JP4738099B2 - Piping temporary holding structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a temporary pipe holding structure for temporarily holding pipes when a vehicle is assembled.

It is known that a vehicle such as an automobile temporarily holds temporarily until an object to be fixed is normally fixed to improve workability at the time of assembly.
For example, it is known that when a bumper for a vehicle is mounted on a vehicle body, a fixing operation using a bolt or the like is performed in a state where the vehicle bumper is temporarily fixed to the vehicle body with a clip (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
In addition, collective pipes used for vehicle fuel pipes and the like are known to simplify the piping work while ensuring coupling reliability by using clamps and holders that hold a plurality of pipes in parallel. (For example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-65307 A JP-A-8-240207 JP 2001-200906 A

In a vehicle, metal pipes used for air conditioner refrigerant and brake lines are fixed to the vehicle body after attaching peripheral parts or connecting to other pipes to be connected to prevent the assembly process from becoming complicated. It is common to do.
However, since such a pipe has a relatively small diameter, consideration must be given to catching, bumping, and the like at its end before fixing.
On the other hand, it is conceivable that the pipe is not fixed until the installation of the peripheral parts is completed, but it is hooked on the adjacent parts, etc., or the pipe is bent in a direction that does not hinder the work. And deformation becomes a problem.
In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a temporary pipe holding structure that does not damage the pipe and improves workability.

The present invention solves the above-described problems by the following means.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pipe formed of the elastic material is held at the temporary holding position that is separated from the normal passage position and has a restoring force that acts in the radial direction of the pipe larger than the normal passage position. In the temporary pipe holding structure, the pipe is provided with a hooking portion that is in contact with an outer peripheral surface portion of the pipe disposed at the temporary holding position and pressed by the restoring force , and the hooking portion is separated from the normal passing position. At least a pair of pipe holding surface portions arranged open to each other, and the pair of pipe holding surface portions of the latching portion are integrally formed with a bracket portion at least partially formed of sheet metal to support the pipe at the normal passing position. And a temporary pipe holding structure characterized in that it is formed by bending a part of the bracket portion formed by the sheet metal .

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the piping is held by the latching portion by its own restoring force by providing the latching portion that holds the piping at the temporary holding position where the restoring force is larger than the normal passing position, Temporary holding can be easily performed by hooking the pipe to the hooking portion. In addition, by providing such a latching portion, compared to hooking the pipe to other parts that are not originally considered for temporary holding of the pipe, the pipe is damaged or excessively bent. Damage can be prevented.
(2) The latching portion is provided with a pipe holding surface portion that is arranged to be opened in a direction away from the normal passing position, so that the pipe is stabilized when temporarily holding the pipe, and the piping is guided to the latching portion. And it is easy to take out the pipe from the latching portion.
(3) By forming the pipe holding surface part of the latching part integrally with the bracket part, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.
(4) By forming the pipe holding surface part of the latching part by bending a part of the sheet metal part of the bracket part, it can be formed by so-called cutting and raising at the same time when the bracket part is pressed. The process can be further simplified.

  The present invention has the object of providing a temporary pipe holding structure that does not damage the pipe and improves workability, and is formed integrally with a stay portion of a bracket that supports the pipe at a normal passage position. The problem is solved by providing a cut-and-raised latching portion that is held at a temporary holding position where the restoring force becomes larger than that and pressed by the restoring force of the pipe.

Hereinafter, examples of the temporary pipe holding structure to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a main frame portion of a vehicle provided with a temporary pipe holding structure of the present embodiment. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the vehicle provided with the temporary pipe holding structure is an automobile such as a passenger car. The temporary pipe holding structure includes a main frame 10, an air conditioner (AC) pipe 20, a clip 30, and a bracket 100.

  The main frames 10 are respectively provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction of an engine room (not shown) provided at the front of the vehicle, for example. The main frame 10 is a hollow cylindrical body that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along both ends of the engine room, and is a structural member to which a power train, a sub frame, and the like (not shown) are fixed. The main frame 10 is formed of a steel plate or the like, for example, in a substantially rectangular shape in cross section viewed in the vehicle width direction.

The AC pipe 20 is a pipe that is temporarily held by the pipe temporary holding structure of the present embodiment, and is used for passing a refrigerant of a refrigerating and air conditioning cycle in an air conditioner system (not shown). The AC pipe 20 is formed by bending a cylindrical pipe such as a copper-based metal as necessary.
The AC pipe 20 is disposed adjacent to the upper surface portion of the main frame 10 and extends substantially in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and an end portion on the vehicle front side is connected to piping on the capacitor unit side (not shown).

The clip 30 is for fixing the AC pipe 20 to the bracket 100.
The clip 30 is integrally formed of an elastic material such as a resin material, and includes an annular portion 31 and a claw portion 32 as shown in FIG. The annular part 31 has the AC pipe 20 inserted therein. The nail | claw part 32 fixes the clip 30 to the bracket 100 by inserting in the opening 131a of the piping fixing surface part 131 of the bracket 100 mentioned later.

  The bracket 100 fixes and supports the AC pipe 20 and an auxiliary device (not shown) with respect to the main frame 10. For example, the base portion 110, the auxiliary device support portion 120, and the piping support portion are formed by pressing a steel plate. 130 is formed integrally.

The base portion 110 is a portion where the bracket 100 is fixed to the main frame 10, is formed in a flat plate shape, and is disposed to face the upper surface portion of the main frame 10 with a space therebetween.
The base portion 110 has an opening 110a formed at the center thereof, and is fixed to the main frame 10 by inserting a bolt 111 therein and fastening the bolt 111 to a nut 112 fixed to the main frame 10.

  The auxiliary device support portion 120 is formed to protrude to one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the base portion 110, and is a portion to which an unillustrated auxiliary device arranged to face the side surface portion of the main frame 10 is fixed.

The pipe support part 130 is formed to protrude from the base part 110 to the opposite side of the auxiliary equipment support part 120 in the vehicle width direction, and is a part to which the AC pipe 20 is fixed via the clip 30 described above.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the pipe support 130.
The pipe support part 130 includes a pipe fixing surface part 131, a stay part 132, and a protrusion 133.

The pipe fixing surface portion 131 is formed in a flat plate shape, is opposed to the upper surface portion of the main frame 10 with an interval, and is disposed substantially horizontally. Here, the pipe fixing surface portion 131 is disposed above the base portion 110, and the interval between the pipe fixing surface portion 131 and the upper surface portion of the main frame 10 is larger than the interval between the base portion 110 and the upper surface portion of the main frame 10. It has been enlarged.
Further, the pipe fixing surface portion 131 is formed with an opening 131a into which the claw portion 32 of the clip 30 is inserted at the center thereof.

The stay part 132 is a part that connects the pipe fixing surface part 131 and the base part 110, and is a flat part that is inclined according to the height difference therebetween.
As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 133 protrudes from the end portion on the vehicle front side of the pipe fixing surface portion 131 toward the base portion 110 side in the vehicle width direction and is formed in a cut-and-raised shape. They are arranged on substantially the same plane.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the AC pipe 20 is arranged in a region in the vicinity of the pipe support portion 130 so that its longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Further, the AC pipe 20 has an elastic force of a material at a position (hereinafter referred to as “regular passage position”) fixed to the pipe support portion 130 by the clip 30 so that residual stress does not remain as much as possible when the vehicle is completed. The force (restoring force) that tends to swing in the radial direction due to the above is substantially zero.

  Further, the upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a of the projection portion 133 are inclined with respect to each other so that the base portion 110 side is open when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the AC pipe 20. Has been placed. The upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a of the protrusion 133 function as a temporary piping holding surface portion that comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface portion when the AC pipe 20 is temporarily held, as will be described in detail below. , And functions as a latching portion that cooperates to hold the AC pipe 20 in the temporary holding position.

Next, temporary holding of the AC pipe 20 in the present embodiment will be described.
The AC pipe 20 is fixed in order to prevent interference between the front end module including the region adjacent to the bracket 100 and the front end module (not shown) during manufacture of the vehicle. It is in a state that does not.
The front-end module includes, for example, a condenser for an air conditioner to which the AC pipe 20 is connected, a heat exchanger such as a radiator core for engine cooling water, and its auxiliary equipment, and further, lights and bumper beams as necessary. It is an assembly.

Here, in such a state before fixing, the AC pipe 20 is held at a temporary holding position indicated by a broken line in FIG. Such movement to the temporary holding position is performed manually by an operator, for example.
In the temporary holding position, the outer peripheral surface portion of the AC pipe 20 is in contact with the upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a of the protruding portion 133, respectively.

Further, in the temporary holding position, the AC pipe 20 generates a restoring force F that attempts to move from the temporary holding position to the normal passing position due to the elasticity of the material.
The AC pipe 20 is held at the temporary holding position in a state where the upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a of the protrusion 133 are pressed by the restoring force F.
The operator performs mounting of the front end module and other necessary work in a state where the AC pipe 20 is held in the temporary holding position in this way, and after connecting the AC pipe 20 to the connection target, the clip 30 is piped. The AC pipe 20 is fixed to the main frame 10 by being pushed into the opening 131 a of the fixed surface portion 131.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG.
The angles θ1 and θ2 formed by the upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a of the protrusion 133 with respect to the direction of the restoring force F of the AC pipe 20 are set to be less than 90 °, for example.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a (hanging portion) of the protrusion 133 that hold and hold the AC pipe 20 at the temporary holding position where the restoring force F is larger than the normal passing position. By providing the AC pipe 20, the AC pipe 20 is held in a state of being hooked on the latching portion by its own restoring force F, so that the AC pipe 20 can be temporarily held. As a result, for example, when the vehicle moves on the outfitting line before the AC pipe 20 is fixed, the AC pipe 20 is prevented from being shaken by vibration, and the tip of the AC pipe 20 is hooked to an operator or other parts. It is possible to prevent bumps and the like.
Further, by providing such a latching portion, the AC pipe 20 is damaged compared to the case where the AC pipe 20 is hooked on other parts or the like that are not originally considered for temporarily holding the AC pipe 20. Furthermore, since the temporary holding position can be set by design in consideration of the bending limit of the AC pipe 20, damage due to excessive bending can be prevented.
(2) Since the latching portion is configured such that the upper surface portion 132a of the stay portion 132 and the lower surface portion 133a of the projection portion 133 are arranged in a V-shape that opens in a direction away from the normal passing position, the AC pipe 20 When temporarily held, the vibration is stably prevented, and an operator or the like can easily guide the AC pipe 20 to the temporary holding position and take it out from the temporary holding position.
(3) Since the latching portion can be integrally formed without requiring a new process when the bracket 100 is processed into a sheet metal, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing process can be simplified. Can do.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the embodiment, the air conditioner pipe is temporarily held, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to other pipes such as a brake pipe and a fuel pipe. Can do.
(2) The latching portion that temporarily holds the pipe may perform a process for preventing the pipe from being damaged as necessary. For example, deburring or soft material coating may be performed. Also, the punching direction of the sheet metal member may be set in consideration of the burr not coming out on the side of the contact surface with the pipe.
(3) In the embodiment, the bracket that supports the piping is provided with the latching portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the latching portion is provided in another portion adjacent to the normal passage position of the piping. Also good. In this case, for example, by temporarily holding the pipe at a position far from the worker side with respect to the normal passage position, it is possible to reduce the feeling of pressure on the worker, and considering the positional relationship with other parts. Workability can be improved by temporarily holding in position.
(4) Although the embodiment includes independent surface portions as the pair of temporary holding surface portions of the latching portion, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temporary holding surface portion is included in, for example, a continuous arc-shaped surface. A plurality of regions that respectively contact the pipes may be used.
(5) In the embodiment, the resin clip is used to fix the pipe at the normal passing position, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other fixing means may be used.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the main frame part of the vehicle provided with the Example of the piping temporary holding structure to which this invention is applied. It is the II-II part arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of the piping support part in the piping temporary holding structure of FIG. It is the IV section enlarged view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main frame 20 AC pipe 30 Clip 100 Bracket 110 Base part 120 Auxiliary equipment support part 130 Pipe support part 131 Pipe fixing surface part 132 Stay part 133 Protrusion part

Claims (1)

In a temporary pipe holding structure for holding a pipe formed of a material having elasticity at a temporary holding position that is separated from its normal passage position and has a restoring force that acts in the radial direction of the pipe larger than the normal passage position,
Abutting with the outer peripheral surface portion of the pipe disposed at the temporary holding position, and having a latching portion pressed by the restoring force ,
The latching portion includes at least a pair of pipe holding surface portions arranged to be opened in a direction away from the regular passing position,
The pair of pipe holding surface parts of the latching part are formed at least partially from a sheet metal and are formed integrally with a bracket part that supports the pipe at the normal passing position, and are formed by the sheet metal of the bracket part. A temporary pipe holding structure characterized in that it is formed by bending a part of the bent part .

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