Patent Application
20170210307
The subject matter described herein relates in general to electrical components, and more particularly, to the attachment of electrical components to vehicle structure.
Modern vehicles include numerous electrical components to perform various functions. Examples of such electrical components can include electronic circuit boards, electronic control units (ECUs) (e.g., airbag ECUs), event data recorders (EDRs), and computing systems (e.g., entertainment systems, navigation systems). Such electrical components can be attached to a vehicle structure in positions and/or orientations. For example, ECUs can be attached to a vehicle floor panel. During certain situations (e.g., vehicle impacts), the vehicle structure to which an electrical component is attached can deform.
In one respect, the subject matter described herein is directed to an electrical component system for a vehicle. The system can include a vehicle structure defining an attachment surface. The system can further include an electrical component having a body. The system can include an attachment bracket, where the electrical component can be operatively connected to the attachment surface at least in part by the attachment bracket. The attachment bracket can include a main body having a front side and a rear side. The attachment bracket can further include a front attachment portion connected to the main body at the front side, and the front attachment portion can be operatively connected to the vehicle structure. The system can further include a central attachment configured to operatively connect the electrical component to the main body of the attachment bracket.
In another respect, the subject matter described herein is directed to an airbag ECU system for a vehicle. The system can include a vehicle floor panel defining an attachment surface and an airbag ECU. The system can further include an attachment bracket, where the airbag ECU can be operatively connected to the attachment surface at least in part by the attachment bracket. The attachment bracket can include a main body and a front attachment portion connected to the main body. The front attachment portion can be operatively connected to the vehicle floor panel at a first location. The system can include an adhesive layer including two-sided tape, the adhesive layer being configured to operatively connect the ECU body to the main body of the attachment bracket. The adhesive layer can be configured to prevent relative movement between the ECU body and the main body of the attachment bracket.
This detailed description relates to the attachment of electrical components within a vehicle. This detailed description is more particularly related to an attachment bracket, a central attachment, and an electrical component. The central attachment can include an adhesive, such as a two-sided tape, positioned between the attachment bracket and the electrical component. The present detailed description relates to apparatus and/or systems that incorporate one or more of such features. In at least some instances, arrangements described herein can reduce or eliminate conditions in which the electrical component completely detaches from an attachment surface of the vehicle. Further, arrangements can control and/or influence the relative movement and/or rotation of the electrical component when a force is applied.
Detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended only as examples. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the aspects herein in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of possible implementations. Various embodiments are shown in
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details.
Referring to
The vehicle 10 can define an interior that can be configured to receive one or more vehicle occupants. For example, the interior can be partially defined by a floor panel 12. The floor panel 12 can be configured to extend along a bottom portion of the vehicle 10. The floor panel 12 may be covered by carpeting or other material to improve the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 10 and/or for other purposes. Further, vehicle components, including, for example, seating, storage compartments, and/or electrical components can be operatively connected to the floor panel 12. The term “operatively connected” as used throughout this description, can include direct or indirect connections, including connections without direct physical contact.
One or more electrical components can be operatively connected to one or more surfaces within the vehicle 10. As used herein, “electrical components” can include components configured to control and/or perform one or more aspects and/or functions of an electrical system of the vehicle 10.
In one or more arrangements, the electrical component 20 can be operatively connected to one or more vehicle structures, such as the floor panel 12. For instance, the electrical component 20 can be operatively connected to the floor panel 12 at or near a tunnel 14. In one or more arrangements, the tunnel 14 can include an attachment surface 16. In some instances, at least a portion of the attachment surface 16 can be substantially planar. As used herein, the term “substantially” includes exactly the term it modifies and slight variations therefrom. Thus, the term “substantially planar” means exactly planar and slight variations therefrom (e.g., within normal manufacturing tolerances, within about 10% or less, within about 5% or less, etc.). In one or more arrangements, the attachment surface 16 can extend in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T, as shown in
The electrical component 20 can have a body 22. The body 22 can have any suitable size, shape, and/or configuration. The body 22 can form a housing for portions of one or more electrical subcomponents, such as electrical conductors, wiring, circuit boards, processors, and/or memory for one or more ECUs/and/or EDRs, for example. The body 22 can be any suitable material, including plastics and/or metals.
The electrical component 20 can have one or more attachment features configured to operatively connect the electrical component 20 to the vehicle 10. For example, the electrical component 20 can include one or more attachment tabs 24. The attachment tabs 24 can extend outward from the body 22 as shown in
In one or more arrangements, the electrical component 20 can be operatively connected to the floor panel 12 by an attachment bracket 100. For instance, the attachment bracket 100 can be configured to be positioned between at least a portion of the electrical component 20 and the attachment surface 16, as shown in the Figures.
In one or more arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can include a main body 110. The main body 110 can have any suitable size, shape, and/or configuration. In some instances, at least a portion of the main body 110 can be shaped to substantially match the contour of one or more portions of the attachment surface 16. For example, the main body 110 can include a substantially planar surface.
In one or more arrangements, the main body 110 can include an outer surface 112 and an inner surface 114 (see
In one or more arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can include one or more side walls 120. The one or more side walls 120 can extend away from the main body 110. The one or more side walls 120 can extend in any suitable direction away from the main body 110. For example, as shown in
In one or more arrangements, the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100 can include one or more attachment portions. For instance, the attachment bracket can include one or more front attachment portions 130 and one or more rear spacer portions 140. In some arrangements, the quantity of front attachment portions 130 can be different from the quantity of rear spacer portions 140. For example, in one or more arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can include two front attachment portions 130 and one rear spacer portion 140. In some arrangements, the quantity of front attachment portions 130 can be the same as the quantity of rear spacer portions 140.
In some arrangements, the front attachment portion(s) 130 can be connected to the main body 110 at an end portion of the attachment bracket 100. For example, the front attachment portion(s) 130 can extend from a front side 160 of the attachment bracket. The rear spacer portion 140 can be located near a rear side 170 of the attachment bracket. The terms “front” and “rear” are used in this respect to indicate the general location of the attachment portion relative to the front end and rear of the vehicle 10. The terms are used merely for convenience to facilitate the description. Therefore, it will be understood that they are not intended to be limiting.
The front attachment portion(s) 130 can be configured to facilitate the operative connection of the attachment bracket 100 to the electrical component 20 and/or the attachment surface 16. For example, the front attachment portion(s) 130 can include one or more apertures 132 (
In one or more arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can include one or more front attachment portions 130 without any rear spacer portions 140. For instance, the attachment bracket 100 can be operatively connected to the floor panel 12 only at locations near the front side 160. In some arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can include two front attachment portions 130 bolted or otherwise attached to the floor panel 12, without any rear spacer portion 140.
The attachment bracket 100 can be made of a variety of suitable materials. For example, the attachment bracket 100 can be made of any suitable metal, such as steel. In one or more arrangements, a thickness of the attachment bracket 100 can be substantially constant. In one or more arrangements, the thickness of the attachment bracket 100 can vary in one or more locations, or the thickness of the attachment bracket 100 can continuously vary across the entire attachment bracket 100 in one or more directions.
The attachment bracket 100 can be made using any suitable process, including, for example, stamping, bending, and/or cutting. In one or more arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can be formed as a single piece. In one or more arrangements, the attachment bracket 100 can be made of a plurality of separate pieces. The plurality of separate pieces can be joined together in any suitable manner, including, for example, welding, brazing, adhesives, and/or one or more fasteners.
In one or more arrangements, the electrical component 20 can be operatively connected to the attachment bracket 100 via the central attachment 200. The central attachment 200 can include any element configured to operatively connect the electrical component 20 to the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100. In one or more arrangements, the central attachment 200 can be any suitable chemical and/or mechanical fastener.
In one or more arrangements, the central attachment 200 can include one or more adhesives 210. The adhesive 210 can be configured to be positioned between the electrical component 20 and the attachment bracket 100. For example, the adhesive 210 can be in direct contact with an inner surface 23 of the body 22 of the electrical component 20. Further, the adhesive 210 can be in direct contact with an outer surface 112 of the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100. The adhesive 210 can include any natural and/or synthetic glue, cement, mucilage, tape, and/or paste. In one or more arrangements, the adhesive 210 can be a pressure-sensitive tape (PSA tape) configured to bind with a surface through application pressure without the need for a solvent.
In one or more arrangements, the adhesive 210 can be in the form of, or carried by, a two-sided tape. For instance, the adhesive 210 can be a PSA tape having adhesive on opposite sides. In one or more arrangements, the adhesive 210 can a two-sided acrylic foam tape. For example, the two-sided tape can be a two-sided tape in the RT8000 series, manufactured by 3M, Maplewood, Minn. In one or more arrangements, the adhesive and/or adhesive properties on one side of the tape can be substantially identical to the adhesive and/or adhesive properties on the other side of the tape. In one or more arrangements, the adhesive and/or adhesive properties on one side of the tape can be different from the adhesive and/or adhesive properties on the other side of the tape.
The adhesive 210 can include an outer surface 212 and an inner surface 214. In one or more arrangements, the outer surface 212 can be configured to contact a portion of the inner surface 23 of the body 22 of the electrical component 20. In one or more arrangements, the inner surface 214 can be configured to contact a portion of the outer surface 112 of the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100.
The outer surface 212 and/or the inner surface 214 can have any suitable size, shape, and/or configuration. For instance, the outer surface 212 and/or the inner surface 214 can form a substantially rectangular shape (as shown in
In one or more arrangements, the adhesive 210 can be continuous. For example, the adhesive 210 can include one continuous piece of a two-sided tape. Alternatively, the adhesive 210 can include two or more separate pieces of two-sided tape. For example, the adhesive 210 can include two or more distinct pieces of a two-sided tape positioned at different locations.
The adhesive 210 can have any suitable thickness t (
The electrical component 20, the attachment bracket 100, and/or the vehicle structure can be subject to certain loading conditions. One or more of such components can deform under the loading conditions. As used herein, “deform” can include any situations in which structure rotates, twists, bends, curves, folds, crumples, breaks, cracks, and/or otherwise changes shape relative to an initial condition. The “initial condition” means the shape, size, and/or configuration of structure prior to any deformation. A “deformed condition” can include any shape, size, and/or configuration of the electrical component 20, attachment bracket 100, and/or the vehicle structure subsequent to deformation caused by one or more forces.
The attachment bracket 100 and the central attachment 200 can be configured to retain the electrical component 20 in certain positions during an application of a force F (
During deformation of the floor panel 12, the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100 can move relative to an initial position prior to the force F being applied. For example, the deformation of the floor panel 12 can cause portions of the main body 110 to move in an upward direction. In some arrangements, the main body 110 can rotate relative to the front attachment portion(s) 130 via one or more bends 150. The main body 110 can be separated from the rear spacer portion 140 during the application of the force F.
In one or more arrangements, the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100 and the body 22 of the electrical component 20 can be rotated from the initial condition. For example, the main body 110 can be rotated an angle θ from the initial condition to the deformed condition. In one or more arrangements, a maximum relative movement of the electrical component 20 can be established based on a characteristic of the electrical component 20. For example, an airbag ECU and/or an airbag EDR can be configured to provide reliable data at certain angular positions relative to horizontal and/or up to a certain amount of rotational movement. In some arrangements, the angle θ can be a maximum of about 20 degrees or less.
In some instances, the attachment tabs 24 of the electrical component 20 can be configured to crack, break, or otherwise fail at a predetermine location, such as at a break point 25. For example, the attachment tab 24 can be a brittle material such as an aluminum alloy. In one or more arrangements, the electrical component 20 can be retained by the central attachment 200 to the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100. The central attachment 200 can prevent movement of the body 22 of the electrical component relative to the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100. For example, even if the attachment tabs 24 break off from the body 22 of the electrical component 20, the body 22 of the electrical component 20 can remain attached to the main body 110 of the attachment bracket 100.
Now that the various potential systems, devices, elements and/or components of the vehicle 10, the electrical component 20, the attachment bracket 100, and the central attachment 200 have been described, one manner of connecting the elements will now be described. Various possible steps will now be described. The described steps may be applicable to the arrangements described above in relation to
The electrical component 20, the central attachment 200, the attachment bracket 100, and the floor panel 12 can be brought together so that at least a portion of the electrical component 20 contacts the outer surface 212 of the central attachment 200. Further, at least a portion of the attachment bracket 100 can contact the inner surface 214 of the central attachment 200. A portion of the attachment bracket 100 can contact the attachment surface 16 of the floor panel 12. In one or more arrangements, an aperture 26 in an attachment tab 24 can be substantially aligned with an apertures 132 in a front attachment portion 130. Further, an aperture 26 in an attachment tab 24 can be substantially aligned with an aperture 142 of a rear attachment 140.
The electrical component 20 and the attachment bracket 100 can be operatively connected to the floor panel 12 of the vehicle using bolts 30 and/or other suitable fasteners. The bolt 30 and/or other fastener can be retainably engaged by threaded engagement with the floor panel 12 or by a retainer element (e.g., a nut).
It will be appreciated that arrangements described herein can provide numerous benefits, including one or more of the benefits mentioned herein. One or more arrangements described herein can provide attachment structure for electrical components that can move and/or deform as forces are applied to a mounting surface. For instance, arrangements described herein can include an airbag ECU and/or an airbag EDR operatively connected to a vehicle floor panel. During certain vehicle impacts, the vehicle floor panel can deform, collapse, and/or otherwise transfer forces to the ECU/EDR. Arrangements described herein can receive such forces while still providing retention of the ECU/EDR body. The central attachment can retain the ECU/EDR to the attachment bracket even if one or more attachment tabs break. The arrangements described herein can limit the relative movement and rotation of the electrical component during the application of a force. Arrangements described herein can control and/or influence deformation to maintain the electrical component in a position and/or orientation that allow the electrical component to continue to function properly and/or to maintain accuracy of the electrical component within predetermined specifications.
The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e. open language). The phrase “at least one of . . . and . . . ” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As an example, the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” includes A only, B only, C only, or any combination thereof (e.g. AB, AC, BC or ABC).
Aspects herein can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
