ICR relay mounting structure

Abstract

To protect an ICR relay from damage due to a vehicle head-on collision while improving quietness in a cabin in a case where the ICR relay is mounted on a vehicle including a transverse engine.SOLUTION: In an ICR relay mounting structure, at least three accessories and an ICR relay are mounted on a side face on a vehicle front side in a transverse engine. The ICR relay is located within a triangle formed by connecting the front end points of the at least three accessories with each other as viewed in a vehicle front-rear direction, and is located on a vehicle rear side relative to a plane including the triangle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ICR (Inrush Current Reduction) relay mounting structure, and more particularly to an ICR relay mounting structure in a vehicle equipped with a transversely mounted engine. [Background technology]

[0002] The ICR relay is provided in a power supply path between a battery and a starter motor, and serves to suppress inrush current to the starter motor, for example, when the engine is restarted after an idling stop. Patent Document 1 discloses a related technique. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5218496 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, an ICR relay generates operating noise and vibration when switching (hereinafter, the operating noise and vibration may be referred to as "sound vibration"). From the viewpoint of improving the sound environment inside the vehicle cabin, it is desirable to suppress the transmission of this sound vibration to the vehicle body. One method for doing so is, for example, to mount an ICR relay on the side of the engine, which is a heavy object elastically supported by the vehicle body.

[0005] However, in the case of a transversely mounted engine, if the ICR relay is mounted on the rear side of the vehicle, the operating sound emitted from the ICR relay will enter the vehicle cabin, reducing the quietness inside the vehicle.On the other hand, if the ICR relay is mounted on the front side of the vehicle, the ICR relay may be damaged in the event of a frontal collision due to contact between the ICR relay and parts or components located further forward than the engine.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to protect the ICR relay from damage caused by a frontal collision of the vehicle while increasing the quietness in the vehicle cabin when the ICR relay is installed in a vehicle equipped with a transversely mounted engine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In an ICR relay mounting structure according to one aspect of the present invention, at least three accessories and an ICR relay are mounted on the vehicle front side of a transversely mounted engine. The ICR relay is located inside a triangle formed by connecting the front end points of the at least three accessories when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is located rearward of a plane including the triangle. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the above-described ICR relay mounting structure, it is possible to increase quietness in the vehicle cabin while protecting the ICR relay from damage caused by a frontal collision of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ICR relay mounting structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an ICR relay mounting structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ICR relay mounting structure according to an embodiment together with peripheral components. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view showing a main part of an ICR relay mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an ICR relay mounting structure S (hereinafter referred to as mounting structure S) according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, FR and RR indicate the front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, respectively, LH and RH indicate the left and right in the vehicle width direction, and UP and DN indicate the upper and lower in the vehicle vertical direction, respectively. In the following description, elements having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0011] 1 to 4, the mounting structure S according to the embodiment includes an engine 1, which is an internal combustion engine that drives a vehicle, and auxiliary devices, which are an alternator 2, an air conditioner compressor 3, a starter motor 4, and an ICR relay 5. The engine 1 is a transversely mounted engine disposed so that the crankshaft is parallel to the vehicle width direction.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the engine 1 is mainly composed of a cylinder block 6, a cylinder head 7 fixed to the upper surface of the cylinder block 6, and an oil pan 8 fixed to the lower surface of the cylinder block 6.

[0013] Oil pan 8 is upper oil pan 8 U And lower oil pan 8 L Equipped with lower oil pan 8 L Upper oil pan 8 U The upper oil pan 8 is placed to cover the opening at the bottom of the U It is attached to the upper oil pan 8 U A flange F is formed at the upper end of the cylinder block 6, and the flange F and a flange F formed at the lower end of the cylinder block 6 are fastened together by fasteners such as bolts (not shown).

[0014] A transmission TM is coupled to the end of the engine 1 on the left side of the vehicle. An air cleaner AC is disposed above the transmission TM, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. A throttle body SB is connected via a pipe to the downstream side of the air cleaner AC, and an intake manifold IM is connected to the downstream side of the throttle body SB. The downstream end of the intake manifold IM is connected to a cylinder head 7.

[0015] 3, a radiator RD and a radiator fan (not shown) provided on the rear side of the radiator RD are disposed on the vehicle front side of the engine 1. The radiator RD is made up of a radiator core Rc and upper tanks T U and lower tank T L The radiator RD is supported at its peripheral edge by a radiator core support (not shown). The tip of an air intake duct D is fastened and fixed to the upper end of the radiator core support.

[0016] 2 and 3, a coolant inlet 9 is formed on the side surface of the cylinder block 6 facing the front of the vehicle, the coolant inlet 9 communicating with the water jacket of the cylinder block 6. One end of a radiator hose 10 is connected to the coolant inlet 9. The other end of the radiator hose 10 is connected to a lower tank T of the radiator RD. L The radiator hose 10 is made of electrically insulating rubber or the like.

[0017] As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, an alternator 2 is mounted on the right end of the side surface of the cylinder block 6 facing the front of the vehicle. The alternator 2 is an AC generator that generates electricity when driven by the engine 1. The alternator 2 is connected via a cable to a battery (not shown), such as a lead storage battery. The battery is charged with the electricity generated by the alternator 2.

[0018] The air conditioner compressor 3 is mounted on the right end of the vehicle front side of the cylinder block 6, at a position lower than the mounting position of the alternator 2. The air conditioner compressor 3 is driven by the engine 1 and is a compressor that compresses refrigerant for a vehicle air conditioner (not shown).

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, an alternator pulley 2p is provided at an end of the rotating shaft of the alternator 2, and a compressor pulley 3p is provided at an end of the rotating shaft of the air conditioner compressor 3. A crankshaft pulley is provided at an end of the crankshaft (not shown) (the end on the right side of the vehicle in this embodiment). A transmission belt V such as a V-ribbed belt is wound around the alternator pulley 2p, the compressor pulley 3p, and the crankshaft pulley. This allows the rotational driving force of the crankshaft to be transmitted to the alternator 2 and the air conditioner compressor 3 via the pulleys and the transmission belt V.

[0020] 1 to 4, a starter motor 4 is mounted on the end of the cylinder block 6 on the vehicle left side of the vehicle front side. The starter motor 4 is disposed in a position lower than the mounting position of the alternator 2 and higher than the air conditioner compressor 3. The starter motor 4 is a device that starts the engine 1 by receiving power from a battery, and applies a starting torque to the crankshaft by driving a ring gear (not shown) connected to the crankshaft.

[0021] Thus, in the mounting structure S according to this embodiment, the three accessories 2, 3, and 4 and the ICR relay 5 are mounted on the side of the engine 1 on the vehicle front side. Note that the term "accessories" refers to devices provided around the engine 1 and driven by the engine 1, or devices that perform functions necessary to operate the engine 1. The former (devices provided around the engine and driven by the engine) include the alternator 2, the air conditioner compressor 3, as well as a water pump, an oil pump, a fuel pump, a power steering pump, and the like. The latter (devices provided around the engine and performing functions necessary to operate the engine) includes the starter motor 4, and the like.

[0022] Here, as shown in FIG. 2, a point constituting the part 2f of the alternator 2 located at the most forward side of the vehicle is defined as a first front end point P1. Similarly, points constituting the parts 3f, 4f of the air conditioner compressor 3 and the starter motor 4 located at the most forward side of the vehicle are defined as a second front end point P2 and a third front end point P3, respectively. In the mounting structure S, the ICR relay 5 is located inside a triangle A formed by connecting the first front end point P1, the second front end point P2, and the third front end point P3 in a vehicle longitudinal direction view. Note that being located inside the triangle A does not necessarily mean that the entire ICR relay 5 is included inside the triangle A in a vehicle longitudinal direction view, but also means that a part of the ICR relay 5 overlaps with the triangle A. In addition, the ICR relay 5 is located on the vehicle rear side of a plane including the triangle A, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0023] The ICR relay 5 is provided in a power supply path between a battery (not shown) and the starter motor 4, and serves to suppress an inrush current to the starter motor 4 when the engine 1 is started or when the engine 1 is restarted after an idling stop. As shown in FIG. 2, the ICR relay 5 includes a relay body 51, two terminals (not shown) protruding from the relay body 51, and a resin terminal cover 52 covering the two terminals. The relay body 51 includes a resistor connected in parallel between the two terminals and a short-circuit relay for short-circuiting the resistor. One of the two terminals is electrically connected to the starter motor 4, and the other is electrically connected to a battery (not shown) via a cable 11. As shown in FIG. 3, a radiator hose 10 is disposed on the vehicle front side of the cable 11. The radiator hose 10 is disposed so as to overlap the cable 11 when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0024] 2, the ICR relay 5 is attached to the side surface of the cylinder block 6 via a bracket 53. The bracket 53 is fastened to the side surface of the cylinder block 6 in the vicinity of a flange F protruding from the side surface of the cylinder block 6.

[0025] The effects of this embodiment will be described below.

[0026] (1) During a frontal collision (head-on collision), a load is input from the front of the vehicle to the front of the body, causing parts or components such as the radiator RD, which are located further forward of the engine 1, to move toward the rear of the vehicle and come into contact with parts mounted on the side of the engine 1.

[0027] According to the mounting structure S, the ICR relay 5 is located inside a triangle A formed by connecting the front end points P1, P2, and P3 of the three auxiliaries 2, 3, and 4 when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is located on the rear side of the plane including the triangle A. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision, a part or member moving toward the rear of the vehicle contacts the three auxiliaries 2, 3, and 4 before the ICR relay 5. Then, due to contact and interference with the auxiliaries 2, 3, and 4, the part or member is prevented from moving further toward the rear of the vehicle (entering the inner area of ​​the triangle A). That is, according to the mounting structure S, a part or member moving toward the rear of the vehicle is less likely to contact the ICR relay 5 than when the entire ICR relay 5 is located outside the triangle A. This makes it possible to protect the ICR relay 5 from damage caused by a frontal collision of the vehicle. Note that, for example, if the alternator 2 has a plurality of first front end points P1, a separate triangle A can be defined for each of them, and the above effect can be achieved as long as the ICR relay 5 is located inside any of the plurality of triangles A defined in this way. The same applies when there are a plurality of second front end points P2 or when there are a plurality of third front end points P3.

[0028] (2) In the mounting structure S, the three accessories mounted on the side surface on the front side of the vehicle include the starter motor 4. Therefore, the length of the cable 11 electrically connecting the ICR relay 5 and the starter motor 4 can be shortened compared to a case where the starter motor 4 is not included in the three accessories.

[0029] (3) In the mounting structure S, the radiator hose 10 connected to the engine 1 is mounted on the vehicle front side of the cable 11 so as to overlap with the cable 11 when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, even if a part or member moving toward the rear of the vehicle attempts to come into contact with the cable 11 during a frontal collision, the radiator hose 10 is interposed between the part or member and the cable 11 to protect the cable 11. Specifically, the radiator hose 10 buffers the load input to the cable 11 from the receding part or member, while more reliably maintaining electrical insulation between the part or member and the cable 11.

[0030] The radiator hose 10 may be mounted on the vehicle front side of the ICR relay 5 so as to overlap the ICR relay 5 when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, or so as to overlap both the ICR relay 5 and the cable 11. In this manner, the radiator hose 10 can more reliably maintain electrical insulation between the ICR relay 5 and the part or member that is retracting while buffering the load input to the ICR relay 5 from the part or member that is retracting.

[0031] (4) In the mounting structure S, the ICR relay 5 is attached to the side surface of the cylinder block 6 via a bracket 53, and the bracket 53 is fastened to the side surface near a flange F protruding from the side surface of the cylinder block 6. Since the vicinity of the flange F of the cylinder block 6 has higher rigidity than other portions of the side surface of the engine 1, the supporting rigidity of the ICR relay 5 can be increased compared to the case where the bracket 53 is fastened to other portions.

[0032] If a rib is provided on the side surface of the cylinder block 6, the bracket 53 may be fastened in the vicinity of the rib. In this case as well, the supporting rigidity of the ICR relay 5 can be increased.

[0033] The above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments, but also includes various modifications, changes, and alternative techniques that can be easily derived therefrom.

[0034] In the above embodiment, an alternator 2, an air conditioner compressor 3, and a starter motor 4 are shown as examples of three accessories mounted on the side of the engine 1, but the type of accessory is not particularly limited and may include any of the various accessories mentioned above (e.g., a power steering pump, etc.).

[0035] The number of accessories mounted on the vehicle front side of the engine 1 may be four or more. In this case, the ICR relay 5 may be disposed so as to be located inside any of triangles A formed by connecting the front end points of three accessories arbitrarily selected from the four or more accessories.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the engine 1 that drives the vehicle has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a case in which the ICR relay 5 is mounted on an electric vehicle or the like that has an engine dedicated to generating electricity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] S ICR relay mounting structure 1 Engine 10 Radiator hose F flange 2 Alternator (auxiliary) 3. Air conditioner compressor (auxiliary) 4 Starter motor (auxiliary) 5. ICR Relay 53 Bracket 11 Cable P1~P3 1st~3rd front end point (front end point) A triangle

Claims

1. At least three auxiliary devices selected from an alternator, an air conditioner compressor, a water pump, an oil pump, a fuel pump, a power steering pump, and a starter motor, and an ICR relay are mounted on the side of the transversely mounted engine on the vehicle front side, An ICR relay mounting structure in which the ICR relay is located inside a triangle formed by connecting the front end points of three of the auxiliaries, which are the parts that are located furthest forward of the vehicle when viewed from the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and is located rearward of the plane containing the triangle.

2. The three auxiliary devices include the starter motor for starting the engine, 2. The ICR relay mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the starter motor is electrically connected to the ICR relay via a cable.

3. 3. The ICR relay mounting structure as described in claim 2, wherein a radiator hose connected to the engine is arranged further forward of the vehicle than at least one of the ICR relay and the cable, and arranged so as to overlap with at least one of the ICR relay and the cable when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

4. the ICR relay is attached to a side surface of a cylinder block of the engine via a bracket, 4. The ICR relay mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is fastened to the side surface of the cylinder block in the vicinity of a flange or a rib protruding from the side surface of the cylinder block.

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