Device for adapting a bumper skin for an electric vehicle allowing the attachment of a water circuit.

Abstract

The invention relates to an adaptation device (1) for adapting a bumper skin from a combustion engine vehicle, equipped with at least one air intake scoop, to an electric vehicle. The device (1) comprises first fastening means (2) designed to fix the device (1) to at least one structural element of the vehicle. The device comprises closing means (3) designed to at least partially close an air intake scoop formed in the bumper skin. The device (1) further comprises second fastening means (4) designed to fix a fluid circuit to the device (1) opposite the air intake scoop when the device (1) is fixed to the vehicle. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for adapting a bumper skin for an electric vehicle allowing the attachment of a water circuit.

[0001] The technical field relates to bumper skin adaptation devices intended to adapt a bumper skin from a thermal vehicle to an electric vehicle, as well as assemblies comprising a bumper skin and such a device, and finally vehicles equipped with such an assembly.

[0002] With the rise of electric vehicles, car manufacturers are increasingly expanding their ranges of existing vehicles with electric versions, replacing the internal combustion engine of the vehicles offered with electric motors.

[0003] When adapting a vehicle for electric powertrains, body parts are generally retained to limit development costs and reduce the diversity of parts required for a vehicle family. Indeed, a wide variety of parts is detrimental to supply chains and manufacturing costs. Thus, bumper skins developed for the internal combustion engine versions of a vehicle family are most often used without modification to equip the electric versions.

[0004] The bumper skins of internal combustion engine vehicles are equipped with air intake scoops, i.e., openings allowing fresh air to be drawn in behind the bumper skin, to cool the cooling system and / or to supply fresh air to a charge air cooler (RAS system). The RAS system is generally located in a defined space between the bumper skin and a wheel arch, attached to the latter.

[0005] In an electric vehicle, the RAS system is not necessary, and in its place, a fluid circuit, generally a water circuit, is used to supply the battery and electric motors. Installing such a fluid circuit in the space usually occupied by the RAS system is complex due to the limited space available and the presence of other components also mounted on the wheel arch. Furthermore, the air intake scoops integrated into the bumper have the disadvantage of directing airflow onto the fluid circuit, causing disturbances in its operation, particularly pressure losses. Moreover, the air intake scoop degrades the vehicle's aerodynamic profile, increases its aerodynamic drag, and thus reduces the vehicle's range by a few kilometers. Therefore, the solution The existing solution to address the problems associated with the air intake scoop involves developing a bumper skin, specific to the electric version, without the air intake scoop. However, this remains problematic in terms of parts diversity. Finally, the presence of the air intake scoop makes the fluid circuit visible from certain viewing angles, which is considered to detract from the vehicle's aesthetics.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a device for adapting a bumper skin from a combustion engine vehicle to an electric vehicle in order to avoid the drawbacks associated with the air intake scoop.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to an adaptation device intended to adapt for an electric vehicle a bumper skin of a thermal vehicle equipped with at least one air intake scoop, the device comprising first fastening means designed to fix the device to at least one structural element of the vehicle, the device comprising sealing means designed to at least partially seal an air intake scoop provided in the bumper skin, the device further comprising second fastening means designed to fix a fluid circuit to the device opposite the air intake scoop, when the device is fixed on the vehicle.

[0008] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a bumper skin and at least one device according to the invention, the bumper skin comprising at least one air intake scoop closed by a device.

[0009] Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one assembly according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the device according to the invention allows the use, for an electric vehicle, of a bumper skin developed for a combustion engine version of the vehicle and equipped with air intake scoops. The device according to the invention, thanks to the sealing means, allows the air intake scoop to be sealed. The first fastening means allow the device according to the invention to be attached to a structural element of the vehicle. The second fastening means allow the fluid circuit to be attached to the device at a location created by sealing the air intake scoop. With the air intake scoop sealed, it no longer produces the disruptive airflow to the fluid circuit.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device is designed to fix a fluid circuit in the space delimited between a wheel arch of the vehicle and the bumper skin.

[0012] Advantageously, the first means of fastening are designed to fix the device to the wheel arch.

[0013] According to one possibility, the sealing means comprise a plate extending between a front face and a rear face, the front face being shaped to close the air intake scoop and the rear face having the second means of attachment.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the second fastening means are designed to fix at least one solenoid valve of a water circuit.

[0015] According to one possibility of the vehicle, it further comprises a fluid circuit fixed on a device closing an air intake scoop in the bumper skin.

[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [fig.l] the [fig.l], represents a perspective view of a device according to the invention;

[0018] [fig.2] [fig.2] represents a front view of the device of [fig.1] on which and fixed a water circuit.

[0019] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0020] An adaptation device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is intended to adapt a bumper skin, not shown, developed for a combustion engine vehicle, to an electric vehicle. Such a bumper skin comprises at least one air intake scoop, at least one of which is located opposite the wheel arch when the bumper skin is installed on the vehicle.

[0021] The device 1 includes first fastening means 2 designed to fix the device 1 to at least one structural element of the vehicle, not shown. For example, such a structural element of the vehicle is a stretcher, a cradle extension and / or the wheel arch interface.

[0022] The device 1 includes sealing means 3 designed to at least partially seal an air intake scoop formed in the bumper skin. Preferably, the sealing means 3 are shaped to completely seal the area delimited by the air intake scoop.

[0023] The device 1 further includes secondary fastening means 4 designed to secure a fluid circuit 5, for example a water circuit 6 illustrated in [Fig. 2], to the device 1 opposite the air intake scoop. The device 1 is designed to secure the water circuit 6 in the space defined between a wheel arch of the vehicle and the bumper skin. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], the water circuit 6 comprises, on the one hand, a plurality of conduits 7 designed to circulate and supply water to various components of the vehicle and, on the other hand, at least one solenoid valve 8 for modifying the fluid flow in the various conduits 7.

[0024] The sealing means 3 comprise a plate 9 extending between a front face 10 and a rear face 11, the front face 10 being shaped to seal the air inlet scoop. In particular, the front face 10 is, for example, provided with a rim, Not shown, shaped to cooperate with the perimeter of an air intake scoop in the bumper skin to allow the correct positioning of the plate 9 relative to the air intake scoop. When the device 1 closes an air intake scoop, it then forms with the bumper skin an assembly according to the invention.

[0025] The rear face 11 includes the second fastening means 4. The second fastening means 4 are, for example, made using clipping and / or screwing means, not shown in the figures. In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2], the second fastening means 4 are specifically designed to fix the solenoid valve 8 to the rear face 11 of the plate 9, as illustrated in [Fig. 2].

[0026] Finally, the first fastening means 2 have at least one, in this case three, fastening tabs 12, each extending from the plate 9 to a fastening end 13. Each fastening tab 12 is shaped to allow fastening as described above. To this end, each fastening end 13 of the fastening tabs 12 is designed to allow fastening and has, for example, screwing and / or clipping means, not shown in the figures. The fastening tabs 12 each have a shape that allows them to be attached to the elements provided for this purpose when the plate 9 is positioned so as to close the air intake scoop. In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the fastening tabs 12 extend in substantially parallel directions.For example, two fastening ends 13 are shaped to allow fastening along a transverse axis of the vehicle, while another fastening end 13 is oriented to allow fastening along a longitudinal axis. In particular, the device 1 is designed to fix the fluid circuit 5 in the space defined between a wheel arch of the vehicle and the bumper skin.

[0027] Thus, the device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to close an air intake scoop in a bumper skin and to fix a water circuit 6 to the newly created location. Thus fixed, the water circuit 6 is invisible from outside the vehicle and is not disturbed by airflow. The device 1 makes it possible to preserve the aesthetics of the vehicle while providing a solution for fixing a fluid circuit 5 protected from disturbances related to the usual airflow passing through the air intake scoop.

[0028] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Adaptation device (1) for adapting a bumper skin of a thermal vehicle with at least one air intake scoop for an electric vehicle, the device (1) comprising first fastening means (2) designed to fix the device (1) to at least one structural element of the vehicle, the device comprising sealing means (3) designed to at least partially seal an air intake scoop provided in the bumper skin, the device (1) further comprising second fastening means (4) designed to fix a fluid circuit to the device (1) opposite the air intake scoop, when the device (1) is fixed to the vehicle.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is designed to fix a fluid circuit (5) in the space delimited between a wheel arch of the vehicle and the bumper skin.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fastening means (2) are designed to fix the device (1) to the wheel arch.

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing means (3) comprise a plate (9) extending between a front face (10) and a rear face (11), the front face (10) being shaped to seal the air intake scoop and the rear face (11) comprising the second fixing means (4).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second means of fixing (4) are designed to fix at least one solenoid valve (8) of a water circuit (6).

6. Assembly comprising a bumper skin and at least one device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the bumper skin comprising at least one air intake scoop closed by a device (1).

7.

8. Vehicle comprising at least one assembly according to claim 6. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a fluid circuit (5) fixed to a device (1) closing an air intake scoop in the bumper skin.