Front structure of an electric motor vehicle provided with a sound generator
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AMPERE SAS
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-03
AI Technical Summary
Electric motor vehicles face challenges in protecting their wiring, particularly the load cable, from damage during low-speed collisions, as existing configurations are vulnerable to shock and collision, leading to costly repairs due to the expensive replacement of damaged cables.
A structural solution that integrates a sound generator while serving as a protective support for cables, using a thicker second link piece to house and safeguard the cables, which is welded to a first link piece, incorporating positioning hooks and relief features to maintain cable position and prevent damage.
The solution effectively protects the cables from low-speed collision damage, reducing repair costs and maintaining the assembly processes and components similar to thermal vehicles, while providing a sound generator for noise simulation in urban areas.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024069549_30012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] TITLE: Front structure of an electric motor vehicle equipped with a sound generator
[0002] The invention relates to a front structure of an electric motor vehicle comprising a sound generator. The invention further relates to an electric motor vehicle equipped with a front structure according to the invention.
[0003] Electric vehicles are equipped with new features and equipment that did not exist on combustion engine vehicles. These include the DC fast charging socket wiring and the AC charging socket cable, as well as the sound generator that simulates the noise of a traditional combustion engine vehicle, particularly in urban areas at low speeds.
[0004] Also, in order to be able to produce cheap electric vehicles, we keep as much as possible the elements of thermal motor vehicles without any real modification. And in addition, we try to maintain the same assembly processes.
[0005] However, cabling with a relatively high linear mass requires the installation of cable trays and special fasteners regularly spaced from each other to hold it there.
[0006] For some models, a cable path extends above the front wheel arch and joins on one side the charging connectors opening to the outside, and on the other side, extends back under the front side member inside the vehicle to then join the storage batteries in particular. However, this configuration has a weak point. Indeed, in the event of an impact or collision, particularly during a collision at low speed, for example less than 16 km / h, one of the lighting devices at the front of the motor vehicle can be crushed against the cables and damage them. However, replacing said cables, in particular replacing the charging socket cable, is very expensive, because it is a relatively expensive part and its replacement requires many hours of labor.
[0007] The purpose of the invention is to provide a part that overcomes the above drawbacks. In particular, the invention proposes to provide a part that simultaneously serves as a support for a sound generator, houses at least a portion of the cables and protects said cables in the event of an impact or collision at low speed.
[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a front structure of an electric motor vehicle comprising two front lateral side members each having a front end and an outer face opposite an inner face, the respective outer faces of said two front lateral side members being opposite one another; two wheel arch panels respectively running along said outer faces of said two front lateral side members; a sound generator adapted to generate a warning sound; a first connecting piece adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on one of said two front lateral side members, said connecting piece having a receiving zone for receiving said sound generator so as to be able to rigidly connect together said sound generator and said one of said two front lateral side members;the structure being characterized in that it comprises a second connecting piece comprising a cable receiving portion, the second connecting piece having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first connecting piece so as to protect the cables. In one embodiment, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are secured to each other by welding.;
[0009] In one embodiment, the second connecting part comprises at least one positioning hook configured to ensure that the cables are held in position.
[0010] In one embodiment, the second connecting piece comprises at least one stiffening relief.
[0011] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the second connecting piece is between 1.5 times and 4 times the thickness of the first connecting piece.
[0012] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the second connecting piece is twice the thickness of the first connecting piece.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the cable receiving portion of the second connecting piece has two support plates spaced apart from each other and respectively provided with attachment members.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the second connecting piece comprises a central appendage with a fixing orifice.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the second connecting piece is secured both to one of the wheel arch panels and to a wheel arch screen.
[0016] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a front structure according to the invention. These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:
[0017] [Fig. 1] is a partial schematic perspective view of a front structural element of a motor vehicle;
[0018] [Fig. 2] is a schematic perspective view of the first connecting piece capable of cooperating with the object of [Fig. 1] and of the second connecting piece secured to the first connecting piece;
[0019] [Fig. 3] is a schematic perspective view of the front structural element of a motor vehicle cooperating with the object of Figure 2 and with the first element of the invention of [Fig. 2] and cooperating with an additional element;
[0020] [Fig. 4] is another schematic perspective view of the object of [Fig. 3].
[0021] The object of [Fig. 1] is inscribed in an orthogonal X, Y, Z reference frame, in which the X axis extends in a longitudinal front-rear direction of the motor vehicle, oriented towards the rear; the Y axis extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented from left to right in a driving situation; and the Z axis extends in a vertical direction, oriented away from the ground.
[0022] [Fig. 1] thus partially shows a left front side member 10 of a motor vehicle, having an outer face 12 opposite an inner face 14 and extending longitudinally to a front end 16. In addition, the side member 10 has a lower edge 15 opposite an upper edge 17.
[0023] Also, [Fig. 1] shows a wheel arch plate 18 running along the outer face 12 of the side member 10. In other words, the left front wheel of the motor vehicle, not shown, is located directly above the wheel arch plate 18. In addition, the latter has an inclined portion 20, substantially perpendicular to the outer face 12 of the side member 10, and which extends from its lower edge 15 towards the rear of the vehicle, along the component X, to its upper edge 17.
[0024] The inclined portion 20 extends away from the front end 16 of the spar 10.
[0025] It will be observed that the spar 10 has two orifices spaced from each other in a vertical direction, an upper orifice 22 located in the vicinity of the upper edge 17, and a lower orifice 24 located in the vicinity of the lower edge 15. These two orifices 22, 24 are respectively arranged opposite two nuts not shown and welded against the inner face 14 of the spar 10.
[0026] Furthermore, the inclined portion 20 of the wheel arch plate 18 has a first stud 26 extending projecting at a distance from the outer face 12.
[0027] Reference will now be made to [Fig. 2] in order to describe in detail two essential elements of the invention, a first connecting piece 28, adapted to cooperate with the left front side member 10, as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of the description, and a second connecting piece 27, configured to protect a bundle 84 of cables 86, 88 in the event of an impact or collision at low speed.
[0028] Thus, [Fig. 2] shows the first connecting piece 28 and the second connecting piece 27. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first connecting piece 28 is located mainly above the second connecting piece 27. Each of these connecting pieces 28, 27 is made from a single metal piece, cut and stamped. However, the second connecting piece 27 has a thickness greater than that of the first connecting piece 28. Generally, the thickness of the second connecting piece 27 is between 1.5 times and 4 times the thickness of the first connecting piece 28. Preferably, the thickness of the second connecting piece 27 is twice the thickness of the first connecting piece 28. By way of example, the first connecting piece 28 has for example a thickness of 1.5 mm while the second connecting piece 27 has a thickness of 3 mm, as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0029] The first connecting piece 28 has a “C” shape and defines a receiving area 30 configured to receive a sound generator 94. The first connecting piece 28 has an upper fixing plate 29, a lateral fixing plate 66 and a securing plate 41 sized to be secured to the second connecting piece 27.
[0030] The lateral fixing plate 66 has a right-angle shape and makes it possible to connect the upper fixing plate 29 to the securing plate 41. Two triangular flat portions 43, 45 make it possible to reinforce respectively the transition zones between the lateral fixing plate 66 and the upper fixing plate 29 on the one hand and the lateral fixing plate 66 and the securing plate 41 on the other hand.
[0031] The lateral fixing plate 66 has two fixing orifices 68. A first fixing orifice 68 is capable of receiving a screw so that it can be screwed through the upper orifice 22. A second fixing orifice 68 is capable of receiving a screw so that it can be screwed through the lower orifice 24. In this way, the lateral fixing plate 66 is held in a fixed position against the outer face 12 of the spar 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3. More precisely, the first connecting piece 28 is fixed to the outer face 12 by means of fixing members such as screws 83 engaged through the outer face 12 of the spar 10 and the two fixing orifices 68.
[0032] Referring again to Figure 2, the upper fixing plate 29 comprises two appendages 31, 33 each provided with a fixing hole 35, 37. The appendages 31, 33 are located at the longitudinal ends of the upper fixing plate 29.
[0033] The upper fixing plate 29 also comprises a first upper transverse plate 50. This has a first positioning tab 52, extending in projection opposite the appendage 33. In addition, the first upper transverse plate 50 has a first thread 54 in the vicinity of the first tab 52. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the appendages 31, 33 comprise folds for adjusting the position of their perforated ends with the fixing holes 35, 37. Thus, the first upper transverse plate 50 with its first positioning tab 52 and its thread 54, constitute a first upper fixing zone.
[0034] The securing plate 41 comprises a second lower transverse plate 60 which is located opposite the first upper transverse plate 50. The second transverse plate 60 extends in line with the first transverse plate 50 substantially in the same plane. Also, it has a second positioning tab 62 extending in line with the first tapping 54 of the first transverse plate 50 and a second tapping 64, located at a distance from the second tab 62 and in line with the first positioning tab 52 of the first transverse plate 50. And in this way, the second transverse plate 60 with its second positioning tab 62 and its second tapping 64, constitute a second, lower fixing zone. The securing plate 41 comprises a flat connecting zone 47 configured to be secured to the second connecting part 27.According to a preferred embodiment, the first connecting piece 28 and the second connecting piece 27 can be permanently secured by welding, such as spot welding or with a weld bead.
[0035] The second connecting piece 27 defines a cable receiving area 32 configured to protect a cable bundle 84, running above the wheel arch and curving to come to bear in the receiving portion 32 of the second connecting piece 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0036] The wiring harness 84 comprises, for example, a pair of charging plug cables 86 for supplying the vehicle's storage battery with direct current, for fast charging, and an alternating current charging plug cable 88 for standard charging.
[0037] The second connecting piece 27 may be in the form of a plate folded so as to form an angle of approximately 120°.
[0038] The second connecting piece 27 may have in a central zone at least one stiffening relief 71 which makes it possible to reinforce the second connecting piece 27. More particularly, the at least one stiffening relief 71 may be in the form of a longitudinal hollow which extends on either side of the fold in the second connecting piece 27.
[0039] As illustrated in Figure 2, the second connecting piece 27 comprises two stiffening reliefs 71 located one below the other. Alternatively, the at least one stiffening relief 71 may be in the form of a rib. The second connecting piece 27 may have in a lower zone two support plates 70, 72 which are located on either side of the fold. It will be observed that these two support plates 70 are spaced from each other by approximately 200 mm so as to be able to hang the cables 86, 88 without them being able to extend in a catenary between the two plates, taking into account their linear mass.
[0040] The cable bundle 84 thus comes to bear on the two support plates 70, 72. Furthermore, the two support plates 70, 72 each have a free end in which a transverse oblong slot 74 is made.
[0041] In addition, the two support plates 70, 72 are respectively equipped with a fastener 90. The fasteners 90 are secured by means of the second studs 76 with which two nuts are associated, and by means of the transverse oblong slots 74 through which a fir-tree pin is engaged.
[0042] Also, the fasteners 90 comprise a flexible link 92 which grips the cable bundle 84 so that it is held in a fixed position in the receiving portion 32 of the second connecting piece 27.
[0043] The second connecting piece 27 may also have a central appendage 51 which extends towards the first transverse plate 50. The central appendage 51 is perforated with a fixing orifice 53. The fixing orifice 53 is capable of receiving a screw to hold the second connecting piece 27 in a fixed position against a wheel arch screen 80, as illustrated in FIG. 3. More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a wheel arch screen 80 suspended in part from the second connecting piece 27 by means of a fixing member of the “round fir tree pin” type 82 engaged through the screen 80 and the fixing orifice 53. Furthermore, the second connecting piece 27 may have a lateral appendage 55 which also extends towards the first transverse plate 50. The lateral appendage 55 is also perforated with a fixing orifice 57 capable of receiving a screw to hold in fixed position the second connecting piece 27 against the wheel arch screen 80.The lateral appendage 55 may be located at the edge of the folded plate which forms the second connecting piece 27. More precisely, the lateral appendage 55 may be located at the level of the triangular flat portion 45 of the first connecting piece 28.
[0044] Below the lateral appendage 55 there may be a positioning hook 61. A free end of the positioning hook 61 is oriented towards the inside of the receiving portion 32 of the second connecting piece 27.
[0045] A second hook 63 may be located above the support plate 72. More particularly, this second hook 63 may be located near the lateral edge of the second connecting piece 27. Alternatively, a portion of the lateral edge of the second connecting piece 27 may itself serve to form the second hook 63.
[0046] The positioning hooks 61, 63 are notably visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. Such positioning hooks 61, 63 make it possible to ensure reliable positioning of the fasteners 90 to secure the cable path 86, 88 in the receiving portion 32 of the second connecting piece 27.
[0047] With regard to the sound generator 94, this is implemented when the motor vehicle is at low speed, for example less than 30 km / h, generally in urban areas, in order to reproduce the noise usually generated by vehicles with thermal engines. This noise makes it possible to warn pedestrians or other cyclists of the presence of the vehicle. The sound generator 94 has an upper axial slide 96 and a lower axial slide. The sound generator 94 is approached in the upper receiving zone 30 so that the second tab 62 engages through the upper axial slide 96, while on the opposite side, the first tab 52 engages through the lower axial slide. The sound generator 94 then comes to bear against the first and second transverse plates 50, 60.
[0048] Furthermore, the sound generator 94 has an upper bore through which a fixing screw is engaged which is screwed into the second thread 64 of the second plate 60. Conversely, it has a lower bore also receiving a fixing screw screwed into the first thread of the first plate 50.
[0049] In this way, the sound generator 94 is rigidly connected to the left front side member 10 and to the wheel arch panel 18. Thus, thanks to the assembly formed by the first connecting piece 28 and the second connecting piece 27, the sound generator 94 is connected to the side member 10 while keeping the cable harness 84 protected against impacts and collisions at low speed.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle comprising: - two front lateral side members (10) each having a front end (16) and an outer face (12) opposite an inner face (14), the respective outer faces (12) of said two front lateral side members (10) being opposite each other; - two wheel arch plates (18) running respectively along said outer faces (12) of said two front lateral side members (10); - a sound generator (94) adapted to generate a warning sound; - a first connecting piece (28) adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on one of said two lateral front side members (10), said connecting piece (28) having a receiving zone (30) for receiving said sound generator (94) so as to be able to rigidly connect together said sound generator and said one of said two lateral front side members (10); characterized in that it comprises a second connecting piece (27) comprising a receiving portion (32) of cables (86, 88), the second connecting piece (27) having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first connecting piece (28) so as to protect the cables (86, 88).
2. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting piece (28) and the second connecting piece (27) are secured to each other by welding.
3. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting part (27) comprises at least one positioning hook (61) configured to ensure that the cables (86, 88) are held in position.
4. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting piece (27) comprises at least one stiffening relief (71).
5. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of the second connecting piece (27) is between 1.5 times and 4 times the thickness of the first connecting piece (28).
6. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the thickness of the second connecting piece (27) is twice the thickness of the first connecting piece (28).
7. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving portion (32) of cables (86, 88) of the second connecting piece (28) has two support plates (70, 72) spaced from one another and respectively provided with attachment members (90, 92).
8. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting piece (27) comprises a central appendage (51) perforated with a fixing orifice (53).
9. Front structure of an electric motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting piece (28) is integral both with one of the wheel arch panels (18) and with a wheel arch screen (80).
10. Electric motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a front structure according to one of the preceding claims.