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JP-2026075398-A - Cowl top panel and vehicle

JP2026075398AJP 2026075398 AJP2026075398 AJP 2026075398AJP-2026075398-A

Abstract

[Problem] To obtain a cowl top panel that can prevent damage to the windshield when the airbag deploys. [Solution] A cowl top panel according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is provided between the front hood and the windshield at the front of the vehicle, and comprises a panel portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and covers the lower end of the windshield, and a rib portion provided in a region on the first surface of the panel portion that is different from the region facing the windshield, protruding from the first surface of the panel portion and extending in the vehicle width direction. The tip of the rib portion protrudes beyond the back surface of the windshield in the direction normal to the windshield, and the rib portion has a notch, and when an airbag is deployed to the outside of the vehicle from an airbag device provided between the panel portion and the front hood, and the panel portion moves toward the windshield, the rib portion can bend by coming into contact with the lower end of the windshield. [Selection Diagram] Figure 3

Inventors

  • 石橋 一成

Assignees

  • 株式会社SUBARU

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241022

Claims (4)

  1. A panel portion is provided between the front hood and the windshield of the vehicle, extending in the vehicle width direction and covering the lower end of the windshield, The panel portion comprises a rib portion provided in a region different from the region facing the windshield on the first surface of the panel portion which is the side on which the windshield is provided, the rib portion protruding from the first surface of the panel portion and extending in the vehicle width direction, The tip of the rib portion protrudes beyond the back surface of the windshield in the direction normal to the windshield. The cowl top panel has a rib portion having a notch, and when an airbag is deployed to the outside of the vehicle from an airbag device provided between the panel portion and the front hood, and the panel portion moves toward the windshield, the rib portion comes into contact with the lower end of the windshield, allowing it to fold at the position where the notch is provided.
  2. The cowl top panel according to claim 1, wherein the notch is provided at the connection point between the rib portion and the panel portion.
  3. The cowl top panel according to claim 1, wherein the notch is provided in the portion of the rib portion that corresponds to the range of motion of a wiper arm provided in the direction of the second surface which is opposite to the first surface of the panel portion.
  4. The front hood located at the front of the vehicle, A windshield provided at the front of the aforementioned vehicle, A cowl top panel provided between the windshield and the front hood, An airbag device is provided between the cowl top panel and the front hood, and is capable of deploying an airbag to the outside of the vehicle. Equipped with, The aforementioned cowl top panel is A panel portion extending in the vehicle width direction and provided to cover the lower end of the windshield, The panel portion has a rib portion which is provided in a region different from the region facing the windshield on the first surface of the panel portion that is the side on which the windshield is provided, and which protrudes from the first surface of the panel portion and extends in the vehicle width direction, The tip of the rib portion protrudes beyond the back surface of the windshield in the direction normal to the windshield. The rib portion has a notch, and when the airbag is deployed from the airbag device and the panel portion moves toward the windshield, it comes into contact with the lower end of the windshield, allowing it to fold at the position where the notch is provided.

Description

This disclosure relates to a cowl top panel provided on a vehicle, and to a vehicle equipped with such a cowl top panel. In vehicles such as automobiles, a cowl top panel is provided between the front hood and the windshield at the front of the vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses technology for a cowl top panel designed to suppress impact when subjected to external forces. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-238915 Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a vehicle equipped with a cowl top panel according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.Figure 2A is an explanatory diagram showing the cowl top panel and its surrounding area as shown in Figure 1.Figure 2B is another explanatory diagram showing the cowl top panel and its surroundings as shown in Figure 1.Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cowl top panel and its surrounding area as shown in Figure 1.Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of the rib configuration in the cowl top panel shown in Figure 3.Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the range of motion of a wiper arm.Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating one example of the operation of the cowl top panel when the airbag is deployed.Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the cowl top panel according to a modified example.Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of the configuration of the rib section according to a modified example.Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of the rib section configuration related to another modified example.Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of the rib section configuration related to another modified example. The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment> [Example Configuration] Figure 1 shows an example configuration of a vehicle 1 equipped with a cowl top panel (cowl top panel 11) according to one embodiment. The vehicle 1 comprises a front hood 2, a windshield 3, and a cowl top panel 10. The front hood 2 is a cover located at the front of vehicle 1. For example, if vehicle 1 is a gasoline-powered vehicle, the front hood 2 is a cover for the engine compartment. The windshield 3 is a so-called windshield located at the front of the passenger compartment of vehicle 1. The driver operates vehicle 1 while checking the area in front of vehicle 1 through this windshield 3. The cowl top panel 10 is a cover provided between the front hood 2 and the windshield 3 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (lateral direction in Figure 1). Figures 2A and 2B show the cowl top panel 10 and its surrounding area. These figures illustrate the area enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 1, as viewed from above the vehicle 1. Figure 2A shows the normal state with the front hood 2 present. In Figure 2B, the front hood 2 is removed for illustrative purposes. The vehicle 1 is equipped with a wiper system 4 and an airbag system 30. The cowl top panel 10 includes two cowl top panels 11 and 12. Cowl top panel 11 is a resin component extending in the vehicle width direction and is located near the end of the windshield 3. In Figures 2A and 2B, cowl top panel 11 is shown with a thick line. Cowl top panel 12 is a resin component extending in the vehicle width direction. Cowl top panel 12 is located in front of cowl top panel 11 in the vehicle 1 and extends to the left and right of cowl top panel 11. As shown in Figure 2A, a portion of cowl top panel 12 is covered by the front hood 2. The wiper device 4 is configured to ensure the driver's visibility, for example, when it is raining, by wiping the front surface of the windshield 3. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the vehicle 1 is equipped with two wiper devices 4. Each wiper device 4 has a shaft 4A, a wiper arm 4B, and a wiper blade 4C. The shaft 4A is configured to rotate the wiper device 4 within a predetermined angular range. The wiper arm 4B is configured to support the wiper blade 4C; one end of the wiper arm 4B is connected to the shaft 4A, and the other end is connected to the wiper blade 4C. The wiper blade 4C is positioned to contact the front surface of the windshield 3 and is configured to wipe the front surface of the windshield 3. With this configuration, the wiper device 4 can wipe the front surface of the windshield 3 by rotating around the shaft 4A. The airbag system 30 is configured to deploy outside the vehicle 1 to protect a pedestrian in the event of a collision between the vehicle 1 and the pedestrian. As shown in Figure 2B, the airbag system 30 is installed between the cowl top panel 11 and the cowl top panel 12 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (the vertical direction in Figures 2A and 2B). Figure 3 shows an example of the schematic cross-sectional structure of the wiper device 4, cowl top panel 11, and airbag device 30 in the direction of the arrow III-III in Figure 2B