Arrangement structure of electronic component for vehicle

Abstract

In order to effectively utilize empty space in a vehicle (1), the present invention includes a first electronic component (EC1) provided in a space (14) that is at the upper part of a rear wheel house (11) at the rear of the vehicle and is between a body-side outer panel (12) and a body-side inner panel (13), and a bracket (2) for fixing the first electronic component to the body-side inner panel. The bracket (2) is formed in a hat shape having a top surface (21) in a cross-section following the horizontal direction (fig. 3), and the first electronic component (EC1) is fixed to the top surface (21).

Description

Layout structure of electronic components for vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement structure for vehicle electronic components, in which electronic components used in a vehicle are attached to an upper portion of a rear wheel house of the vehicle.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A power supply device arrangement structure for a vehicle is known in which a power supply device capable of storing electric power is arranged above a rear wheel house between an inner panel and a rear side panel (Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2011-183943 A

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional arrangement, the power supply unit is arranged between the inner panel and the rear side panel, which encroaches on passenger compartment space.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a layout structure for vehicle electronic components that can effectively utilize the available space in the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by fixing a first electronic component to the top surface of a bracket whose cross section is hat-shaped with a top surface, and by arranging the first electronic component via the bracket in the space between the body side outer panel and the body side inner panel above the rear wheel house at the rear of the vehicle.

[0007] According to the present invention, the available space in the vehicle can be effectively utilized.

[0008] 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a vehicle to which the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing only essential parts on the left side of the vehicle in a cross-section taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing only essential parts on the left side of the vehicle in a cross-section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2 . FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing only essential parts on the left side of the vehicle in a cross-section taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the exterior side toward the interior side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the interior side toward the exterior side. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing portion VI of FIG. 1 , with a body side outer panel removed. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing portion VII of FIG. 6, with a body side outer panel removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the periphery of a bracket and a seat belt retractor according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the interior side toward the exterior side. FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to the cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2 , illustrating the operation of the bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of a vehicle to which the vehicle electronic component layout structure according to the present invention is applied. This embodiment is an example in which the vehicle electronic component layout structure according to the present invention is applied to a wagon-type vehicle 1 having three rows of seats in the front-to-rear direction. In the following Figs. 1 to 9, arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow Rr indicates the rear of the vehicle, arrow LH indicates the left side of the vehicle, arrow RH indicates the right side of the vehicle, arrow Up indicates the top of the vehicle, and arrow Lw indicates the bottom of the vehicle.

[0010] In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, various electronic components (a first electronic component EC1, a second electronic component EC2, and a third electronic component EC3) used in the vehicle 1 are arranged in a space 14 between a body side outer panel 12 and a body side inner panel 13, above a rear wheel house 11 that extends along the outer periphery of the rear wheel 5. The electronic components arranged in this space 14 are not particularly limited as long as they are used in the vehicle 1, and examples thereof include an automobile control unit, an autonomous driving control unit, a fuel injection control unit, a power supply inverter unit, an electrical equipment control unit, and a USB (universal serial bus) terminal.

[0011] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1 , showing only essential parts on the left side of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 2 , the vehicle 1 of this embodiment has a body side outer panel 12 on the outermost side of the vehicle 1 (left side in Figure 2 ), and a body side inner panel 13 on the inner side (right side in Figure 2 ). The body side outer panel 12 and the body side inner panel 13 are joined together by welding or the like. In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, in the rear wheel house 11 of the rear wheels 5, one end of the rear wheel house outer panel 16 is welded to the body side outer panel 12, and the other end of the rear wheel house outer panel 16 is welded to the body side inner panel 13 and the rear wheel house inner panel 18. As a result, a space 14 is defined above the rear wheel house 11 by the body side outer panel 12 and the body side inner panel 13.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle 1 in front of the fuel filler 31 (the fuel lid position) for the internal combustion engine fuel as shown in FIG. 1 , corresponding to the position of the third-row seats. FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of portion VII in FIG. 6 , showing the portion VII with the body side outer panel 12 removed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 , a rear quarter trim 17 is attached to the interior side of the body side inner panel 13, and a small item storage holder 171 such as a cup holder is provided in the rear quarter trim 17. In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, a third electronic component EC3 consisting of a USB terminal is provided on one side of the small item storage holder 171, allowing occupants to use the third electronic component EC3 as a power source for charging a smartphone or the like.

[0013] In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the third electronic component EC3 is a USB terminal for supplying power, and therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, an electrically insulating plate 4 is provided in a position to close an opening 15 between the third electronic component EC3 and the first and second electronic components EC1 and EC2, which will be described later. This prevents the second electronic component EC2 or the first electronic component EC1 from coming into contact with the third electronic component EC3 and causing a short circuit during a side collision.

[0014] The vehicle 1 of this embodiment includes a bracket 2 for fixing the first electronic component EC1 and the second electronic component EC2 to a body side inner panel 13. Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the bracket 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the exterior side toward the interior side, and Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the bracket 2, viewed from the interior side toward the exterior side. The cross section of the bracket 2 shown in Fig. 2 is also a cross section taken along line II-II in Fig. 5A, and Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along line III-III in Fig. 2.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 5A , the bracket 2 of this embodiment has a generally flat top surface 21, three wall surfaces 22 continuous with three outer edges of the top surface 21, and three flanges 23 continuous with each of the three wall surfaces 22. As shown in Fig. 3 , the bracket 2 of this embodiment has a hat-shaped cross section along the horizontal direction, and the hat-shaped cross section has a recess 24. Strictly speaking, the bracket 2 of this embodiment does not have a hat-shaped cross section as a whole, but rather only has a hat-shaped main cross section along the horizontal direction, and as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B , the wall surfaces 22 and flanges 23 are not provided on the lower edge of the top surface 21.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 5A , the top surface 21 of the bracket 2 in this embodiment is formed with weight reduction holes 211 and a convex seating surface 212, and a first electronic component EC1 is fixed to the top surface 21 of the bracket 2 with a weld bolt 213 fixed to the convex seating surface. A second electronic component EC2 is fixed to a recess 24 of the bracket 2 with a hat-shaped cross section using bolts and nuts (not shown). As shown in Fig. 3 , the length L1 of the bracket 2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is longer than the length L2 of the first electronic component EC1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the first electronic component EC1 is fixed so as not to protrude from the top surface 21. The bracket 2 is sized so that the second electronic component EC2 can be appropriately accommodated in the recess 24.

[0017] Meanwhile, a weld bolt extending from the interior side to the exterior side is fixed to each of the three flanges 23, and the bracket 2 is fixed to the body side inner panel 13 by tightening a nut onto the weld bolt. These three weld bolts and nuts are referred to as bolts and nuts 25. The bracket 2 to which the first electronic component EC1 and the second electronic component EC2 are fixed is fixed to the body side inner panel 13 at a total of three points: two points in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle and two points in the top-to-bottom direction of the vehicle. In addition, an opening 15 is formed in the body side inner panel 13 at a position facing the bracket 2 or the second electronic component EC2.

[0018] 5A and 5B , the flange 23 of the bracket 2 is fixed to the interior-side surface of the body side inner panel 13 through the opening 15. That is, in the bracket 2 of this embodiment, the flange 23 is not fixed by abutting against the exterior-side surface of the body side inner panel 13 shown in Fig. 5A , but is fixed by abutting against the interior-side surface of the body side inner panel 13 shown in Fig. 5B . In other words, the top surface 21 of the bracket 2 is located on the exterior side of the opening 15, the flange 23 is located on the interior side of the opening 15, and the wall surface 22 is fixed in a position spanning the opening 15.

[0019] 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the function of the bracket 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to the cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. The diagram shows, from left to right, (a) → (b) → (c) → (d) the deformation states of the bracket 2, the first electronic component EC1, and the second electronic component EC2 when a side collision energy indicated by the black arrow acts on the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment. First, in the first stage (a) → (b) of the side collision, the first electronic component EC1 crushes to absorb the collision energy. In the second stage (b) → (c), the bracket 2 crushes to absorb the collision energy. In the final stage (c) → (d), the flange 23 is released from the body side inner panel 13 by the bolts and nuts 25.

[0020] The bolts and nuts 25 that secure the flange 23 to the body-side inner panel 13 come loose in this final stage (d) because the flange 23 is fixed by abutting against the interior-side surface of the body-side inner panel 13 shown in Fig. 5B. In other words, if the flange 23 were fixed by abutting against the exterior-side surface of the body-side inner panel 13 shown in Fig. 5A, the flange 23 would hit the body-side inner panel 13 in the final stage (d) in Fig. 9, and the bolts and nuts 25 would not come loose, resulting in a sudden increase in deceleration and acceleration during a side collision. In contrast, in this embodiment, the bolts and nuts 25 that secure the flange 23 to the body-side inner panel 13 come loose in the final stage (d), which suppresses a sudden increase in deceleration and acceleration during a side collision and is effective in preventing whiplash injury to the occupant.

[0021] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1, showing only the essential parts on the left side of the vehicle, and Fig. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing part VI in Fig. 1, with the body side outer panel removed. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the left rear wheel house outer panel 16 of this embodiment includes a main body portion 161 extending along the outer periphery of the rear wheel 5 and a support portion 162 extending from the main body portion 161 toward the upper side of the vehicle to support the filler tube 3. The fuel filler opening 31 at the tip of the filler tube 3 is fixed to the support portion 162, and a fuel lid (not shown) is provided on the body side outer panel 12.

[0022] Relative to the left rear wheel house outer panel 16 and filler tube 3, the bracket 2 of this embodiment is disposed higher than the filler tube 3 in the vehicle rear view shown in FIG. 4 . This makes it possible to prevent the filler tube 3 from interfering with the first electronic component EC1 and damaging the filler tube 3 during a rear collision. Furthermore, the bracket 2 of this embodiment is disposed in a position (see R in FIG. 4 ) where it overlaps with a part of the support portion 162 of the rear wheel house outer panel 16 in the vehicle width direction and vehicle up-down direction in the vehicle rear view shown in FIG. 4 . This makes it possible for the support portion 162 of the rear wheel house outer panel 16 to abut against the bracket 2 first during a rear collision or a side collision. As a result, it is possible to prevent the filler tube 3 from interfering with the first electronic component EC1 and damaging the filler tube 3.

[0023] 4, the first electronic component EC1 of this embodiment is disposed at a position where the minimum gap dimension L3 between the first electronic component EC1 and the body side outer panel 12 is smaller than the minimum gap dimension L4 between the filler tube 3 and the body side inner panel 13 (L3<L4). This reduces the amount of crushing of the filler tube 3 due to the reaction force of the first electronic component EC1 during a side collision.

[0024] 8 is a perspective view of the bracket 2 and the surrounding area of ​​the rear seat belt retractor 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the inside to the outside of the vehicle. The rear seat belt retractor 6 is housed inside a retractor opening 19 opened in a body side inner panel 13. The bracket 2 according to this embodiment is disposed near the rear of the vehicle of the retractor opening 19 in which the rear seat belt retractor 6 is provided. Therefore, in the event of a rear collision, the bracket 2, which is fixed at at least two points in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, functions as a tension rod, suppressing deformation of the opening 15 in the body side inner panel 13.

[0025] As described above, the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment includes, as shown in Fig. 2 , a first electronic component EC1 provided in the space 14 between the body side outer panel 12 and the body side inner panel 13, above the rear wheel house 11 at the rear of the vehicle, and the bracket 2 that fixes the first electronic component EC1 to the body side inner panel 13. The bracket 2 has a horizontal cross section (see Fig. 3 ) that is hat-shaped with a top surface 21, and the first electronic component EC1 is fixed to the top surface 21, thereby making it possible to effectively utilize the empty space in the space 14 between the body side outer panel 12 and the body side inner panel 13. Furthermore, in the event of a side collision, collision energy is absorbed in two stages: absorption of collision energy by the first electronic component EC1 collapsing (first stage, Figs. 9(a) → 9(b)), and absorption of collision energy by the bracket 2 collapsing (second stage, Figs. 9(b) → 9(c)). This increases the amount of collision energy absorption.

[0026] 2 and 3 , the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment has a second electronic component EC2, separate from the first electronic component EC1, arranged in a recess 24 with a hat-shaped cross section of the bracket 2, and an opening 15 formed in the body side inner panel 13 at a position facing the second electronic component EC2, thereby effectively utilizing the vacant space in the recess 24 of the bracket 2. Furthermore, because the opening 15 is formed at a position facing the second electronic component EC2, the second electronic component EC2 is prevented from colliding with the body side inner panel 13 and being crushed during a side collision (FIGS. 9(b) → 9(c)). This prevents a sudden increase in deceleration during a side collision, which is effective in preventing whiplash injuries to occupants.

[0027] 5A and 5B , in the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment, the bracket 2 has a flange 23, and the flange 23 is fixed to the interior surface of the body side inner panel 13 via the opening 15. Therefore, in the event of a side collision, the bracket 2 is crushed and then the flange 23 is released from its fixation to the body side inner panel 13 (FIGS. 9(c)->9(d)), thereby preventing the flange 23 of the bracket 2 from hitting and being crushed against the body side inner panel 13. This prevents a sudden increase in deceleration and acceleration during a side collision, which is effective in preventing whiplash injuries to occupants.

[0028] 6 , the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment includes a rear wheel house outer panel 16 that includes a main body portion 161 extending along the outer periphery of the rear wheel 5 and a support portion 162 that extends from the main body portion 161 upwardly of the vehicle and supports the filler tube 3, the bracket 2 is formed such that a length L1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is longer than a length L2 of the first electronic component EC1 in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L1>L2, see FIG. 3 ), and the bracket 2 is positioned so as to overlap with the support portion 162 (see R in FIG. 4 ) in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction as viewed from the rear of the vehicle (see FIG. 4 ). Therefore, in a rear-end collision or a side collision, the support portion 162 of the rear wheel house outer panel 16 hits the bracket 2 first. As a result, it is possible to prevent the filler tube 3 from interfering with the first electronic component EC1 and damaging the filler tube 3.

[0029] Furthermore, in the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the bracket 2 is positioned above the filler tube 3 when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, so that in the event of a rear-end collision, the filler tube 3 can be prevented from interfering with the first electronic component EC1 and being damaged.

[0030] In the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the bracket 2 is fixed to the body side inner panel 13 at at least two points in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, in the event of a rear collision, the bracket 2, which is fixed at at least two points in the vehicle longitudinal direction, functions as a tension rod, suppressing deformation of the opening 15 in the body side inner panel 13. Furthermore, when a member located rearward of the bracket 2 deforms and moves toward the rear pillar, the bracket 2 and the second electronic component EC2 crush, thereby absorbing the collision energy. As a result, damage to the retractor opening 19 for accommodating the rear seat belt retractor 6 located at the front of the bracket 2 can be suppressed, thereby protecting the retractor 6, which is an important safety component.

[0031] Furthermore, in the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment, the first electronic component EC1 is arranged in a position where the gap dimension L3 between the first electronic component EC1 and the body side outer panel 12 is smaller than the gap dimension L4 between the filler tube 3 and the body side inner panel 13 (L3 < L4), so that in the event of a side collision, the amount of crushing of the filler tube 3 can be reduced by the reaction force of the first electronic component EC1.

[0032] In addition, the vehicle electronic component arrangement structure of this embodiment further includes a rear quarter trim 17 provided on the interior side of the body side inner panel 13, a small item storage holder 171 provided on the rear quarter trim 17, a third electronic component EC3 separate from the first electronic component EC1 and arranged between the body side inner panel 13 and the small item storage holder 171, and an electrically insulating plate 4 provided between the first electronic component EC1 and the third electronic component EC3, thereby preventing the electronic components from coming into contact with each other and causing a short circuit during a side collision.

[0033] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Vehicle 11...Rear wheel house 12...Body side outer panel 13...Body side inner panel 14...Space 15...Opening 16...Rear wheel house outer panel 161...Main body 162...Support part 17...Rear quarter trim 171...Small item storage holder 18...Rear wheel house inner panel 19...Retractor opening 2...Bracket 21...Top surface 211...Weight reduction hole 212...Convex seat surface 213...Weld bolt 22...Wall surface 23...Flange 24...Concave part 25...Bolt / nut 3...Filler tube 31...Fuel filler opening 4...Electrically insulating plate 5...Rear wheel 6...Retractor EC1...First electronic component EC2...Second electronic component EC3...Third electronic component R...Area where bracket and support part overlap L1...Length of bracket in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle L2: Length of the first electronic component in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; L3: Gap dimension between the first electronic component and the body side outer panel; L4: Gap dimension between the filler tube and the body side inner panel.

Claims

1. An arrangement structure for vehicle electronic components, comprising: a first electronic component located in the space between a body side outer panel and a body side inner panel above a rear wheel house at the rear of a vehicle; and a bracket that fixes the first electronic component to the body side inner panel, wherein the bracket has a hat-shaped cross section with a top surface, and the first electronic component is fixed to the top surface.

2. The vehicle electronic component arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein a second electronic component separate from the first electronic component is arranged in a recess of the bracket with a hat-shaped cross section, and an opening is formed in the body side inner panel at a position facing the second electronic component.

3. The vehicle electronic component arrangement structure according to claim 2, wherein the bracket has a flange, and the flange is fixed to the interior surface of the body side inner panel through the opening.

4. An arrangement structure of electronic components for a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer panel of the rear wheel house includes a main body portion extending along the outer periphery of the rear wheel, and a support portion extending from the main body portion upward on the vehicle to support a filler tube, the bracket is formed so that its length in the vehicle longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the first electronic component in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the bracket is positioned so as to overlap with the support portion in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction when viewed from the rear.

5. The vehicle electronic component arrangement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bracket is positioned above the filler tube when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle electronic component arrangement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bracket is fixed to the body side inner panel at at least two points in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. An arrangement structure for vehicle electronic components according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first electronic component is arranged at a position where the gap dimension between the first electronic component and the body side outer panel is smaller than the gap dimension between a filler tube and the body side inner panel.

8. An arrangement structure of electronic components for a vehicle as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a rear quarter trim provided on the interior side of the body side inner panel; a small item storage holder provided on the rear quarter trim; a third electronic component separate from the first electronic component and arranged between the body side inner panel and the small item storage holder; and an electrically insulating plate provided between the first electronic component and the third electronic component.

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