NL2022216B1 - Vehicle with improved rain gutter. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (100) equipped with a front windshield (106), two front side windows (108), a pillar (104) between each front side window and the front windshield, a rain gutter (202) mounted on or integrated with each pillar, the rain gutter for draining water from the front windshield, each rain gutter showing a drainage channel (208) when there is a need to drain water, characterized in that the rain gutter does not show a drainage channel when there is no need to drain water, and each rain gutter generates less turbulence when the drainage channel is absent than when the drainage channel is present, the lower turbulence resulting in less noise. By introducing, for example, a filler body (402) in the drainage channel, there is less turbulence, and thus less noise and drag than when the drainage channel is not filled with a filler body.

Description

Vehicle with improved rain gutter. Technical field of the invention.

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a front windshield, two front side windows, a pillar between each front side window and the front wind screen, a rain gutter mounted on or integrated with each pillar for draining water from the front wind screen, each rain gutter showing a drainage channel when there is a need to drain water Background of the invention.

[0002] Weather conditions offer one of the biggest challenges when driving a vehicle, such as a car or a truck. One group of challenges is represented by the condition of the road (ice, snow, aquaplaning), and another group is represented by visibility impairment due to rain, snow, and other precipitation. To improve the visibility through the front windshield wipers are used to remove water from the front windshield. An unwanted side effect is that part of the rain tends to flow in the direction of the side windows and impairs visibility there. To remedy this many vehicles have a rain gutter integrated in an elastomer between the front windscreen and the pillar between the front wind screen and the side windows (the so-called A-pillar). Another form of such a rain gutter is a channel between the front windshield and the A-pillar. Using the airflow at the A-pillar (partly generated by the velocity of the vehicle) these rain gutters drain the water towards the roof via a drainage channel.

[0003] A disadvantage of the rain gutters is that they introduce turbulence, leading to noise (especially in-cabin noise) and drag.

[0004] This is discussed in, for example, “Aeroacoustics Simulation of an Automotive A- Pillar Rain Gutter’, H. Dechipre and M. Hartmann, EASC 2009 4th European Automotive Simulation Conference Munich, Germany 6-7 July 2009, further referred to as Dechipre.

[0005] Dechipre mentions that “Due to successes in reducing motor and roadfire noises, airflow induced noise (also called ‘wind noise’) becomes more and more important. Over 100 km/h wind noise is generally the dominant noise source” and “A prominent feature contributing to the overall wind noise level in the cabin is the A-pillar rain gutter’.

[0006] Dechipre then proceeds to compare different cross-sections of rain gutters and the effect on in-cabin noise.

[0007] In Japanese patent application publication JP2015150907 to Toyota the form of a rain gutter is described in which the noise is suppressed.

[0008] There is a need to suppress noise, more specifically in-cabin noise, generated by rain gutters.

[00092] The invention intends to provide a solution to said need. Summary of the invention.

[0010] To that end a vehicle according to the invention is characterized in that the rain gutter does not show a drainage channel when there is no need to drain water, and each rain gutter generates less turbulence when the drainage channel is absent than when the drainage channel is present, the lower turbulence resulting in less noise.

[0011] The invention is based on the insight that, when there is no rain (or at least precipitation), there is no need for drainage channels. It is then better to close the drainage channels to lower the turbulence. If, however, it rains, the drainage channels need to be used. This is possible by opening the drainage channels.

[0012] The noise level (specifically the in-cabin noise level) introduced by the rain gutters with closed drainage channels is lower than the noise level in the case when the drainage channels are opened. Although the in-cabin noise level will increase when the drainage channels are open, this is in most cases not detectable as the noise from the rain gutter is likely to be dominated by other noise sources, such as an increased road/tire noise due to the wet road. The invention thus lowers the noise level when the overall noise is less (and thus the contribution of the noise introduced by the rain gutters is high) and allows a higher noise level contribution by the rain gutters when the overall noise level is high.

[0013] It is noted that especially the tip of the rain gutter introduces turbulence.

[0014] It is further noted that a lower noise level implies a lower drag, leading to a lower drag value (a lower Ca value).

[0015] In an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention the rain gutter is filled with a filler body when there is no need to drain water, and each rain gutter is not filled with said filler body when there is a need to drain water, the absence of the filler body resulting in a drainage channel.

[0016] By introducing the filler body when there is no need for a drainage channel, the aerodynamic form of the rain gutter is changed, and thereby the turbulence at the rain gutter.

[0017] In another embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention the vehicle is equipped with wipers contacting the front wind shield and the filler bodies are part of the wipers.

[0018] The wipers are superfluous when there is no rain and prior art wipers are normally parked in a parking position, for example at the lower rim of the front window. When properly shaped the wipers can, according to the invention, be parked in the rain gutters while lowering the noise.

[0019] In yet another embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention each of the filler bodies are shaped as an elongated body ending in two extremities, the extremities used to pull the filler bodies. in a first position where the filler body fills the drainage channel or a second position where it does not fill the drainage channel.

[0020] The filler bodies need to have an elongated shape to fill the drainage channel. If the filler bodies end in extremities these extremities can be used to pull the filler body in one of two positions: a first position where the filler body fills the drainage channel or a second position where the drainage channel is cleared and can be used for draining rain.

[0021] It is noted that the filler bodies can be elastomers, or metallic parts, and that the material of the extremities can be identical to the material of the filler bodies, or may differ therefrom.

[0022] In still another embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention the rain gutter is composed of or comprises an elastomer that can be brought in a first form and a second form, and the rain gutter shows, when in the first form, a drainage channel and, when in the second form, does not show a drainage channel, or vice versa.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention the change in form is the result of a pneumatic or hydraulic change of an inflate channel in the elastomer.

[0024] By pneumatically or hydraulically inflating and deflating a channel in the elastomer (the rain gutter), the form of the rain gutter can be changed such that the noise level is lowered.

[0025] ii is worth mentioning that a decrease of turbulence or flow separation, leads not only to noise reduction, but also to a reduction in drag.

[0026] For all of the above embodiments it is noted that the drainage channel need not be completely absent when not needed for draining rain: the goal is to have a situation where the noise is lowered.

Brief description of the drawings.

[0027] The invention is now elucidated using figures, in which identical reference signs indicate corresponding features. To that end: Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of a vehicle, Figure 2 schematically shows a cross-section of an A-pillar with a rain gutter and open drainage channel, Figure 3 schematically shows a cross-section of an A-pillar with another rain gutter, Figure 4 schematically shows a cross-section of the A-pillar of figure 2 with a rain gutter and a closed drainage channel. Detailed description of the invention.

[0028] Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of a vehicle.

[0029] A vehicle 100 shows a front windshield 106. The front windshield is angled with respect to the road 102 and the roof 110. When rain impinges on the front windshield while driving the rain will partly stream over the roof, and partly the rain is wiped to the sides of the front windshield by wipers (not shown). To avoid the rain streaming over the front side window 108, impairing the vision of the driver and/or passenger, the A-pillar 104 that forms the sideway border of the front windshield shows a rain gutter (integrated in the A-pillar or attached to it) with a drainage channel to drain the rain that is running over the front windshield in the direction of the front side window.

[0030] Figure 2 schematically shows a cross-section of an A-pillar with a rain gutter and open drainage channel halfway the hood and the roof of the vehicle, in a plane parallel to the roof of the vehicle.

[0031] It is noted that typically the roof is approximately parallel to the side view of a vehicle and a road on which the vehicle rests, but the front windshield and the A-pillar are angled with respect to the roof and the road at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees.

[0032] The A-pillar 104 is a structural part, typically made of steel or iron. In extreme situations it protects passengers when the vehicle is upside down. The A-pillar comprises other parts (not shown here), such as (colored) plastic parts, and may include for example an airbag. The front windshield 106 rests on the A-pillar via seal 206. A strip 204 acts as a seal for the front side window 108, the front side window typically moveable in the up/down direction of the vehicle. Parallel to the A-pillar a rain gutter 202 with a drainage channel 208 is mounted on the A-pillar.

[0033] It is noted that the A-pillar 104 may be formed to a more complex shape, and may comprise several parts, for example metal parts, synthetic parts, and upholstery. Also, thefront windshield 104 is shown as a planar body, while in reality it is curved. The rubber seals from the A-pillar to the side doors and the metal that typically borders the strip 204 are not shown.

[0034] When the vehicle drives forward, wind and rain will impinge on the front 5 windshield. The wind will force the rain water on the front wind screen over the roof (as the front windshield is angled with respect to the roof, and thus angled from the direction where the wind is coming from) or the wind will force the rain sideways toward the rain gutter. Also wipers wipe water towards the rain gutter. When the rain streams in the rain gutter, it is in most cases forced to stream upward (as the A-pillar is angled with respect to the roof and the wind forces it upward) and over the roof. No or almost no rain will wash over the side windows. It is noted that it is unwanted that the rain washes over the side windows as this impairs the sight of driver and/or passenger.

[0035] Figure 3 schematically shows a cross-section of an A-pillar with another rain gutter.

[0036] Figure 3 can be thought to be derived from figure 2. The strip 202 is absent, and the rain gutter/drainage channel 208 is formed by a channel between the A-pillar 104, the front windshield 106 and the seal 206. Often the A-pillar is formed such, that it acts as a dam for water running in the drainage channel. This is achieved by having the front windshield slightly recessed with respect to the A-pillar.

[0037] Figure 4 schematically shows a cross-section of the A-pillar of figure 2 with a rain gutter and a closed drainage channel.

[0038] Figure 4 can be thought to be derived from figure 2. A filler body 402 closes the drainage channel, and the rain gutter 202 and the filler body 402 form a smooth interface that introduces much less turbulence and noise than the rain gutter without filler body does. In a preferred embodiment the filler body is pulled in or out of the drainage channel by pulling at one of its extremities.

[0039] Another possibility of blocking the drainage channel in the rain gutter, and thus of lowering the noise, is by forming the rain gutter with an inflatable channel, that in inflated condition blocks the drainage channel and when deflated opens the drainage channel, or vice versa.

[0040] For all of the above embodiments according to the invention it is noted that the drainage channel often need not be completely absent to lower the noise level.

[0041] Many other rain gutters and drainage channels according to the invention can be thought of.

It is explicitly stated that protection is not limited to the embodiments described here, but also for these alternative embodiments according to the invention.

Claims (6)

Conclusies.Conclusions. 1. Een voertuig (100) uitgerust met een voorruit (106), twee voorzijruiten (108), een stijl (104) tussen elk voorzijruit en de voorruit, een regengoot (202) gemonteerd op of geïntegreerd met elke stijl, de regengoot voor het afvoeren van water vanaf de voorruit, waarbij elke regengoot een afvoerkanaal (208) laat zien wanneer er behoefte is water af te voeren, met het kenmerk dat de regengoot geen afvoerkanaal vertoont wanneer er geen behoefte is om water af te voeren, en elke regengoot minder turbulentie opwekt wanneer het afvoerkanaal afwezig is dan wanneer het afvoerkanaal aanwezig is, de lagere turbulentie resulterend in minder geluid.1. A vehicle (100) equipped with a windshield (106), two front side windows (108), a post (104) between each front side window and the windshield, a rain gutter (202) mounted on or integrated with each post, the rain gutter for the draining water from the windshield, each rain gutter showing a drain (208) when there is a need to drain water, characterized in that the rain gutter does not have a drain when there is no need to drain water, and each rain gutter less generates turbulence when the drain is absent than when the drain is present, the lower turbulence resulting in less noise. 2. Het voertuig volgens conclusie 1, waarbij elke regengoot (202) is gevuld met een vullichaam (302) wanneer er geen noodzaak is om water af te voeren, en elke regengoot niet gevuld is met het vullichaam wanneer er behoefte is water af te voeren, de afwezigheid van het vullichaam resulteerd in een afvoerkanaal (208).The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each rain gutter (202) is filled with a fill body (302) when there is no need to drain water, and each rain gutter is not filled with the fill body when there is a need to drain water the absence of the filler body results in a drain (208). 3. Het voertuig volgens conclusie 2, waarbij het voertuig is uitgerust met ruitenwissers die in contact staan met de voorruit en de vullichamen een deel van de ruitenwissers vormen.The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is equipped with wipers that contact the windshield and the fillers form part of the wipers. 4. Het voertuig volgens conclusie 2, waarbij elk van de vullichamen (302) is gevormd als een langwerpig lichaam dat eindigt in twee uiteinden, waarbij de uiteinden worden gebruikt om de vullichamen in een eerste positie te trekken waar het vullichaam het afvoerkanaal (208) vult of in een tweede positie waar het vullichaam het afvoerkanaal niet vult.The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each of the fillers (302) is formed as an elongated body terminating in two ends, the ends being used to pull the fillers into a first position where the filler exits the drain (208) or in a second position where the filler body does not fill the drain. 5. Het voertuig volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de regengoot is samengesteld uit of bestaat uit een elastomeer dat in een eerste vorm en een tweede vorm kan worden gebracht, en de regengoot in de eerste vorm een afvoerkanaal vertoont en de regengoot in de tweede vorm geen afvoerkanaal vertoont, of vice versa.The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rain gutter is composed of or consists of an elastomer that can be brought into a first shape and a second shape, and the rain gutter in the first shape has a drain and the rain gutter in the second shape has no drain, or vice versa. 6. Het voertuig volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de verandering in vorm het resultaat is van een pneumatische of hydraulische verandering van een opblaaskanaal in het elastomeer.The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the change in shape is the result of a pneumatic or hydraulic change of an inflation channel in the elastomer.