JP7063189B2 - Vehicle structure of electric vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle structure of an electric vehicle that enables automatic driving.

Patent Document 1 discloses an electric vehicle including a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a front frame, a middle frame, and a rear frame, the middle frame being interchangeable with other middle frames to change the length of the vehicle.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/207418

Here, the electric vehicle of Patent Document 1 does not disclose a configuration related to a device related to automatic driving or an air conditioning system. Therefore, in the electric vehicle of Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement in the storage position of the equipment and the wiring arrangement in order to provide the air conditioning system and to automatically operate the electric vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure capable of easily manufacturing a plurality of types of vehicles having different lengths in an electric vehicle equipped with an air conditioning system and capable of automatic operation.

The vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 1 is provided at the front or rear of the vehicle to control the automatic operation of the vehicle, and the front or rear of the vehicle to provide an air conditioning system for the vehicle. It includes a constituent condenser and a compressor, an indoor unit provided on the upper part of the vehicle and connected to the condenser and the compressor, and a battery provided in the central part of the vehicle connected to the front part of the vehicle and the rear part of the vehicle. The control unit is provided on the same side of the front part of the vehicle or the rear part of the vehicle as the condenser and the compressor, and is provided on the front part of the vehicle and the rear part of the vehicle to acquire the situation around the vehicle. The plurality of sensors, the wiring extending upward from the control unit to connect the control unit and each of the sensors, and the wiring arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle in the upper part of the vehicle, the condenser, the compressor, and the above. It is provided with a pipe arranged along the wiring for connecting to the indoor unit.

The electric vehicle according to claim 1 is manufactured by combining the front part of the vehicle, the center part of the vehicle, and the rear part of the vehicle. In the vehicle, the condenser and compressor constituting the air conditioning system and the control unit for automatic driving are arranged at either the front part or the rear part of the vehicle, respectively. On the other hand, since the battery has a degree of freedom in the storage position and the storage shape, it can be adapted to the central portion of the vehicle having different lengths. According to the vehicle structure of claim 1, the length of the vehicle can be changed in the electric vehicle provided with the air conditioning system and capable of automatic driving. That is, it is possible to easily manufacture a plurality of types of vehicles having different lengths.
Further, in the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 1, the wiring connecting the control unit and the sensor and the piping connecting the capacitor and the compressor and the indoor unit are provided on the same route. According to the vehicle structure of claim 1, wiring and piping can be efficiently arranged when the vehicle is manufactured. Further, by changing the lengths of the wiring and the piping, it is possible to easily cope with the manufacture of vehicles having different lengths.

In the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 2 , the control unit, the capacitor, and the compressor are provided in the front part of the vehicle, and the sensor provided in the front part of the vehicle has a camera.

Examples of the sensor required for automatic driving include a camera, a millimeter-wave radar, and a rider. Of these, the camera needs to be provided at the front of the vehicle in order to recognize a traffic light. Therefore, when the control unit is provided at the rear of the vehicle, it is necessary to lengthen the wiring connecting the camera and the control unit. On the other hand, according to the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 2 , by putting the camera and the control unit together in the front part of the vehicle, the wiring connecting the two can be shortened.

In the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle of claim 3 , the wiring can be coupled and separated between the control unit and the sensor, and the piping can be connected and separated between the capacitor and the compressor and the indoor unit. It is capable of coupling and separation, and has a common connector capable of coupling the wiring and the piping.

According to the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 3 , by forming the wiring and the piping so as to be connectable with a common connector, it is possible to reduce the man-hours and improve the efficiency of production in the case of manufacturing the vehicle.

In the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 4 , the vehicle is formed by coupling the upper part of the vehicle having the sensor and the interior unit with the lower part of the vehicle having the control unit, the capacitor and the compressor. The common connector connects the wiring and the piping in the vehicle vertical direction at the connection position between the upper part of the vehicle and the lower part of the vehicle.

The electric vehicle according to claim 4 is manufactured by combining the upper part of the vehicle and the lower part of the vehicle. According to the vehicle structure of the electric vehicle according to claim 4 , since the wiring and the piping are connected by the common connector at the connecting position between the upper part of the vehicle and the lower part of the vehicle, it is possible to easily cope with the replacement of the upper part of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, in an electric vehicle equipped with an air conditioning system and capable of automatic operation, it is possible to easily manufacture a plurality of types of vehicles having different lengths.

It is a side view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a plan sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a side sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and is the figure explaining the apparatus which concerns on automatic driving. It is a side view of the electric vehicle which concerns on the modification 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a side view of the electric vehicle which concerns on the modification 2 of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the arrangement of the battery which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment, (A) the side sectional view of the modification 3 and (B) the side sectional view of the modification 4. FIG. It is a side sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and is the figure explaining the apparatus which concerns on automatic driving. It is an enlarged view (enlarged view of FIG. 8) of the power unit room of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a plan sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and is the figure explaining the cooling device. It is a side sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and is the figure explaining the apparatus and air conditioning system which concerns on automatic driving. It is an electric vehicle which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, is (A) the perspective view of the electric power connector, (B) is the perspective view of the composite connector. It is a side sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 4th Embodiment, and is the figure explaining the apparatus and air conditioning system which concerns on automatic driving. It is a side sectional view of the electric vehicle which concerns on 5th Embodiment, and is the figure explaining the apparatus and air-conditioning system which concerns on automatic driving. 5 is a modification of the fifth embodiment, which is a perspective view of (A) a composite connector and (B) a perspective view of a piping connector. It is a modification of the 5th Embodiment, and is the perspective view of the collective connector.

The electric vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper part of the vehicle, the arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction.

[First Embodiment]
(Constitution)
The vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is an electric vehicle that enables fully automated driving. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the appearance of the vehicle 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape surrounded by a roof 20B, a front wall portion 20C, a side wall portion 20D, and a rear wall portion 20E, and a front wheel 24A is in front of the vehicle. Is provided, and a rear wheel 24B is provided at the rear of the vehicle. The front wall portion 20C and the rear wall portion 20E are examples of the front and rear wall portions, respectively.

The vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is configured by combining a plurality of modules. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the vehicle 10 has a center module 16 constituting a central portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a front module 17 coupled to the front side of the vehicle of the center module 16, and a vehicle rear of the center module 16. It is configured to include a rear module 18 coupled to the side. The front module 17 and the center module 16 are separated from the front wheel 24A slightly closer to the rear of the vehicle, and the center module 16 and the rear module 18 are separated from the rear wheel 24B slightly closer to the front of the vehicle. ing. Here, in the following description, in the vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, the portion where the front module 17 is located is the vehicle front portion, the portion where the center module 16 is located is the vehicle center portion, and the portion where the rear module 18 is located is the vehicle rear portion. (The same applies to other embodiments).

The center module 16, the front module 17, and the rear module 18 may be modules that constitute only the lower side of the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle 10 is formed by further connecting the roof module constituting the upper side of the vehicle to the combined center module 16, front module 17, and rear module 18.

The center module 16 includes a central portion of the side wall portion 20D in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and a battery case 31. In this embodiment, a plurality of types of center modules 16 having different lengths in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are prepared.

The front module 17 includes a front wall portion 20C, a vehicle front portion of the side wall portion 20D, and an automatic driving unit 40 (see FIG. 4).

The rear module 18 includes a rear wall portion 20E, a vehicle rear portion of the side wall portion 20D, a drive unit 32, and a power unit 34.

A pair of side members 14 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are provided in the lower portion of the vehicle 10. The side member 14 includes a center side member 14A extending from the rear portion of the front wheel 24A to the front portion of the vehicle of the rear wheel 24B, and the side member 14 after bending inward in the vehicle width direction and upward side of the vehicle from the center side member 14A, and then in front of the vehicle. It has an extended front side member 14B. Further, the side member 14 has a rear side member 14C that extends inward of the vehicle width direction and upward of the vehicle from the center side member 14A and then extends to the rear of the vehicle. The center side member 14A is provided in the center module 16, the front side member 14B is provided in the front module 17, and the rear side member 14C is provided in the rear module 18.

A front axle 13 that supports the front wheels 24A is fixed to the front side member 14B, and a drive unit 32 for driving the rear wheels 24B is fixed to the rear side member 14C.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 is provided with a power unit chamber 22A in which the drive unit 32 is housed and a vehicle compartment 20 partitioned from the power unit chamber 22A by the dash panel 23. The power unit chamber 22A of the present embodiment is a portion of the rear part of the vehicle below the vehicle, and is provided as a space in a range surrounding the rear wheels 24B in a side view.

In addition to the drive unit 32, the power unit 34 as a high voltage component is housed in the power unit chamber 22A. In the drive unit 32, at least a traveling motor and a transaxle are unitized. Further, in the power unit 34, at least a boost converter and an inverter are unitized. The power unit 34 is electrically connected to the battery 30 described later by a power cable 36. In the power cable 36, a power connector 38 is provided at the joint between the center module 16 and the rear module 18.

The front side of the vehicle and the upper side of the vehicle with respect to the power unit room 22A are the vehicle compartment 20 which is a space having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the vehicle interior 20 of the present embodiment, the floor surface 20A is formed by a flat floor panel 21 provided at the front portion and the central portion of the vehicle and a dash panel 23 provided at the rear portion of the vehicle and surrounding the power unit chamber 22A. .. That is, the floor surface 20A has a low floor portion 20A1 formed by the floor panel 21 and a high floor portion 20A2 formed by the dash panel 23 located higher than the floor panel 21.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle interior 20 has an overhanging portion 22B protruding inward in the vehicle width direction in the front portion of the vehicle. The overhanging portion 22B constitutes a part of a wheel house that houses the front wheels 24A, and an automatic driving unit 40 as a control unit is housed in a space adjacent to the wheel house (see FIG. 4). The automatic driving unit 40 includes an automatic driving ECU that controls the automatic driving of the vehicle 10, an interface ECU that controls communication with the steering unit and the acceleration / deceleration unit, and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of sensors 42 for acquiring the surrounding conditions of the vehicle 10 are connected to the automatic driving unit 40. The sensor 42 includes a camera that captures a predetermined range, a millimeter-wave radar that transmits exploration waves to a predetermined range, and a lidar (Light Detection and Ranging / Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging) that scans a predetermined range. In FIG. 4, the front entrance / exit 25 and the side entrance / exit 27 are omitted.

The sensors 42 are front sensors 42A and 42B provided on the front surface of the vehicle 10, upper sensors 42C and 42D provided on the upper surface of the roof 20B in front of the vehicle, and rear sensors provided at the ends of the roof 20B behind the vehicle. It has 42E. Each sensor 42 and the automatic operation unit 40 are connected by a signal cable 46 as wiring. A camera is arranged at least one of the front sensors 42A and 42B and the upper sensor 42C in front of the vehicle in order to identify the status of the traffic light on the road.

The signal cable 46 extending upward from the automatic driving unit 40 is connected to the front sensors 42A and 42B and the upper sensor 42C on the way, and then is connected to the upper sensor 42D. Then, the signal cable 46 extends from the upper sensor 42D to the rear of the vehicle and is connected to the rear sensor 42E. Here, on the roof 20B side, the signal cable 46 is arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction in the gap between the roof panel constituting the roof 20B and the interior material.

As described above, in the vehicle interior 20 of the present embodiment, the low floor portion 20A1 which is a flat floor surface by the floor panel 21 whose front side of the vehicle is flat is formed from the power unit chamber 22A. As shown in FIG. 1, the low floor portion 20A1 is located below the axles of the front wheels 24A and the rear wheels 24B. The passenger compartment 20 is formed at a height at which the occupant can get on the vehicle in an upright position. Here, the "crew" is a dummy of an adult standard (average) body shape, for example, AM50 type (50th percentile of an American adult male) of the World Side Impact Dummy (World SID). Can be taken as an example. That is, the vehicle interior 20 of the present embodiment has a height at which a clearance is generated between the head and the roof 20B when the AM50 type dummy is upright. The example of the occupant is not limited to the AM50 type dummy, but may be another collision dummy or a statistically obtained standard body type model.

Further, the passenger compartment 20 is provided with a plurality of seats 29 on which an occupant can sit. The seat 29 of the present embodiment includes one front row seat 29A installed in front of the vehicle in the vehicle compartment 20, a plurality of intermediate row seats 29B installed side by side on the rear side of the front row seat 29A, and a power unit chamber 22A. It has one back row seat 29C installed at the top. The front row seats 29A and the middle row seats 29B are fixed to the floor panel 21, and the rear row seats 29C are fixed to the dash panel 23. The front row seats 29A and the rear row seats 29C are installed so that the seated occupant faces the front of the vehicle. Further, at least four intermediate row seats 29B are arranged on the right side in the vehicle width direction. The intermediate row seat 29B is installed so that the seated occupant faces the left side in the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the intermediate row seat 29B may be installed so as to face the front of the vehicle. Further, each seat 29 may be freely rotatable about the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The battery 30 is housed under the floor of the vehicle compartment 20, specifically, below the vehicle of the floor panel 21 in the center of the vehicle. Supplementally, the battery 30 is housed in a battery case 31 provided between a pair of center side members 14A arranged in the center of the vehicle and fixed to the center side member 14A.

The front wall portion 20C in front of the vehicle in the passenger compartment 20 is provided with a front entrance / exit 25, which is an end entrance / exit for an adult occupant to walk on and off. The front entrance / exit 25 is closed by a hinge door 25A rotatably fixed at one end in the vehicle width direction. Further, the front entrance / exit 25 is provided with a front slope 26 as an end slope extending diagonally downward from the low floor portion 20A1 toward the roadway. The front slope 26 is housed in the front storage part 26A provided at the lower part of the floor panel 21 when the vehicle 10 is traveling (see FIG. 3), and is stored in the front part when the occupant gets on and off. It is pulled out from the part 26A to the front of the vehicle.

Further, a side wall portion 20D on the vehicle side (left side in the vehicle width direction) of the passenger compartment 20 is provided with a side entrance / exit 27 on which an adult occupant can walk and get on / off. The side entrance / exit 27 is closed by a slide door 27A slidably fixed to the front of the vehicle. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the side entrance / exit 27 is provided with a side slope 28 extending diagonally downward from the low floor portion 20A1 toward the sidewalk (or roadway). When the vehicle 10 travels, the side slope 28 is housed in the side storage portion 28A provided in the gap between the floor panel 21 and the battery case 31 (see FIG. 3), and is used in a state where the occupant gets on and off. Is pulled out from the side storage portion 28A toward the vehicle side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the side storage portion 28A is formed at a position that does not overlap with the front storage portion 26A in a plan view. That is, the side slope 28 is housed in a position that does not overlap with the front slope 26 in a plan view.

(Production method)
In the present embodiment, first, the center module 16, the front module 17, and the rear module 18 are manufactured. For example, in the center module 16, the roof 20B, the side wall portion 20D, the floor panel 21, the center side member 14A, and the like in the center of the vehicle are assembled, and the battery case 31 is fixed to the center side member 14A.

Further, in the front module 17, the front wall portion 20C, the roof 20B at the front portion of the vehicle, the side wall portion 20D and the floor panel 21, the front side member 14B, the front wheels 24A and the like are assembled, and the automatic driving unit 40 is attached to the overhanging portion 22B. It is fixed inside. Further, in the rear module 18, a rear wall portion 20E, a roof 20B and a side wall portion 20D at the rear of the vehicle, a rear side member 14C, a dash panel 23, a rear wheel 24B, and the like are assembled. Then, the drive unit 32 and the power unit 34 are fixed to the power unit chamber 22A.

Then, the front module 17 and the rear module 18 are coupled to the center module 16. When connecting the modules, the automatic operation unit 40 and each sensor 42 are connected by a signal cable 46. Further, the battery 30 and the power unit 34 are connected by a power cable 36. That is, the battery 30 and the drive unit 32 are electrically connected.

(Variation example of the first embodiment)
The vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a front entrance / exit 25 as an end entrance / exit 25 at the front of the vehicle and a drive unit 32 at the rear of the vehicle, but the end entrance / exit and the drive unit 32 are arranged. May be upside down. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle 10A of the first modification of the present embodiment is provided with a drive unit 32 in front of the vehicle and a rear entrance / exit 25R as an end entrance / exit at the rear of the vehicle. The rear entrance / exit 25R is closed by a hinge door 25A rotatably fixed at one end in the vehicle width direction. Further, the rear entrance 25R is provided with a rear slope 26R as an end slope extending diagonally downward from the low floor portion 20A1 toward the roadway. The rear slope 26R is stored in the rear storage portion 26B provided at the lower part of the floor panel 21 when the vehicle 10 is traveling, and is pulled out from the rear storage portion 26B to the rear of the vehicle when the occupant gets on and off. .. Even in the case of the first modification, the same effect as that of the present embodiment is obtained.

The vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is configured by combining a plurality of modules, and by changing the length of the center module 16 in the center of the vehicle, the size of the vehicle 10 and the size of the vehicle interior 20 can be changed. Can be changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the vehicle 10B of the modification 2 of the present embodiment, the center module 16 is shortened, and the length in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed shorter than that of the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment. There is. In the vehicle 10B of the second modification, the front row seat 29A is omitted because the length of the vehicle interior 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction is shortened. In FIG. 6, the front entrance / exit 25 and the side entrance / exit 27 are omitted (the same applies to the following figures).

In the second modification, the battery 30 and the drive unit 32 (power unit 34) are electrically connected by connecting the power cable 36 via the power connector 38 at the joint portion between the center module 16 and the rear module 18. Will be done. Therefore, even if the center module 16 is extended or shortened, the same rear module 18 can be combined. That is, according to the present embodiment and the second modification thereof, when manufacturing vehicles of different sizes, the same battery 30, drive unit 32, and the like can be used regardless of the size, which increases the manufacturing cost. It can be suppressed.

The battery case 31 (battery 30) does not need to be installed in the entire center of the vehicle. FIG. 7A shows a vehicle 10C in which a battery case 31 having a length shorter than that of the center module 16 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is arranged closer to the front of the vehicle as a modification 3 of the present embodiment. As in the modification 3, the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle 10 can be adjusted by changing the storage position of the battery case 31 installed under the floor of the vehicle interior 20. As a result, the same battery 30, drive unit 32, and the like can be used regardless of the size of the vehicle, and stable running can be realized.

Further, the battery case 31 (battery 30) installed under the floor of the vehicle interior 20 may be divided into a plurality of parts. FIG. 7B shows a vehicle 10D in which the battery case 31 is divided into two parts in the front-rear direction as a modification 4 of the present embodiment. Further, if a battery case having a predetermined length is prepared, it is not necessary to prepare many types of battery cases 31 formed according to the length of the center module 16. For example, when extending the center module 16, the number of battery cases of a predetermined length arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is increased, and when shortening the center module 16, battery cases of a predetermined length arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are used. Reduce the number. As a result, one type of battery case can be used for the center modules 16 having different lengths, so that the inventory cost can be reduced.

(Summary of the first embodiment)
In the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the drive unit 32 is arranged closer to the lower side of the vehicle at the rear of the vehicle, and the front entrance / exit 25 is provided on the front wall portion 20C in front of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle interior 20 is formed from the front end of the vehicle to the rear end of the vehicle. Here, since the front axle 13 is arranged under the floor in the vicinity of the front wheel 24A in the front portion of the vehicle, the low floor portion 20A1 cannot be lower than the front axle 13. On the other hand, in the central portion of the vehicle, the floor can be lowered as compared with the front portion of the vehicle, but in that case, a step is generated in the low floor portion 20A1.

Therefore, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the height of the low floor portion 20A1 on the vehicle center side is adjusted to the height on the vehicle front side, and a margin is created in the height under the floor of the vehicle center portion 20A1. The battery 30 was stored in the battery 30. That is, in the central portion of the vehicle, by arranging the center side member 14A which is a skeleton member and the battery 30 under the floor of the low floor portion 20A1, the floor is flat from the front entrance 25 to the power unit chamber 22A. The floor surface 20A was formed. Then, the battery 30 is housed under the floor of the low floor portion 20A1, so that the space of the vehicle interior 20 is secured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to maximize the space of the vehicle interior 20 in the box-shaped vehicle 10 while ensuring the maximum area of the low floor portion 20A1. Further, in the vehicle interior 20 of the present embodiment, an adult occupant can take an upright posture and walk around. Since the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is a fully automatic driving vehicle, it is not always necessary to provide a driver's seat, and the layout in the vehicle interior 20 can be freely set. That is, according to the present embodiment, equipment suitable for various purposes such as ride sharing, lodging, eating and drinking, and retail shops can be stored in a flat and vast space with a low-floor, box-shaped barrier-free design. Further, in this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is suitable for an automatic driving bus.

Further, the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a front entrance / exit 25 in front of the vehicle to enable access from the roadway, and is provided with a side entrance / exit 27 on the side of the vehicle to be provided from the sidewalk in addition to the roadway. Access is possible.

Then, at the front entrance / exit 25, a front slope 26 can be provided from the low floor portion 20A1 toward the roadway. Further, at the side entrance / exit 27, a side slope 28 can be provided from the low floor portion 20A1 toward the sidewalk. That is, according to the present embodiment, by eliminating the step between the road surface and the floor surface of the vehicle interior, it is possible to easily get on and off the wheelchair and load and unload luggage and trolleys. In particular, the present embodiment is provided with entrances / exits at two locations on the front surface and the side surface of the vehicle 10, so that the vehicle can get on and off with a wheelchair and luggage and luggage on the road where the vehicle 10 can pass regardless of the presence or absence of a stepped sidewalk. The loading and unloading work of the trolley can be easily performed. At the front entrance / exit 25 and the side entrance / exit 27, an elevator may be installed instead of the slope.

In the present embodiment, the front slope 26 and the side slope 28 are housed at positions where they do not overlap in a plan view. Here, when the front slope 26 and the side slope 28 are stored at a position where they overlap in a plan view, the low floor portion 20A1 is raised, or the battery case 31 for storing the battery 30 and the center side member 14A are moved up and down. It is necessary to reduce the height in the direction. On the other hand, according to the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, since the side slope 28 is stored at a position that does not overlap with the front slope 26 in a plan view, the floor of the low floor portion 20A1 is lowered and the battery 30 is used. It is possible to achieve both a large capacity and a large capacity.

Further, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the automatic driving unit 40 and each sensor 42 are arranged at the front of the vehicle and above the vehicle, and the battery 30, the power cable 36, the power unit 34 and the drive unit 32 are located at the center of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle. It is located below the vehicle. That is, in the present embodiment, the automatic operation unit 40 and the sensor 42 related to the automatic operation are installed apart from the battery 30, the power cable 36, the power unit 34, and the drive unit 32, which are power components through which a high voltage current flows. According to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the influence of the electromagnetic wave noise generated from the power component on the automatic operation unit 40 and the sensor 42.

Further, the signal cable 46 connecting the automatic driving unit 40 and each sensor 42 is arranged from the front of the vehicle to the upper side of the vehicle, and the signal cable 46 is also installed away from the power component. That is, according to the present embodiment, by moving the signal cable 46, which is susceptible to noise, away from the power component, it is possible to reduce the influence of the electromagnetic wave noise generated from the power component on the control signal for automatic operation.

The vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is manufactured by combining a plurality of modules. In the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the drive unit 32 and the automatic driving unit 40 are arranged separately in the front module 17 and the rear module 18. On the other hand, since the battery 30 has a degree of freedom in the storage position and the storage shape, it can be adapted to the center modules 16 having different lengths. In the present embodiment, for example, by preparing a plurality of types of center modules for one type of front module and rear module, it is possible to cope with the manufacture of vehicles having different sizes. Specifically, as shown in the above-mentioned modification 2, by preparing the center modules 16 having different lengths in the front-rear direction of the vehicle with respect to the front module 17 and the rear module 18 common to the present embodiment. It is possible to change the size of the vehicle.

As described above, according to the vehicle structure of the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the length of the vehicle can be changed in the electric vehicle that enables automatic driving. That is, it is possible to easily manufacture a plurality of types of vehicles having different lengths. Further, according to the present embodiment, a power connector 38 for electrically connecting the battery 30 and the drive unit 32 is provided at the joint portion between the center module 16 and the rear module 18. Therefore, when manufacturing vehicles of different sizes, it is possible to reduce man-hours and improve production efficiency.

The length of the center module may be fixed and standardized, and front modules or rear modules having different lengths in the front-rear direction of the vehicle may be prepared to support the manufacture of vehicles of different sizes.

Further, although the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is a modularized vehicle, even a vehicle manufactured by assembling parts without modularization can easily cope with the manufacture of vehicles having different sizes. For example, a vehicle 10 having different lengths in the front-rear direction of the vehicle can be easily manufactured by preparing a center side member 14A, a side wall portion 20D, a floor panel 21, a battery case 31, and the like having different length dimensions.

[Second Embodiment]
The vehicle 100 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the automatic driving unit 40 is arranged behind the vehicle of the vehicle 100 in addition to the drive unit 32 and the power unit 34. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 8, the power unit chamber 22A in the vehicle 100 of the present embodiment houses the drive unit 32, the power unit 34, the automatic driving unit 40, and the main body 50A of the cleaning unit 50.

In the present embodiment, by arranging the automatic driving unit 40 at the rear of the vehicle, the signal cable 46 connected from the automatic driving unit 40 to each sensor 42 is arranged from the rear of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle. Specifically, the signal cable 46 extending from the automatic driving unit 40 to the upper side of the vehicle is first connected to the rear sensor 42E, and then extends to the front of the vehicle along the roof 20B and is connected to the upper sensor 42D. Further, the signal cable 46 is connected to the upper sensor 42C, the front sensor 42B, and 42A.

The cleaning unit 50 is a device that maintains the performance of automatic operation by removing dirt adhering to the sensor surface of the sensor 42 with a cleaning liquid or compressed air. The cleaning unit 50 includes a main body unit 50A including a control unit for controlling the timing and operation of cleaning and a reserve tank for storing the cleaning liquid. Further, the cleaning unit 50 includes a liquid pipe 56 for supplying cleaning liquid from the main body 50A toward each sensor 42, and an air pipe 57 for supplying compressed air. Even if the cleaning unit 50 is not provided in the vehicle 100, there is no immediate problem in automatic operation. Therefore, the main body 50A housed in the power unit chamber 22A is an accessory that is not indispensable for the self-propelled vehicle 100.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9, in the power unit chamber 22A of the present embodiment, the front side of the vehicle is the protected area 22A1 with respect to the rear end portion of the drive unit 32 (see the straight line L in FIG. 9), and the protected area is protected. In addition to the drive unit 32, the power unit 34 and the automatic operation unit 40 are arranged in the 22A1. When the vehicle 100 traveling toward the rear of the vehicle collides with an obstacle or the like, or when the vehicle 100 is collided from the rear of the vehicle, the drive unit 32 having a metal case serves as an impact resistant portion to prevent the deformation of the vehicle 100. Function.

Further, in the power unit chamber 22A, the rear side of the vehicle is set as the crash area 22A2 from the rear end portion of the drive unit 32 (see the straight line L in FIG. 9), and the main body portion 50A is arranged in the crash area 22A2. In the present embodiment, the space of the vehicle interior 20 can be secured by arranging the main body 50A not on the vehicle interior 20 side but on the outside of the vehicle. Then, when the vehicle 100 traveling toward the rear of the vehicle collides with an obstacle or the like, or when the vehicle 100 is collided from the rear of the vehicle, the structure of the crash area 22A2 such as the main body 50A is crushed to the vehicle 100. The applied impact is absorbed.

In the present embodiment, by arranging the power cable 36, the power unit 34, and the drive unit 32, which are power components through which a high voltage current flows, in the protected area 22A1, safety against electric leakage even if the vehicle 100 collides or is collided. Sex can be ensured. Further, by arranging the power parts in the protective area 22A1 and arranging the main body 50A of the cleaning unit 50, which is not essential for self-propelling, in the crash area 22A2, the vehicle 100 is damaged even if it collides or is collided. It can be suppressed to the range where it can run. Further, by arranging the automatic driving unit 40 in the protected area 22A1, the vehicle 100 can be driven by automatic driving even if a collision occurs. According to the present embodiment, the vehicle 100, which is a fully autonomous vehicle that does not require a driver's seat, can travel to a safe place in order to avoid further danger even if a collision occurs.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, a cooling device 60 for cooling the drive unit 32 and the like is arranged above the vehicle in the power unit chamber 22A of the present embodiment. The vehicle 100 of the present embodiment includes a pair of radiators 60A provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction and a fan 60B for blowing air provided inside the radiator 60A in the vehicle width direction as a cooling device 60.

Further, an opening 62 is formed in the side wall portion 20D on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the radiator 60A, and a rear grill 63 as a vent is formed in the rear wall portion 20E on the rear side of the vehicle of the radiator 60A. Further, in the power unit chamber 22A, a duct 64 for guiding air is provided from the rear grill 63 to the openings 62 on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

In the present embodiment, the direction of the air flowing through the duct 64 is controlled by changing the rotation direction of the fan 60B. For example, by rotating the fan 60B in the forward direction, the air flow is directed from the opening 62 toward the rear grill 63 (see the solid line arrow X). Further, by rotating the fan 60B in the reverse direction, the air flow is directed from the rear grill 63 toward the opening 62 (see the dotted arrow Y).

By the way, the vehicle 100 of the present embodiment is a fully automatic driving vehicle, does not necessarily require a driver's seat, and can be in the traveling direction both in front of the vehicle and in the rear of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, when the vehicle 100 travels in front of the vehicle, air is released from the rear grill 63 to hit the radiator 60A, and when the vehicle 100 travels behind the vehicle, air is introduced from the rear grill 63. As a result, the radiator 60A is hit by the running wind. That is, according to the present embodiment, the cooling can be performed by the cooling device 60 regardless of the traveling direction of the front of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle. However, in the present embodiment, in order to secure the cooling capacity regardless of the air volume and direction of the traveling wind, the rotation of the fan 60B is changed according to the traveling direction of the vehicle 100.

For example, when the direction of travel is in front of the vehicle, the fan 60B is rotated in the forward direction to take in air from the opening 62 on the side of the vehicle to cool the radiator 60A, and the air heated by heat exchange is discharged to the rear of the vehicle. It is discharged from the rear grill 63 (see the solid line arrow X). When the direction of travel is from the rear of the vehicle, the fan 60B is rotated in the reverse direction to take in air from the rear grill 63 at the rear of the vehicle to cool the radiator 60A, and the air heated by heat exchange is discharged to the side of the vehicle. It is discharged from the opening 62 (see the dotted arrow Y).

As described above, according to the cooling device 60 of the present embodiment, in the vehicle 100 having no driver's seat and indistinguishable in the traveling direction, the same cooling capacity is the minimum necessary regardless of whether the vehicle travels in either the front or the rear direction of the vehicle. It can be realized with a radiator.

In the vehicle 100 of the present embodiment, the radiator 60A and the fan 60B are arranged so as to straddle the protected area 22A1 and the crash area 22A2. Therefore, when the vehicle 100 collides or is collided, the radiator 60A and the fan 60B are damaged, but even if the cooling device 60 does not function, it is possible to self-propell for a short time and move to a safe place. Therefore, there is no problem.

Further, in the present embodiment, radiators 60A are provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction in the power unit chamber 22A, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, radiators may be provided in only one of the vehicle width directions, or three or more radiators may be provided.

[Third Embodiment]
The vehicle 110 of the third embodiment is a configuration in which the air conditioning system 70 is added to the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, in the vehicle 110 of the present embodiment, the center module 16, the front module 17, and the rear module 18 form a floor module 15 as a vehicle lower portion constituting the lower part of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle 110 has a roof module 19 as a vehicle upper portion constituting the vehicle upper portion of the floor module 15. The vehicle 110 of the present embodiment is manufactured by forming a floor module 15 by connecting a center module 16, a front module 17, and a rear module 18, and then further connecting a roof module 19 to the floor module 15. ..

The air conditioning system 70 of the present embodiment includes an HVAC (heating and ventilating air conditioning) 72 as an indoor unit for controlling vehicle interior air, a condenser 73 for heat exchange, and a compressor 74 for compressing a refrigerant. ing.

The HVAC 72 has a first HVAC 72A arranged in front of the vehicle of the roof 20B and a second HVAC 72B arranged in the rear of the vehicle of the roof 20B. Further, the condenser 73 and the compressor 74 are housed in the subunit chamber 22C provided below the vehicle in the front part of the vehicle. In this embodiment, a step is formed by the subunit chamber 22C in a part of the low floor portion 20A1.

The heat exchanger, the condenser 73, and the compressor 74 inside each HVAC 72 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 76, which is a pipe, respectively. Further, a piping connector 78 for connecting and disconnecting the refrigerant piping 76 is provided above the vehicle in the subunit chamber 22C. In the present embodiment, the refrigerant pipe 76, which is a set of pipes, extends from the pipe connector 78 toward the first HVAC 72A toward the upper side of the vehicle, and further extends from the first HVAC 72A toward the second HVAC 72B toward the rear of the vehicle. ing. The refrigerant pipe 76 is arranged in the gap between the panel constituting the side wall portion 20D and the interior material, and in the gap between the roof panel constituting the roof 20B and the interior material.

Further, in the present embodiment, the automatic operation unit 40 is housed in the subunit chamber 22C together with the condenser 73 and the compressor 74. A signal connector 48 for connecting and disconnecting the signal cable 46 is provided above the vehicle in the subunit chamber 22C. Here, as shown in FIG. 12B, the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78 of the present embodiment are configured as a composite connector 80 which is an integrated common connector. The composite connector 80 is arranged at a joint portion between the front module 17 and the roof module 19. In the present embodiment, the composite connector 80 can be used to connect the signal cable 46 and the refrigerant pipe 76 in a state of being bundled together. As shown in FIG. 12A, the power connector 38 is configured independently of the composite connector 80.

In the present embodiment, the automatic driving unit 40, the capacitor 73, and the compressor 74 are arranged in the front module 17 in front of the vehicle, and the power unit 34 and the drive unit 32 are arranged in the rear module 18 in the rear of the vehicle. On the other hand, since the battery 30 has a degree of freedom in the storage position and the storage shape, it can be adapted to the center modules 16 having different lengths. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the length of the vehicle can be changed in the electric vehicle provided with the air conditioning system 70 and capable of automatic driving. That is, it is possible to easily manufacture a plurality of types of vehicles having different lengths.

Further, in the present embodiment, the signal cable 46 connecting the automatic operation unit 40 and the sensor 42, and the refrigerant pipe 76 connecting the condenser 73 and the compressor 74 and the HVAC 72 are provided on the same path. Therefore, according to the structure of the vehicle 110 of the present embodiment, the signal cable 46 and the refrigerant pipe 76 can be efficiently arranged. Further, by changing the lengths of the signal cable 46 and the refrigerant pipe 76, it is possible to easily cope with the manufacture of vehicles having different lengths.

Further, in the vehicle 110 of the present embodiment, a camera as a sensor 42 is provided at the front portion of the vehicle. The camera is installed at the front of the vehicle to recognize the traffic light. Here, when the automatic driving unit 40 is provided at the rear of the vehicle, it is necessary to lengthen the signal cable 46 connecting the camera and the automatic driving unit 40. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the signal cable 46 connecting the camera and the signal cable 46 can be shortened by putting them together in the front part of the vehicle.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle 110 is manufactured, each sensor 42, a signal cable 46, each HVAC 72 and a refrigerant pipe 76 are installed in advance on the roof module 19, and an automatic operation unit 40, a capacitor 73 and a compressor 74 are installed on the floor module 15. Is installed in advance. After that, by connecting the roof module 19 to the floor module 15, the system related to the automatic operation and the air conditioning system 70 can be formed. That is, according to the present embodiment, since each system constituting the vehicle 110 can be formed together with the vehicle body, the vehicle 110 can be efficiently manufactured. In particular, in the present embodiment, the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78 are shared as the composite connector 80, so that the man-hours and the efficiency of production in the case of manufacturing a vehicle are reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78 are coupled by the composite connector 80 at the coupling position between the floor module 15 and the roof module 19. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with the replacement of the roof module 19. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to quickly respond to the difference in the specifications of the roof module 19 and the mounting at low cost.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The vehicle 120 of the fourth embodiment is different from the vehicle 110 of the third embodiment in the arrangement of the air conditioning system 70. Hereinafter, the differences from the third embodiment will be mainly described. The same configurations as those of the first and third embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 13, the capacitor 73 and the compressor 74 of the present embodiment are housed together with the drive unit 32 and the power unit 34 in the power unit chamber 22A provided in the lower part of the rear module 18. Further, a piping connector 78 for connecting and disconnecting the refrigerant piping 76 is provided above the vehicle in the power unit chamber 22A.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerant pipe 76, which is a set of pipes, extends upward from the pipe connector 78 toward the second HVAC 72B, and further extends from the second HVAC 72B toward the first HVAC 72A toward the front of the vehicle. ing. The refrigerant pipe 76 is arranged in the gap between the panel constituting the side wall portion 20D and the interior material, and in the gap between the roof panel constituting the roof 20B and the interior material.

In the present embodiment, the automatic operation unit 40 is housed in the overhanging portion 22B of the front module 17. A signal connector 48 is provided above the vehicle of the overhanging portion 22B. In this embodiment, the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78 are independent connectors, respectively. The signal connector 48 is arranged at the joint between the front module 17 and the roof module 19, and the piping connector 78 is arranged at the joint between the rear module 18 and the roof module 19.

The vehicle 120 of the present embodiment also has the same function and effect as the vehicle 110 of the third embodiment.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The vehicle 130 of the fifth embodiment is different from the vehicle 120 of the fourth embodiment in the arrangement of the automatic driving unit 40. Hereinafter, the differences from the fourth embodiment will be mainly described. The same configurations as those of the first and fourth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the automatic driving unit 40 of the present embodiment, the automatic driving unit 40 is housed in a power unit chamber 22A provided at the rear of the vehicle together with a drive unit 32, a power unit 34, a capacitor 73, and a compressor 74. .. Further, a composite connector 80 in which the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78 are integrated is provided above the vehicle in the power unit chamber 22A.

In the present embodiment, the signal cable 46 connected from the automatic driving unit 40 to each sensor 42 is arranged from the rear of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle. Specifically, the signal cable 46 extending from the automatic driving unit 40 to the upper side of the vehicle is first connected to the rear sensor 42E via the signal connector 48, and extends to the front of the vehicle along the roof 20B to the upper sensor 42D. Be connected. Further, the signal cable 46 is connected to the upper sensor 42C, the front sensor 42B, and 42A.

The vehicle 130 of the present embodiment also has the same effects as the vehicle 110 of the third embodiment and the vehicle 120 of the fourth embodiment.

(Variation example of the fifth embodiment)
In the fifth embodiment, the drive unit 32 and the power unit 34 are housed in the power unit chamber 22A in the rear module 18, but as a modification of the present embodiment, the power unit 34 may be provided in the roof module 19. In the case of this modification, the power connector 38 is arranged at the joint portion between the rear module 18 and the roof module 19 in addition to the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78.

Here, the signal connector 48, the piping connector 78, and the power connector 38 can be integrated according to the purpose. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the power connector 38 can be an independent connector, and the signal connector 48 and the piping connector 78 can be an integrated composite connector 80. By isolating the signal connector 48 and the signal cable 46 from the power connector 38 through which a high voltage current flows, the influence of noise on the automatic operation unit 40 can be reduced.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the power connector 38 and the signal connector 48 may be a composite connector 82 which is an integrated common connector, and the piping connector 78 may be an independent connector. can. Since the refrigerant pipe 76 is less flexible than the power cable 36 and the signal cable 46, the ease of assembly is improved by separating the pipe connector 78 from the composite connector 82. For example, in the case of manufacturing a vehicle, if the pipe connector 78 related to the low-flexibility refrigerant pipe 76 is connected and then the composite connector 82 is connected, the work is streamlined.

Further, for example, all the connectors may be integrated. The collective connector 84 shown in FIG. 16 is configured as a common connector for connecting the liquid pipe 56 and the air pipe 57 in addition to the power connector 38, the signal connector 48, and the pipe connector 78.

According to the collective connector 84, since the connection of the power cable 36, the signal cable 46, the refrigerant pipe 76, the liquid pipe 56 and the air pipe 57 is completed in one step, the man-hours for the work in manufacturing the vehicle can be reduced. ..

[supplement]
Each of the above-described embodiments is a fully automatic driving vehicle without a driver's seat, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an automatic driving vehicle having a driver's seat may be used. That is, in each embodiment, automatic operation is usually performed, and manual operation can be enabled at the time of danger avoidance or at an arbitrary timing. By providing the driver's seat on one side in the vehicle width direction in the front portion of the vehicle, the front entrance / exit 25 can be provided on the other side in the vehicle width direction of the front wall portion 20C.

Each of the above-described embodiments may be applied in combination. For example, the front and rear may be exchanged for the vehicles of the second to fifth embodiments as in the first modification of the first embodiment. Further, for example, the length of the central portion of the vehicle may be changed for the vehicles of the second to fifth embodiments as in the second modification of the first embodiment. Further, for example, the air conditioning system 70 of the third to fifth embodiments may be applied to the vehicle 100 of the second embodiment.

In the air conditioning system 70 of the third to fifth embodiments, each HVAC 72 is provided on the roof 20B, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the HVAC 72 may be provided on the side wall portion 20D.

15 Floor module (lower part of vehicle)
16 Center module (center of vehicle)
17 Front module (front of vehicle)
18 Rear module (rear vehicle)
19 Roof module (upper part of vehicle)
20 Car room 20A1 Low floor (flat floor)
20C front wall (the other wall)
20D side wall (wall in the vehicle width direction)
20E rear wall (the other wall)
25 Front entrance / exit (end entrance / exit)
25R rear entrance / exit (end entrance / exit)
26 Front slope (end slope)
26R Rear slope (end slope)
27 Side entrance / exit 28 Side slope 30 Battery 32 Drive unit 38 Power connector (connector)
40 Automatic operation unit (control unit)
42 Sensor 42A Front Sensor 42B Front Sensor 42C Top Sensor 42D Top Sensor 42E Rear Sensor 46 Signal Cable (Wiring)
70 Air conditioning system 72 HVAC (indoor unit)
72A 1st HVAC (indoor unit)
72B Second HVAC (indoor unit)
73 Capacitor 74 Compressor 76 Refrigerant piping (piping)
80 Composite connector (common connector)
82 Composite connector (common connector)
84 Collective connector (common connector)
110 vehicle 120 vehicle 130 vehicle

Claims (4)

A control unit installed at the front or rear of the vehicle to control the automatic driving of the vehicle,
Capacitors and compressors provided in the front part of the vehicle or the rear part of the vehicle and constituting the air conditioning system of the vehicle.
An indoor unit provided on the upper part of the vehicle and connected to the condenser and the compressor,
A battery provided in the front part of the vehicle and the center part of the vehicle connected to the rear part of the vehicle,
Equipped with
The control unit is provided on the same side as the condenser and the compressor in the front part of the vehicle or the rear part of the vehicle.
A plurality of sensors provided at the front part of the vehicle and the rear part of the vehicle to acquire the situation around the vehicle, and
Wiring that extends above the vehicle from the control unit to connect the control unit and each of the sensors and is arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction on the upper part of the vehicle.
A pipe arranged along the wiring for connecting the capacitor and the compressor to the indoor unit, and
The vehicle structure of an electric vehicle equipped with . The control unit, the capacitor, and the compressor are provided in the front part of the vehicle.
The vehicle structure of an electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor provided in the front portion of the vehicle has a camera. The wiring can be coupled and separated between the control unit and the sensor.
The piping can be coupled and separated between the capacitor and the compressor and the indoor unit.
The vehicle structure of an electric vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a common connector capable of connecting the wiring and the piping. The vehicle is formed by coupling the upper part of the vehicle having the sensor and the indoor unit with the lower part of the vehicle having the control unit, the capacitor and the compressor.
The vehicle structure of an electric vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the common connector is a vehicle structure of an electric vehicle that connects the wiring and the piping in the vehicle vertical direction at a coupling position between the vehicle upper portion and the vehicle lower portion.

Images