JP2008126683A - Inspection cover mounting structure of air duct - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve inspecting and assembling work efficiency, reliability and durability, to simplify constitution, and to reduce cost. <P>SOLUTION: An inspection window 17 for an inspection work is opened and formed on a duct side wall 15 of a tubular air duct 10 having an air intake port opened on an upstream side. An inspection cover 30 can be rotated to closed posture and opened posture by making a shaft part 31 fitted to a bearing recessed part 19 of a shaft supporting piece part 18 extended from a peripheral edge part of the inspection window 17 to the outside of the duct 10 as a fulcrum. A cover main body 32 covers the inspection window 17 at the closed posture and inclines to the duct side wall 15 so that an upstream side end part of the cover main body 32 may enter the air duct 10 at the opened posture. A locking claw part 37 formed in the inspection cover 30 is engaged to the peripheral edge part of the inspection window 17 from the inside of the duct 10 at the opened posture, and thereby the inspection cover 30 is temporarily held to the opened posture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air duct that is an intake system component of a passenger car of a vehicle, and more particularly to a mounting structure of an inspection cover that opens and closes an inspection window formed in the side wall of the duct.

In recent years, in passenger cars and other vehicles, the interior of the vehicle has been expanded to improve comfort, etc., and the engine room tends to be narrowed. For this purpose, there is a type in which an inspection window is formed in the duct side wall of the air duct and an inspection tool such as a tester is inserted from the air intake port of the air duct through the inspection window. After the inspection, the inspection window is closed by an appropriate inspection cover. Patent Document 1 describes a structure similar to such an inspection window or inspection cover.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-120625

  Such an inspection cover must be held in an open position so that an inspection tool such as a tester can be easily inserted through the inspection window from the air intake of the air duct at the time of inspection. It is required to have a closed posture along the duct side wall of the air duct so as not to obstruct the air flow in the air duct while airtightly closing the air duct.

  An object of the present invention is to achieve inspection workability, reliability and durability, simplification of configuration, and cost reduction in an inspection cover mounting structure that realizes the above-described open and closed postures.

  The present invention relates to an inspection cover mounting structure for an air duct that opens and closes an inspection window for inspection work formed on the duct side wall of a tubular air duct having an air intake opening on the upstream side by an inspection cover. And the bearing recessed part which the axial part formed in an inspection cover fits in the axial support piece part projected to the duct outside from the peripheral part of the inspection window is formed in the duct side wall, It can be rotated between the closed position and the open position with the shaft as a fulcrum, so that the cover body covers the inspection window in the closed position, and the upstream end of the cover body enters the inside of the air duct in the open position. A latching claw portion that is inclined with respect to the side wall of the duct and that temporarily holds the inspection cover in the open position by engaging the inspection cover with the peripheral edge of the inspection window from the inside of the duct when in the open position. It is characterized by being formed.

  Preferably, the bearing recess has a substantially C-shape, a part of which is open in the circumferential direction, and the length of the opening is set to be shorter than the diameter of the shaft portion inserted therethrough.

  According to the present invention, the inspection cover can be assembled to the air duct by fitting the shaft portion of the inspection cover into the bearing recess of the air duct. For example, a special fixing tool or fixture for attaching the inspection cover to the air duct can be used. The number of manufacturing steps and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced as compared with those that require the use of a bonding process such as welding. In addition, since the inspection cover is structured to rotate between the open posture and the closed posture with the shaft as a fulcrum, there is no shape change or distortion caused by the posture change between the open posture and the closed posture. Excellent in durability and durability.

  In addition, the shaft part of the inspection cover and its bearing recess are located outside the duct, and when in the open position, the upstream end of the cover body is inclined so as to enter the inside of the air duct. When closing the cover, the operator should put his hand from the air intake side of the air duct and push the cover body outward, which is very easy to work and for work that obstructs the air flow in the air duct. There is no need to provide a protrusion or the like on the inner surface side of the cover main body, and the inner surface of the cover main body can be formed into a flat shape along the duct side wall, which is excellent in quality.

  The inspection cover can be temporarily held in an open position by the locking piece, so that the inspection cover will not be inadvertently closed during delivery or transportation, and also during inspection work. Since the cover is held in the open position, the inspection workability is good. Also, by changing the position of this locking claw, it is possible to change the inclination angle of the inspection cover in the open position, that is, the temporary holding angle, and it is easy to change the temporary holding angle according to specifications and requirements. is there.

  Further, by adopting a so-called snap-fit fixing structure in which the opening of the bearing recess is shorter than the diameter of the shaft portion, the inspection cover can be easily assembled to the air duct without using a special fixing tool or the like.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to illustrated embodiments. 1 to 4, this air duct 10 is installed in an engine room (not shown) of a vehicle such as a passenger car, and is integrally injection-molded with a synthetic resin and is upstream in the air flow direction. It has a substantially square tubular shape in which an air intake 12 is formed in the flange 11 at the end (left side in FIG. 2). The air duct 10 is attached to intake system components such as an intake pipe and an air cleaner on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 2), and an appropriate fixing tool that is inserted through an attachment hole 13 formed in the flange portion 11 on the upstream side. Is used to fix the vehicle body in a predetermined position in the engine room. The air introduced from the air intake 12 is supplied to the downstream side through the air passage 14 in the air duct 10 and supplied to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine through the air cleaner, the collector, the intake manifold, and the like.

  An inspection window 17 into which a tester 16 (FIG. 1) as an inspection tool is inserted is formed in the duct side wall 15 which is a specific position (for example, the lower side) when the air duct 10 is assembled to the vehicle. The window 17 is configured to be opened and closed by an inspection cover 30 that is separate from the air duct 10.

  The inspection cover 30 is assembled to the air duct 10 so as to be rotatable about the shaft portion 31. The inspection cover 30 is temporarily held in an open position for opening the inspection window 17 until inspection is performed after assembly of the vehicle, including parts delivery and transportation. In this open position, as shown in FIG. The cover main body 32 of the inspection cover 30 is inclined with respect to the duct side wall 15 at a predetermined inclination angle, that is, a temporary holding angle α so that the end portion on the side enters the inside of the air duct 10, and the tester 16 is moved to the arrow of FIG. By inserting into the engine room outside the air duct 10 from the air intake port 12 through the inspection window 17 along the direction F, inspection work such as confirmation of pipe leakage of the air conditioner is performed. When this inspection work is completed, the operator puts his hand through the air intake 12 and pushes the inspection cover 30 outward to bring the inspection cover 30 into a closed posture, and the inspection window 17 is closed by the inspection cover 30. In FIG. 1, the inspection cover 30 ′ in the closed posture is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  The configuration of each part will be described in detail. On the duct side wall 15 of the air duct 10, a pair of thin plate-like shaft support pieces 18 erected substantially perpendicularly outward from the downstream end portions on both sides of the peripheral edge of the inspection window 17. (18A, 18B) is formed. Each shaft support piece 18 is formed with a semicircular bearing recess 19 in which the shaft 31 of the inspection cover 30 is rotatably fitted. The inspection cover 30 is inserted into the air duct 10 of the air duct 10, and the shaft portion 31 is pushed into the bearing recess 19, whereby the inspection cover 30 is assembled to the air duct 10 in the open posture shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each bearing recess 19 has a substantially C-shape that opens in part in the circumferential direction, and the length of the opening 19 </ b> A is set to be shorter than the diameter of the shaft portion 31 that passes therethrough. Yes. For this reason, the shaft portion 31 and the bearing concave portion 19 have a fixing structure by so-called snap fit that is not easily detached once assembled. Therefore, for example, when using a special fixing tool or fixture for fixing the inspection cover to the air duct, or when performing a joining process such as welding, the manufacturing operation is simplified, and the manufacturing man-hours and manufacturing costs are reduced. Can be greatly reduced.

  One shaft support piece 18 is formed with an inclined wall portion 20 having an inclined surface 21 inclined from the opening edge of the inspection window 17 toward the bearing recess 19. Therefore, when the inspection cover 30 is assembled, the shaft portion 31 of the inspection cover 30 can be easily assembled to the bearing recess 19 along the inclined surface 21, and the inclined surface 21 functions as a guide when assembled. Assembly workability is easier.

  FIG. 5 shows the inspection cover 30 as a single unit. Similar to the air duct 10, the inspection cover 30 is injection-molded integrally with synthetic resin and mainly includes a thin plate-like cover body 32. The cover body 32 is set to have a slightly larger size than the inspection window 17, and in the closed position, the peripheral edge wraps around the peripheral edge of the inspection window 17 to close the inspection window 17 from the inside. The window 17 is substantially hermetically sealed. The inner surface of the cover main body 32 is a smooth surface (a flat surface and a curved surface) along the duct side wall 15 so that the air passage 14 is well defined together with the duct side wall 15 in the closed posture. Of the cover main body 32, the stepped portion 33 on the shaft portion 31 side is provided with a slight step that does not hinder the flow of the air passage 14 in order to allow the inspection cover 30 to rotate. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, on the outer surface side of the cover main body 32, a strip-shaped rib 34 for securing desired strength and rigidity, and an upright piece portion 35 including the pair of shaft portions 31, The opposed wall portion 36 that faces the inclined wall portion 20 is formed to protrude. A locking claw portion 37 and a stopper portion 38 projecting from the inclined wall portion 20 side, that is, the side are formed on the facing wall portion 36. In the open posture, the peripheral portion of the inspection window 17, that is, the inclined wall portion 20 is sandwiched between the locking claw portion 37 and the stopper portion 38, and the movement of the inspection cover 30 in the rotation direction is prevented. The cover 30 is temporarily held in an open posture. More specifically, the locking piece portion 37 faces the inner surface of the inclined wall portion 20 so as to be able to contact and engage, and restricts the movement of the inspection cover 30 in the closing direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). At the same time, the stopper portion 38 opposes the outer surface of the inclined wall portion 20, that is, the inclined surface 21 so as to be able to contact and engage, thereby restricting the movement of the inspection cover 30 in the opening direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1). In consideration of dimensional tolerance, assembly workability, and the like, a predetermined gap 22 is provided between the locking claw portion 37 and the stopper portion 38 and the inclined wall portion 20 sandwiched between them (see FIGS. 1 and 4). Is set.

  The cover main body 32 is formed with a locking collar 39 that is fitted to the upstream peripheral edge of the inspection window 17 of the air duct 10 at the closed end at the tip opposite to the shaft portion 31. When the operator closes the inspection cover 30 after the inspection and puts his hand from the air intake 12 side and pushes the cover main body 32 outward, the locking claw portion 37 near the cover main body 32 gets over the inclined wall portion 20, The front end portion of the locking hook portion 39 gets over the upstream peripheral edge portion of the inspection window 17 and is fitted thereto, and the inspection cover 30 is satisfactorily held in the closed state. Therefore, the inspection cover 30 does not wobble or open during subsequent operations.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the locking claw portion 37 is formed in a slope shape that is inclined with respect to the inclined wall portion 20, that is, in a triangular shape so as to easily get over the inclined wall portion 20. . Therefore, the workability when closing the inspection cover 30 is further improved. On the other hand, the stopper portion 38 protrudes to the side larger than the locking claw portion 37 so as not to accidentally get over the inclined wall portion 20 and is substantially parallel to the inclined surface 21 of the inclined wall portion 20. It is set to have a rectangular cross-section with a stopper surface facing it.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inspection cover 30 can be easily assembled to the air duct 10 by fitting the shaft portion 31 of the inspection cover 30 to the bearing recess 19 of the air duct 10. Manufacturing man-hours and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where a special fixing tool is used for assembling and a joining process such as welding is required. In addition, since the inspection cover 30 is structured to rotate between the open posture and the closed posture with the shaft portion 31 as a fulcrum, there is no shape change or distortion associated with the posture change between the open posture and the closed posture. So it is excellent in reliability and durability.

  Further, the shaft portion 31 of the inspection cover 30 and the bearing recess portion 19 thereof are located outside the duct, and when in the open posture, the upstream end portion of the cover body 32 is inclined so as to enter the inside of the air duct 10. Therefore, when the inspection cover 30 is closed, the operator only has to insert his hand from the air intake 12 side of the air duct and push the cover main body 32 outward. It is not necessary to provide a projection for assembly work or the like that hinders the air flow of the cover body 32 on the inner surface side of the cover body 32, and the inner surface of the cover body 32 can be formed into a flat shape along the duct side wall 15, The quality is also excellent.

  Since the inspection cover 30 can be held in an open position satisfactorily by the locking claw portion 37 and the stopper portion 38, the inspection cover 30 is not inadvertently closed at the time of delivery or transportation. Since the inspection cover 30 is held in the open posture even during work, the inspection workability is excellent. Further, by changing the position of the locking claw portion 37 (and the stopper portion 38), it is possible to change the inclination angle of the inspection cover 30 in the open posture, that is, the temporary holding angle α, according to the specifications and requirements. It is easy to change the temporary holding angle α.

  In addition, since the open portion 19A of the bearing recess 19 has a so-called snap-fit fixing structure that is shorter than the diameter of the shaft portion 31, the inspection cover 30 can be easily and securely attached to the air duct 10 without using a special fixing tool or the like. Can be assembled.

Sectional drawing which follows the II line | wire of FIG. 3 which shows the air duct and inspection cover which concern on one Example of this invention. The side view which shows the said air duct. The bottom view which shows the said air duct. The principal part sectional drawing which shows the said air duct and the inspection cover of a closed attitude | position. The top view (A), the front view (B), and the top view (C) seen from the inner surface side which show the said inspection cover as a single unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Air duct 15 ... Duct side wall 17 ... Inspection window 18A, 18B ... Shaft support piece part 19 ... Bearing recessed part 19A ... Opening part 30 ... Inspection cover 31 ... Shaft part 32 ... Cover main body 37 ... Locking claw part

Claims (2)

In the inspection cover mounting structure of the air duct that opens and closes the inspection window for inspection work that is formed in the duct side wall of the tubular air duct that has an air intake opening on the upstream side by the inspection cover,
On the duct side wall, a shaft bearing piece projecting outward from the peripheral edge of the inspection window is formed with a bearing recess into which the shaft formed on the inspection cover is fitted,
The inspection cover can be rotated between a closed position and an open position with the shaft portion as a fulcrum. When the cover is in the closed position, the cover body covers the inspection window, and when in the open position, the upstream end of the cover body is inside the air duct. Inclined against the duct side wall
In addition, the inspection cover is formed with a locking claw portion that temporarily holds the inspection cover in the open posture by engaging the peripheral portion of the inspection window from the inside of the duct when in the open posture. Air duct inspection cover mounting structure.   A part of the bearing recess has a substantially C-shape that opens in the circumferential direction, and the length of the opening is set to be shorter than the diameter of the shaft that passes through the recess. The inspection cover mounting structure for an air duct according to claim 1.

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