Vehicle having a front axle assembly with an air guide

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a front axle assembly (1) having two front wheels and having at least one upper part (12) extending in a horizontal plane. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an interface part (11), which is secured to the upper part (12) by clipping, and an air deflector screen (10), which is secured to said upper part (12) via said interface part (11), the air deflector screen (10) allowing the air located in front of the vehicle, when running, to be deflected towards a braking device (2) of one of the two front wheels of the front axle assembly in order to cool said braking device (2).

Description

[0001] Title of the invention:

[0002] VEHICLE WITH A FRONT AXLE EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR GUIDE

[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a front axle provided with an air guide.

[0004] An air guide is a part acting as a deflector screen intended to deflect the air in front of a vehicle during the rolling phase, towards a brake disc and a brake caliper located near one of the two wheels of the front axle. In this way, the front axle which has two front wheels will therefore have two air guides, each one being associated with a braking device of one of the two wheels of the front axle. The objective of this air guide is to contribute to cooling this braking device, which essentially includes the brake disc and the brake caliper.

[0005] Currently, the installation of such an air guide on a vehicle front axle is complicated, because the location of installation of this air guide on said front axle is difficult to access and therefore does not allow easy handling of said air guide.

[0006] A vehicle according to the invention has an air guide whose structural characteristics will facilitate its installation in the vehicle, in the location initially provided for this purpose.

[0007] 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.

[0008] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a front axle having two front wheels and provided with at least one upper part extending in a horizontal plane.

[0009] According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an interface part which is secured to the upper part by clipping and an air deflector screen which is secured to the upper part via said interface part, the air deflector screen making it possible to deflect the air located at the front of the vehicle during the rolling phase towards a braking device of one of the two front wheels of the front axle, in order to cool said braking device. The interface part thus makes it possible to arrange the location of the front axle intended to receive the deflector screen, in order to facilitate its attachment in said location. The attachment of the interface part to the upper part of the front axle therefore does not require any special tools or any restrictive handling, since it is carried out by clipping. Simple manual pressure is sufficient to attach the interface part to the upper part of the front axle.This interface part has reliefs which will cooperate with complementary reliefs of the deflector screen to secure said deflector screen in the correct position to the upper part of the front axle. The deflector screen is made of plastic, preferably by injection. It is oriented on the front axle so as to be able to deflect the air located at the front of the vehicle during the rolling phase, towards a brake disc and a brake caliper of the front wheel in question. Preferably, the air deflector is crossed by walls delimiting air circulation channels.

[0010] Advantageously, the interface part is also made of plastic.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the front axle comprises two upper parts each placed near a front wheel of the front axle, the vehicle comprising two interface parts each secured to an upper part by clipping and two air deflector screens each secured to the upper part via the interface part. During a rolling phase of the vehicle, since it is the brake discs and the brake calipers of the two front wheels of the front axle which risk overheating, a vehicle according to the invention comprises two air deflector screens provided to cool the brake discs and the brake calipers of the two front wheels.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each upper part comprises a first tapered segment and a second tapered segment connected to each other by a junction zone, said junction zone representing the forwardmost part of the upper part, the first segment and the second segment being arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle passing through the center of the junction zone. Such a configuration gives the upper part a triangular-shaped profile, the first and second segments originating in the junction zone and extending therefrom, diverging from each other. The first tapered segment and the second tapered segment are comparable to arms.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first segment of each upper part is oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and the second segment of each upper part is oriented towards the inside of the vehicle, each interface part being secured by clipping to the first segment of the fixing part. In other words, for a given upper part, the first segment is further from a longitudinal and central axis X of the vehicle than is the second segment.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the interface part comprises an upper wall extending in a horizontal plane and ensuring the securing of the interface part by clipping to the first segment, by being placed above said first segment. It is advantageously assumed that the interface part can only be clipped onto the first segment in a single position. It is sufficient to bring the upper wall of the interface part above the first segment and then exert a vertical downward thrust to secure said interface part to said first segment by clipping. The upper wall constitutes the clipping attachment zone of the interface part.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the interface part comprises a lower wall extending in a vertical plane and against which the deflector screen is pressed. The lower wall of the interface part constitutes a receiving area for the air deflector screen used in particular to position said screen. Preferably, the upper wall and the lower wall are in continuity with each other and define a resulting part at right angles, since said two walls are perpendicular.

[0016] According to a possible feature of the invention, the lower wall comprises a protrusion and the deflector screen has an opening, the deflector screen being prepositioned on the interface piece by inserting the protrusion into said opening. The lower wall, via the protrusion, serves to index the air deflector screen on the interface piece. It is advantageously assumed that the protrusion is placed in the opening of the deflector screen without creating any play, in order to prevent any risk of vibration of the deflector screen when the vehicle is in the rolling phase. Preferably, the opening is a horizontal groove or slot, and the protrusion has the shape of an elongated curved tab. Advantageously, the protrusion constitutes one end of the interface piece.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the deflector screen is secured to the interface part and to the first segment by means of at least one clamping collar passing around the first segment and through holes in said deflector screen. A clamping collar is a simple, easy to implement and effective fixing means without the aid of a tool. In addition, these clamping collars are generally made of plastic and only add a very minimal amount of weight to the vehicle, unlike metal fixing screws.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the air deflector screen comprises a main wall and three secondary walls originating on said main wall and extending perpendicularly thereto, the three secondary walls being parallel. The secondary walls create air circulation channels making it possible to structure the air flow arriving in contact with the deflector screen. In this way, the air impacting the deflector screen will not disperse in all directions of the space.

[0019] Another subject of the invention is a method of mounting an air deflector screen to obtain a vehicle in accordance with the invention.

[0020] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

[0021] - a step of fixing by clipping the interface part to the upper part of the front axle,

[0022] - a step of securing the air deflector screen to the interface part and to the upper part once said interface part has been fixed by clipping to the upper part of the front axle.

[0023] In this way, once the vehicle has finished being assembled, it is still possible to insert an air deflector screen in the location provided on the front axle. It is first sufficient to clip the interface part to the upper part of the front axle to obtain a base for fixing the air deflector screen, then to fix said air deflector screen to said interface part and to the upper part with simple fixing means, such as for example clamps. A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having at least one air deflector screen which is easy and quick to install, without having to modify the structure of said vehicle in depth. This screen can therefore be installed at the last moment along a vehicle assembly line, or even later in after-sales service. A vehicle according to the invention also has the advantage of remaining light and of a constant size, despite the presence of this air deflector screen.

[0024] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0025] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front axle of a vehicle according to the invention, showing an air deflector screen,

[0026] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an area of ​​a front axle of a vehicle according to the invention, showing an upper part and an interface part, [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an area of ​​an upper part of a front axle of a vehicle according to the invention, showing a part of an interface part,

[0027] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a deflector screen of a front axle of a vehicle according to the invention, said screen being mounted on an upper part of said front axle,

[0028] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view from another angle of the deflector screen of Figure 4,

[0029] [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an area of ​​a front end of a vehicle according to the invention, showing an upper part and an air deflector screen.

[0030] A vehicle according to the invention comprises a front axle 1 having two front wheels, with which are associated two brake discs 2 and two brake calipers. In this way, during a braking phase of the vehicle caused by the driver, each brake disc 2 which is initially separated from the wheel, moves via the brake fluid, to come to press against said wheel and exert a friction force against it. During these different braking phases carried out along a path, the brake disc 2 and the brake caliper rise to very high temperatures which can directly affect the braking function of said vehicle, if these temperature increases were to persist over time.In order to limit the temperature rises of the brake disc and the brake caliper during a rolling phase of the vehicle, one solution consists of placing in the immediate environment of the brake disc 2 and the brake caliper of each front wheel, an air deflector screen 10. The function of such an air deflector screen 10 is to route the air located just in front of the vehicle during the rolling phase, directly towards the brake disc 2 and the brake caliper in order to cool these two elements.

[0031] For each brake disc associated with a front wheel of the front axle, a vehicle according to the invention comprises an interface part 11 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and an air deflector screen 10 as illustrated in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6, said air deflector screen 10 being mounted on said interface part 11.

[0032] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the front axle 1 of a vehicle according to the invention comprises two upper parts 12 each located near a front wheel. This upper part 12 comprises a first elongated segment 13 and a second elongated segment 14 connected to each other at a junction zone 15, said two elongated segments 13, 14 originating on said junction zone 15 and extending from the latter, diverging from each other. Preferably, the angle between the first elongated segment 13 and the second elongated segment is less than or equal to 90°. Each upper part 12 is placed in the vehicle so that said junction zone 15 represents the forwardmost part of the upper part 12, and so that the first segment 13 and the second segment 14 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle passing through the center of the junction zone 15.The first segment 13 of an upper part is further from a longitudinal and central axis X of the vehicle than is the second segment 14 of said upper part 12. Each elongated segment 13, 14 has a downstream section 16 which extends parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and an upstream section 17 which is inclined between a longitudinal direction X and of the vehicle and a transverse direction Y of said vehicle, said upstream section 17 connecting the junction zone 15 and the downstream section 16. The air deflector screen 10 is fixed to the upstream section 17 of the first segment 13 of each upper part 12.

[0033] The interface part 11 comprises a horizontal wall 18 and a vertical wall 19, said horizontal wall having two distinct parts 20, 21. This horizontal wall 18 is fixed to the upstream section 17 of the first segment 13 of the upper part 12 by clipping, being placed above said upstream section 17. Indeed, the upstream section 17 of the first segment 13 comprises an upper groove 22 extending along the upstream section 17 of the first segment 13, and the horizontal wall 18 of the interface part 11 comprises at least one protrusion which is inserted into said groove 22 to ensure fixing by clipping. The vertical wall 19 is flat and ends with a folded and curved edge 23, extending over an entire width of said vertical wall 19.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, the air deflector screen 10 comprises a main wall 24 of small thickness and slightly curved, and three parallel secondary walls 25, 26, 27. These three secondary walls 25, 26, 27 originate on the main wall 24 and extend perpendicular to said main wall 24. They extend in a direction which is substantially horizontal, and make it possible to divide the deflector screen 10 into four parallel compartments 28, 29, 30, 31 also extending in a substantially horizontal direction. These four compartments 28, 29, 30, 31 define air circulation channels which will allow the air placed in front of the vehicle during the rolling phase to flow along the deflector screen 10 in four parallel flows, preventing this air from dispersing in all directions of space, in contact with said deflector screen 10.The secondary walls 25, 26, 27 of the deflector screen 10 ensure a controlled and directed flow of the air impacting said screen. The main wall 24 of the air deflector screen 10 comprises an elongated through slot 32, extending horizontally over a length which is greater than or equal to the length of the folded and curved edge 23 of the vertical wall 19 of the interface piece 11. The main wall 24 of the air deflector screen 10 comprises two pairs of two orifices 33, 34 aligned vertically, said orifices 33, 34 being placed in an upper zone of said main wall 24.

[0035] Referring to Figures 1, 4, and 5, the air deflector screen 10 is attached to the interface piece 11, so that the folded and curved edge 23 of the vertical wall 19 of the interface piece 11 is inserted into the through slot 32 of the main wall 24 of the deflector screen 10. Once this operation is carried out, the air deflector screen 10 is attached to the first segment 13 of the upper piece by means of two clamps 35, 36 passing around said first segment 13, each clamp 35, 36 passing through two vertically aligned orifices 33, 34 of the main wall 24 of the deflector screen 10.

[0036] Advantageously, the interface part 11 and the deflector screen 10 are made of plastic material, preferably by injection for said deflector screen 10. A method of mounting an air deflector screen 10 to obtain a vehicle according to the invention, comprises the following steps:

[0037] - a step of fixing by clipping the interface part 11 to the first segment 13 of the upper part 12,

[0038] - a step of pre-positioning the deflector screen 10 on the interface part 11, by means of inserting the folded and curved edge 23 of the vertical wall 19 of the interface part 11, into the through slot 32 of the main wall 24 of the deflector screen 10,

[0039] -a step of securing the air deflector screen 10 to the first segment 13 of the upper part 12 via the interface part 11, by means of two clamping collars 35, 36 passing around said first segment 13, each clamping collar 35, 36 passing through two orifices 33, 34 aligned vertically in the main wall 24 of the deflector screen 10.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising a front axle (1) having two front wheels and provided with at least one upper part (12) extending in a horizontal plane, characterized in that it comprises an interface part (11) which is secured to the upper part (12) by clipping and an air deflector screen (10) which is secured to the upper part (12) via said interface part (11), and in that the air deflector screen (10) makes it possible to deflect the air located at the front of the vehicle during the rolling phase towards a braking device (2) of one of the two front wheels of the front axle in order to cool said braking device (2).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the front axle (1) comprises two upper parts (12) each placed near a front wheel of the front axle (1), and in that it comprises two interface parts (11) each secured to an upper part (12) by clipping and two air deflector screens (10) each secured to the upper part (12) via the interface part (11).

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that each upper part (12) comprises a first tapered segment (13) and a second tapered segment (14) connected to each other by a junction zone (15), and in that said junction zone (15) represents the most forward part of the upper part (12), the first segment (13) and the second segment (14) being arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle passing through the center of the junction zone (15).

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the first segment (13) of each upper part (12) is oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and the second segment (14) of each upper part (12) is oriented towards the inside of the vehicle, and in that each interface part (11) is secured by clipping to the first segment (13) of the upper part (12).

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the interface part (11) comprises an upper wall (18) extending in a horizontal plane and ensuring the securing of the interface part (11) by clipping to the first segment (13), by being placed above said first segment (13).

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the interface part comprises a lower wall (19) extending in a vertical plane and against which the deflector screen (10) is pressed.

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower wall (19) comprises a protrusion (32) and the deflector screen (10) has an opening, and in that the deflector screen (10) is prepositioned on the interface piece (11) by inserting the protrusion (32) into said opening.

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the deflector screen (10) is secured to the interface piece (11) and to the first segment (13) by means of at least one clamping collar (35, 36) passing around the first segment (13) and through orifices (33, 34) of said deflector screen (10).

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the air deflector screen (10) comprises a main wall (24) and three secondary walls (25, 26, 27) originating on said main wall (24) and extending perpendicularly thereto, and in that the three secondary walls (25, 26, 27) are parallel.

10. Method of mounting an air deflector screen (10) to obtain a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of fixing by clipping the interface part (11) to the upper part (12) of the front axle (2), - a step of securing the air deflector screen (10) to the interface part (11) and to the upper part (12) once said interface part (11) has been fixed by clipping to the upper part (12) of the front axle (1).

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