ORDER FOR REGULATING AN AIR FLOW FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2103090 filed on 26.03.2021.

[0002] The technical context of the present invention is that of devices for regulating airflow at the front of motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to an airflow regulation assembly for a motor vehicle.

[0003] In the prior art, air intake systems are known for supplying outside air to a vehicle's thermal control circuit. This circuit is configured to regulate the temperature of a ventilation, heating, and / or air conditioning system (HVAC), and / or the vehicle's engine, also known as the engine block. Specifically, these air intake systems improve the engine's warm-up time, for example, by preventing cold outside air from entering the vehicle during startup.

[0004] We know of air intake systems integrated into a front crossmember of the vehicle, located behind the front bumper. Upstream of this crossmember, an air intake supplies air to the air intake system.

[0005] It is known to use movable shutters on the front of motor vehicles to improve the operation of air intake systems. These movable shutters can be controlled to be either fully open to allow maximum airflow or partially or completely closed to restrict airflow. One type of movable shutter consists of a flap mounted on the front bumper of the motor vehicle, upstream of the air intake that supplies air to the air intake system.

[0006] Examples of air intake systems are also shown in documents FR3062347A1, FR3008 060A1 and DE102015205839A1.

[0007] The drawback of these movable shutter flaps is that the airflow regulation within the air intake system is not optimal. Indeed, the flap attached to the front bumper of the vehicle tends to be poorly positioned relative to the air intake intended to supply air to the air intake system. The direction of the airflow within the air intake system can therefore be improved.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a new air flow regulation system for motor vehicles in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to other advantages.

[0009] Another objective of the invention is to provide a simple airflow regulation system for a motor vehicle, both from the point of view of its assembly, implementation and manufacture.

[0010] Another objective of the invention is to provide an inexpensive air flow control system for motor vehicles, so as to limit the cost of such an air flow control system compared to existing air flow control systems for motor vehicles.

[0011] Another objective of the invention is to provide an air flow control system for motor vehicles that is configured to limit the number of operations required for its assembly, so as to optimize the production time of said air flow control system.

[0012] Another objective of the invention is to propose a more satisfactory airflow regulation system for motor vehicles in terms of airflow direction intended to integrate an air intake system at the front of the motor vehicle.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with an airflow control assembly for a motor vehicle, the control assembly being intended to be mounted on the front and rear faces of a bumper of the motor vehicle, the control assembly comprising (i) a cross member having a duct for allowing airflow from the front of the control assembly, the duct being provided between a front face of the cross member and a rear face of the cross member, (ii) a movable flap that rotates between an open position and a closed position of the duct, the flap pivoting about an axis of rotation, and the movable flap is fixed rigidly to the cross member, the movable flap being able to pivot about its axis of rotation and relative to the cross member, characterized in that the movable flap comprises, at a rear surface located on the side of the cross member,a dorsal fin that projects from the rear surface, the crossbar having a groove located opposite the dorsal fin to allow the movable flap to pivot around its axis.

[0014] The control assembly according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be located behind the bumper of the motor vehicle, the bumper being a front bumper. The "behind" positioning of the bumper is considered relative to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. The control assembly according to the invention is intended to be fixed rigidly to the bumper of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In the motor vehicle it equips, the control system conforming to the first aspect of the invention is intended to regulate the supply of outside air intended to feed a thermal regulation circuit of the motor vehicle. In the motor vehicle equipped with the control system according to the invention, the airflow is captured at the front of the motor vehicle before entering the control system.

[0016] In the control assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, the crossmember duct is designed to channel the airflow from the front of the control assembly. The crossmember duct allows the airflow to circulate through the crossmember from its front face to its rear face. The front face of the crossmember is designed to be positioned in front of the rear face of the crossmember in the motor vehicle equipped with the control assembly according to the invention.

[0017] In the control assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, the movable flap is designed to regulate the airflow entering the crossmember duct. In the motor vehicle equipped with the control assembly according to the invention, the airflow is channeled through the duct and directed to the vehicle's thermal control circuit when the movable flap of the control assembly is in the open position or in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions. The airflow is blocked when the movable flap of the control assembly is in the closed position, and the crossmember duct is not supplied. According to the invention, the airflow entering the crossmember duct fully supplies the thermal control circuit in the motor vehicle equipped with the control assembly according to the invention.

[0018] According to the invention, the movable flap is fixed rigidly to the cross member, and the movable flap can pivot about its axis of rotation relative to the cross member. By being fixed to the cross member, the movable flap adopts a reliable and reproducible positioning relative to the cross member's duct. The invention, in its first aspect, thus advantageously ensures that the supply of airflow from the front of the control assembly to the cross member's duct is optimal.

[0019] Such a control assembly, equipped with a movable flap fixed rigidly to the crossmember, allows for the regulation of airflow both upstream and through the crossmember duct. This solution thus protects the control assembly from airflow deviation upstream of the duct, while remaining simple to implement. The control assembly according to the invention has the advantage of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks without requiring significant modifications to the vehicle on which it is installed.

[0020] The control system according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination in accordance with the claims: The movable shutter is fixed securely to the front face of the crossbar; the movable shutter is attached to the crossbar, the movable shutter having fasteners to secure it securely to the crossbar. The fasteners securely fix the movable shutter to the crossbar via a rotationally movable joint. The movable shutter and the fasteners are rotationally movable around the axis of rotation of the movable shutter and relative to the crossbar; the fasteners are of the detachable type. By "detachable," it is meant that the fasteners allow the movable shutter to be removed from the crossbar. The movable shutter and the crossbar can be detached from and reattached to each other.Such fastening elements facilitate the maintenance and replacement of the movable shutter. In a first embodiment, the fastening elements take the form of a clip that engages with a fastening element of the crossbar by means of complementary shapes. Advantageously, the crossbar fastening element is formed on the front face of the crossbar; the crossbar fastening element takes the form of grooves configured to receive the fastening elements of the movable shutter by press-fitting. In other words, the fastening elements of the movable shutter are press-fitted by the crossbar fastening elements and are retained within said fastening elements. The term "grooves" refers to the fact that the fastening element forms a plurality of long, narrow, hollow notches.A transverse profile of the groove is hollow, such that the bottom of the groove is its deepest part; the fasteners for the movable shutter are located on either side of the shutter, and the fasteners for the crossbar are located on either side of the duct. It is understood that the movable shutter is contained between at least two of its fasteners. The fasteners for the movable shutter are located on opposite edges of the shutter. For example, the fasteners for the movable shutter are located on opposite lateral edges of the shutter, and / or the fasteners for the movable shutter are located on opposite longitudinal edges of the shutter; the fasteners for the movable shutter define the axis of rotation of the shutter, the shutter itself, and possibly the fasteners for the movable shutter, which can pivot around the axis of rotation and relative to the crossbar.Thus, according to a first embodiment, the fasteners define the axis of rotation of the movable shutter, and the movable shutter pivots around its fasteners, which remain stationary. According to a second preferred alternative, the movable shutter is fixed to its fasteners, and these fasteners are rotationally movable relative to the crossbar fasteners with which they interact. The movable shutter takes the form of a plate delimited by two lateral and two longitudinal edges, with the fasteners located at the lateral edges of the movable shutter. The movable shutter is thus a generally flat piece extending in a principal plane. Such a movable shutter is compact and simplified to manufacture. In the movable shutter formed from a plate, the two lateral edges are opposite each other, and the two longitudinal edges are opposite each other.The terms "longitudinal" and "lateral" are to be considered relative to a principal extension axis of the crossbar duct, the principal extension axis of the crossbar duct being transverse to the axis of rotation of the movable shutter. According to a second alternative embodiment to the first, the fixing members of the movable shutter take the form of cylindrical bearing surfaces that project beyond the lateral edges, the cylindrical bearing surfaces being coaxial with each other and forming the axis of rotation around which the movable shutter pivots relative to the crossbar. The cylindrical bearing surfaces forming the fixing members cooperate by engaging complementary shapes with a fixing element of the crossbar. Advantageously, the fixing element of the crossbar is formed on the front face of the crossbar.This can be generalized to fastening elements forming a male portion projecting from the movable flap, advantageously projecting from the lateral edges, and collaborating by engaging complementary shapes with a female portion formed on the cross member, advantageously on the front face of the cross member. The movable flap according to the invention comprises, at a rear surface located on the side of the cross member, a dorsal fin extending outward from the rear surface. The cross member has a groove located opposite the dorsal fin to allow the movable flap to pivot around its axis. The term "rear" is to be understood in relation to the direction of the airflow intended to pass through the cross member's duct. Such a movable flap facilitates its handling, particularly during assembly or maintenance operations. In a plane formed by the movable flap, the fastening elements are located above the center of gravity of the movable flap.In other words, the fastening elements are located near an upper longitudinal edge of the movable flap and at a distance from a lower longitudinal edge of said movable flap. Put another way, the axis of rotation is proximal to the upper longitudinal edge of the movable flap and distal to its lower longitudinal edge; the axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal edge of the movable flap; the duct is formed by a single cell. It is understood that the duct forms a single volume. In other words, the duct is not compartmentalized: it is formed of a single cell; the control assembly is made of a plastic material, such as polypropylene. Advantageously, the plastic material forming the control assembly also contains a fiberglass filler to improve its strength. Being made of polypropylene, the control assembly is hard and resistant to mechanical deformation.By being reinforced with fiberglass, the plastic material forming the entire control assembly has enhanced mechanical properties and resistance to deformation; the movable flap, the fasteners, and the crossbar are all produced using the same molding process. An industrial molding process allows for the cost-effective production of a large number of identical units by repeatedly using the same mold. The term "same molding process" refers to the use of an identical or similar molding protocol to produce the movable flap, the fasteners, and the crossbar.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention, a bumper arrangement is proposed comprising a regulating assembly conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any of its improvements and a front bumper of a motor vehicle, the regulating assembly being fixed securely to the front bumper and located behind said bumper, relative to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, a bumper frame being supported against an upper face of the crossmember.

[0022] In a motor vehicle equipped with the bumper arrangement conforming to the second aspect of the invention, the front bumper is intended to protect elements located behind said bumper following a collision that may occur at the front of the motor vehicle. The front bumper is specifically intended to protect the motor vehicle's engine system and the occupants of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0023] In the bumper arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention, the bumper frame makes it possible to retain the crossmember of the regulating assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0024] In the bumper arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention, the bumper frame is supported against the upper face of the crossmember. Supported means that the frame cooperates with the upper face of the crossmember. In the crossmember, the upper face is advantageously higher than both the front and rear faces of the crossmember. The term "upper" refers to the positioning of the crossmember when the bumper arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention is fitted to a motor vehicle.

[0025] In the motor vehicle equipped with the bumper arrangement according to the invention, the airflow is captured at the front of the motor vehicle before entering the control assembly.

[0026] According to a third aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising a bumper arrangement conforming to the second aspect of the invention or to any of its improvements.

[0027] In the motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention, the bumper arrangement control assembly makes it possible to supply outside air to a thermal control circuit of the motor vehicle such as a ventilation, heating, and / or air conditioning system otherwise known as an HVAC system, for the English acronym "Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning", and / or an engine system of the motor vehicle.

[0028] In the motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention, the air control assembly captures an external airflow from the front of the motor vehicle. The degree of opening of the movable flap of the control assembly is modified according to the aerodynamic and / or cooling needs of the motor vehicle according to the invention, for components arranged in a ventilation, heating, and / or air conditioning system, also known as an HVAC system (Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning), and / or an engine system of the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0029] In the motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention, the movable flap is designed to regulate the airflow entering the crossmember duct. In the motor vehicle according to the invention, the airflow is channeled through the duct and directed toward the vehicle's thermal regulation circuit when the movable flap of the regulation assembly is in the open position or in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions. The airflow is blocked when the movable flap of the regulation assembly is in the closed position, and the crossmember duct is not supplied. According to the invention, the airflow entering the crossmember duct fully supplies the thermal regulation circuit in the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] Various embodiments of the invention are envisaged, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features described herein.

[0031] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which: [ Fig.1 ] illustrates a schematic view of a motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention; [ Fig.2 ] illustrates a schematic view of a bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention comprising an airflow control assembly for a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention, said control assembly being in a closed position; [ Fig.3 ] illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2 , the entire control system being in an intermediate open position; Fig.4 ] illustrates a schematic view of the bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2 , the entire control system being in an intermediate open position; Fig.5 ] illustrates a schematic view of a bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention comprising an air flow control assembly for a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention in an open position.

[0032] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may include only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from prior art.

[0033] In particular, all the variants and embodiments described can be combined with each other if there are no technical obstacles to this combination.

[0034] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0035] There FIGURE 1 This illustrates a schematic view of a motor vehicle 1 conforming to the third aspect of the invention. In the following description, a reference frame is defined in which a longitudinal axis OX, a transverse axis OY, and a vertical axis OZ are defined. The longitudinal axis OX corresponds to the trajectory of the motor vehicle 1 when it is moving forward, in a straight line, and on a flat road. The longitudinal axis OX corresponds to a direction from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle 1, and it is oriented from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle 1. A longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis OX is also defined; the adjectives "front," "rear," or "frontal" refer to this reference direction, as does the term "length."The transverse axis OY corresponds to the axis around which the wheels of the motor vehicle 1 rotate, and the direction of the OY axis is oriented from a passenger side to a driver's side, in non-Anglo-Saxon standards. A transverse direction parallel to the transverse axis OY is also defined, and the adjectives "lateral" or "transverse" refer to this reference direction, as does the term "width." The vertical axis OZ is an axis perpendicular to both the OX and OY axes, and oriented from a floor of the motor vehicle 1 to a roof of said motor vehicle 1; the adjectives "upper" and "lower" refer to this reference direction, as does the term "height."

[0036] There FIGURE 1 shows that the motor vehicle 1 comprises a bumper arrangement 2 3 conforming to the second aspect of the invention. FIGURE 1 shows that the arrangement 2 of bumper 3 comprises a regulating assembly 4 conforming to the first aspect of the invention, a front bumper 3 of a motor vehicle 1, and a bumper 3 frame 5. The regulating assembly 4 and the bumper 3 frame 5 are illustrated in dashed lines and are mounted behind said bumper 3 relative to a longitudinal axis 6 of the motor vehicle 1 extending along the longitudinal direction OX. It is understood that the FIGURE 1 that the regulation assembly 4 is fixed securely to the front bumper 3.

[0037] In this case, the motor vehicle 1 comprises two control assemblies 4 arranged symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal axis 6 of the motor vehicle 1. Each control assembly 4 regulates an airflow passing through the bumper arrangement 2 3 conforming to the second aspect of the invention. The airflow is represented in FIGURE 1 by a series of arrows 7.

[0038] With reference to FIGURES 2 à 5 The bumper arrangement 2 and the control assembly 4 are illustrated. The control assembly 4 comprises a cross member 8 and a movable flap 9 fixed securely to the cross member 8.

[0039] There FIGURE 3 shows a longitudinal section AA of the bumper arrangement 2 3, the longitudinal section AA being illustrated in FIGURE 2 . There FIGURE 3 shows that the cross member 8 comprises a front face 10 and a rear face 11. The cross member 8 includes, between its front face 10 and its rear face 11, a duct 12, delimiting a single cell 13, intended to allow the passage of airflow from the front of the control assembly 4. An inlet of the duct 12, which can be closed by the movable flap 9 as described below, is formed in the front face 10 of the cross member. In the FIGURES 2 , 4 And 5The bumper arrangement 2 3 is shown from the front face 10 of the crossmember 8. The FIGURE 3 shows that the cross member 8 further includes an upper face 14 supporting the bumper frame 5 3.

[0040] There FIGURE 3 shows that the movable flap 9 comprises a front surface 15 opposite a rear surface 16. The movable flap 9 takes the form of a plate delimited by two lateral edges 17 and two longitudinal edges 18 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 .

[0041] There FIGURE 3 shows that the movable flap 9 is free to rotate about an axis of rotation 19 and relative to the cross member 8. The axis of rotation 19 of the movable flap 9 is parallel to the longitudinal edges 18 of the movable flap 9 as shown in FIGURE 2 And 3 In FIGURE 3 The movable flap 9 is shown in a closed position 100 (solid lines). An open position 300 is symbolized in FIGURE 3 by the movable flap 9 in dashed lines. In FIGURE 2 The movable flap 9 adopts the closed position 100. FIGURE 5 The movable flap 9 adopts the open position 300. In FIGURE 4 The movable shutter 9 adopts an intermediate opening position 200. It is understood that the movable shutter 9 is configured to pivot around its axis of rotation 19 to adopt one of the positions 100, 200, 300, from the open position 300 to the closed position 100, and vice versa, and that the intermediate opening position 200 is illustrated in FIGURE 4 is an intermediate opening position 200 among others.

[0042] There FIGURE 3 shows that the movable flap 9 of the control assembly 4, according to the first aspect of the invention, pivots relative to the cross member 8 so as to regulate the entry of the airflow through the control assembly 4, from front to back, along an admission direction of the duct 12 formed in the cross member 8 and corresponding to the longitudinal direction OX. In the FIGURE 3 The movable flap 9 in the closed position 100 blocks the airflow represented by solid arrows 101. In the FIGURE 3 , the movable flap 9 in the open position 300 allows the admission of the airflow represented by dashed arrows 301.

[0043] THE FIGURES 2 , 4 And 5 show that the movable flap 9, attached to the cross member 8, is fixed securely to the front face 10 of the cross member 8 by means of fastening elements 20. The FIGURE 2 shows that the fixing members 20 of the movable shutter 9 take the form of cylindrical bearing surfaces 21 which extend in projection beyond the lateral edges 17 of the movable shutter 9 and above a center of gravity 22 of the movable shutter 9. The cylindrical bearing surfaces 21 are coaxial with each other and materialize the axis of rotation 19 around which the movable shutter 9 can pivot relative to the cross member 8. The cylindrical bearing surfaces 21 forming the fixing members 20 of the movable shutter 9 cooperate with fixing elements 23 of the cross member 8 located on either side of the conduit 12.

[0044] There FIGURE 5 shows that the rear surface 16 of the movable flap 9 is oriented towards the upper face 14 of the cross member 8 when the movable flap 9 is in the open position 300. The rear surface 16 of the movable flap 9 has a ridge 24 that projects from the rear surface 16. In this case, the ridge 24 forms a plate that extends along the vertical axis OZ and includes a curved free edge 26. The ridge 24 is centered transversely on the rear surface 16. The cross member 8 has a groove 25 located opposite the ridge 24, housing the ridge 24 of the movable flap 9 and allowing the movable flap 9 to pivot around its axis to adopt the open position 300 as illustrated in FIGURE 5 The groove 25 includes a bottom 27, visible in FIGURE 4 , intended to be located opposite the free edge 26 of the dorsal 24 when the movable flap 9 is in the open position 300.

[0045] In summary, the invention relates to an airflow control assembly 4 for a motor vehicle 1. The control assembly 4 is intended to be mounted on the front 10 and rear of a bumper 3 of the motor vehicle 1. The control assembly 4 comprises a cross member 8 and a movable flap 9 fixed rigidly to the cross member 8 in accordance with the invention, the movable flap 9 being able to pivot about an axis of rotation 19 and relative to the cross member 8. The cross member 8 has a duct 12. The duct 12 of the cross member 8 is intended to allow airflow from the front of the control assembly 4, the duct 12 being formed between a front face 10 of the cross member 8 and a rear face 11 of the cross member 8. By being rotatable, the movable flap 9 can assume an open position 300 and a closed position 100 of the duct 12.

[0046] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways in accordance with the claims. Specifically, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable with each other in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. Control assembly (4) for a motor vehicle air flow (1), the control assembly (4) being intended to be mounted on the front face and in rear with a bumper (3) of the motor vehicle (1), the control assembly (4) comprising: - a cross-member (8) having a conduit (12) intended to let through a flow of air coming from the front of the regulating assembly (4), the conduit (12) being provided between a front face (10) of the cross-member (8) and a rear face (11) of the cross-member (8); - a movable flap (9) rotating between an opening position (300) and a closing position (100) of the conduit (12), the flap pivoting about an axis of rotation (19); characterised in that the movable flap (9) is fixed integrally to the cross-member (8), the movable flap (9) being able to pivot about its axis of rotation (19) and relative to the cross-member (8), wherein the movable flap (9) comprises, on the level of a rear surface (16) located on the side of the cross-member (8), a back (24) which extends projecting from the rear surface (16), the cross-member (8) comprising a groove (25) located facing the back (24) in order to allow the movable flap (9) to be able to pivot about its axis.

2. Control assembly (4) according to the previous claim, in which the movable flap (9) is fixed integrally to the front face (10) of the cross-member (8).

3. Control assembly (4) according to the previous claim, in which the movable flap (9) is attached to the cross-member (8), the movable flap (9) comprising fixing members (20) in order to fix it securely to the cross-member (8).

4. Control assembly (4) according to the previous claim, in which the fixing members (20) of the movable flap (9) are located on either side of the movable flap (9), fixing elements (23) of the cross-member (8) being located on either side of the conduit (12).

5. Control assembly (4) according to the previous claim, in which the fixing members (20) of the movable flap (9) materialise the axis of rotation (19) of the movable flap (9), said movable flap (9), and optionally the fixing members (20) of said movable flap (9), being able to pivot about the axis of rotation (19) and relative to the cross-member (8).

6. Control assembly (4) according to either of Claims 4 and 5, in which the mobile flap (9) takes the shape of a plate delimited by two lateral edges (17) and two longitudinal edges (18), the fixing members (20) being located at the level of the lateral edges (17) of the mobile flap (9).

7. Control assembly (4) according to the previous claim, in which the fixing members (20) of the movable flap (9) take the form of cylindrical bearing surfaces (21) which extend projecting beyond the lateral edges (17), the cylindrical bearing surfaces (21) being coaxial with one another and materialising the axis of rotation (19) around which the movable flap (9) pivots relative to the cross-member (8).

8. Arrangement (2) for a bumper (3) comprising a regulating assembly (4) according to any one of the previous claims and a front bumper (3) of a motor vehicle (1), the regulating assembly (4) being fixedly attached to the front bumper (3) and located at the rear of said bumper (3), relative to a longitudinal axis (6) of the motor vehicle (1), a bumper frame (5) (3) being supported against an upper face (14) of the cross-member (8).

9. Motor vehicle (1) comprising an arrangement (2) of bumpers (3) according to the previous claim.