JP2017128260A - Cable holding structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alleviate a tensile force and bending stress which are applied to a cable in a point in which the cable connected with an in-wheel motor drive unit is held.SOLUTION: A cable fixing structure comprises a cable for connecting an in-wheel motor drive unit which is relatively and movably attached to a vehicle body by a suspension member, and a control device which is mounted to the vehicle body, and controls the in-wheel motor drive unit. The cable which is cabled between the vehicle body and the in-wheel motor drive unit is supported to the vehicle body or the suspension member by using a fixing member 11. The fixing member 11 comprises an elastic member 13 having a penetration hole 12 which the cable penetrates, and a fixing metal fixture 14 which is fixed to the vehicle body or the suspension member, and fastens the elastic member 13, and the fixing metal fixture 14 has wall parts 22, 30 for constraining a region except for an opening part of the penetration hole 12 of the elastic member 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a cable holding structure that holds a cable that is routed between an in-wheel motor drive device disposed inside a wheel of an electric vehicle and a control device mounted on a vehicle body of the electric vehicle.

  Among passenger cars, there are known electric vehicles such as hybrid vehicles that drive wheels by using electric power and fuel together, and electric vehicles that drive wheels only by electric power. In this type of electric vehicle, an in-wheel motor drive device for driving wheels is disposed inside the wheel of the electric vehicle, and a control device for this in-wheel motor drive device is mounted on the vehicle body of the electric vehicle.

  The cable connecting the control device and the in-wheel motor drive device is routed between the vehicle-side control device and the wheel-side in-wheel motor drive device. In this case, it is necessary to prevent excessive tension and bending from being applied to the cable due to the vertical movement and turning of the suspension. Also, it is necessary to prevent the cable from swinging around and coming into contact with surrounding parts and the ground.

  Therefore, a structure for holding a cable routed between the vehicle-side control device and the wheel-side in-wheel motor drive device on the vehicle body of the electric vehicle or the like is required (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the cable holding structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, wiring is inserted and fixed in a wiring box of an in-wheel motor drive device, and the wiring is held by a wiring clamp. The wiring clamp can be rotated around the king pin, and even if the in-wheel motor drive device is displaced with respect to the suspension arm, the stress acting on the wiring can be suppressed.

JP 2005-271909 A

  By the way, in the cable holding structure disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, for example, even if the wiring is bent due to the in-wheel motor driving device turning, the wiring clamp rotates according to the turning. It is considered that the bending stress acting on the wiring can be relaxed.

  However, in the cable holding structure of Patent Document 1, since the wiring clamp rotates around the kingpin, the distance between the wiring clamp and the wiring box, or the angle formed between both ends of the wiring connecting the wiring clamp and the wiring box. Varies depending on the rotation of the wiring clamp. This is due to the fact that the rotation axis of the wiring clamp is located away from the king pin. Further, the same problem arises because the positional relationship between the wiring clamp and the wiring box is changed by the vertical movement of the suspension.

  As a result, a tensile force acts on the wiring due to the vertical movement and turning of the suspension, and a bending stress acts on the wiring in that a bending operation is repeatedly applied. In this way, if a tensile force or bending stress continues to be applied, metal fatigue occurs in the core wire of the wiring, and there is a concern that the core wire of the wiring may be damaged.

  Furthermore, since the fixed location where the wiring is fixed to the vehicle body does not rotate according to the displacement of the in-wheel motor drive device, there is still a concern that the bending stress acting on the wiring is still large at the fixed location.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a tensile force and a bending stress applied to the cable at a place where the cable to which the in-wheel motor drive device is connected is held. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable holding structure capable of relaxing the above.

  The cable holding structure according to the present invention is a cable that connects an in-wheel motor drive device that is attached to a vehicle body by a suspension member so as to be relatively movable, and a control device that is mounted on the vehicle body and controls the in-wheel motor drive device. And a structure in which a cable routed between the vehicle body and the in-wheel motor drive device is supported on the vehicle body or the suspension member by a fixing member.

  As technical means for achieving the above-described object, the fixing member in the present invention includes an elastic member having a through hole through which a cable is passed, and a fixing metal member fixed to the vehicle body or the suspension member and tightening the elastic member. ing. Moreover, the fixing metal fitting in this invention has a wall part which restrains the site | part except the opening part of the through-hole of an elastic member.

  In the present invention, since the cable is held by the elastic member that can be elastically deformed, the cable can be slightly moved within the range allowed by the elastic member. Therefore, even if a tensile force or bending stress acts on the cable due to the vertical movement or turning of the suspension, the tensile force or bending stress can be reduced by elastic deformation of the elastic member.

  In addition, the fixing bracket for tightening the elastic member through which the cable passes has a wall portion that restrains the portion excluding the opening of the through hole of the elastic member, so that the cable can be pulled or bent by the vertical movement of the suspension or turning. Even if the stress acts, the wall portion can suppress the stress from being concentrated at a portion other than the opening of the through hole of the elastic member.

  The fixing bracket according to the present invention is fixed to the vehicle body or the suspension member, and includes a lower bracket having a recess into which the lower portion of the elastic member is fitted, and an upper bracket having a recess attached to the lower bracket and into which the upper portion of the elastic member is fitted. And a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion that restrain the elastic member in the direction in which the cable extends are respectively formed in the concave portion of the lower metal fitting and the concave portion of the upper metal fitting.

  By adopting such a structure, the tensile force and bending stress acting on the cable can be relaxed by elastic deformation of the elastic member. Further, stress concentration acting on the elastic member based on the tensile force and bending stress can be suppressed by the lower wall portion of the lower metal fitting and the upper wall portion of the upper metal fitting.

  The fixing bracket according to the present invention is fixed to the vehicle body or the suspension member, and includes a lower bracket having a recess into which the lower portion of the elastic member is fitted, and an upper bracket having a recess attached to the lower bracket and into which the upper portion of the elastic member is fitted. And a structure in which side metal fittings on which side walls that restrain the elastic member in the direction in which the cable extends are attached to both sides of the lower metal fitting and the upper metal fitting are desirable.

  By adopting such a structure, the tensile force and bending stress acting on the cable can be relaxed by elastic deformation of the elastic member. Further, stress concentration acting on the elastic member based on the tensile force or bending stress can be suppressed by the side wall portion of the side metal fitting. In this structure, the side wall part which suppresses the stress concentration which acts on an elastic member can be comprised by the side part metal fittings different from a lower metal fitting and an upper metal fitting.

  According to the present invention, since the cable is held by the elastic member that can be elastically deformed, the cable can be slightly moved within the range allowed by the elastic member. Therefore, even if a tensile force or bending stress acts on the cable due to the vertical movement or turning of the suspension, the tensile force or bending stress can be reduced by elastic deformation of the elastic member.

  In addition, the fixing bracket for tightening the elastic member through which the cable passes has a wall portion that restrains the portion excluding the opening of the through hole of the elastic member, so that the cable can be pulled or bent by the vertical movement of the suspension or turning. Even if the stress acts, the wall portion can suppress the stress from being concentrated at a portion other than the opening of the through hole of the elastic member.

  As a result, damage to the cable can be prevented in advance, the durability of the cable can be improved, and the running cost of the electric vehicle can be reduced.

In the embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a perspective view showing a lower metal fitting, (B) is a perspective view showing an upper metal fitting, and (C) is a perspective view showing an elastic member. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing member which assembled | attached the elastic member to the fixing metal fixture which consists of a lower metal fitting and an upper metal fitting of FIG. (A) is a top view which shows the fixing member of FIG. 2, (B) is sectional drawing which follows the PP line of (A). (A) is a front view which shows the fixing member of FIG. 2, (B) is sectional drawing which follows the QQ line of (A). In other embodiment of this invention, (A) is a perspective view which shows a lower metal fitting, (B) is a perspective view which shows an upper metal fitting, (C) is a perspective view which shows a side metal fitting. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing member which assembled | attached the elastic member to the fixing metal fitting which consists of a lower metal fitting, an upper metal fitting, and a side metal fitting of FIG. (A) is a front view which shows the fixing member of FIG. 6, (B) is sectional drawing which follows the RR line | wire of (A). It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of a fixing member.

  An embodiment of a cable holding structure according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 8 shows the wheel 1 attached to the vehicle body 8 of the electric vehicle via a suspension that is a suspension member. The wheel 1 of the electric vehicle includes a metal wheel 2 and a rubber tire 3 as shown in FIG. The wheel 2 has a cylindrical shape, and an in-wheel motor drive device 4 that drives the wheel 1 is accommodated in the internal space.

  A knuckle arm 5 is integrally formed in the casing of the in-wheel motor drive device 4. The knuckle arm 5 extends from the top of the in-wheel motor drive device 4 and bends so as to bypass the outer periphery of the wheel 1. The knuckle arm 5 is located above the wheel 1 and is connected to the upper arm 7 of the suspension via a ball joint 6. The lower part of the in-wheel motor drive device 4 is connected to a lower arm (not shown) of the suspension.

  The upper arm 7 is V-shaped, and both end portions thereof are disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and are connected to the vehicle body 8 via a pivot (not shown). Further, the central bent portion of the upper arm 7 is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the ball joint 6. As a result, the upper arm 7 can swing in the vertical direction with both end portions as base ends and the center bent portion as a free end. The in-wheel motor drive device 4 can move up and down together with the wheels 1.

  Further, a straight line connecting a connecting portion of the lower arm (not shown) and the in-wheel motor driving device 4 and a ball joint 6 that is a connecting portion of the upper arm 7 and the knuckle arm 5 constitutes a turning axis K (kingpin). To do. The in-wheel motor drive device 4 can be steered around the steered axis K together with the wheels 1.

  The in-wheel motor drive device 4 includes, for example, a three-phase electric motor. In order to drive this electric motor, a terminal box (not shown) of the in-wheel motor driving device 4 includes three power lines (U phase, V phase and W phase) for supplying electric power to the electric motor, and an electric motor. One end side of a cable 9 composed of one signal line for transmitting a signal is connected. The other end of the cable 9 is passed through a hole formed in the vehicle body 8 and connected to an inverter (not shown) that is mounted on the vehicle body 8 and controls the electric motor of the in-wheel motor drive device 4. The

  The cable 9 rises from the in-wheel motor drive device 4 and extends upward along the knuckle arm 5 while bypassing the wheel 1. Further, the cable 9 extends inward in the vehicle width direction and extends into the vehicle longitudinal direction while being inserted into the vehicle body 8. In this way, the cable 9 is routed between the in-wheel motor drive device 4 and the vehicle body 8.

  Among these, the cable 9 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is supported by the knuckle arm 5 by a fixing member 11 having a cable holding structure. Thereby, the cable 9 is hold | maintained in the position which cross | intersects the turning axis line K of the in-wheel motor drive device 4. FIG. The cable 9 extending inward in the vehicle width direction is also supported by the vehicle body 8 by the fixing member 11.

  A fixing member 11 as a cable holding structure for supporting the cable 9 on the knuckle arm 5 or the vehicle body 8 as a suspension member has the following structure.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the fixing member 11 of this embodiment includes an elastic member 13 having a through hole 12 through which the cable 9 is passed (see FIG. 1C), the vehicle body 8 or A fixing bracket 14 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) that is fixed to the knuckle arm 5 (see FIG. 8) and fastens the elastic member 13 is provided.

  The elastic member 13 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape made of nitrile rubber (NBR), acrylic rubber (ACM), fluorine rubber (FKM), silicon rubber, or the like, and three power lines and one signal line are inserted therethrough. Four through holes 12 are formed. As a material of the elastic member 13, PA66, PA6, PVC or the like is preferable.

  The fixture 14 has wall portions (lower wall portions 21 and 22 and upper wall portions 29 and 30 to be described later) that constrain the portion of the elastic member 13 excluding the opening portion of the through hole 12. The fixing bracket 14 includes a lower bracket 15 (see FIG. 1 (A)) fixed to the vehicle body 8 or the knuckle arm 5 and an upper bracket 16 (see FIG. 1 (B)) attached to the lower bracket 15. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the lower metal fitting 15 includes a pedestal portion 18 in which a recess 17 into which the lower portion of the elastic member 13 is fitted, and a flange portion 19 formed integrally on both sides of the pedestal portion 18. It consists of and. The concave portion 17 is formed of a bottom portion 20, a first lower wall portion 21 that faces in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the cable 9 extends, and a second lower wall portion 22 that faces in a direction in which the cable 9 extends. . A screw hole 23 for attaching the upper metal fitting 16 is provided on the upper surface of the pedestal portion 18. The flange portion 19 is provided with an attachment hole 24 for fixing to the vehicle body 8 or the knuckle arm 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the upper metal fitting 16 includes an outer frame portion 26 in which a concave portion 25 into which the upper portion of the elastic member 13 is fitted, and a flange formed integrally on both sides of the outer frame portion 26. Part 27. The recess 25 is formed by a top portion 28, a first upper wall portion 29 that faces in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the cable 9 extends, and a second upper wall portion 30 that faces in a direction in which the cable 9 extends. Yes. The flange portion 27 is provided with an attachment hole 31 for fixing to the lower metal fitting 15.

  The outer frame portion 26 is integrally provided with a semicircular cylindrical portion 32 for attaching a bellows-like protective cover (not shown) that covers the cable 9. This protective cover has a tubular portion 32 and a tubular shape by disposing a semicircular tubular member 33 (see FIG. 2) below the tubular portion 32 of the outer frame portion 26 by uneven fitting in the circumferential direction. It is mounted by fitting on the outer periphery of the member 33.

  The fixing member 11 is configured as shown in FIG. 2 by attaching the elastic member 13 to the fixing metal fitting 14 composed of the lower metal fitting 15 and the upper metal fitting 16 described above. Although not shown, four cables 9 (three power lines and one signal line) are passed through the through holes 12 of the elastic member 13 in the fixing member 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lower part of the elastic member 13 is accommodated in the recess 17 of the lower metal fitting 15 (see FIG. 1A), and the elastic member 13 The upper portion of the upper metal fitting 16 is accommodated in the recess 25 of the upper metal fitting 16 (see FIG. 1B), and the flange portion 27 of the upper metal fitting 16 is screwed to the pedestal portion 18 of the lower metal fitting 15.

  Thereby, the elastic member 13 is bent by the lower metal fitting 15 and the upper metal fitting 16 in a tightened state. In this manner, the fixing member 11 having the elastic member 13 attached to the fixing metal 14 is fixed to the vehicle body 8 or the knuckle arm 5 with screws by using the attachment holes 24 of the flange portion 19 of the lower metal fitting 15. .

  By the way, when the in-wheel motor drive device 4 bounces and rebounds in the vertical direction together with the wheel 1 or turns in the left-right direction, the vehicle body 8 and the in-wheel motor drive device 4 are relatively moved by the vertical movement and turning of the suspension. The position changes. Thereby, a tensile force and a bending stress act on the cable 9.

  In this embodiment, since the fixing member 11 having the above-described configuration is employed, the cable 9 is held by the elastic member 13 that can be elastically deformed. A slight movement is possible. Therefore, even if a tensile force or a bending stress is applied to the cable 9 by the vertical movement or turning of the suspension, the tensile force or the bending stress can be reduced by the elastic deformation of the elastic member 13.

  Here, in the fixing member 11, the fixing bracket 14 for tightening the elastic member 13 through which the cable 9 is passed is a wall portion that constrains the portion other than the opening of the through hole 12 of the elastic member 13, that is, the bottom portion of the lower bracket 15. 20, a first lower wall portion 21 and a second lower wall portion 22, a top portion 28 of the upper metal fitting 16, a first upper wall portion 29, and a second upper wall portion 30.

  In particular, since the second lower wall portion 22 of the lower bracket 15 and the second upper wall portion 30 of the upper bracket 16 that restrain the elastic member 13 in the direction in which the cable 9 extends are included, Even if a tensile force or a bending stress is applied to the cable 9, the stress concentrates on the portion other than the opening of the through hole 12 of the elastic member 13, indicating that the second lower wall portion 22 and the second upper wall portion 30. Can be suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the fixing metal fitting 14 is composed of the lower metal fitting 15 and the upper metal fitting 16 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and FIGS. 5A to 5C, FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B), the fixing bracket 14 can be constituted by a lower bracket 15, an upper bracket 16, and a side bracket 41.

  5 (A) to (C), FIG. 6 and FIGS. 7 (A) and (B), FIG. 1 (A) to (C), FIG. 2, FIG. 3 (A) (B) and FIG. A) The same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts as in (B), and the duplicated explanation is omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fixing bracket 14 is formed of an elastic member in a direction in which the cable 9 extends by forming the second lower wall portion 22 in the lower bracket 15 and forming the second upper wall portion 30 in the upper bracket 16. 13 is restrained.

  On the other hand, the fixing metal fitting 14 in this embodiment includes two side metal fittings 41 attached to both sides of the lower metal fitting 15 (see FIG. 5A) and the upper metal fitting 16 (see FIG. 5B). Further, by forming the side wall portion 46 corresponding to the second lower wall portion 22 and the second upper wall portion 30 described above, the elastic member 13 is restrained in the direction in which the cable 9 extends.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the side metal fitting 41 is provided with an opening 42 at a central portion corresponding to the through hole 12 of the elastic member 13. Mounting holes 44 for fixing to the lower metal fitting 15 are provided in the flange portions 43 provided on both sides of the lower portion. On the other hand, a screw hole 45 (see FIG. 5A) for fixing the side metal fitting 41 is provided on the side surface of the base 18 of the lower metal fitting 15.

  The side metal fittings 41 are attached to both sides of the lower metal fitting 15 and the upper metal fitting 16 to form the concave portion 17 and the concave portion 25. The concave portion 17 is formed by a side wall portion 46 facing in the extending direction of the cable 9, the bottom portion 20 of the pedestal portion 18 of the lower metal fitting 15 and the first lower wall portion 21. The concave portion 25 is formed by a side wall portion 46 facing in the direction in which the cable 9 extends, and the top portion 28 and the first upper wall portion 29 of the upper metal fitting 16 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing member 11 is configured by attaching the elastic member 13 to the fixing metal fitting 14 including the lower metal fitting 15, the upper metal fitting 16, and the side metal fitting 41 described above. Although not shown, four cables 9 (three power lines and one signal line) are passed through the through holes 12 of the elastic member 13 in the fixing member 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the side fittings 41 are screwed to both sides of the pedestal portion 18 of the lower fitting 15. The lower part of the elastic member 13 is accommodated in the concave part 17 of the lower metal part 15 and the side metal part 41 [see FIG. 5A], and the upper part of the elastic member 13 is accommodated in the concave part 25 of the upper metal part 16 and the side metal part 41 [FIG. (See (B)), and the flange portion 27 of the upper metal fitting 16 is screwed to the pedestal portion 18 of the lower metal fitting 15.

  Thereby, the elastic member 13 is bent by the lower metal fitting 15, the upper metal fitting 16, and the side metal fitting 41 in a tightened state. In this manner, the fixing member 11 having the elastic member 13 attached to the fixing metal 14 is fixed to the vehicle body 8 or the knuckle arm 5 with screws by using the attachment holes 24 of the flange portion 19 of the lower metal fitting 15. .

  Also in the fixing member 11 of this embodiment, since the cable 9 is held by the elastic member 13 that can be elastically deformed as in the case of the above-described embodiment, a tensile force is applied to the cable 9 by the vertical movement of the suspension or turning. Even if a bending stress acts, the tensile force or bending stress can be relaxed by elastic deformation of the elastic member 13.

  In addition, since the side wall portion 46 of the side metal fitting 41 that restrains the elastic member 13 in the direction in which the cable 9 extends is provided, even if a tensile force or a bending stress is applied to the cable 9 due to the vertical movement or turning of the suspension, it is elastic. It is possible to suppress the stress from being concentrated on the portion of the member 13 excluding the opening portion of the through hole 12 by the side wall portion 46 of the side metal fitting 41.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. It includes the equivalent meanings recited in the claims and the equivalents recited in the claims, and all modifications within the scope.

4 In-wheel motor drive device 5 Suspension member (knuckle arm)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Car body 9 Cable 11 Fixing member 12 Through hole 13 Elastic member 14 Fixing metal fitting 15 Lower metal fitting 16 Upper metal fitting 17,25 Recessed part 21,22 Wall part (lower wall part)
29, 30 Wall (upper wall)
41 Side bracket 46 Side wall

Claims (3)

A cable for connecting an in-wheel motor drive device attached to the vehicle body by a suspension member so as to be movable relative to the vehicle body; and a control device for controlling the in-wheel motor drive device mounted on the vehicle body; A cable fixing structure in which a cable routed between the motor driving device is supported by a vehicle body or a suspension member by a fixing member,
The fixing member includes an elastic member having a through-hole through which the cable is passed, and a fixing bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body or a suspension member and fastens the elastic member, and the fixing bracket is the through-hole of the elastic member. A cable holding structure having a wall portion that restrains a portion excluding the opening of the cable.   The fixing bracket is fixed to the vehicle body or the suspension member, and includes a lower bracket having a recess into which a lower portion of the elastic member is fitted, and an upper bracket having a recess that is attached to the lower bracket and into which an upper portion of the elastic member is fitted. 2. The cable holding structure according to claim 1, wherein a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion that restrain the elastic member in a direction in which the cable extends are formed in the concave portion of the lower metal fitting and the concave portion of the upper metal fitting, respectively.   The fixing bracket is fixed to the vehicle body or the suspension member, and includes a lower bracket having a recess into which a lower portion of the elastic member is fitted, and an upper bracket having a recess that is attached to the lower bracket and into which an upper portion of the elastic member is fitted. The cable holding structure according to claim 1, wherein side metal fittings, on which side walls that restrain the elastic members in the direction in which the cable extends are formed, are attached to both sides of the lower metal fitting and the upper metal fitting.

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