JP2001163125A - Structure for fixing electrical components to the frame - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Electrical components that can be firmly positioned and fixed at a mounting portion on the reinforcement side without a change in design if there is only a slight change in the shape and dimensions of the housing of the electrical components. Obtain a fixed structure to the reinforcement. A guide projection (27a) having a tapered surface (T) for centering and positioning a housing (22) of an electrical component (21) at a center of a mounting surface (26) on the reinforcement (13) when the housing (22) is pressed. , 2
7b, 27c, 27d, and a single mounting hole 28 for coupling and fixing the electrical component 21 positioned on the mounting surface 26 to the reinforcement 13.
The electrical component 21 is fixed to the reinforcement 13 by a single fastening means that engages with.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for fixing an electrical component connected to a wire harness to a frame-like frame provided as a structural material on the back side of an interior wall material of a vehicle. The present invention relates to an improvement for facilitating the work of mounting electrical components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automobile, switches and meters necessary for driving are concentrated on an instrument panel disposed in front of a driver's seat. A wire harness that organically connects lighting equipment and various auxiliary devices is disposed between an instrument panel and a front panel of a vehicle. However, in the space between the front panel and the instrument panel, since various components such as a heater, a steering column, and brackets for pedals are arranged, the space is generally narrow. Therefore, when arranging the wire harness behind the instrument panel,
In addition to avoiding interference with these components in a small space, consideration must be given to the protection of the wire harness so that the wire harness is not damaged by vibration applied to the vehicle or the like.

[0003] In view of such a background, a reinforcement, which is a structural member provided on the rear side of the instrument panel and is a strip-shaped frame which is partitioned by at least a wall surface to form a space, is provided on the instrument panel. Various types of wire harness support structures have been proposed in which a wire harness provided on the back side is vertically attached, and electrical components such as a control unit connected to the wire harness are also fixed to the reinforcement. However, among the electrical components attached to the reinforcement, there are many electrical components to be attached to the reinforcement after the instrument panel is attached to the vehicle body. In such electrical components, the mounting surface on the reinforcement is hidden by the instrument panel, and the mounting work is blind while exploring the surrounding area with fingers, etc., so the fixing structure of such electrical components In order to achieve this, it is essential to devise a device that enables accurate positioning of electrical components without visual recognition.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional structure for fixing electrical components to a reinforcement. This fixing structure is equivalent to the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-84728. The reinforcement 1 fixed to the vehicle body has a guide portion 2a projecting in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 1a. And a suitable number of screw holes 3 provided at a position appropriately spaced apart from the bracket 2 along the mounting surface 1a. The bracket 2 is fixed to the reinforcement 1 before being attached to the vehicle body by welding or riveting.
Further, the electrical component 4 fixed to the mounting surface 1a includes a plurality of positioning members 5a for inserting the guide portions 2a and a plurality of bolts 6 to be screwed into the screw holes 3 which can be inserted into the housing 5 thereof. And a mounting hole 5b. The wire harness 7 connected to the electrical component 4 is connected to the electrical component 4 and the reinforcement 1 by a step 1b connected to the mounting surface 1a.
The space 8 secured between them is disposed vertically along the reinforcement 1.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure for fixing electrical components to reinforcement,
Bracket 2 and screw hole 3 on reinforcement 1
Is generally designed exclusively according to the size and shape of the housing 5 of the electrical component 4, and if the shape or size of the housing 5 is changed, even if it is a slight change, In many cases, the design of both the bracket 2 and the screw hole 3 must be changed, which leads to problems such as an increase in development time and an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of changed portions. Further, when the number of bolts 6 used for fixing the electrical component 4 is large, there is a problem that it is difficult to shorten the required time in the fixing operation. Furthermore, Reinforcement 1 which is a part of relatively large dimensions
Although the bracket 2 is manufactured separately from the viewpoint of moldability,
It has also been pointed out that the use of the separate bracket 2 causes a decrease in productivity and an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of components and an additional processing step for integration with the reinforcement 1.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
If the shape and dimensions of the electrical component housing are slightly changed, the mounting part on the strip-shaped frame side allows the electrical component shape and dimensions to be changed without changing the design, and is firmly positioned and fixed. In addition, the electrical component can be fixed with a minimum number of fastening parts such as bolts to be used, and further, the electrical component can be omitted in which the use of a bracket by another component can be omitted. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for fixing an article to a strip-shaped frame.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a structure for fixing an electric component to a frame according to the present invention, wherein the electric component is connected to a wire harness at least by a strip-shaped frame partitioned by a wall surface to form a space. In a fixing structure for fixing an electric component to a frame for positioning and fixing the electric component, a tapered surface for centering and positioning the housing at the center of a mounting surface on the frame when the housing of the electric component is pressed against the frame. And a mounting hole for coupling and fixing the electric component positioned on the mounting surface to the frame, and the electric component is attached to the frame by a single fastening means engaging with the mounting hole. It is characterized by being fixed.

According to the above configuration, when the electrical component is pressed on the mounting surface of the reinforcement, which is a belt-shaped frame, the electrical component is automatically set on the mounting surface by the centering action of the tapered surface of the guide projection. The position of the fastening means mounting hole, which is positioned at the center and penetrates the center of the housing of the electrical component, matches the position of the mounting hole formed at the center of the mounting surface. Therefore, the electrical component can be firmly fixed to the center of the mounting surface of the frame only by inserting the bolt as the fastening means into the fastening means mounting hole of the housing of the electrical component and tightening this one bolt. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a structure for fixing electric components to a frame according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of a structure for fixing an electrical component to a frame according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is an enlarged view of the structure of the mounting surface of the frame shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the state where the electrical component is mounted on the mounting surface of the frame shown in FIG. FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 are side views showing the mounting of the fastening means for fixing the electrical components from the state shown in FIG.

The structure for fixing electric components to a frame according to the embodiment is an instrument panel 1 in front of a driver's seat in which switches and meters necessary for driving an automobile are centrally arranged.
The electrical component 21 is positioned and fixed to a reinforcement 13 which is a structural material provided on the back side of the device 1 and which is a band-shaped frame partitioned at least by a wall surface to form a space.

The instrument panel 11 is a vehicle interior wall material formed by molding a synthetic resin material. In this embodiment, the instrument panel 11 includes a steering module 11a, a meter module 11b in which various meters are centrally arranged, and an AV module.
The center cluster module 11c in which devices for use are unitized is mounted.

The reinforcement 13 is arranged so as to extend in the width direction of the vehicle body, and has both ends fixed to side panels of the vehicle body, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the vehicle, and at the same time, functions as an instrument. It also supports and reinforces the ment panel 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcement 13 shown here has a substantially H-shaped cross section, and a wire harness 15 is provided in a recess 13a on the front side thereof.

The wire harness 15 has a plurality of branch portions, which will be described later, formed at a plurality of positions in accordance with the positions of the modules mounted on the instrument panel 11 and the positions of the electrical components 21 on the reinforcement 13. A branch harness 15b with a connector 15a connected to a switch or the like of each module mounted at the tip is drawn out of the branch portion. Although not described in detail, the branch portion of the wire harness 15 is formed by a well-known branch box 17 that branches and connects electric wires on a multilayer substrate.

In the present embodiment, the electrical component 21 fixed on the instrument panel 11 is a control unit for controlling the instrument panel 11 and various accessories mounted on the periphery thereof. The housing 22 forming the outer shape of the electrical component 21 is a slightly flat rectangular parallelepiped, and four surrounding side walls are formed on an inclined surface 22a whose lower side is inclined inward. Further, a single fastening means mounting hole 22b through which a bolt 24 as a fastening means is inserted is vertically provided through the center of the housing 22.

The reinforcement 13 includes the electrical component 2
When the first housing 22 is pressed, the four guide projections 27a, 2 having a tapered surface T for centering and positioning the housing 22 at the center of the mounting surface 26 on the reinforcement 13.
7 b, 27 c, 27 d, and a single mounting hole 28 for connecting and fixing the electrical component 21 positioned on the mounting surface 26 of the reinforcement 13 to the reinforcement 13. Four guide projections 27a, 27b, 27
c, 27d are arranged in front, rear, left and right with the tapered surface T facing inward so as to abut the outer peripheral surface of the electrical component 21 from four directions. In addition, the single mounting hole 28 is
Are screwed with female threads to be screwed into
It is pierced in the center.

In the above-described structure for fixing the electrical component to the reinforcement, as shown in FIG. 4, when the electrical component 21 is pressed onto the mounting surface 26 of the reinforcement 13, the taper of the guide projections 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d is obtained. The electrical component 21 is automatically positioned at the center of the mounting surface 26 by the centering action of the surface T,
Fastening means mounting hole 2 formed through the center of the housing 22
The position of 2b matches the position of the mounting hole 28 formed at the center of the mounting surface 26. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The electrical component 21 can be firmly fixed to the center of the mounting surface 26 of the reinforcement 13 only by inserting the bolt 24 serving as a fastening means through b and tightening the single bolt 24.

In FIG. 6, the guide projections 27a,
27b, 27c, and 27d are expanded, the flange 13b of the reinforcement 13 generated at that time undergoes elastic deformation, and the elastic restoring force can increase the fixing strength of the electrical component 21.

As described above, the positioning of the electrical component 21 on the mounting surface 26 is determined by the guide projections 27a, 27b, 27c,
In the configuration performed by the tapered surface T formed in 27d, for example, as long as the tapered surface T exists within the existing range, the guide projections 27a and 27b can be formed even if the outer shape or outer size of the housing 22 of the electrical component 21 is slightly changed. , 27c and 27d do not need to be changed in size or the like. That is, if the shape and dimensions of the housing 22 of the electrical component 21 are slightly changed, the electrical component 2 can be mounted on the mounting portion on the reinforcement 13 side without changing the design.
The shape and dimensions of one side can be changed, and the positioning and fixing can be firmly performed. By improving the versatility, the development time and cost can be reduced.

As described above, the single bolt 24
Therefore, the number of fastening parts such as bolts to be used can be minimized, and the time required for fixing the electrical component 21 can be reduced. In addition, electrical components 21
Guide projections 27a, 27b used for positioning and fixing
The protrusion lengths 27c and 27d do not need to be so large, and thus the reinforcement 13
Compared with the conventional structure for fixing electrical components to the reinforcement, which uses brackets for separate parts, the reduction of component parts due to the elimination of brackets for separate parts improves productivity and reduces costs. Can also be reduced.

The electrical component 21 centered and positioned by the guide projections 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d having the tapered surface T has a gap formed between the electrical component 21 and the mounting surface 26 on the reinforcement 13. The heat radiation effect of the electrical component 21 as the control unit can be improved by this gap. In addition, since the electrical component 21 has a reduced contact surface due to the contact between the inclined surface 22a of the housing 22 and the tapered surface T as compared with the case where the entire bottom area contacts and is fixed to the attachment 26, the electric component 21 is transmitted from the vehicle body. It is also possible to improve the seismic resistance against the vibrations caused.

The fastening means for fastening the electrical component 21 to the reinforcement 13 is not limited to a bolt. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a fastening pin 29 can be used.

The fastening pin 29 is connected to the housing 2 of the electrical component 21.
2 and a shaft portion 32 through which a mounting hole 31 formed through the center of the mounting surface 26 of the reinforcement 13 is inserted. The configuration includes a locking projection 33 formed so as to protrude, and a head elastic piece 35 protruding from the base end of the shaft portion 32 and pressing the upper surface of the housing 22. And the shaft part 32 is
It is composed of a plurality of elastic pieces 32a that can be elastically displaced in the radial direction. When the elastic pieces 32a are inserted into the fastening means mounting holes 22b and the mounting holes 31, each elastic piece 32a is elastically deformed in the diameter reducing direction,
When the distal end portion comes out of the mounting hole 31, it is restored to the original position, and the locking projection 33 is connected to the flange portion 13 of the reinforcement 13.
b and is fixed to the reinforcement 13. It goes without saying that, in addition to the above-described fastening pins 29, various known fastening means devised to facilitate attachment can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the guide projection having a tapered surface for centering and positioning the electrical component 21 at the center of the mounting surface 26 on the reinforcement 13 corresponds to the outer shape of the housing 22. Equipped with directions. However, the design of the equipment position, the number of equipment, and the like can be appropriately changed according to the shape and the like of the housing 22. Further, for example, when the outer shape of the housing of the electrical component has a circular diameter, a single guide protrusion having a ring-shaped tapered surface may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the fastening means for fixing the electrical component 21 to the reinforcement 13 is configured to pass through the center of the mounting surface 26 of the reinforcement 13, but the mounting position of the fastening means may be appropriately adjusted. The design can be changed. In the above embodiment, the reinforcement provided on the back side of the instrument panel includes:
Although the case where the electrical components connected to the wire harness are positioned and fixed has been described, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a belt-shaped frame provided in a portion other than the above-described portions of the vehicle. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the frame according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described H shape. For example, the present invention can be applied to a frame having a substantially U-shaped cross section.

[0025]

According to the structure for fixing the electric component to the frame of the present invention, when the electric component is pressed onto the mounting surface of the frame, the electric component is automatically set by the centering action of the tapered surface of the guide projection. The position of the fastening means mounting hole positioned at the center of the mounting surface and formed through the center of the housing of the electrical component coincides with the position of the mounting hole formed at the center of the mounting surface. Therefore, the electrical component can be firmly fixed to the center of the mounting surface of the frame only by inserting the bolt as the fastening means into the fastening means mounting hole of the housing of the electrical component and tightening this one bolt. .

In such a configuration in which the positioning of the electrical component on the mounting surface is performed by the tapered surface formed on the guide projection, for example, if the tapered surface is within the existing range, the outer shape or outer shape of the housing of the electrical component is provided. Even if the dimensions are changed, it is not necessary to change the dimensions and the like on the guide projection side. In other words, if there is only a slight change in the shape or dimensions of the housing of the electrical components, the mounting part on the frame side allows the shape and dimensions of the electrical components to be changed without any design change, and is firmly positioned. It can be fixed and the versatility can be improved, so that the development time and cost can be reduced.

The electrical component fixed by the tapered surface of the guide projection has better heat dissipation than the case where the entire bottom of the housing is attached to the mounting surface of the frame.
Excellent effect in terms of earthquake resistance.

Further, as described above, since a single bolt can be firmly fixed, the number of fastening parts such as bolts to be used can be minimized, and the time required for fixing electric components can be reduced. Can be planned. Also, since the projection length used for positioning and fixing the electrical components does not need to be so large, it can be integrally formed with the frame by devising it. Compared with the fixing structure to the frame, the reduction in the number of component parts due to the omission of the bracket of another part can promote the improvement in productivity and the reduction in cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a structure for fixing an electrical component to a reinforcement according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the reinforcement and the electrical components shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a structure of a mounting surface of the reinforcement shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which electrical components are placed on a mounting surface of the reinforcement shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the mounting of the fastening means for fixing the electrical component from the state shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a state in which electrical components installed on a mounting surface of the reinforcement are fixed by fastening means.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of the fastening means used for fixing the electrical component to the reinforcement in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional structure for fixing electrical components to a reinforcement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Instrument panel 13 Reinforcement (band-shaped frame) 13a Recess 13b Flange 15 Wire harness 21 Electrical equipment 22 Housing 22a Inclined surface 22b Fastening means mounting hole 26 Mounting surface 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d Guide protrusion T tapered surface 28 Mounting hole 29 Fastening pin

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshifumi Okahira 1500 Yasushi Sogyo Co., Ltd., Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture (72) Inventor Mitsunobu Kato 1500 Onjuku Yasushi Kogyo Co., Ltd., Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture F-term (reference) 3D044 BA12 BB01 BC13 BD13 5G361 AA06 AB01 AC01 AD03 AE01 BB03 5G363 AA11 AA16 AA20 BA02 DC02

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A structure for fixing an electrical component to be connected to a wire harness to a frame, the electrical component being connected to a wire harness at least on a band-shaped frame partitioned by a wall surface to form a space, wherein the frame includes the electrical component A guide projection having a tapered surface for centering and positioning the housing at the center of the mounting surface on the frame when the housing is pressed, and mounting and fixing the electrical components positioned on the mounting surface to the frame. And fixing the electrical component to the frame with a single fastening means that engages with the mounting hole.