METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A SET OF PIPES ON A FUEL TANK OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a base (3) intended to be fixed on the fuel tank as well as a strap clip (5) intended to be fixed on said base and to secure the set of harnesses and electrical cables, characterized in that the device further comprises a fastener (1) comprising a ring shaped to be fitted around the base as well as at least a first hook connected by a tab to the ring, and intended to hang a pipe (2). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A SET OF PIPES ON A FUEL TANK OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The present invention lies in the field of vehicle bodywork and more particularly relates to a method and a device for holding a pipe on a fuel tank using the fixing base of a strap clip as an anchoring point.

[0002] Usually a pipe is fixed to a fuel tank using a welded clip or a welded staple which is dedicated and specific to the pipe.

[0003] A pipe can also be fixed to a tank using a counter-form (groove) directly made on the tank to ensure its maintenance in translation and rotation.

[0004] Welding a component specific to maintaining the pipeline generates additional costs due to the operations necessary to carry out the welding.

[0005] Furthermore, it is sometimes not possible to generate the necessary welding zone due to the geometry in the intended fixing area. The surface must be flat and of a certain dimension, and there must be no other component present in the area.

[0006] This type of solution is also not very flexible and depends on the type of pipeline.

[0007] Fixing a pipe directly in a counter-form generated on the fuel tank also imposes a loss of volume (groove in the tank).

[0008] The development of the geometry allowing the pipeline to be maintained is complex because the variation in the process of producing the tank makes it less precise than a welded injection-molded part, for example.

[0009] It is also sometimes not possible to generate the groove in the desired fixing area.

[0010] When designing the fuel tank of new vehicles, it became necessary to ensure the passage and maintenance of a pipeline in an area where many components were present.

[0011] The area was however not large enough to carry out a welding of a specific clip necessary to maintain the pipeline, and to produce a groove-type counter-form directly on the tank.

[0012] It was not possible to impact the volume of the fuel tank, and to create specific versions depending on whether the pipeline is present or not.

[0013] This is why it appeared judicious to use the base of a component present on any type of tank, namely the base of the strip clips of harnesses and electrical cables, as an anchoring point for a pipe attachment, in an area where it was not possible to integrate an additional fixing element.

[0014] More specifically, the invention relates to a device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a base intended to be fixed on the fuel tank as well as a strap clip intended to be fixed on said base and to secure the set of harnesses and electrical cables, characterized in that the device further comprises a fastener comprising a ring shaped to be fitted around the base as well as at least one first connected by a tab to the ring, and intended to hang a pipe.

[0015] Optional, complementary or substitutive features of the invention are set out below.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the base is provided with a female part capable of cooperating with a male part of the “harpoon” or “fir tree” type strap clip.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment, the at least one first hook is a clip shaped to accommodate pipes of different diameters.

[0018] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the fastener comprises a second hook arranged diametrically opposite the first hook.

[0019] According to a variant, the attachment comprises a second hook connected in series to the first hook.

[0020] According to another variant, the attachment comprises a third hook shaped to hold an element other than a pipe.

[0021] Advantageously, the ring comprises on its inner circumferential surface projecting parts capable of cooperating with the outer circumferential surface of the base to block the rotation and translation of said ring relative to said base.

[0022] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle provided with a fuel tank and at least one associated pipe, in which a device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is fixed to said tank and in that the pipe is held by the at least one first hook.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method for securing a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables to a fuel tank of a motor vehicle by means of a holding device according to an embodiment of the invention, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - the base of the holding device is fixed to the fuel tank, - the ring is put around the said base, - the strap clip is fixed to said base, thus blocking said ring, - the assembly of electrical harnesses and cables is secured using the said strap clip, - at least one pipe is attached using said at least one first attachment

[0024] Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments which are in no way limiting, and the following appended drawings:

[0025] [Fig. 1] This figure represents a perspective view of a device for holding a set of pipes, bundles and electrical cables according to the principle of the invention.

[0026] [Fig.2] This figure represents a sectional view of a holding device of a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables according to the principle of the invention.

[0027] [Fig.3] [Fig.4] These figures represent side views of the attachment of a device for maintaining a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables according to particular embodiments of the invention.

[0028] [Fig.5] [Fig.6] [Fig.7] These figures represent top views of the attachment of a device for holding a set of pipes, bundles and electrical cables according to particular embodiments of the invention.

[0029] Figures 1 and 2 represent a device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank 4 of a motor vehicle.

[0030] Said device comprises a base 3 usually designed to be fixed on the fuel tank as well as a strap clip 5 usually designed to be fixed on said base and to secure the set of harnesses and electrical cables.

[0031] The device further comprises a fastener 1 consisting mainly of a ring 10 shaped to be fitted around the base 3. This ring has a tubular shape of oblong section just like the base 3 and is designed to fit around the base.

[0032] This ring 10 of tubular shape with oblong section can also have any other geometries that do not allow rotation of the ring 10 of the attachment 1 around the base 3; the ring 10 and the base 3 can also have a square, rectangular or ovoid section.

[0033] The attachment also comprises at least one first hook 11, 11a connected by a tab 12 to the ring, and provided for hooking a pipe 2.

[0034] Advantageously, the base 3 is provided with a female part 30, having the shape of a recess, capable of receiving a male part 50 of the strap clip 5 to allow a durable assembly. The male part 50 of the strap clip 5 can for example be of the “harpoon” or “fir tree” type as shown in [Fig.2].

[0035] Preferably, the at least one first hook 11, 11a is a clip shaped to accommodate pipes of different diameters.

[0036] According to an embodiment shown in [Fig.3], the attachment 1 comprises a second hook 11b arranged diametrically opposite the first hook.

[0037] According to a variant of this embodiment shown in [Fig.4], the attachment 1 comprises a second hook 11b connected in series to the first hook.

[0038] This multiplication of hooks makes it possible to ensure the maintenance of several pipes.

[0039] As shown in [Fig.5], the attachment 1 comprises a third hook 11c intended to hold an element other than a pipe, such as for example a cable.

[0040] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, and so as to block the rotation and translation of the ring relative to the base, the ring comprises on its inner circumferential surface parts 100 projecting and capable of cooperating with the outer circumferential surface of the base 3.

[0041] Now concerning the method for securing a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables to a fuel tank 4 of a motor vehicle by means of a holding device according to the invention, the following steps must be carried out:

[0042] First of all, the base 3 of the holding device is fixed to the fuel tank 4 according to existing conventional methods.

[0043] Then, the ring 10 is slipped around said base.

[0044] Then the strap clip 5 is fixed on said base, thus blocking said ring which does not can no longer be extracted from the base.

[0045] Then, the assembly of harnesses and electrical cables is secured using said strap clip.

[0046] Finally, the pipe(s) are attached using the hooks 11, 11a, 11b.

[0047] The embodiments described below being in no way limiting, it will be possible in particular to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described, isolated from the other characteristics described even if this selection is isolated within a sentence comprising these other characteristics, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention in relation to the information of the prior art.

[0048] This selection includes at least one feature, preferably functional without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if this part only is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the information of the prior art.

[0049] Note that the various features, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0050] This holding device has the advantage of minimizing or even canceling out the impacts on the volume of the fuel tank, and on the process of producing and controlling the tank at the supplier's.

[0051] The presence or absence of the pipeline does not generate diversity on the tank because no element specific to the installation or maintenance of the pipeline is necessary on the tank.

[0052] A change in the diameter of the pipeline does not imply a change in the tank either.

[0053] From an economic point of view, the invention makes it possible not to generate diversity on the fuel tank whether the pipe is present or not.

[0054] The creation of diversity on this type of component, the dimension of which is indeed important, has a great impact from a process and logistics point of view.

[0055] The assembly of the part is done manually, it is not necessary to add welding and control operations in the process of producing the tank.

[0056] If the solution is identified from the beginning of the architecture of a vehicle, it makes it possible to reduce the quantity of operations necessary for the creation of interfaces on a part. A single design of the invention could make it possible to meet several needs and therefore reduce the diversity of geometry of components to be created during development and maximize the use of a single component.

[0057] This then allows the price of parts to be reduced by the impact of production volume.

[0058] Since the large parts of the vehicle underbody are increasingly used to hold underbody equipment, particularly pipes and electrical harnesses, the invention should make it possible to address a lack of space and increasingly complex geometries when defining the architecture of vehicles, whether they are thermal vehicles or electric vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a base (3) intended to be fixed on the fuel tank as well as a strap clip (5) intended to be fixed on said base and to secure the set of harnesses and electrical cables, characterized in that the device further comprises a fastener (1) comprising a ring (10) shaped to be fitted around the base as well as at least one first hook (11, 11a) connected by a tab (12) to the ring, and intended to hook a pipe (2), this first hook (11, 11a) being a clip shaped to accommodate pipes of different diameters.

2. Device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (3) is provided with a female part (30) capable of cooperating with a male part (50) of the strap clip (5) of the “harpoon” or “fir tree” type.

3. Device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment (1) comprises a second hook (11b) arranged diametrically opposite the first hook.

4. Device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the attachment (1) comprises a second hook (11b) connected in series to the first hook.

5. Device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment (1) comprises a third hook (11c) shaped to hold an element other than a pipe.

6. Device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables on a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring comprises on its inner circumferential surface parts (100) projecting and capable of cooperating with the outer circumferential surface of the base (3) to block the rotation and translation of said ring relative to said base.

7. Motor vehicle provided with a fuel tank (4) and at least one associated pipe (2), characterized in that a device for holding a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables according to any one of claims 1 to 6, is fixed to said tank and in that the pipe (2) is held by the at least one first hook (11).

8. Method for securing a set of pipes, harnesses and electrical cables to a fuel tank (4) of a motor vehicle by means of a holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - the base (3) of the holding device is fixed to the fuel tank (4), - the ring (10) is slipped around said base, - the strap clip (5) is fixed to said base, thus locking said ring, - the set of harnesses and electrical cables is secured by means of said strap clip, - at least one pipe is attached by means of said at least one first attachment (11, 11a).

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