Modular electronic control unit mounting device for a mobile vehicle

• US 6,466,431 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Thomas, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/874,787
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.1, 296/70, 296/155, 296/208, 174/69, 174/72.A, 174/72.TR, 174/DIG.9, 361/600, 361/601, 361/625, 361/679, 361/724-727, 361/807, 361/809, 361/810, 439/32, 439/34, 439/162, 439/174, 439/252, 180/90, 180/65.1, 180/65.8, 180/333, 211/26.2, 211/94, 211/151, 211/162, 211/126, 211/15, 211/41.17, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 361/625
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes

Abstract

A modular electronic control unit mounting device, mounting system and vehicle consisting of three essential parts, excluding the electronic control units or modules themselves. These are a mounting rack, a carriage, and a set of rails. The first part is the mounting rack upon which all the electronic modules are mounted. The rack mates with the carriage through a set of slides. The carriage is additionally mated with a pair of rails that are installed on a horizontal surface of the vehicle. The electronic modules or control units are engaged to the rack separate from the vehicle. The rack is engaged by slideably mating with the carriage. The carriage may be moved along the rails to its permanent location that does not need to be relatively near an access point or hatch of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile vehicle in combination with an electronic control unit mounting device, comprising:

a chassis engaged to axles with wheels;

a cab engaged to said chassis

an access door to said cab to an area with a horizontal mounting surface;

a pair of rails engaged to said horizontal mounting surface;

a carriage engaged to move along said rails;

a module mount rack slidably engaged to and slidably disengageable from said carriage;

said rack engaged to at least one electronic controller; and

said rack and said carriage having at least two positions along said rails, one accessible through said access door and one at an operation position relatively inaccessible through said access door.

2. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 1, wherein:

said rack slideable engagement with said carriage in a direction perpendicular to said carriage along said rails movement direction.

3. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 2, wherein:

said rack slideable engagement to said carriage held in installed position by a locking mechanism.

4. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 3, wherein said mounting rack comprising:

side walls engaged to electronic controller mounting walls;

a rack wiring harness connectable to a main vehicle electrical harness through bulkhead connector style electrical connectors located in said side walls; and

said electronic controller engaged electrically to said rack-wiring harness.

5. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 4, wherein:

one of said side walls containing a handle for removing said rack from said carriage.

6. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 5, wherein:

a set of slides on a lower surface of said rack for engagement with said carriage.

7. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 6, wherein said carriage comprising:

two horizontal struts engaged between a pair of cross members;

a pair of runners engaged to said carriage for operating along said rail;

each of said cross members having a lower receiving lip for engagement with and support of said slides of said rack.

8. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 7, wherein:

said cross members having an upper engagement lip for a sandwich like engagement of said slides of said rack.

9. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 8, wherein:

said slides of said rack are turned inwardly; and

said lower and upper receiving lips of said carriage are outwardly turned.

10. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 8, wherein:

said slides of said rack are turned outwardly; and

said lower and upper receiving lips of said carriage are inwardly turned.

11. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 8, wherein:

said cross members have mating grooves on each end for engagement with an inwardly turned rail mounting lip on each of said rails.

12. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 8, wherein:

said cross members have mating grooves on each end for engagement with an outwardly turned rail mounting lip on each of said rails.

13. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 8, wherein:

said horizontal mounting surface of said cab is within a sleeper compartment of said cab.

14. The mobile vehicle combination of claim 13, wherein:

said access door being a luggage compartment door of said sleeper.