Vehicle mounted module support system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11807193-B2
Application number	US-202217696430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2022
Priority date	Mar 16, 2022
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A module support system for a vehicle including exterior paneling defining an interior and exterior of the vehicle, and a frame disposed in the interior of the vehicle, the module support system including a first casting mounted on the frame, where the first casting extends outward from the frame, through the exterior paneling, to the exterior of the vehicle such that the first casting includes an interior portion disposed within the interior of the vehicle and mounted on the frame, and an exterior portion extending outward from the exterior of the vehicle. The module support system includes a first electronic device supported on the exterior portion of the first casting, and a cover fixed with the exterior portion of the first casting such that the cover is disposed over the first electronic device and the exterior portion of the first casting with respect to an external environment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A module support system for a vehicle including exterior paneling defining an interior and exterior of the vehicle, and a frame disposed in the interior of the vehicle, the module support system comprising:
a first casting mounted on the frame, wherein the first casting extends outward from the frame, through the exterior paneling, to the exterior of the vehicle such that the first casting includes an interior portion disposed within the interior of the vehicle and mounted on the frame, and an exterior portion extending outward from the exterior of the vehicle;
a first electronic device supported on the exterior portion of the first casting; and
a cover fixed with the exterior portion of the first casting such that the cover is disposed over the first electronic device and the exterior portion of the first casting with respect to an external environment of the vehicle.

2. The module support system of claim 1 , further comprising a second casting mounted to the frame and fastened with the first casting, supporting the first casting and the first electronic device with respect to the frame.

3. The module support system of claim 2 , wherein the first casting is arranged along a lateral side of the vehicle and extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the exterior portion of the first casting extends beyond the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the second casting extends from the first casting in a lateral direction of the vehicle, overlapping the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

4. The module support system of claim 2 , wherein the first casting is fastened to the frame in a lateral direction of the vehicle, and the second casting is fastened to the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

5. The module support system of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the first casting is mounted on a first support beam and a second support beam included in the frame, wherein the first support beam extends in a height direction of the vehicle and the second support beam extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

6. The module support system of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the first casting is mounted on a junction between a first support beam and a second support beam included in the frame, wherein the first support beam extends in a height direction of the vehicle, the second support beam extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the junction is a plate fixed with each of the first support beam and the second support beam.

7. The module support system of claim 1 , further comprising a second electronic device mounted on the interior portion of the first casting, a panel disposed over the interior portion of the first casting, and a fan mounted on the panel, wherein the fan is configured for directing air toward the second electronic device.

8. The module support system of claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is mounted on the cover such that the cover supports the first electronic device on the exterior portion of the first casting,
wherein the first electronic device includes a sensor configured for collecting information representing an external environment of the vehicle, and the sensor is supported on the exterior portion of the first casting above the frame in a height direction of the vehicle where the interior portion of the first casting is mounted to the frame.

9. The module support system of claim 1 , wherein the first casting is a single unitary piece, the interior portion being integrally formed with the exterior portion.

10. A method of assembling a module support system for a vehicle including exterior paneling defining an interior and exterior of the vehicle, and a frame disposed in the interior of the vehicle, the method comprising:
mounting a first casting on the frame, wherein the first casting extends outward from the frame, through the exterior paneling, to the exterior of the vehicle such that the first casting includes an interior portion disposed within the interior of the vehicle and mounted on the frame, and an exterior portion extending outward from the exterior of the vehicle;
providing a first electronic device supported on the exterior portion of the first casting; and
fixing a cover with the exterior portion of the first casting such that the cover is disposed over the exterior portion and the first electronic device with respect to an external environment of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising fastening the first casting with a second casting, and mounting the second casting on the frame such that the second casting supports the first casting and the first electronic device with respect to the frame.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first casting is fastened with the second casting before the first casting is mounted on the frame, and the first casting is mounted on the frame with the second casting.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of mounting the first casting on the frame includes mounting the first casting along a lateral side of the vehicle to extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the exterior portion of the first casting extends beyond the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the second casting extends from the first casting in a lateral direction of the vehicle, overlapping the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a position outside the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
the step of mounting the first casting to the frame includes fastening the first casting to the frame in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and
the step of mounting the second casting to the frame includes fastening the second casting to the frame in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of mounting the first casting on the frame includes mounting the interior portion of the first casting on a first support beam and a second support beam included in the frame, wherein the first support beam extends in a height direction of the vehicle and the second support beam extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of mounting the first casting on the frame includes mounting the first casting on a junction between a first support beam and a second support beam included in the frame, wherein the first support beam extends in a height direction of the vehicle, and the second support beam extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising mounting a second electronic device on the interior portion of the first casting, disposing a panel over the second electronic device and the internal portion of the first casting with respect to the exterior of the vehicle, and mounting a fan on the panel such that the fan is configured to direct ambient air from the external environment over the first electronic device and the second electronic device between the panel and the interior portion of the first casting.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising mounting the first electronic device on the cover such that the cover supports the first electronic device on the exterior portion of the first casting, above the frame and the exterior portion of the first casting in a height direction of the vehicle where the interior portion of the first casting is mounted to the frame.

18. A module support system for a vehicle including exterior paneling defining an interior and exterior of the

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• MARUKAWA Taiga
• Larrache-Irizarry Gilberto
• Dafler Douglas M
• Ellison Patrick J
• Tomozawa Kosaku
• Tsuji Keiichiro
• Leanza Anthony John
• Nakano Takashi

Classifications

• B60R9/00 Primary

  Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like · CPC title

• B60R11/00 Primary

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title