Electric component arrangement structure of vehicle

An electric component (electric-power convertor) and a pair of air-conditioning ducts are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction. In case in which a rear end portion of the electric component is located in back of an outlet of the air-conditioning duct, the electric component is formed in a notch shape such that a duct-side edge portion thereof extends obliquely rearward and in a specified direction, in the vehicle width direction, away from the air-conditioning duct. Accordingly, it can be properly prevented that a conditioning air toward a passenger seated in a rear seat is blocked with the electric component arranged between a seat cushion of a front seat and a floor panel and receives any improper influence of heat emitted by the electric component, or the electric component receives any damage from the conditioning air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle which is equipped with an electric component arranged between a seat cushion of a front seat and a floor panel and emitting heat.

It is known as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-341373, for example, that a power unit is arranged between a seat cushion of a front seat (a driver's seat or a passenger's (assistant's) seat) and a floor panel forming a bottom face of a vehicle compartment.

Herein, in case in which the electric component emitting heat is arranged between the seat cushion of the front seat and the floor panel like the above-described conventional arrangement of the power unit, the arrangement location of the electric component is in the vehicle compartment, so that the reliability of the electric component can be improved and a space below the front seat can be utilized properly.

Meanwhile, in some vehicles, a conditioning air is supplied from an air-conditioning unit provided in an instrument panel toward a passenger seated in a rear seat arranged in back of the front seat via an air-conditioning duct. In general, this air-conditioning duct is arranged on the floor panel and extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction, passing below the seat cushion of the front seat.

In a case in which the above-described electric component is arranged below the front seat of the vehicle equipped with the air-conditioning duct, it is necessary to properly arrange the air-conditioning duct and the electric component in a limited space below the front seat. Thus, there exists some problem of location relationship of these members. That is, there is a concern, depending on a particular location relationship, that the conditioning air supplied from the air-conditioning duct may be blocked with the electric component or may receive an improper influence of the heat emitted by the electric component and thereby change the temperature thereof unstably. Further, when the conditioning air is a hot air, a smooth radiation of the heat emitted by the electric component may be restrained by this hot air, so that the electric component may receive some damage improperly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to properly prevent that the conditioning air toward the passenger seated in the rear seat is blocked with the electric component arranged between the seat cushion of the front seat and the floor panel and receives any improper influence of the heat emitted by the electric component, or the electric component receives any damage from the conditioning air.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle, comprising a floor panel forming a bottom face of a vehicle compartment of the vehicle, a front seat supported on the floor panel so as to slide in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a rear seat arranged on the floor panel behind the front seat, an electric component arranged between a seat cushion of the front seat and the floor panel, the electric component emitting heat, and an air-conditioning duct arranged on the floor panel to extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the air-conditioning duct having an outlet at a rear end thereof, through which a conditioning air is supplied toward a passenger seated in the rear seat at a rear end thereof, wherein the electric component and the air-conditioning duct are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction.

According to the present invention, since the conditioning air is supplied rearward from the outlet provided at the rear end of the air-conditioning duct, it can be prevented that the conditioning air directly hits against the electric component arranged beside the air-conditioning duct in the vehicle width direction. Thus, the conditioning air is not blocked with the electric component. Further, in a case in which the heat of the electric component is radiated toward a lower side of the electric component or in a specified direction away from the air-conditioning duct, for example, the electric component may not receive any damage from the above-described conditioning air, and the conditioning air may not receive any improper influence of the heat of the electric component.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air-conditioning duct supplies a hot conditioning air, and a rear end portion of the electric component which is located in back of the outlet of the air-conditioning duct is formed in a notch shape such that a duct-side edge portion thereof extends obliquely rearward and in a specified direction, in the vehicle width direction, away from the air-conditioning duct. Thereby, spreading of the hot conditioning air from the air-conditioning duct and direct hitting of the hot conditioning air against the electric component can be properly prevented. Further, the suction effect of the air-conditioning duct causes sucking out of the air around the electric component, so that the electric component can be cooled properly. Moreover, the size of the electric component can be made as large as possible.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component is arranged on an outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the air-conditioning duct. Thereby, the air-conditioning duct can be arranged near and along a tunnel portion of the floor panel, so that a foot space of a passenger seated in the front seat can be ensured and an arrangement space of the electric component can be properly wide.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component is an electric-power convertor which is coupled to an electricity-storage device to store electricity via a harness and converts an electric power from the electricity-storage device for a vehicle-on-board electric equipment, and the electric component and the electricity-storage device are arranged on the same side of the vehicle relative to a center, in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle. Herein, the electricity-storage device includes a capacitor, for example, and this capacitor can store the electricity generated by a generator (alternator) driven by an engine during a vehicle deceleration. Further, the electric component (electric-power convertor) includes a DC/DC convertor, for example, and this DC/DC convertor can convert the electric power of the capacitor from its high-voltage state to its low-voltage state and then supply the converted electric power to the vehicle-on-board electric equipment, such as an audio device.

Moreover, it is preferable that the harness coupling the electricity-storage device and the electric component be as short as possible to restrain a power-supply loss via the harness. Accordingly, the harness can be shortened properly by arranging the electric component and the electricity-storage device on the same side relative to the center, in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle. In particular, it is preferable that the electricity-storage device be arranged outside the vehicle compartment from perspectives of its volume and the like, i.e., at a front portion or a rear portion of the vehicle, and in this case the harness can be shortened effectively.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component comprises a body portion and a harness coupling portion for coupling a harness to the body portion, and the harness coupling portion is arranged on an outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion of the electric component and the air-conditioning duct. Thereby, it can be prevented that the longitudinal length of the electric component including the harness coupling portion becomes improperly long, so that the foot space of the passenger seated in the front seat or the rear seat can be prevented from being narrow. Further, while a coupling work of the harness to the harness coupling portion is generally conducted from the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle, this coupling work can be conducted easily without being blocked with the body portion of the electric component and the air-conditioning duct.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle further comprises a cross member which is arranged on the floor panel and extends in the vehicle width direction across the air-conditioning duct, wherein the air-conditioning duct penetrates the cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the electric component is supported on an upper face of the cross member. Thereby, since the air-conditioning duct penetrates the cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction, an appropriate arrangement of the air-conditioning duct can be provided without improperly influencing the level (height position) of the seat cushion of the front seat. Meanwhile, if the electric component is arranged, like the air-conditioning duct, to penetrate the cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction, there is a concern that the strength of the cross member may decrease. Herein, since the electric component is supported on the upper face of the cross member according to the present embodiment, the support rigidity of the electric component can be improved, preventing the decrease of strength of the cross member. Herein, in a case in which a support portion of the electric component on the upper face of the cross member is comprised of a plate-shaped bracket or the like provided at the body portion of the electric component, the electric component can be provided without improperly influencing the level (height position) of the seat cushion of the front seat.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle further comprises a bracket to support the electric component on the floor panel, wherein the bracket comprises a cover portion to cover an upper side of the electric component and is arranged such that the cover portion thereof has an upper face which slants obliquely forward and upward. Thereby, since the cover portion of the bracket covers the upper side of the electric component, even if a tip portion of a foot of the passenger seated in the rear seat contacts (hits against) the cover portion, the electric component can be protected with the cover portion. Further, since the cover portion has the upper face slanting obliquely forward and upward, the level (height position) of a rear portion of the cover portion becomes properly low, so that the tip portion of the passenger's foot may not be easily made contact (hit against) the cover portion. Thus, the electric component can be protected more effectively and the foot space of the passenger may not be restricted improperly by the electric component. Moreover, the bracket can restrain the heat of the electric component from being directed toward the passenger's foot (upward).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bracket comprises a support portion to be supported on the floor panel at a rear end portion thereof, the upper face of the cover portion of the bracket includes a first slant face which is located in front of the support portion and a second slant face which is located in front of the first slant face, and a slant angle of the first slant face relative to a horizontal line is greater than that of the second slant face relative to the horizontal line. Thereby, in a case in which the tip portion of the foot of the passenger seated in the rear seat contacts the cover portion, the tip portion of the foot comes into a space between the seat cushion of the front seat and the floor panel and contacts the cover portion. Accordingly, the foot's tip portion comes to contact the rear portion of the cover portion, so that it contacts the above-described first slant face first and then is guided upward by this first slant face. Thus, the foot's tip portion may not easily contact the above-described second slant face. Further, the first slant face is located above the rear end portion of the electric component, so that the rear portion of the electric component can be covered with the portion of the cover portion where the first slant face is formed. Meanwhile, the electric component is basically covered with the portion of the cover portion where the second slant face having a gentle slope is formed, so that the size of the electric component can be made as large as possible.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bracket supports the electric component on the floor panel such that the electric component is located above and away from the floor panel. Thereby, there exists a gap between the electric component and the floor panel, where the heat emitted by the electric component is radiated. Accordingly, it can be effectively prevented that the heat of the electric component is directed toward the passenger's foot.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component comprises a body portion to emit the heat and a heat sink to radiate the heat emitted by the body portion, the heat sink being arranged below the body portion. Thereby, the heat of the electric component can be radiated downward surely, and in a case in which a lower portion of the vehicle is covered with water, it can be properly avoided that the body portion of the electric component is located under the water.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the front seat slides forward and located at a foremost position, a whole part of the electric component overlaps a seat cushion of the front seat in a plan view. Thereby, even when the front seat is slid forward and located at the foremost position, the electric component can be protected from the foot of the passenger seated in the rear seat. Further, the electric component can be located out of a visual range of the passenger, so that the appearance of the vehicle floor can be improved, which may be further improved by the above-described bracket.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle further comprises a front cross member which is arranged on the floor panel in front of the electric component and extends in the vehicle width direction, wherein a front end portion of the bracket is supported on an upper face of the front cross member, and a rear end portion of the bracket is supported on a specified portion of the floor panel in back of the electric component. Thereby, the front end portion of the bracket can be easily supported at the higher level than its rear end portion by using the front cross member so as to correspond to the slant of the upper face of the cover portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle further comprises a rear cross member which is arranged on the floor panel in back of the electric component and extends in the vehicle width direction, wherein an upper face of the rear cross member slants obliquely forward and upward. Thereby, since the tip portion of the foot of the passenger seated in the rear seat is directed upward when the foot is placed on the upper face of the rear cross member, it can be avoided that the tip portion of the foot contacts the cover portion of the bracket.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least part of the slant upper face of the cover portion of the bracket is located on an extension of the upper face of the rear cross member. Thereby, the tip portion of the foot of the passenger seated in the rear seat which is placed on the upper face of the rear cross member is directed along the upper face of the cover member, so that it can be further avoided that the tip portion of the foot contacts the cover portion of the bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferable embodiments of the present invention will be described specifically referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1shows a vehicle body1of a vehicle equipped with an electric component arrangement structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The left side ofFIG. 1corresponds to a front side of the vehicle (vehicle body1). Hereinafter, front, rear, left, right, upper and lower sides of the vehicle (vehicle body1) will be referred to as front, rear, left, right, upper and lower sides simply.

A pair of front side frames2is arranged at both-side end portions, in a vehicle width direction (a lateral direction), of a front portion of the vehicle body1and extends longitudinally (in a vehicle longitudinal direction). A space between the front side frames2forms an engine room3where an engine, not illustrated, is arranged. A rear portion of each of the front side frames2is a kick-up portion (not illustrated) which slants obliquity downward and rearward. A dash panel5which partitions a vehicle compartment from the engine room3is provided substantially at the same longitudinal position as the kick-up portion to extend in the vehicle width direction and in a vertical direction.

A pair of wheel house panels8to form wheel houses is fixed to respective outside faces of the pair of front side frames2, and a suspension tower9is provided at an upper face of each of the wheel house panels8.

A crash can11is arranged at a front end of each of the front side frames2. A flange portion2ais formed at a front end of the front side frame2, a flange portion11ais formed at a rear end of the crash can11, and these flange portions2a,11acontacted each other and are fixed to each other with a fastening member (bolt and nut), not illustrated.

Front ends of the crash cans11are fastened to both-side end portions of a bumper beam12extending in the vehicle width direction, respectively. This bumper beam12is arranged inside a front bumper, not illustrated, which is provided at a front end portion of the vehicle, and receives a collision load in a vehicle frontal collision. When the bumper beam12receives the collision load from the front side in the vehicle frontal collision, the crash cans11crush longitudinally and thereby absorb an impact from the vehicle collision. Herein, this impact absorption may be achieved only through crushing of the crash cans in a light collision. In a heavy collision, however, the impact may be properly absorbed by the front side frames2crushing longitudinally in addition to the crushing of the crash cans11.

A lower end portion of the dash panel5is connected to a front end portion of a floor panel15forming a bottom face of the vehicle compartment. The floor panel15comprises a front floor portion15aand a rear floor portion15bwhich is located in back of the front floor portion15aand stands from a rear end of the front floor portion15ato be located at a higher level than the front floor portion15a.

Two front seats21(one is a driver's seat and the other is a passenger's seat (assistant seat)) are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction on the front floor portion15aof the floor panel15. A rear seat22is arranged in back of the front seats21on the floor panel15(i.e., on the rear floor portion15b). A rear-side portion of the front floor portion15alocated in back of the front seats21(i.e., a portion between the front seats21and the rear seat22) is a foot-placing space for a passenger seated in the rear seat22.

As shown inFIG. 2, each of the front seats21comprises a seat cushion21a, a seatback21bwhich is supported at a rear end portion of the seat cushion21aso as to rotate longitudinally (recline), and a headrest21cwhich is attached to an upper end portion of the seatback21b.

At a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the front floor portion15aof the floor panel15(between the right and left front seats21) is formed a tunnel portion15c. Further, a pair of front cross members16and a pair of rear cross members17are arranged on an upper face of the front floor portion15con both sides of the tunnel portion15c. These cross members16,17extend in the vehicle width direction, respectively, and are located away from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

A pair of lower rail portions25aof a seat rail25to slide the front seat21(seat cushion21a) longitudinally is fixed to the upper faces of the front and rear cross members16,17. The pair of lower rail portions25aextend longitudinally between the front cross member16and the rear cross member17at respective positions corresponding to the both-side end portions of the seat cushion21aof the front seat21. That is, a front end portion of each lower rail portion25ais fixed to a rail fixing portion16aon the upper face of the front cross member16, and a rear end portion of each lower rail portion25ais fixed to a rail fixing portion17aon the upper face of the rear cross member17. Meanwhile, a pair of upper rail portions25bto engage with the pair of lower rail portions25aso as to slide longitudinally is fixed to lower end portions of the both-side end portions of the seat cushion21aof the front seat21. The front seat21is supported on the floor panel15(front floor portion15a) so as to slide longitudinally via the front and rear cross members16,17through engagement between the lower rail portions25aand the upper rail portions25b. InFIG. 2, the front seat21located at a rearmost position in its sliding range is illustrated with a solid line, and the one located at a foremost position is illustrated with a two-dotted broken line. Further, inFIG. 3, the seat cushion21aof the front seat21located at a rearmost position in its sliding range is illustrated with a two-dotted broken line.

When the front seat21is located at the rearmost position, a front end of the seat cushion21aof the front seat21is located substantially at the same position as the front cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a rear end of the seat cushion21ais located in back of the rear cross member17. Meanwhile, when the front seat21is located at the foremost position, the front end of the seat cushion21ais located in front of the front cross member16, and the rear end of the seat cushion21ais located in front of the rear cross member17. In this state, a passenger seated in the rear seat can place a foot71(seeFIG. 5) thereof on the upper face (on any portion of the upper face other than the rail fixing portion17a) of the rear cross member17.

The lower rail portions25aof the front seat21are fixed to the rail fixing portions16a,17aof the front and rear cross members16,17such that they slant obliquely forward and upward. Thereby, the front seat21is supported on the floor panel15such that the level (height position) of the seat cushion21aof the front seat21rises in accordance with its forward slide. Herein, the upper faces (including the rail fixing portions16a,17a) of the front and rear cross members16,17slant obliquely forward and upward. Slant angles of the front and rear cross members16,17relative to the horizontal line is the same as a slant angle of the lower rail portion25arelative to the horizontal line.

At a central portion, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of the upper face of the front cross member16other than the rail fixing portion16ais formed a groove portion16bwhich extends in the vehicle width direction. The level of the rail fixing portion17ais higher than that of the other portion of the upper face of the rear cross member17. At a central portion, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of the upper face of the rear cross member17other than the rail fixing portion17a(a portion located below the rail fixing portion17a) is formed a groove portion17bwhich extends in the vehicle width direction.

An instrument panel, not illustrated, is arranged on a vehicle-compartment side of the dash panel5, and an air-conditioning unit31(seeFIG. 1) for air conditioning in the vehicle compartment is disposed inside the instrument panel. The air-conditioning unit31is configured such that the conditioning air is supplied toward a passenger seated in the front seat21from outlets provided at the instrument panel and also the conditioning air (hot air, in particular) is supplied toward a passenger seated in the rear seat22through a pair of air-conditioning ducts32(seeFIGS. 1-3) which extends rearward from a lower portion of the air-conditioning unit31.

The air-conditioning ducts32are arranged on the floor panel15(i.e., the front floor portion15a) to extend longitudinally on the both sides of and along the tunnel portion15c. Each of the air-conditioning ducts32has an outlet32aat its rear end, through which the conditioning air is supplied toward the passenger seated in the rear seat22. In the present embodiment, the two outlets32aof the air-conditioning ducts32are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, and the range of the conditioning air supplied from the outlets32ais illustrated with a slash mark inFIG. 3. Thus, the conditioning air from the outlets32aspreads rearward.

The air-conditioning duct32extends rearward beyond the front cross member16below the seat cushion21aof the front seat21, so that the front cross member16and the air-conditioning duct32cross each other. In the present embodiment, the front cross member16has a through hole, through which the air-conditioning duct32extends. Thus, the air-conditioning duct32penetrates the front cross member16longitudinally. The outlet32aof the air-conditioning duct32is located between the frond and rear cross members16,17in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and in this particular embodiment, that is located slightly in front of the central position between the frond and rear cross members16,17.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, there is provided an electricity-storage device43to store the electricity generated by a generator41(alternator) which is arranged in the engine room3and driven by the engine during a vehicle deceleration. In the present embodiment, the electricity-storage device43includes a capacitor. The electricity (electric power) stored at the electricity-storage device43is supplied to a vehicle-on-board electric equipment45which is installed at the vehicle via an electric-power convertor50. The vehicle-on-board electric equipment45is, for example, an audio device, a navigation device, an illumination device, or the like. Further, the extra electricity (electric power) which has not been consumed by the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45is supplied to and stored at a battery44to supply the electricity (electric power) to the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45. During any other vehicle states other than the vehicle deceleration, the electric power generated by the generator41is supplied to the battery44via the electric-power convertor50for charging the battery44.

The electric-power convertor50includes a DC/DC convertor which properly lowers the voltage of the electric power from the generator41(the electricity-storage device43) and outputs the electric power to the battery44and the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45. That is, since the voltage (e.g., 25V) on the side of the generator41and the electricity-storage device43is higher than that (e.g., 12V) on the side of the battery44and the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45, it may be necessary to adjust the voltage when the electric power is supplied from the generator41(the electricity-storage device43) to the battery44and the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45. Accordingly, the electric-power convertor50including the DC/DC convertor is provided.

The electricity-storage device43is arranged on the outside (left side), in the vehicle width direction, of the left-side front side frame2, i.e., on the left and outside of the engine room3and between a front wheel and the crash can11in the vehicle longitudinal direction (seeFIG. 1). Further, the electricity-storage device43is supported at a flange portion2aof the left-side front side frame2or a flange portion11aof the left-side crash can11(at a flange portion connected to the flange portion2aof the left-side front side frame2). Thereby, the electricity-storage device43may not easily receive any improper influence of the heat of the engine, so that it can be cooled efficiently by air during the vehicle traveling. Moreover, the electricity-storage device43may not prevent the crash can11from performing its impact absorption function in the vehicle frontal collision (light collision), and it may not prevent the front side frame2from performing its impact absorption function in the heavy collision in which the front side frame2crushes.

The battery44is comprised of a lead-acid battery and arranged at a left-rear side position in the engine room3, and supported at the left-side front side frame2via a battery-support bracket48disposed below the battery44(seeFIG. 1).

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, the electric-power convertor50is disposed between the seat cushion21aof the left-side front seat21(hereinafter, referred to as the front seat21, simply) and the floor panel15(front floor portion15a). This electric-power convertor50and the left-side air-conditioning duct32(hereinafter, referred to as the air-conditioning duct32, simply) which is likewise disposed between the seat cushion21aof the front seat21and the floor panel15are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the electric-power convertor50extends longitudinally on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the air-conditioning duct32. The electric-power convertor50corresponds to an electric component emitting heat of the present invention.

The electric-power convertor50, as shown inFIG. 4, comprises a body portion51, a heat sink52, a harness coupling portion53, and two terminal portions54.

The body portion51of the electric-power convertor50includes a case51awhich stores the above-described DC/DC convertor therein. This case51ahas an opening at its lower face, and this opening is covered with the heat sink52. The case51ais fixed to an upper face of the heat sink52.

The heat sink52is provided below the case51aof the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50, and has, at its lower face, plural projection portions52a, each of which projects downward and extends in the vehicle width direction. These plural projection portions52aare arranged side by side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The heat sink52radiates the heat emitted by the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50(DC/DC convertor) downward.

The harness coupling portion53is provided on an outside face of the case51aof the body portion51and thereby it is located on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50. Further, since the body portion51is located on the outside of the air-conditioning duct32, the harness coupling portion53is located on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the air-conditioning duct32. Herein, the heat sink52extends up to a position below the harness coupling portion53.

The harness coupling portion53is a portion where one end portion (located on the side of the electric-power convertor50) of a first harness35which couples the electricity-storage device43and the electric-power convertor50(DC/DC convertor) and one end portion (located on the side of the electric-power convertor50) of a second harness36which couples the battery44and the electric-power convertor50(DC/DC convertor) are coupled. These harnesses35,36pass below the dash panel5and a front-side portion of the front floor portion15a, come into the vehicle compartment via a through hole15d(seeFIG. 3) formed at a portion of front floor portion15awhich is located in front of the harness coupling portion53, and then reach an upper face of the harness coupling portion53. To each end portion of the first and second harnesses35,36is attached a coupling metal37having a bolt hole. A pair of bolts53awhich is formed to stand on the harness coupling portion53is inserted into the above-described bolt holes, and then nuts (not illustrated) are fastened to the bolts53. Thereby, the first and second harnesses35,36are electrically coupled to the DC/DC converter via the coupling metals37, bolts53a, and nuts. In the present embodiment, the supply of electricity from the electric-power convertor50to the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45is conducted via a third harness, not illustrated, which couples the second harness36, the battery44and the vehicle-on-board electric equipment45.

The harness coupling portion53is located on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50and the air-conditioning duct32, so that a coupling work of the first and second harnesses35,36to the harness coupling portion53can be conducted from the outside easily without being interrupted by the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50or the air-conditioning duct32.

The electricity-storage device43and the electric-power convertor50are arranged on the same side (on the left side in the present embodiment) relative to the center in the vehicle width direction, so that the first harness35can be shorter than another case in which they are arranged on the different sides. Likewise, since the battery44and the electric-power convertor50are arranged on the same side (left side) relative to the center in the vehicle width direction, so that the second harness36can be shorter than another case in which they are arranged on the different sides. Thereby, the length of the first and second harnesses35,36(the first harness35on the high-voltage side) can be short, the supply loss of the electric power can be restrained properly.

To the above-described two terminal portions54are coupled respective end portions (on the side of the electric-power convertor50) of two signal lines (not illustrated) which couple the electric-power convertor50(DC/DC convertor) to a controller, not illustrated, which is arranged in the engine room3and controls the electric-power convertor50. These signal lines come into the vehicle compartment via the above-described through hole15dand extend upward and are coupled to the terminal portions54.

The electric-power convertor50has a bracket57to support (attach) the electric-power convertor50on the floor panel15(front floor portion15a). The electric-power convertor50is supported at a portion of the floor panel15between of the front and rear cross members16,17via the bracket57.

The bracket57is fixed to an upper face of the heat sink52with four bolts61, covering over the upper face of the case51aof the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50. That is, the bracket57includes a cover portion57ato cover over an upper side of electric-power convertor50.

A front support portion57bis provided at a front side of the cover portion57aof the bracket57(at a front end portion of the bracket57). This front support portion57brises from the front end of the cover portion57aand is supported at (fixed to) the upper face of the front cross member16. A rear support portion57cis provided at a rear side of the cover portion57aof the bracket57(at a rear end portion of the bracket57). This rear support portion57cis supported at (fixed to) the floor panel15. In the present embodiment, the rear support portion57cis supported at the floor panel15via a support member58which is provided at a portion of the upper face of the floor panel15which is located in front of the rear cross member17and in back of the electric-power converter50. That is, the rear support portion57cis supported at (fixed to) an upper face of the support member58. Herein, the rear support portion57cmay be directly supported at (fixed to) the portion of the floor panel15, not via the support member58.

A projection portion57dwhich projects downward (seeFIG. 5) is formed at a lower face of the front support portion57b, and a dent is formed at a portion of an upper face of the front support portion57bwhich corresponds to the above-described projection portion57d. A lower face of the projection portion57dis fixed to the upper face of the front cross member16with a pair of bolt62and nut63(seeFIGS. 3 and 5). Herein, the projection portion57dcontacts a portion of the upper face of the front cross member16other than (in back of) the groove portion16b.

The upper face of the rear support portion57cand the upper face of the support member58are almost flat, and the rear support portion57cis fixed to the upper face of the support member58with two pairs of bolts64and nuts65(seeFIGS. 3 and 5) in a state in which the lower face of the rear support portion57ccontacts the upper face of the support member58.

At the projection portion57dof the front support portion57bare provided a front positioning portion57ewhich bends downward from the lower face of the projection portion57dand a bolt through-hole57fthrough which the bolt62extends (seeFIGS. 3 and 4), which may not be so clear from the drawings. At the rear support portion57care provided a rear positioning portion57gwhich bends downward from the lower face of the rear support portion57cand two bolt through-holes57hthrough which the bolts64extend (seeFIGS. 3 and 4). Meanwhile, at the upper face of the front cross member16are formed a front positioning hole to engage with the front positioning portion57eand a bolt through-hole through which the bolt62extends, and at the upper face of the support member58are formed a rear positioning hole to engage with the rear positioning portion57gand two bolt through-holes through which the bolts64extend, which are not illustrated in the drawings. When the bracket57attached to the electric-power convertor50is fixed to the front cross member16and the support member58, the front positioning portion57eand the rear positioning portion57gare made engage with the front positioning hole of the front cross member16and the rear positioning hole of the support member58respectively for achieving positioning of the bracket first. Thereby, respective positioning between the bolt through-hole57fof the front support portion57band the bolt through-hole of the front cross member16and between the two bolt through-holes57hof the rear support portion57cand the two bolt through-holes of the support member58are conducted. Consequently, a fastening work of the bolts62,64and the nuts63,65can be easy.

The front support portion57bis located at an inside portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the front end portion of the bracket57, and the rear support portion57cis located at an outside portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the rear end portion of the bracket57. The gravity center of the bracket57including the electric-power convertor50is located on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of a line which connects the center of the front support portion57band the center of the rear support portion57cin the plan view. Accordingly, when the positioning of the bracket57is conducted as described above in fixing the bracket57attached to the electric-power convertor50to the front cross member16and the support member58, the outside portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the bracket57slants downward and the lower face of the projection portion57drises away from the upper face of the front cross member16. Consequently, the fixing work may become difficult. Herein, according to the present embodiment, a slant-prevention portion57iis provided at the outside portion of the front end portion of the bracket57. This slant-prevention portion57iis formed to rise from the front end of the cover portion57aso that a lower face thereof can contact the upper face of the front cross member16, like the above-described front support portion57b. Thereby, the outside portion of the bracket57can be prevented from slanting by the contact of the lower face of the slant-prevention portion57iwith the upper face of the front cross member16. Consequently, it can be prevented that the lower face of the projection portion57drises away from the upper face of the front cross member16.

Since the bracket57is fixed to the upper face of the front cross member16and the upper face of the support member58as described above, the electric-power convertor50is supported on and away from the floor panel15(front floor portion15a). Thereby, there exists a gap between the heat sink52and the floor panel15(front floor portion15a), so that the heat radiation by the heat sink52can be conducted properly.

Further, since the heat sink52is arranged below the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50, in a case in which a lower portion of the vehicle is covered with water, it can be properly avoided that the case51aof the body portion51is located under the water. That is, in a case in which the heat sink52is arranged above the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50, since a space to radiate the heat above the heat sink52may become necessary, the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50may be located close to the upper face of the floor panel15. Accordingly, when the water level becomes slightly higher than the upper face of the floor panel15, the water may come into the case51a, so that there is a concern that the DC/DC convertor may receive damages. Therefore, it is preferable that the water be properly restrained from coming into the case51aeven in this case by the arrangement of the present embodiment.

The electric-power convertor50is supported on the floor panel15via the front cross member16and the support member15by using the bracket57in such a manner that the upper face of the electric-power convertor50(and the upper face of the bracket57) slants obliquely forward and upward. That is, the upper face of the front cross member16is located above the level of the upper face of the support member58, and the level of the bracket57rises toward the front cross member16from the support member58. Thus, the bracket57is supported on the floor panel15such that the cover portion57ahas the upper face (first and second slant faces57j,57kdescribed below) which slants obliquely forward and upward.

The above-described slant face in the present embodiment includes the first slant face57jwhich is located in front of the rear support portion57cand above the rear end portion of the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50(the case51a) and the second slant face57kwhich is located in front of the first slant face57jand above the other portion than the rear end portion of the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50(the case51a) (seeFIG. 5). The first slant face57jextends and slants obliquely forward and upward from the rising portion formed at the front portion of the rear support portion57c. The second slant face57kextends and slants obliquely forward and upward from a front end of the first slant face57j. The front support portion57brises from a front end of the second slant face57kand is located in front of the second slant face57k. A slant angle of the first slant face57jrelative to a horizontal line is greater than that of the second slant face57krelative to the horizontal line. A slant angle of the second slant face57krelative to the horizontal line is the same as that of the lower rail portion25arelative to the horizontal line. Herein, the above-described slant face may have only the second slant face57kwithout the first slant face57j.

Since the upper face of the cover portion57aof the bracket57has the first and second slant faces57j,57kas described above, the level of the rear side of the cover portion57ais low. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 5, even when the tip portion of the foot71of the passenger seated in the rear seat22comes into a space between the seat cushion21aof the front seat21and the floor panel15, it may not easily contact the cover portion57a. Further, when the front seat21is located at the foremost position in its sliding range, there is a high possibility that the tip portion of the foot71may contact the cover portion57a. Herein, in a case in which the tip portion of the foot71contacts the cover portion57a, it contacts the first slant face57jfirst and then is guided upward by this first slant face57j. Thus, the foot's tip portion may not easily contact the second slant face57k. Moreover, since the upper face of the rear cross member17slants obliquely forward and upward, the tip portion of the foot71is directed upward when the foot71is placed on the upper face of the rear cross member17. Thereby, it can be also avoided that the tip portion of the foot71contacts the cover portion57a.

Herein, while the second slant face57kis located above the level of an extension face of the upper face (which is a portion other than the rail fixing portion17aand slants forward and upward as described above) of the rear cross member17, the bracket57may be provided as shown inFIG. 7such that at least part of the above-described slant face (the second slant face57kinFIG. 7) is located on an extension of the upper face (which is the portion other than the rail fixing portion17aand slants forward and upward as described above) of the rear cross member17. In this structure, since the tip portion of the foot71placed on the upper face of the rear cross member17is directed almost along the slant face (the second slant face57k) located on the extension of the upper face of the rear cross member17, it can be further avoided that the tip portion of the foot contacts the cover portion57a. In this case, the first slant face57jcan be omitted in particular. Herein, while the level of the upper face (the portion other than the rail fixing portion17a) of the rear cross member17shown inFIG. 7is changed from that shown inFIG. 5, the level of the bracket57may be changed instead.

Herein, a whole part of the electric-power convertor50overlaps the seat cushion21aof the front seat21in a plan view when the front seat21slides forward and located at a foremost position in its sliding range (seeFIGS. 2 and 3). While the rear end of the seat cushion21aat the foremost position is located substantially at the same position, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, as the rear end of the rear support portion57cin the present embodiment, it may be preferable that the rear end of the seat cushion21aat the foremost position be located in back of the rear end of the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50.

The electric-power convertor50extends rearward up to a position in back of the outlet32aof the air-conditioning duct32below the seat cushion21aof the front seat21. That is, the rear end of the electric-power convertor50is located in back of the outlet32a. A rear end portion50aof the electric-power convertor50which is located in back of the outlet32ais formed in a notch shape such that its duct-side edge portion (its vehicle inside portion) extends obliquely rearward and in a specified direction (in a vehicle outside direction), in the vehicle width direction, away from the air-conditioning duct32. Respective portions of the body portion51(the case51a), the heat sink52and the bracket57which correspond to the above-described notch portion50aof the electric-power convertor50are formed in a triangle shape in the plan view. Thus, a face of the notch portion50aslants rearward and in an opposite direction to the air-conditioning duct (outward). This notch portion50afunctions so that the electric-power convertor50can be located outside a supply range of the conditioning air supplied from the outlet32a(a range illustrated with a slash mark inFIG. 3). Herein, while part of the rear support portion57cof the bracket57appears to overlap the above-described supply range of the conditioning air in the plan view, the rear support portion57cis actually located below the level of the supply range of the conditioning air because the conditioning-air flow rises upward and rearward, so that the electric-power convertor50is substantially located outside the supply range of the conditioning air.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electric-power convertor50emitting heat and the air-conditioning duct32are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, and the electric-power convertor50has the notch portion50aon the duct-side edge portion at its rear end portion located in back of the outlet32aof the air-conditioning duct32so that the electric-power convertor50is substantially located outside the supply range of the conditioning air. Accordingly, the conditioning air can be properly prevented from directly contact the electric-power convertor50(the body portion51), ensuring the large size of the electric-power convertor50(the body portion51) for the electricity-storage device43to store the sufficiently large amount of electricity. Thus, the conditioning air is not blocked with the electric-power convertor50. Further, since the heat emitted by the electric-power convertor50is radiated toward the lower side of the electric-power convertor50and the conditioning air does not contact the electric-power convertor50directly, the electric-power convertor50may not receive any damage from the conditioning air and the conditioning air may not receive any improper influence of the heat of the electric-power convertor50. Thus, the passenger seated in the rear seat22can be prevented from having any uncomfortable feelings and the reliability of the electric-power convertor50can be improved.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, the upper face of the cover portion57aof the bracket57supported on the upper faces of the front cross member16and the support member58has the first and second slant faces57j,57kwhich slant forward and upward, respectively. Accordingly, the level of the rear side of the cover portion57ais properly low, and even when the tip portion of the foot71of the passenger seated in the rear seat22comes into the space between the seat cushion21aof the front seat21and the floor panel15, it can be properly avoided that the tip portion of the foot71contacts the cover portion57a. Further, when the front seat21is located at the foremost position in its sliding range, there is a high possibility that the tip portion of the foot71may contact the cover portion57a. However, according to the present embodiment, in a case in which the tip portion of the foot71contacts the cover portion57a, it contacts the first slant face57jfirst and then is guided upward by this first slant face57j, so that the foot's tip portion may not easily contact the second slant face57k. Moreover, the rear side of the electric-power convertor50can be covered with the portion of the cover portion57ahaving the first slant face57j. Consequently, the electric-power convertor50can be protected from the contact of the foot of the passenger seated in the rear seat22. Also, the foot space of the passenger seated in the rear seat22may not be restricted improperly by the electric-power convertor50. Moreover, since the portion of the cover portion57ahaving the second slant face57ksubstantially covers over the electric-power convertor50, the size of the electric-power convertor50(the body portion51) for the electricity-storage device43to store the sufficiently large amount of electricity can be made properly large.

Further, the covering over the electric-power convertor50with the cover portion57aof the bracket57together with the downward heat radiation by the heat sink52can prevent the heat of the electric-power convertor50from being directed toward the passenger's foot71. Consequently, it can be properly prevented that the heat causes any uncomfortable feelings to the passenger.

The present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiment and modification, and any other further modifications or improvements may be applied within the scope of a sprit of the present invention.

For example, while the rear end of the electric-power convertor50of the above-described embodiment is located in back of the outlet32aof the air-conditioning duct32, it may be located substantially at the same position as the outlet32aor in front of the outlet32a. In this case, there is no need to form the notch portion50aat the electric-power convertor50. However, it is preferable in order to ensure the properly large size of the electric-power convertor50(the body portion51) that the rear end of the electric-power convertor50of the above-described embodiment be located in back of the outlet32aof the air-conditioning duct32like the above-described embodiment.

Also, while the electric-power convertor50of the present embodiment is arranged on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the air-conditioning duct32, it may be arranged on the inside, in the vehicle width direction, of the air-conditioning duct32instead. However, it is preferable in order to facilitate the coupling work of the first and second harnesses35,36that at least the harness coupling portion53of the electric-power convertor50be located on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the air-conditioning duct32(and the body portion51of the electric-power convertor50).

Further, while the two slant faces57j,57kare formed at the upper face of the cover portion57ain the present embodiment, a single slant face or three or more slant faces arranged longitudinally may be formed. In a case in which plural slant faces are formed, a horizontal face may be formed between them.

Also, while the example of the electric-power convertor50including the DC/DC convertor as an electric component emitting heat has been described above, the electric component should not limited to this. For example, the electricity-storage device43included the capacitor may be applied as an electric component emitting heat. Herein, the electricity-storage device43may include, in place of the capacitor, a rechargeable battery to store electricity (for example, Nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery, Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery, Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, Lead-acid battery). However, the capacitor may be preferable because it can achieve a prompt input/output of the electricity for the electricity-storage device43.

Moreover, while the vehicle of the present embodiment is a type of vehicle driven by an engine, an electric vehicle which has a motor disposed in the engine room3(may be called a motor room) and driven by this motor or a hybrid vehicle driven by both the engine and the motor may be applied. In these vehicles using the motor, it is necessary to provide a motor-driving battery (a power unit) and an inverter unit which includes an inverter to convert the direct-current electric power from the motor-driving battery to the alternating-current electric power for the motor. Herein, the motor-driving battery or the inverter unit may be arranged between the seat cushion21aof the front seat21and the floor panel15as an electric component emitting heat.