JP2004231115A - Bracket mounting inverter on vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inverter mounting bracket for a vehicle capable of easily adjusting the optical axis of a headlamp and satisfactorily fixing an inverter. <P>SOLUTION: This inverter mounting bracket 10, provided for fixing the inverter 14 on an engine compartment 12 of a vehicle installed with a headlamp unit 20 of which the optical axis can be adjusted with an optical-axis adjusting device 18, includes an access opening 38 which permits access of an adjusting tool at an adjusting hole 36 of the optical-axis adjusting device 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inverter-mounted bracket, and more particularly to an inverter-mounted bracket for mounting and fixing an inverter in an engine room of a vehicle equipped with a headlamp unit having an adjustable optical axis.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the spread of hybrid vehicles has been remarkable. This hybrid vehicle is equipped with an engine such as gasoline and a motor / generator, and charges the battery required for driving the motor with the generator, while using the engine and the motor singly or in combination according to the running state, thereby providing fuel. Efficient vehicle running is realized.
[0003]
In a vehicle equipped with such a motor / generator, an inverter is installed in an engine room. Usually, this inverter is bolted to a radiator upper support or the like using a bracket.
[0004]
By the way, usually, a headlamp is arranged at a front portion of a vehicle. This headlamp is usually fixed as a unit to a radiator upper support by bolts or the like. In general, the headlamp requires its optical axis to be adjusted after being fixed. The optical axis adjustment is performed by rotating the adjustment screw of the adjustment mechanism with an optical axis adjustment jig (for example, a screwdriver). Normally, a headlamp has an outer lens on the front surface of a headlamp housing, and a reflector is arranged so as to surround a bulb in an internal space formed by the headlamp housing and the outer lens. When the optical axis is adjusted, the direction of the reflector is, for example, pivoted in the vertical or horizontal direction. As described above, the pivoting can be performed by changing the amount of protrusion of the adjusting screw with a jig such as a screwdriver (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
Access to the jig to this adjustment mechanism is configured so that it can be done from the outside of the body in some vehicles.However, most adjustments require the removal of the side turn signal lamp, so most As in the prior art, the hood is opened to access from the engine room side.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-154374 (FIG. 3)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Usually, the adjustment of the optical axis of the headlamp is performed after the completion of assembly of heavy parts such as an engine, a transmission, and an inverter. Therefore, in the engine room, it is necessary to secure an access space for accessing an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp. As described above, since the inverter is also fixed to the radiator upper support, it is arranged close to the adjusting mechanism. As a result, when trying to secure sufficient access space, it interferes with the bracket for fixing the inverter, which reduces the space for fixing the bracket, and changes the inverter's fixing form, such as changing the fixing position or changing the shape. And the like, which hinders good fixing of the inverter and hinders easy optical axis adjustment. Further, the bracket is lifted by a lift or the like and transported to a mounting position while being mounted on the inverter. Usually, when lifting the inverter, a hook is provided on the bracket, and a ring on the lift side is hung on the hook. Therefore, if such a hook is provided on the bracket, the size of the bracket will be increased, and the interference with the access space described above will be worsened, making the optical axis adjustment work difficult.
[0008]
Furthermore, as described above, since various components are densely arranged in the engine room, the adjustment mechanism is likely to be in the shadow of other components, and a tool such as a driver is accessed to the adjustment mechanism. However, there is a problem that the operation efficiency of the optical axis adjustment is poor, since the operation must be performed in a groping state. Further, in order to avoid such a groping state, it is conceivable to attach a guide component or the like to the access space or the bracket. However, it is not preferable because the access space is further reduced and the bracket is enlarged.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an inverter-mounted bracket capable of easily adjusting the optical axis of a headlamp and mounting and fixing the inverter satisfactorily. .
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an inverter-mounted bracket for mounting and fixing an inverter in an engine room of a vehicle equipped with a headlamp unit having an adjustable optical axis, wherein the headlamp unit is provided. Has an optical axis adjuster inside the engine room, and the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket has an access opening that allows an adjustment tool to access the optical axis adjuster.
[0011]
According to this configuration, the adjustment tool can access the optical axis adjuster through the access opening formed in the bracket mounted on the inverter. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated access space. In addition, by hanging a hook or the like on this access opening, lifting work can be performed during the assembling work of the inverter. Can be avoided.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the access opening has a guide shape that defines a trajectory for inserting an adjustment tool into the optical axis adjuster.
[0013]
Here, the guide shape is arbitrary as long as it determines the trajectory at the time of inserting the adjusting tool. For example, the thickness of the plate constituting the bracket for mounting on the inverter is used to illuminate the center direction of the opening. The adjustment tool may be oriented in the direction of the axis adjuster, or by forming a flange along the opening edge of the access opening, or by thickening only the plate material around the opening edge of the access opening. May be guided. In this case, it is preferable that the diameter (size) of the access opening is slightly larger than that of the adjustment tool, and it is preferable that the adjustment tool does not swing within the access opening.
[0014]
According to this configuration, even when the position of the optical axis adjuster is not visible, the adjustment tool can easily access the optical axis adjuster.
[0015]
In order to achieve the object as described above, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, a plurality of the access openings are prepared corresponding to a vehicle type to which the inverter-mounted bracket is applied, and each access opening is provided with a vehicle type. It is characterized by having a marking indicating correspondence.
[0016]
In general, if the vehicle type is different, the mounting position of the headlamp changes or the type of the headlamp itself changes. In this case, the position of the optical axis adjuster with respect to the bracket mounted on the inverter also changes. Therefore, if a plurality of access openings are formed for each vehicle type corresponding to the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket, and markings corresponding to each vehicle type are provided, the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket can be shared and each vehicle type can be shared. The access opening can be easily selected, and the optical axis can be easily adjusted while improving the working efficiency.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an inverter 14 is mounted and fixed in an engine room 12 of a vehicle (for example, a hybrid vehicle) by the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10 of the present embodiment. As described above, a hybrid (HV) vehicle is equipped with an engine of gasoline or the like and a motor / generator, and uses the generator to charge a battery required for driving the motor. Or, by using them in combination, fuel-efficient vehicle running is realized. The inverter 14 is a power conversion device that converts high-voltage DC current of an HV battery mounted on an HV vehicle and AC current of a motor generator, and is usually dedicated to a cooling water passage separate from an engine together with the motor generator. Is cooled by the radiator. Therefore, the inverter 14 is disposed in the engine room 12 on the front side closer to the radiator (not shown). That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the inverter 14 is fixed to a radiator upper support 16 for fixing the radiator. In addition. 1, only the inverter case 14a with the cover removed is shown in FIG. 1, and the internal structure and the like are not shown. The inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10 is fixed to the inverter case 14a with bolts or the like and integrated therewith.
[0019]
Further, the headlamp unit 20 including the optical axis adjuster 18 is fixed to the side of the radiator upper support 16 as described above. FIG. 2 shows the details of the headlamp unit 20. As described above, the headlamp housing 22 has the outer lens 24 on the front surface, and the inner space formed by the headlamp housing 22 and the outer lens 24. A reflector 26 is arranged so as to surround a valve (not shown). The optical axis adjustment is performed by, for example, pivoting the direction of the reflector 26 vertically or horizontally. Since the adjustment in the up-down direction and the adjustment in the left-right direction can be realized by substantially the same structure, in the present embodiment, the adjustment structure in the up-down direction is described as an example.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, holders 28a and 28b are formed on the rear surface of the reflector 26, for example, at upper and lower positions. A holder 28a formed at an upper position of the reflector 26 is fixed to the headlamp housing 22 and has a front end engaged with a ball pin 30 having a spherical shape. As a result, the engagement angle between the holder 28a and the ball pin 30 can be arbitrarily changed. On the other hand, a holder 28b formed at a lower position of the reflector 26 is engaged with a block member 32a that can move forward and backward in the left-right direction in FIG. The engagement portion between the holder 28b and the block member 32a also has a free joint structure so that the engagement angle can be arbitrarily changed with the movement of the block member 32a.
[0021]
To the rear end of the screw member 32, a speed reducer 18a including a gear train such as a bevel gear is connected. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the speed reducer 18a taken along the line AA in FIG. An adjustment hole 36 that can receive an adjustment tool (for example, a driver 34) is formed in the speed reducer 18a. The gear 18b rotatable by the driver 34 is disposed inside the adjustment hole 36, and the bevel gear 18c meshing with the gear 18b rotates. The rotation of the driver 34 is sequentially transmitted while being decelerated, and rotates the screw member 32.
[0022]
Accordingly, the screw member 32 is rotated in accordance with the rotation amount of the driver 34, and the block member 32a is advanced or retreated a small amount by a predetermined amount. As a result, for example, if the block member 32a moves leftward in the figure (vehicle front direction), the reflector 26 rotates clockwise with the spherical portion of the ball pin 30 as a pivot axis. As a result, upward adjustment of the reflector 26 is realized. On the other hand, if the block member 32a moves rightward in the drawing (rearward direction of the vehicle), the reflector 26 rotates counterclockwise around the spherical portion of the ball pin 30 as a pivot axis. As a result, downward adjustment of the reflector 26 is realized. Therefore, by rotating the driver 34, for example, the optical axis can be adjusted within the range of the angle θ.
[0023]
By the way, as is apparent from FIG. 2, the adjustment hole 36 of the optical axis adjuster 18 is located below in the engine room 12, and when performing an actual adjustment work, it enters into the shadow of other parts or the like and is visually observed. It is difficult to do. If visual inspection is to be performed well, it is necessary to secure a sufficient access space. However, as described above, the space limitation of the engine room 12 and the interference with other parts are problematic, and the exclusive It is difficult to secure access space.
[0024]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an access opening 38 is formed in the bracket 10 for the in-vehicle inverter to allow the optical axis adjuster 18 to access a driver 34 as an adjustment tool. The access opening 38 is located on the trajectory P in which the adjustment hole 36 of the optical axis adjuster 18 can receive the driver 34 with the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10 fixed to the radiator upper support 16 using bolts 40 or the like. It is formed as follows. In other words, when the driver 34 is inserted through the access opening 38, the access opening 38 is formed at a position where the adjustment hole 36 can be accessed.
[0025]
Here, the access opening 38 can restrict the insertion direction of the driver 34 to some extent and can be guided to the adjustment hole 36 by simply providing an opening in the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10. It is desirable to actively regulate the guide direction.
[0026]
The bracket 10 for an inverter is usually formed by press working, casting, or the like. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the plate thickness t is sufficiently large, the inside of the hole forming the access opening 38 is formed. The wall direction is formed so that the adjustment hole 36 matches the trajectory P for receiving the driver 34. This example shows an example in which the track P is directed obliquely to the surface of the inverter-mounted bracket 10. In this case, the insertion direction of the driver 34 can be accurately defined by the plate thickness of the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10. As a result, the adjustment of the adjustment hole 36 and the access opening 38 can be easily and accurately performed by simply inserting the screwdriver 34 into the access opening 38 without looking at the adjustment hole 36 of the optical axis adjuster 18. It can be performed.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 4B, when the plate thickness t is small (when the inverter 14 has a sufficient thickness for fixing and holding the inverter 14), the flange 42 is formed along the opening edge of the access opening 38. Form. Also in this case, the direction of the inner wall surface formed by the flange 42 is formed so that the adjustment hole 36 coincides with the trajectory P for receiving the driver 34, so that the driver 34 can be accurately guided into the adjustment hole 36. it can. Of course, even when the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10 is entirely formed of a thin plate, the plate thickness t of only the peripheral portion of the access opening 38 is increased instead of the flange 42, as in FIG. A hole having a guiding function can be formed.
[0028]
The flange 42 may be provided on the upper surface side of the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10, but is preferably provided on the lower side as shown in FIG. In each case, it is preferable that the diameter (size) of the access opening 38 is slightly larger than the shaft diameter of the driver 34 (adjustment tool). It is desirable that it is not to the extent.
[0029]
As described above, the access opening 38 that allows the driver 34 as an adjustment tool to access the optical axis adjuster 18 is formed in the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10 that fixes the inverter 14 disposed near the headlamp unit 20. Thereby, the connection between the optical axis adjuster 18 and the driver 34 can be easily realized without providing a dedicated access space for accessing the optical axis adjuster 18 and without visually observing the position of the optical axis adjuster 18. And make adjustments.
[0030]
In FIG. 1, a plurality of (three in FIG. 1) access openings 38 are formed in the bracket 10 mounted on the inverter. This corresponds to a change in the position of the optical axis adjuster 18 due to a difference in vehicle type, and is intended to contribute to improving the versatility of the bracket 10 mounted on the inverter. When a plurality of access openings 38 are formed as described above, a mark indicating the correspondence with the vehicle type is attached to each access opening 38, and in which model, which access opening 38 is used. It is preferable to be able to easily determine whether it is good or not.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the adjustment of the optical axis adjuster 18 for adjusting the optical axis in the vertical direction has been described. However, there is an optical axis adjuster having a similar configuration for adjusting the optical axis in the horizontal direction. Therefore, one of the plurality of access openings 38 may be assigned to the left-right optical axis adjuster.
[0032]
When the inverter 14 is mounted and fixed in the engine room 12, as described above, the inverter-mounted bracket is mounted on the inverter 14, lifted by a lift or the like, and transported to the mounting position. Conventionally, when lifting the inverter 14, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a hook 102 is provided on a bracket 100 mounted on the inverter, and a ring 104 on the lift side is hung on the hook 102. However, as shown in FIG. 5B, the bracket 10 for mounting on the inverter of the present embodiment can hook the J-shaped hook 44 on the access opening 38 so that the access opening 38 can be effectively used. It can be carried out. Further, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to form a hook used only for suspension on the side of the bracket for mounting on the inverter or the like, which can contribute to downsizing of the bracket 10 for mounting on the inverter.
[0033]
As described above, by forming the access opening 38 that allows the access of the adjustment tool to the optical axis adjuster 18 in the bracket 10 for the inverter, the work efficiency is improved by facilitating the adjustment of the optical axis, and the bracket 10 for the inverter 10 is mounted. It is possible to improve the degree of design freedom by reducing the size of the device, secure a work space for other operations, and the like.
[0034]
The shape of the inverter-mounted bracket 10 shown in the present embodiment is an example, and if the configuration has the access opening 38 to the optical axis adjuster 18, the shape depends on the shape of the vehicle or the inverter to be applied. It can be changed as appropriate, and a similar effect can be obtained. The configuration of the headlamp unit 20 and the optical axis adjuster 18 shown in FIG. 2 and the like is also an example, and a head having an arbitrary configuration can be used as long as an adjustment tool accessible through the access opening 38 can be used. The inverter vehicle-mounted bracket 10 of the present embodiment can be applied to the lamp unit 20 and the optical axis adjuster 18, and the same effect can be obtained.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, an adjustment tool can access an optical axis adjuster via the access opening formed in the bracket for inverter vehicle mounting. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated access space, and the space can be effectively used. In addition, by hanging a hook or the like on this access opening, it is possible to carry out lifting work when assembling the inverter.Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a hanging hook or other structure on the bracket for mounting on the inverter. Can be avoided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an inverter is mounted and fixed in an engine room of a vehicle by an inverter vehicle-mounted bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a headlamp unit capable of adjusting an optical axis via an inverter vehicle-mounted bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the speed reducer taken along the line AA in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a shape of an access opening of the bracket for mounting on an inverter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of lifting the inverter when the bracket for mounting on the inverter according to the embodiment of the present invention is used, in comparison with a conventional method.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Inverter bracket for vehicle, 12 engine room, 14 inverter, 14a inverter case, 16 radiator upper support, 18 optical axis adjuster, 18a reduction gear, 20 head lamp unit, 22 head lamp housing, 24 outer lens, 26 reflector, 28a , 28b holder, 30 ball pin, 32 screw member, 34 driver, 36 adjustment hole, 38 access opening, 40 bolt.

Claims (3)

An inverter vehicle-mounted bracket for mounting and fixing the inverter in an engine room of a vehicle equipped with a headlamp unit with an adjustable optical axis,
The headlamp unit has an optical axis adjuster inside an engine room, and the inverter vehicle-mounted bracket has an access opening that allows an adjustment tool to access the optical axis adjuster. Inverter bracket for vehicle. The bracket for mounting on an inverter according to claim 1,
The access opening has a guide shape that defines a trajectory for inserting an adjustment tool into the optical axis adjuster. The bracket for inverter vehicle according to claim 1 or 2,
A plurality of access openings are prepared corresponding to a vehicle type to which an inverter-mounted bracket is applied, and each access opening is provided with a marking indicating correspondence with the vehicle type.

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