Patent Application
20190077226
This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a hush panel assembly that incorporates an integrated air duct.
Packaging space in motor vehicle instrument panels has become tighter with the addition of vehicle telematics, safety components like knee airbags and new styling themes. Air ducts to the footwell areas have to be packaged within these space limitations and still provide for driver and passenger comfort. Limited space results in ducts with smaller effective cross-sectional areas and multiple bends that create more restriction that reduces airflow volume. These factors contribute to increased time for vehicle occupants to achieve thermal comfort, degrade air rush noise characteristics and consume more system power.
This document relates to a new and improved hush panel assembly that more efficiently and effectively utilizes available package space under the instrument panel to distribute airflow to the footwell areas of the motor vehicle. Advantageously, the hush panel assembly incorporates an integrated air duct thereby eliminating the need for a separate duct component as used in state of the art motor vehicles. Advantageously, the hush panel assembly also distributes air through the lower section of the hush panel assembly so as to provide better air distribution across the footwell.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a new and improved hush panel assembly is provided. That hush panel assembly comprises (a) an upper section, (b) a lower section secured to the upper section and (c) an airflow pathway defined between the upper section and the lower section. The lower section is made from an air permeable material through which air is distributed to a footwell of a motor vehicle.
The air permeable material may have an air permeability of at least 3.0 L/s at a pressure of 150 Pascals. In some embodiments, the air permeable material may have an air permeability of between 3.3 and 8.0 L/s at a pressure of 150 Pascals.
In one of many possible embodiments the air permeable material of the hush panel assembly may be a non-woven material. Further, the non-woven material may comprise compressed polyethylene terephthalate.
In some of the many possible embodiments, the upper section may be made from a closed cell, flexible foam material. In other possible embodiments, the upper section may be made from a stamped fibrous material. In some possible embodiments, the upper section may be made from non-woven, compressed polyethylene terephthalate. In such embodiments the upper section may also include an air impermeable plastic sheet. Preferably that air impermeable plastic sheet is oriented toward the airflow pathway thereby forming an inner wall of the integrated air duct or airflow pathway of the hush panel assembly.
In some of the many possible embodiments, the upper section is made from polypropylene filled with talc. In some of the many possible embodiments, the upper section is made from polypropylene. In some of the many possible embodiments, the upper section is made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
The upper section and the lower section of the hush panel assembly may be connected together in any appropriate manner. In some embodiments, the hush panel assembly includes a press fit feature for securing the upper and lower sections together. That press fit feature may include cooperating dimples and receivers. Further, the dimples may be provided on the lower section and the receivers may be provided on the upper section.
Still further, the lower section of the hush panel assembly may include an exposed face having a textured surface that is similar in appearance to the carpet in the footwell. In this way it is possible to provide a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the hush panel assembly. As it should be realized, the hush panel assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the hush panel assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the hush panel assembly and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the hush panel assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to
As best illustrated in
When the hush panel assembly 10 and the air feed duct 12 are fully assembled as illustrated in
The lower section 16 of the hush panel assembly 10 may be made from an air permeable material through which air may be distributed to the footwell of the motor vehicle. More specifically, the air permeable material has an air permeability of at least 3.0 L/s at a pressure of 150 Pascals. In some embodiments the air permeable material has an air permeability of between 3.3 and 8.0 L/s at a pressure of 150 Pascals.
A lower section 16 with air permeability within this range allows for the directing of a large portion of the airflow to the second discharge outlet 26 while advantageously allowing a small portion of the airflow to actually pass through the lower section 16. The resulting diffusion of air through the lower section 16 ensures better air distribution across the footwell for enhanced occupant comfort.
Toward this end, the air permeable material of the lower section 16 may be a non-woven material such as compressed polyethylene terephthalate. Non-woven compressed polyethylene terephthalate provides improved noise vibration harshness (NVH) when compared to expanded polypropylene used for the construction of prior art hush panels.
The upper section 14 of the hush panel assembly may be made from an air impermeable material. Toward this end, in some embodiments the upper section 14 is made from a closed cell, flexible foam material. In other possible embodiments, the upper section 14 may be made from a stamped fibrous material. In still other possible embodiments, the upper section 14 may be made from a non-woven, compressed polyethylene terephthalate that includes an air impermeable plastic sheet 30 such as a sheet of Mylar material. As illustrated in
In some possible embodiments, the upper section 14 is made from polypropylene filled with talc. In other possible embodiments, the upper section 14 is made from polypropylene. In still other possible embodiments, the upper section 14 is made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
The upper section 14 and the lower section 16 of the hush panel assembly 10 may be secured or connected together in any appropriate manner. As illustrated in
As further illustrated in
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
