JP2004358995A - Supporting structure for vehicular interior air-conditioning unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve assembling workability of an interior air-conditioning unit. <P>SOLUTION: The supporting structure for the vehicular interior air-conditioning unit comprises a structure member 20 extending in a vehicular lateral direction and supporting at least a steering shaft, and cases 11, 12, 13 forming an air passage inside the vehicle. The structure member 20 is provided with a supporting portion 21a supporting the interior air-conditioning unit 10 from a lower side, and placing the interior air-conditioning unit 10 on the supporting portion 21a. Therefore, only by placing the interior air-conditioning unit 10 on the supporting portion 21a, a load of the interior air-conditioning unit 10 can be supported, so that the number of bolts fastening the interior air-conditioning unit 10 and the structure member 20 can be reduced. Consequently, man-hours required for assembling the interior air-conditioning unit 10 to the structure member 20 can be decreased, and the assembling workability of the interior air-conditioning unit 10 is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support structure of a vehicle indoor air conditioning unit that blows conditioned air toward a vehicle interior.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a structure is known in which this type of indoor air conditioning unit is supported by a structural member that extends in the left-right direction of a vehicle and supports a steering shaft. In this conventional structure, the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 and the structural member 20 shown in FIG. 6A are fastened with a plurality of bolts BT as shown in FIG. 20. The load of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 is supported by the plurality of bolts BT.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the structure in which the load of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 is supported by the bolts BT as in the above-described conventional structure, the number of bolts BT must be increased. Then, as the number of bolts BT increases, the number of assembling steps increases, and the workability of assembling the indoor air conditioning unit deteriorates.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to improve the workability of assembling an indoor air conditioning unit.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the invention, a structural member (20) extending in the vehicle left-right direction and supporting at least a steering shaft, and a case (11, 12, 13) and an indoor air-conditioning unit (10) that blows out the conditioned air in the air passage toward the passenger compartment. The structural member (20) has a support portion that supports the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) from below. (21a) is provided, and the indoor air conditioning unit (10) is mounted on the support portion (21a).
[0006]
Thus, the load of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) can be supported only by placing the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) on the support portion (21a), and the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20) are fastened. The number of bolts BT to be used can be reduced. Therefore, the number of steps for assembling the indoor air conditioning unit (10) to the structural member (20) can be reduced, and the workability of assembling the indoor air conditioning unit (10) can be improved.
[0007]
According to the invention described in claim 2, a portion of the structural member (20) adjacent to the support portion (21a) in the vehicle left-right direction restricts movement of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) in the vehicle left-right direction. It is characterized in that a direction regulating portion (21c) is provided.
[0008]
Thus, the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) can be restricted from moving in the left-right direction of the vehicle only by mounting the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) on the support portion (21a). The number can be reduced, and the workability of assembling the indoor air conditioning unit (10) can be further improved.
[0009]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the portion of the structural member (20) adjacent to the support portion (21a) on the vehicle rear side restricts the movement of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) toward the vehicle rear side. It is characterized in that a regulating part (21d) is provided.
[0010]
Thus, the movement of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) toward the rear of the vehicle can be restricted only by mounting the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) on the support portion (21a). The number can be reduced, and the workability of assembling the indoor air conditioning unit (10) can be further improved.
[0011]
In the invention according to claim 4, a vibration absorbing member (21b) for absorbing vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) is arranged between the indoor air conditioning unit (10) and the support portion (21a). It is characterized by.
[0012]
Thus, the vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) itself can be suppressed from propagating to the steering shaft via the structural member (20), and the steering operability of the vehicle driver is impaired by the vibration. Can be suppressed.
[0013]
Here, in a state where the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20) are mounted on a vehicle, the structural member (20) is often located on the vehicle rear side of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10). Therefore, in the case of such an arrangement structure, when assembling the structural member (20) to the indoor air-conditioning unit (10), the structural member is arranged from the vehicle rear side of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) as in the invention according to claim 5. If (20) can be assembled, workability of the assembly can be improved.
[0014]
According to the invention as set forth in claim 6, the structural member (20) extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle and supporting at least the steering shaft, and the cases (11, 12, 13) forming an air passage in the vehicle interior are provided. An indoor air-conditioning unit (10) for blowing air-conditioned air in the passage toward the vehicle interior, and a hole-shaped insertion having an insertion hole (14a) in one of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20). (14), and the other of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20) is provided with a protruding insertion portion (25) inserted into the insertion hole (14a). In the protruding insertion portion (25), the insertion portion provided on the structural member (20) side supports the insertion portion provided on the indoor air conditioning unit (10) side. .
[0015]
Thus, the load of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) can be supported only by inserting the protruding insertion portion (25) into the hole-shaped insertion portion (14). Can be reduced. Therefore, the number of steps for assembling the indoor air conditioning unit (10) to the structural member (20) can be reduced, and the workability of assembling the indoor air conditioning unit (10) can be improved.
[0016]
In the invention according to claim 7, a vibration absorbing member (15) that absorbs vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) is arranged between the hole-shaped insertion portion (14) and the protruding insertion portion (25). It is characterized by having.
[0017]
Accordingly, the vibration of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) itself can be suppressed from propagating to the steering shaft via the structural member (20), so that the steering operability of the vehicle driver is impaired by the vibration. It can be suppressed that it is lost.
[0018]
Here, as described above, in a state where the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20) are mounted on the vehicle, the arrangement structure in which the structural member (20) is located on the vehicle rear side of the indoor air-conditioning unit (10). In such a case, as in the invention according to claim 8, the insertion portion provided on the structural member (20) side from the vehicle rear side of the insertion portion (14) provided on the indoor air conditioning unit (10) side. If (25) is configured to be insertable, the workability of the assembling can be improved.
[0019]
It should be noted that reference numerals in parentheses of the above-described units are examples showing the correspondence with specific units described in the embodiments described later.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an indoor air conditioning unit 10 and a structural member 20 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the structural member 20 is assembled to the indoor air conditioning unit 10.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, an instrument panel 30 is attached to the structural member 20 from the opposite side of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10, and a module assembly is constituted by the indoor air-conditioning unit 10, the structural member 20 and the instrument panel 30. Is done. The module assembly is assembled to a dash panel 40 that separates the engine room from the vehicle interior.
[0023]
The indoor air-conditioning unit 10 has cases 11, 12, and 13 that form an air passage in the vehicle interior, and blows out conditioned air in the air passage toward the vehicle interior. The cases 11, 12 and 13 include an inside / outside air switching case 11, a fan case 12 and an air conditioning case 13. The cases 11, 12, and 13 are made of resin such as polypropylene, are formed separately, and are connected by fastening means such as a tapping screw.
[0024]
The inside / outside air switching case 11 is provided with an inside air introduction port 11a for introducing inside air, and an outside air introduction port 11b for introducing outside air. The case 11 is provided with door means for switching the two inlets 11a and 11b to open and close, so as to switch between the inside air and the outside air.
[0025]
The fan case 12 is connected to the air flow downstream of the inside / outside air switching case 11, and a blower fan is provided in the case 12. When the blower fan is driven to rotate by the motor, the inside air or the outside air is drawn in and blown toward the air conditioning case 13.
[0026]
In the air conditioning case 13, an evaporator is provided as a cooling heat exchanger for cooling the air blown from the blower fan. The evaporator is disposed in a well-known refrigeration cycle, and is configured such that a refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle circulates therein, and cools the blast air by heat exchange between the circulated refrigerant and the blast air. It is.
[0027]
The air conditioning case 13 includes a heater core as a heating heat exchanger for heating the air blown from the blower fan. The heater core is configured so that a heat source fluid such as engine cooling water or the like due to vehicle waste heat flows therein, and heats the blown air by exchanging heat between the flowed heat source fluid and the blown air.
[0028]
Further, the air conditioning case 13 is provided with a temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the air blown into the vehicle interior. Specifically, an air mix door that adjusts the air volume ratio between the cool air that has passed through the evaporator and the hot air that has passed through the heater core, or a flow control valve that controls the flow rate of the heat source fluid flowing through the heater core is provided. The temperature control means is constituted by the provision.
[0029]
Further, the air conditioning case 13 is formed with a defroster opening 13a, a center face opening 13b, a side face opening 13c, and a foot opening 13d for blowing the conditioned air whose temperature has been adjusted as described above toward the vehicle interior. I have.
[0030]
On the other hand, the instrument panel 30 has a defroster outlet grill 31 that blows out conditioned air toward the front windshield of the vehicle, a center face outlet grill 32 that blows out conditioned air from substantially the center of the vehicle in the lateral direction toward the upper body of the occupant, and A side face blowout grill 33 that blows out conditioned air from an end of the vehicle in the left-right direction toward the upper body of the occupant is provided.
[0031]
Each of the defroster opening 13a, the center face opening 13b, and the side face opening 13c is connected to each of the defroster outlet grill 31, the center face outlet grill 32, and the side face outlet grill 33 by a connection duct (not shown). ing.
[0032]
With the above configuration, when the blower fan is driven to rotate, inside air or outside air is introduced into the inside / outside air switching case 11, and the introduced air is blown from the fan case 12 to the air conditioning case 13. After the temperature is adjusted to a desired temperature in the air-conditioning case 13, the connection duct flows through the openings 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d selected and opened by the mode door. Then, the air is blown into the vehicle cabin through the various blowout grills 31, 32, 33 or the foot openings 13d.
[0033]
Here, the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 having the above-described configuration is supported by the structural member 20. The structural member 20 is a metal member extending in the vehicle left-right direction and supporting at least the steering shaft, and includes a lower beam 21 extending in the vehicle left-right direction below the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 and a lower beam 21 extending above the indoor air-conditioning unit 10. The vehicle includes an upper beam 22 extending in the vehicle left-right direction, brackets 23 fixed to both ends of the beams 21, 22, and a centerless member 24 extending in the vertical direction and connecting the two beams 21, 22.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, these beams 21 and 22, the bracket 23 and the centerless 24 are integrally formed by die casting using a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, or the like. Thereby, the weight of the structural member 20 can be reduced.
[0035]
In addition, the centerless 24 is fixed to the floor panel 41 or the center tunnel portion 42 of the vehicle body and supports the beams 21 and 22 from below. In the present embodiment, two centables 24 are arranged adjacent to the left and right sides of the air conditioning case 13. With these centerless parts 24, the movement of the air conditioning case 13 in the left-right direction of the vehicle can be restricted.
[0036]
Further, the bracket 23 is fixed to the A-pillar portion 43 of the vehicle body and the like, and the strength of the vehicle body is enhanced by the two beams 21 and 22. The steering shaft is supported by the lower beam 21, and in the present embodiment, the steering shaft is located above the lower beam 21.
[0037]
A support portion 21a that supports the air-conditioning case 13 from below is formed at a substantially central portion of the lower beam 21 in the vehicle left-right direction, and a bottom portion 13e of the air-conditioning case 13 is placed on the support portion 21a. . Note that a vibration absorbing member 21b that absorbs vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 is disposed between the support portion 21a and the air conditioning case 13, and the vibration absorbing member 21b of the present embodiment has a rubber plate shape. Mat is adopted. The rubber mat 21b is attached to the support 21a with an adhesive or the like.
[0038]
Further, a portion of the lower beam 21 adjacent to the support portion 21a in the vehicle left-right direction is provided with a left-right direction restriction portion 21c that restricts the movement of the air conditioning case 13 in the vehicle left-right direction. Further, a portion of the lower beam 21 adjacent to the support portion 21a on the vehicle rear side is provided with a rear restricting portion 21d for restricting the movement of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 toward the vehicle rear side. When arranging the case 13 on the support part 21a, the air-conditioning case 13 is inserted and arranged inside the support part 21a, the left-right direction restriction part 21c, the rear restriction part 21d, and the centerless 24.
[0039]
After the air-conditioning case 13 is inserted and arranged on the support portion 21a, the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 and the structural member 20 are fastened with bolts, tapping screws, or the like, thereby assembling the structural member 20 to the air-conditioning unit 10. Is completed.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, fastening of the boss portion B1 of the inside / outside air switching case 11 and the boss portion B2 of the upper beam 22 and fastening of the boss portion B3 provided above the air conditioning case 13 and the boss portion B4 of the upper beam 22 are performed. The structural member 20 and the air conditioning unit 10 are fixed by fastening the boss portion B5 provided at a lower portion of the air conditioning case 13 and the boss portion B6 of the rear regulation portion 21d.
[0041]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the air-conditioning case 13 is inserted into the inside of the support portion 21a, the left-right direction restricting portion 21c, the rearward restricting portion 21d, and the center 24, and is arranged on the support portion 21a. Since the load of the air conditioning unit 10 can be supported, the number of bolts BT for fastening the indoor air conditioning unit 10 and the structural member 20 can be reduced. Therefore, the number of steps for assembling the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 to the structural member 20 can be reduced, and the workability of assembling the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 can be improved.
[0042]
Further, according to the present embodiment, since the air-conditioning case 13 is inserted and arranged inside the support portion 21a, the left-right direction restricting portion 21c, the rear-side restricting portion 21d, and the centerless 24, only the air-conditioning case 13 is inserted. Therefore, the movement of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 in the left-right direction of the vehicle and the movement of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 toward the rear of the vehicle can be restricted, so that the number of bolts BT for such movement restriction can be reduced, and the indoor air conditioning unit 10 is assembled. Workability can be further improved.
[0043]
Specifically, in contrast to the conventional structure which requires five fastenings (see FIG. 6), the present embodiment allows three fastenings.
[0044]
Here, as the blower fan is driven to rotate by the motor, the indoor air conditioning unit 10 itself vibrates. Then, if the vibration propagates to the structural member 20, the vibration propagates to the steering wheel via the steering shaft, so that the operability of the vehicle driver deteriorates.
[0045]
On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since the rubber mat 21b that absorbs the vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 is disposed between the support portion 21a and the air conditioning case 13, the vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 itself is reduced. However, propagation to the steering shaft via the structural member 20 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering operability of the vehicle driver from being impaired by the vibration.
[0046]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the indoor air conditioning unit 10, the structural member 20, and the instrument panel 30 are arranged in order from the dash panel 40 toward the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, in the case of such an arrangement structure, when assembling the structural member 20 to the indoor air-conditioning unit 10, the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 is configured to be able to be installed from the vehicle rear side as in the present embodiment. Workability can be improved.
[0047]
(2nd Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the load of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 is supported by placing the air-conditioning case 13 on the support portion 21a provided on the structural member 20, but in the present embodiment, the support portion 21a And a hole-shaped insertion portion 14 having an insertion hole 14a is provided in one of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 and the structural member 20, and a projection-shaped insertion portion 25 inserted into the insertion hole 14a is provided in the other. I have. The insertion portion 25 provided on the side of the structural member 20 supports the insertion portion 14 provided on the indoor air conditioning unit 10 side.
[0048]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the present embodiment, in which a hole-shaped insertion portion 14 is provided on the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 side, and a projecting insertion portion 25 is provided on the structural member 20 side. More specifically, the hole-shaped insertion portion 14 is provided in the air-conditioning case 13 and is integrally formed with the air-conditioning case 13 with resin. The hole-shaped insertion portion 14 is provided on the upper surface of the air conditioning case 13. The protruding insertion portion 25 is inserted into the hole-shaped insertion portion 14 by press-fitting.
[0049]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the load of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 can be supported only by inserting the protruding insertion portion 25 into the hole-shaped insertion portion 14, so that the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 and the structural member 20 are fastened. The number of bolts BT can be reduced. Therefore, the number of steps for assembling the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 to the structural member 20 can be reduced, and the workability of assembling the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 can be improved.
[0050]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4, a rubber material for absorbing the vibration of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 is provided between the hole-shaped insertion portion 14 and the protruded insertion portion 25. Are disposed. Thus, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 itself from propagating to the steering shaft via the structural member 20, and to suppress the steering operability of the vehicle driver from being impaired by the vibration.
[0051]
In the present embodiment, the indoor air conditioning unit 10, the structural member 20, and the instrument panel 30 are arranged side by side in order from the dash panel 40 toward the rear of the vehicle. It is configured to be insertable from the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, when assembling the structural member 20 to the indoor air conditioning unit 10, the structural member 20 can be assembled from the vehicle rear side of the indoor air conditioning unit 10, so that the workability of the assembly can be improved.
[0052]
(Other embodiments)
In the first embodiment, the air-conditioning case 13 is mounted on the support 21a. However, in implementing the present invention, the inside / outside air switching case 11, the fan case 12, and the like may be mounted on the support 21a.
[0053]
In the first embodiment, the support 21a is formed on the lower beam 21. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the support 21a may be formed on the upper beam 22, the centerless 24, and the like. .
[0054]
In the second embodiment, the hole-shaped insertion portion 14 is provided on the side of the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 and the protruded insertion portion 25 is provided on the side of the structural member 20. It is also possible to provide the protruding insertion portion 25 on the side of 10 and the hole-shaped insertion portion 14 on the side of the structural member 20.
[0055]
In addition, the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 of the first and second embodiments has a so-called semi-circular air conditioner in which the air-conditioning case 13 is disposed substantially at the center in the vehicle left-right direction, and the fan case 12 is disposed on the passenger seat side with respect to the air-conditioning case 13. This is a center-placed unit. On the other hand, another example of the present invention is to apply the present invention to a so-called perfect center-mounted unit in which the fan case 12 and the air-conditioning case 13 are arranged substantially at the center in the vehicle left-right direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an indoor air conditioning unit 10 and a structural member 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a structural member 20 is assembled to the indoor air-conditioning unit 10 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the indoor air-conditioning unit 10, the structural member 20, an instrument panel 30, and a dash panel 40 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where a structural member 20 is assembled to an indoor air conditioning unit 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a hole-like insertion portion 14, a vibration absorbing member 15, and a protrusion-like insertion portion 25 according to the second embodiment.
6A and 6B are views showing a support structure of a conventional indoor air conditioning unit 10, in which FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a state where a structural member 20 is assembled to the indoor air conditioning unit 10. .
[Explanation of symbols]
10: indoor air conditioning unit, 11: inside / outside air switching case, 12: fan case,
13 ... air-conditioning case, 20 ... structural member, 21a ... support part.

Claims (8)

A structural member (20) extending in the vehicle left-right direction and supporting at least a steering shaft;
An indoor air-conditioning unit (10) having a case (11, 12, 13) forming an air passage in the vehicle interior, and blowing air-conditioned air in the air passage toward the vehicle interior;
The structural member (20) is provided with a support portion (21a) for supporting the indoor air conditioning unit (10) from below,
The support structure of a vehicle indoor air-conditioning unit, wherein the indoor air-conditioning unit (10) is mounted on the support portion (21a). A portion (21c) of the structural member (20), which is adjacent to the support portion (21a) in the vehicle left-right direction, restricts movement of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) in the vehicle left-right direction. The support structure of a vehicle indoor air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein a support member is provided. In a portion of the structural member (20) adjacent to the support portion (21a) on the vehicle rear side, a rear restricting portion (21d) for restricting movement of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) toward the vehicle rear side is provided. The support structure for a vehicle indoor air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is provided. The vibration absorption member (21b) which absorbs vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) is arranged between the indoor air conditioning unit (10) and the support part (21a). The support structure of the vehicle indoor air conditioning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The said structural member (20) is comprised so that the said structural member (20) can be assembled | attached from the vehicle rear side of the said indoor air-conditioning unit (10) at the time of assembling the said structural member (20) to the said indoor air-conditioning unit (10). 5. The support structure for a vehicle indoor air-conditioning unit according to any one of items 4 to 4. A structural member (20) extending in the vehicle left-right direction and supporting at least a steering shaft;
An indoor air-conditioning unit (10) having a case (11, 12, 13) forming an air passage in the vehicle interior, and blowing air-conditioned air in the air passage toward the vehicle interior;
A hole-shaped insertion portion (14) having an insertion hole (14a) is provided in one of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20);
The other of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) and the structural member (20) is provided with a protruding insertion portion (25) inserted into the insertion hole (14a),
Of the hole-shaped insertion portion (14) and the protruding insertion portion (25), the insertion portion provided on the side of the structural member (20) allows the insertion provided on the side of the indoor air conditioning unit (10). A structure for supporting a vehicle interior air-conditioning unit, wherein the structure is adapted to support the air conditioning unit. A vibration absorbing member (15) for absorbing vibration of the indoor air conditioning unit (10) is arranged between the hole-shaped insertion portion (14) and the protruding insertion portion (25). A support structure for a vehicle indoor air conditioning unit according to claim 6. The insertion part (25) provided on the structural member (20) side can be inserted from the vehicle rear side of the insertion part (14) provided on the indoor air conditioning unit (10) side. The support structure of a vehicle indoor air-conditioning unit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein:

Images