JP7521159B2 - Parts mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a component mounting structure in which a component is mounted by inserting the component provided on the mounting plate from the outer surface of a panel having a component insertion hole.

For example, in a driving device for a sliding door installed in a vehicle, the motor that serves as the driving source is disposed inside the vehicle body, while a guide rail that guides the movement of the sliding door is disposed outside the vehicle body. For this reason, the driving belt provided between the motor and the sliding rail is disposed inside and outside the vehicle body through a part insertion hole formed in a panel that constitutes the vehicle body.

In such component mounting structures, it is necessary to prevent external water such as rainwater and dust from entering the inside of the vehicle body through the component insertion hole formed in the panel. Conventionally, therefore, a mounting plate portion larger in outer shape than the component insertion hole is provided on the component, and a sealing member is disposed on the outer periphery of the mounting plate portion, and the mounting plate portion is attached to the outer surface of the panel via the sealing member to prevent the intrusion of water and dust from the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2019-108740 A

However, when attaching the mounting plate to the panel, the seal member may not be pressed evenly against the panel all around due to the effects of processing errors, assembly errors, etc. If the seal member is not pressed evenly against the panel, the seal between the mounting plate and the panel will vary, raising concerns that water and dust may enter from the outside. One way to prevent water and dust from entering would be to add a separate seal member, but this could result in other problems, such as poor assembly of parts.

In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a component mounting structure that allows components to be mounted both inside and outside a panel while ensuring sealing.

In order to achieve the above object, the component mounting structure of the present invention is characterized in that a mounting plate part having an outer shape larger than a component insertion hole and fastening insertion holes around the component insertion hole is disposed on the outer surface of a panel, and a component provided on the mounting plate part is inserted into the panel through the component insertion hole, and a fastening member is provided from the mounting plate part to the panel through the fastening insertion hole to mount the mounting plate part to the panel. Between the panel and the mounting plate part, a seal member is interposed, which has a surface shape large enough to cover the mounting plate part and has insertion openings in parts corresponding to the component insertion hole and the fastening insertion hole, and the surface of the seal member facing the panel is provided with a series of outer peripheral lips on the outer periphery edge and a series of inner peripheral lips on the parts surrounding the insertion openings.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned component mounting structure, the outer peripheral lip is provided so as to gradually become more outer toward the outer surface of the panel, and the inner peripheral lip is provided so as to gradually become closer to the insertion opening toward the outer surface of the panel.

The present invention is also characterized in that in the above-mentioned component mounting structure, the surface of the sealing member facing the mounting plate portion is provided with escape recesses at a portion corresponding to the tip of the outer peripheral lip and at a portion corresponding to the tip of the inner peripheral lip.

According to the present invention, an outer peripheral lip is provided on the outer periphery of the seal member, and an inner peripheral lip is provided around the area corresponding to the component insertion hole and the fastening insertion hole, so that even if there is a processing error or assembly error between the mounting plate and the panel, it is possible to more reliably prevent the intrusion of water and dust from the outside.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle to which a component mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the vehicle shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a main portion of the vehicle shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a transmission module applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 5A and 5B are views of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the inside of the vehicle, where FIG. 5A is a perspective view before the transmission module is attached, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view after the transmission module is attached. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a drive unit and a center guide unit applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the transmission module shown in FIG. 8A and 8B show the mounting plate portion and sealing member of the transmission module applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 from the inside of the vehicle, where (a) is an exploded oblique view and (b) is an oblique view of the state in which the sealing member is attached to the mounting plate portion. 9A and 9B show the mounting plate portion and sealing member of the transmission module applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 from the outside of the vehicle, where (a) is an exploded oblique view and (b) is an oblique view of the state in which the sealing member is attached to the mounting plate portion. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the vehicle panel shown in FIG. 1, taken along a portion passing through a component insertion hole. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the vehicle panel shown in FIG. 1, taken at a portion passing through a fastening insertion hole. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of a mounting plate portion and a seal member of the transmission module applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of a mounting plate portion and a seal member of the transmission module applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the inside of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a component mounting structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a vehicle to which a part mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vehicle shown here is configured such that an entrance E to the rear seat, which is provided on the left side of a vehicle body B, is opened and closed by a sliding door RD. That is, in the vehicle shown in Fig. 1, a front fender FF, a front door FD, a sliding door RD, and a quarter panel (panel) QP are provided from the front on the left side of the vehicle body B, and the entrance E to the rear seat is opened by moving the sliding door RD toward the outside rear side of the vehicle body B.

The vehicle door opening and closing device exemplified in this embodiment is configured with guide units UG, LG, and CG that movably support the sliding door RD relative to the vehicle body B, and a drive unit 1 that moves the sliding door RD relative to the vehicle body B.

The guide units UG, LG, and CG include an upper guide unit UG provided at the upper edge of the entrance E, a lower guide unit LG provided at the lower edge of the entrance E, and a center guide unit CG provided on the quarter panel QP, and movably support the sliding door RD. Although not shown in the figure, these guide units UG, LG, and CG include guide rails 10U, 10L, and 10C provided longitudinally along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body B, and arm members 11U, 11L, and 11C arranged to be able to run along the extension direction of the guide rails 10U, 10L, and 10C, and are connected to the sliding door RD via the arm members 11U, 11L, and 11C to movably support the sliding door RD relative to the vehicle body B.

The upper guide unit UG and lower guide unit LG have guide rails 10U, 10L provided in positions that are covered by the sliding door RD when the entrance E is closed. In contrast, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the center guide unit CG has guide rails 10C attached to the vehicle exterior (outer surface) Pa of the quarter panel QP that is exposed when the entrance E is closed by the sliding door RD, and the guide rails 10C are covered by a separately attached cover plate CP. As is clear from the figures, the center guide unit CG is provided in the part of the quarter panel QP between the wheel housing TH and the fuel filler opening FC.

The drive unit 1, which will be described later, is configured to be attached to this center guide unit CG. The upper guide unit UG and lower guide unit LG can be the same as those that have been used in the past. Therefore, the following mainly describes the configuration of the center guide unit CG and the drive unit 1. For the sake of convenience, the following description will specify the orientation of each component in the position when mounted on the vehicle body B.

2 to 7, the guide rail 10C of the center guide unit CG has a straight rail section 10Ca that extends in a substantially straight line along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body B, and a curved rail section 10Cb that extends from the front end of the straight rail section 10Ca in a curved manner so as to gradually turn toward the inside of the vehicle, and is configured to have substantially the same cross-sectional shape over its entire length. In this embodiment, a guide rail 10C in which a main plate section 10a, a bottom plate section 10b, an upper plate section 10c, and an outer plate section 10d are integrally formed is illustrated. The main plate section 10a extends in the vertical direction. The bottom plate section 10b and the upper plate section 10c extend in the same direction from both upper and lower edges of the main plate section 10a. The outer plate section 10d extends downward from the upper plate section 10c so as to be substantially parallel to the main plate section 10a. Between the outer plate portion 10d and the bottom plate portion 10b, there is a slit that allows the arm member 11C to pass through. This guide rail 10C is fixed to the vehicle exterior surface Pa of the quarter panel QP via the outer surface of the main plate portion 10a, with the straight rail portion 10Ca being nearly horizontal along the front and rear, and the curved rail portion 10Cb being forward.

Although not shown in the figure, the arm member 11C is disposed on the guide rail 10C via multiple rollers and is supported on the guide rail 10C in a state in which it can run along the length of the guide rail 10C. When supported on the guide rail 10C, the arm member 11C passes through a slit in the guide rail 10C and extends to the outside, and is connected to the sliding door RD via a door connection bracket 15.

The drive unit 1 is disposed above the guide rail 10C and includes a motor module 20 and a transmission module 30. The motor module 20 is the drive source for the vehicle door opening and closing device, and although not shown in the figure, is configured, for example, by disposing an electric motor and a reduction gear mechanism inside the module case 21. The electric motor used is one that can rotate in both directions. This motor module 20 is disposed on the vehicle interior surface of the quarter panel QP while connected to the input unit (component) 330 of the transmission module 30, which will be described later.

The transmission module 30 is interposed between the motor module 20 and the arm member 11C, and is configured with a drive belt 130, a belt guide 230, and an input unit 330.

Although not shown in the figure, the drive belt 130 is called a timing belt and has multiple meshing grooves at equal intervals on one surface, and is configured as an endless ring. In this embodiment, a drive belt 130 having a length that is more than twice the dimension along the front and rear of the guide rail 10C is used.

The belt guide 230, like the guide rail 10C, has a straight guide portion 230a that extends in a substantially straight line along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body B, and a curved guide portion 230b that extends from the front end of the straight guide portion 230a in a curved manner so as to gradually become inward toward the vehicle from the front end of the straight guide portion 230a toward the front, and is configured to have substantially the same dimensions as the guide rail 10C. The belt guide 230 has reversing pulleys 231 and 232 at the front and rear ends, respectively, and a guide pulley 233 at an appropriate location on the straight guide portion 230a and the curved guide portion 230b. These reversing pulleys 231 and 232 and the guide pulley 233 are arranged so that they can rotate around pulley shafts 231a, 232a, and 233a that are aligned in the vertical direction, respectively. The drive belt 130 described above is wound between reversing pulleys 231 and 232 and is guided by a guide pulley 233, allowing it to circulate in both directions along the shape of the belt guide 230 via a drive pulley 331 of the input unit 330, which will be described later.

The drive belt 130, which is wound around the belt guide 230, is exposed to the outside when it travels along the path outside the vehicle, and is provided with a belt bracket 234 on a part of it. The belt bracket 234 connects the arm member 11C and the drive belt 130, extends downward from the drive belt 130, and can move together with the drive belt 130.

The input unit 330 is configured with a drive pulley 331 inside the unit case 332. The unit case 332 is formed so as to protrude toward the inside of the vehicle from the portion of the straight guide portion 230a of the belt guide 230 that is the mounting surface with the quarter panel QP, and when the belt guide 230 is abutted against the outer surface Pa of the quarter panel QP, it is inserted into the inside of the vehicle through a part insertion hole Qa of the quarter panel QP described later. The drive pulley 331 is rotatably arranged inside the unit case 332 via a support shaft along the top and bottom, and the drive belt 130 is wound around the outer peripheral surface. Although not shown in the figure, the support shaft of the drive pulley 331 has a female spline 331a at the end exposed to the outside of the unit case 332, and can be connected to the output end (not shown) of the motor module 20 via the female spline 331a.

The part insertion hole Qa of the quarter panel QP is a substantially rectangular through-hole formed to a size that allows the unit case 332 to be inserted therethrough. Four fastening insertion holes Qb are formed in the area surrounding the part insertion hole Qa in the quarter panel QP. The fastening insertion holes Qb are through-holes through which screws are inserted when attaching the mounting plate portion 333 of the unit case 332 (described later) to the quarter panel QP.

The unit case 332 described above is provided with a mounting plate portion 333. The mounting plate portion 333 is substantially rectangular in shape and large enough to simultaneously cover all of the part insertion holes Qa and four fastening insertion holes Qb of the quarter panel QP. In this embodiment, the mounting plate portion 333 protrudes from the top, both side surfaces, and bottom of the unit case 332, and is configured so that when the unit case 332 is inserted into the part insertion holes Qa from the outside of the vehicle, its entire surface extends along the vehicle exterior surface Pa of the quarter panel QP.

Fastening holes 333a are provided in the mounting plate portion 333 at portions corresponding to the fastening insertion holes Qb. The fastening holes 333a are through holes through which screws are inserted together with the fastening insertion holes Qb of the quarter panel QP when mounting the mounting plate portion 333 to the quarter panel QP.

A planar seal member 334 is attached to the surface of the mounting plate portion 333 located on the vehicle interior side, covering almost the entire surface. As shown in Figures 8 to 13, the seal member 334 has an attachment groove 334a on its periphery, and is attached to the mounting plate portion 333 by inserting the four peripheral edges of the mounting plate portion 333 into the attachment groove 334a. The seal member 334 has insertion openings 334b in portions corresponding to the part insertion holes Qa and fastening insertion holes Qb of the quarter panel QP. The insertion opening corresponding to the part insertion hole Qa (hereinafter referred to as part insertion opening 334b1 when distinguishing between them) is formed to have a roughly rectangular shape slightly larger than the part insertion hole Qa. The openings (hereinafter, referred to as fastening openings 334b2 when distinguishing between them) corresponding to the fastening through holes Qb are formed to have a shape slightly larger than the corresponding fastening through holes Qb. As is clear from the figure, the sealing member 334 is configured such that the plate thickness of the peripheral portion where the mounting groove 334a is formed is greater than that of the central portion. Therefore, when the sealing member 334 is mounted on the mounting plate portion 333 through the mounting groove 334a, a small gap (relief recess) d is secured between the thin-walled central portion and the surface of the mounting plate portion 333. The sealing member 334 has an outer peripheral lip 41 and an inner peripheral lip 42 on the surface facing the quarter panel QP, while an inner peripheral rib 51 and an outer peripheral rib 52 are provided on the surface facing the mounting plate portion 333. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a protrusion 333a1 is provided on the surface of the mounting plate portion 333 located on the vehicle interior side, in the portion surrounding the fastening hole 333a.

The outer peripheral lip 41 is a thin plate-like protrusion provided on the edge that forms the outer periphery of the seal member 334, and is formed so that it is continuous around all four sides. As the outer peripheral lip 41 protrudes toward the quarter panel QP, it gradually becomes more outer periphery, and is provided in an inclined state so that the tip edge faces the outer periphery of the mounting plate portion 333.

The inner peripheral lip 42 is a thin plate-like protrusion provided individually around each fastening opening, and each is formed to be a continuous endless shape. The inner peripheral lip provided around the fastening insertion opening 334b2 (hereinafter referred to as the fastening inner peripheral lip 42a when distinguishing between them) protrudes from the portion close to each fastening insertion opening 334b2 and is provided in a state of gradually inclining to the inner peripheral side of the fastening insertion opening 334b2 as it protrudes toward the quarter panel QP. This fastening inner peripheral lip 42a is formed with a dimension larger than the protrusion 333a1 of the mounting plate portion 333 so that it does not abut against the protrusion 333a1 of the mounting plate portion 333 even if it falls to the inner peripheral side. The inner peripheral lip (hereinafter referred to as the component inner peripheral lip 42b when distinguishing between them) provided around the component insertion opening 334b1 has left and right portions that extend up and down and protrude from portions close to the component insertion opening 334b1, while the upper and lower portions that extend left and right protrude from portions that have a relatively large gap between them and the component insertion opening 334b1, and is provided in an inclined state so that as it protrudes toward the quarter panel QP, it gradually becomes closer to the inner peripheral side of the fastening insertion opening 334b2.

The inner rib 51 and the outer rib 52 each protrude from the thin-walled central portion of the seal member 334 so as to abut against the surface of the mounting plate portion 333, and are formed with a substantially semicircular cross section so as to make linear contact with the surface of the mounting plate portion 333. In this embodiment, the inner rib 51 is provided around the insertion opening 334b, and the outer rib 52 is provided on the edge portion that forms the outer periphery of the seal member 334. In more detail, the inner rib 51 is provided in a portion where the portion extending left and right at the top and the portion extending up and down at the left and right are approximately the same position as the position corresponding to the base end of the part inner lip 42b, while the portion extending left and right at the bottom is provided on the inner periphery side of the position corresponding to the base end of the part inner lip 42b. The outer peripheral rib 52 is provided in a portion where the portion extending left and right at the top and the portion extending up and down on the left and right are located on the inner side of the position corresponding to the base end of the outer peripheral lip 41, and the lower ends of the portions extending up and down on the left and right are bent in a direction approaching each other, thereby connecting to the lower ends of the portions extending up and down on the left and right of the inner peripheral rib 51.

When the vehicle door opening and closing device configured as described above is attached to the vehicle body B, the motor module 20, the transmission module 30, and the center guide unit CG can be handled independently of one another. In other words, between the motor module 20 and the transmission module 30, the connection between the female spline 331a of the drive pulley 331 and the motor module 20 is released. Between the transmission module 30 and the center guide unit CG, the connection between the belt bracket 234 and the arm member 11C is released.

From this state, for example, first attach the guide rail 10C to the quarter panel QP, then attach the transmission module 30 and the motor module 20 to the quarter panel QP in that order, and connect the transmission module 30 and the motor module 20 to each other, allowing the sliding door RD to be driven by the vehicle door opening and closing device.

Specifically, the input unit 330 of the transmission module 30 is inserted into the vehicle interior through the part insertion hole Qa formed in the quarter panel QP, and from this state, fastening members such as bolts are provided in the fastening hole 333a of the mounting plate portion 333, the fastening insertion opening 334b2 of the seal member 334, and the fastening insertion hole Qb of the quarter panel QP, so that the mounting plate portion 333 can be attached to the quarter panel QP. Furthermore, by attaching the belt guide 230 of the transmission module 30 to the quarter panel QP, the transmission module 30 can be supported by the quarter panel QP. Furthermore, by connecting the motor module 20 to the input unit 330 on the vehicle interior from this state, the motor module 20 and the transmission module 30 can be attached to the quarter panel QP in a state in which the drive belt 130 can be moved by the drive of the motor module 20.

In this case, according to the door opening and closing device described above, a planar seal member 334 is interposed between the mounting plate portion 333 and the quarter panel QP, so that it is possible to prevent external water such as rainwater and dust from entering the inside of the vehicle through the part insertion hole Qa and the fastening insertion hole Qb formed in the quarter panel QP. In particular, an outer peripheral lip 41 is provided on the edge portion that forms the outer periphery of the seal member 334, and an inner peripheral lip 42 is provided around the portion corresponding to the part insertion hole Qa and the fastening insertion hole Qb, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent the intrusion of water and dust from the outside even if there is a processing error or assembly error between the mounting plate portion 333 and the quarter panel QP.

Moreover, since the outer peripheral lip 41 and the inner peripheral lip 42 of the seal member 334 are protruding at an angle toward the vehicle exterior surface Pa of the quarter panel QP, when the seal member 334 is abutted against the vehicle exterior surface Pa via the mounting plate portion 333, the tip portion always bends toward the edge portion of the mounting plate portion 333. Therefore, as long as the transmission module 30 is attached to the quarter panel QP, a state in which water and dust are unlikely to infiltrate between the edge portion of the mounting plate portion 333 and the quarter panel QP is always reproduced, and the above-mentioned effect can be easily and stably obtained. In addition, while the center portion of the seal member 334 is made thin, an inner peripheral rib 51 and an outer peripheral rib 52 are provided on the surface of the seal member 334 facing the mounting plate portion 333 in correspondence with the inner peripheral lip 42 and the outer peripheral lip 41. Therefore, the inner rib 51 and the outer rib 52 can reliably bring the inner lip 42 and the outer lip 41 into contact with the vehicle exterior surface Pa of the quarter panel QP, and the thickness of the inner lip 42 and the outer lip 41 can be reduced in the gap d between the thin-walled central portion and the surface of the mounting plate 333. Furthermore, the gap X is secured between the vehicle exterior surface Pa of the quarter panel QP and the fastening inner lip 42a around the fastening hole 333a by the protrusion 333a1, so that the thickness of the fastening inner lip 42a can be reduced in this gap X. As a result, even if the mounting plate 333 is attached so as to be strongly pressed against the quarter panel QP, the outer lip 41 and the inner lip 42 of the seal member 334 are properly crushed, and the intrusion of water and dust can be prevented without causing a situation in which the quarter panel QP is deformed. Furthermore, since only a single seal member 334 is required, there is no concern that the installation work of the parts will become complicated.

After attaching the transmission module 30 to the quarter panel QP, the belt bracket 234 of the drive belt 130 is overlapped with the arm member 11C, and the connecting screw CB is screwed into the arm member 11C via the belt bracket 234 to connect the transmission module 30 and the center guide unit CG. In this state, when the motor module 20 is driven, the drive belt 130 moves in an appropriate direction relative to the belt guide 230, and the belt bracket 234 moves relative to the belt guide 230 accordingly. As a result, the movement of the drive belt 130 is transmitted to the arm member 11C via the belt bracket 234, making it possible to move the sliding door RD connected to the arm member 11C in the fore-and-aft direction relative to the vehicle body B.

In the above embodiment, the input unit 330 of the transmission module 30 is attached to the quarter panel QP that constitutes the vehicle body, but the present invention can also be applied to cases where other parts are attached to other panels. In this case, the number of fastening insertion holes does not necessarily need to be four.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the mounting plate portion 333 has fastening holes 333a through which fastening members are inserted, but the fastening members may be welded to the mounting plate portion.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the plate thickness of the central portion of the seal member 334 is made small, and the ribs 51, 52 are provided on the surface facing the mounting plate portion 333 to provide a gap d that serves as an escape recess, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and it is also possible to form an escape recess by forming a recess only in the portion of the seal member 334 that corresponds to the lips 41, 42.

30 Transmission module 41 Outer peripheral lip 42 Inner peripheral lip 51 Inner peripheral rib 52 Outer peripheral rib 330 Input unit 332 Unit case 333 Mounting plate portion 333a Fastening hole 334 Seal member 334b Insertion opening Pa Vehicle outer surface QP Quarter panel Qa Part insertion hole Qb Fastening insertion hole d Gap

Claims (2)

A component mounting structure comprising: a mounting plate portion having an outer shape larger than a component insertion hole, the mounting plate portion being disposed on an outer surface of a panel having a component insertion hole and fastening insertion holes provided around the component insertion hole; and a component provided on the mounting plate portion being inserted into the panel through the component insertion hole, the mounting plate portion being mounted to the panel by providing fastening members from the mounting plate portion through the fastening insertion holes,
a seal member is interposed between the panel and the mounting plate portion, the seal member having a surface shape large enough to cover the mounting plate portion and having insertion openings provided in portions corresponding to the component insertion hole and the fastening insertion hole,
A series of outer peripheral lips are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the surface of the seal member facing the panel, and a series of inner peripheral lips are provided on the periphery of the insertion opening ,
a first circumferential lip that is disposed adjacent to the first opening and that is in contact with the first surface of the panel; 2. The component mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the seal member facing the mounting plate portion is provided with escape recesses at portions corresponding to the tip of the outer peripheral lip and the tip of the inner peripheral lip.

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