FIELD OF INVENTION:
This invention relates to ventilation structure at the rear side of passenger vehicle providing combined benefit of low loading height, good aesthetics, good ventilation and low door closing effort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In passenger vehicles, it is desired to reduce the effort for door closing with more & more focus on customer comfort. But there is a contradictory requirement of reducing the Door weight due to which the door closing effort increases.

To ensure low door closing effort even with light weight doors it is very important to ensure good ventilation performance of the vehicle.

Also for ease of luggage loading and unloading from the Back Door area, luggage loading height should be as low as possible but with reduction in loading height, the space availability for the layout of basic body shell box section (required for vehicle rigidity) and mounting of ventilators is reduced. (Ventilator is a component used for allowing air flow in only one direction).

Below a certain loading height with a given underbody level, ventilator can only be mounted inside the box section of Panel Comp Back. In such arrangements, the provision for air flow from outside of box section to the ventilator has to be provided.

It is required to provide low loading height to customer along with good provisions for ventilation while not compromising on aesthetics of Panel Comp Back area. In one of the existing arrangements, the loading height is made high enough so that the ventilator comp can be mounted outside the Panel Comp Back box section. Need for extra provision for air flow to ventilator is eliminated as ventilator is directly connected to passenger cabin.

In Fig.1, Panel Comp Back section is at center of vehicle ventilation while not compromising on aesthetics of Panel Comp Back area.

Though by this provision, good ventilation characteristics is achieved as ventilator is mounted directly on passenger compartment wall instead of mounting it inside a box section still this design has certain demerits.

The demerits associated with this design are as follows:

• It prompts for higher loading height, luggage loading/unloading discomfort.

• Noise from exhaust and outside of vehicle directly enters the passenger cabin and additional provision in Ventilator comp is often provided for NVH purposes.

• Minor chances of spare tyre hitting on the ventilator during tyre change by customer.

Another arrangement, as depicted in Figure 2, has Ventilator comp mounting provided inside the Panel Back box section. Additional openings are made for air flow to ventilator from outside of box section. Either these holes are covered with Trim Tail End as shown in Fig. 2 or are left out open in visible area which looks aesthetically poor.

An improvement over this design is shown in Fig.3 wherein Trim Tail End is used to hide the openings in the box area. Such Trim Tail end, when used, will also have slits but with better appearance.

With these two design arrangements, lower loading height could be achieved. Height of ventilator mount could be increased thereby reducing noise entry into the cabin. As ventilator is mounted in closed section, it gave dual benefit for NVH performance. Noise has to travel more before reaching the passenger cabin due to box section and higher positioning of ventilator.

But it involves additional financial burden because of the provision of trim tail end to hide the visible holes for air flow to the ventilator. If trim is not provided, system is aesthetically poor and hole size cannot be made very large for improved ventilation performance. Further, if trim not used, it could be a safety hazard for customer during luggage board usage. Also, small items on luggage board may fall inside box section of Body.

Therefore, continuous efforts had been undertaken by the manufacturers and researchers to find a suitable solution to this problem and different arrangements have been patented.

Japanese Patent # JP, 2015-066994A describes a method to suppress effectively the noise outside a vehicular body reaches to a passenger compartment while ventilation of the passenger compartment inside the vehicular body of a vehicle is implemented effectively.

This invention provides a ventilation structure at a vehicular body rear part of a vehicle comprising: a concave part (31) formed at the central part in a vehicle (2) width direction on a rear floor panel (12); a closing panel (33) closing the an upper end opening of the concave part (31); a first ventilation port (39) formed at least any one side part in the vehicle (2) width direction on the closing panel (33) so that a passenger compartment (5) is communicated with the concave part (31); a second ventilation port (40) formed on an inner panel (16) of a lower back panel (11) so that the middle part in the vehicle (2) width direction in the concave part (31) is communicated with an inner space (18) of the lower back panel (11); and a third ventilation port (41) formed at least any one side part in the vehicle (2) width direction on the lower back panel (11) so that the inner space (18) of the lower back panel (11) is communicated with the rear outside region of the vehicle (2).

In this invention, ventilation holes are provided on vehicle face only. Therefore, hole size is constrained as size of vertical face is always smaller than slant surface for a given vertical size of panel. In case of luggage board removal, bare panel hole visibility to customer is more. Chances of small objects falling into the panel comp box section through these holes are high and a cause of unpleasant noise. Objects will be difficult to remove due to closed box section. Chances of hand injury due to hole edge is higher as holes are easily accessible.

Japanese Patent JP, 2005-075082A highlights a ventilation structure of a vehicle discharging air blown out of the front part of the cabin to the outside the vehicle via a plurality of ventilating passages by a simple structure.

In this invention, a clearance (4) is formed between a rear seat (1) and a floor (2), and the floor (2) is recessed to form a spare tire storage room (5) communicated with the clearance (4) in the rear of the cabin. Furthermore, a ventilation hole (11) is formed in a rear skirt panel (6) blocking the rear end of the spare time storage room (5), thereby providing a new ventilating passage. By this constitution, air sent from the lower part of an instrument panel (20) in the front part of the vehicle is introduced in the spare tire storage room (5) through the clearance (4), and discharged to the outside the vehicle from the outlet ventilator (13) of a tail end member (12) through the ventilation hole (11) of the rear skirt panel (6).

In this patented invention, ventilation holes are provided only on vertical face due to which hole size is constrained as size of vertical face is always smaller than slant surface for a given loading height. In case of luggage board removal, bare panel hole visibility to customer is more. Chances of small objects falling into the panel comp box section through these holes are high thereby creating a cause of unpleasant noise. Objects will be difficult to remove due to closed box section. Chances of hand injury due to hole edge is higher as holes are easily accessible.

In view of the above, there is still a need of a simple arrangement to eliminate the necessity of trim tail end in order to reduce cost / weight of the system and also to provide better quality and safety. Further efforts are needed to provide ventilation holes of large size to have a good ventilation system. The solution is provided by the instant invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

The main object of the invention is to provide a ventilation structure at the rear part of passenger vehicles wherein loading height is minimised to prevent loading / unloading discomfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide large size ventilation holes for better ventilation for passenger vehicles

An additional object of the invention is to minimise the hole visibility by providing hole bearing surface under luggage board.

Yet another object of this invention is to eliminate the need of additional trim tail end to cover ventilation holes.

Further object of the invention is to provide low dooring efforts.

Another object of the modified ventilation structure to provide better NVH performance.

The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a full understanding of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention are to be defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures wherein:

Fig 1: Existing convention ventilation structure

Fig. 2: Another ventilation structure.

Fig.3: Improved ventilation structure.

Fig. 4: Ventilation structure of present invention.

While the invention is described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention disclosure as defined by the claims.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION:

According to the invention, there is provided a ventilation structure at the rear part of the passenger vehicle comprising a ventilator mounted on the vertical side of panel comp box section behind rear bumper near medium plane of the passenger vehicle; and ventilation holes on the slant surface of said panel comp box section below the luggage board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

At the outset of the description, which follows, it is to be understood that the ensuing description only illustrate a particular form of the invention. However, such a particular form is only an exemplary embodiment and the teachings of the invention are not intended to be taken restrictively.

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is now to be made to the embodiments illustrated and the specific language would be used to describe the same. It is nevertheless to be understood that no limitations of the scope of the invention is hereby intended on such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated bag and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

The embodiments are described with reference to the drawings in which like parts are referred to by like numerals. These embodiments are for illustrative purpose only and it should be noted that invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Certain details, e.g. manufacturing / assembly details, have been omitted since they are not necessary to understand product functioning.

As used herein and subsequently in the claims, the singular form ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ includes plural reference unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present invention, a ventilator is provided in the box section behind the rear bumper near medium plane of the passenger vehicle. The ventilator is placed on the vertical side of the box section near the bumper in such a way that back panel height, known as loading height is minimised and its distance from the muffler is maximised. Further, to eliminate the need of Trim Tail End, ventilation holes are provided on the slant panel face. Large surface with negative draft i8s provided so that it is difficult to see. Thus the amount of area for painting requirement is reduced.

As compared to this, Figure 1 ventilation structure arrangement shows the placing of the ventilator outside the panel comp back box section and the provision of trims over it to make the design aesthetically sound.

Figure 2 provides holes in the trim so as to have good air flow to the passenger comp back box section in which the ventilator is placed.

In Figure 3 which is an improvement in the design as depicted in Figure 2, the trims tail end section has been removed and slant side of the box panel containing the ventilation holes is arranged in such a way that it is half above the luggage board and half below it resulting into the visibility of the ventilation holes from the outside.

Figure 4 shows the present ventilation structure at rear part of passenger vehicles wherein, loading height is minimized and at the same time the cost of Trim Tail End was saved by eliminating it.

This is achieved by mounting ventilator on one vertical side of the box section of the Panel Comp Back and providing ventilation holes on the slant side of the box section which is completely below the luggage board. As the slant side is below the luggage box completely, it provides bigger surface area of the slant surface for making ventilation holes of larger diameter for better air flow to the ventilator.

Holes are made on the slant surface of the box section which is inclined at an angle of 15o - 30o to the parallel vertical side away from the rear bumper which takes it away from the hand access area (hand access during spare tire and luggage board handling).

Also for good aesthetic performance, these holes are covered with luggage board. This also allows making bigger holes of area of 150 cm2 to 200 cm2 for better ventilation and low door closing effort.

By positioning the ventilator inside the box section helps in increasing height of ventilator resulting in improvement in NVH performance as noise from muffler and road has to cover more distance to reach the passenger cabin. This gives combined benefit of both the existing concepts

Thus the instant invention is for layout of ventilation holes of large size by creating slant panel face below luggage board area so as to help reduce cost/weight of system (no trim tail end) and also provide better quality and safety.

The ventilation structure of the present invention has many advantages such as:

• Low loading height achieved, ease of loading/unloading luggage.

• No need of additional trim to cover ventilation holes (like existing technology 1 & 2, as depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 2), to improve the aesthetics.

• Aesthetically better as the holes are not partially/fully visible (like in existing technology 2 & 3, as depicted in Figure 2 and Figure 3) to customer during normal vehicle condition.

• Scope of large ventilator openings enabling better door closing performance or usage of lighter doors.

• As ventilator is mounted in closed section it gives dual benefit of NVH performance. Noise has to travel more before reaching the passenger cabin due to box section & higher positioning of ventilator (higher positioning made possible by mounting ventilator inside Box section).

It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications adaptations changes by those skilled in the art. Such various embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention which is further set forth under the claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. A ventilation structure at the rear part of the passenger vehicle comprising:

a ventilator mounted on the vertical side of panel comp box
section behind rear bumper near medium plane of the
passenger vehicle; and

ventilation holes on the slant surface of said panel comp box
section below the luggage board.

2. The ventilation structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilation holes are of area from 150cm2 to 200cm2.

3. The ventilation structure as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the slant surface is inclined at an angle of 15o - 30o with the vertical surface of said panel comp box section away from the rear bumper of the passenger vehicle.