Description:A VEHICLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter generally relates to a vehicle. More particularly, but not exclusively to location and mounting of an actuation unit for one or more covers in the vehicle.
BACKGROUND 5
[0002] In conventional scooters and motorcycles, covers or lids are provided over openings for charging port or fuel tank or storage space, etc. These lids are either opened using a mechanical push, a mechanical key, or a push button located on the handle bar assembly of the vehicle.
[0003] In case of charging port lid, the lid being push enabled or switch 10 enabled permits any unauthorized user to intervene in the charging operation of the vehicle. In case of storage space lid or fuel tank lid, the unauthorized access may lead to theft of belongings of the user or fuel of the vehicle.
[0004] To overcome these problems, a remote actuation unit is disposed in the vehicle which receives an input signal through a personal digital assistant 15 of an authorized user or the instrument cluster of the vehicle. However, disposition of the actuation unit is a concern. The actuation unit should be located in proximity to the lid to reduce the length of wiring and prevent loss of signal. The actuation unit receiving the actuating signal from one of the control units also needs to be proximal to the control unit. Thus, an optimum 20 location which optimizes the cable length as input and output.
[0005] Further, the actuation unit when being added to the existing vehicle layout should not lead to major engineering changes to the existing frame assembly as that may cost the OEM large manhours and tooling. Also, a sturdier mounting for the actuation unit is desired as it is a critical part to the 25 operation of the vehicle, such enabling charging operation of the vehicle. Adequate protection of the actuation unit from external environment and against impact loads is also desired.
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[0006] Hence, there exists a need to dispose and mount an actuation unit connected to one or more lids of the vehicle, such that input/output cable length from the actuation unit is minimized, signal interference from the actuation unit is minimized, and the actuation unit is protected against external loads. 5
[0007] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described methods with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings. 10
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to embodiments illustrated therein, the present invention is a vehicle layout that accommodates an actuation unit on the interior surface of the frame as limited style parts are used in keeping with an exposed-type 15 skeleton.
[0009] A frame assembly of the vehicle is disclosed. The frame assembly comprises main frame members and an actuation unit. The main frame members extend from a head tube to bottom of the vehicle in a vehicle rear direction. Each of the main frame members extends in the vehicle rear 20 direction on a vehicle right side and a vehicle left side respectively. The actuation unit is mounted to an inner surface of one of the main frame members. The actuation unit is centrally located in the vehicle. In an embodiment, the actuation unit is located in close proximity to at least one junction box of the vehicle. 25
[00010] The actuation unit is mounted on the main frame member using a mounting bracket mounted to the inner surface to one of the main frame members. The mounting bracket comprises at least two mounting points to receive the actuation unit.
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[00011] The actuation unit is operatively connected to a cover in the vehicle, wherein the cover provides access to one or more openings in the vehicle. The cover is operatively connected to a plunger unit, wherein the plunger unit is operatively connected to the actuation unit and a mechanical key. The cover is disposed in a region between the head tube and a rider seat on the main 5 frame members.
[00012] The frame assembly further comprises a bridge tube for joining the main frame members on the vehicle left side and the vehicle right side. The frame assembly further comprises sub frame members extending from ends of the main frame members on the vehicle right side and the vehicle left side 10 to a rear portion of the vehicle. The actuation unit is mounted to the main frame member inline to a joinder part connecting the main frame member and sub frame member on one of the vehicle left side and the vehicle right side.
[00013] In an embodiment, the actuation unit is mounted to the main frame member below the bridge tube of the vehicle, proximal to a junction box. In 15 another embodiment, the actuation unit is angularly mounted on one of the main frame members for routing of an input cable from a vehicle control unit and routing of an output cable to a plunger unit with minimal bending.
[00014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and 20 are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00015] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings 25 to reference like features and components.
[00016] Fig. 1 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a frame assembly of a vehicle showing main frame members and rider seat;
[00017] Fig. 2 exemplarily illustrates top perspective views of the main frame member with an actuation unit, a plunger unit, and a cover; 30
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[00018] Fig. 3 exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the main frame member showing the actuation unit, the mounting bracket, the plunger unit, and the vehicle control unit;
[00019] Fig. 4 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the main frame member shown in Fig. 3; 5
[00020] Fig. 5 exemplarily illustrates a closer rear perspective view of the main frame member;
[00021] Fig. 6 exemplarily illustrates a closer rear perspective view of the main frame member;
[00022] Fig. 7 exemplarily illustrates the actuation unit and the plunger unit 10 coupled to each other; and
[00023] Figs. 8A-8C exemplarily illustrate different views of the mounting bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 15
[00024] According to embodiments illustrated therein, the present invention is a vehicle layout that accommodates an actuation unit 103 for one or more of covers of the vehicle on the interior surface of the frame as limited style parts are used in keeping with an exposed-type skeleton. The covers provide access to one or more openings of the vehicles, such as fuel tank, storage 20 space, charging port, etc. The actuation unit 103 is, for example, a charging lid actuator of an electric vehicle. The actuation unit 103 is an electro-mechanical device which receives input signals from the user and as an output opens the charging lid disposed over a charging port of the vehicle. The actuation unit 103 is, for example, a fuel tank lid actuator of an IC engine 25 vehicle that receives input signals from the user and as an output opens the fuel tank lid disposed over a fuel tank opening of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle may be a two-wheeled vehicle, a three wheeled vehicle, or a multi-wheeled vehicle. For the purpose of this invention, the vehicle being considered is a two wheeled 30
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vehicle with a frame assembly 100 comprising main frame members 101 extending from a head tube to bottom of the vehicle in a vehicle rear direction as shown in in Fig. 1. Each of the main frame members 101 extends in the vehicle rear direction in a vehicle right side and a vehicle left side. [00025] In an embodiment, the frame assembly 100 further comprises a pair 5 of sub frame members (not shown) extending from ends of the main frame members on a vehicle right side and a vehicle left side till a rear portion of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle has a plurality of styling panels being mounted to an outer surface 101b (shown in Fig. 2) of the main frame members 101 and the sub frame members. The main frame members 101 and 10 the sub frame members are connected by joinder part 105 on both vehicle left side and vehicle right side.
[00026] In the rear portion of the vehicle, the TSLs, a tail lamp and a mud guard over the rear wheel are disposed. The sub frame members extend from the joinder part 105 till the tail lamp of the vehicle. The tail lamp, the TSLs, 15 the telematics unit, etc., are connected to one or more batteries of the vehicle. These are all low voltage components and are usually connected by a low voltage wiring harness. The low voltage components and the low voltage wiring harness are routed on one side of the vehicle, either on the vehicle left side or the vehicle right side. The directions vehicle left side, vehicle right 20 side, vehicle front direction, and vehicle rear direction are as shown in Fig .1.
[00027] The main frame members 101 and the sub frame members comprise a plurality of rib structures 106 formed on an inner surface 101a. The rib structures 106 form the skeleton of the main frame members 101 and sub frame members as shown in Fig. 3. The vehicle further comprises at least one 25 actuation unit, such as, 103. The actuation unit 103 is mounted to the inner surface 101a of one of the main frame members 101. The main frame members 101 have cutouts 107 through-out their body. In the solid portion between the cutouts 107 and the rib structures 106, the actuation unit 103 is mounted as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The main frame member 101 on the top 30 receive the rider seat 102 and then extend downwards towards the bottom of
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the vehicle or the floorboard of the vehicle. The main frame member 101 extends from the head tube of the vehicle rearwards. In the region between the head tube and the rider seat 102, the cover 104 to be actuated may be located. Thus, the actuation unit 103 actuating the cover 104 may be centrally located in the vehicle, proximal to the cover 104. In an embodiment, such a 5 cover 104 located behind the head tube in front of the seat 102 may be a charging lid or a fuel tank lid as shown in Fig. 1. [00028] Such a charging lid or a fuel tank lid may also be opened using a mechanical key. The charging lid or fuel tank lid may be interfaced with the seat lock of the vehicle. Thus, the mechanical key or push button to actuate 10 the charging lid or fuel tank lid may be located behind the rider seat 102. The cover 104 is operatively coupled to a plunger unit 108. The actuation unit 103 is an electro-mechanical device that converts the received user input through an electric signal via a motor into mechanical pulling of cables which are connected to the triangular plunger unit 108. The plunger unit 108 receives 15 the output from the actuation unit 103 and opens the cover 104 based on mechanical pulling of cables 113 received from the actuation unit 103. The input to the plunger unit 108 from the actuation unit 103 is a mechanical movement of cables 113. In an embodiment, the plunger unit 108 also receives another input, that is, from the mechanical key or push button under 20 the rider seat 102. Either of these inputs opens the cover 104 as shown in Fig. 4.
[00029] The vehicle further comprises one or more control units, controlling different components in the vehicle such as engine, motor, telematics, instrument cluster, etc. All these control units may be centrally controlled by 25 another control unit, namely a vehicle control unit (iVCU) 110. The actuation unit 103 receives input in an electrical cable from the vehicle control unit 110. Thus, the actuation unit 103 is located proximal to the vehicle control unit 110 to reduce the length of the electrical input cable 112 and also to prevent loss of input signal due to interference as shown in Fig. 3. The actuation unit 30 103 is also located proximal to the plunger unit 108 to reduce the length and bending in the mechanical cables 113 originating from the actuation unit 103
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to the plunger unit 108 as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The vehicle control unit 110 receives input from the user device or the instrument cluster of the vehicle. Corresponding to the received input, the vehicle control unit 110 generates an input electrical signal to the actuation unit 103. [00030] In an embodiment, the actuation unit 103 is mounted to the main 5 frame member 101 inline to the joinder part 105 connecting the main frame member 101 and sub frame member on either the vehicle left side or the vehicle right side as shown in Fig. 1. In an embodiment, the actuation unit 103 is mounted to the main frame member 101 below a bridge tube of the vehicle, proximal to a junction box. The bridge tube connects the main frame 10 member 101 on the vehicle left side with the main frame member 101 on the vehicle right side. The junction box aggregates multiple cables of the vehicle and integrates fuses, relays, circuit breakers of the electrical systems of the vehicle. The vehicle may have many such junction boxes that are proximal to the battery packs and different electrical loads of the vehicle, such, as motor, 15 cooler, TSLs, lamps, control units, etc. A junction box is located proximal to the vehicle control unit 110. The actuation unit 103 is disposed proximal to that junction box. In an embodiment, the mechanical output cable 113 from the actuation unit 103 connects onto either the junction box or directly onto the plunger unit 108/ spring holding the cover in closed position. 20
[00031] The actuation unit 103 is disposed angularly with respect to the axis of the main frame member 101 extending towards the bottom of the vehicle. The angular disposition is only for optimal routing of the input and output cables of the actuation unit 103 as shown in Fig. 3. The angle Ø of the actuation unit 103 approximately 15-30 degrees is designed such that 25 minimum bends exist in the mechanical output cable. The mechanical output cable 114 requires sufficient length to actually provide the pulling effect on the cover 104 as shown in Fig. 7. In an embodiment, the actuation unit 103 is disposed along a vehicle central axis, in close vicinity of the vehicle control unit 110, disposed at an angle towards a vehicle top direction on an inner 30 surface of the frame assembly 100, and off-set towards the left hand side of the vehicle. The actuation unit 110 is off-set onto the left side of the vehicle
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as it is directly connected to the frame member 101. Further since the mono-shock suspension in the vehicle is also on the vehicle left side, more space is provided on the left for accommodating the actuator unit 103. [00032] The actuation unit 103 is directly mounted on the main frame member 101. In an embodiment, the actuation unit 103 is mounted on a 5 mounting bracket 109 and the mounting bracket 109 is mounted on the main frame member 101 using fasteners as shown in Figs. 3-5. The actuation unit 103 is fastened to the mounting bracket 109 or snap fit into the mounting bracket 109. For the angular disposition of the actuation unit 103, the mounting bracket 109 is also angularly mounted on the main frame member 10 101. The mounting bracket 109, as shown in Figs. 8A-8C, further comprises a triangular slot 109d to reduce use of material in manufacturing. The mounting bracket 109 has elevated mounting points 109b to fasten the mounting bracket 109 to the main frame member 101. The edges of the mounting bracket 109 are raised to receive the actuation unit 103 on it in a 15 snap fit manner. Further, the mounting bracket 109 has a cut section 109c to receive the mechanical cable coming out of the actuation unit 103 and going into the plunger unit 108. Further, the mounting bracket 109 comprises a raised portion 109e for reinforcement of the mounting bracket 109 and also to restrict the movement of the actuation unit 103 in the mounting bracket 20 109. Along with the snap fit of the actuation unit 103, the actuation unit 103 is also fastened to the mounting bracket 109 at at least two mounting points 109f.
[00033] In an embodiment, the mounting bracket 109 comprises: two point mounting 109b for the bracket 109 onto the frame assembly 100; two points 25 109f for mounting the actuator 103 onto the bracket 109; slits to reduce material cost; and chamfered/ ribbed area to improve bracket strength.
[00034] The present vehicle layout accommodates the actuation unit on the interior surface of the frame as limited style parts are used in keeping with an exposed-type skeleton. Improved protection is provided to the actuation unit 30 as it is inside the frame assembly and the disclosed configuration does not
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compromise on the utility space as well. Impact of external weather conditions on the actuation unit are alleviated. Location of the actuation unit ensures optimum cable length of both input and output cables of the actuation unit are maintained. Requirement of additional components for routing the cables from the actuation unit are also avoided due to the provisions in the 5 mounting bracket itself. This ensures the vehicle layout is still compact. Further, sufficient protection is accorded to the actuation unit from impact loads as well as the main frame members comprises multiple rib like structures which typically enforce the strength of the main frame members. [00035] With reference to the vehicle layout, the output cable from the 10 actuation unit and the input cable to the actuation unit is arranged such that it has minimal bends and further it avoids signal interference from signals from surrounding components such as control units. The angle of the actuation unit is designed such that minimum bends exist in the mechanical output cable. The mounting bracket comprises a central triangular slot to reduce the 15 material cost. The two mounting provisions of the mounting bracket are used for mounting the mounting bracket onto the frame and they have an elevated structure, thereby pushing the main flat plate of the bracket towards the inside of the vehicle to minimise direct interference with impact loads acting on the frame structure. The main flat plate receives the actuation unit in snap fit 20 manner. Unauthorized access to the cover/ lid is prevented as the registered user input is required on the instrument cluster or the user device in possession with the user, for actuation of the cover.
[00036] Further, during vehicle assembly as well, the assembly of the actuation unit on the mounting bracket is guided by the raised edges of the 25 flat plate section and the fasteners to mount the mounting bracket on the frame are well guided and are of different size compared to the other fasteners in the vehicle. This makes assembly easy with reduced man hours.
[00037] Improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein without deviating from the scope of the invention. 30
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List of Reference Numerals
100- Frame assembly
101-main frame members
102-rider seat 5
103-actuation unit
104-cover
105-joinder part
106-rib structure
107-cut-out 10
108-plunger unit
109-mounting bracket
110-vehicle control unit
111-fasteners
112-input cable to actuation unit 15
113-output cable of actuation unit
114- Output cable of plunger unit , Claims:e Claim:
1. A vehicle comprising:
a frame assembly (100), said frame assembly (100) comprising:
main frame members (101) extending from a head tube to 5 bottom of the vehicle in a vehicle rear direction, each of said main frame members (101) extending in the vehicle rear direction on a vehicle right side and a vehicle left side respectively; and
an actuation unit (103), said actuation unit (103) being mounted to an inner surface (101a) of one of the main frame members 10 (101), the actuation unit (103) being centrally located in the vehicle.
2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation unit (103) being located in close proximity to at least one junction box of the vehicle.
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3. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation unit (103) being mounted on one of the main frame members (101) using a mounting bracket (109) mounted to the inner surface (101a) to one of the main frame members (101).
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4. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket (109) comprises at least two mounting points (109f) to receive the actuation unit (103).
5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation unit (103) being 25 operatively connected to a cover (104) in the vehicle, wherein the cover (104) providing access to one or more openings in the vehicle.
6. The vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover (104) being operatively connected to a plunger unit (108), wherein the plunger unit 30 (108) being operatively connected to the actuation unit (103) and a mechanical key.
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7.The vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover (104) being disposedin a region between the head tube and a rider seat (102) on the main framemembers (101).
8.The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame assembly (100)5 further comprises a bridge tube for joining the main frame members (101)on the vehicle left side and the vehicle right side and sub frame membersextending from ends of the main frame members (101) on the vehicle rightside and the vehicle left side to a rear portion of the vehicle.
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9.The vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuation unit (103) beingmounted to one of the main frame members (101) inline to a joinder part(105)connecting the main frame members (101) and sub frame memberson one of the vehicle left side and the vehicle right side.
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10.The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation unit (103)being mounted to one of the main frame members (101) below a bridgetube of the vehicle, proximal to a junction box.
11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation unit (103) 20 being angularly mounted on one of the main frame members (101) for routing of an input cable (112) from a vehicle control unit (110) and routing of an output cable (113) to a plunger unit (108) with minimal bending.