variable. The roof visor  14  may configured so as to extend and retract in order to make the length L variable. A rotation pivot point (not illustrated in the drawings) may be provided at a lower end portion of the roof visor  14  in order to make the angle θ variable. 
     Moreover, both the length L and angle θ of the roof visor  14  may be variable. In such cases, configuration may be such that the rotation pivot point (not illustrated in the drawings) is provided at the lower end portion of the roof visor  14 , and the roof visor  14  extends and retracts at a location above the rotation pivot point, or such that the rotation pivot point is provided partway along the roof visor  14  that extends and retracts. In cases in which a type of surrounding information detection section  12  is employed that is not influenced by the roof visor  14  when detecting surrounding information, the surrounding information detection section  12  may be hidden at the vehicle rear of the roof visor  14 . 
     The roof visor  14  may be provided in a vicinity of the vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section  12 . The “vicinity of the vehicle front” includes the following two examples. In the first example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the lower end of the roof visor  14  is positioned further to the vehicle front than the surrounding information detection section  12 , and an upper portion of the roof visor  14  is disposed so as to overlap part of the surrounding information detection section  12  in vehicle side view. In this example a circular arc shaped cutout  14 A is provided at the roof visor  14 , for example, so as not to impair detection by the surrounding information detection section  12 . In the second example, the roof visor  14  is disposed in close proximity to the vehicle front side of the surrounding information detection section  12 , to a degree that does not overlap the surrounding information detection section  12  in vehicle side view. 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , a wire harness  20  extending from the surrounding information detection section  12  is passed through a mold  22  serving as an example of a wire harness passage section provided at the roof  16 . A roof side rail  24  is provided extending along the vehicle front-rear direction at either end portion of the roof  16 . An inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26  is provided as an indentation extending along the vehicle front-rear direction at a boundary portion between each roof side rail  24  and the roof  16 . The mold  22  is a resin member or a rubber member with an H-shaped cross-section, for example, and is attached so as to cover the inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the wire harness  20  extends from the surrounding information detection section  12  along an upper face of the roof  16  toward the vehicle width direction outside, for example, and is routed inside the mold  22  of the inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26 . Although not illustrated in the drawings, the wire harness  20  extends inside the mold  22  in the front-rear direction, is then routed inside the vehicle  10  from a specific position, and connected to the above-described travel planning section. 
     Operation 
     Explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment configured as described above. In the vehicle flow-regulating structure S 1  according to the present exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , while the vehicle is travelling, the airflow A at the surrounding information detection section  12  provided on the roof  16  is regulated by the roof visor  14  provided on the roof  16 . The roof visor  14  is positioned at the front end of the roof  16 , and runs along the slope of the front windshield  18 . Thus turbulence is less liable to occur in the airflow A from the front windshield  18  to the roof visor  14  while the vehicle is travelling, and the airflow A is led to the vehicle upper side of the surrounding information detection section  12 . The airflow A is therefore less liable to hit the surrounding information detection section  12 , such that air resistance and noise while the vehicle is travelling is reduced. This enables the aerodynamic performance and NV performance of the vehicle  10  including the surrounding information detection section  12  on the roof  16  to be improved. 
     Part of the wire harness  20  extending from the surrounding information detection section  12  is passed through and is hidden inside the mold  22  of the inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26 . This suppresses the wire harness  20  from being exposed on the roof  16 , compared to cases in which the wire harness  20  is not passed through inside the mold  22 . Viewed from the vehicle front side, the wire harness  20  on the roof  16  is hidden by the roof visor  14 . This enables the appearance of the vehicle  10  to be improved. 
     Furthermore, suitably setting the length L and the angle θ of the roof visor  14  ( FIG. 2 ) enables surrounding information of the vehicle  10  to be detected by the surrounding information detection section  12  without being influenced by the roof visor  14 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , cases in which at least one of the length L or the angle θ of the roof visor  14  with respect to the horizontal direction is variable enable the airflow A to be controlled according to the configuration and placement of the surrounding information detection section  12 , by changing the length L or the angle θ. Moreover, the roof visor  14  can be commonly used in vehicles  10  that have a different configuration or placement of the surrounding information detection section  12 . 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     In a vehicle flow-regulating structure S 2  according to an exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , surrounding information detection sections  32  that are at least part of a surrounding information detection section are respectively incorporated in front end portions  30 A of roof rails  30 . Each front end portion  30 A is an example of a flow-regulating means, and is formed in a streamlined shape, for example. A pair of the roof rails  30  are provided on the roof  16  of the vehicle  10  at the left and right thereof, and extend along the vehicle front-rear direction. 
     Each surrounding information detection section  32  is a sensor such as a camera, and is provided inside a cover  34  at the front end portion  30 A of the roof rail  30 . The cover  34  is formed in a streamlined shape so as to be integral to the front end portion  30 A of the roof rail  30 . In cases in which the surrounding information detection section  32  is an optical sensor, the cover  34  is configured to be transparent. In cases in which the surrounding information detection section  32  is a radio wave type, it is sufficient that the cover  34  is permeated by radio waves, and so may be opaque. 
     Note that a surrounding information detection section (not illustrated in the drawings) other than the surrounding information detection sections  32  may be incorporated in the roof rails  30 . Moreover, all the surrounding information detection sections may be incorporated in the roof rails  30 . 
     The wire harness  20  extending from each surrounding information detection section  32  passes through inside the roof rail  30 , and is then routed inside the vehicle  10  from a specific position, similarly to in the first exemplary embodiment. Namely, the roof rail  30  serves as both a flow-regulating means and a wire harness passage section. 
     Note that the wire harness  20  may be passed through the mold  22  of the inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26  similarly to in the first exemplary embodiment (see  FIG. 4 ) rather than the roof rail  30 . 
     Other portions are similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment, and so similar portions are appended with the same reference numerals in the drawings, and explanation thereof is omitted. 
     Operation 
     Explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment configured as described above. In the vehicle flow-regulating structure S 2  according to the present exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , at least part of each surrounding information detection section  32  is incorporated into the front end portion  30 A of the roof rail  30 . Thus, in cases in which plural types of surrounding information detection section, including the surrounding information detection sections  32 , are disposed on the roof  16 , there are fewer surrounding information detection sections exposed on the roof  16 . This enables the airflow resistance while the vehicle is travelling to be reduced, and the appearance of the vehicle  10  to be improved. 
     Other Exemplary Embodiments 
     Examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been explained above; however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and obviously various other modifications may be implemented within a range not departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the wire harness  20  extending from the surrounding information detection section  12  passes through inside the mold  22  of the inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26 ; however, configuration may be made such that the wire harness  20  does not pass through the mold  22 , and the wire harness  20  is exposed as far as a portion routed inside the vehicle  10 . Moreover, the mold  22  of the inverted-Mohican-shaped section  26  (first exemplary embodiment) and the roof rail  30  (second exemplary embodiment) have been given as examples of a wire harness passage section; however, the wire harness passage section is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a mold that is provided on the upper face of the roof  16 . 
     The above exemplary embodiments may be combined as appropriate. For example, the surrounding information detection section  12  according to the first exemplary embodiment may be combined with the second exemplary embodiment, and the roof visor  14  may also be combined therewith. In such cases, the width of the roof visor  14  may be narrowed such that the roof visor  14  does not block the vehicle front side of the roof rails  30 .