AIR INTAKE DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE RADIATOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles. The invention relates more particularly to an air intake device intended to be fixed to the front of a motor vehicle.

[0002] A vehicle, and in particular a motor vehicle, generally comprises an engine radiator which is mounted behind the front bumper grille. The radiator is used to regulate the engine temperature according to operating data. The radiator is supplied by a flow of ambient air passing through the grille and directed by means of an air intake device. The air intake device should preferably form a substantially sealed conduit between the bumper skin and the radiator. In order to limit vibrations, the air intake device is a rigid part.

[0003] A motor vehicle's bumper must meet a number of requirements, including pedestrian impact tests. A pedestrian impact is an impact in which the bumper strikes a pedestrian's leg roughly between the knee and ankle.

[0004] In the event of a pedestrian collision, it is desirable that the pedestrian's leg does not slide under the vehicle. It is also desirable to limit the risk of the pedestrian encountering a hard point located inside the vehicle, behind the bumper skin.

[0005] The bumper must be configured to meet the regulations defined for pedestrian impact, and in particular the air intake device arranged behind the bumper skin must be adapted so as not to constitute a hard point likely to injure a pedestrian in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle.

[0006] Bumper devices are known, such as in document EP 3429894, which describes a front bumper for a motor vehicle. The bumper comprises a structure composed of several layers which are connected by deformable spacers. In the event of an impact, the structure deforms, dissipating the forces received with a deformation adapted to the level of force of the impact. This structure provides good energy dissipation during a pedestrian impact but does not take into account the presence of elements likely to form hard points behind the bumper skin, such as, for example, an air intake device.

[0007] Document FR 2989938 discloses a controlled air intake device installed behind the front bumper of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle. The air intake device comprises an air duct which is fixed to the structure of the vehicle by a rod mechanism. The mechanism allows the duct to be moved according to the quantity of air which must be supplied to the radiator. In the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle, the mechanism also allows the duct to be moved into a retracted position behind the bumper skin. Thus, the duct does not constitute a hard point near the bumper skin at the time of a frontal impact of the vehicle.

[0008] This solution meets the constraints of a pedestrian impact, but is a complex solution, with a wide variety of parts and a high manufacturing cost.

[0009] Documents FR 3 016 598 A1, FR 2 737 159 A1, FR 3 020 602 A1, US 2011 / 000728 A1, FR 3 010 780 A1, US 2013 / 192801 A1 describe air intake devices for a radiator of a motor vehicle and document US 2001 / 027883 A1 describes such a device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0010] The invention aims to address at least one of the problems and / or drawbacks mentioned above, by proposing an air intake device for a motor vehicle intended to be arranged behind a bumper skin, the device allowing the vehicle to meet the constraints of a pedestrian impact test while being simple in terms of its manufacture and its implementation.

[0011] To this end and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to an air intake device for a radiator of a motor vehicle comprising the characteristics of claim 1.

[0012] The device thus formed comprises a deformable zone in the event of an impact which is intended to be arranged just behind the bumper skin. In the event of an impact of the pedestrian type, the deformable zone of the air intake device makes it possible to dissipate part of the forces generated by the impact before the pedestrian encounters the hard point formed by the rigid zone of the air intake device. The rigid zone of the frame of the air intake device makes it possible to stiffen the latter and to reduce the vibrations caused by the flow of air entering during the movement of the vehicle. Such an air intake device is simple to produce and comprises few parts, and non-complex parts.

[0013] According to the invention, the rigid and deformable zones respectively comprise a front edge and a rear edge, the rear edge of the rigid zone being arranged at the rear edge of the frame, the front edge of the deformable zone being arranged at the front edge of the frame, and the rear edge of the deformable zone being arranged at the front edge of the rigid zone; the width of the deformable zone varies according to the longitudinal direction of the device so that the rear edge of the deformable zone shows a notched or sinusoidal pattern.

[0014] The notched or sinusoid pattern is a simple manufacturing solution, which allows the deformable zone to be stiffened.

[0015] Advantageously, the means promoting the deformation of the deformable zone in the event of an impact comprise at least one of the following elements: a different material compared to the material of the rigid zone, a reduced wall thickness compared to the wall thickness of the rigid zone, one or more corrugations, or a combination thereof. These means do not require the addition of parts for the production of the walls of the frame.

[0016] Advantageously, the device is made of a plastic material, and the rigid and deformable zones of at least one wall are produced by injection overmolding.

[0017] Preferably, the deformable zone extends in a longitudinal direction of the device, along the entire length of the front edge of the frame.

[0018] In embodiments, the front edge of the frame forms a lip configured to form a flexible seal for contact with a bumper skin. The front edge of the frame is in use pressed against the bumper skin. The flexible seal thus formed can suppress air leakage between the bumper skin and the device.

[0019] Advantageously, the device is configured so that its dimensions in its transverse direction, i.e. the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, are larger than the space in which the device is intended to be mounted. Thus, when mounting the air intake device, the front edge of the frame is pressed against the bumper skin, achieving a tighter contact. The air entering through the grille is thus better guided into the air intake device.

[0020] In embodiments, the frame comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, the device is characterized in that the side walls comprise a deformable zone which extends from the front edge to the rear edge of the frame. The side walls therefore do not comprise a rigid zone.

[0021] In embodiments, the frame comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, the device is notable in that the deformable zone width of the top wall between the front and rear edges is greater than the deformable zone width of the bottom wall.

[0022] The difference in length between the deformable zones of the upper and lower walls creates a tipping effect in the event of an impact with a pedestrian. The pedestrian's leg then encounters more resistance at the lower wall of the air intake frame, and the pedestrian tips over the bumper without going under the vehicle. This meets a specific constraint of the pedestrian impact test.

[0023] In embodiments, the frame further comprises at least one vertical air deflection wall for reducing airflow.

[0024] The air deflection wall is installed to reduce the amount of air flowing to the engine radiator. This wall may or may not be installed depending on the environment in which the vehicle is intended to be used.

[0025] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a front bumper with a bumper skin, the bumper skin comprising a grille; the vehicle comprising an engine radiator; the vehicle is characterized in that it further comprises an air intake device according to the first aspect, mounted behind the grille of the bumper skin and attached to the engine cooling radiator.

[0026] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will appear clearly on reading the following description, given by way of example with reference to the attached drawing plates in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a detail of a vehicle showing a bumper skin and an air intake device according to one embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is a front perspective view of the air intake device shown in figure 2 .

[0027] In the remainder of the description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements in the device, or the vehicle to which it refers. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the terms "consist of".

[0028] Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "higher" and "lower" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "lower" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms "upper" and "high" respectively.

[0029] A motor vehicle 10 shown at the figure 1 comprises a front portion with a bumper arranged under an engine hood and front lighting units. The bumper comprises a bumper skin 12 which is visible from outside the vehicle and which comprises at its center a grille 14 formed by a grid placed in front of an engine radiator, not shown.

[0030] The view of the figure 2 shows the rear face of the bumper skin against which an air intake device 16 for the radiator of the motor vehicle is mounted. The air intake device is a part for guiding the air passing through the grille of the radiator grille towards the engine radiator.

[0031] The air inlet device 16 may be a passive device, fixed to the radiator with a constant opening, or an active device, that is to say which comprises a system allowing it to be moved or its opening to be modified according to given parameters so as to modify the quantity of air supplied to the radiator.

[0032] The air inlet device 16 shown in the figure 3 , comprises a frame with a front edge 18 intended to be mounted in contact with the bumper skin, and a rear edge 20 intended to be fixed to a radiator of the motor vehicle. The frame further comprises at least one wall extending between the front edge 18 and the rear edge 20.

[0033] The frame of the air intake device forms an air duct between its front edge and its rear edge. The frame shown in figures 2 And 3has the shape of a rectangular duct extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The shape and dimensions of the frame may vary, for example, with a curvature at the front edge to follow a curvature of the bumper skin surface, a conical shape to concentrate all the air passing through a wide grille towards a narrower radiator, rounded corners or any other shape suitable for the vehicle.

[0034] At least one wall of the frame comprises a rigid zone 22 extending from the rear edge 18, and a deformable zone 24 in the event of an impact, comprising means promoting its deformation and extending from the front edge 20.

[0035] In the embodiments shown in figures 2 And 3, the frame comprises a top wall 26, a bottom wall 28, and side walls 30. Preferably, all of the walls of the frame comprise a rigid zone and a deformable zone in the event of an impact. Alternatively, only some of the walls comprise a rigid zone and a deformable zone in the event of an impact. For example, the side walls having a small width between the front and rear edges, they may comprise a deformable zone which extends from the front edge to the rear edge of the frame. Thus the side walls may be entirely deformable in the event of an impact and not comprise a rigid zone.

[0036] The rigid 22 and deformable 24 zones can be made of any suitable material. The deformable zone is preferably made of a plastic material, and the rigid zone can be made of plastic or metal. The rigid and deformable zones are preferably made of plastic material. Those skilled in the art will benefit from selecting the material from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyphthalamide (PPA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamideimide (PAI), polyetherimide (PEI), polyarylamide (PAA), or polyamide (PA) such as, for example, polyamide 6 (PA 6 or polycaprolactam) or polyamide 6.6 (PA 6.6 or polyhexamethylene adipamide), or mixtures thereof. The material chosen for the rigid zone 22 preferably allows the frame not to generate noisy vibrations under the action of an air flow during operation of the vehicle.

[0037] The deformable zone 24 in the event of an impact is configured so as not to create a hard point behind the bumper skin, while maintaining sufficient rigidity to limit vibrations.

[0038] At least one wall of the frame can be produced by overmolding by injection of plastic material, for example by bi-injection, so as to form a rigid zone and a deformable zone. Overmolding is a technique known to those skilled in the art which allows parts to be produced quickly and precisely.

[0039] Alternatively, at least one wall of the frame comprises a portion forming a rigid zone and a portion forming a deformable zone which are then fixed to each other by fixing means, such as for example elastic deformation fixing means or clips.

[0040] The means promoting the deformation of the deformable zone comprise at least one of a different material compared to the material of the rigid zone, a reduced wall thickness compared to the wall thickness of the rigid zone, one or more corrugations, or a combination thereof. In the case where the deformable zone comprises corrugations, these are preferably oriented in the longitudinal direction of the air intake device, i.e. the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0041] The rigid and deformable zones respectively comprise a front edge and a rear edge. The rear edge of the rigid zone is arranged at the rear edge 20 of the frame, and the front edge of the deformable zone is arranged at the front edge 18 of the frame. The front edge of the rigid zone 22 is then merged with the rear edge of the deformable zone 24. The rear edge 32 of the deformable zone is arranged at the front edge of the rigid zone. The width of the deformable zone 24 varies according to the longitudinal direction of the device (transverse direction of the vehicle) so that the rear edge 32 of the deformable zone shows a notched or sinusoidal pattern.

[0042] The rear edge 32 of the deformable zone defines a junction line between the deformable zone 24 and the rigid zone 22. This junction line is configured so as to obtain the longest possible deformable zone without the air flow causing noisy vibrations when crossing the frame of the air intake device.

[0043] As shown in the figures 2 And 3 , the deformable zone shows a width in the transverse direction of the device (longitudinal direction of the vehicle) which is variable. In certain places this width is greater than in others. Thus the rear edge 32 of the deformable zone shows a particular notched pattern at the junction line between the upper 26 and lower 28 walls.

[0044] The notched or sinusoidal pattern may be regular along the length of the frame of the air inlet device 16, vary along this length by showing more or less closely spaced notches or undulations, or even be located in predetermined zones.

[0045] The deformable zone preferably extends over the entire length of the front edge of the frame in a longitudinal direction of the device.

[0046] In the transverse direction of the device, the deformable zone preferably extends over at least 20% of the distance between the front and rear edges of the frame; preferably at least 30%; preferably at least 40%; preferably at least 50%.

[0047] In embodiments not shown, the front edge of the frame forms a lip that provides a flexible seal for contact with a bumper skin.

[0048] The frame comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, the device is remarkable in that the width of the deformable zone of the top wall between the front and rear edges is greater than the width of the deformable zone of the bottom wall.

[0049] The air intake device 16 may also include other features for modifying the amount of air admitted into the device. For example, the frame further includes at least one vertical air deflection wall 34 for reducing airflow. This air deflection wall 34 may be installed or removed depending on the environment in which the vehicle is intended to operate. For example, in a cold region, the wall reduces the air supply to the radiator so as to allow the engine to reach operating temperature, whereas in a hot region, the absence of the wall allows more air to be supplied to the vehicle.

[0050] In an embodiment which does not correspond to the invention, a method of manufacturing a frame for an air intake device of a motor vehicle is proposed, the frame comprising a front edge intended to be mounted in contact with a bumper skin of the motor vehicle, and a rear edge intended to be fixed to a radiator of the motor vehicle; the frame further comprising at least one wall extending between the front edge and the rear edge, so as to form an air duct.

[0051] The method is remarkable in that the frame comprises at least one wall comprising a rigid zone extending from the rear edge; and a zone deformable in the event of impact comprising means promoting its deformation and extending from the front edge; and in that said wall is produced during an overmolding step by injection of plastic material.

Claims

1. An air intake device (16) for a motor vehicle radiator, the device comprising a frame with a front edge (18) for placing in contact with a bumper skin of the motor vehicle, and a rear edge (20) for fixing to the motor vehicle radiator; the frame further comprising at least one wall extending in a transverse direction of the device, between the front edge and the rear edge, so as to form an air duct; at least one wall comprising a rigid zone (22) extending from the rear edge; and a deformable zone (24) comprising means for promoting deformation thereof in the event of an impact and extending from the front edge to the rigid zone, the rigid and deformable zones respectively comprising a front edge and a rear edge, the rear edge of the rigid zone being arranged at the rear edge (20) of the frame, the front edge of the deformable zone being arranged at the front edge (18) of the frame, and the rear edge (32) of the deformable zone being arranged at the front edge of the rigid zone; characterized in that the width of the deformable zone (24) varies in the longitudinal direction of the device so that the rear edge (32) of the zone deformable shows a crenelated or sinusoid pattern.

2. An air intake device (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means promoting deformation of the deformable zone (24) in the event of an impact comprise at least one of the following elements: a material different from the material of the rigid zone, a reduced wall thickness from the wall thickness of the rigid zone, one or more undulations, or a combination thereof.

3. Air intake device (16) according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the device is made of a plastic material, and the rigid (22) and deformable (24) zones of at least one wall are made by overmolding by injection of plastic material.

4. Air intake device (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the front edge (18) of the frame forms a lip configured to form a flexible seal for contact with a bumper skin.

5. Air intake device (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the frame comprising an upper wall (26), a lower wall (28) and lateral walls (30), the device being characterized in that the lateral walls (30) comprise a deformable zone which extends from the front edge (18) to the rear edge (20) of the frame.

6. Air intake device (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the frame comprising an upper wall (26), a lower wall (28) and lateral walls (30), the device is characterized in that the width of the deformable zone of the upper wall (26) between the front and rear edges is greater than the width of the deformable zone of the lower wall (28).

7. Air intake device (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame further comprises at least one vertical air deflection wall (34) making it possible to reduce the flow of air.

8. Motor vehicle (10) comprising a front bumper with a bumper skin (12), the bumper skin comprising a grille (14); the vehicle comprising an engine radiator; the vehicle is characterized in that it further comprises an air intake device (16) according to one of claims 1 to 7 mounted behind the grille of the bumper skin and fixed to the engine cooling radiator.