Module structure

Abstract

To provide a module structure in which work for attaching and detaching a wire harness to and from a vehicle body is not needed before and after a module main body is attached to and detached from the vehicle body, which makes it easy to assemble the module main body to the vehicle body so that work loads and costs can be reduced.SOLUTION: A module structure comprises: a module main body 14 on which an electrical component 16, a first wire harness 18 connected to the electrical component 16 and a first connector 20 of the first wire harness 18 are integrally provided; a first terminal 22 fixed to the first connector 20; a second connector 26 fixed to a vehicle body 12 so as to oppose the first connector 20 and having wiring on the vehicle body side connected thereto; and a second terminal 28 fixed to the second connector 26. In a state where the module main body 14 is mounted on the vehicle body 12, the first terminal 22 contacts the second terminal 28, so that the terminals are electrically connected to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular construction of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In a vehicle, a wire harness is routed inside a modular component and electrically connected to the electrical components mounted on the vehicle to transmit and receive electrical signals to and supply power to the electrical components. A structure has been proposed to simplify the work of attaching this modular component to the vehicle body and reduce the workload and costs of the work.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a door module structure in which a door harness is routed and which includes a closing plate that closes a service hole provided in a vehicle door inner panel. With this door module structure, simply by placing the door module over the service hole in the door inner panel and applying a pushing force, the inner peripheral edge of the service hole is clamped between a pair of elastic clamping pieces, and the door module is held in the door inner panel. This configuration is said to eliminate the need for bolting the door module to the door inner panel, which was previously required, and to facilitate installation of the door module to the door inner panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-099031 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, even in cases where the module main body is relatively easy to install on the vehicle body, as in the above example, there is still room for improvement in the module structure. For example, in conventional structures, the wire harness is assembled to the module main body, but the connector of the wire harness is not fixed to the module main body. As a result, it may be necessary to detach the wire harness before or after installing or detaching the module main body from the vehicle body. More specifically, it may be necessary to disconnect the connector on the module main body connected to the wire harness from the connector on the vehicle body. This wiring harness installation work requires a lot of man-hours. Furthermore, the connection portion of the wire harness to the vehicle body is generally located in a recessed location that is difficult to access from outside the vehicle, which increases the posture strain during the work. Therefore, improvements are desired in terms of cost and efficiency in the installation and removal of the module main body from the vehicle body for maintenance of the module main body.

[0006] Therefore, in this specification, a module structure is realized that does not require the work of attaching and detaching the wire harness to and from the vehicle body before and after attaching and detaching the module main body to and from the vehicle body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The module structure disclosed in this specification comprises a module main body that integrally includes an electrical component, a first wire harness connected to the electrical component, and a first connector that is a connector for the first wire harness, a first terminal fixed to the first connector, a second connector that is fixed to a vehicle body opposite the first connector and to which wiring on the vehicle body side is connected, and a second terminal fixed to the second connector, and is characterized in that when the module main body is attached to the vehicle body, the first terminal and the second terminal abut and are electrically connected.

[0008] According to the above configuration, there is no need to detach the wire harness from the vehicle body before and after attaching and detaching the module body to the vehicle body, which reduces the workload and costs.

[0009] The module further includes a module fastening portion around the first connector for attaching the module main body to the vehicle body.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the assembly between the module body and the vehicle body is held more firmly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the module structure disclosed in this specification, the need to attach and detach the wire harness to and from the vehicle body before and after attaching and detaching the module body to the vehicle body is eliminated, simplifying the assembly of the module body to the vehicle body and reducing the workload and costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a module structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The module structure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a module structure according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which a module body 14, shown in the lower part of FIG. 1, is attached to a vehicle body 12, shown in the upper part of FIG. 1, to form a module structure 10. In other words, FIG. 1 illustrates a module structure 10 configured by the vehicle body 12 and the module body 14, in the middle part of FIG. 1, with the module body 14, shown in the lower part of FIG. 1, moved in the direction of the arrow, and the vehicle body 12, shown in the upper part of FIG. 1, moved in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 2 is similar, and illustrates a module structure 10 configured by the vehicle body 12 and the module body 14, in the middle part of FIG. 2, with the vehicle body 12 and the module body 14 moved in the direction of the arrow. Note that, unlike FIG. 1, FIG. 2 illustrates the module body 14 at the top and the vehicle body 12 at the bottom. Furthermore, typically, the module body 14 is moved toward the vehicle body 12 while the vehicle body 12 is stationary.

[0015] The module body 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is, for example, a door module. The module structure disclosed herein can be applied to various modularized vehicle body structures, such as dash panels, instrument panels, floors, and side members, in addition to door modules. The module body 14 is configured by integrally arranging an electrical component 16, a first wire harness 18, and a first connector 20 for the first wire harness 18. The electrical component 16 is, for example, a speaker or a power window. The first wire harness 18 is a known wire harness and is an assembly of components that transmits electrical power to power devices and electrical signals to control the devices. The first connector 20 is fixed to the module body 14. The first connector 20 is located at a relatively end of the module body 14 so as not to interfere with the routing of the electrical component 16 and the first wire harness 18. A first terminal 22 is fixed to the first connector 20. In FIG. 2, the first terminals 22 are shown as dark black portions.

[0016] 1 and 2, the vehicle body 12 is provided with a second wire harness 24 and a second connector 26, which is a connector for the second wire harness 24. The second wire harness 24 is a known wire harness, similar to the first wire harness 18. When the module main body 14 is attached to the vehicle body 12, the second connector 26 is fixed to the vehicle body 12 so as to face the first connector 20. Wiring on the vehicle body 12 side is connected to the second connector 26, and a second terminal 28 is also fixed to the second connector 26. In FIG. 2, the second terminal 28 is shown as a lightly shaded portion.

[0017] As described above, when the vehicle body 12 and the module main body 14 are moved in the direction of the arrow to attach the module main body 14 to the vehicle body 12, the first terminal 22 and the second terminal 28 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. Also, as shown in FIG. 2 , in the module structure 10, vertical module fastening portions 30 are provided around the first connector 20 and the second connector 26 (specifically, on both sides of the portion where the first connector 20 and the second connector 26 are engaged), and are fixed so as to reliably maintain the engagement between them. In this example, the module fastening portion 30 is formed by a fastener (e.g., a bolt) provided on the module main body 14, and another fastener (e.g., a nut) paired with the fastener is provided on the vehicle body 12. The pair of fasteners is used to fasten the module main body 14 to the vehicle body 12. The module fastening portion 30 may also be of a mating type. The mating type facilitates the fastening process.

[0018] As described above, in the module structure disclosed in this specification, after the module main body 14 is attached to the vehicle body 12, the movement of the first terminal 22 and the second terminal 28 is always fixed by the fastening between the module main body 14 and the vehicle body 12 (in other words, the electrical connection between the first terminal 22 and the second terminal 28). On the other hand, when the module main body 14 is attached to or detached from the vehicle body 12, the first connector 20 connected to the first wire harness 18 is fixed to the module main body 14, so that attaching or detaching the first connector 20 and the second connector 26 does not require a separate attachment or detachment operation. In other words, the attachment or detachment operation between the module main body 14 and the vehicle body 12 is sufficient, and the routing operation of the first wire harness 18 and the second wire harness 24 before and after the fastening or unfastening operation is not required. As a result, the workload and costs before and after attaching or detaching the module main body 14 to or from the vehicle body 12 can be reduced.

[0019] The above description is merely an example, and the module structure disclosed in this specification is configured such that the module main body is provided with a first connector that is a connector for a first wire harness, and the first terminal fixed to the first connector and the second terminal fixed to the vehicle body abut and are electrically connected when the module main body is attached to the vehicle body. Therefore, other configurations may be changed as appropriate.

[0020] For example, the first connector and the second connector may each have a mating portion (e.g., a first mating portion and a second mating portion). When the first connector is fixed to the module body, the first connector is fitted into the module body by the first mating portion. When the second connector is fixed to the vehicle body, the second connector is fitted into the vehicle body by the second mating portion. This type of fitting method makes it easier to fix the first connector and the second connector to the module body and the vehicle body, respectively.

[0021] Furthermore, a notch or the like may be provided in the portion of module body 14 corresponding to second connector 26 so as not to get in the way when first connector 20 is engaged and fixed to second connector 26. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 10 module structure, 12 vehicle body, 14 module main body, 16 electrical components, 18 first wire harness, 20 first connector, 22 first terminal, 24 second wire harness, 26 second connector, 28 second terminal, 30 module fastening portion.

Claims

1. a module body integrally provided with an electrical component, a first wire harness connected to the electrical component, and a first connector for the first wire harness; a first terminal fixed to the first connector; a second connector fixed to the vehicle body so as to face the first connector and connected to wiring on the vehicle body side; a second terminal fixed to the second connector; Equipped with When the module body is attached to the vehicle body, the first terminal and the second terminal come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. A modular structure characterized by:

2. a module fastening portion for attaching the module main body to the vehicle body, the module fastening portion being disposed around the first connector; The modular structure of claim 1 .

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