JP2005337064A - Closing structure of on-board case and on-board case equipped with the closing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the degree-of-freedom of an installation layout of equipment installed in a case and its circumference by lessening the space necessary for closing and opening the on-board case. <P>SOLUTION: In an attachment and detachment mechanism, a lower case 8 and an upper case 9 forming an air cleaner case 1 are attached and detached. The upper case 9 is integrally formed with fastening claws 92, 93 equipped with 92a, 93a, and the lower case 8 with locking members 82, 83 engageably with the hooks 92a, 93a respectively. At closing the air cleaner case 1, when hooks 92a, 93a are engaged with the locking members 82, 83, the fastening claws 92, 93 only move along the outside of the air cleaner case 1, and not followed by the movement toward the crossing direction at a right angle with the outside of the air cleaner case 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for closing a vehicle-mounted case represented by, for example, an air cleaner case installed in an engine room of a vehicle, and a vehicle-mounted case having the structure. In particular, the present invention relates to a measure for reducing a space required for performing a closing operation and an opening operation of an in-vehicle case (hereinafter simply referred to as a case).

  Conventionally, an air cleaner is provided in an intake system installed in an engine room of an automobile. As a general configuration of the air cleaner, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the upper case made of resin (sometimes called a case main body) as well as the lower case made of resin (sometimes called a cap) An air cleaner element is housed in an air cleaner case that is integrally assembled. Further, since the air cleaner element needs to be periodically replaced, the air cleaner case can be freely opened. For example, while the lower case is fixed to the vehicle body side, the upper case is detachable from the lower case.

  As described above, a clamp member has been used as a configuration in which the lower case and the upper case are detachably assembled as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 (a cross-sectional view of the outer edge portion of the air cleaner case), for example, a band-shaped metal plate is bent (for example, curved in a substantially C shape) to form a clamp member a, A lower case side locking portion a1, an upper case side locking portion a2, and an operation portion a3 are formed on the clamp member a. Then, the lower case c and the upper case d are integrally combined with the air cleaner element b accommodated therein, and the lower case side locking portion a1 of the clamp member a from the lower side with respect to the outer edge flange portion c1 of the lower case c. Lock. In this state, the clamp member a is rotated around the horizontal axis with the locking portion as the rotation center (arrow A in FIG. 7), and the upper case side from the upper side with respect to the outer edge flange portion d1 of the upper case d. The locking portion a2 is locked (see the clamp member a indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7). Such a closing structure is applied to a plurality of locations (for example, 4 locations) on the outer edge of the air cleaner case, and the lower case c and the upper case d are firmly and integrally assembled.

When replacing the air cleaner element b, the reverse operation is performed to rotate the clamp member a outward about the horizontal axis (arrow B in FIG. 7), and clamp from the outer edge flange portion d1 of the upper case d. The assembled state of the lower case c and the upper case d is released by detaching the upper case side locking portion a2 of the member a (see the clamp member a indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 7).
JP-A-8-320006

  However, as described above, in the conventional air cleaner case closing structure, the clamp member a is used, and the clamp member a is rotated about a horizontal axis (rotated in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the air cleaner case). Thus, the lower case c and the upper case d are attached and detached. For this reason, it is necessary to secure a space (the space S in FIG. 7) for rotating the clamp member a around the air cleaner case.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of the vicinity of an air cleaner installation location in an engine room where the air cleaner case having the conventional structure is installed. In particular, in FIG. 8, the clamp member a is rotated about the horizontal axis to disengage the upper case side locking portion a2 of the clamp member a from the outer edge flange portion d1 of the upper case d (the phantom line in FIG. 7). State).

  In FIG. 8, the headlamp f is located on the front side of the vehicle body of the air cleaner e, and the engine accessory g (eg, alternator) is located on the rear side of the vehicle body. For this reason, a rotation space (S1 in the figure) for the clamp members a and a mounted on the front side of the air cleaner case is required between the front surface of the air cleaner e and the headlamp f. Between the rear surface and the engine accessory g, a rotation space (S2 in the drawing) of the clamp members a and a mounted on the rear surface side of the air cleaner case is necessary.

  As described above, in the conventional configuration, it is necessary to secure the rotation space of the clamp member a around the air cleaner case. This is not only a factor that hinders downsizing of the engine room, but also the air cleaner and its This greatly hindered the freedom of installation layout of the equipment installed in the vicinity. In FIG. 8, h is a radiator, i is a throttle body, j is a surge tank, and k is an engine body.

  The above-described problem occurs not only in the air cleaner case but also in a case (fuse box or the like) that is mounted on an automobile and is closed using a clamp member.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the space required for closing and opening the in-vehicle case, thereby reducing the size of the case and the equipment installed around it. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle case closing structure capable of improving the degree of freedom of installation layout and an in-vehicle case provided with the closing structure.

-Summary of invention-
In order to achieve the above object, the solution of the present invention includes a first case member (a lower case in the case of an air cleaner case) and a second case member (in an air cleaner case) constituting a case such as an air cleaner case. When attaching and detaching the upper case), a locking member that does not move in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the case is provided, and this locking member moves (changes in posture) in a plane along the mounting direction of the case. Thus, a state in which the first case member and the second case member are engaged (locked state) and a state in which the engagement is released (unlocked state) are obtained.

-Solution-
Specifically, the present invention presupposes a structure for closing an in-vehicle case that is mounted on an automobile and includes at least a first case member and a second case member, and these are integrally assembled. The closing structure is provided with a locking member and a locked member to be locked by the locking member, and the first case member and the second case member are relatively moved in a direction approaching each other. When the locking member reaches a predetermined assembly position, the locking member changes its posture in the plane along the relative movement direction and locks to the locked member, thereby engaging the first case member and the second case member. It is configured to match.

Due to this specific matter, when the first case member and the second case member are assembled together and the case is closed, for example, the second case member is moved in a direction close to the first case member. . Then, when the second case member moves to a predetermined assembly position, the locking member moves (changes in posture) in a plane along the assembly direction (direction of relative movement). The two case members are engaged so as not to be detached. In this way, in this solution means, in the operation of closing the case, there is no movement of the locking member in the direction orthogonal to the outer surface of the case, so a large space is secured around the closing mechanism portion. There is no need to keep it. The same applies to the case where the first case member is brought close to the second case member and these case members are assembled together to close the case. Conventionally, it has been necessary to secure a space for rotating the clamp member around the outer periphery of the case. On the other hand, according to this solution, the space is no longer necessary, and the space required for installing the case can be greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation layout of devices installed in the case and its periphery, and it is possible to install these peripheral devices and the case in extremely close positions.

  Specific configurations for engaging the first case member and the second case member by changing the posture of the engaging member and engaging the engaged member include the following. The locking member is provided in one case member of the first case member and the second case member, and is in a direction along the outer surface of the one case member, and the first case member and the second case member. The hook part protrudes toward the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction when assembling. On the other hand, the locked member is provided in the other case member and forms an insertion space in which the locking member can be inserted. When the first case member and the second case member are moved relative to each other in the direction in which they are close to each other, the locking member comes into contact with the locked member and elastically deforms, whereby the hook portion of the locking member is locked. When the first case member and the second case member reach a predetermined assembly position after passing through the insertion space of the stop member, the hook portion of the lock member gets over the locked member, so that the lock member is restored to the original position. It returns to the shape, and the hook portion is locked to the locked member, thereby engaging the first case member and the second case member.

  Due to this specific matter, when the first case member and the second case member are relatively moved in the direction of approaching each other, the hook portion of the locking member comes into contact with the locked member. When the first case member and the second case member are further brought closer to each other in this state, the hook portion receives the reaction force from the locked member, and the locking member is elastically deformed to be formed on the locked member. It is inserted into the insertion space. When the first case member and the second case member are further brought close to each other and the first case member and the second case member reach a predetermined assembly position, the hook portion of the locking member gets over the locked member. The locking member returns to its original shape, and the hook portion engages with the locked member. As a result, the first case member and the second case member cannot be detached. In this way, the hook portion is automatically engaged with the locked member only by moving the first case member and the second case member in the direction of approaching each other. The closed state of the case can be obtained only by the operation of bringing the member and the second case member relatively close to each other, and the workability is extremely good.

  As a configuration for opening the case closed as described above, there is the following. In this configuration, the locking member is provided with an operation portion for releasing the engagement state of the hook portion with the locked member by elastically deforming the locking member.

  According to this, the case is opened only by moving the first case member and the second case member away from each other in a state where the operation portion is operated and the engagement state of the hook portion with the locked member is released. This makes it easy to replace the member housed in the case (for the air cleaner case, replace the air cleaner element) and to perform maintenance.

  An in-vehicle case provided with the closing structure described in any one of the above-described solving means is also within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. That is, when the first case member and the second case member are relatively moved in a direction close to each other and both of them reach a predetermined assembly position, the locking member is moved within the plane along the relative movement direction. It is an in-vehicle case in which a posture is changed and locked to a locked member, and a first case member and a second case member are engaged.

  Moreover, an air cleaner case is specifically mentioned as this vehicle-mounted case. That is, the air cleaner element is housed in a case internal space formed by the first case member and the second case member.

  In the present invention, when the first case member and the second case member constituting the case are integrally assembled and the case is closed, the first case member and the second case member are within the plane along the direction of relative movement. Both case members are engaged when the locking member changes its posture and locks to the locked member. Conventionally, since a clamp member that rotates in a direction orthogonal to the outer surface of the case is used, a space for this rotation is required on the outer periphery of the case. According to the present invention, this space is not necessary, and the space required for installing the case can be greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation layout of the case and the devices installed in the vicinity thereof, and it is possible to install these peripheral devices and the case in extremely close positions. In particular, when the present invention is applied to an air cleaner case installed in an engine room, it is possible to lay out each device by efficiently using the internal space of the engine room.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to an air cleaner case which is a housing member of an air cleaner installed in an engine room of an automobile will be described.

-Schematic configuration of intake system-
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the vicinity of an air cleaner installation location in an engine room R in which an air cleaner 2 using an air cleaner case 1 according to this embodiment is installed (a part of a bonnet and a fender panel is broken). As shown in FIG. 1, the intake system for introducing air into the engine body E includes an air cleaner 2, a throttle body 3, a surge tank 4, an intake manifold (not shown), and the like. An intake passage for introducing intake air into each cylinder of E is configured.

  The air cleaner 2 accommodates an air cleaner element (not shown) inside, and an upstream portion (primary space of the air cleaner element) in the air flow direction is connected to the air inlet 21 and the air flow direction in the air flow direction. A downstream portion (secondary space of the air cleaner element) is connected to the throttle body 3 via an air outlet 22. That is, outside air (intake air) introduced from the air inlet 21 is purified by the air cleaner element when passing through the air cleaner 2, and then supplied from the air outlet 22 toward the throttle body 3.

  In the air cleaner 2 according to this embodiment, the air inlet 21 is connected to the lower case 8 described later, and the air outlet 22 is connected to the upper case 9 described later. The reason for connecting the air outlet 22 to the upper case 9 is that the water outlet flows from the air outlet 22 toward the throttle body 3 even if water enters the air cleaner 2 by setting the connection position of the air outlet 22 high. This is to prevent it from happening. This connection location is not limited to this. In FIG. 1, 5 is a headlamp, 6 is a radiator, and 7 is an engine accessory such as an alternator.

-Overall configuration of air cleaner case 1-
Next, the air cleaner case 1 which is a characteristic member of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air cleaner case 1 in a closed state, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the air cleaner case 1 in an opened state. In the air cleaner case 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The surface indicated by reference numeral 11 in the figure is the front surface facing the front side of the vehicle body, and the surface indicated by reference numeral 12 in the figure is the rear surface facing the rear side of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air cleaner case 1 includes a resin-made lower case 8 (sometimes referred to as a case body) as the first case member referred to in the present invention and a second case member referred to in the present invention. A resin upper case 9 (sometimes called a cap) is integrally assembled. Further, as described above, an air cleaner element (not shown) is accommodated in the air cleaner case 1. As a support structure of the air cleaner element inside the air cleaner case 1, it may be supported by the lower case 8 or may be supported by the upper case 9. The air cleaner case 1 may contain an adsorbent for preventing diffusion of fuel vapor leaking through the intake system to the outside. Moreover, a sealing material is interposed between the mating surfaces of the lower case 8 and the upper case 9 as necessary.

  The lower case 8 is fixed to the vehicle body via a fixing bracket (not shown). On the other hand, since the air cleaner element needs to be periodically replaced, the upper case 9 is detachable from the lower case 8. That is, by removing the upper case 9 from the lower case 8, the inside of the air cleaner case 1 is opened (see the state of FIG. 3), and the air cleaner element is replaced. 3, 84 is an inlet opening to which the air inlet 21 is connected, and 95 is an outlet opening to which the air outlet 22 is connected.

-Removal mechanism for upper case 9-
Next, a configuration for making the upper case 9 detachable with respect to the lower case 8 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the air cleaner case 1, a plurality of overlapping portions of the lower case 8 and the upper case 9 (in the present embodiment, in the vicinity of the left and right outer ends of the front surface 11 and the rear surface 12 of the air cleaner case 1, respectively. An attachment / detachment mechanism for making the upper case 9 detachable with respect to the lower case 8 is provided at a total of four positions). FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing an operating state of one of the attachment / detachment mechanisms. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the attaching / detaching mechanism includes a locking portion 91 formed integrally with the upper case 9, and a cover formed integrally with the lower case 8 and disposed at a position corresponding to the locking portion 91. It is comprised by the latching | locking part 81. FIG. Each will be described in detail below. In addition, since each shape of the latching | locking part 91 and the to-be-latched part 81 with which each attachment / detachment mechanism is equipped is the same, it demonstrates on behalf of the one latching | locking part 91 and the to-be-latched part 81 here. .

(Locking portion 91)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the locking portion 91 includes a pair of left and right locking claws (locking members in the present invention) 92 and 93 extending downward from the lower end of the outer edge of the upper case 9. These latching claws 92 and 93 are symmetrical to each other, and hook portions 92a and 93a projecting outward in the left and right directions are formed at a substantially central portion in the extending direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4). The lower portions of the hook portions 92a and 93a are formed as guide portions 92b and 93b that taper toward the bottom. The outer surfaces (surfaces facing left and right outer sides) of the guide portions 92b and 93b are formed as inclined surfaces 92c and 93c, and this functions as a guide when the main locking portion 91 is inserted into the locked portion 81. It has become. The upper ends of the guide portions 92b and 93b and the lower end of the upper case 9 are connected by straight portions 92d and 93d. As described above, the main locking portion 91 is formed in a so-called buckle shape having a substantially U-shaped slit 91 a opened downward at the center. The slit 91a extends to the base portion of the locking claws 92 and 93, whereby the elastic deformation (see FIG. 4B) in the direction in which the locking claws 92 and 93 are close to each other can be easily performed. ing.

  In addition, as one of the features of the locking claws 92 and 93, small-diameter cylindrical pins (operation portions referred to in the present invention) 92e and 93e are erected at the lower ends thereof. When the operator operates the pins 92e and 93e, the pins 92e and 93e can be elastically deformed in a direction in which the locking claws 92 and 93 are close to each other.

(Locked part 81)
Next, the locked portion 81 will be described. The locked portion 81 is formed at a position corresponding to the locking portion 91 on the front surface and the rear surface of the lower case 8. Specifically, the locked portion 81 is constituted by a pair of left and right lock members (locked members referred to in the present invention) 82 and 83 having an L-shaped cross section provided at the upper end portion of the surface of the lower case 8. . The lock members 82 and 83 are symmetrical to each other, and extend in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the lower case 8, and the lock members on the other side from the tips of the first piece portions 82 a and 83 a. Second pieces 82b and 83b extending in parallel with the surface of the lower case 8 toward 83 and 82 are provided. An insertion space 81a for inserting the locking portion 91 is formed between the pair of left and right lock members 82, 83 formed in this way (see FIG. 3). In addition, a gap having a predetermined dimension (a gap having a dimension t4 shown in FIG. 4A) is formed between the second pieces 82b and 83b of the pair of left and right lock members 82 and 83.

  The relationship between the dimension of each part of this to-be-latched part 81 and the dimension of each part of the said latching | locking part 91 is demonstrated below. As the dimensions of the first piece portions 82a and 83a of the pair of left and right lock members 82 and 83 constituting the locked portion 81, the protruding dimension from the surface of the lower case 8 is the thickness of the locking claws 92 and 93. It is set to coincide or slightly larger than this plate thickness dimension. As a result, the locking claws 92 and 93 can be inserted into the insertion space 81a. Further, the distance between the first pieces 82a and 83a (the dimension t1 in FIG. 4A) is the dimension between the outer edges of the straight portions 92d and 93d of the locking claws 92 and 93 ( This substantially coincides with the dimension T1) in FIG. Further, the distance dimension t1 is a dimension between the left and right outer ends of the hook portions 92a, 93a of the locking claws 92, 93 (a dimension when no external force is applied to the locking claws 92, 93; FIG. It is smaller than the dimension T2) in (a). Further, the vertical dimension of each first piece 82a, 83a (dimension t3 in FIG. 4A) is the vertical dimension of the straight portions 92d, 93d of the locking claws 92, 93 ( This corresponds to the length between the lower end edge of the upper case 9 and the upper end edges of the hook portions 92a and 93a, and substantially coincides with the dimension T3 in FIG. Further, the dimension of the gap between the second pieces 82b and 83b of the lock members 82 and 83 (dimension t4 in FIG. 4A) is determined by the pins 92e and 93e formed on the locking claws 92 and 93, respectively. Is equal to or slightly larger than the dimension (T4) (the dimension when no external force is applied to the pins 92e and 93e; the dimension T4 in FIG. 4A). ing.

-Closing and opening of air cleaner case 1-
Next, the closing operation and the opening operation of the air cleaner case 1 configured as described above will be described.

(Closing operation)
First, in the closing operation of the air cleaner case 1, as shown by an arrow I in FIG. 3, the upper case 9 is brought close to the lower case 8 from above. At this time, the locking portions 91, 91,... Formed in the upper case 9 are respectively opposed to the locked portions 81, 81,.

When the upper case 9 is brought closer to the lower case 8 from above, the inclined surfaces formed on the respective locking claws 92 and 93 of the locking portion 91 as shown in FIG. 92c, 93c abuts on the first piece portions 82a, 83a of the locked portion 81, and the first piece portions 82a, 8a.
While the locking claws 92 and 93 are elastically deformed in the direction of decreasing the width dimension of the slit 91a by the reaction force from 3a (arrow II in FIG. It is inserted into the insertion space 81a. At this time, each pin 92e, 93e passes through a gap between the second piece portions 82b, 83b (the gap of the dimension t4). Further, the hook portions 92a and 93a of the locking claws 92 and 93 pass through the insertion space 81a while slidingly contacting the inner side surfaces of the first piece portions 82a and 83a.

  When the upper case 9 is further pushed into the lower case 8 from this state, the lower end of the upper case 9 overlaps the upper end of the lower case 8, and these reach a predetermined assembly position. Along with this, the hook portions 92a, 93a of the respective locking claws 92, 93 get over the lower end edges of the first piece portions 82a, 83a of the locked portion 81, so that the respective locking claws 92, 93 have the original shape. The hook portions 92a and 93a are engaged with the lower ends of the first piece portions 82a and 83a (see FIG. 4C). As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper case 9 is integrally engaged with the lower case 8.

  In the operation in which the air cleaner case 1 is closed in this manner, the hook portions 92a and 93a are engaged with the lower ends of the first piece portions 82a and 83a in each attachment / detachment mechanism even when an upward external force is applied to the upper case 9. Therefore, the air cleaner case 1 is stably maintained in the closed state without being detached from the lower case 8. Further, as described above, the vertical length of each first piece 82a, 83a (the dimension t3 in FIG. 4A) is the vertical length of the straight portions 92d, 93d of the locking claws 92, 93. Since it substantially matches the length dimension (dimension T3 in FIG. 4A), in this closed state, the upper case 9 does not “rattle” with respect to the lower case 8, and the air cleaner case 1 has the airtightness. It can be maintained well.

(Opening operation)
Next, the opening operation | movement of the air cleaner case 1 performed at the time of replacement | exchange of an air cleaner element, etc. is demonstrated. In this opening operation, first, as indicated by an arrow III in FIG. 4C, the operator picks the pins 92e and 93e, etc., and the width dimension of the slit 91a is reduced for each of the locking claws 92 and 93. Elastically deform in the direction. Thereby, hook part 92a, 93a of each latching claw 92, 93 enables it to escape from the insertion space 81a between each 1st piece part 82a, 83a. In this way, by operating the pins 92e and 93e in each attachment / detachment mechanism, the hook portions 92a and 93a are disengaged from the lower ends of the first piece portions 82a and 83a, and the upper case 9 is moved upward with respect to the lower case 8. Move to. As a result, the air cleaner case 1 is opened as shown in FIG. 3, and the air cleaner element can be replaced. Specifically, first, the pins 92e and 93e of the engaging portions 91 and 91 on the front surface 11 side of the air cleaner case 1 are operated to release the engagement state on the front surface side, and then the rear surface of the air cleaner case 1 By operating the pins 92e and 93e of the respective locking portions 91 and 91 on the 12th side, an operation of releasing the engagement state on the rear surface side is performed.

  The above is the closing operation and the opening operation of the air cleaner case 1.

-Effect of the embodiment-
As described above, in this embodiment, when the upper case 9 is integrally assembled to the lower case 8 or when the upper case 9 is removed from the lower case 8, the engaging portion 91 provided in the upper case 9 is engaged. The engaging claws 92 and 93 are engaged with the locking members 82 and 83 of the hook portions 92a and 93a only by moving the pawls 92 and 93 in the direction along the surfaces of the lower case 8 and the upper case 9 (change in posture). And the engagement releasing operation can be performed. That is, the upper case 9 can be attached to and detached from the lower case 8 without being moved or rotated in a direction orthogonal to the outer surface of the air cleaner case 1. For this reason, the space required for installing the air cleaner case 1 can be greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation layout of the air cleaner case 1 and the devices installed in the vicinity thereof, and it is possible to install these peripheral devices and the air cleaner case 1 at extremely close positions. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to lay out with almost no space between the front surface of the air cleaner case 1 and the headlamp 5 or between the rear surface of the air cleaner case 1 and the engine accessories 7. Become. Thus, even in a state where there is only a small space before and after the air cleaner case 1, according to the present embodiment, there is no movement of the member in the direction orthogonal to the outer surface of the air cleaner case 1 (conventionally) This clamping member needed to rotate in this orthogonal direction), and the upper case 9 can be attached to and detached from the lower case 8.

  Further, conventionally, it has been necessary to prepare a number of clamping members that are separate from the cases 8 and 9, so that the number of parts is increased. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the locking part 91 is integrally formed with the upper case 9 and the locked part 81 is integrally formed with the lower case 8, the number of parts can be greatly reduced.

  Further, since the hook portions 92a and 93a are automatically engaged with the lock members 82 and 83 only by moving the upper case 9 toward the lower case 8, the air cleaner case 1 is closed with only one action. The workability is extremely good.

-Modification-
Next, a modified example of the present invention will be described. The following first modified example is a modified example relating to a configuration in which the engagement state of the hook portions 92a and 93a is released when the air cleaner case 1 is opened. The second modified example is a modified example in which the cases 8 and 9 are integrally assembled by a member different from the lower case 8 and the upper case 9.

(First modification)
A first modification will be described with reference to FIG. Here, only differences from the above-described embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the locking portion 91 according to this example, the straight portions 92d and 93d of the locking claws 92 and 93 are used for releasing the engagement instead of the pins 92e and 93e in the above-described embodiment. The grip portions 92f and 93f are integrally formed.

  Specifically, a pair of left and right grips 92f and 93f projecting laterally from the side surfaces of the straight parts 92d and 93d are formed, and the lower ends of the grips 92f and 93f and the upper ends of the hooks 92a and 93a are formed. The length dimension between them (corresponding to the vertical dimension (the dimension T3 in FIG. 4A) of the straight portions 92d and 93d in the above embodiment) is the first piece portion 82a of the locked portion 81, It substantially matches the vertical dimension of 83a (dimension t3 in FIG. 4A). That is, the straight portions 92d and 93d of the present modification are formed slightly longer than the straight portions 92d and 93d in the above-described embodiment, and the grip portions 92f and 93f are integrally formed. Accordingly, in this example, the formation position of the locked portion 81 formed integrally with the lower case 8 is also formed at a position slightly below the upper end of the surface of the lower case 8.

According to the configuration of this example, when the engagement state of the hook portions 92a and 93a is released during the opening operation of the air cleaner case 1, the operator holds the grip portions 92f and 93f and the width dimension of the slit 91a is small. Each of the locking claws 92 and 93 is elastically deformed in the following direction. Thereby, hook part 92a, 93a of each latching claw 92, 93 comes out of the insertion space 81a between each 1st piece part 82a, 83a. Thus, in this modification, the pin 9 in the above embodiment is used.
Since the operation part (gripping part 92f, 93f) can be positioned at a position higher than the positions 2e, 93e, the operability can be further improved.

(Second modification)
A second modification will be described with reference to FIG. Here, only differences from the above-described embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the present example, the locked portion 81 is integrally formed on both the lower case 8 and the upper case 9, and four locking tools as separate members for connecting them are provided. 10, 10, ... are provided. As a configuration of the locking tool 10, locking claws 92 and 93 similar to the locking portion 91 of the above-described embodiment are formed on both upper and lower ends. That is, the upper locking claws 92, 93 of the locking tools 10, 10,... Engage with the locked portion 81 of the upper case 9, and the lower locking claws 92, 93 are engaged with the lower case 8. By engaging with the stopper 81, the lower case 8 and the upper case 9 are assembled together to obtain a closed state of the air cleaner case 1.

  As an operation for assembling the lower case 8 and the upper case 9 together using the locking tool 10, the upper case is mounted with the locking tool 10 mounted on the locked portion 81 of the upper case 9. 9 may be brought close to the lower case 8 so that the lower locking claws 92 and 93 of the locking tool 10 are engaged with the locked portion 81 of the lower case 8. With the upper case 9 being brought close to the lower case 8 in a state of being attached to the locked portion 81, the upper locking claws 92 and 93 of the locking tool 10 are engaged with the locked portion 81 of the upper case 9. May be. Further, the upper case 9 is not attached to either the upper case 9 or the lower case 8, and the upper case 9 is placed in the lower case 8 in a state in which the locking tool 10 is interposed between the cases 8 and 9 (a state of being sandwiched). The cases 8 and 9 may be integrally assembled simultaneously with the attachment of the locking member 10 to the cases 8 and 9.

-Other embodiments-
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and the following configurations may be employed.

  First, in the above embodiment, the upper case 9 is provided with the locking portion 91 and the lower case 8 is provided with the locked portion 81. Conversely, the upper case 9 is locked with the locked portion 81 and the lower case 8 is locked. The unit 91 may be provided.

  The number of attachment / detachment mechanisms is four, but the number is not particularly limited, and may be three or less or five or more. For example, one side of the lower case 8 and the upper case 9 may be connected by a hinge, and an attachment / detachment mechanism may be provided at one or a plurality of sides facing the hinge-connected side.

  The attachment / detachment mechanisms provided at a plurality of locations need not all have the above-described configuration (combination of the locking portion 91 and the locked portion 81). In particular, a conventional clamp member may be used in a place where space reduction is not required. That is, the closing structure according to the present invention and the conventional closing structure by the clamp member are used in combination.

  The air cleaner case 1 is not limited to the vertically split type, but can be applied to a left and right split type and a front and rear split type. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to the air cleaner case 1 divided into three or more. Further, the present invention is not limited to the square air cleaner case 1 but can be applied to a cylindrical air cleaner case.

The present invention can be applied not only to the air cleaner case 1 installed in the engine room R of the automobile but also to other in-vehicle cases. For example, it can be applied to an air cleaner case installed outside the engine room, such as a cab-over vehicle, or to a fuse box or other case.

  In the above embodiment, the headlamp 5 is installed on the front side of the air cleaner 2 and the engine accessories 7 are installed on the rear side of the air cleaner 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various layouts are available. Applicable to automobiles.

It is the top view which fractured | ruptured a part of the bonnet and fender panel which show the air cleaner installation location periphery in the engine room in which the air cleaner case which concerns on embodiment was installed. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the air cleaner case was closed. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the air cleaner case was open | released. It is an enlarged view for demonstrating the attachment or detachment operation | movement of an attachment / detachment mechanism. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a first modification. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a second modification. It is sectional drawing of the outer edge part of the air cleaner case which shows a prior art example. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 1 in a conventional example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Air cleaner case (case)
8 Lower case (first case member)
81a Insertion space 82, 83 Lock member (locked member)
9 Upper case (second case member)
92,93 Locking claw (locking member)
92a, 93a Hook part 92e, 93e Pin (operation part)

Claims (5)

A structure for closing an in-vehicle case that is mounted on an automobile and includes at least a first case member and a second case member and these are integrally assembled,
A locking member and a locked member to be locked by the locking member;
When the first case member and the second case member are relatively moved in directions close to each other and both of them reach a predetermined assembly position, the locking member is positioned in a plane along the direction of the relative movement. An in-vehicle case closing structure characterized in that the first case member and the second case member are engaged with each other by being changed and locked to the locked member. In the on-vehicle case closing structure according to claim 1,
The locking member is provided in one case member of the first case member and the second case member, and is in a direction along the outer surface of the one case member, and the first case member and the second case member. While having a hook portion that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction when assembling
The locked member is provided in the other case member and forms an insertion space in which the locking member can be inserted.
When the first case member and the second case member are relatively moved in a direction close to each other, the locking member abuts on the locked member and is elastically deformed, whereby the hook portion of the locking member is locked. When the first case member and the second case member reach the predetermined assembly position when the first case member and the second case member pass through the insertion space, the hook portion of the locking member gets over the locked member, so that the locking member becomes the original shape. An in-vehicle case closing structure characterized in that it is configured to return and the hook portion engages with the member to be engaged, thereby engaging the first case member and the second case member. In the on-vehicle case closing structure according to claim 2,
An in-vehicle case closing structure, wherein the locking member is provided with an operation portion for releasing the engagement state of the hook portion with the locked member by elastically deforming the locking member.   An in-vehicle case provided with the closing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first case member and the second case member are relatively moved in a direction close to each other, When the predetermined assembly position is reached, the locking member changes its posture in the plane along the relative movement direction and locks to the locked member, and the first case member and the second case member engage with each other. In-vehicle case characterized by being made.   The in-vehicle case having the closing structure according to claim 4 is an air cleaner case, and an air cleaner element is accommodated in a case internal space formed by a first case member and a second case member. Car case.

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