Assembly comprising a motor vehicle fluid conditioning unit

Abstract

An assembly comprising a plurality of motor vehicle fluid regulating units (2), each of which comprises a body (4) and which comprise rotation axes (A) parallel to each other, the assembly further comprising a support for supporting the regulating units (2), the support comprising a plate (20) forming a single piece, which is arranged along a plane perpendicular to the axes (A) and which comprises perforations (22) passing through the plate (20), each of which receives the body (4) of a regulating unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French patent No. 2102397, filed on March 11, 2021, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a plurality of motor vehicle fluid control units and a motor vehicle comprising such an assembly. Background Technology

[0003] Some motor vehicles may include at least two cooling fluid regulating units (especially pumps), each of which includes an electric power system and has parallel axes of rotation, with the pumps fixed to the powertrain to manage heat flow to the engine and transmission.

[0004] A known type of assembly with two pumps (shown in particular by document FR3065511A1) includes an elongated first protrusion and an elongated second protrusion fixed to a base of the first protrusion, the protrusions being made of stamped metal sheet having a constant cross-section with two undulations.

[0005] Each pump includes a housing with slots having a constant cross-section formed along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction and extending along the length of the housing to accommodate a support tab inserted therein.

[0006] The problem is that it may be difficult to adapt vibration isolation between these pumps and the support structure in order to avoid the transmission of vibration and noise.

[0007] Furthermore, the support consists of two metal parts that need to be assembled with each other, which in turn requires the management and supply of these parts, as well as the time required for assembling them (which is done using tools needed to fasten the assembly).

[0008] These operations can lead to the risk of poor assembly (e.g., insufficient tightening). The management of these parts and the required assembly time will incur additional costs.

[0009] Another known type of assembly with two pumps (shown in particular by document EP3248821A1) includes a plate for each pump, the plate being used to receive the body of the pump in a perforation, the plates comprising complementary forms on their sides, the complementary forms allowing engagement between the plates to connect the plates and thus integrate the two pumps into one unit.

[0010] Each plate has a slot extending axially through its side, the slot having a constant cross-section. The only retaining element comprises two tabs that insert into the slots of the two plates of the pump.

[0011] However, the dimensions of the connection between the two plates of the pump limit the proximity of these pumps, resulting in a relatively large overall footprint for the assembly. This assembly is also more difficult to install on the powertrain and in the engine compartment, which typically has reduced space to optimize the vehicle's volume.

[0012] The two plates also constitute two components that incur manufacturing and supply costs and require time to assemble with each other. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The purpose of this invention is particularly to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0014] To this end, the present invention provides an assembly comprising a plurality of vehicle pumps, each pump including a body and a rotation axis, the rotation axes of each pump being parallel to each other, the assembly further comprising a support for supporting the pumps, characterized in that the support includes a plate forming a unique part, the plate being arranged along a plane perpendicular to the axis, and including a perforation through the plate, each of the perforations receiving the body of a pump.

[0015] The advantage of this assembly is that, since the plate forms the sole supporting component while maximizing the proximity of the perforations of the receiving adjustment unit's main body, these main bodies can be arranged closer together without requiring a connection between the two plate sections. In this way, the assembly's footprint is reduced, and its integration into the vehicle's powertrain is facilitated.

[0016] Furthermore, the single plate receiving the two adjustment units ensures the security of the connection between the two adjustment units, reduces the number of parts, and simplifies assembly, which reduces manufacturing costs.

[0017] The assembly with the adjustment unit according to the invention may also include one or more of the following features that can be combined with each other.

[0018] Advantageously, each perforation includes a cross section in a transverse plane relative to the axis, the cross section being constant over the length of the perforation.

[0019] In this case, advantageously, the constant cross-section of each perforation forms a circle, the circle including regularly distributed recesses in its outline.

[0020] Advantageously, the surface of the plate includes a groove on the contour of each perforation, each of the grooves receiving a protrusion projecting from the outer contour of the body of the adjustment unit.

[0021] Advantageously, the plate includes a slot for receiving a fastener, the slot having a constant cross-section.

[0022] Specifically, the plate may include three slots spaced apart from each other.

[0023] Furthermore, the slot can form a perforation through the plate.

[0024] Advantageously, the plate comprises an elastomeric material.

[0025] The plate may include, in particular, a variety of elastomeric materials with different stiffnesses.

[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle comprising at least two cooling fluid pumps, the at least two cooling fluid pumps being part of an assembly including any of the above-mentioned features. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only:

[0028] - Figure 1 A complete assembly according to the invention is shown, the complete assembly comprising two pumps;

[0029] - Figure 2 This is a front view of the individual support plate of the assembly;

[0030] - Figure 3 This is a view of the rear of the board;

[0031] - Figure 4 It is a rear view of the assembly fixed to the powertrain; and

[0032] - Figure 5 The complete assembly is shown, illustrating multiple possible angular orientations for each pump. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Figure 1 An assembly is shown, comprising two fluid flow regulating units (specifically pump 2), each of which is arranged with a rotation axis A, which are parallel to each other and include a side conventionally referred to as the front side (indicated by arrow AV).

[0034] Each pump 2 includes an outer body 4, the outer body having an axial orifice 6 and a tangential orifice 8 on its front surface, the axial orifice and the tangential orifice being used for the passage of fluid in the pump.

[0035] Each pump's rear face includes an electrical connector 10, which is capable of supplying current as required to regulate the flow of cooling fluid in a motor vehicle (particularly an electric or hybrid vehicle).

[0036] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 A support member formed by a single plate 20 is shown, the single plate having two parallel planes 26, 30 perpendicular to axis A, the support member including two through holes 22, each of the two through holes receiving the body 4 of a pump.

[0037] A constant cross section perpendicular to the axis A of each perforation 22 forms a circle, the circle including regularly distributed recesses 24 in its outline.

[0038] Each pump 2 has a body 4 comprising a generally circular profile including a series of axial teeth that fit into a perforation 22 in a plate 20 to simultaneously perform centering and alignment of the pump and rotational locking about the pump's axis due to the teeth engaging in a recess 24.

[0039] Each pump body 4 includes four protrusions 12 extending axially from the generally circular outer contour of the housing, each of the four protrusions receiving a screw 14 parallel to axis A, so as to secure the axially stacked different parts of the body to each other.

[0040] The front surface 26 of the support plate 20 includes four radially oriented slots 28 for each perforation 22, the four slots being distributed around the perforation and on the thin side of the plate, each of the four slots receiving an end of a protrusion 12, the end of which is slightly embedded in the front surface. The end of the protrusion 12 adapted to fit in the slot 28 also prevents each pump 2 from being arranged with an undesirable angular orientation in its perforation 22.

[0041] The two pumps 2 are arranged to be closer to each other at a minimum radial distance between the two bodies 4 of the two pumps, the minimum radial distance including the reduced material thickness 32 between the two perforations of the plate 22.

[0042] The use of a single plate 20 receiving both perforations 22 avoids the need for a connection between two separate support members. In this way, the overall footprint of the assembly is reduced, and installation of the assembly in the engine compartment of the vehicle is facilitated.

[0043] The rear surface 30 of the support plate 20 includes a slot with a curved section 34 having two undulating portions. The slot extends parallel to the axis over most of the thickness of the plate and partially extends through the front surface 26.

[0044] Each of the other two straight slots 38, which are spaced apart from each other and from the curved slot 34, has a straight form aligned with the other straight slot, and the other two straight slots pass completely through the thickness of the support plate 20.

[0045] Figure 4 A fastener 40, formed of metal plates folded and assembled together, is shown attached to the powertrain 42. The fastener is arranged with three elongated tabs parallel to axis A, each of which fits into a curved slot 34 or one of a straight slot 38. The spacing between the slots 34, 38 provides rigidity and limits stress in the fastener 40.

[0046] In this manner, a complete assembly including a support plate 20 for receiving two pumps 2 is implemented, which may be prepared, for example, by a supplier. The complete assembly is then assembled onto the vehicle using a fastener 40 comprising a single component, which simplifies supply and reduces the risk of poor assembly and the assembly time required for assembly onto the vehicle.

[0047] The support plate 20 is advantageously made of a material with a certain degree of flexibility by molding, the flexibility being calculated to mitigate vibrations generated by the operation of each pump 2, which avoids the transmission of these vibrations to the powertrain and body of the vehicle, while also preventing the propagation of noise.

[0048] The flexible material of the support plate 20 can also prevent the transmission of vibrations from the powertrain to the pump 2, while avoiding loosening, especially of the electrical connection 10.

[0049] The support plate 20 may comprise different materials with different hardness or stiffness (particularly elastomers assembled by sequential overmolding), which enables it to respond to mechanical performance constraints and vibration isolation constraints in the form of the part.

[0050] Hardness is related to stiffness; therefore, when hardness increases, stiffness will also increase accordingly.

[0051] For example, a support member 20 can be designed such that its inner surface contacts the pump more flexibly, thus better mitigating pump vibration, while its outer peripheral surface has greater stiffness than the inner surface. Thus, the support member 20 has a first portion and a second peripheral portion surrounding the first portion, the first material of the first portion having a first stiffness around the perforation 22, and the second material of the second peripheral portion having a stiffness greater than that of the first material.

[0052] Figure 5 The same support plate 20 is shown, which includes perforations 22 that receive the pump body 4 at different angular positions due to their circular outline and a series of regularly distributed recesses 24. This plate 20 forms a standard component that can be used on various vehicles.

[0053] Thus, in this example, three assembly positions are obtained for each pump 2, such that each of the three assembly positions has an angular orientation different from the tangential orifice 8 of the pump.

[0054] Typically, in variations, more than two regulating units may be designed on plate 20, each of which occupies a perforation 22. These regulating units may include pump 2 or other equipment used to regulate the passage of fluid in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a plurality of vehicle pumps (2), each vehicle pump including a body (4) and a rotation axis (A), the rotation axes of each vehicle pump being parallel to each other, the assembly further comprising a support for supporting the vehicle pumps (2), characterized in that, The support includes a plate (20) forming a single part, the plate being arranged along a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A), and including a perforation (22) through the plate (20), each of the perforations receiving the body (4) of a motor vehicle pump, wherein the plate (20) comprises a variety of elastomeric materials with different stiffnesses.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each perforation (22) includes a cross section in a transverse plane relative to the axis of rotation (A), the cross section being constant over the length of the perforation.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each perforation (22) has a constant cross-section forming a circle, the circle having regularly distributed recesses (24) in its outline.

4. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The surface (26) of the plate (20) includes a groove (28) on the contour of each perforation (22), each of the grooves receiving a protrusion (12) protruding from the outer contour of the body (4) of the adjustment unit.

5. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The plate (20) includes slots (34, 38) for receiving fasteners, the slots having a constant cross-section.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plate (20) includes three slots (34, 38) spaced apart from each other.

7. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The slots (34, 38) form perforations through the plate (20).

8. A motor vehicle comprising at least two cooling fluid pumps (2), characterized in that, These cooling fluid pumps (2) are part of the assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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