Vehicle electrical component covering structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle electrical component covering structure that facilitates the fixing of a cover that covers electrical components mounted on a wall surface exposed in the footwell space. [Solution] In a vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 comprising a predetermined controller 120 attached to a wall surface 504a constituting the footwell space of a vehicle, and a cover 130 covering at least a part of the controller 120, the cover 130 has a positioning part 133 for positioning the cover 130 relative to the controller 120, and a first fixing part 136 fixed to the wall surface 504a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a covering structure for electrical components in a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a duct device having a radiator, which is a component of HVAC, and a cover, and the cover is configured to be able to seal the radiator. According to this duct device, the radiator is protected so that the feet of the passengers or the driver do not come into direct contact with the radiator.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, Patent Document 1 only describes screw bolts, clip fastening, rivet snaps, and welding spots as fixing means for the cover, and does not disclose specifically how the cover is fixed to the radiator, which is the protection target.

[0005] In the foot space of a vehicle, in addition to the radiator, electrical components such as an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a controller for controlling in-vehicle devices may be exposed. Such electrical components also need to be protected from the feet of the passengers so as not to be damaged. If a cover can be easily attached to a protection target such as an electrical component, the workability is improved.

[0006] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a covering structure for electrical components in a vehicle that can easily fix a cover that covers an electrical component attached to a wall surface exposed in the foot space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the present invention is a vehicle electrical component covering structure comprising a predetermined electrical component attached to a wall surface constituting the footwell space of a vehicle, and a cover that covers at least a part of the electrical component, wherein the cover has a positioning portion for positioning the cover relative to the electrical component or the wall surface, and a fixing portion for fixing to the wall surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily fix a cover that covers electrical components mounted on a wall surface exposed in the foot space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional perspective view of a vehicle front structure equipped with a vehicle electrical component covering structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows an enlarged side view of the controller and cover of the vehicle's electrical component covering structure. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the controller and cover of the vehicle's electrical component covering structure. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows the wall surface and an enlarged side view of the controller with the cover removed from the vehicle's electrical component covering structure. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the cover and pedal. [Figure 6] Figure 2(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the cover and controller area as seen from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 7] Figure 1 shows the rear view of the controller and cover of the vehicle's electrical component covering structure. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged side view of the controller and cover of a vehicle electrical component covering structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged side view showing the configuration before the cover of Figure 8 is attached. [Figure 10]It is a cross-sectional view or the like of the periphery of the cover and the controller in FIG. 8 as viewed from the front side of the vehicle. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view of the cover in FIG. 8 as viewed from the front side. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view of the cover in FIG. 8 as viewed from the back side.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle electrical component covering structure including a predetermined electrical component attached to a wall surface constituting a foot space of a vehicle, and a cover covering at least a part of the electrical component. The cover has a positioning portion for positioning the cover with respect to the electrical component or the wall surface, and a fixing portion fixed to the wall surface.

[0011] According to the present invention, when the cover is fixed to the wall surface, the movement of the cover is restricted because the positioning portion is positioned on the electrical component or the wall surface, so that the cover can be easily fixed.

[0012] The electrical component is arranged at a predetermined interval from the wall surface, and the positioning portion of the cover may be arranged and positioned between the electrical component and the wall surface.

[0013] According to this configuration, since the positioning portion is arranged between the electrical component and the wall surface, the cover can be caught by the electrical component, and it is possible to make it difficult for the cover to move into the foot space.

[0014] The electrical component has an electrical component fixing portion fixed to the wall surface, and the electrical component fixing portion may be exposed in the foot space in a state where the cover is attached to the wall surface.

[0015] According to this configuration, since the electrical component fixing portion is exposed on the foot space side even in a state where the cover is attached to the wall surface, it is possible to loosen the fixing of the electrical component and adjust the position of the electrical component.

[0016] The cover may further have an opening formed in the vicinity of the positioning portion, and the electrical component fixing portion of the electrical component unit may be exposed to the foot space through the opening of the cover.

[0017] According to this configuration, since the electrical component fixing portion is exposed from the opening, even if the outer shape of the cover is not formed small, the fixing of the electrical component unit can be loosened and the position of the electrical component unit can be adjusted.

[0018] The fixing portion of the cover may include a first fixing portion fixed to the wall surface and a second fixing portion formed around the opening and fixed to the wall surface. According to this configuration, since there is the second fixing portion, the rigidity of the cover is increased and the deformation of the cover is suppressed.

[0019] The vehicle electrical component covering structure may further include an electrical component fixing portion provided on the wall surface to which the electrical component fixing portion is fixed and a cover fixing portion provided on the wall surface to which the second fixing portion is fixed, and the electrical component fixing portion and the cover fixing portion may be connected.

[0020] According to this configuration, since the electrical component fixing portion and the cover fixing portion are connected, the rigidity for supporting the electrical component unit and the cover is increased. Therefore, the electrical component unit and the cover can be stably supported. Further, even if the passenger's leg touches the cover, the displacement of the cover is restricted, and it becomes easier to protect the electrical component unit.

[0021] The wall surface may form the side surface of the foot space, and the positioning portion of the cover may be located in front of the first fixing portion.

[0022] According to this configuration, there is a positioning portion at the back, and the cover can be positioned simply by hooking the cover at the back, and it is easy to fix the cover.

[0023] The vehicle electrical component covering structure further includes a pedal located in the footwell space that is movable between a first position on the rear side of the vehicle and a second position on the front side of the vehicle, and at least a portion of the cover is located above the area between the first and second positions, and the lower surface of the cover is inclined to rise as it moves towards the footwell space, and the lower surface of the cover preferably protrudes significantly towards the footwell space as it moves forward.

[0024] With this configuration, the underside of the cover slopes upward as it approaches the footwell, making it less likely for the occupant's legs to hit the cover when moving the pedal from the first position to the second position, thus allowing for easy pedal operation. At the same time, even when the occupant's legs approach the underside of the cover, they can be guided away from the electrical components (towards the footwell, upper right of the page) along the direction of the slope of the underside. Furthermore, since the underside of the cover protrudes significantly towards the footwell as it moves forward, if the occupant's legs approach the electrical components when the pedal is in the second position, the occupant's legs can be guided away from the electrical components.

[0025] The underside of the cover should be sloped upwards towards the front. This configuration makes it less likely for shoes to rub against the cover compared to a design where the underside of the cover is at the same height front to back.

[0026] The cover positioning section positions the cover rotatably relative to the wall or electrical components, and the cover is positioned away from the wall so as not to interfere with the electrical components when it rotates via the positioning section. With this configuration, the cover can be easily attached while rotating it, even though the fixing section is not fixed. [Examples]

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals or terms to avoid redundant explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustrations.

[0028] (First example) Figure 1 shows a vehicle front structure 500 equipped with a vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the vehicle's longitudinal and vertical directions to the right of the pedal 110.

[0029] In Figure 1 and subsequent drawings, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows F (Forward) and B (Backward), respectively; the left-right direction in the vehicle width direction is indicated by arrows L (Leftward) and R (Rightward), respectively; and the up-down direction is indicated by arrows U (Upward) and D (Downward), respectively.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 2 (Figure 4), the front structure of the vehicle 500 includes a dash panel 502, an indoor unit 504 (HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) of an air conditioning system located in front of the dash panel 502, and a vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 attached to the indoor unit 504.

[0031] The interior of the indoor unit 504 is equipped with an air outlet for the conditioned air and a drive mechanism such as an electric motor (not shown) for switching the outlet temperature. A portion of the conditioned air is blown out from an air outlet 142 of a duct projection 140, which is part of a foot duct 600 that blows conditioned air towards the foot space. The indoor unit 504 is oriented to the right in the vehicle width direction and has a wall surface 504a that forms part of the foot space, i.e., the left side of the foot space.

[0032] The front vehicle structure 500 also includes an instrument panel 506 and a floor panel 508. The instrument panel 506 has a rear member 506a at the rear of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100. The rear member 506a is a plate-shaped member that protects the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 from the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, there is no wall on the right side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100, and the right side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 is exposed.

[0033] The wall surface 504a of the interior unit 504 is provided with a vehicle electrical component covering structure 100, which includes a controller 120 as an example of an electrical component attached to the wall surface 504a that constitutes the footwell space of the vehicle, a cover 130 that covers a part of the footwell space side of the controller 120, and a pedal mechanism 109. The controller 120 controls the drive mechanism, such as an electric motor for switching the air outlet and air outlet temperature, which are provided inside the aforementioned interior unit 504.

[0034] The electrical components are not limited to the controller 120, but may include various electronic components such as communication devices that communicate with other in-vehicle equipment or external devices. The electrical components may also include cable-like structures such as harnesses routed along the wall surface 504a and connected to various in-vehicle components. Alternatively, the electrical components may be the connection point between the controller 120 and a harness (not shown).

[0035] The footwell space of a vehicle is the space in front of the occupants' feet when they are seated in their seats, and is formed by partitions such as the dash panel 502, the wall surface 504a of the HVAC interior unit 504, the instrument panel 506, and the floor panel 508.

[0036] Figure 2(a) is an enlarged side view of the controller 120 and cover 130 of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 shown in Figure 1. Figure 2(b) is a side view of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 shown in Figure 1 with the controller 120 and cover 130 removed. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the controller 120 and cover 130 of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 shown in Figure 1.

[0037] The controller 120 shown in Figures 2(a) and 3 is for controlling the drive mechanism, such as an electric motor for switching the air outlet and outlet temperature of the air conditioning system located inside the indoor unit 504 of the aforementioned air conditioning system, and is fixed to the wall surface 504a of the indoor unit 504.

[0038] In this embodiment, the location where the controller 120 is installed is described using the wall surface 504a of the HVAC indoor unit 504 located to the side of the footwell as an example, but it may also be the outer surface of other in-vehicle components facing the footwell, the panel surface of an interior panel (resin) such as the instrument panel 506, the panel surface of the dash panel 502, or the panel surface of the floor panel 508.

[0039] As shown in Figures 2(a) and 3, the controller 120 includes a controller body 116 and a controller bracket 117 as a support member for supporting the controller body 116. The controller bracket 117 includes a bracket body 118, mounting surfaces (front end 118a, rear end 118b, and lower end 118c) positioned on the side and bottom sides of the bracket body 118 when the controller 120 is mounted on the wall surface 504a, and a plurality of controller fixing parts 122, 124, and 126 (see Figure 4) extending away from the controller body 116 from the mounting surfaces (front end 118a, rear end 118b, and lower end 118c).

[0040] The controller fixing parts 124 and 126 are provided so as to extend forward from the front end 118a side of the bracket body 118 and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The controller fixing part 122 is provided so as to extend downward from the lower end 118c side of the bracket body 118. These controller fixing parts 122, 126 and 124 are fixed to the HVAC indoor unit 504 via connecting members such as bolts 522 and 526 and pins 214b.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2(a) and 3, the cover 130 has an upper surface 131a, a first fixing portion 136 provided on the rear side of the upper surface 131a, a lower surface 131b below the upper surface 131a, and cover legs 137 above the upper surface 131a. The cover 130 also has a second fixing portion 132 provided on the upper front side and a positioning portion 133 provided on the lower front side.

[0042] First, the positioning part 133 and the first fixing part 136 will be described. The positioning part 133 is the part that positions the cover 130 relative to the controller fixing part 124 of the controller 120. The positioning part 133 is located on the wall surface 504a side of the controller fixing part 124, so it is positioned between the controller fixing part 124 and the wall surface 504a, positioned inside the controller fixing part 124, and is less likely to come off to the outside of the controller fixing part 124. The first fixing part 136 is the part that is fixed to the wall surface 504a. The first fixing part 136 has a hole (not shown), and a bolt 536 is fixed to the wall surface 504a through this hole. The positioning part 133 is located in front, and the first fixing part 136 is located in rear. The positioning part 133 is located in front of the first fixing part 136. The positioning part 133 and the first fixing part 136 are fixed apart in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0043] The controller 120 is positioned between the positioning unit 133 and the first fixing unit 136. That is, the positioning unit 133 is located in front of the controller 120, and the first fixing unit 136 is located behind the controller 120. The cover leg portion 137 is located between the controller 120 and the first fixing unit 136.

[0044] The cover 130 covers the controller 120 from the positioning portion 133 side to the first fixing portion 136 side. In other words, the cover 130 covers the controller 120 from the front end 120a to the rear end 120b.

[0045] Furthermore, the cover 130 does not cover the top of the controller 120, but covers the bottom of the controller 120. Alternatively, the cover 130 could cover the entire controller 120 from top to bottom.

[0046] Furthermore, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the position of the duct protrusion 140 coincides with the position of the upper half of the controller 120, so the part of the cover 130 behind the opening 138 does not cover the area between the rear of the upper half of the controller 120 and the duct protrusion 140. If there is no duct protrusion 140, or if the duct protrusion 140 does not protrude towards the footwell, it is preferable to configure the part of the cover 130 behind the opening 138 to cover the area between the rear of the upper half of the controller 120 and the duct protrusion 140.

[0047] If the center tunnel and interior trim that make up the floor panel 508 (see Figure 1) are located lower than the lower end of the controller 120, and the configuration prevents the occupant's legs from approaching the controller 120 below, then the cover 130 may be left with the rear lower surface 131b omitted while retaining the rear upper surface 131a.

[0048] The cover 130 further has an opening 134 formed near the positioning portion 133. That is, the cover 130 has an opening 134 formed inside the second fixing portion 132 and the positioning portion 133. When viewed from the right side in the vehicle width direction, a portion of the controller fixing portion 124 hides the positioning portion 133 (see Figure 3). Also, the entire portion of the controller fixing portion 124 is exposed to the footwell space through the opening 134 of the cover 130 (see Figure 3).

[0049] The controller fixing part 124 has a hole 124a, and the pin 214b of the controller-mounted fixing part 214 (see Figure 2(b)) passes through this hole 124a, thereby positioning it on the wall surface 504a. The positioning part 133 may not be positioned on the controller fixing part 124, but rather on a member extending from the wall surface 504a, for example. This will be described in detail later using Figure 6(b).

[0050] Furthermore, the cover 130 has an opening 138 formed on the central side. The opening 138 exposes the controller fixing portion 122. The controller fixing portion 122 is fixed to the wall surface 504a by bolts 522. In addition, the aforementioned cover legs 137 of the cover 130 are parts that abut against the wall surface 504a, so that when the cover legs 137 are pushed against the wall surface 504a, the cover 130 is not pressed against the controller 120.

[0051] The cover 130 has a second fixing portion 132 formed around the opening 134 and fixed to the wall surface 504a. The second fixing portion 132 is fixed to the wall surface 504a by bolts 532.

[0052] Furthermore, the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 is inclined to rise as it moves forward. Also, the lower end 139 of the cover 130 is inclined to rise as it moves forward.

[0053] As shown in Figure 2(b), the interior unit 504 has a wall surface 504a. The wall surface 504a is oriented to the right in the vehicle width direction and constitutes part of the footwell space, i.e., the left side of the footwell space. The wall surface 504a is not flat, but has irregularities.

[0054] The footwell space may also be the rear seat footwell space. If the footwell space is the rear seat footwell space, the wall surface 504a may be the left and right side frames that support the front seat frame from below, or other vehicle components installed below the front seat.

[0055] As shown in Figure 2(b), the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 includes a controller-mounted fixing part 214 (electrical component-mounted fixing part) provided on the wall surface 504a to which a controller fixing part 124 (see Figure 3) is fixed, and a cover-mounted fixing part 224 provided on the wall surface 504a to which a second fixing part 132 (see Figure 3) is fixed. The controller-mounted fixing part 214 has a rib 214a and a pin 214b located at the tip of the rib 214a. The controller-mounted fixing part 214 and the cover-mounted fixing part 224 are connected via a connecting part 250. The connecting part 250 is a rib. Note that the controller-mounted fixing part 214 and the cover-mounted fixing part 224 may be directly connected without using the connecting part 250.

[0056] Furthermore, the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 includes a controller-mounted fixing part 212 provided on the wall surface 504a to which the controller fixing part 122 (see Figure 3) is fixed, and a controller-mounted fixing part 216 provided on the wall surface 504a to which the controller fixing part 126 (see Figure 3) is fixed. The vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 also includes a cover-mounted fixing part 222 provided on the wall surface 504a to which the first fixing part 136 (see Figure 3) is fixed. Thus, the controller-mounted fixing parts 212, 214, and 216 are used to fix the controller 120, and the cover-mounted fixing parts 222 and 224 are used to fix the cover 130.

[0057] Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the wall surface 504a and the controller 120 with the cover 130 removed from the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 4, the controller 120 has controller fixing parts 124 and 126 at the front end 120a and a controller fixing part 122 at the lower end 120c.

[0058] The controller fixing parts 122, 124, and 126 are fixed to the wall surface 504a. The controller fixing parts 122, 124, and 126 are exposed to the floor space side when the cover 130 is attached. The controller fixing parts 122 and 124 are exposed within the outer shape of the cover 130, while the controller fixing part 126 is exposed outside the outer shape of the cover 130.

[0059] As shown in Figure 3, the base end of the controller mounting portion 216 is fixed to the wall surface 504a, and the controller 120 is located to the right in the vehicle width direction of the base end of the controller mounting portion 216, and the controller 120 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the wall surface 504a (see Figure 6(a)). In addition, the controller mounting portion 124 is separated from the wall surface 504a and faces the positioning portion 133 of the cover 130.

[0060] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the cover 130 and pedal 110 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 5, the pedal mechanism 109 includes a pedal 110 and a pedal support 111. The pedal 110 is located in the footwell space and is movable between a first position P1 on the rear side of the vehicle and a second position P2 on the front side of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 5, the portion (at least a part) between the first fixing portion 136 and the controller fixing portion 122 of the cover 130 is located above the position of the pedal 110 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. The distance between the cover 130 and the pedal 110 is shortest at the first position P1 and longest at the second position P2.

[0061] The pedal mechanism 109 is for the brake that activates the parking brake, and the pedal 110 is movable between a first position P1 and a second position P2. The first position P1 is the brake activated position, and the second position P2 is the brake deactivated position. When driving, the pedal 110 is normally in the second position P2.

[0062] The pedal mechanism 109 may be for a clutch pedal used in a manual transmission vehicle. If the pedal mechanism 109 is for a clutch pedal, when the pedal 110 is in the first position P1, the clutch provided between the power source and the transmission having multiple gears is fully engaged, resulting in a power transmission state between the power source and the transmission. When the pedal 110 is in the second position P2, the clutch is disengaged (separated), resulting in a power non-transmission state between the power source and the transmission. When the pedal 110 is between the first position P1 and the second position P2, the clutch engagement force is configured to increase as the pedal 110 approaches the first position P1, thereby increasing the amount of power transmitted between the power source and the transmission.

[0063] Figure 6(a) is a cross-sectional view of the cover 130 and controller 120 shown in Figure 2(a) from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 6(a), the positioning part 133 is positioned between the controller fixing part 124 and the wall surface 504a. The controller fixing part 124 is part of the controller 120, as described above.

[0064] Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view of the modified cover 130 and controller 120 as seen from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 6(b), the positioning portion 133 is positioned between the engaging portion 624 and the wall surface 504a. The engaging portion 624 is not part of the controller 120, but is a part of a convex member 614 that protrudes from the wall surface 504a, and is a plate-like portion that extends in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the vehicle. This engaging portion 624 extends from the wall surface 504a and is located in the same position as the controller fixing portion 124.

[0065] Figure 7(a) is a rear view of the controller 120 and cover 130 of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 7(a), the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 is inclined to rise as it moves towards the footwell space on its right side.

[0066] Figure 7(b) is a schematic view of the cover 130 of Figure 7(a) from above. As shown in Figure 7(b), the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 protrudes significantly toward the foot space as it moves forward.

[0067] The air vent 142 is inclined to protrude into the foot space as it goes upwards. As a result, the occupant's legs can move upward along the inclination of the lower surface 131b behind the opening 138 of the cover 130, and then be guided further away from the controller 120 along the air vent 142 of the duct projection 140, thereby preventing the occupant's legs from approaching the controller 120.

[0068] In this embodiment, the air outlet 142 of the duct projection 140 is inclined to protrude into the foot space as it goes upward, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the direction in which the duct projection 140 extends may be toward the foot space as it goes upward. In this configuration as well, the occupant's legs are guided to the side of the duct projection 140 and are prevented from moving toward the controller 120.

[0069] The pedal mechanism 109 is located on the right side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100. As mentioned above, the pedal mechanism 109 is used as a parking brake. The pedal mechanism 109 may also be a clutch pedal.

[0070] Next, the process of attaching the controller 120 and cover 130 of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 will be explained with reference to Figures 2 and 5.

[0071] The controller fixing part 122 is attached to the controller fixing part 212 by bolts 522, the controller fixing part 126 is attached to the controller fixing part 216 by bolts 526, and the pin 214b of the controller fixing part 214 is inserted into the hole 124a of the controller fixing part 124. This mounts the controller 120 to the wall surface 504a.

[0072] Next, the cover 130 is moved so that, looking from the foot space side, it covers the foot space side of the space where the controller 120 is to be placed, and the controller fixing part 214 is located within the opening 134 of the cover 130.

[0073] Next, the cover 130 is placed over the bottom of the controller 120, and the positioning part 133 is hooked onto the controller fixing part 124. In other words, the positioning part 133 is positioned (temporarily fixed) to the controller fixing part 124. Specifically, the cover 130 is placed over the bottom of the controller 120 from below or from the foot space side so that, when viewed from the foot space side, it covers the foot space side of the space where the controller 120 is placed, and the controller fixing part 124 is positioned within the opening 134 of the cover 130.

[0074] At this time, when the cover 13 is moved backward, the edge of the opening 134 (including the second fixing part) and the controller fixing part 214 come into contact in the front-rear direction, thus restricting the movement of the cover 130. At that time, since the controller fixing part 124 is fixed to the controller fixing part 214, a part of the controller fixing part 124 is located on the foot space side of the positioning part 133, so the movement of the cover 130 is also restricted by the controller fixing part 124. Then, the first fixing part 136 is attached to the cover fixing part 222 with bolts 536.

[0075] Subsequently, with the cover 130 in position, the second fixing part 132 is attached to the cover-to-fixing part 224 with bolts 532. At this time, the movement of the cover 130 is restricted by the first fixing part 136 and the positioning part 133. In this embodiment, the first fixing part 136, which is located at the rear of the vehicle and provides more space in the footwell, is fixed before the second fixing part 132. This makes the fixing work of the cover 130 easier compared to the case where the second fixing part 132 is fixed before the first fixing part 136.

[0076] As described above, according to this embodiment, when fixing the cover 130 to the wall surface 504a, the positioning part 133 is positioned on the controller 120 or the part to be fixed to the controller, thereby restricting the movement of the cover 130, making it easier to fix the cover 130.

[0077] Subsequently, with the cover 130 positioned on the wall surface 504a, the second fixing portion 132 of the cover 130 is fixed to the cover-to-fixing portion 224. This is particularly suitable when the cover 130 is to be installed from the foot space side during maintenance. Alternatively, the second fixing portion 132 may be fixed before the first fixing portion 136 to position the cover 130 relative to the wall surface 504a.

[0078] In this embodiment, the cover 130 was attached with the controller 120 mounted on the wall surface 504a. However, it is also possible to fix the cover 130 to the wall surface 504a before attaching the controller 120, and then insert the controller 120 from above between the wall surface 504a and the cover 130 to fix the controller 120 to the wall surface 504a.

[0079] In such a configuration, it is preferable to provide a projection (see Figure 6(b)) on the vehicle interior side of the positioning portion 133 at the controller fixing portion.

[0080] Furthermore, since the rear member 506a of the instrument panel is provided behind the controller 120 in the vehicle, it is difficult for the occupant's legs to move forward into the footwell space.

[0081] As shown in Figure 6(a), the positioning part 133 is positioned between the controller fixing part 124 of the controller 120 and the wall surface 504a, so that the positioning part 133 of the cover 130 catches on the controller fixing part 124 of the controller 120, making it difficult for the cover 130 to move into the foot space.

[0082] Even with the cover 130 attached to the wall surface 504a, the controller fixing part 126 is exposed to the floor space side, so by loosening the fixing of the controller fixing part 126, the fixing of the controller 120 can be loosened and the position of the controller 120 can be adjusted.

[0083] Since the controller fixing parts 122 and 124 are exposed through the openings 138 and 134, the controller 120 can be adjusted by loosening its fixing without having to make the outer shape of the cover 130 smaller. In addition, at the positions of the controller fixing parts 122 and 124, the space between the cover 130 and the wall surface 504a is in communication with the space at the base of the device through the openings 138 and 134 of the cover 130, thus improving the heat dissipation of the controller 120.

[0084] Because of the second fixing part 132, the rigidity of the cover 130 is increased, and deformation of the cover 130 is suppressed.

[0085] Since the controller fixing part 214 and the cover fixing part 224 are connected, the rigidity supporting the controller 120 and cover 130 is increased. As a result, the controller 120 and cover 130 can be stably supported. In addition, even if an occupant's leg touches the cover 130, the displacement of the cover 130 is restricted, making it easier to protect the controller 120.

[0086] Since the positioning part 133 is located in front of the first fixing part 136, the positioning part 133 is located further back, and the cover 130 can be positioned simply by hooking it at the back, making it easy to fix the cover 130 in place.

[0087] As shown in Figure 7(a), the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 is inclined to rise as it approaches the footwell. This makes it difficult for the occupant's legs to hit the cover 130 when moving the pedal 110 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, allowing for easy operation of the pedal 110. At the same time, even when the occupant's legs approach the lower surface 131b of the cover 130, they can be guided in the direction away from the controller 120 (towards the footwell, upper right of the page) along the inclination of the lower surface 131b.

[0088] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(b), the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 protrudes significantly toward the footwell as it moves forward. Therefore, when the pedal 110 is in the second position P2 and the occupant's legs approach the controller 120, the occupant's legs can be guided toward the controller 120 (see arrow in Figure 7(b)).

[0089] Furthermore, since the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 protrudes significantly toward the footwell as it moves forward, when the pedal 110 is in the second position P2 and the occupant's legs move closer to the controller 120, the occupant's legs can be guided away from the controller 120.

[0090] As shown in Figure 2(a), the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 is sloped upward as it moves forward, making it less likely for shoes to come into contact with it compared to a case where the lower surface 131b of the cover 130 is at the same height front to back.

[0091] (Second example) Figure 8 is an enlarged side view of the controller 320 and cover 230 of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is an enlarged side view showing the configuration of the cover 230 in Figure 8 before installation. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the interior unit 504 has a wall surface 504a.

[0092] The vehicle electrical component covering structure 200 includes controller fixing parts 212 and 216 (see Figure 2(b)) provided on the wall surface 504a. The vehicle electrical component covering structure 200 does not have the cover fixing part 224 shown in Figure 2(b). Instead of the controller fixing part 214 shown in Figure 2(b), the vehicle electrical component covering structure 200 has the cover fixing part 314 shown in Figure 8. The cover fixing part 314 is the part that is engaged by the positioning part 232.

[0093] The vehicle electrical component covering structure 200 includes a controller 320 as a predetermined electrical component mounted on a wall surface 504a that constitutes the footwell space of the vehicle, a cover 230 that covers at least a part of the controller 320, and a pedal 110.

[0094] The controller 320 controls the drive mechanism within the indoor unit 504 of the aforementioned air conditioning system and is fixed to the wall surface 504a of the indoor unit 504. The controller 320 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the wall surface 504a. The controller 320 has two controller fixing parts 122 and 126 fixed to the wall surface 504a. Of these, the controller fixing part 126 is positioned outside the area covered by the cover 230 and is exposed to the floor space side. Note that the controller 320 of the second embodiment does not have the controller fixing part 124 that the controller 120 of the first embodiment had.

[0095] Figure 10(a) is a cross-sectional view of the area around the cover 230 and controller 320 shown in Figure 8, viewed from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 10(a), the positioning unit 232 is positioned between the controller 320 and the wall surface 504a.

[0096] Figure 10(b) is a cross-sectional view of the area around the cover 230 and controller 320 in a modified vehicle electrical component covering structure, as seen from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 10(b), the positioning portion 232 may be positioned between the engaging portion 724 and the wall surface 504a. The engaging portion 724 is not part of the controller 120, but is a part of a convex member 725 extending from the wall surface 504a, and is a plate-shaped portion that extends in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the vehicle.

[0097] The cover 230 has a positioning part 232 that rotatably positions the cover 230 relative to the wall surface 504a, and a first fixing part 236 that is fixed to the wall surface 504a. The positioning part 232 is located at the front, and the first fixing part 236 is located at the rear. The positioning part 232 and the first fixing part 236 are positioned on the wall surface 504a at a distance from each other in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and fixed on the front and rear sides of the vehicle, respectively. The controller 320 is located between the positioning part 232 and the first fixing part 236. The cover 230 covers the controller 320 from the positioning part 232 side to the first fixing part 236 side. That is, the cover 230 covers the controller 320 from the front end 118a to the rear end 118b.

[0098] Furthermore, the cover 230 does not cover the top of the controller 320, but covers the bottom of the controller 320. Alternatively, the cover 230 could cover the entire controller 320 from top to bottom.

[0099] Furthermore, similar to the first embodiment, the lower surface 231b of the cover 230 is inclined to rise as it moves forward. The cover 230 is located above the first position P1 and the second position P2 of the pedal 110. The lower surface 231b of the cover 230 is inclined to rise as it moves towards the footwell. The lower surface 231b of the cover 230 protrudes significantly towards the footwell as it moves forward.

[0100] Furthermore, this embodiment differs in that the cover 230 is rotatable. The cover 230 is positioned away from the wall surface 504a so as not to interfere with the controller 320 when it rotates via the positioning part 232. The positioning part 232 is positioned so as to be rotatable on the wall surface 504a, that is, rotatable relative to the cover-fixed part 314.

[0101] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cover 230 of Figure 8, viewed from the front side. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the cover 230 of Figure 8, viewed from the back side. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the cover 230 has a cover body 231 and a positioning portion 232. The cover body 231 and the positioning portion 232 are continuous. The cover body 231 is formed to bulge out to the right side in the vehicle width direction (towards the viewer in this paper). The cover body 231 has an upper surface 231a, a lower surface 231b below the upper surface 231a, and a cover leg portion 237 above the upper surface 231a. The positioning portion 232 has a positioning recess 234. The positioning portion 232 is located to the left of the cover body 231 in the vehicle width direction.

[0102] In Figure 8, the controller 320 comprises a controller body 116 and a bracket 317. The bracket 317 comprises a bracket body 318 and controller fixing parts 122 and 126. The controller fixing part 126 extends forward from the front end 318a of the bracket body 318 and is fixed to the controller-mounted fixing part 216 by a bolt 526. The controller fixing part 122 extends downward from the lower end 318c of the bracket body 318 and is fixed to the controller-mounted fixing part 212 by a bolt 522. The cover 230 does not cover the entire bracket body 318 from the front end 318a to the rear end 318b, but covers the rear and lower sides of the bracket body 318. The first fixing part 236 of the cover 230 is fixed to the cover-mounted fixing part 222 by a bolt 636.

[0103] Next, we will describe how to attach the cover 230 of the vehicle electrical component covering structure 200. The controller fixing part 122 is attached to the controller fixing part 212 with bolts 522, and the controller fixing part 126 is attached to the controller fixing part 216 with bolts 526. This attaches the controller 120 to the wall surface 504a.

[0104] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the positioning portion 232 of the cover 230 is brought closer to the cover-fixed portion 314. Then, as shown in Figure 8, the cover 230 is positioned to cover the lower part of the controller 320, the positioning portion 232 is hooked onto the cover-fixed portion 314, and it is rotated clockwise. Then, the first fixing portion 236 is attached to the cover-fixed portion 222 with bolts 636.

[0105] As described above, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the positioning part 232 is positioned on the wall surface 504a, restricting the movement of the controller 320, and the first fixing part 236 is fixed to the wall surface 504a, making it easy to fix the cover 230. This is particularly suitable when the cover 230 is to be installed from the foot space side during maintenance.

[0106] As shown in Figure 10(a), the positioning unit 232 is positioned between the controller 320 and the wall surface 504a, so that the cover 230 catches on the controller 320, making it difficult for the cover 230 to move into the foot space.

[0107] As shown in Figure 8, even when the cover 230 is attached to the wall surface 504a, the controller fixing part 126 is exposed to the foot space side, so the position of the controller 320 can be adjusted by loosening the bolt 526 of the controller fixing part 126.

[0108] Since the lower surface 231b of the cover 230 is inclined to rise as it moves towards the footwell, it makes it less likely for the occupant's legs to hit the cover 230 when moving the pedal 110 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the pedal 110 can be operated easily. In addition, since the lower surface 231b of the cover protrudes significantly towards the footwell as it moves forward, it can guide the occupant's legs away from the controller 320 when the pedal 110 is in the second position P2 and the occupant's legs move closer to the controller 320.

[0109] The lower surface 231b of the cover 230 is sloped upward as it moves forward, making it less likely for shoes to come into contact with it compared to a case where the lower surface 231b of the cover 230 is at the same height front to back.

[0110] As shown in Figure 8, since the positioning portion 232 of the cover 230 is rotatably positioned on the wall surface 504a, the cover 230 can be easily attached while rotating the cover 230 even though the first fixing portion 236 is not fixed.

[0111] Compared to the first embodiment, the controller 320 is more exposed, making it easier to retrofit the controller 320 after the cover 230 is installed. Also, when retrofitting the controller 320, the cover 230 can be moved from the foot space side to the wall surface 504a, and the positioning part 232 can be engaged with the cover-fixed part 314 to position the cover 230.

[0112] In the second embodiment, since the second fixing portion 132 (fastening portion) described in the first embodiment is absent, the cover 230 is more prone to displacement, making the role of the cover leg portion 137 even more important.

[0113] (Variation 1) In the first or second embodiment, the portion corresponding to the duct projection 140 can be replaced with a component other than the duct projection 140 that constitutes the indoor unit 504 of the air conditioning system, or with other in-vehicle components or a combination thereof.

[0114] (Modification 2) In the first or second embodiment, the vehicle electrical component covering structure 100 had all of the following: the duct projection 140, the rear member 506a, and the pedal mechanism 109. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may not include the duct projection 140. Even in this configuration, the controllers 120 and 320 can be protected as long as the rear member 506a is located behind the controllers 120 and 320, and the pedal mechanism 109 is provided adjacent to the footwell side of the covers 130 and 230 that cover the controllers 120 and 320.

[0115] (Variation 3) If the pedal mechanism 109 is positioned adjacent to the footwell side of the controllers 120 and 320, and it is difficult for the occupant's legs to enter the controllers 120 and 320 side, the covers 130 and 230 may be omitted, or the covers 130 and 230 may be configured to cover only the rear or bottom surface of the controllers 120 and 320, or only those surfaces.

[0116] (Modification 4) If the crew's legs may come into contact with the top of controllers 120 and 320, it is preferable to configure the controllers 120 and 320 to be covered by covers 130 and 230.

[0117] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0118] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented by freely combining the inventions described in the claims and examples, regardless of the dependency relationships of the claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0119] This invention can be used in covering structures for vehicle electrical components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 100... Covering structure for vehicle electrical components 110...Pedal mechanism 110...Pedal 111...Pedal support section 116…Controller body 117…Controller bracket 118…Bracket body 118a...front end 118b…rear end 118c…lower end 120... Controller (electrical unit) 122, 124, 126... Controller mounting parts (electrical equipment mounting parts) 124a…hole 126... Controller fixing part 130...cover 131a...Top surface 131b…Bottom surface 132…Second fixed part (fixed part) 133... Positioning part 134...Aperture 136...First fixed part (fixed part) 137... Cover leg 138...Aperture 139…lower end 140...Duct protrusion 142...Air outlet 200... Covering structure for vehicle electrical components 212, 214, 216... Controller fixing parts 214a... Rib 214b... pin 222, 224... Cover fixing part 230...cover 231...Cover body 231a...Top surface 231b…Bottom surface 232...Positioning section 234…recess 236...First fixed part (fixed part) 237... Cover leg 250...Connection part 314... Covered fixing part 317...Bracket 318…Bracket body 318a...front end 318b…rear end 318c…lower end 320... Controller (electrical components) 500... Front structure of the vehicle 502...Dash panel 504...Indoor Unit 504a...Wall surface 506…Instrument Panel 506a...Rear member 508... Floor panel 522, 526, 532, 536... bolts 600... Duct 614...Convex member

Claims

1. A predetermined electrical component is mounted on the wall surface that constitutes the footwell space of the vehicle, A vehicle electrical component covering structure comprising a cover that covers at least a part of the electrical component, The aforementioned cover is A positioning unit for positioning the cover relative to the electrical component or the wall surface, A vehicle electrical component covering structure characterized by having a fixing part that is fixed to the wall surface.

2. The aforementioned electrical components are arranged at a predetermined distance from the wall surface. The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning portion of the cover is positioned between the electrical component and the wall surface.

3. The electrical component has an electrical component fixing part fixed to the wall surface, The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical component fixing portion is exposed to the foot space while the cover is attached to the wall surface.

4. The electrical component has an electrical component fixing part fixed to the wall surface, The cover further has an opening formed near the positioning portion, The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical component fixing portion of the electrical component is exposed to the footwell space through the opening of the cover.

5. The fixing part of the cover is, A first fixing part fixed to the wall surface, The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 4, further comprising a second fixing portion formed around the opening and fixed to the wall surface.

6. The covering structure for the vehicle's electrical components is, The electrical equipment fixing part is provided on the wall surface and to which the electrical equipment fixing part is fixed, The wall surface is provided with a cover-fixing portion to which the second fixing portion is fixed, and the following are further provided: The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrical component fixing portion and the cover fixing portion are connected.

7. The aforementioned wall surface forms the side surface of the foot space, The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the positioning portion of the cover is located in front of the first fixing portion.

8. The vehicle electrical component covering structure further includes a pedal located in the footwell space that is movable between a first position on the rear side of the vehicle and a second position on the front side of the vehicle. At least a portion of the cover is located above the space between the first position and the second position. The lower surface of the cover is sloped upward as it moves towards the foot space, The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 7, characterized in that the lower surface of the cover protrudes significantly toward the footwell space as it moves forward.

9. The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower surface of the cover is inclined to rise as it moves forward.

10. The positioning part of the cover rotatably positions the cover relative to the wall surface or the electrical component, The vehicle electrical component covering structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover is separated from the wall surface so as not to interfere with the electrical component when it rotates via the positioning portion.

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