Mounting component for a motor vehicle and method for installing a vehicle electrical system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,294,783 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intedis GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Intedis GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Kuhnen, Thorsten, Schneider, Bernd, Scheibe, Winfried, Schiebold, Stefan, Gelshorn, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Application Number:
  US10/530,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 174/72.A, 269/146.7, 269/37.2, 294/69, 294/30
• US Class Current: 174/72.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]

Abstract

The mounting component (2) includes a module rack (4), on which components (6, 10) of a vehicle electrical system have been mounted beforehand, and is intended for installation in the motor vehicle (18) together with the previously mounted components (6, 10). At least one additional module of the vehicle electrical system (11) that extends beyond the spatial limit of the module rack (4) is connected by prior assembly with the components (6, 10) arranged on the module rack (4). The module rack (4) also serves as a self-contained transportation base for both the pre-assembled components (6, 10) and the additional electrical system module (11). This configuration enables a high degree of pre-assembly and thus also simplifies final assembly.

Claims

1. A mounting component to be installed in a motor vehicle, including a module rack securely mounted with components of a vehicle electrical system, and at least one additional module of the vehicle electrical system electrically connected to said components,

wherein said at least one additional module has a dimension that extends beyond dimensions of the module rack and is rolled up into at least one loop and placed in a recess embedded in the module rack.

2. The mounting component in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the module rack is at least a part of a trunk area and includes the recess which is a spare wheel recess.

3. The mounting component in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the additional module is an interior module furnished with an interface to said at least one other electrical component arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle.

4. The mounting component in accordance with claim 3,

wherein the module rack is furnished with at least one retractable strap on a periphery thereof, on which one of the components of the vehicle electrical system is secured thereonto.

5. The mounting component in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the additional module is an interior module furnished with interfaces to electrical components arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle.

6. The mounting component in accordance with claim 5,

wherein the module rack is furnished with at least one retractable strap on a periphery thereof, on which one of the components of the vehicle electrical system is secured thereonto.

7. A method for installing a motor vehicle electrical system into a motor vehicle, comprising:

securing components of the vehicle electrical system onto a module rack at a pre-assembly location;

electrically connecting the components secured onto the mount rack with an additional electrical system module with one dimension that extends beyond dimensions of the module rack;

rolling up the electrical system module into at least one loop at the pre-assembly location after the connecting step;

placing the rolled-up electrical system module into a recess embedded in the module rack at the pre-assembly location;

transporting the module rack together with the components secured thereon and the rolled-up and placed electrical system module from the pre-assembly location to a final assembly location thereby using the module rack as a transportation base; and

installing at the final assembly location the module rack in the motor vehicle together with the components secured thereon and the rolled-up and placed electrical system module.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the module rack is at least a part of a trunk area and includes the recess which is a spare wheel recess.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the electrical system module is an interior module furnished with an interface to said at least one other electrical component arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the module rack is furnished with at least one retractable strap on a periphery thereof, on which one of the components of the vehicle electrical system is secured thereonto in the securing step.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the electrical system module is an interior module furnished with interfaces to electrical components arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the module rack is furnished with at least one retractable strap on a periphery thereof, on which one of the components of the vehicle electrical system is secured thereonto in the securing step.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

moving the electrical system module out of the recess at the final assembly location while maintaining the electrical system module being connected with the components secured onto the mount rack.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

un-rolling at the final assembly location the electrical system module to extend beyond the dimensions of the module rack while maintaining the electrical system module being connected with the components secured onto the mount rack, thereby connecting the electrical system module to at least one other electrical component of the motor vehicle.