MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR LOCATED IN A REAR COMPARTMENT

Abstract

Motor vehicle equipped with a windshield washer reservoir installed in a rear compartment of the vehicle (6), 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 a reservoir filling cap, this cover (18) allowing in an open position access to the cap for filling the reservoir.

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application No. 1913596 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 rear window washer, as well as a method for filling the washer reservoir in this type of vehicle.

[0003] Some motor vehicles have a windshield washer system including a reservoir and a pump supplying one or more nozzles located outside, which spray a jet of washing fluid onto the windshield to allow it to be wiped by a windshield wiper.

[0004] A known type of windshield washer fluid reservoir housing, notably described in document FR-A1-2867128, comprises two chambers: a main reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir, mounted on an expandable frame. This frame allows the auxiliary reservoir to be compressed to pressurize the fluid. The frame can be quickly detached to allow the reservoir to be removed and filled outside the vehicle.

[0005] The fuel tank is installed in a compartment formed on one side of the vehicle's rear section, with the fuel tank cap located on the upper wall of this compartment. Access to the rear section is via a compartment cover formed on the exterior of the bodywork.

[0006] However, some compact and economical vehicles may have a rear compartment that does not have an opening to the outside of the bodywork, making it difficult to access a windshield washer reservoir located in this compartment to periodically refill it.

[0007] The present invention is specifically designed to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0008] For this purpose, it proposes a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield washer reservoir installed in a rear compartment of the vehicle, comprising 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 a reservoir filling cap, this cover allowing in an open position access to the cap for filling the reservoir.

[0009] One advantage of this vehicle is the easy access to the rear parcel shelf from inside the vehicle. This allows you to open the access panel and refill the washer fluid reservoir via its conveniently located cap. Furthermore, in the event of any spillage or leakage around the cap, the fluid drains directly into the rear compartment and out of the vehicle, preventing any drips inside the cabin that could soil it or cause unpleasant odors.

[0010] We achieve economical and quick access to technical elements of the vehicle, via the rear parcel shelf hatch which can be made at low cost, and which, with its lid closed, maintains an attractive aesthetic of the vehicle's interior.

[0011] The motor vehicle according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0012] Advantageously, the motor vehicle includes a crossmember fixed to the upper part of the rear compartment, below the rear shelf, which receives the tank placed on top of it.

[0013] In addition, the vehicle may have fuse boxes located under the access panel, accessible when the cover is open. Advantageously, the cover has a curved shape that generally follows the shape of the rear shelf when closed.

[0014] In this case, advantageously the cover includes latches that can be locked by rotating it a fraction of a turn. Advantageously, the cover includes a marking consisting of a symbol representing a windshield washer.

[0015] Advantageously, the rear compartment contains a power supply battery for a vehicle traction motor which is located below the windshield washer reservoir.

[0016] Advantageously, the rear compartment has no openings leading to the outside, access to its interior equipment is from underneath the vehicle.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for filling the windshield washer reservoir 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 rear parcel shelf cover, then opens the filler cap located under the cover to fill the reservoir.

[0018] 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 the fuel filler flap closed, covering the fuel tank and its cap; and [ Fig. 3 ] is a view of the rear shelf with its open cover giving access to the fuel tank cap.

[0019] 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.

[0020] For reasons of vehicle simplification and cost reduction, the rear compartment 6 does not have a hatch with a cover at the rear of the vehicle; the equipment located in this compartment is accessible from underneath the vehicle. Specifically, the rear compartment 6 can accommodate an electrical cable allowing the connection of an onboard charger to an external power supply in order to recharge the traction battery 4.

[0021] The rear compartment 6 contains a DC / DC converter 8, which transforms a high 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.

[0022] A crossmember 10, fixed to the upper part of the rear compartment, supports equipment 12, including a windshield washer 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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 surface of the shelf that is generally continuous when this cover is closed, which follows the general profile of this shelf.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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 the windshield washer fluid reservoir 32 supplying a windshield washer, having on top a filler cap 34.

[0027] 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 installed according to the type of vehicle.

[0028] In this way, after opening the cover 18, which has an engraved marking forming a windshield washer symbol 28 on the left and a fuse symbol 30 on the right, to indicate to an operator the positioning of these devices, 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.

[0029] In particular, the operator can open fuse boxes 36 to check or change fuses or relays.

[0030] The operator also has access to the filler cap 34 of the tank 32 to refill this tank via the access hatch. Any overflow or spillage of the product around the cap 34 is then drained directly through the rear compartment 6 to flow under the vehicle, without risk of the liquid leaking into the vehicle's interior. This way, the cleanliness of the passenger compartment is maintained and odors are prevented from entering.

[0031] Integrating equipment that needs to remain accessible for maintenance operations under the rear parcel shelf 16, which has a simple, cost-effective cover 18, avoids the need for separate compartments for this equipment within the passenger compartment. Such compartments would take up space and increase costs. It also eliminates the need for a compartment opening outwards, with a cover on the exterior of the bodywork, which would be less protected from moisture, less aesthetically pleasing, and more expensive.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle equipped with a windshield washer reservoir (32) installed in a rear compartment of the vehicle (6), characterized in that It includes in the passenger compartment a rear shelf (16) arranged between seats (2) and a rear window of the vehicle, this shelf (16) including a hatch equipped with a cover (18) covering a filler cap (34) of the tank (32), this cover (18) allowing in an open position access to the cap (34) for filling the tank (32).

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 tank (32) which is placed on it.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that It includes fuse boxes (36) arranged under the hatch, and accessible when the cover (18) is open.

4. 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.

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the cover (18) has locks (22) which can be locked by a rotation following a fraction of a turn.

6. 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 windshield washer (28).

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear compartment (6) includes a power supply battery for a vehicle traction motor (4), which is located below the windshield washer reservoir (32).

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

9. Method for filling the windshield washer fluid reservoir (32) 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 the filler cap (34) located under the cover (18) to fill the tank (32).