FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor
vehicle.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART
Currently available electronic control unit mounting bracket comprises of a
metal'sheet (1) having a plurality of beads (B) on the surface meant for
mounting ECU, for which reference may be made to fig. 1. The bracket is
connected to the battery tray vertically along longitudinal direction of the tray
and the battery tray is placed along the vehicle width direction.
The bracket is positioned on the other side of engine in the front engine room.
However, proximity to the engine may lead to damage of ECU due to high
temperature. Further, it causes maintenance problem due to its location. For
the serviceability of ECU, complete assembly of battery tray is required to be
removed.
Now, reference may be made to the following publications:
US 8437134B2: A housing structure for a vehicle electronic control'unit
("ECU") includes an ECU case, a mounting bracket, and a seal ring. The ECU
case is for housing a vehicle ECU and includes a ventilation opening. The
mounting bracket connects with the ECU case and is configured to connect
with an associated vehicle frame for mounting the ECU case. The seal ring
surrounds the ventilation opening and seals against both the ECU case and the
mounting bracket.
In the above, force distribution occurs through bolt as ECU weight is
transferred to ECU mount bracket. Further, it involves auxiliary components
for prevention of water/moisture.
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CN 201520257U: A mounting of an ECU in an automobile, comprises a
bracket, wherein the front surface and the back surface of the bracket are
respectively provided with a mounting plane, and the mounting planes of the
front and the back surfaces are respectively provided with an ECU and a body
control module (BCM). The installation mounting of the ECU and the BCM on
the mounting plane is realized by arranging a 'ding'-shaped reinforcing rib. An
ECU control module and a BCM body control module are simultaneously
arranged on one bracket.
CN 203601181U: An ECU installation support structure is also in existance.
The ECU installation support structure comprises an ECU module and a
support wherein the ECU module is provided with a base, the back surface of
the base is provided with an elastic buckle, a gap is formed between the inner
side face of the elastic buckle and the base, the inner side face of the elastic
buckle is provided with a protruding limiting block, the support is provided
with an inserting piece matched with the elastic buckle, the inserting piece is
provided with a limiting through hole matched with the limiting block, the
inserting piece is clamped between the base and the elastic buckle, and the
limiting block is arranged in the limiting through hole.
It comprises welded part with snap type ECU.
CN 203063865U: There is disclosure of an ECU (electronic control unit)
automobile mounting bracket, which comprises an integrally formed bracket
body, wherein the bracket body comprises a square groove for placing an ECU;
bolts are arranged at the bottom of the groove; and reinforcing ribs are
arranged on the side wall of the groove.
The aforesaid technology involves mounting cum casing bracket which is heavy
in weight.
CN201117308Y: It relates to a car ECU mounting, wherein the middle portion
is a mounting plane for installing an ECU, mounting feet with mounting holes
which can be fixed with a front wall plate of a car body are arranged on two
sides of the mounting plane, two groups of projection welding nut holes for
installing ECU with two models are arranged on the mounting plane, wherein
one of the projection welding nut holes is shared by the two models of ECU, the
mounting hole on the mounting foot on one side of the mounting plane is a
locating round hole, the mounting hole on the other side mounting foot is an
adjustable waist type hole, and reinforcement ribs are arranged on the
mounting plane.
None of the above meets the design requirements of instant invention. Hence,
the present invention proposes ECU mounting bracket, design, location and
orientation of which have been optimized to obviate shortcomings of known art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide electronic control
unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle which overcomes disadvantages
associated with the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide electronic control unit
mounting bracket for motor vehicle which is optimized with respect to its
design, position and orientation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide electronic control unit
mounting bracket for motor vehicle to reduce weight with longer life span of
bracket as compared to prior art.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide electronic control unit
mounting bracket for motor vernrle w H r h i o nnn+ gjfeetn L. "
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Further another object of the present invention is to provide electronic control
unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle which avoids maintenance problem
and also prevents damage of ECU due to rain water/frontal crash.
SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided electronic control unit mounting
bracket for motor vehicle comprising a sheet member having a plurality of
holes with optimized position and orientation thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows: conventional ECU mounting bracket;
Fig. 2 shows: Novel ECU mounting bracket according to present invention;
Fig.3 shows: Wrap (W) around section of the bracket of present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention is directed to novel ECU mounting bracket for vehicle. As already
discussed the bracket is mounted along the longitudinal direction of battery
tray in vertical direction at one end thereof.
There are two major design constraints which are considered while deciding the
ECU mounting location and its orientation. The first layout constraint is to
locate the ECU away from the engine for prevention of its damage due to high
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temperature of engine room. The second layout constraint is orientation of ECU
to safeguard said ECU.
ECU can't be mounted in vertically downward direction i.e. in lower part due to
interference with member apron.
Further, ECU can't be located in upward direction i.e. in upper part of engine
room as this will result in fouling with hood inner and also rain water can
damage its circuit.
Again, placement of ECU in front can cause fouling with brace lamp support
and also ECU may get damaged in case of frontal collision.
In view of the above design constraints ECU. is mounted on bracket by being
confined by the three sides as discussed hereinabove, i.e. between upper part,
lower part and front part of engine room and away from engine towards dash
panel of vehicle and in tilted orientation to prevent its failure.
The battery tray is placed longitudinally along the length direction of vehicle i.e.
along longitudinal axis of vehicle.
According to another provision of invention, the bracket has been deviced as
follows.
In this regard reference may be made to fig. 2, wherein the bracket comprising
a metal sheet having a plruality of holes (1) on the surface thereof with multiple
ribs (Ri, R2) therebetween.
The holes ( 1,2,3) can also be referred to as pockets, which are provided to
reduce weight by maintaining same strength of the bracket.
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In addition to the above, a bead (2) is integrated to the bracket in alignment
with the rib (Ri) so as to counter the lateral loads in dynamic condition of
vehicle. Thus, it reduces the lateral bending of bracket along vehicle width
direction. Actually, it offsets the probable bending section with remaining
structure and imparts additional stiffness to the structure with the help of the
rib which is aligned with the bead.
Now reference may be made to fig. 3, whereina wrap around section (W) is
integrally provided at one end of bracket connected to corner of battery tray to
counter longitudinal loads in dynamic condition of vehicle. However, it
strengthens the bracket in both lateral and longitudinal direction.
The bracket is made of sheet metal which can be manufactured by forming
without restricting scope of the invention to the same.
The newly deviced ECU bracket facilitates access to ECU during servicing.
The present invention forming a single structure is compact, which satisfies all
the design and layout constraints.
Advantageous Features
- Optimized bracket with longer life span;
- Reduction in weight.by maintaining same strength of bracket;
- Positioning away from the engine to prevent failure of ECU;
- Avoids maintenance problem and prevents damage of ECU due to rain
water/frontal crash;
- Reduction in the lateral bending of bracket along vehicle width direction;
- Cost effective and compact bracket;
- Facilitates access to ECU during service;
- Strengthening of bracket in both lateral and longitudinal direction;
- Prevents fouling of ECU with hood inner, brace lamp support and
member apron.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the
following claims:-

WE CLAIM
1. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle comprising a
sheet member having a plurality of holes with optimized position and
orientation thereof.
2. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
claim 1 wherein the sheet member having a plurality of holes with
multiple ribs therebetween.
3. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
claim 1 or 2 wherein a bead is provided in alignment with a rib.to
counter lateral loads in dynamic condition of vehicle.
4. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims wherein a wrap around section is provided at
one end of the bracket which is connected to corner of battery tray to
counter longitudinal loads in dynamic condition of vehicle.
5. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims which is located in tilted orientation in
engine room.
6. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims wherein the battery tray is placed along
longitudinal axis of vehicle.
7. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims which is located between upper, lower and
front parts of engine room.
8. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims which is placed away from engine towards
dash panel.
9. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle as claimed in
any of the preceding claims is associated with the advantageous features
such as herein described.
10. Electronic control unit mounting bracket for motor vehicle
substantially as herein. described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.