Cowl with integrated water management
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsRobert C. Steinbrecher, Nicholas H. Augustyn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cowl assembly for a vehicle is provided with integrated water management without the need for drainage grommets or hoses. The cowl assembly includes at least one cowl panel disposed adjacent a rear section of an engine compartment and extending a distance across a transverse width direction of the vehicle. A cowl insulator component is disposed adjacent to the cowl panel, also extending across the transverse width direction of the vehicle. At least one region of a major surface of the cowl insulator component is provided with a fluid resistant barrier layer configured to route fluid in a direction away from the engine compartment.
Claims20
A cowl assembly for a vehicle, the cowl assembly comprising:
- a cowl panel disposed adjacent a rear section of an engine compartment and extending a distance across a transverse width direction of the vehicle, the cowl panel defining at least one fluid discharge opening;
- and
- a cowl insulator component disposed adjacent the cowl panel and extending across the transverse width direction of the vehicle, the cowl insulator component including:
- a first major surface facing the engine compartment and configured to insulate noise and vibration;
- and
- a second major surface located opposite the first major surface, and facing the cowl panel,
- wherein at least one region of the second major surface of the cowl insulator component comprises a fluid resistant barrier layer configured to route fluid received from the at least one fluid discharge opening of the cowl panel in a direction away from the engine compartment.
A cowl assembly for a vehicle, the cowl assembly comprising:
- a plurality of cowl panels disposed adjacent a rear section of an engine compartment and extending a distance across a transverse width direction of the vehicle;
- and
- a cowl insulator component disposed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of cowl panels and extending across the transverse width direction of the vehicle, at least one region of a major surface of the cowl insulator component comprising a fluid resistant barrier layer configured to route fluid in a direction away from the engine compartment.
A method for draining fluid collected from a cowl assembly of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a cowl panel disposed adjacent a rear section of an engine compartment and extending a distance across a transverse width direction of the vehicle, the cowl panel defining at least one fluid discharge opening;
- and
- aligning a cowl insulator component adjacent to the cowl panel and extending across the transverse width direction of the vehicle, at least one region of a major surface of the cowl insulator component comprising a fluid resistant barrier layer aligned with the at least one fluid discharge opening of the cowl panel and configured for routing and draining fluid in a direction away from the engine compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.