Vehicle with anti-vibration bump-style housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a support fixedly joined with a wall, said support being joined with a housing (BD) and comprising components extending along three directions of the vehicle perpendicular to each other, said components enclosing a predefined area (ZB) of the housing (BD), characterized in that the housing (BD) comprises flexible tabs (PF1-PF3) in the area (ZB) on the outer surface (FE), said flexible tabs preventing impact on the components in the event of a gap by bending against the components in at least two of the three directions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application No. 1912688, filed on November 14, 2019, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to vehicles, specifically motor vehicles, and more particularly to vehicles comprising a support member connected to at least one housing. Background Technology

[0003] Some vehicles include a support member fixedly connected to a wall, which is, if necessary, a structural component, and the support member is connected to a housing, for example, by a clip. For example, and not limitingly, the housing can be used for storing and venting coolant circulating in a cooling circuit, which, if necessary, is used to cool a rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to at least one electric motor in the powertrain.

[0004] The support member may include components extending in three directions perpendicular to each other (longitudinal, lateral, and vertical) along the vehicle, while surrounding a predefined area of ​​the housing. To facilitate positioning of the housing and to account for dimensional vibrations of the support member and the housing, small gaps exist between the support member and the housing along the aforementioned three directions. However, in the event of an impact to the vehicle or vibrations from certain components of the vehicle, these gaps allow the housing to impact its own support member, generating parasitic noise that can cause anxiety and / or impair perceived quality for vehicle passengers (and thus damage brand image). Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is particularly to improve this situation.

[0006] The present invention particularly provides a vehicle, which may be a motor vehicle, comprising: a support member fixedly connected to a wall, the support member being connected to a housing, and including components extending in three directions perpendicular to each other along the vehicle, the components surrounding a predetermined region of the housing.

[0007] The vehicle is characterized in that the housing includes flexible protrusions in a region on the outer surface, the flexible protrusions abutting against the component by bending in at least two of the three directions to prevent impacts to the component in the presence of gaps.

[0008] Therefore, in the event that the vehicle is subjected to an impact and some components of the vehicle vibrate, the housing is no longer at risk of impacting its own support members (at least two of the three directions of the vehicle).

[0009] Vehicles according to the invention may include other features that can be adopted individually or in combination, and in particular:

[0010] - The flexible bumps can extend along the three directions respectively;

[0011] - The housing includes: a first flexible protrusion that abuts against the component by bending in a longitudinal direction; a second flexible protrusion that abuts against the component by bending in a transverse direction; and two third flexible protrusions that abut against the component by bending in a vertical direction.

[0012] - The second and third flexible protrusions may be defined on the same wall of the housing, which is primarily defined in a plane constructed based on the longitudinal and vertical directions;

[0013] -The housing and its flexible protrusions can be injection molded from plastic material;

[0014] - The housing can be used for the storage and venting of cooling liquid flowing in the cooling circuit;

[0015] - The housing may include an opening for supplying cooling liquid, the passage of which is controlled by a plug;

[0016] - The vehicle may include at least one rechargeable battery for providing electrical power to at least one electric motor of the powertrain, and the at least one rechargeable battery is connected to the cooling circuit;

[0017] - The powertrain may also include at least one thermal engine. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following non-limiting description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 The top perspective view schematically shows a portion of an example of a rear component of a vehicle according to the invention, including a support member connected to a vibration-damping bump housing.

[0020] - Figure 2 The perspective view schematically illustrates one embodiment of the support member of the vibration-resistant bump-type housing, and

[0021] - Figure 3 The perspective view schematically illustrates an embodiment of the vibration-resistant bump housing. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention is particularly intended to provide a vehicle V that includes a support SB, which is connected, for example, to a housing BD having vibration-resistant flexible protrusions PFj via a clip.

[0023] In the following text, by way of non-limiting example, vehicle V is considered to be of a motorized type. This vehicle is, for example, an automobile. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. The invention actually relates to any type of land, sea (or river), or air vehicle.

[0024] Furthermore, in the following text, by way of non-limiting example, the housing BD is considered to be used for the storage and venting of coolant circulating in the cooling circuit CR of vehicle V. However, the invention is not limited to this application. In fact, the housing BD may have any other function within the vehicle. Thus, the housing may be, for example, part of a heat-carrying fluid heating circuit, or a braking circuit, or a hydraulic circuit, or part of an apparatus sufficient to store fluids (windshield washer fluid, brake fluid), or may include an object (which may be a computer).

[0025] Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, it is considered that the cooling circuit CR of the vehicle V, which forms part of the housing BD, is intended to be connected to at least one rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to at least one electric motor of the powertrain. However, the cooling circuit CR can be used to cool other components or equipment of the vehicle V, such as a charger for the rechargeable battery. For example, the cooling circuit CR may be of an extremely low temperature type to dissipate the large amount of heat generated by the rechargeable battery.

[0026] Finally, in the following text, by way of non-limiting example, it is assumed that the powertrain is of the hybrid type and therefore includes at least one electric motor and at least one thermal motor. However, the powertrain may be of the fully electric type.

[0027] exist Figures 1 to 3 Above, direction X is the so-called longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is parallel to the side of the vehicle; direction Y is the so-called lateral direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to direction X; and direction Z is the so-called vertical direction, which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal X and lateral Y directions.

[0028] exist Figure 1 The image above schematically shows a small portion of the rear side of an example of a vehicle V according to the invention.

[0029] As shown in the figure, the vehicle V includes a support member SB, which is connected, for example, to a housing BD having vibration-resistant flexible protrusions PFj via a clip. The clip is advantageous because it allows installation without the need for additional components (e.g., screws or nuts), thus reducing assembly time, simplifying the assembly process, and limiting the use of tightening tools that can cause musculoskeletal strain on the operator.

[0030] The support member SB is fixedly connected to a wall of the vehicle V, which, for example, forms part of or is connected to a structural component of the vehicle. As an example, the support member SB may be installed in a rear component of the vehicle V and accessible via a hatch, which may also be a connector for a charger for the rechargeable battery accessible therefrom. Figure 2 As clearly shown, the support member SB includes a component PS that extends along the three directions of the vehicle V (perpendicular to each other) longitudinal (X), lateral (Y), and vertical (Z) to surround a predefined region ZB of the housing BD (see [reference]). Figure 1 For this purpose, component PS may include a first sub-component SP1 that extends primarily in the plane YZ, a second sub-component SP2 that extends primarily in the plane XZ, and a third sub-component SP3 that extends primarily in other planes YZ.

[0031] For example, the support element SB can be made of metal or a rigid and corrosion-resistant plastic material.

[0032] Furthermore, the support member SB can be, and here also can be, intended to support the aforementioned connector for the charger of the rechargeable battery.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, the housing BD includes a flexible protrusion PFj in region ZB on the outer surface FE. The flexible protrusion abuts against the component PS by bending at least two of the longitudinal X, transverse Y and vertical Z directions to prevent impact on the component PS in the presence of a gap. The gap is used to facilitate the positioning of the housing and to take into account the dimensional vibrations of the housing and the support SB in the three directions of longitudinal X, transverse Y and vertical Z.

[0034] By applying a bending press against at least some of the sub-components SP1 to SP3 of the component PS of the support member SB, the flexible bump PFj enables its own housing BD to fit and thus fill gaps in at least two of the three directions: longitudinal (X), lateral (Y), and vertical (Z). As a result, in the event of a collision involving the vehicle V and vibrations in some components of the vehicle, the housing BD is no longer at risk of impacting its own support member SB (in at least two of the three directions). Therefore, the housing BD does not generate parasitic noise that could potentially cause anxiety and / or impair perceived quality for passengers of the vehicle V (and thus damage brand image). The flexible bump PFj thus ensures vibration damping within the vehicle V.

[0035] Preferably, and as Figure 3 As shown in the non-limiting illustration, the flexible bump PFj extends along the longitudinal (X), transverse (Y), and vertical (Z) directions, respectively. In this case, the flexible bump ensures the fit of the housing BD and thus ensures that gaps are filled along the longitudinal (X), transverse (Y), and vertical (Z) directions.

[0036] In the case where this alternative implementation exists, and as follows Figure 3 As shown in a non-limiting manner, the housing BD may include in its own region ZB a first flexible bump PF1 (j=1) that abuts against the component PS by bending in the longitudinal direction X, a second flexible bump PF2 (j=2) that abuts against the component PS by bending in the transverse direction Y, and two third flexible bumps PF3 (j=3) that abut against the component PS by bending in the vertical direction.

[0037] For example, and as Figure 3 As shown in a non-limiting manner, the second PF2 and the third PF3 flexible bumps may be defined on the same wall PL of the housing BD, which is primarily defined in a plane created based on the longitudinal X and vertical Z directions. Indeed, in the example shown in a non-limiting manner, the first flexible bump PF1 abuts against the first sub-component SP1 of the component PS, the second flexible bump PF2 abuts against the second sub-component SP2 of the component PS, and the third flexible bump PF3 abuts against the second sub-component SP2 of the component PS. However, the first flexible bump PF1 may abut against the third sub-component SP3 of the component PS, or the housing BD may include two first flexible bumps PF1, which abut against the first SP1 and the third SP3 sub-component of the component PS, respectively. Similarly, the housing BD may include two second flexible bumps PF2, which are pressed against the second sub-component SP2 of the component PS and / or at least one third flexible bump PF3, which is pressed against the first SP1 or the third SP3 sub-component of the component PS.

[0038] The bump PFj has a form that is selected and optimized based on the gap to be filled.

[0039] For example, the housing BD and its flexible bumps PFj are injection molded from a plastic material. This avoids the need to attach (add) the flexible bumps PFj to the outside FE of the housing BD within its own region ZB. However, at least one of the flexible bumps PFj can be attached, for example, by gluing. For example, the plastic material can be polyethylene (or PE), polypropylene (or PP), or rubber (which can be synthetic).

[0040] It should be noted that, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown in a non-limiting manner, when the housing BD is used for storing and venting coolant circulating in the cooling circuit CR, the housing may also include an opening for supplying coolant, the passage of which is controlled by a plug BB. The plug (BB) may, for example (by rotating one-eighth or one-quarter turn) be screwed onto the housing or may include opposing studs of a so-called bayonet-type fastening.

[0041] It should also be noted that, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown without limitation, the housing BD here also includes at least one outlet SL, which is connected to the cooling circuit CR to supply it with cooling liquid and to enable venting.

[0042] It should also be noted that, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown in the non-limiting illustration, region ZB, and therefore the flexible bump PFj, is defined in the lower part of the housing BD. However, in a variation, the flexible bump may be defined in the upper part of the housing BD. In fact, the location where the flexible bump is defined depends on the height at which the support SB surrounding the housing BD is positioned.

[0043] It should also be noted that the housing BD may include lower and upper components that are sealed together with each other.

Claims

1. A vehicle (V) comprising: A support member (SB) fixedly connected to a wall, the support member being connected to a housing (BD), and comprising components (PS) extending perpendicularly to each other in three directions of a vehicle (V), the components surrounding a predefined region (ZB) of the housing (BD), characterized in that the housing (BD) includes flexible protrusions (PFj) in a region (ZB) on an outer surface (FE), the flexible protrusions abutting against the components (PS) by bending along at least two of the three directions to prevent impacts to the components (PS) in the presence of gaps, the flexible protrusions (PFj) extending in the three directions respectively.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (BD) includes: a first flexible protrusion (PF1) that abuts against the component (PS) by bending in a longitudinal direction; a second flexible protrusion (PF2) that abuts against the component (PS) by bending in a transverse direction; and two third flexible protrusions (PF3) that abut against the component (PS) by bending in a vertical direction.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second (PF2) and third (PF3) flexible protrusions are defined on the same wall (PL) of the housing (BD), which is primarily defined in a plane constructed based on the longitudinal and vertical directions.

4. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The housing (BD) and its flexible bump (PFj) are formed by injection molding of plastic material.

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The housing (BD) is used for the storage and venting of coolant flowing in the cooling circuit (CR).

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing (BD) includes an opening for supplying cooling liquid, the passage of which is controlled by a plug (BB).

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vehicle includes at least one rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to at least one electric motor of the powertrain, and the at least one rechargeable battery is connected to the cooling circuit (CR).

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that, The powertrain also includes at least one thermal engine.

9. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 6, 7 and 8, characterized in that, The vehicle in question is a motor vehicle.

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