Harness mounting structure

A harness has a laterally extending portion disposed along a block rear surface of an engine and extending in a width direction of a vehicle within a predetermined height range in which a drive shaft is included. The engine has a projection disposed in at least one of a position above the laterally extending portion or a position below the laterally extending portion within the predetermined height range in a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, the projection projecting, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technique disclosed in this specification relates to a harness mounting structure for a wiring harness.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventionally known vehicle provided with an engine and a drive shaft extending in a vehicle width direction such that the drive shaft is disposed in a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle and passes a position where the drive shaft overlaps with the engine when viewed from the rear of the vehicle has a harness mounting structure in which a part of wiring harnesses provided in the vehicle is disposed along at least a surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle.

For example, Patent Document 1 shows a configuration in which an oil level sensor is provided at a bottom of an oil pan provided at a lower end of an engine, a wiring harness is disposed so as to extend from the oil level sensor along a surface, of the oil pan, toward the rear of the vehicle, and the harness is covered with a protective member.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

When the harness is disposed along a surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, a portion of the harness comes close to the drive shaft.

Under a severely cold environment, snow or the like may adhere to the drive shaft during the running of the vehicle, and during parking of the vehicle, icicle-shaped ice may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft due to the snow or the like.

When the vehicle is started in a state in which icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft, the ice is rotated integrally with the drive shaft, and is brought into contact with a part of the harness. This may cause damage to the harness.

In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a harness disposed along a surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle is covered with a protective member, thereby substantially preventing damage to the harness due to the ice.

However, since the harness is disposed in such a way as to avoid parts disposed around the harness, the layout of the harness may be complicated. When the layout of the harness becomes complicated, the shape of the protective member needs to be complicated in accordance with the layout of the harness. Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture the protective member itself, and the cost for manufacturing the protective member becomes high.

The technique disclosed in this specification is conceived in view of the above problems, and attempts to provide a technique of protecting a harness from ice formed on an outer peripheral surface of a drive shaft without providing a protective member for protecting the harness.

Solution to the Problem

In order to solve the above problems, the technique disclosed in this specification is directed to a harness mounting structure which is provided with an engine mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle, a drive shaft extending in a vehicle width direction such that the drive shaft is disposed in a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle in the engine compartment and passes a position where the drive shaft overlaps with the engine when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and a harness disposed along at least a surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, the harness mounting structure comprising: a laterally extending portion provided to the harness and disposed along the surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, and extending in the vehicle width direction within a predetermined height range in which the drive shaft is included; and a projection disposed in at least one of a position above the laterally extending portion or a position below the laterally extending portion within the predetermined height range in a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, and projecting, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion.

According to this configuration, since the laterally extending portion of the harness and the projection projecting, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion within the predetermined height range the drive shaft is included. Thus, even if ice, particularly, icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft during parking of the vehicle, the ice can be brought into contact with the projection and broken so as not to come into contact with the laterally extending portion of the harness. Specifically, in a situation where the projection is provided above the laterally extending portion, if the vehicle is to be started forward, the vehicle may be moved forward as it is, and if the vehicle is to be started backward, the vehicle may be once moved forward and then, may be moved backward. Because of such operations, the ice can be broken by the projection so as not to come into contact with the harness, and then, the vehicle can be started forward and backward. On the other hand, in a situation where the projection is provided below the laterally extending portion, if the vehicle is to be started forward, the vehicle may be once retreated, and then, may be moved forward, and if the vehicle is to be started backward, the vehicle may be moved backward as it is. Because of such operations, the ice is broken by the projection so as not to come into contact with the harness, and then, the vehicle can be started forward and backward. As a result, it is possible to protect the harness from the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft without providing a protective member for protecting the harness.

In the harness mounting structure, it is preferable that when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the laterally extending portion is disposed so as to substantially entirely overlap with the drive shaft.

According to this configuration, it is possible to downsize the harness mounting structure around the drive shaft.

In one embodiment of the harness attachment structure, the engine is a transverse engine, a transmission is disposed adjacent to one end of the engine in the vehicle width direction, in the vehicle width direction, the drive shaft has a first portion and a second portion in the vehicle width direction in this order from the transmission toward the engine, the second portion having a larger diameter than the first portion, in the vehicle width direction, the harness has an upwardly extending portion disposed closer to the transmission than the laterally extending portion, and extending upwardly from a position below the laterally extending portion along the surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, and in the vehicle width direction, the upwardly extending portion is disposed closer to the transmission than the second portion is.

In other words, if one end of the harness is positioned below the laterally extending portion, the harness has an upwardly extending portion extending upward from a position below the laterally extending portion, so that the upwardly extending portion needs to be protected from the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft. Therefore, the upwardly extending portion is disposed closer to the transmission than the second portion is in the vehicle width direction. Thus, the portion, of the upwardly extending portion, adjacent to the drive shaft overlaps with the first portion having a relatively small diameter when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. As a result, since the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft and the upwardly extending portion is sufficiently secured, it is possible to prevent the upwardly extending portion from being damaged by the ice.

In the harness mounting structure in which the harness has an upwardly extending portion, a drive shaft support rotatably supporting the drive shaft is disposed in a portion, of the first portion, adjacent to a connection portion between the first portion and the second portion, the drive shaft support is mounted on the surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, and a space through which the upwardly extending portion passes is formed between the drive shaft support and the surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle.

According to this configuration, the upwardly extending portion passes through the space formed in the drive shaft support near the drive shaft, and therefore, a portion, of the upwardly extending portion, adjacent to the drive shaft is protected by the drive shaft support. As a result, it is possible to further protect the harness from the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft.

In the harness mounting structure, it is preferable that the projection includes an upper projection provided above the laterally extending portion and a lower projection provided below the laterally extending portion within the predetermined height range, a harness clip is provided between the upper projection and the lower projection, and fixes the laterally extending portion to a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, and the harness clip is disposed in a portion, of a gap between the upper projection and the lower projection, adjacent to one of the upper projection or the lower projection.

According to this configuration, the upper projection is formed above the laterally extending portion, whereas the lower projection is formed below the laterally extending portion. Therefore, in both cases of forward starting and backward starting of the vehicle, if the vehicle is started as it is, the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft can be destroyed.

In addition, in the portion where the harness clip is provided, the harness clip has a role like a protective member, so that it is possible to further substantially prevent the harness from being damaged.

In the harness mounting structure in which the harness clip is provided between the upper projection and the lower projection, it is preferable that an attachment portion is provided adjacent to the upper projection or the lower projection in a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, and fixes the harness clip to the portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, the harness clip has an insertion portion inserted into an insertion hole formed in the attachment portion, and the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion hole toward the projection closer to the attachment portion.

For example, if the harness clip is disposed adjacent to the upper projection, the harness clip is inserted into the insertion hole of the attachment portion toward the upper projection. Here, it is assumed that ice is formed on a portion, of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft, adjacent to the engine within a height range between the harness clip and the lower projection. In this case, when the vehicle is moved backward, the drive shaft rotates in a direction in which the ice approaches the harness clip, but even if the ice is brought into contact with the harness clip, the harness (laterally extending portion) is protected by the harness clip. Further, since a load is applied to the harness clip in a direction in which the harness clip is inserted into the attachment portion, the harness clip does not come off from the attachment portion of the harness clip. Further, even if ice is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft within a height range between the harness clip and the upper projection, the upper projection prevents the ice from growing to the extent that the ice reaches the harness, so that the ice formed in the portion does not damage the harness.

Also, if the harness clip is positioned adjacent to the lower projection, the harness clip is inserted into the insertion hole of the attachment portion toward the lower projection. Here, it is assumed that ice is formed on the portion, of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft, adjacent to the engine, within the height range between the harness clip and the upper projection. In this case, when the vehicle moves forward, the drive shaft rotates in a direction in which the ice approaches the harness clip, but even if the ice comes into contact with the harness clip, the harness is protected by the harness clip. Further, since a load is applied to the harness clip in a direction in which the harness clip is inserted into the attachment portion, the harness clip does not come off from the attachment portion of the harness clip. Further, even if ice is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft in within the height range between the harness clip and the lower projection, the lower projection prevents the ice from growing to the extent that the ice reaches the harness, and thus the ice formed in the portion does not damage the harness.

In the harness mounting structure, it is preferable that the engine includes an exhaust passage having a specific passage extending along the surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle, a lower end of the specific passage of the exhaust passage is positioned above the laterally extending portion, and the projection is provided in at least a position below the lower end of the specific passage of the exhaust passage and above the laterally extending portion.

In other words, it is desirable to protect the harness not only from the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft but also from the radiant heat from the exhaust passage. If the projection is provided in a position below the lower end of a specific portion of the exhaust passage and above the laterally extending portion, the projection functions as a heat insulating portion that blocks the radiant heat from the exhaust passage toward the harness. Thus, it is possible to protect the harness not only from the ice but also from the heat radiated from the exhaust passage.

In the harness attachment structure, it is preferable that a length of the projection in a vehicle longitudinal direction is set such that, in a situation where a circle circumscribing a portion, of the laterally extending portion of the harness, toward the rear of the vehicle is drawn around an axial center of the driving shaft as a center when viewed from an axial direction of the drive shaft, an end, of the projection, toward the rear of the vehicle is positioned inside the circle.

According to this configuration, it is possible to more reliably prevent the ice from coming into contact with the laterally extending portion of the harness.

Advantages of the Invention

As described above, according to the technology disclosed herein, the engine is provided with the projection projecting, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion, and disposed in at least one of a position above the laterally extending portion of the harness or a position below the laterally extending portion of the harness within the predetermined height range in which the drive shaft is included. Therefore, even if ice, in particular, icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft during parking of the vehicle, the ice can be brought into contact with the projection and can be broken when the vehicle is to be started forward or backward from a parked state. The vehicle can be started with the ice not coming into contact with the harness. Thus, it is possible to protect the harness from the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft without providing a protective member for protecting the harness.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1shows an engine1to which a harness mounting structure according to an embodiment is applied. This engine1is laterally disposed in an engine compartment such as an automobile so that the cylinder bank direction coincides with the vehicle width direction (the lateral direction inFIG. 1). That is to say, the engine1is a transverse engine.

The engine1is comprised of a cylinder head2, a cylinder block3, and an oil pan4which are arranged vertically in this order and coupled together. In the following description, a side adjacent to the cylinder head2will be referred to as “upper side,” and a side adjacent to the oil pan4will be referred to as “lower side.”

A plurality of cylinders (not illustrated) are arranged in series in an upper portion of the cylinder block3so as to form a cylinder row. A crankshaft6(seeFIG. 5) extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed in a lower portion of the cylinder block3.

The cylinder head2is provided with, for each cylinder, an intake port (not illustrated) for introducing fresh air into a combustion chamber in each cylinder, and an exhaust port (not illustrated) for discharging exhaust gas from the combustion chamber. The cylinder head2is also provided with an inlet (not illustrated) and an outlet (not illustrated) for allowing the intake and exhaust ports to face the combustion chamber.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the oil pan4is connected to a lower end of the cylinder block3using a plurality of bolts30. A block-side mounting flange7is circumferentially formed on the entire lower end of the cylinder block3, and an oil-pan-side mounting flange8is circumferentially formed on the entire upper end of the oil pan4. In the oil pan4, the oil pan4is connected to the lower end of the cylinder block3by fastening the plurality of bolts30with the mounting flanges7and8in contact with each other such that the block-side mounting flange7is located above the oil-pan-side mounting flange8.

The oil pan4stores oil which is supplied to, e.g., a bearing metal (not illustrated) of the crankshaft6. Although not illustrated, an oil pump is disposed in the lower portion of the cylinder block3to supply oil to each component of the engine1. An oil level sensor101for detecting a residual amount of oil in the oil pan4is disposed on the bottom of the oil pan4(hereinafter, referred to as an oil pan bottom4a).

As illustrated inFIG. 1, an exhaust passage50for discharging exhaust gas discharged from each of the cylinders of the engine1to the outside of the vehicle is disposed in a portion, of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle. The exhaust passage50includes an exhaust manifold (not illustrated), a turbocharger51, a direct catalyst52, and a downstream exhaust pipe56arranged in this order from the upstream side of the flow of the exhaust gas.

The exhaust manifold is an opening that opens on the surface, of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle, and is connected to an opening of the exhaust port of the cylinder head2away from the combustion chamber. Although not illustrated in the figure, the exhaust manifold has a plurality of exhaust branch pipes respectively corresponding to the plurality of cylinders of the engine1, and is formed so that the plurality of exhaust branch pipes converge into one concentrate pipe in the downstream side of the flow of the exhaust gas. The turbocharger51and the direct catalyst52are connected in this order from the upstream side of the flow of the exhaust gas to the concentrate pipe of the exhaust manifold. The turbocharger51is provided with a turbine rotated and driven by exhaust gas to rotate and drive a compressor provided in an intake passage. The direct catalyst52serves as an exhaust gas purifier for purifying exhaust gas. Each of the exhaust branch pipes corresponding to the plurality of cylinders is connected to the opening of the exhaust port away from the combustion chamber, thereby communicating with each of the cylinders.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the direct catalyst52is disposed in a portion, of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle so that a gas flow path in the case53substantially extends in the vertical direction. A bracket70is attached using a bolt31(seeFIG. 5) to the lower end of one side of the direct catalyst52(case53) in the vehicle width direction (the side away from the transmission10, which will be described later). The bracket70is fixed to a fixing member54using a bolt32. A portion, of the direct catalyst52, extending along the block rear surface3aconstitutes a specific passage59of the exhaust passage50.

The direct catalyst52is formed by disposing an exhaust purification catalyst in a gas passage in a substantially cylindrical case53. The case53has a tubular (in this embodiment, cylindrical) catalyst arrangement portion53ain which the exhaust purification catalyst is disposed, and an upstream member53band a downstream member53cthat cover the openings on the upstream and downstream sides of the flow of the exhaust gas in the catalyst arrangement portion53a. The exhaust purification catalyst is a three-way catalyst, and is particularly intended to purify HC and CO when the engine1is in a cold state.

The downstream exhaust pipe56is connected to the downstream member53cof the case53in the direct catalyst52. The downstream exhaust pipe56is disposed so as to extend from a portion connected to the direct catalyst52(an upstream end of the downstream exhaust pipe56) toward a tunnel opening formed at a center portion of a lower end of a dash panel (not illustrated) in the vehicle width direction. The downstream exhaust pipe56is comprised of a plurality of separate pipes disposed in the longitudinal direction thereof. InFIG. 1, only the divided pipe in the most upstream portion located in the engine compartment is shown, and the description of the other divided pipes is omitted.

A transmission10is coupled to one side of the engine1in the vehicle width direction (in this embodiment, the left side of the vehicle (the left side ofFIG. 1)). The engine1and the transmission10constitute a power plant. This transmission10is an automatic transmission, and has a transmission case in which a transmission mechanism is provided. The transmission10is laterally disposed in which input and output shafts, which are not illustrated, extend in the vehicle width direction. The input shaft is coupled to the crankshaft6of the engine1, and the output shaft is coupled to a differential gear13disposed in a side, of the transmission10, toward the rear of the vehicle.

From the differential gear13, a drive shaft20for driving the right and left wheels of the vehicle extends along both sides of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

A portion, of the drive shaft20, extending from the differential gear13toward the right wheel has, in the vehicle width direction (i.e., a direction from the differential gear13toward the engine1), a first shaft (a first portion)21, a ball joint22(a second portion) having a larger diameter than the first shaft21, and a second shaft23connected to the first shaft21through the ball joint22. The second shaft23is connected to the right wheel. The portion, of the first shaft21, connected to the ball joint22has a diameter larger than the other portions of the first shaft21and smaller than the ball joint22.

The drive shaft20is rotatably supported by the engine1via a drive shaft support24in a portion, of the first shaft21, adjacent to a connection portion between the first shaft21and the ball joint22. The drive shaft support24includes first and second supports25and26. The first support25is fixed to a lower surface, of the cylinder block3of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a “block rear surface3a”) using a bolt33. The second support26is fixed to a portion, of the first support25, toward the rear of the vehicle using a bolt34.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the first support25has a substantially triangular shape such that the width thereof decreases in the vehicle width direction toward the upper side when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. A portion corresponding to each apex of the triangular shape is attached and fixed to a lower portion of the cylinder block3using the bolt33. (InFIG. 1, the upper end of the first support25is not seen since it overlaps with the direct catalyst52. InFIG. 3, the upper end of the first support25is not seen since it overlaps with the first shaft21). In a surface, of the first support25, toward the rear of the vehicle, the center portion in the vertical direction is recessed to have a semicircular shape from the rear of the vehicle toward the engine1when viewed from the axial direction of the drive shaft20so as to be adapted to the outer peripheral shape of the first shaft21of the drive shaft20. Further, the first support25is integrally formed with the fixing member54at an upper end thereof (seeFIG. 4).

The second support26is formed by bending a plate member in a semicircular shape to have a curve so as to conform to an outer peripheral shape of the first shaft21of the drive shaft20, and is disposed so that the curve is positioned on a portion, of the first shaft21, toward the rear of the vehicle. The second support26is fixed to the first support25by attaching the upper and lower ends thereof to the first support25via the bolt34.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the first shaft21is sandwiched between the first support25and the second support26, and is supported by the drive shaft support24. Further, a sliding member (not illustrated) is disposed on a portion, of the first support25, toward the rear of the vehicle, and a sliding member (not illustrated) is disposed on a portion, of the second support26, adjacent to the drive shaft20. When the first shaft21is disposed between the first and second supports25and26, each of the slide members is brought into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the first shaft21. As will be described in detail later, a space25a(seeFIG. 3) through which a harness40extending from the oil level sensor101passes is formed between the first support25and the block rear surface3a.

The drive shaft20is supported by the engine1via the drive shaft support24. Thus, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the drive shaft20passes a position where the drive shaft20overlaps with the engine1when viewed from the rear of the vehicle to extend in the vehicle width direction.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the oil level sensor101is attached to the oil pan bottom4a. The oil level sensor101is an optical sensor, and as illustrated inFIG. 1, it has a plate-like mounting portion101aand a detecting portion101bwhich is inserted into the oil pan4. The oil pan bottom4ais provided with a mounting hole (not illustrated) for mounting the oil level sensor101. A detection portion101bof the oil level sensor101is inserted into the oil pan4through the mounting hole. The mounting portion101ais fixed to the oil pan bottom4aof the oil pan4using a plurality of bolts35(three bolts in this embodiment, seeFIG. 2) with the detection portion101bbeing inserted into the mounting hole. An ultrasonic sensor may be used as the oil level sensor101.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the harness40extends from the oil level sensor101to output an electric signal relating to a detection result of the oil level sensor101to a control unit100. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the harness40extends from the oil pan bottom4aalong the surface, of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle, and is connected to a control unit100provided above the engine1.

Here, a mounting structure of the harness40with respect to the engine1will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 6.

First, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the harness40extends diagonally from the oil level sensor101along the oil pan bottom4aso as to be away from the transmission10and toward the rear of the vehicle when viewed from below. Then, it is bent upward at a corner between the oil pan bottom4aand the surface, of the oil pan4, toward the rear of the vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as an oil pan rear surface4b) so as to be along the corner, and extends upward along the oil pan rear surface4b, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Next, the harness40extends upward along the oil pan rear surface4b, and then extends upward along the block rear surface3a. Then, the harness40is bent so as to be away from the transmission10within a predetermined height range in which the drive shaft20is included, in particular, within a height range in which the harness40overlaps with the drive shaft20, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and extends in the vehicle width direction so as to be away from the transmission10along the block rear surface3a. Then, the harness40is bent upward in the vicinity of an end, of the block rear surface3a, away from the transmission10, and extends upward. Thereafter, the harness40is collected together with another harness140extending from another sensor or the like, and they extend to a control unit100provided above the engine1.

The harness40is attached to the engine1via a plurality of harness clips60, so as to extend as described above. In the following description, in the harness40, the portion behind a point in which the harness40is bent upward at the corner between the oil pan bottom4aand the oil pan rear surface4bso as to be along the corner and extends upward and before a point in which the harness40is bent on the block rear surface3aso as to be away from the transmission10is referred to as an upwardly extending portion42. Also, in the harness40, the portion behind the point in which the harness40is bent on the block rear surface3aso as to be away from the transmission10and before a point in which the harness40is bent upward in the vicinity of the end, of the block rear surface3a, away from the transmission10and extends upward is referred to as a laterally extending portion41. In other words, the upwardly extending portion42is disposed so as to extend upwardly from a position below the laterally extending portion41along the surface, of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle (i.e., the oil pan rear surface4band the block rear surface3a).

As illustrated inFIG. 1, in the vehicle width direction, the upwardly extending portion42is disposed in a position closer to the transmission10than the ball joint22is. More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the upwardly extending portion42is disposed so as to be entirely included in the range of the first support25in the vehicle width direction. As illustrated inFIG. 3, a space25ais formed between the first support25and the block rear surface3a, and a portion, of the upwardly extending portion42, extending along the block rear surface3apasses through the space25a. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in the space25a, the harness40is bent so as to be away from the transmission10within a predetermined height range in which the drive shaft20overlaps with the first shaft21when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, specifically, at a position near the upper end of the first shaft21, thereby forming the laterally extending portion41. The space25ahas a size and shape enough to allow for passage of a portion, of the upwardly extending portion42, extending along the block rear surface3a, a part of a bent portion between the upwardly extending portion42and the laterally extending portion41, and a part of the laterally extending portion41.

In this embodiment, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the laterally extending portion41is disposed so as to entirely overlap with the drive shaft20. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the laterally extending portion41is disposed such that the portion, of the laterally extending portion41, which passes through the space25aoverlaps with the first shaft21when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and a portion, of the laterally extending portion41, extending beyond the space25aoverlaps with the ball joint22when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The laterally extending portion41does not necessarily have to entirely overlap with the drive shaft20when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. For example, the upper end of the laterally extending portion41does not have to overlap with the drive shaft20in the connection portion between the first shaft21and the ball joint22when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the laterally extending portion41is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the drive shaft20in a vehicle longitudinal direction. As a result, as described above, even if the laterally extending portion41is disposed within the height range in which the laterally extending portion41overlaps with the drive shaft20when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the laterally extending portion41and the drive shaft20do not interfere with each other, so that the harness40is not damaged by the drive shaft20itself.

However, when the vehicle travels on a snowy road, snow enters the engine compartment from the left and right wheels, and snow or the like may adhere to the drive shaft20. During parking of the vehicle, the ice or the like may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20due to the snow or the like. Particularly, if the vehicle is started from a parked state in a situation where icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20, the ice may be rotated around an axis of the drive shaft20integrally with the drive shaft20, so that the ice comes into contact with the harness40, and thus, the harness40may be damaged by the ice.

The upwardly extending portion42of the harness40is arranged so that the upwardly extending portion42in the vehicle width direction is entirely included in the range of the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft support24(strictly speaking, the first support25). Snow or the like is less likely to adhere to the portion, of the drive shaft20, which is covered with the drive shaft support24, and ice is unlikely to be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion, so that the upwardly extending portion42is less likely to be damaged by the ice. Further, a portion, of the upwardly extending portion42, adjacent to the drive shaft20is disposed closer to the transmission10than the ball joint22is, such that the portion overlaps with the first shaft21when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The diameter of the first shaft21is smaller than that of the ball joint22, so that a distance between the upwardly extending portion42and the drive shaft20is sufficiently provided. Therefore, the ice is less likely to come into contact with the upwardly extending portion42.

On the other hand, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the laterally extending portion41is disposed so as to overlap with the ball joint22of the drive shaft20. The diameter of the ball joint22is larger than that of the first shaft21, such that the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint22is closer to the laterally extending portion41than the outer peripheral surface of the first shaft21is. Therefore, when icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint22, the ice is rotated around the axis of the drive shaft20integrally with the drive shaft20(the ball joint22), and comes into contact with the laterally extending portion41, so that the laterally extending portion41of the harness40is likely to be damaged by the ice.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the engine1is provided with projections80disposed above and below the laterally extending portion41within the predetermined height range in which the drive shaft20is included and projecting, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion41.

Specifically, as the projections80, an upper projection81is provided above the laterally extending portion41, and a lower projection82is provided below the laterally extending portion41. More specifically, the upper projection81is positioned at the height between the upper end of the first support25and the upper end of the second support26(seeFIGS. 3 and 4), whereas the lower projection82is positioned at the same height as the portion, of the lower end of the cylinder block3, toward the rear of the vehicle.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the upper projection81is comprised of the fixing member54which fixes the case53of the direct catalyst52to the engine1, and a part of the bracket70which is fixed to the fixing member54. That is to say, the fixing member54is formed so as to project from the block rear surface3aof the engine1toward the rear of the vehicle (strictly, to project slightly downward toward the rear of the vehicle), and the bracket70is attached to an end, of the fixing member54, toward the rear of the vehicle. Thus, the upper projection81is formed above the laterally extending portion41so as to project, from the block rear surface3atoward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion41.

On the other hand, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the lower projection82is the block-side mounting flange7. In other words, the block-side mounting flange7is formed so as to project, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion41, thereby forming the lower projection82.

As described above, the upper and lower projections81and82are respectively formed above and below the laterally extending portion41. Therefore, even if icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20, in particular, the ball joint22during the parking of the vehicle, the ice is broken by abutting against the upper projection81or the lower projection82when the ice is rotated integrally with the drive shaft20at the time of starting the vehicle. Thus, the ice is less likely to come into contact with the laterally extending portion41between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, thereby making it possible to protect the laterally extending portion41of the harness40. Further, since the upper and lower projections81and82are respectively formed above and the laterally extending portion41to protect the laterally extending portion41of the harness40, it is not necessary to provide a protective member for protecting the laterally extending portion41of the harness40from the ice. This can also reduce the manufacturing cost of the engine1. Furthermore, the projections80are provided above and below the laterally extending portion41, so that the ice can be destroyed before the ice reaches the position of the laterally extending portion41in both cases of forward starting and backward starting of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle can be started without damaging the laterally extending portion41of the harness40due to the ice.

The length of the upper projection81and the length of the lower projection82in the vehicle longitudinal direction are set to be so long as to reliably allow the icicle-shaped ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint22to come into contact with the upper projection81or the lower projection82and to be destroyed. Specifically, in a situation where a circle C circumscribing a portion, of the laterally extending portion41, toward the rear of the vehicle is drawn around an axial center of the drive shaft20as a center when the drive shaft20is viewed from an axial direction thereof, an end, of the upper projection81, toward the rear of the vehicle, and an end, of the lower projection82, toward the rear of the vehicle are set so as to be positioned inside the circle C. Also, a predetermined height range in which the upper and lower projections81and82are provided is set to a height range in which the end, of the upper projection81, toward the rear of the vehicle, and the end, of the lower projection82, toward the rear of the vehicle are positioned inside the circle C.

In this embodiment, the center portion of the laterally extending portion41in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the engine1by one of harness clips60(hereinafter referred to as “a specific harness clips61”) such that the entire laterally extending portion41is disposed in a portion, of the gap between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, adjacent to the upper projection81.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 6, a bracket71(attachment portion) is disposed on a portion, of the block rear surface3a, adjacent to the upper projection81and between the upper projection81and the lower projection82. The specific harness clip61is attached, and fixed, to the bracket71. The specific harness clip61has a cover61acovering the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the laterally extending portion41, and an attachment portion61bto be attached to the bracket71. The attachment portion61bhas an insertion portion61cprotruding upward and a claw portion61ddisposed at an intermediate portion of the insertion portion61cin the vertical direction and extending from the insertion portion61cin the vehicle width direction. The bracket71is provided with an insertion hole71ainto which the insertion portion61cof the attachment portion61bis inserted, and as illustrated inFIG. 6, the insertion portion61cis inserted into the insertion hole61afrom the lower side toward the upper side, i.e., toward the upper projection81. In a state in which the insertion portion61cis inserted into the insertion hole71a, the claw portion61dis caught by the bracket71, and the claw portion61dis hooked on the bracket71, so that the specific harness clip61is attached to the bracket71so as not to fall off from the bracket71. As a result, the specific harness clip61is disposed in the portion, of the gap between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, adjacent to the upper projection81, and the whole of the laterally extending portion41is disposed in a portion, of the gap between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, adjacent to the upper projection81.

As described above, since the whole of the laterally extending portion41is disposed in the portion, of the gap between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, adjacent to the upper projection81, the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the ball joint22and the laterally extending portion41can be increased, compared with a case where the laterally extending portion41is disposed in the vertically center portion between the upper projection81and the lower projection82. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the icicle-shaped ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ball shaft22from coming into contact with the laterally extending portion41. Further, even if icicle-shaped ice is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20within a height range between the specific harness clip61and the upper projection81, the upper projection81prevents the ice from growing to the extent that the ice reaches the laterally extending portion41, so that the ice does not damage the laterally extending portion41.

The portion, of the laterally extending portion41, which is provided with the specific harness clip61is covered by the cover61a, and the specific harness clip61is attached to the bracket71by being inserted into the bracket71from below toward the upper projection81. For example, in a situation where icicle-shaped ice is formed in a portion, of an outer peripheral surface of the ball joint22, adjacent to the engine1and within a height range between the specific harness clip61and the lower projection82, when the vehicle moves backward, the drive shaft20is rotated in a direction in which the ice approaches the specific harness clip61. However, even if the ice is brought into contact with the specific harness clip61, the laterally extending portion41(i.e., the harness40) is protected by the specific harness clip61. Further, since a load is applied to the specific harness clip61in a direction in which the specific harness61is to be inserted into the bracket71(upwardly in this embodiment), the specific harness clip61does not come off from the bracket71. Further, when the drive shaft20is rotated in a direction away from the specific harness clip61, the laterally extending portion41can be protected from the ice because the ice comes into contact with the lower projection82and is destroyed.

Further, in this embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the upper projection81is disposed below the lower end of the specific passage59of the exhaust passage50and above the laterally extending portion41, i.e., between the lower end of the specific passage59and the laterally extending portion41. In other words, since the harness40transmits an electric signal from the oil level sensor101(seeFIGS. 1 and 2) to the control unit100, it is desirable not only to protect the harness40from the ice formed on the outer surface of the drive shaft20but also to protect it from the radiant heat from the exhaust passage50, in order to prevent noise from occurring in the electric signal. If the upper projection81is disposed between the lower end of the specific passage59and the laterally extending portion41, the upper projection81functions as a heat insulating portion that blocks the radiant heat from the specific passage59toward the laterally extending portion41. Thus, the laterally extending portion41of the harness40can be protected not only from the ice but also from the radiation heat from the exhaust passage50. In addition, a portion, of the laterally extending portion41, overlapping with the first shaft21when viewed from the rear of the vehicle and a part of the upwardly extending portion42are disposed in the space25aformed in the first support25, so that the first support25functions as a heat insulating portion that blocks the radiation heat from the specific passage59. Thus, it is possible to more reliably protect the harness40from radiation heat from the exhaust passage50.

According to this embodiment, the harness40extending from the oil level sensor101disposed in the oil pan bottom4ahas the laterally extending portion41disposed along the surface, of the engine1, toward the rear of the vehicle, and extending in the axial direction of the drive shaft20within the predetermined height range in which the drive shaft20is included. Further, the engine1is provided with the upper projection81and the lower projection82which project, toward the rear of the vehicle, further than the laterally extending portion41, and which are respectively disposed above and below the laterally extending portion41. For this reason, in a situation where when the vehicle is moved forward or backward from the parking state and breaking the ice, even if ice, especially, icicle-shaped ice is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20during parking of the vehicle, the ice can be brought into contact with the upper projection81or the lower projection82to be broken so as not to come into contact with the harness40, and then, the vehicle can be started. As a result, it is possible to protect the harness40from the ice formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20without providing a protective member for protecting the harness40from the ice.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above. Any change can be made within the scope of the claims as appropriate.

For example, in the above embodiment, the two projections, namely, the upper projection81and the lower projection82, are provided as the projections80. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and only one of the upper projection81or the lower projection82may be provided. In this case, for example, in a situation where only the upper projection81is provided, if the vehicle is to be started forward, the vehicle may be moved forward as it is, and if the vehicle is to be started backward, the vehicle may be once moved forward and then, may be moved backward. Because of such operations, even if the icicle-shaped ice is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft20, the ice can be broken by the upper projection81so as not to come into contact with the harness40, and then, the vehicle can be started. On the other hand, in a situation where only the lower projection82is provided, if the vehicle is to be started forward, the vehicle may be once retreated, and then, may be moved forward, and if the vehicle is to be started backward, the vehicle may be moved backward as it is. Because of such operations, the ice is broken by the lower projection82so as not to come into contact with the harness40, and then, the vehicle can be started.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the bracket71is disposed in the portion, of the gap between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, adjacent to the upper projection81, and the harness clip61is inserted into the bracket71from below toward the upper projection81. Alternatively, the bracket71may be disposed in the portion, of the gap between the upper projection81and the lower projection82, adjacent to the lower projection82, and the specific harness clip61may be inserted into the bracket71from above toward the lower projection82.

Further, in the above embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the upper projection81is comprised of the fixing member54and a part of the bracket70fixed to the fixing member54, and the lower projection82is comprised of the block-side mounting flange7. Alternatively, for example, the upper projection81may be comprised of the first support25of the drive shaft support24, or the lower projection82may be comprised of another member which is different from the elements of the engine1.

The foregoing embodiments are merely preferred examples in nature, and the scope of the technique disclosed in this specification should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and all variations and modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The technique disclosed in this specification is useful as a harness mounting structure including an engine mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle, a drive shaft extending in a vehicle width direction such that the drive shaft is disposed in a portion, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle in the engine compartment and passes a position where the drive shaft overlaps with the engine when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and a harness disposed along a surface, of the engine, toward the rear of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS