TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to cowl assemblies and, more particularly, to improved cowl assemblies having integrated water management features.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it may be described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present technology.

A cowl assembly, also known as a cowling, generally includes one or more components arranged to define a covered area, optionally with a removable covering, for various items, such as vehicle accessories and engine components. For common passenger vehicles, a cowl assembly may be located adjacent the front part of a vehicle's frame and may provide support to one or more of the rear portion of the hood, windshield, dashboard, pedals, and instrument panel. For example, a cowl assembly may function to separate the passenger compartment or HVAC area from the engine compartment. Vents/louvers may be provided on a top panel or top grille portion of the cowl assembly and allow certain amounts of air into the engine compartment. In addition to air entering the cowl, water and other fluids (such as rain, windshield washer fluid, etc.) may also enter an interior area and thus need to be removed. Current cowl designs have drain vents in various panels that coordinate with grommets and/or rubber drain hoses in order to route water/fluids down and away from the engine components. The grommets and drain hoses may allow noise and hot air into the cowl area, which may negatively affect HVAC performance and interior sound.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved cowl system and design for easily removing water and fluids, while eliminating drain hoses and additional components.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In various aspects, the present teachings provide a cowl assembly for a vehicle. 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. The cowl panel may define at least one fluid discharge opening. The cowl assembly includes at least one cowl insulator component, which may be disposed adjacent the cowl panel, also extending a distance across the transverse width direction of the vehicle. The cowl insulator component may include or define a first major surface facing the engine compartment and configured to insulate noise and vibration. The cowl insulator component may also include or define a second major surface, located opposite the first major surface, and facing the cowl panel. At least one region of the second major surface of the cowl insulator component includes a fluid resistant barrier layer configured to route fluid received from the at least one fluid discharge opening of the cowl panel. For example the fluid resistant barrier layer is configured for routing fluid in a direction away from engine components and/or the engine compartment.

In other aspects, the present teachings provide a cowl assembly for a vehicle with an integrated water management feature. The cowl assembly may include 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. A cowl insulator component is disposed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of cowl panels and also extends a distance across the transverse width direction of the vehicle. At least one region of a major surface of the cowl insulator component includes a fluid resistant barrier layer configured to route fluid in a direction away from the engine compartment. At least a portion of the major surface of the cowl insulator component may be molded or shaped to define at least one fluid drainage feature, integrated with the cowl insulator component, which may be aligned with at least one fluid discharge opening defined in the plurality of cowl panels.

In still other aspects, the present teachings provide a method for draining fluid collected from a cowl assembly. The method includes providing a cowl panel disposed adjacent a rear section of an engine compartment. The cowl panel is provided extending a distance across a transverse width direction of the vehicle. The cowl panel defines at least one fluid discharge opening. The method includes aligning a cowl insulator component adjacent to the cowl panel. The cowl insulator component is also provided 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 aligned with the at least one fluid discharge opening of the cowl panel. The fluid resistant barrier layer is configured for routing and draining fluid in a direction away from the engine compartment.

Further areas of applicability and various methods of enhancing the disclosed technology will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

