MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A FUSE BOX LOCATED IN A REAR COMPARTMENT

Abstract

Motor vehicle equipped with boxes containing fuses for the on-board power supply, comprising in the passenger compartment a rear shelf (16) located between seats (2) and a rear window of the vehicle, this shelf (16) comprising a hatch equipped with a cover (18) covering the fuse boxes located in a rear compartment of the vehicle (6), which in an open position provides access to the fuses.

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application No. 1913585 filed on 02.12.2019, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a fuse box, as well as a method for changing a fuse in this type of vehicle.

[0003] Motor vehicles typically have a fuse box containing a series of fuses placed between a power supply and the vehicle's electrical system to provide protection, particularly against short circuits. The fuse box may also contain other electrical components, such as relays, that require protection.

[0004] One type of known fuse box, shown in particular by document FR-A1-2681756, has a hatch located on the floor next to the pedals, including a cover with an angle adapted to also provide the function of the footrest to the left of these pedals.

[0005] This method utilizes space within the passenger compartment, potentially allowing for the power supply of electrical equipment located at the rear of the vehicle, such as the taillights. The access panel in the floor provides easy access to the fuse box for fuse replacement, a task that should be simple and easy for anyone to perform.

[0006] Generally, the fuse box is placed in an area protected from moisture, to preserve electrical contacts and prevent failures.

[0007] However, for some electric or hybrid vehicles, which have a battery in a compartment at the rear of the vehicle to power an electric traction machine, the fuse box can be placed in this compartment in order to reduce the length of the electrical cables connecting this battery and the fuses.

[0008] In this case, depending on the layout in the rear compartment, access to the fuse box may be difficult, making fuse replacement operations tricky.

[0009] The present invention is specifically designed to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0010] For this purpose, it proposes a motor vehicle equipped with boxes containing fuses for the on-board power supply, remarkable in that it includes in the passenger compartment a rear shelf located between the seats and a rear window of the vehicle, this shelf including a hatch equipped with a cover covering the fuse boxes located in a rear compartment of the vehicle, which in an open position gives access to the fuses.

[0011] One advantage of this vehicle is that the fuse boxes can be placed in the upper part of the rear compartment, in an environment that is as protected as possible from humidity and water spray to ensure their longevity, while preserving easy access to the fuses through the hatch formed on the rear shelf of the passenger compartment.

[0012] An economically accessible access to technical elements of the vehicle is achieved through the rear parcel shelf hatch, which can be made at a low cost and, with its lid closed, maintains an attractive aesthetic of the vehicle's interior.

[0013] The motor vehicle according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0014] In addition, the vehicle may include a windshield washer reservoir with a filler cap located under the flap, and accessible when the cover is open.

[0015] In particular, the vehicle may have two fuse boxes forming identical enclosures containing different fuse assemblies. Advantageously, the cover has a curved shape that generally fits within the shape of the rear shelf when closed.

[0016] In this case, advantageously the cover includes locks which can be locked by a rotation following a fraction of a turn.

[0017] Advantageously, the cover features a marking in the form of a symbol representing a fuse.

[0018] Advantageously, the rear compartment includes a power supply battery for a vehicle traction motor and a current converter connecting this battery to the fuse boxes, which are arranged below these fuse boxes.

[0019] Advantageously, the rear compartment has no openings leading to the outside, access to its interior equipment is from underneath the vehicle.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for changing fuses on a vehicle comprising any of the preceding characteristics, notable in that an operator going into the passenger compartment at the rear of the vehicle, opens the cover of the rear parcel shelf, then opens a fuse box located under the cover to access the fuses located inside this box.

[0021] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a side view of a vehicle according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a top view of the rear shelf of this vehicle with its closed cover over the fuse boxes; and [ Fig. 3 ] is a view of the rear shelf with its cover open giving access to the fuse boxes.

[0022] THE figures 1, 2 And 3 present a vehicle comprising a rear compartment 6 coming behind a row of seats 2, containing a battery 4 supplying an electric traction machine for this vehicle.

[0023] For reasons of vehicle simplification and cost reduction, the rear compartment 6 does not have a cover at the rear of the vehicle; the equipment located in this compartment is accessible from underneath the vehicle. In particular, the rear compartment 6 can accommodate an electrical cable allowing the connection of an integrated vehicle charger to an external power distribution network in order to recharge the traction battery 4.

[0024] The rear compartment 6 contains a DC / DC converter 8, which transforms another voltage from the battery 4 required to power the electric traction machine, into a low voltage of 12V which powers the vehicle's on-board network.

[0025] A crossmember 10, fixed to the upper part of the rear compartment, supports equipment 12, including an ice reservoir 32, and fuse boxes 36 located at the input of the vehicle's electrical system, containing fuses and relays. Electrical cables 14 connect the power converter 8 directly to the fuse boxes 36 located above. This arrangement, with the fuse boxes 36 installed in the upper part of the rear compartment 6, just above the traction battery 4, allows for short electrical cables 14 carrying a certain amount of power, thus reducing energy losses and lowering cable costs. Furthermore, this upper position, which is less exposed to moisture, provides better protection against humidity for the electrical systems contained within the fuse boxes 36.

[0026] The rear parcel shelf 16, formed by molding a plastic material, has a convex shape in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, descending towards the front, which closes the space between the rear window of the vehicle and the row of seats 2.

[0027] The rear shelf 16 has a hatch closed by a cover 18 formed by the molding of a plastic material, having a domed shape embedded in a slight hollow of this shelf in order to obtain a generally continuous surface when this cover is closed, which follows the general profile of this shelf.

[0028] The cover 18 has tabs at its lower end that engage with a lower edge of the hatch, and at its upper end two captive latches 22 that engage with holes 24 in the board to lock or unlock with an easy quarter-turn. A recess 26 formed on the rear deck 16, just above the cover 18, allows fingers to be slipped under the upper edge of the cover to lift it when the latches 22 are unlocked.

[0029] The crossmember 10, fixed slightly below the rear shelf 16, receives on the right side two similar fuse boxes 36 fixed side by side by screws on this crossmember, and on the left side a washer fluid reservoir 32 supplying a windshield washer, having on top a filler cap 34.

[0030] Advantageously, 36 fuse boxes are provided which are modular, allowing different electrical circuit configurations to be made with a varying number of fuses, depending on the equipment and accessories integrated into the same type of vehicle.

[0031] In this way, after opening the cover 18, which has an engraved marking forming a windshield washer symbol 28 to the left and a fuse symbol 30 to the right, to indicate to an operator the positioning of these equipment, easy direct access is obtained to the filler cap 34 of the windshield washer reservoir 32 and to the fuses which are located just below the cover, for maintenance operations.

[0032] In particular, the operator can open fuse boxes 36 to check or change fuses or relays.

[0033] The operator also has access to the reservoir via the filler cap 34 to refill the reservoir 32 through the access hatch. Any overflow or spillage around the cap 34 is then channeled directly through the rear compartment 6 to drain under the vehicle, preventing any risk of the fluid entering the passenger compartment. This prevents odors from entering the passenger compartment and maintains its cleanliness.

[0034] Integrating the equipment that must remain accessible for maintenance operations under the rear shelf 16, which has a simple cover 18 made economically, avoids the installation in the passenger compartment of specific compartments for this equipment, which would take up space and add extra costs, or the creation of a hatch on the outside of the bodywork, which would be less aesthetic and more expensive.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle equipped with boxes containing fuses for the on-board power supply network (36), characterized in that It includes in the passenger compartment a rear shelf (16) located between seats (2) and a rear window of the vehicle, this shelf (16) including a hatch equipped with a cover (18) covering the fuse boxes (36) located in a rear compartment of the vehicle (6), which in an open position gives access to the fuses.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that It includes a cross member (10) fixed to the upper part of the rear compartment (6), below the rear shelf (16), receiving the fuse boxes (36) which are placed on it.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that It includes a windshield washer reservoir (32) comprising a filler cap (34) located under the flap, and accessible when the cover (18) is open.

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two fuse boxes (36) forming identical enclosures comprising different fuse assemblies.

5. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (18) has a curved shape which generally fits into the shape of the rear shelf (16) when it is closed.

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover (18) has locks (22) which can be locked by a rotation following a fraction of a turn.

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (18) has a marking formed by a symbol representing a fuse (30).

8. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe rear compartment (6) includes a power supply battery for a vehicle traction motor (4) and a current converter (8) connecting this battery (4) to the fuse boxes (36), which are arranged below these fuse boxes (36).

9. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear compartment (6) has no openings leading to the outside, access to its interior equipment is from underneath the vehicle.

10. A method for changing fuses on a vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that An operator going into the passenger compartment at the rear of the vehicle, opens the cover (18) of the rear shelf (16), then opens a fuse box (36) located under the cover (18) to access the fuses located inside this box (36).