Front-windscreen air deflector bar

Abstract

An air deflector bar extends parallel to an upper edge of a front windscreen of a motor vehicle. The air deflector bar includes an air deflection channel that extends along its length. The air deflection channel is concavely delimited in cross section by means of a first side that butts against the front windscreen and a second side that is connected to the first side and is at a distance from the first side. The inner surface of the second side of the air deflector bar is oriented toward an edge of a dashboard of the motor vehicle, which edge delimits the dashboard toward a passenger interior.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising an air deflector bar that extends parallel to an upper edge of a front windscreen of a motor vehicle and incorporates an air deflection channel that is defined by a first side that butts against the front windscreen and a second side that is connected to the first side, wherein (a) an inner surface of the second side of the air deflector bar is oriented toward an edge of a dashboard of the motor vehicle, (b) said edge delimits the dashboard toward a passenger interior and said second side directs air toward said edge of said dashboard, (c) the inner surface of the second side of the air deflector bar is oriented toward the edge of the dashboard so that an air flow which flows upward along the front windscreen, impinges upon the air deflector bar and is deflected thereby toward the dashboard where said air flow is split up by the dashboard into two partial flows of approximately equal size, of which a first partial air flow is directed to air outlets of a windscreen heater in the dashboard and a second partial air flow is directed into the passenger interior, (d) an inner surface of the first side and the inner surface of the second side of the air deflector bar are approximately straight in cross section and are interconnected via a rounded surface of the air deflector bar so that the air deflection channel is a V-shape with a rounded bottom, (e) the first side and the second side of the air deflector bar are arranged at an angle α with a value of between 30° and 60° to each other, and (f) the air deflector bar is arranged to overlap a boundary between the front windscreen and a roof lining of the motor vehicle.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air deflector bar has a third side that overlaps the boundary between the front windscreen and the roof lining of the motor vehicle.

3. The motor vehicle incorporating the apparatus of claim 1.

4. The motor vehicle incorporating the apparatus of claim 2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Following is a description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The single FIGURE of the drawings (FIG. 1) is a cross-sectional view through an automobile in the region of the windshield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) An apparatus in the form of an air deflector bar 2 extends along the entire width of the upper edge or roof edge of a front windscreen 1 of the motor vehicle. The air deflector bar 2 is a profiled element which in cross section incorporates three approximately straight sides 3, 4 and 5 which extend from a central connecting region of the air deflector bar 2 in three different directions and then end free.

(3) A first side 3 butts against the front windscreen 1. A second side 4 is connected via a rounding to the first side 3 and extends in the direction toward an edge 6 on the dashboard 7, which edge delimits the dashboard 7 in relation to a passenger interior and in this example also toward the top.

(4) The two sides 3 and 4 are arranged at an angle α to each other, in a V-shape with rounded bottom, and between them delimit an air deflection channel 8 which is therefore concavely delimited in cross section. That is to say, the cross-sectional limits of the air deflection channel 8 which are formed by the air deflector bar 2 are all either inwardly curved or straight in pieces. Between the free ends of the two sides 3 and 4 the air deflection channel 8 is open toward the dashboard 7.

(5) A third side 5 of the air deflector bar 2 overlaps the forward edge of a roof lining 9, being the trim of the vehicle's roof.

(6) Close to the front windscreen 1, located in the dashboard 7, is at least one windscreen-heater air outlet 10 from which in a so-called defrosting operation warm air reaches upward along the front windscreen 1, as indicated in the FIGURE by arrows on the front windscreen 1. The warm air then impinges upon the air deflector bar 2 and by its air deflection channel 8 is to a greater or lesser extent directed vertically downward, wherein it forms a basically closed air curtain over the entire width of the vehicle between the air deflector bar 2 and the edge 6 of the dashboard 7, as indicated in the FIGURE by three parallel arrows.

(7) The air flow coming from the air deflector bar 2 splits up into two partial flows on the edge 6 of the dashboard 7, as indicated in the FIGURE by oppositely directed arrows, wherein the partial flows can be approximately of equal size, which can be adjusted by suitable selection of the angle α, in fact even if the dashboard 7 is to a greater or lesser extent not rounded and the edge 7 is not very pronounced. Such a typical angle α is for example approximately 45° or lies between 30° and 60°.

(8) One of the two partial flows flows back in the direction toward the windscreen-heater air outlets 10, combines there with the newly inflowing warm air and begins the cycle anew, and the other partial flow flows in a slightly diffused or fan-like manner into the passenger interior, in fact tending in the direction of the hands of occupants of the vehicle, in order to warm these, but not in the direction of their faces.

(9) The front windscreen 1 and the dashboard 7 usually converge at an acute angle in motor vehicles. Therefore, in the corner where the windscreen-heater air outlets 10 are located smaller vortices tend to form, as indicated in the FIGURE by a spiral arrow. These vortices do not hinder the air flow from the windscreen-heater air outlets 10 but rather assist it and act in a supporting manner with regard to the prevention of misting of the front windscreen or to the removal of existing mist.