Front arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Front assembly for a motor vehicle with a body assembly (14) to which at least one air flap assembly (6) is movably attached in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via a support assembly (20), wherein the body assembly (14) has a crash management system (12) with a cross member (10) to which a transversely extending upper edge (22) of a frame part (26) of the air flap assembly (6) is attached via support means (28) of the support assembly (20) that are flexibly designed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and wherein a transversely extending lower edge (24) of the frame part (26) of the air flap assembly (6) is attached without play in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via fastening means (40) in an air guide part (18) designed as a body part of the body assembly (14), characterized in that the support means (28) have a connecting flange (30) extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle and an adjoining,have a U-shaped or swan-neck-shaped web section (34) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a connecting piece (36) formed at the end opposite the connecting flange (30).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a front assembly for a motor vehicle with a body assembly to which at least one air flap assembly is movably attached in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via a support assembly, wherein the body assembly has a crash management system with a cross member to which a transversely extending upper edge of a frame part of the air flap assembly is attached via support means of the support assembly which are flexibly designed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and wherein a transversely extending lower edge of the frame part of the air flap assembly is attached without play in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via fastening means in an air guide part designed as a body part of the body assembly.

[0002] Such front-end configurations are well known from the prior art. These configurations, designed to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and supply cooling air, feature an air flap arrangement with an adjustable flow cross-section. This air flap arrangement incorporates movable air guide flaps within a frame. To comply with legal standards, such as US Part 581, the air flap arrangement must not be damaged by a lower mechanical load (pendulum test). For this purpose, it is known, for example, from German patent application DE 10 2016 205 853 A1, to provide lateral support elements that engage the air flap arrangement and are connected to a body panel via fasteners running in elongated holes.When a force acting in the direction of travel is applied to the air flap assembly, it can deflect towards the vehicle via the elongated holes in the support elements to avoid damage. Such a front-end design has the disadvantage that the installation of the air flap assembly is very complex. In particular, the fasteners, in this case screws, must not be tightened with excessive torque, otherwise relative movement of the air flap assembly to the body panel is impossible. There is also a risk of tilting. Other front-end designs are known, for example, from DE 10 2012 100 537 A1, US 2018 / 0 327 032 A1, and DE 10 2015 005 170 A1.

[0003] A bow arrangement of this type is known from German patent application DE 10 2013 007 340 A1. However, the support element can also detach unintentionally, for example due to vibrations.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by providing the support means with a connecting flange extending in the vehicle's vertical direction and a U-shaped or gooseneck-shaped web section extending thereto in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, with a connecting piece formed at the end opposite the connecting flange. This provides a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective front assembly, whereby the air flap assembly is not damaged or even destroyed in a low-force crash. The flexibly designed support means ensure that, in the event of a force impact and the associated displacement of the crash management system, the support means can move with the impact, thus preventing damage to the air flap assembly. By using a U-shaped orThe swan-neck shaped bridge section ensures the flexibility of the support element in the event of a crash, while simultaneously guaranteeing the secure storage of the air flap assembly in normal operating mode.

[0006] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the fastening means are designed as positive locking elements. Here, the positive locking elements can be designed as clips formed in one piece on the lower edge of the frame part of the air damper assembly, making the assembly of the lower side of the frame part of the air damper assembly particularly simple and precise.

[0007] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the connecting piece is designed as a plug-in part with a transversely extending extension piece that engages a rear side of the upper edge of the frame part. This makes it possible, even when only the crash management system, and in particular the crossbeam, is subjected to a load, for the connecting piece to be partially pushed out of the frame part, so that no deformation of the support element occurs at all.

[0008] Advantageously, the air flap arrangement has a centrally located sensor element. It is particularly advantageous if two support means engage the frame part in the area of ​​the sensor element to precisely define the sensor element in the desired position.

[0009] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, which shows: Fig. 1 a partially cut-away front view of a bow arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 2 a perspective rear view of an air flap arrangement of the bow arrangement from Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a sectional view of the bow arrangement Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a perspective detail view of a cut support element for the air flap arrangement made of Fig. 2.

[0010] Fig. Figure 1 shows a front assembly 2 according to the invention in a perspective, partially cutaway front view. Clearly visible are air guide flaps 4 of an air flap assembly 6 in which a centrally arranged sensor element 8 is provided. In addition, a cross member 10 of a crash management system 12 is provided, which is part of a body assembly 14, which also includes, for example, a trim panel 16 and an air guide element 18.

[0011] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective rear view of the cross member 10 of the crash management system 12 with the air flap assembly 6 attached to it. The centrally located sensor element 8 is also clearly visible. To mount the air flap assembly 6 in accordance with standards and regulations, a support arrangement 20 is provided, which engages both a transverse upper edge 22 and a transverse lower edge 24 of a frame part 26 of the air flap assembly 6. For this purpose, flexible support elements 28 are provided, which are connected to the cross member 10 via a screw connection 32 through a connecting flange 30 extending in the vehicle's vertical direction. The support elements 28 also consist of a swan-neck-shaped web section 34 adjoining the connecting flange 30 and extending longitudinally in the vehicle, which in turn terminates in a connecting piece 36. As will be shown in more detail in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the connecting piece 36 is designed as an insert that engages a rear side of the upper edge 22 of the frame part 26 and has a transverse extension 38 that defines the position of the air flap assembly 6 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the air flap assembly 6 is fastened by means of four support elements 28, of which only one support element 28 is provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity.

[0012] On the side opposite the support means 28, the support arrangement 20 has fastening means 40, which here are designed as positive locking means in one piece on the lower edge 24 of the frame part 26 in order to be clipped into the air guide part 18 as clip means and in this way to fasten the lower edge 24 of the frame part 26 without play.

[0013] To keep the sensor organ 8 in a precisely defined position, two support means 28 are provided above the sensor organ, in the area of ​​the projection of the sensor organ 8 onto the crossbeam 10.

[0014] Fig. Figure 3 now shows part of the bow arrangement 2. Fig. Figure 1 shows a sectional view. Clearly visible is the cross member 10 of the crash management system 12, to which the air flap assembly 6 is flexibly hinged in the direction of travel via the flexible support means 28. Also visible is the attachment piece 38 of the connecting piece 36, which limits the longitudinal extension of the flood flap assembly during assembly, viewed from the rear. The clip means 40, by means of which the air flap assembly 6 is clipped into and locked in the air guide part 18, are also shown.

[0015] Fig.Figure 4 shows, in a perspective sectional view, a support element 28 that engages the rear side of the upper edge 22 of the frame part 26 via the connecting piece 36. The extension piece 38, which defines the insertion depth of the connecting piece 36 into the upper edge 22, is also clearly visible.

Claims

[1] Front assembly for a motor vehicle with a body assembly (14) to which at least one air flap assembly (6) is movably attached in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via a support assembly (20), wherein the body assembly (14) has a crash management system (12) with a cross member (10) to which a transversely extending upper edge (22) of a frame part (26) of the air flap assembly (6) is attached via support means (28) of the support assembly (20) that are flexibly designed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and wherein a transversely extending lower edge (24) of the frame part (26) of the air flap assembly (6) is attached without play in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via fastening means (40) in an air guide part (18) designed as a body part of the body assembly (14), characterized by, that the support means (28) have a connecting flange (30) extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle and a U-shaped or swan-neck-shaped web part (34) extending thereto in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a connecting piece (36) formed at the end opposite the connecting flange (30). [2] Bow arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the fastening means (40) are designed as positive locking means. [3] Bow arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by , that the positive locking means (40) are designed as clip means formed in one piece on the lower edge (24) of the frame part (26) of the air flap assembly (6). [4] Bow arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the connecting piece (36) is designed as an insertion part with a transversely extending extension piece (38) which engages a rear side of the upper edge (22) of the frame part (26). [5] Bow arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the air flap arrangement (6) has a centrally arranged sensor element (8). [6] Bow arrangement according to claim 5, characterized by , that in the area of ​​the sensor organ (8) two carrier means (28) attack the frame part (26).

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