Patent Description:
Such a motor vehicle is for example known from <CIT>. In this known motor vehicle the cover assembly comprises a cover element which is provided on its upper edge region in the vertical axis direction of the vehicle with a bend directed backwards in the direction of the front windscreen. The bend extends essentially over the entire length of the cover element and can be hooked in and positioned on an associated suspension and positioning web attached to the driver cabin. The suspension and positioning web is in the form of several spring strips extending upwards in the direction of the vertical axis of the motor vehicle over a lower edge region of the front windscreen, which spring strips define a receiving space for the bend of the cover element. On the bend of the cover element a seal is attached for sealingly engaging the front windscreen. The bend of the cover element is hung or positioned in the receiving space defined by the spring strips and then pressed down so that the spring strips press the seal and thus the cover element against the front windscreen with a defined preload. A further seal is provided on the lower edge area of the cover element opposite the bend via which further seal the cover element engages a back surface of the front grille. It has appeared that after a prolonged period of time of use of the motor vehicle the spring characteristics of the spring strips can deteriorate as a result of which the load with which the seal attached to the bend is pressed against the front windscreen can decrease. The function of the cover element to prevent water and dirt to enter below the cover element can thus be deteriorated. In addition, in particular with motor vehicles of which the front grille is movably attached to the driver cabin to be able to access the space behind the front grille for maintenance, it has appeared that the forces exerted on the further seal and the cover element itself during repeatedly moving the front grille also can deteriorate the function of the further seal and the cover element. It is thus possible that after a prolonged period of use time a gap can form between the seal attached to the bend and the front windscreen and/or a gap between the further seal and the front grille. Such gaps adversely affect the aerodynamic properties of the motor vehicle, amongst other things leading to a worse fuel economy. In the worst case it could even be possible that after a prolonged period of time the cover element can loosen from spring strips and fall out of the receiving space.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle with a cover assembly that can prevent entry of water and dirt in the space below the cover assembly over a prolonged period of time. It is a further object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle with a cover assembly that does not negatively influence the aerodynamic properties of the motor vehicle.

According to the invention at least one of the objects is obtained by providing a motor vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle, comprising a front grille and a driver cabin provided with a front windscreen, the front grille being attached to the driver cabin, the front grille and front windscreen both facing forwards in the vehicle's normal direction of movement, the front grille being positioned below and at a distance in front of the front windscreen as seen in the vehicle's normal direction of movement, thereby defining a front gap between the front grille and the front windscreen, the driver cabin further comprising:.

In an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention the angle has a value between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. As a result of the second cover element leg and the first cover element leg enclosing an angle having a value between <NUM>° and <NUM>° it can be realized that no vortices are induced in the air flow from the front grille of the motor vehicle via the cabin front corner section and the cabin side section thereby further reducing aerodynamic drag which is in particular beneficial for fuel economy.

In another embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention the cover assembly comprises a first seal extending between the first cover element leg front grille end to the front grille, the first seal engaging the front grille, and wherein the cover assembly comprises a second seal extending between a free end of the second cover element leg and the front windscreen, the second seal engaging the front windscreen. As a result of the additional rigidity of the V-shaped cover element the first seal and the second seal can provide a satisfactory seal over a prolonged period of time and thereby can efficiently prevent entry of water and dirt in the space below the cover assembly over a prolonged period of time. In addition, the first seal and the second seal prevent air present within the space between the firewall and the front grille from flowing out of this space and thereby disturb the air flows thereby further reducing aerodynamic drag which is beneficial for fuel economy.

In a further embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention the front grille is rotatably attached to the driver cabin on a front grille hinge axis, the front grille hinge axis extending horizontally and transverse to the vehicle's normal direction of movement, wherein the front grille hinge axis is arranged near an upper end of the front grille. It has appeared that the present invention provides a satisfactory prevention of entry of water and dirt in the space below the cover assembly over a prolonged period of time even in case the front grille is rotatably attached to the driver cabin. In addition, it has appeared that even after rotating the front grille a relatively large number of times the cover assembly still performs satisfactory and does not negatively influence the aerodynamic properties of the motor vehicle.

In a still further embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention the second cover element leg has an upper surface, the upper surface of the second cover element leg has a first surface area positioned adjacent the front grille and a second surface area positioned adjacent the front windscreen, the second surface area being raised relative to the first surface area, wherein a transition from the first surface area to the second surface area is formed by a wedge shaped step. Such an upper surface of the second cover element leg with the wedge shaped step transition appears to be very beneficial for reducing aerodynamic drag.

In an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention the front windscreen comprises a curved windscreen side section, the curved windscreen side section extending above the cabin front corner section and at a distance from the cabin front corner section thereby defining a corner gap, wherein the V-shaped cover element comprises a curved side section covering the corner gap, and wherein at the curved side section of the V-shaped cover element the first cover element leg has a first cover element leg cabin front corner section end arranged near the cabin front corner section, wherein at the curved side section of the V-shaped cover element the first seal extends between the first cover element leg cabin front corner section end and the cabin front corner section, the first seal engaging the cabin front corner section, wherein at the curved side section of the V-shaped cover element the second cover element leg extends from the cabin front corner section in a direction upwards towards the curved windscreen side section, and wherein at the curved side section of the V-shaped cover element the second seal extends between a free end of the second cover element leg and the curved windscreen side section, the second seal engaging the curved windscreen side section. In particular with vehicles having curved windscreen sections high velocity flows are present around the curved section. By providing the V-shaped cover element with such a curved side section it is prevented that these high velocity flows are disturbed as a result of which aerodynamic drag is reduced.

In an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention the V-shaped cover element has an intermediate section between the curved side section of the V-shaped cover element and the central section of the V-shaped cover element, wherein in the intermediate section of the V-shaped cover element the wedge shaped step between the first surface area and the second surface area is positioned closer to the front windscreen than to the front grille, and wherein in both the curved side section of the V-shaped cover element and the central section of the V-shaped cover element the wedge shaped step between the first surface area and the second surface area is positioned closer to the cabin front corner section and the front grille, respectively, than to the front windscreen. In particular with motor vehicles in which the front grille, the cabin front corner section, the cabin side section and the front windscreen are configured such that the air flowing from the front grille of the motor vehicle via the cabin front corner section to the cabin side section results in an adjacent air flow at the cabin side section, a V-shaped cover element constructed in this manner ensures that the adjacent air flow is not disturbed. This is beneficial for the fuel economy of the motor vehicle.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the Figures, in which a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is shown:.

In <FIG> an example of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention, in the shown embodiment a heavy goods vehicle <NUM> is schematically shown. The vehicle <NUM> comprising a front grille <NUM> and a driver cabin <NUM> provided with a front windscreen <NUM>. In the shown embodiment the front grille <NUM> is rotatably attached to the driver cabin <NUM> on a front grille hinge axis H (see <FIG>) which extends horizontally and transverse to the vehicle's normal direction of movement M. The front grille hinge axis H is arranged near an upper end of the front grille <NUM> so that the front grille <NUM> can be pivoted upwards from a closed position as indicated in <FIG> to an open position as indicated in <FIG> for accessing the space behind the front grille <NUM>. The front grille <NUM> and the front windscreen <NUM> both face forwards in the vehicle's normal direction of movement M. The front grille <NUM> is positioned below and at a distance in front of the front windscreen <NUM> as seen in the vehicle's normal direction of movement M, thereby defining a front gap G (see <FIG>) between the front grille <NUM> and the front windscreen <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> the driver cabin <NUM> comprises a cabin side section <NUM> provided with a door <NUM> hingeably mounted to the driver cabin <NUM>. In <FIG> only one cabin side section <NUM> is visible but it will be clear that the cabin <NUM> also comprises a cabin side section <NUM> at the opposite side of the cabin <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>.

The driver cabin <NUM> further comprises cabin front corner sections <NUM> on each side of the front grille <NUM>, which cabin front corner sections <NUM> extend from the front grille <NUM> to the door <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in the Figures the front windscreen <NUM> has curved windscreen side sections <NUM> which extend above the cabin front corner sections <NUM> and at a distance from the cabin front corner sections <NUM> thereby defining a corner gap CG as indicated in <FIG>.

The driver cabin <NUM> comprises a firewall <NUM> (see <FIG>) positioned in vertical direction below the front windscreen <NUM> and positioned at a distance behind the front grille <NUM> as seen in the vehicle's normal direction of movement M. According to the invention a cover assembly <NUM> is positioned between the front grille <NUM> and the front windscreen <NUM> for covering the front gap G and the corner gap CG. The cover assembly <NUM> comprises a V-shaped cover element <NUM> having a first cover element leg <NUM> and a second cover element leg <NUM> integrally attached to the first cover element leg <NUM>. The first cover element leg <NUM> has a free first cover element leg end 11A mounted to the firewall <NUM>.

The V-shaped cover element <NUM> has a central section 9C (see <FIG> and <FIG>) in which the first cover element leg <NUM> extends from the firewall <NUM> in a substantially horizontal direction towards a first cover element leg front grille end 11B (<FIG>) arranged near the front grille <NUM>. In this central section 9C the second cover element leg <NUM> extends rearwards in the vehicle's normal direction of movement M from the front grille <NUM> in a direction upwards towards the front windscreen <NUM>. As indicated in <FIG> the second cover element leg <NUM> and the first cover element leg <NUM> enclose an angle AN preferably having a value between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, which angle AN is at most <NUM>°.

The cover assembly <NUM> comprises a first seal <NUM> extending between the first cover element leg front grille end 11B to the front grille <NUM>. The first seal <NUM> engages the front grille <NUM>. A second seal <NUM> extends between a free end 12A of the second cover element leg <NUM> and the front windscreen <NUM> and engages the front windscreen <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> the V-shaped cover element <NUM> comprises a curved side section <NUM> covering the corner gap CG. At the curved side section <NUM> of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> the first cover element leg has a first cover element leg cabin front corner section end arranged near the cabin front corner section <NUM>. At the curved side section <NUM> of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> the first seal <NUM> extends between the first cover element leg cabin front corner section end and the cabin front corner section <NUM> and engages the cabin front corner section <NUM>. At the curved side section <NUM> of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> the second cover element leg extends from the cabin front corner section <NUM> in a direction upwards towards the curved windscreen side section <NUM>. At the curved side section <NUM> of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> the second seal <NUM> extends between a free end of the second cover element leg and the curved windscreen side section <NUM> and engages the curved windscreen side section <NUM>.

As indicated in <FIG> the second cover element leg <NUM> has an upper surface 12U. This upper surface 12U of the second cover element leg <NUM> has a first surface area 12U1 positioned adjacent the front grille <NUM> and a second surface area 12U2 positioned adjacent the front windscreen <NUM>. The second surface area 12U2 is raised relative to the first surface area 12U1 and the transition from the first surface area 12U1 to the second surface area 12U2 is formed by a wedge shaped step T.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> the V-shaped cover element <NUM> has an intermediate section 9I between the curved side section <NUM> of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> and the central section 9C of the V-shaped cover element <NUM>. In the intermediate section 9I of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> the wedge shaped step T between the first surface area 12U1 and the second surface area 12U2 is positioned closer to the front windscreen <NUM> than to the front grille <NUM>, while in both the curved side section <NUM> of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> and the central section 9C of the V-shaped cover element <NUM> the wedge shaped step T between the first surface area 12U1 and the second surface area 12U2 is positioned closer to the cabin front corner section <NUM> and front grille <NUM>, respectively than to the windscreen <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A motor vehicle (<NUM>), in particular a heavy goods vehicle, comprising a front grille (<NUM>) and a driver cabin (<NUM>) provided with a front windscreen (<NUM>), the front grille (<NUM>) being attached to the driver cabin (<NUM>), the front grille (<NUM>) and front windscreen (<NUM>) both facing forwards in the vehicle's normal direction of movement (M), the front grille (<NUM>) being positioned below and at a distance in front of the front windscreen (<NUM>) as seen in the vehicle's normal direction of movement (M), thereby defining a front gap (G) between the front grille (<NUM>) and the front windscreen (<NUM>), the driver cabin (<NUM>) further comprising:
- a cabin side section (<NUM>) provided with a door (<NUM>) hingeably mounted to the driver cabin (<NUM>);
- a cabin front corner section (<NUM>) on a side of the front grille (<NUM>), the cabin front corner section (<NUM>) extending from the front grille (<NUM>) to the door (<NUM>);
- a cover assembly (<NUM>) positioned between the front grille (<NUM>) and the front windscreen (<NUM>) for covering the front gap (G); characterized in that the driver cabin (<NUM>) comprises a firewall (<NUM>) positioned in vertical direction below the front windscreen (<NUM>) and positioned at a distance behind the front grille (<NUM>) as seen in the vehicle's normal direction of movement (M); and in that the cover assembly (<NUM>) comprises a V-shaped cover element (<NUM>) having a first cover element leg (<NUM>) and a second cover element leg (<NUM>) integrally attached to the first cover element leg (<NUM>), the first cover element leg (<NUM>) having a free first cover element leg end (11A) mounted to the firewall (<NUM>), the V-shaped cover element (<NUM>) having a central section (9C) in which the first cover element leg (<NUM>) extends from the firewall (<NUM>) in a substantially horizontal direction towards a first cover element leg front grille end (11B) arranged near the front grille (<NUM>), and in which central section (9C) the second cover element leg (<NUM>) extends rearwards in the vehicle's normal direction of movement (M) from the front grille (<NUM>) in a direction upwards towards the front windscreen (<NUM>), the second cover element leg (<NUM>) and the first cover element leg (<NUM>) enclosing an angle (AN) of at most <NUM>°.