Motor vehicle engine room air and water management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764776-B2
Application number	US-201514975359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

An air and water management system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The system includes an air opening allowing air to enter the engine room on a side of the motor vehicle, an engine cover covering at least one component associated with the engine of the motor vehicle, a rib extending from a top side of the engine cover creating a gutter on the engine cover between the rib and a side of the engine room, a water channel formed integrally in the engine cover adjacent and laterally inward of and parallel to the rib and including a drain longitudinally to the rear of the motor vehicle at a rearward portion of the water channel. Air entering the air opening flows over the rib and into the engine room of the motor vehicle. The rib blocks debris that enters the air opening from flowing into the engine room.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air and water management system for an engine room that houses an engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:
an air opening on a side of the motor vehicle, the air opening allowing air to enter and exit the engine room;
an engine cover located in the engine room, the engine cover covering at least a portion of the engine of the motor vehicle;
a rib extending from a top side of the engine cover, the rib creating and defining a gutter on the engine cover between the rib and a side of the engine room;
wherein air entering the air opening flows over the rib and into the engine room of the motor vehicle; and
wherein the rib blocks debris that enters the air opening from flowing past the gutter and into the engine.

2. The air and water management system of claim 1 wherein the rib is integrally formed with the engine cover.

3. The air and water management system of claim 1 wherein a cross section of the gutter is U-shaped.

4. The air and water management system of claim 3 wherein the gutter slopes downwardly as the gutter extends rearward along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

5. The air and water management system of claim 4 further comprising:
a water channel formed integrally in the engine cover, the water channel adjacent and laterally inward of the rib and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

6. The air and water management system of claim 4 further wherein the water channel further comprises a drain longitudinally to the rear of the motor vehicle at a rearward portion of the water channel.

7. An air and water management system for an engine room that houses an engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:
an air opening on a side of the motor vehicle, the air opening allowing air to enter and exit the engine room;
an engine cover located in the engine room, the engine cover covering at least a portion of the engine of the motor vehicle;
a rib extending from a top side of the engine cover, the rib creating and defining a gutter on the engine cover between the rib and a side of the engine room;
a water channel formed integrally in the engine cover, the water channel adjacent and laterally inward of the rib and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, the water channel including a drain longitudinally to the rear of the motor vehicle at a rearward portion of the water channel;
wherein air entering the air opening flows over the rib and into the engine room of the motor vehicle; and
wherein the rib blocks debris that enters the air opening from flowing past the gutter and into the engine.

8. The air and water management system of claim 7 wherein the rib is integrally formed with the engine cover.

9. The air and water management system of claim 7 wherein a cross section of the gutter is U-shaped.

10. The air and water management system of claim 9 wherein the gutter slopes downwardly as the gutter extends rearward along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

11. The air and water management system of claim 9 wherein the gutter slopes downwardly as the gutter extends rearward along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

12. An air and water management system for an engine room that houses an engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:
an engine cover located in the engine room, the engine cover covering at least a portion of the engine of the motor vehicle;
a water channel formed integrally in the engine cover and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, the water channel including a drain longitudinally to the rear of the motor vehicle at a rearward portion of the water channel;
an air opening on a side of the motor vehicle, the air opening allowing air to enter and exit the engine room; and
a rib extending from a top side of the engine cover, the rib creating and defining a putter on the engine cover between the rib and a side of the engine room.

13. The air and water management system of claim 12 wherein air entering the air opening flows over the rib and into the engine room of the motor vehicle and wherein the rib blocks debris that enters the air opening from flowing past the gutter and into the engine.

14. The air and water management system of claim 13 wherein the water channel is adjacent and laterally inward of the rib.

15. The air and water management system of claim 14 wherein the rib is integrally formed with the engine cover.

16. The air and water management system of claim 15 wherein a cross section of the gutter is U-shaped.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Vigil Fabian J
• Horner Kurtis R
• Borland Jason S
• Matsuura Hirokazu
• KASARLA Nagender Reddy
• Hartlaub Kenneth M

Classifications

• B62D25/24 Primary

  Superstructure sub-units with access {or drainage} openings having movable or removable closures; {Sealing means therefor}(inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05) · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B62D25/10

  Bonnets or lids {, e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles (for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38)} · CPC title

• B60K11/08 Primary

  Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor · CPC title

• B60R13/07

  Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure (B60R13/06, {B60J10/25} take precedence; {integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24}) · CPC title