Automotive modules

Abstract

This provides a means to perform automobile assembly work more efficiently. [Solution] The automotive module A, which is an assembly part for an automobile, integrates a main body 10 that functions as a component of the automobile (chassis, body, exterior material, interior material, etc.) and a conductive part 20 that functions as a power line and / or signal line required for driving the automobile. This eliminates the need to separately attach the conductive part during the automobile manufacturing process. Furthermore, by using a conductive part 20 in a form that goes beyond the conventional concept of wire harnesses (bundle-shaped, cable-shaped) (plate-shaped, sheet-shaped, film-shaped, unbundled, etc.), any method (snap-in, housing-type, embedded type, press-molded type, etc.) can be used for integration with the main body 10.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automobile module for performing automobile assembly work more efficiently.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, for automobile assembly work, a method has been considered in which a vehicle is divided into a plurality of modules, each module is assembled in parallel on a sub-line, and then assembled into one vehicle on the main line. And each operation is being promoted to be automated using robots. For example, members such as wire harnesses, which are in a bundled shape and have branch points, are difficult to handle by robots because they have flexibility and their shapes are complex, and it has been considered difficult to automate the transportation work and the assembly work. Therefore, as shown in Non-Patent Document 1 below, technological development aiming to replace the wire harness installation work with robots has been progressing.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the approach of the above-described technological development remains at the idea of simply replacing the manual wire harness assembly work with robots, and does not involve a dramatic change in idea.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of performing automobile assembly work more efficiently.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention, made to solve the above problems, is an automotive module which is an assembly part of an automobile, and is characterized in that it has at least a main body which functions as a component of the automobile, and a conductive part which functions as a power line and / or signal line required for controlling the automobile, and the main body and the conductive part are integrated together. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, automobile assembly work can be performed more efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram (1) of an embodiment of an automotive module according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram (2) of an embodiment of an automotive module according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram (3) of an embodiment of an automotive module according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Examples]

[0010] <1> Overall structure (Figure 1) The automotive module according to the present invention (hereinafter also simply referred to as "module") is a unit that constitutes an assembly part of an automobile. The module according to the present invention is configured to include at least a main body and a conductive part. The details of each part are explained below.

[0011] <2> Main body (Figure 1) The main body is a component that functions as a building block of an automobile. In the present invention, the type, shape, etc. of the automobile are not particularly limited. Also, in the present invention, the main body part includes all members constituting the automobile, and includes, for example, members belonging to at least any one of a chassis, a body, exterior materials, interior materials, and electrical components.

[0012] (1) Chassis In the present invention, the chassis refers to a part related to the basic skeleton or basic structure of the automobile. The chassis includes a frame (a perimeter frame, a ladder frame), an engine, a transmission, a drive shaft, a differential, a steering gear, a suspension, etc.

[0013] (2) Body In the present invention, the body refers to a part related to a part of the appearance or exterior of the automobile. The body includes a fender, an upper cowl support, an inner panel, a toe board, a cowl top, a roof panel, a trunk lid, a back panel, a core support, a front pillar, a step, a center pillar, a wheelhouse, a rocker pillar, a quarter panel, a side member, a floor panel, a trunk floor, a first member, a floor member, a rear cross member, a rear side member, etc.

[0014] (3) Exterior materials In the present invention, the exterior materials refer to parts attached as the exterior of the automobile. The exterior materials include various doors, various glasses, a bonnet, various grills, various wipers, a trunk lid, various bumpers, various lamps, a wiper, etc.

[0015] (4) Interior materials In the present invention, the interior materials refer to parts attached as the interior of the automobile. The interior materials include a floor carpet, a steering wheel, various switches, various pedals, various levers, a room mirror, a meter panel, a center console, a dashboard, etc. (5) Electrical components In the present invention, the electrical component refers to an electronic device equipped in an automobile. The electrical components include an ECU, a motor, various switches, various sensors, etc.

[0016] <3> Conductive part (Fig. 1) The conductive part is a member that functions as a power line and / or a signal line required for the control of an automobile. In the present invention, the "control" of an automobile includes various operations necessary for moving the automobile.

[0017] (1) Regarding the form of the conductive part In the present invention, the form of the conductive part is not particularly limited. For example, a plate shape, a sheet shape, a film shape, a cable shape, a bundled wire shape, a non-bundled wire shape, a product manufactured by press molding, a product manufactured by insert molding, a product manufactured by circuit printing, etc. can be adopted, and from these, a form suitable for integration with the main body part can be appropriately selected.

[0018] (2) Regarding the outer shape of the conductive part In the present invention, the outer shape of the conductive part is not particularly limited, and an outer shape suitable for integration with the main body part may be selected. For example, the outer shape of the conductive part may be made to conform to the shape of the accommodating part provided inside the main body part. In the present invention, it is not necessary to approximate the outer shape of the conductive part and the shapes of the power line and signal line constituting the same conductive part. It is also possible to configure a conductive part in such a way that a bare wire is sandwiched from above and below by a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped insulating material, presenting the outer shape of the plate or sheet, while the sandwiched wire bulges from the surface of the insulating material.

[0019] (3) Regarding the mechanical properties of the conductive part In the present invention, the mechanical properties (rigidity, flexibility, etc.) of the conductive part are not particularly limited, and mechanical properties suitable for integration with the main body part may be selected. For example, if the main body is a component that does not deform or move, it may not be necessary to require flexibility in the conductive part. Furthermore, if conductive parts are attached to the main body, it may be necessary to ensure high rigidity to resist external impacts.

[0020] <4> Method for integrating the main body and the conductive part. In the present invention, the method for integrating the main body and the conductive part is not particularly limited, and a suitable method can be selected according to the type of main body, the form of the conductive part, its external shape, mechanical properties, etc. For example, possible methods include providing a groove in the main body and fitting the conductive part into the groove, housing the conductive part in a cavity provided in the main body, embedding the conductive part inside the main body, or integrating the conductive part with the main body by press molding. Furthermore, regarding where within the main body the conductive part is integrated, possible configurations include attaching the conductive part to the outer surface of the main body or embedding the conductive part within the main body. Furthermore, in this invention, the end of the conductive part may be arranged so as to be flush with the surface of the main body. Furthermore, in this invention, the conductive part (such as an end) may be exposed from the main body and the conductive part may be integrated together. For example, if the conductive part has a shape similar to a so-called wire harness, the connector provided at the end of the conductive part may be left exposed from the main body. Furthermore, in the present invention, the position and exposure position of the conductive part relative to the main body are not particularly limited and may be on the front and back side, the flat bottom side, or the left and right side sides of the main body. Furthermore, in the present invention, the number of conductive parts integrated into the main body is not particularly limited, and multiple conductive parts may be stacked and arranged within the main body. Furthermore, in the present invention, the conductive part may be branched within the main body.

[0021] The automotive module shown in Figure 1 has a configuration in which a portion of the conductive part is housed inside the main body, with two ends of the conductive part, which is branched into two, exposed on the front side of the main body (the front side of the page in Figure 1), and one end of the other side of the conductive part exposed on the rear side of the main body (the back side of the page in Figure 1). Furthermore, in the automotive module shown in Figure 2, all conductive parts are housed inside the main body, and the connection surfaces of the three connectors 30a, 30b, and 30c, to which the ends of the conductive parts are connected, face upwards on the paper. The automotive module shown in Figure 3 is a diagram of the automotive module shown in Figure 2, but inverted vertically, with the connection surfaces of the three connectors 30a, 30b, and 30c facing the flat side (the bottom side of the paper in Figure 2).

[0022] <5> summary The automotive module according to the present invention provides at least one of the following effects. (1) By pre-integrating the main body and the conductive part, the process of separately attaching only the conductive part can be omitted in the automobile assembly process. (2) It is possible to reduce the number of parts that are difficult for robots to handle, such as conventional wire harnesses, and improve the efficiency of assembly work. (3) By using conductive parts in forms that go beyond the concept of bundled or cable-like components such as conventional wire harnesses (plate-like, sheet-like, film-like, unbundled, etc.), any method (snap-in, housing-type, embedded-type, press-molded, etc.) can be adopted for integration with the main body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] A: Automotive module 10: Main body 20: Conductive part 30: Connector

Claims

1. Automotive modules, which are assembly parts for automobiles, A main body that functions as a component of the aforementioned automobile, It has at least a conductive part that functions as a power line and / or signal line required for controlling the automobile, The main body and the conductive part are integrated into a single unit. Automotive module.

2. The main body is characterized in that it is the chassis, body, exterior material, interior material, or electrical component of the automobile. The automotive module according to claim 1.

3. The conductive portion is characterized in that it is plate-shaped. The automotive module according to claim 1.

4. The conductive part is characterized in that it is in the form of a sheet or a film. The automotive module according to claim 1.

5. The conductive portion is characterized by being non-bundled, The automotive module according to claim 1.

6. The conductive part is characterized in that it is a press-molded body. The automotive module according to claim 1.

7. At least a portion of the conductive part is fitted into the main body, The automotive module according to claim 1.

8. At least a portion of the conductive part is housed in the main body, The automotive module according to claim 1.

9. At least a portion of the conductive part is embedded in the main body, The automotive module according to claim 1.

10. A feature is that at least a portion of the conductive part is integrated with the main body by press molding. The automotive module according to claim 1.

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