Device for fixing a sensor with programmed breakage.

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for attaching a sensor to a vehicle, the device (1) being designed to be integral with the vehicle and comprising first attachment means (9) designed to attach the sensor to the device (1) to form an assembly, the device (1) being designed to position the sensor opposite an inner face of a bumper skin, when the sensor is attached to the device (1) and the device (1) is integral with the vehicle, the device (1) being characterized in that the first attachment means (9) are frangible, so as to break to release at least partially the sensor from the device (1) under the effect of a stress exceeding a predetermined threshold resulting from an action of the bumper skin on the assembly during an impact. (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for fixing a sensor with programmed rupture.

[0001] The technical field relates to devices for fixing a sensor to a motor vehicle bumper and vehicles equipped with such devices.

[0002] In terms of road safety, automobile manufacturers must take into account multiple concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles in order, on the one hand, to ensure the safety of vehicle passengers in the event of a collision or that of other most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and, on the other hand, to control the repair costs of vehicles when they undergo urban impacts, called repairable impacts. Repairable impacts are impacts suffered at low speeds of the order of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour.

[0003] Furthermore, modern motor vehicles are equipped with an ever-increasing number of sensors, some of which, due to their complexity, generate significant manufacturing costs.

[0004] In this context, in order to improve the detection of various obstacles that a vehicle may encounter, radar or lidar type sensors are increasingly used. Most often, these radar or lidar type sensors must be arranged behind the bumper skin, generally less than 5 mm from it, possibly by means of a dedicated support, in order to ensure their functions.

[0005] In the event of a repairable impact, the bumper skin is generally stressed and deformed in the direction of the sensor(s) located behind it, which is likely to cause damage to the sensors fixed near it. Indeed, radar or lidar type sensors are very sensitive to impacts and are easily damaged, then requiring replacement which is synonymous with significant repair costs.

[0006] Document EP3461692 discloses a sensor support that can undergo elastic deformation to accompany the movement of the sensor in the event of an impact. However, this type of support is not able to properly protect the sensor that it holds because of the limited possibilities of accompanying the sensor.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a solution to limit damage to sensors located behind a bumper skin in the event of a repairable impact.

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a device fixing a sensor to ensure protection of the sensor in the event of an impact repairable at the bumper level.

[0009] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device for fixing a sensor to a motor vehicle, the device being designed to be secured to the vehicle and comprising first fixing means designed to fix the sensor to the device to form an assembly, the device being designed to position the sensor opposite an internal face of a bumper skin of the vehicle, when the sensor is fixed to the device and the device is secured to the vehicle, the device being characterized in that the first fixing means are frangible, so as to undergo a rupture to release at least in part the sensor from the device under the effect of a stress of an intensity greater than a predetermined threshold resulting from an action of the bumper skin on the assembly during an impact.

[0010] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a device according to the invention and at least one sensor fixed to the device.

[0011] The invention finally relates to a vehicle comprising at least one assembly according to the invention.

[0012] Thus, the device according to the invention makes it possible to fix a sensor by means of its first fixing means to form an assembly according to the invention, which makes it possible to arrange the sensor opposite the bumper skin, preferably close to it, i.e. less than 5 mm from it. In the event of a repairable impact, the bumper skin is stressed, undergoes a deformation towards the sensor and exerts a stress on the assembly, i.e. either on the device or on the sensor fixed on the device. This stress is generally greater than a predetermined threshold, chosen to correspond to an average stress generated by a repairable impact. The application of the stress on the assembly causes a rupture of the first fixing means, which has the consequence of releasing at least part of the sensor from the device. The sensor thus avoids being damaged by the deformation of the bumper skin.During vehicle repairs, the sensor that has not suffered damage can be reattached to the vehicle using a new device according to the invention, the cost of which is lower compared to that of a new sensor, or after repair of the device. The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to limit the repair costs of a vehicle equipped with a sensor in the bumper skin, after a repairable impact.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first fixing means comprise at least one fixing zone designed to fix the sensor to the device, each being delimited by a break line. A fixing zone delimited by a break line makes it possible to separate the fixing zone from the device. In some cases, the fixing area remains attached to the sensor if the first fixing means break.

[0014] According to one possibility, each rupture line consists of at least one weakening groove intended to facilitate rupture. A device comprising such a groove is simple to produce.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the device comprises second fixing means arranged at least outside a fixing zone and intended to allow the fixing of a repair tab designed to replace or reattach at least one fixing zone after its breakage. Thus, after the first fixing means have broken, the device can be repaired by using the second fixing means to fix the sensor to the device. Such second fixing means are particularly useful when the device is used to fix several elements in addition to the sensor, such as for example signal lights. Indeed, in such a case, changing the device would require the disassembly and then reassembly of the other elements, which would mean increased repair costs.

[0016] Advantageously, the second fixing means comprise at least one screw barrel.

[0017] According to one possibility, the device is integral with the bumper skin or comprises securing means designed to secure the device to the bumper skin.

[0018] According to one possibility of the assembly, when the device comprises second fixing means, it further comprises at least one repair tab designed to replace at least one fixing zone after its breakage.

[0019] According to one possibility of the set, the sensor is a radar.

[0020] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig.l] [Fig.l], represents a cross-sectional view of a bumper of a vehicle according to the invention showing an assembly according to the invention arranged in proximity to a bumper skin;

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a front view of a device according to the invention used in the whole of [Fig.l];

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a fixing area of ​​the device of [Fig.2];

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of the device of [Fig.3] on to which a repair tab is attached.

[0025] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0026] A fixing device 1 according to the invention is illustrated in the figures. The device 1 is designed to be secured to a motor vehicle 2 and to fix a sensor 3, such as a radar 4 visible in [Fig.l], on the vehicle 2 opposite an internal face 5 of a bumper skin 6, illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0027] The device 1 either comes in one piece with an element of the bumper, such as the bumper skin 6 or else comprises securing means, not illustrated in the figures, designed to secure the device 1 to the bumper skin 6.

[0028] The device 1 comprises a frame 7 which delimits a space 8 intended to accommodate the sensor 3. Advantageously, the device 1 is formed from plastic material and is for example obtained by molding.

[0029] The device 1 comprises first fixing means 9 designed to fix the sensor 3 on the device 1 to form an assembly 10, visible in [Fig. 1]. The first fixing means 9 comprise at least one, in this case three fixing zones 11a, 11b designed to fix the sensor 3 to the device 1. A first fixing zone 11a comprises a screw hole 12, visible in [Fig. 1], which can accommodate a screw 13, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, so as to screw a fixing lug 14 of the sensor 3, illustrated in [Fig. 1], onto the chassis 7. Two other fixing zones 11b are designed to form a clip-on connection and for example each consist of a boss 15 having a slot 16, illustrated in [Fig. 2], which can each accommodate a fixing lug 17, visible in [Fig. 1], arranged on the sensor 3.

[0030] The first fixing means 9 are frangible so as to undergo rupture under the effect of a stress of an intensity greater than a predetermined threshold which may result from an action of the bumper skin 6 on the assembly 10 during an impact, in particular a repairable impact. The predetermined threshold is chosen to correspond to a stress caused during a repairable impact.

[0031] The rupture of the fixing means 9 under the effect of a repairable impact causes the release, at least partial, of the sensor 3 from the device 1.

[0032] Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, each fixing zone 11a, 11b is delimited by a breaking line 18a, 18b designed to break under the effect of stress of an intensity greater than a predetermined threshold which may result from an action of the bumper skin 6 on the assembly 10 during an impact, in particular a repairable impact.

[0033] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, each rupture line 18a, 18b consists of at least one weakening groove 19a, 19b obtained by a reduction in the thickness of the material of the device 1 and intended to facilitate rupture. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rupture of the line 18a of the fixing zone 11a causes the detachment of this fixing zone 11a from the chassis 7 while the rupture of the rupture line 18b causes the detachment of an upper part of the corresponding boss 15 up to the slot 16 making it impossible to retain the fixing lug 17.

[0034] The Device 1 further comprises second fixing means 20, illustrated in Figures 2 to 3, arranged at least partly outside one, in this case each fixing zone 11a, 11b and intended to allow the fixing of repair tabs 21, one of which is visible in [Fig. 4]. The second fixing means 20 advantageously comprise at least one, in this case a plurality of screw barrels 22a, 22b illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. At least some of the screw barrels 22a are arranged on the chassis 7, outside the fixing zones 11a, 11b, while some screw barrels 22b, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, are also arranged on the fixing zone 11a.

[0035] The fixing of a repair tab 21 can be obtained thanks to the screw barrels 22a, 22b to replace or reattach at least one fixing zone 11a, 11b after its breakage.

[0036] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 4], the repair tab 21 is used to reattach the fixing zone 11a after it has been detached by breaking the break line 18a visible in [Fig. 3]. Thus, the repair tab 21 is screwed, on the one hand, to a screw barrel 22a located outside the fixing zone 11a and, on the other hand, to a screw barrel 22b arranged on the fixing zone 11a. The repair tab 21 thus makes it possible to reattach the two parts of the chassis 7 located on either side of the break line 18a illustrated in [Fig. 3] delimiting the fixing zone 11a. Obviously, the repair tab 21 has a shape complementary to the chassis 7 so as to ensure the correct maintenance of the two parts of the chassis 7 located on either side of the broken break line 18a. For this purpose, the repair tab 21 advantageously has edges 23 designed to come into contact with support surfaces 24 of the chassis 7.

[0037] Advantageously, the repair tab 21 has a centering orifice 25 sized and positioned to cooperate with a centering pin 26 provided on the chassis 7 in order to assist in the positioning of the repair tab 21.

[0038] According to another form of the repair tab, not illustrated in the figures, it is designed to be screwed onto two screw barrels 22a located outside and on either side of the fixing zone 11a, 11b in order to replace the broken fixing zone 11a, 11b. Thus, for example, such a repair tab can be shaped to reconstitute the upper part of the boss 15 which has disappeared after the breaking line 18b has broken.

[0039] Thus, the device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to form with a sensor 3 an assembly 10 according to the invention. This assembly 10 allows the release of the sensor 3 from the device 1 by breaking some or all of the fixing zones 11a, 11b. The release of the sensor 3 in the event of a repairable impact on the bumper skin 6 which houses it makes it possible to avoid damage to this sensor 3. The device 1 thus makes it possible to reduce the repair costs of a vehicle according to the invention for the first time by avoiding the replacement of the sensor 3. In addition, the assembly 1 according to the invention makes it possible to further reduce the repair costs by providing a repair tab 21 which makes it possible to repair the broken device 1 without requiring the disassembly of the device 1 from the vehicle, when this is possible, or of the other elements of the vehicle possibly fixed by the device 1.

[0040] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for fixing a sensor (3) on a motor vehicle (2), the device (1) being designed to be secured to the vehicle (2) and comprising first fixing means (9) designed to fix the sensor (3) on the device (1) to form an assembly (10), the device (1) being designed to position the sensor (3) opposite an internal face (5) of a bumper skin (6) of the vehicle (2), when the sensor (3) is fixed on the device (1) and the device (1) is secured to the vehicle (2), the device (1) being characterized in that the first fixing means (9) are frangible, so as to undergo a rupture to release at least in part the sensor (3) from the device (1) under the effect of a stress of an intensity greater than a predetermined threshold resulting from an action of the bumper skin (6) on the assembly (10) during an impact, the first fixing means (9) being ... fixing (9) comprise at least one fixing zone (11a,11b) designed to fix the sensor (3) to the device (1), each being delimited by a break line (18a, 18b), characterized in that the device (1) comprises second fixing means (20) arranged at least outside a fixing zone (11a, 11b) and intended to allow the fixing of a repair tab (21) designed to reattach at least one fixing zone (11a, 11b) after its breakage,

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each rupture line (18a, 18b) consists of at least one weakening groove (19a, 19b) intended to facilitate rupture.

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second fixing means (20) comprise at least one screw barrel (22a, 22b).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) is integral with the bumper skin (6) or comprises securing means designed to secure the device (1) to the bumper skin (6).

5. Assembly (10) comprising a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one sensor (3) fixed to the device (1).

6. Assembly (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a device (1) according to one of claims 1 8 to 4 and in that it further comprises at least one repair tab (21) designed to replace or reattach at least one fixing zone (11a, 11b) after its rupture.

7. Assembly (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the sensor (3) is a radar (4).

8. Vehicle (2) comprising at least one assembly (10) according to one of claims 5 to 7.

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