Vehicle comprising a motor mounted on a cradle by means of a torque rod

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a powertrain (5, 105), a cradle (3, 103) and a torque rod (110) by means of which the powertrain (5, 105) is mounted on the cradle (3, 103), the torque rod (110) comprising a first end (112) mounted around a first axis (113) of rotation connecting two walls (116, 117) of the cradle (3, 103). According to the invention, a ball joint (125) is attached to the first axis (113), the first end (112) of the torque rod (110) comprising a rigid ring (126) surrounded by a first elastic pad (127), the rigid ring (126) being mounted around the ball joint (125), such that, in the event the torque rod (110) pivots from a movement of the powertrain (105), the rigid ring (126) moves around the ball joint (125) as the torque rods pivots, thereby reducing the amount of force on the first elastic pad (127).

Description

Description Title of the invention: Vehicle comprising an engine mounted on a cradle by means of a connecting rod.

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising an engine mounted on a cradle by means of a connecting rod.

[0002] In order to better understand the positioning of the various parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is carried out with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0003] The powertrains (GMP) of motor vehicles are generally decoupled from the vehicle itself, to prevent shocks from said powertrains, comprising an engine and a gearbox, towards the vehicle. This decoupling therefore prevents the transmission of movements from the engine to the vehicle and also makes it possible to filter vibrations from said GMP towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle, which are two rather unpleasant manifestations for the vehicle's occupants.

[0004] One solution to ensure this decoupling is, for example, to place the engine on a cradle using a front support assembly and a rear support assembly, which are fixed to both the powertrain and the cradle.

[0005] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, by way of illustration, a rear support assembly 1 comprises a rear support 2 on cradle 3, fixedly mounted on said cradle 3 and a rear support 4 on GMP 5 fixedly mounted on the GMP 5, and an elastic connection 6 securing said two rear supports 2, 4 together. The elastic connection 6 is in the form of an articulation 7 or “plot”, which comprises an outer ring 8 made of plastic, a central spacer 9 made of aluminum and parts made of elastomer rubber adhered to the central spacer 9 and to the outer ring 8 made of plastic. This plot 7 is intended to be fitted into the cylindrical orifice of the support on the cradle. Its height corresponds substantially to the thickness of said support. Once the plot 7 has been assembled in the support on the cradle, the connection is secured to the support on the GMP by a bolt which passes through the central spacer 9.

[0006] More precisely, the support 4 on GMP 5 has at its end not fixed on the GMP 5, a form of yoke 10 which comes to take between its two flanges the spacer 9 of the articulation

[0007] This example of connection of the GMP 5 on the cradle 3 is not limiting. In other cases, or in addition to this, one can find for example left or right lateral suspensions in which the axis of the stud 7 is vertical and not horizontal as in the example illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3. In still other cases, the axis of the stud 7 can be in an intermediate position between the vertical position and the horizontal position.

[0008] An elastomer fitted into the rear support on the cradle or connecting rod must be able to last the entire lifespan of the vehicle, because it would be too complex to manage after-sales elastomer buffer changes. Indeed, in the case of an elastomer buffer fitted into the support on the cradle side, its replacement would require dismantling the cradle and having the specific press tool to remove and fit a new buffer. The estimated intervention time is more than ten times the current time for changing a conventional lower suspension connecting rod. However, due to architectural constraints and the engine torque recovery, the engine tilts and / or swings, and no longer allows the elastomer of the torque connecting rod to work correctly.

[0009] Indeed, the elastomer is subjected to forces and torques coming from the engine, and which are transmitted to it by the central spacer, in particular according to the example illustrated a torque along the vertical axis Z, which tends to crush the left part of the elastomer towards the rear and the right part towards the front, because the stud is mounted without play in the support on the cradle side on its external diameter. Without special precautions, such a situation will result in premature wear of the elastomer.

[0010] A vehicle according to the invention has a powertrain mounted on a cradle by means of a connecting rod which is designed to delay or even eliminate wear of the elastomer.

[0011] The subject of the invention is a vehicle comprising a powertrain, a cradle and a torque transfer rod by means of which the powertrain is mounted on the cradle, said rod comprising a first end mounted around a first axis of rotation connecting two walls of the cradle.

[0012] According to the invention, a ball joint is fixed to the first axis, the first end of the connecting rod comprising a rigid ring, surrounded by a first elastic buffer, said rigid ring being mounted around the ball joint so that in the case of a pivoting of the connecting rod resulting from a movement of the powertrain, the rigid ring moves around the ball joint to accompany this pivoting, minimizing the forces on said first elastic buffer. The heart of the invention is constituted by the ball joint, the presence of which will prevent the elastic buffer from working in rotation. Indeed, the powertrain being fixed to the vehicle by being pendulous, it will therefore move during a rolling phase of the vehicle, causing a slight displacement of the connecting rod by pivoting. Generally, when the connecting rod pivots, the elastic buffer placed around the ring will work both in traction and in rotation.Thanks to the presence of the ball joint, said elastic buffer will only work in traction since the rotational forces on said buffer will be minimized or even canceled, by the presence of the ball joint. As a result, the elastic buffer will undergo less forces during the lifetime of the vehicle, and will therefore be preserved longer, without the need to change it. It should be noted that the rod is mounted in rotation around the first axis of rotation, extending perpendicular to said first axis, and that the pivoting of the rod induced by the movement of the powertrain during a rolling phase of the vehicle, is carried out in such a way that the rod is no longer strictly perpendicular to said first axis. The function of the ball joint is to reduce, or even cancel the rotational forces exerted on the elastic buffer in order to slow down the wear of said buffer.The ball joint preferably has a spherical shape and is secured to the first axis of rotation. Advantageously, the first axis of rotation has a cylindrical shape. The connecting rod can, for example, be placed in the vehicle by extending horizontally along a longitudinal axis X of this vehicle, or be placed in said vehicle in. extending vertically. Other intermediate orientations are still possible. It is naturally assumed that the ball joint is fixed to the first axis of rotation, being placed between the two walls of the cradle.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the rigid ring is in contact with the ball joint. For this embodiment, no coating or interlayer is interposed between the rigid ring and the ball joint. When the connecting rod pivots due to the movement of the powertrain during a rolling phase of the vehicle, the rigid ring will pivot directly and simultaneously on the ball joint. The rigid ring is similar to a crown extending in a first direction aligned with a diameter of the ball joint, and which can move around the ball joint to extend in a second direction which is aligned with a diameter of the sphere and which is different from the first direction.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the rigid ring has a rounded internal surface matching the shape of the ball joint, a pivoting of the connecting rod causing a simultaneous pivoting of the rigid ring around the ball joint. In other words, the internal surface of the rigid ring closely matches the shape of the ball joint, allowing said rigid ring to pivot by sliding on the ball joint.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the rigid ring is non-deformable for the levels of force generated on the first end of the connecting rod during a pivoting thereof. The rigid ring accompanies the pivoting of the connecting rod without deforming, to promote this pivoting movement.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the ball joint is spherical in shape. This is a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the ball joint is metallic.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the ball joint extends along the first axis of rotation so as to come into contact with the two walls of the cradle.

[0019] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the connecting rod has a body comprising the first end and a second end mounted around a second axis of rotation connecting two walls of the powertrain, said second end being crossed by a hole provided for the passage of the second axis and in which a second elastic buffer has been placed intended to surround the second axis of rotation. The body of the connecting rod is elongated, the first end and the second end of the connecting rod being considered along a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod. When the powertrain moves during a rolling phase of the vehicle, the two walls of said powertrain also move and impart to the connecting rod a pivoting movement allowing the rigid ring of the first end to move on and around the ball joint.The presence of the second elastic buffer makes it possible to absorb the forces generated between the second axis of rotation connecting the two walls of the powertrain, and the second end of the connecting rod when said connecting rod pivots.

[0020] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the body of the connecting rod is made of aluminum. In this way, the connecting rod has good mechanical strength while remaining light.

[0021] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the body of the connecting rod extends horizontally along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, so that the second end is placed in front of the first end. This positioning of the connecting rod is effective when the powertrain is not operating and therefore does not cause said connecting rod to pivot.

[0022] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below with reference to the following figures:

[0023] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cradle, an engine and a support assembly for said engine on said cradle of a vehicle according to the state of the art,

[0024] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of an area of ​​the support assembly of Fig. 1,

[0025] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the area of ​​Figure 3,

[0026] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a cradle, a powertrain and a connecting rod between said cradle and said engine of a vehicle according to the invention, said connecting rod being in a first position,

[0027] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a cradle, a powertrain and a connecting rod between said cradle and said engine of a vehicle according to the invention, said connecting rod being in a second position.

[0028] Figures 1, 2 and 3 have been described previously.

[0029] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a vehicle according to the invention comprises a powertrain 105, a cradle 103 and a connecting rod 110, said powertrain 105 being mounted on the cradle 103 by means of said connecting rod 110. Indeed, the powertrain 105 being capable of moving and generating vibrations during a rolling phase of the vehicle, it is mounted in said vehicle while being decoupled therefrom, in order to prevent said movement and said vibrations from being transmitted to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The connecting rod 110 has the particular objective of ensuring decoupling between the powertrain 105 and the vehicle.

[0030] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the connecting rod 110 comprises a body 111 elongated, a first end 112 of which is pivotally mounted around a first axis 113 of the cradle 103, and a second end 114 of which is pivotally mounted around a second axis 115 of the powertrain 105. The body 111 is advantageously made of aluminum. The first end 112 and the second end 114 of the connecting rod 110 are to be considered relative to a longitudinal axis thereof. The cradle 103 comprises two parallel walls 116, 117, which are connected to each other by a first screw 118 extending perpendicular to said walls 116, 117. A cylindrical insert 119 surrounds said first screw 118, coming into abutment against said two walls 116, 117, said cylindrical insert 119 constituting the first axis 113. This cylindrical insert 119 acts as a spacer between the two walls 116, 117 of the cradle 103. The powertrain 105 comprises two parallel walls 120, 121, which are connected to each other by a second screw 122 extending perpendicular to said walls 120, 121. A cylindrical insert 123 surrounds said second screw 122 coming into abutment against said two walls 120, 121, said cylindrical insert 123 constituting the second axis 115. This cylindrical insert 119 plays the role of a spacer between the two walls 120, 121 of the powertrain group 105.

[0031] The second end 114 of the connecting rod 110 has a through-hole, extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body 111 of said connecting rod 110. A second elastic buffer 124 having the shape of a hollow cylinder and made of elastomer, is placed in the through-hole of the second end 114. The second end 114 of the connecting rod 110 is mounted in rotation around the cylindrical insert 123 placed around the screw 122 so that the second elastic buffer 124 directly grips said insert 123. The second elastic buffer 124 extends over the entire length of the through-hole, that is to say over the entire width of the second end 114 of the connecting rod 110, without projecting beyond said connecting rod 110.

[0032] The cylindrical insert 119 placed around the screw 118 connecting the two walls 116, 117 of the cradle 103, carries a spherical ball joint 125 preferably made of metal and which is placed between the two walls 116, 117 of the cradle 103. This ball joint 125 is fixed to the cylindrical insert 119 without the possibility of movement relative to said cylindrical insert 119. Preferably, the ball joint 125 comes to tangent the two walls 116, 117 of the cradle 103. In other words, in this case, the ball joint 125 extends over the entire length of the cylindrical insert 119.

[0033] The first end 112 of the connecting rod 110 comprises a rigid ring 126 of cylindrical shape and having a cylindrical internal channel, the diameter of which is slightly greater than that of the ball joint 125. This rigid ring 126 is surrounded by a first elastic buffer 127, preferably made of elastomer, said first elastic buffer 127 being of cylindrical shape. The rigid ring 126 and the elastic buffer 127 are arranged relative to each other in a concentric manner, that is to say that they are arranged so that their axes of revolution coincide, the rigid ring 126 being placed inside the elastic buffer 127. The assembly constituted by the rigid ring 126 and the elastic buffer 127 is placed in a through hole of the first end 112 of the connecting rod 110, said hole being of cylindrical shape and having a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the elastic buffer 127. This assembly is advantageously forced into the through hole of the first end 112 of the connecting rod 110.

[0034] The first end 112 of the connecting rod 110 is mounted around the ball joint 125 so that the rigid ring 126 is placed around and in contact with the ball joint 125.

[0035] In the example illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the connecting rod 110 extends horizontally along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. It should be noted that according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the connecting rod 110 could extend vertically.

[0036] Referring to Figure 4, when the powertrain 105 is not operating, the connecting rod 115 extends horizontally along a longitudinal axis X and horizontal of the vehicle. It extends perpendicular to the first screw 118 connecting the two walls 116, 117 of the cradle 103, and to the second screw 122 connecting the two walls 120, 121 of the powertrain 105.

[0037] Referring to Figure 5, when the powertrain 105 is operating, for example during a rolling phase of the vehicle, it rises slightly relative to its position for which the powertrain 105 is not operating, causing a slight pivoting of the connecting rod 110 in a vertical and longitudinal plane XZ of the vehicle. The connecting rod 110 no longer extends perpendicular to the first screw 118. The ball joint 125 promotes the pivoting of the connecting rod 110 by means of the pivoting of the rigid ring 126 on and around the ball joint 125, reducing or even canceling the rotational forces on the first elastic buffer 127 which is no longer stressed only in traction. As a result, thanks to the presence of the ball joint 125, the first elastic buffer 127 of the first end 112 of the connecting rod 110 is less stressed, and will therefore be preserved for longer.It will therefore not be necessary to change the first elastic buffer 127 of the connecting rod 110 often during the lifetime of the vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising a powertrain (5, 105), a cradle (3, 103) and a torque-recovery rod (110) by means of which the powertrain (5, 105) is mounted on the cradle (3, 103), said rod (110) comprising a first end (112) mounted around a first axis (113) of rotation connecting two walls (116, 117) of the cradle (3, 103), characterized in that a ball joint (125) is fixed to the first axis (113), and in that the first end (112) of the rod (110) comprises a rigid ring (126) surrounded by a first elastic buffer (127), said rigid ring (126) being mounted around the ball joint (125) so that in the case of pivoting of the rod (110) resulting from a movement of the powertrain (105), the rigid ring (126) moves around the ball joint (125) to accompany this pivoting, minimizing the forces on said first elastic buffer (127).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid ring (126) is in contact with the ball joint (125).

3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rigid ring (126) has a rounded internal surface matching the shape of the ball joint (125), and in that a pivoting of the connecting rod (110) causes a simultaneous pivoting of the rigid ring (126) around the ball joint (125).

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rigid ring (126) is non-deformable for the levels of force generated on the first end (112) of the connecting rod (110) during a pivoting thereof.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ball joint (125) is spherical in shape.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ball joint (125) is metallic.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the ball joint extends along the first axis (113) so as to come into contact with the two walls (116, 117) of the cradle (103).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting rod (110) has a body (111) comprising the first end (112) and a second end (114) mounted around a second axis of rotation (115) connecting two walls (120, 121) of the powertrain (105), and in that said second end (114) is crossed by a hole provided for the passage of the second axis (115) of rotation and in which a second elastic buffer (124) has been placed intended to surround the second axis of rotation (115).

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the body (111) of the connecting rod (110) is made of aluminum.

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the body (111) of the connecting rod (110) extends horizontally along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, so that the second end (115) is placed in front of the first end (112).

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