U.S. patent application number 09/771622 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for cockpit module structure for vehicle.
Invention is credited to Nishijima, Takayuki, Ogasawara, Takeshi, Ohashi, Toshio, Ohno, Masato, Sakamoto, Saburo, Satoh, Takeshi, Suzuki, Hitoshi, Uomoto, Manabu, Watanabe, Toshiharu.
Application Number | 20010035641 09/771622 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26591260 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010035641 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ohno, Masato ; et
al. |
November 1, 2001 |
Cockpit module structure for vehicle
Abstract
To provide a cockpit module structure for a vehicle where large
foot space and a secure and stable supported state can be secured,
the body of an air conditioning unit inside which heat exchangers
and opening and closing doors are installed is penetrated by a
steering member.
Inventors: |
Ohno, Masato; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ohashi, Toshio; (Tokyo, JP) ; Sakamoto,
Saburo; (Tokyo, JP) ; Watanabe, Toshiharu;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Uomoto, Manabu; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Satoh, Takeshi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Ogasawara, Takeshi;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Suzuki, Hitoshi; (Tokyo, JP)
; Nishijima, Takayuki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE, MION, ZINN, MACPEAK & SEAS, PLLC
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
26591260 |
Appl. No.: |
09/771622 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/779 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/779 |
International
Class: |
B62D 001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2000 |
JP |
P. 2000-131063 |
Nov 14, 2000 |
JP |
P. 2000-347178 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cockpit module for a vehicle comprising: an air conditioning
unit including a heat exchanger and an opening and closing door;
and a steering member elongating in a width direction of the
vehicle, the steering member penetrating and supporting the air
conditioning unit.
2. The cockpit module according to claim 1 wherein the air
conditioning unit includes a first case and a second case disposed
on the first case; and a through hole is defined between the first
case and the second case, through which the steering member
penetrates the air conditioning unit.
3. The cockpit module according to claim 1 wherein the air
conditioning unit includes a first case and a second case disposed
on the first case; and the steering member is integrally formed
with one of the first case and second case.
4. The cockpit module according to claim 1 wherein the heat
exchanger is disposed below the steering member.
5. The cockpit module according to claim 1 wherein the steering
member straightly elongates in the width direction of the
vehicle.
6. The cockpit module according to claim 1 wherein the steering
member is disposed in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the
air conditioning unit.
7. The cockpit module according to claim 1 further comprising a
stay for supporting a part of the air conditioning unit and the
steering member.
8. The cockpit module according to claim 1 further comprising a
bracket for mounting a functional unit arranged in the periphery of
the air conditioning unit, the bracket integrally formed with the
air conditioning unit.
9. The cockpit module according to claim 1 further comprising a
harness to be connected to a functional unit arranged in the
periphery of the body of the air conditioning unit, the harness
arranged along the steering member.
10. The cockpit module according to claim 9 further comprising a
connection portion for connecting the harness with a harness
extended from the vehicle, the connection portion arranged at an
intermediate part of the steering member.
11. The cockpit module according to claim 1 wherein the steering
member includes a leg extended from the steering member to the rear
of the vehicle; and the leg has a fitting portion for fitting
operation assistance equipment from an side end of the steering
member.
12. The cockpit module according to claim 11 wherein the leg
provided to the steering member supports and mounts an instrument
panel of the vehicle.
13. The cockpit module according to claim 2 wherein one of the
first case and the second case comprises a plurality of cases each
disposed one on another.
14. The cockpit module according to claim 2 wherein both of the
first case and the second case comprise a plurality of cases each
disposed one on another, respectively.
15. The cockpit module accrding to claim 7 wherein the stay is
attached to one of the first and second members.
16. The cockpit module according to claim 7 wherein the stay is
integrally formed with one of the first and second members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cockpit module structure
for a vehicle suitable for an automobile.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, in an air conditioning unit composing a part of a
cockpit module for a vehicle, opening and closing doors for opening
or closing a squirt hole in each mode such as a defroster outlet
and a ventilation outlet are housed and arranged in addition to
heat exchangers inside a body of the air conditioning unit.
[0005] The body of the air conditioning unit has a structure that
the body is supported by a steering member which is long in the
direction of the width of the vehicle and both ends of which are
supported by the vehicle as disclosed in JP-A-7-81376 or
JP-A-8-142708.
[0006] The Conventional type structure has a problem that foot
space on the side of an assistant driver's seat is restricted by a
blower provided to the side of the air conditioning unit because
the body of the air conditioning unit has a layout structure that
the body is located below a steering member.
[0007] In the meantime, as the steering member has a structure that
a part is bent because of the form of the body of the air
conditioning unit, workability, strength and rigidity are
undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention provides a cockpit module structure for a
vehicle wherein large foot space can be secured and an air
conditioning unit can be securely supported in a stable state.
[0009] A first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the
body of an air conditioning unit inside which a heat exchanger and
an opening and closing door are installed is penetrated by a
steering member long in the direction of the width of a vehicle and
is supported by the steering member.
[0010] A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that
the body of the air conditioning unit according to the first aspect
of the invention is divided into plural parts and a through hole of
the body of the air conditioning unit penetrated by the steering
member is provided on a partition line on which the body of the air
conditioning unit is divided into the plural parts.
[0011] A third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the
body of the air conditioning unit according to the first aspect of
the invention is divided into plural parts, and a part and the
steering member are integrated.
[0012] A fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that
the heat exchangers according to the first to third aspects of the
invention are arranged below the steering member.
[0013] A fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the
steering member according to the first to fourth aspects of the
invention is straight in the direction of the width of the
vehicle.
[0014] A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the
steering member according to the first to fifth aspects of the
invention penetrates the vicinity of the center of gravity of the
body of the air conditioning unit.
[0015] A seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that
the steering member according to the first to sixth aspects of the
invention is supported by a stay supporting a part of the body of
the air conditioning unit.
[0016] An eighth aspect of the invention is characterized in that a
bracket for mounting each functional part arranged in the periphery
of the air conditioning unit is integrated with the body of the air
conditioning unit according to the first to seventh aspects of the
invention.
[0017] A ninth aspect of the invention is characterized in that a
harness connected to each functional part arranged in the periphery
of the body of the air conditioning unit according to the first to
eighth aspects of the invention is arranged along the steering
member.
[0018] A tenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that a
connection of the harness according to the ninth aspect of the
invention and a harness extended from the side of the vehicle is
provided in an intermediate part in the direction of the width of
the vehicle of the steering member.
[0019] An eleventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that
a leg extended from the steering member to the rear of the vehicle
is provided to the steering member according to the first to tenth
aspects of the invention and a fitting part into which operation
assistance equipment (subsidiary device) is fitted from the side of
the end in the direction of the width of the vehicle in attachment
to the vehicle is provided to the leg.
[0020] A twelfth aspect of the invention is characterized in that
the leg according to the eleventh aspect of the invention is a
supporting member provided to the steering member for mounting an
instrument panel.
[0021] According to the first aspect of the invention, as the body
of the air conditioning unit inside which the heat exchanger and
the opening and closing door are installed is penetrated by the
steering member long in the direction of the width of the vehicle
and is supported by the steering member, a position in which the
body of the air conditioning unit is arranged is lifted, and
hereby, as a position in which a blower provided to the side of the
body of the air conditioning unit is arranged is also lifted, foot
space can be enlarged by the quantity.
[0022] According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first aspect of the invention, as the body of
the air conditioning unit is divided into plural parts and a
through hole of the body of the air conditioning unit which the
steering member penetrates is provided on a partition line on which
the body of the air conditioning unit is divided into the plural
parts, an upper case and a lower case can be easily bound and
supported to/by the steering member by overlapping and binding the
upper case and the lower case in case the body of the air
conditioning unit is divided to two parts of the upper case and the
lower case for example.
[0023] In addition, as the through hole is provided on the
partition line on which the body of the air conditioning unit is
divided, the working of the body of the air conditioning unit is
facilitated.
[0024] According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first aspect of the invention, as the body of
the air conditioning unit is divided into plural parts and a part
and the steering member are integrated, a bracket binding the
steering member and the body of the air conditioning unit can be
omitted, the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be
reduced and the assembling workability can be enhanced.
[0025] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first to third aspects of the invention, as
the heat exchangers are arranged below the steering member, the
body of the air conditioning unit has a layout structure that the
heavy heat exchangers are arranged in the lower part of the body of
the air conditioning unit, the center of gravity of the air
conditioning unit becomes lower and a stable supported state can be
acquired.
[0026] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first to fourth aspects of the invention, as
the steering member is straight in the direction of the width of
the vehicle, the working of the steering member is facilitated, and
the strength and the rigidity can be enhanced.
[0027] According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first to fifth aspects of the invention, as
the steering member penetrates the vicinity of the center of
gravity of the body of the air conditioning unit, the steering
member can support the body of the air conditioning unit more
stably.
[0028] According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in
addition to the effect by the first to sixth aspects of the
invention, as the steering member is supported by a stay that
supports a part of the body of the air conditioning unit on a car
body member, the steering member can be supported on the car body
in an intermediate position of the vehicle in the vicinity of the
body of the air conditioning unit, the strength and the rigidity of
the steering member are enhanced, the steering member can be
thinned, and the lightening and the degree of the freedom of the
design can be enhanced.
[0029] As the stay also functions as the reinforcing member of the
body of the air conditioning unit, the strength and the rigidity of
the body of the air conditioning unit can be enhanced.
[0030] According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first to seventh aspects of the invention, as
a bracket for mounting each functional part arranged in the
periphery of the air conditioning unit is integrated with the body
of the air conditioning unit, the manhour and the machining cost
can be reduced, compared with those in case the mounting bracket is
provided on the body of the air conditioning unit by welding so far
and the cost can be reduced.
[0031] According to the ninth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the first to eighth aspects of the invention, as
the harness connected to each functional part arranged in the
periphery of the air conditioning unit is arranged along the
steering member, interference between peripheral parts and the
harness when the peripheral parts are attached can be avoided,
labor such as an operator is required to hold the harness by hand
is not required and labor effectiveness can be enhanced.
[0032] According to the tenth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the effect by the ninth aspect of the invention, as a connection
of the harness and a harness extended from the side of the vehicle
is provided in an intermediate part in the direction of the width
of the vehicle of the steering member, the length of the harness
set every type heretofore can be made common, the flexibility is
enhanced and the cost can be reduced.
[0033] According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, in
addition to the effect by the first to tenth aspects of the
invention, as the leg extended from the steering member to the rear
of the vehicle is provided to the steering member and the fitting
part into which the operation assistance equipment is fitted from
the side of the end in the direction of the width of the vehicle in
attachment to the vehicle is provided to the leg, interference
between the harness connected to each functional part arranged in
the periphery of the air conditioning unit and the operation
assistance equipment can be avoided when the air conditioning unit
is attached to the vehicle, compared with a conventional type in
which a steering member is supported from the lower side and an air
conditioning unit is attached to a vehicle, labor such as an
operator is required to hold the harness by hand is not required
and labor effectiveness can be enhanced.
[0034] In a cockpit module structure that various peripheral parts
in addition to the air conditioning unit are subassembled
beforehand before attachment to the vehicle, which is recently
performed, as the operation assistance equipment is fitted from the
side of the end in the direction of the width of the vehicle as
described above, components covering the lower side of the steering
member in addition to an integrated instrument panel can be also
subassembled, modularization is accelerated and labor effectiveness
can be more enhanced.
[0035] According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, as the leg
according to the eleventh aspect of the invention is a supporting
member provided to the steering member for mounting the instrument
panel, a dedicated leg for fitting the operation assistance
equipment is not required to be provided utilizing the existing
supporting member and the cost can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an air conditioning unit
structure in a first embodiment of the invention.
[0037] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the air
conditioning unit structure in the first embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a sectional explanatory drawing showing a
supported state by a stay provided to the body of an air
conditioning unit.
[0039] FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory drawings showing various
sectional forms of a steering member.
[0040] FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing one embodiment of
the form of the steering member.
[0041] FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing another embodiment of the
form of the steering member.
[0042] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an air
conditioning unit structure in a second embodiment of the
invention.
[0043] FIG. 8 is an end face view equivalent to FIG. 1 showing a
ventilation outlet in the second embodiment of the invention.
[0044] FIG. 9 is an end face view equivalent to FIG. 1 showing a
foot outlet in the second embodiment of the invention.
[0045] FIG. 10 is an end face view showing a junction of an
instrument panel in the second embodiment of the invention.
[0046] FIG. 11 is a drawing viewed from a direction shown by an
arrow A in FIG. 11.
[0047] FIGS. 12A and 12B are explanatory drawings showing the end
of the steering member in the second embodiment of the
invention.
[0048] FIG. 13 is an explanatory drawing viewed from the side of a
vehicle in the second embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0049] The present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0050] First Embodiment
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a first embodiment of the
invention will be described in detail.
[0052] FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning unit 1, in which a steering
member 5 penetrates a body 3 of the air conditioning unit 1.
[0053] The steering member 5 is long and straight in a direction of
a width of a vehicle and each fitting 7 at both ends is fixed and
supported to/by the body such as a dashboard side panel.
[0054] The steering member 5 has a cylindrical shape having a
hollow portion in sectional view for lightening. In this case, the
form is not limited to a cylinder and for example, as shown in
FIGS. 4A and 4B, it may be also polygonal and quadrangular. As
shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, a cross reinforcing member may be also
provided inside and a double pipe structure is also enabled.
[0055] When the steering member 5 is straightly formed, the
diameter on the right side on which the steering wheel is installed
may be also the biggest and may be also sequentially smaller as
shown in FIG. 5 and as shown in FIG. 6, the diameter in the center
may be also bigger, compared with the diameter on both sides.
[0056] The body 3 of the air conditioning unit is divided into an
upper case 9 and a lower case 11.
[0057] A through hole 13 which the steering member 5 penetrates is
provided on a partition line 15 which divides into the upper case
and the lower case and the steering member 5 inside the through
hole 13 passes the vicinity of the center of gravity. Hereby, a
stable support state is acquired and the unstrained separation and
working of the body 3 of the air conditioning unit are
facilitated.
[0058] A trapezoidal cooling heat exchanger 17 where heat exchange
is performed when air guided from the outside and the inside of the
vehicle gets away upward, parting right and left as shown by an
arrow a in FIG. 2 for example, while as shown by an arrow b, the
air can pass the inside of the heat exchanger without heat exchange
as it is and a heating heat exchanger 19 arranged on the downstream
side of the cooling heat exchanger 17 are housed in the lower case
11 so that the center of gravity is low.
[0059] A blower (not shown) is installed on the left side which is
equivalent to the upstream side of the cooling heat exchanger 17 of
the lower case 11.
[0060] First to fifth opening and closing doors 21 to 25 which can
be respectively switched into states shown by a full line and a
virtual line are provided in the upper case 9 and the fifth opening
and closing door is a slide door.
[0061] Heat exchange is performed and the flow of a cold blast is
acquired by opening the first opening and closing door 21 as shown
by the virtual line in full cooling when air from the blower (not
shown) passes the cooling heat exchanger 17 as shown by a full line
arrow.
[0062] Heat exchange is performed and the flow of a warm blast is
acquired by opening the third opening and closing door 23 as shown
by the virtual line in full hotting when air from the blower (not
shown) passes the heating heat exchanger 19 after the air flows
inside the cooling heat exchanger 17 as it is without heat exchange
as shown by a broken line arrow.
[0063] The flow of mixed air passing an alternate long and short
dash line and a broken line is acquired by opening the second and
third opening and closing doors 22 and 23 as shown by the virtual
lines in air mixing.
[0064] The fourth opening and closing door 24 is an opening and
closing door of a defroster outlet 27 and air flows toward the
defroster outlet 27 by operating the fourth opening and closing
door as shown by the virtual line.
[0065] The fifth opening and closing door 25 is a switching door
for opening or closing a ventilation outlet 29 and a foot outlet
31, when a slide door 25a is shown by a full line, air flows toward
the ventilation outlet 29 and when it is shown by a virtual line,
air flows toward the foot outlet 31.
[0066] As described above, the upper case 9 is a switching zone in
which each opening and closing door 21, 22, 23, 24 25 is
collectively housed and arranged so that space which the steering
member 5 penetrates is secured.
[0067] In this case, the partition line 15 which divides the body 3
of the air conditioning unit into the upper case 9 and the lower
case 11 divides the body horizontally, however, depending upon the
layout of the heat exchangers and the opening and closing doors
housed and arranged in the body 3 of the air conditioning unit, the
partition line may also divide the body into fore and after parts
vertically or may also divide the body into right upper and left
lower parts diagonally.
[0068] Supporting flanges 41 and 42 are respectively provided to
the steering member 5 and the lower case 11 on the side wall on the
side of an assistant driver's seat of the lower case 11 as shown in
FIG. 2 and are fixed and supported by fastening each supporting
flanges 41 and 42 with a fixing bolt 43.
[0069] Faces to be bound together in another region to be the
partition line 15 are fixed and supported by respectively fastening
flanges 45 with fixing means.
[0070] In the air conditioning unit structure composed as described
above, as the body 3 of the air conditioning unit is penetrated and
supported by the steering member5, the lifted arrangement of the
body 3 of the air conditioning unit is enabled and large foot space
is acquired.
[0071] The lower case 11 of the body 3 of the air conditioning unit
in which the cooling heat exchanger 17 and the heating heat
exchanger 19 are housed and arranged becomes lower in the center of
gravity and the supporting rigidity is enhanced by the reinforcing
member of the stay 33. Also, a secure and stable firmly supported
state of the body 3 of the air conditioning unit is acquired by the
straight steering member 5 passing the vicinity of the center of
gravity.
[0072] Second Embodiment
[0073] FIGS. 7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the invention. In
the second embodiment, the lower case 11 of the body 3 of the air
conditioning unit is further into two parts and is divided into
three parts as a whole differently from the structure in the first
embodiment.
[0074] Therefore, the other basic structure is similar to that in
the first embodiment, the same reference number is allocated to the
same part and the description is omitted.
[0075] FIG. 7 shows an air conditioning unit 101 and the body 3 of
the air conditioning unit is divided into three parts of an upper
case 9andlower cases 10 and 11 in the second embodiment.
[0076] A steering member 5 is integrated on the lower case 10
arranged intermediately out of the upper case 9 and the lower cases
10 and 11 respectively divided into these three parts so that the
steering member 5 penetrates the body 3 of the air conditioning
unit and passes the vicinity of the center of gravity of the body 3
of the air conditioning unit.
[0077] Generally, the body 3 of the air conditioning unit is made
of synthetic resin, however, in the second embodiment, the upper
case 9 and the lower case 11 are made of synthetic resin and the
lower case 10 with which the steering member 5 is integrated is
made of light and rigid metal such as aluminum and magnesium.
[0078] The steering member 5 is long and straight in the direction
of the width of a vehicle and is fixed and supported to/by the car
body such as a dashboard panel in parts for attaching to the car
body 50 and 51 at both ends.
[0079] The steering member 5 is in a hollow shape as shown in FIG.
7 for lightening and a cross reinforcing part is provided
inside.
[0080] Also, in the second embodiment, when the steering member 5
is formed straight, it is formed so that the right side which is
the side of a driver's seat where a steering wheel is installed is
thicker as shown in FIG. 7, however, as described in the first
embodiment, the diameter of a central part may be also bigger,
compared with that of both sides.
[0081] The body 3 of the air conditioning unit is divided into
three parts of the upper case 9 and the lower cases 10 and 11 as
described above and a cooling heat exchanger 17 arranged
trapezoidally as in the first embodiment and a heating heat
exchanger 19 arranged on the downstream side of the cooling heat
exchanger 17 are housed and arranged in the lower case 11 of the
three parts so that the center of the gravity is low.
[0082] A blower (not shown) is installed on the side (generally,
the left side which is the side of an assistant driver's seat) of
the lower case 11 which is the upstream side of the cooling heat
exchanger 17.
[0083] First to fifth opening and closing doors 21 to 25 which can
be respectively switched to states shown by a full line and a
virtual line are provided inside the upper case 9 and the fifth
opening and closing door is a slide door.
[0084] FIGS. 8 and 9 both show the flow of air in the body 3 of the
air conditioning unit. FIG. 8 shows an end face acquired by cutting
the body 3 of the air conditioning unit in a ventilation outlet 29
approximately in the center, is an end face view equivalent to FIG.
1 showing the first embodiment and FIG. 9 is an end face view
equivalent to FIG. 1 acquired by cutting the body in a foot outlet
31 moved slightly on the side from the ventilation outlet shown in
FIG. 8.
[0085] Heat exchange is performed when air from the blower (not
shown) passes the cooling heat exchanger 17 as shown by the full
line and the flow of a cold blast is acquired by opening the first
opening and closing door 21 as shown by the virtual line shown in
FIG. 8 in full cooling.
[0086] After air from the blower (not shown) flows inside the
cooling heat exchanger 17 as it is without heat exchange as shown
by a broken line, heat exchange is performed when the air from the
blower passes the heating heat exchanger 19 and the flow of a warm
blast is acquired by opening the third opening and closing door 23
as shown by the virtual line in full hotting.
[0087] The flow of mixed air passing an alternate long and short
dash line and a broken line is acquired by opening the second
opening and closing door 22 and the third opening and closing door
23 as shown by the virtual lines in air mixing.
[0088] The fourth opening and closing door 24 is a door for opening
or closing a defroster outlet 27 and air flows toward the defroster
outlet 27 by opening the fourth opening and closing door 24 as
shown by the virtual line.
[0089] The fifth opening and closing door 25 is a switching door
for opening or closing the ventilation outlet 29 shown in FIG. 8
and the foot outlet 31 shown in FIG. 9, and when a slide door 25a
is shown by a full line in FIG. 8, air flows toward the ventilation
outlet 29.
[0090] In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, air flowing
from the ventilation outlet 29 flows into a squirt hole (not shown)
formed on the side of a front sheet, being distributed in the
direction of the width of the vehicle via a duct 60 arranged over
the ventilation outlet 29, is sent backward in the vehicle via a
passage 61 formed downward on the side in the rear of the vehicle
of the body 3 of the air conditioning unit and a duct 62 connected
to a second ventilation outlet 29' formed at the lower end of the
passage 61 and flows toward a squirt hole formed on the side of a
rear sheet.
[0091] When the slide door 25a is shown by a full line in FIG. 9,
air flowing from the fifth opening and closing door 25 flows toward
a passage 63 formed downward on the side in the rear of the vehicle
of the body 3 of the air conditioning unit and a foot outlet 31
formed at the lower end of the passage 63, is sent backward in the
vehicle via a duct 64 connected to the foot outlet 31 and flows
toward the squirt hole formed on the side of the rear sheet.
[0092] As described above, as in the first embodiment, the upper
case 9 is a switching zone in which each opening and closing door
21, 22, 23, 24, 25 is collectively housed and arranged so that
space which the steering member 5 penetrates is secured.
[0093] The faces to be bound together of the upper case 9 and the
lower case 10 to be a partition line are fixed and supported by
respectively fastening flanges 46 with fixing means, and the faces
to be bound together of the lower cases 10 and 11 are fixed and
supported by respectively fastening flanges 47 with fixing
means.
[0094] Recently, there is a demand to subassemble an instrument
panel 80 and various peripheral parts in addition to the body 3 of
the air conditioning unit and the steering member 5 to be a module
before attachment to the vehicle beforehand and to enhance labor
effectiveness and in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and
9, the cockpit module structure in which the instrument panel 80
and each functional part (not shown) arranged in the periphery of
the air conditioning unit 101 are subassembled beforehand before
attachment to the vehicle is adopted for the air conditioning unit
101.
[0095] The instrument panel 80 is divided into an upper instrument
panel 81 and a lower instrument panel 82 as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10,
an opening for attaching final controlling elements of the air
conditioning unit, a stereo and a monitor as each functional part
is formed in the center of the lower instrument panel 82 and a lid
cluster 85 that covers the edge of each functional part and
fittings of each functional part is provided to the opening.
[0096] FIG. 10 is an end face view showing a junction for mounting
the upper instrument panel 81 and the lid cluster 85 on the lower
instrument panel 82, a clip 88b made of metal or resin is provided
to a convex portion 88c integrated with the upper instrument panel
81 in a general part of the upper instrument panel 81, the clip 88b
is inserted into a fitting hole 88a formed in the lower instrument
panel 82 and is attached to the lower instrument panel 82. In a
general part of the lid cluster 85, a clip 89b made of metal or
resin is also provided to a convex portion 89c integrated with the
lid cluster 85, the clip 89b is inserted into a fitting hole 89a
formed in the lower instrument panel 82 and is attached to the
lower instrument panel 82.
[0097] A junction of the upper instrument panel 81 and the lid
cluster 85 is arranged so that the surfaces at the ends of both are
matched and the surfaces are fitted to the lower instrument panel
82 via fitting parts 86 and 87.
[0098] Concretely, fitting claws 86a and 87a provided to each end
of the upper instrument panel 81 and the lid cluster 85 are
respectively inserted into the fitting holes 86b and 87b
respectively provided to the lower instrument panel 82 and the
fitting parts 86 and 87 are alternately provided in different
positions in the direction of the width of the vehicle as shown in
FIG. 11.
[0099] The side at the fore end of the vehicle of the upper
instrument panel 81 is attached to the car body (not shown) via a
fitting part 84 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0100] Even if final controlling elements of the air conditioning
unit, a stereo and a monitor respectively arranged in the center of
the lower instrument panel 82 are required to be replaced after
they are mounted on the vehicle according to a request of a user,
they can be replaced by detaching only the lid cluster 85 covering
the fittings of each functional part owing to such an attachment
structure, and the serviceability and the maintenance workability
can be enhanced.
[0101] In the second embodiment, brackets 70 and 71 for mounting
each functional part are integrated with the body 3 of the air
conditioning unit.
[0102] Concretely, as described above, the mounting brackets 70 and
71 are set on the lower case 10 made of light and rigid metal
material such as aluminum and magnesium and the final controlling
elements of the air conditioning unit, the stereo and the monitor
are arranged in the center of the instrument panel 80.
[0103] Further, harnesses 72 and 73 connected to each functional
part arranged in the periphery of the air conditioning unit 101 are
arranged along the steering member 5, a junction box 74 which is a
connection of each harness 72, 73 and a harness 75 extended from
the side of the vehicle is provided in an intermediate part in the
direction of the width of the vehicle of the steering member 5 and
as the steering member 5 is prismatic in this embodiment, these
harnesses 72 and 73 and the junction box 74 are arranged on the
upper surface of the steering member.
[0104] Also, a leg 53 extended from the steering member 5 toward
the rear of the vehicle as a supporting member for mounting the
instrument panel 80 at the end of the rear of the vehicle is
provided to the steering member 5.
[0105] A fitting part 54 into which operation assistance equipment
90 is fitted from the side of the end in the direction of the width
of the vehicle when the air conditioning unit 101 is attached to
the vehicle is provided to the leg 53.
[0106] The fitting part 54 includes fitting holes 55 and 56 open by
two on the right and left sides as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, is
supported by the operation assistance equipment by fitting fitting
pins 91 of the operation assistance equipment 90 into these fitting
holes 55 and 56 and the air conditioning unit is attached to the
vehicle from the rear of the vehicle.
[0107] At this time, a part for mounting on the car body 50 on the
left side of the vehicle is attached to a fitting part 59 on the
side of the car body by fixing means such as a bolt from the rear
of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 12A. In the meantime, a fitting
part 57 in the inverse shape of a letter C open toward the front of
the vehicle is provided to a part for mounting on the car body 51
on the right side of the vehicle which is the side of the driver's
seat, is fitted to a convex portion 58 set on the side of the car
body and is supported by the portion.
[0108] One of the fitting holes 55 and 56 is formed in the shape of
a long hole so that an error in a dimension between the fitting
hole and each of the fitting pins 91 of the operation assistance
equipment 90 is absorbed.
[0109] Therefore, in the cockpit module structure as in the second
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B and 13, a work hole 83 into
which the operation assistance equipment 90 can be inserted from
the side of the end in the direction of the width of the vehicle is
provided to the instrument panel 80.
[0110] According to the structure equivalent to the second
embodiment described above, as the low case 10 of the body 3 of the
air conditioning unit divided into the plural parts and the
steering member are integrated in addition to effect that large
foot space can be acquired because the position in which the body 3
of the air conditioning unit is arranged is lifted and hereby, the
position in which the blower (not shown) provided to the side of
the body 3 of the air conditioning unit is arranged is also lifted,
a bracket binding the steering member 5 and the body 3 of the air
conditioning unit can be omitted, the number of parts can be
reduced, the cost can be reduced and the assembling workability can
be enhanced.
[0111] As the heat exchangers 17 and 19 are arranged below the
steering member 5, a layout structure that the heavy heat
exchangers 17 and 19 are arranged on the side of the lower case of
the body 3 of the air conditioning unit is acquired, the center of
gravity becomes lower and a stable supported state of the body 3 of
the air conditioning unit can be acquired.
[0112] Further, as the steering member 5 is straight in the
direction of the width of the vehicle, the working is facilitated,
the strength and the rigidity can be enhanced and in addition, as
the steering member 5 penetrates the vicinity of the center of
gravity of the body 3 of the air conditioning unit, the body 3 of
the air conditioning unit can be supported more stably.
[0113] Particularly, according to the second embodiment, in
addition to the above, as the brackets 70 and 71 for mounting each
functional part arranged in the periphery of the air conditioning
unit 101 are integrated with the lower case 10 of the body 3 of the
air conditioning unit, the manhour and the machining cost can be
reduced, compared with a conventional type that mounting brackets
70 and 71 are provided to the body 3 of the air conditioning unit
by welding and the cost can be reduced.
[0114] In addition, the harnesses 72 and 73 connected to each
functional part are arranged along the upper surface of the
steering member 5, interference between a peripheral part and each
harness 72, 73 can be avoided when the peripheral part such as the
instrument panel 80 is attached, labor such as an operator is
required to hold the harnesses 72 and 73 by hand is not required
and labor effectiveness can be enhanced.
[0115] Further, as the junction box 74 which is a connection of
each harness 72, 73 and the harness 75 extended from the side of
the vehicle is provided to the intermediate part in the direction
of the width of the vehicle of the steering member 5, the length
set every type heretofore of the harnesses 72 and 73 can be made
common, the flexibility is enhanced and the cost can be
reduced.
[0116] In the meantime, as the leg 53 extended from the steering
member 5 toward the rear of the vehicle is provided to the steering
member 5 and the fitting part 54 into which the operation
assistance equipment 90 is fitted from the side of the end in the
direction of the width of the vehicle in attachment to the vehicle
is provided to the leg 53, interference between each harness 72, 73
connected to each functional part arranged in the periphery of the
air conditioning unit 101 and the operation assistance equipment 90
can be avoided when the air conditioning unit 101 is attached to
the vehicle, compared with a conventional type that the steering
member 5 is supported from the lower side and is attached to the
vehicle and labor effectiveness can be more enhanced.
[0117] Particularly, in the case of the cockpit module structure
that various peripheral parts in addition to the air conditioning
unit 101 are subassembled beforehand before attachment to the
vehicle, as the fitting part 54 is in a range of a door opening D
as shown in FIG. 13, the operation assistance equipment 90 can be
fitted from the side of the end in the direction of the width of
the vehicle as described above, components covering the lower side
of the steering member 5 such as the lower instrument panel 82 can
be also subassembled, modularization is accelerated and labor
effectiveness can be enhanced. In addition, not only the instrument
panel 80 divided into the upper and lower parts in this embodiment
but an integrated instrument panel can be used and the degree of
the freedom of the design can be also enhanced.
[0118] Further, as the leg 53 is a supporting member provided to
the steering member 5 for mounting the instrument panel 80, the
existing member is utilized and as no dedicated leg for fitting the
operation assistance equipment 90 is provided, the cost can be
reduced.
[0119] In the second embodiment, a stay 33 that supports a part of
the body 3 of the air conditioning unit is omitted, however, it
need scarcely be said that in case the stay 33 is provided, the
similar effect to that in the first embodiment can be acquired.
* * * * *