Mounting structure for vehicle communication apparatus

Abstract

To obtain a mounting structure for a vehicle communication apparatus capable of reducing a load applied to a portion of an instrument panel to which the vehicle communication apparatus is mounted.SOLUTION: A mounting structure for a vehicle communication apparatus includes an instrument panel 12, a vehicle communication apparatus 14, and an air-conditioning duct 16. The vehicle communication apparatus 14 is disposed inside the instrument panel 12 and is mounted to the instrument panel 12. The air-conditioning duct 16 constitutes a part of a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus and has a connection portion 16D connected to the vehicle communication apparatus 14. In addition, in the air-conditioning duct 16, a portion different from the connection portion 16D is fixed and supported on the instrument panel 12 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a vehicle communication device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle communication device arranged inside an instrument panel. The housing of the vehicle communication device described in this document is provided with a flange portion. The flange portion is fixed to the instrument panel via a fixing member, thereby attaching the vehicle communication device to the instrument panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-157528 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a configuration in which a vehicle communication device is attached to an instrument panel, vibrations that occur when the vehicle is traveling apply a load to the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is attached.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a vehicle communication device that can reduce the load applied to the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is mounted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the first aspect includes an instrument panel, a vehicle communication device arranged inside the instrument panel and attached to the instrument panel, and an air conditioning duct that forms part of a vehicle air conditioning device and has a connection portion to which the vehicle communication device can be connected, and a portion different from the connection portion is fixed and supported on the instrument panel side.

[0007] In a first aspect of the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device, the vehicle communication device is mounted to an instrument panel inside the instrument panel. The vehicle communication device mounted to the instrument panel is connected to a connection portion of an air conditioning duct. A portion of the air conditioning duct other than the connection portion is fixed and supported on the instrument panel. In this configuration, the air conditioning duct functions as a dynamic damper, thereby reducing vertical vibrations of the vehicle communication device and the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is mounted. As a result, the load applied to the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is mounted can be reduced when the vehicle strikes a road surface.

[0008] The mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the second aspect is the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the first aspect, in which an elastically deformable elastic member is interposed between the vehicle communication device and the connection portion.

[0009] In the second aspect of the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device, an elastically deformable elastic member is interposed between the vehicle communication device and the connection portion of the air conditioning duct, and this configuration allows the elastic member to absorb vertical vibrations of the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is mounted, which are caused by the vehicle's impact with the road surface.

[0010] The mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the third aspect is the same as the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the second aspect, in which the spring constant of the elastic member is set so that the resonant frequency of the instrument panel and the vehicle communication device in response to road surface input of the vehicle matches the resonant frequency of the air conditioning duct in response to road surface input of the vehicle.

[0011] In the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the third aspect, vertical vibrations of the vehicle communication device and the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is mounted, caused by vehicle road surface input, can be further reduced compared to a configuration in which the spring constant of the elastic member is set outside the above range.

[0012] The mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the fourth aspect is the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the second or third aspect, in which the change in elastic modulus per unit temperature change of the material forming the instrument panel is the same as the change in elastic modulus per unit temperature change of the material forming the elastic member.

[0013] In the mounting structure for a vehicle communication device of the fourth aspect, the rigidity of the elastic member changes in response to changes in the rigidity of the instrument panel due to temperature changes, thereby maintaining the function as a dynamic damper for the air conditioning duct even if the temperatures of the instrument panel and the elastic member change. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The mounting structure for a vehicle communication device according to the present invention has the excellent effect of reducing the load applied to the portion of the instrument panel where the vehicle communication device is mounted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 2 is a left cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of an instrument panel where a vehicle communication device is mounted; FIG. [Figure 2] 4 is a bottom view schematically showing the front end portion of the air conditioning duct and the vehicle communication device. FIG. [Figure 3] 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a connection portion and the like taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the elastic modulus of a resin and temperature. [Figure 5] 1 is a graph showing the relationship between elastic modulus of rubber and temperature. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a description will be given of the front part of a cabin 10 to which a mounting structure for a vehicle communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Note that, as shown appropriately in each drawing, an arrow FR indicates the front side of the vehicle, an arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, an arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction), and an arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction). Furthermore, in the following description, when directions such as front-rear, up-down, and left-right are indicated, they refer to front-rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, up-down in the vehicle up-down direction, and left-right in the vehicle left-right direction unless otherwise specified.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the cabin 10 is provided with an instrument panel 12, a vehicle communication device 14 provided within the instrument panel 12, and an air conditioning duct 16 provided within the instrument panel 12.

[0018] The instrument panel 12 (instrument panel safety pad) is formed, for example, using a resin material, and includes a first extending portion 12A extending in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions, and a second extending portion 12B extending downward from the rear end of the first extending portion 12A.

[0019] The vehicle communication device 14 is, for example, a data communication module (DCM), which is a device for wirelessly communicating with other devices or an external network via a network. A locking portion (not shown) is provided on a housing 14A of the vehicle communication device 14. The vehicle communication device 14 is attached to the first extension portion 12A of the instrument panel 12 by, for example, locking the locking portion to a locking receiving portion (not shown) provided on the instrument panel 12.

[0020] The air conditioning duct 16 constitutes a part of a vehicle air conditioning system and is formed, for example, using a resin material. The air conditioning duct 16 includes a duct main body 16A through which air passes. A rear end 16B of the duct main body 16A is provided with an outlet through which air is blown toward the cabin 10. The rear end 16B of the duct main body 16A also includes a register for adjusting the direction of airflow. The rear end 16B of the duct main body 16A is fixed to and supported by a second extension portion 12B of the instrument panel 12. This results in the air conditioning duct 16 being cantilevered by the instrument panel 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the air conditioning duct 16 includes a front extension portion 16C extending upward and forward from the front end of the duct main body 16A. The front end of the front extension portion 16C forms a connection portion 16D that is connected to the vehicle communication device 14.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, a bushing 18 is fixed to the connection portion 16D. The bushing 18 includes an outer cylindrical portion 18A formed in a cylindrical shape, an inner cylindrical portion 18B formed in a cylindrical shape and disposed at the center of the outer cylindrical portion 18A, and an elastic member 18C connecting the outer cylindrical portion 18A and the inner cylindrical portion 18B. The elastic member 18C is formed, for example, using elastically deformable rubber. A bolt 20 inserted into the inner cylindrical portion 18B is threaded into the housing 14A of the vehicle communication device 14, thereby connecting the connection portion 16D and the vehicle communication device 14 via the bushing 18 and the bolt 20.

[0022] (Actions and Effects of This Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0023] 1, in the embodiment described above, the connection portion 16D of the air conditioning duct 16 is connected to the vehicle communication device 14, and the air conditioning duct 16 is cantilevered by the instrument panel 12. In this configuration, the front portion 16E of the air conditioning duct 16 can move vertically (vibrate in the direction of arrow A) around the fixed portion of the air conditioning duct 16 to the instrument panel 12 as the center of rotation. This allows the air conditioning duct 16 to function as a dynamic damper, thereby reducing vertical vibrations of the vehicle communication device 14 and the portion of the instrument panel 12 where the vehicle communication device 14 is attached. As a result, the load applied to the portion of the instrument panel 12 where the vehicle communication device 14 is attached can be reduced when the vehicle strikes a road surface.

[0024] 3, in this embodiment, a bushing 18 is interposed between the vehicle communication device 14 and the connection portion 16D of the air conditioning duct 16. In this configuration, the elastic member 18C can absorb vertical vibrations of the vehicle communication device 14 and the portion of the instrument panel 12 to which the vehicle communication device 14 is attached, which are caused by the vehicle's impact with the road surface.

[0025] Here, it is preferable to set the spring constant of the elastic member 18C so that the resonant frequency of the instrument panel 12 and the vehicle communication device 14 in response to the vehicle road surface input matches the resonant frequency of the air conditioning duct 16 in response to the vehicle road surface input. In this configuration, vertical vibrations of the vehicle communication device 14 and the portion of the instrument panel 12 to which the vehicle communication device 14 is attached, caused by the vehicle road surface input, can be further reduced compared to a configuration in which the spring constant of the elastic member 18C is set outside the above range.

[0026] Incidentally, when the temperature of the instrument panel 12 rises due to the incidence of sunlight into the cabin 10, the elastic modulus (rigidity) of the instrument panel 12 decreases. Similarly, when the temperature of the elastic member 18C rises, the elastic modulus (rigidity) of the elastic member 18C decreases. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the temperature of the resin forming the instrument panel 12 rises from T0 (°C) to T1 (°C), the elastic modulus of the resin decreases by K J0 (N / mm 2 ) to K J1 (N / mm 2 ) As shown in FIG. 5, when the temperature of the rubber forming the elastic member 18C rises from T0 (°C) to T1 (°C), the elastic modulus of the rubber decreases to K G0 (N / mm 2 ) to K G1 (N / mm 2 ) The decrease in the elastic modulus reduces the resonance frequency of the instrument panel 12 and the vehicle communication device 14, as well as the resonance frequency of the air conditioning duct 16. Therefore, the change in the elastic modulus per unit temperature change of the material forming the instrument panel 12 is adjusted to match the change in the elastic modulus per unit temperature change of the material forming the elastic member 18C, i.e., K J1 / K J0 =K G1 / K G0 It is preferable to select and adjust the materials forming the instrument panel 12 and the elastic member 18C so as to satisfy the relationship. In a configuration that satisfies the above relationship, the rigidity of the elastic member 18C changes so as to correspond to changes in rigidity that occur with temperature changes in the instrument panel 12. This allows the air conditioning duct 16 to maintain its function as a dynamic damper even if the temperatures of the instrument panel 12 and the elastic member 18C change.

[0027] In the above-described example, the bush 18 is interposed between the vehicle communication device 14 and the connection portion 16D of the air conditioning duct 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration without the bush 18 may be adopted. Furthermore, the bush 18 may be a component separate from the air conditioning duct 16, or may be formed integrally with the air conditioning duct 16.

[0028] In addition, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which the air conditioning duct 16 is cantilevered on the instrument panel 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the air conditioning duct 16 may be cantilevered on a member different from the instrument panel 12.

[0029] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various other modified forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 12 Instrument panel 14 Vehicle communication device 16 Air conditioning duct 16D Connection 18C Elastic material

Claims

1. The instrument panel and a vehicle communication device disposed inside the instrument panel and attached to the instrument panel; an air conditioning duct that constitutes a part of the vehicle air conditioning device, has a connection part to which the vehicle communication device can be connected, and has a portion different from the connection part fixed and supported on the instrument panel side; A mounting structure for a vehicle communication device comprising:

2. 2. The mounting structure for a vehicle communication device according to claim 1, wherein an elastically deformable elastic member is interposed between the vehicle communication device and the connecting portion.

3. 3. The vehicle communication device mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein the spring constant of the elastic member is set so that the resonant frequency of the instrument panel and the vehicle communication device relative to a road surface input of the vehicle matches the resonant frequency of the air conditioning duct relative to the road surface input of the vehicle.

4. 4. A mounting structure for a vehicle communication device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the change in elastic modulus per unit temperature change of the material forming the instrument panel is equal to the change in elastic modulus per unit temperature change of the material forming the elastic member.

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