MOUNTING ELEMENT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening element (1) for retaining at least one hose (3, 11) of a cooling system in an engine compartment (2) of a vehicle powered at least partially by electrical energy, the fastening element (1) comprising a fastening portion (4) configured to retain the hose (3, 11), and a deformable portion (5) connected to the fastening portion (4) and configured to form a compressed spacer held between a crossmember (6) and a structure of the vehicle. Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: FIXING ELEMENT FOR VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEMS ELECTRIC Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of vehicle cooling systems driven at least partially by electrical energy and more particularly to fixing elements for fixing pipes of the cooling systems.

[0002] A vehicle driven at least partially by electrical energy is understood to mean a motor vehicle with electric or hybrid traction or propulsion, comprising an electric machine (traction or propulsion) powered by one or more battery modules connected to a power network. State of the prior art

[0003] Electric machines are usually connected to a gearbox, positioned at the front of an electric vehicle and mounted on a train sleeper. The gearbox can be a reducer (with a single reduction ratio), for example.

[0004] Electrical machines include a cooling system to cool them. The cooling system generally includes two pipes in which a cooling fluid such as water or a heat transfer fluid circulates. A first pipe brings relatively cold cooling fluid into the electrical machine and a second pipe evacuates the cooling fluid heated by the calories of the electrical machine to a radiator.

[0005] Conventionally, a first portion of the pipes is fixed to the electric machine and a second portion is fixed to the cross member of the vehicle train by clipped staples.

[0006] The crosspiece is filtered by damping systems and has a travel of plus or minus 5 mm. As for the electric machine, it has a travel of plus or minus 15 mm.

[0007] The area of ​​flexibility between the crossbar and the electrical machine is called the dynamic loop. The length of this dynamic loop must be at least 200 mm to avoid damaging the pipes. Sufficient flexibility and therefore length must be left in the pipes to take into account the 200 mm clearance between the electrical machine and the crossbar.

[0008] In addition, an additional piece of flexible plastic material of the ethylene- propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is added around at least one of the pipes in the crossmember deflection area.

[0009] This additional part protects the pipe from protruding welds on the crossmember that could pierce the pipe because there is no room above the crossmember to position the pipe higher due to the structure of the vehicle.

[0010] However, some more powerful vehicles include a larger electric machine resulting in a lack of space in the engine compartment to accommodate the pipes, which must therefore be shortened. This shortening results in a dynamic loop length that is too short. In addition, it is not possible to fix the pipes to the electric machine because of the different engine configuration and to position the additional piece of flexible plastic to protect the pipes. Statement of the invention

[0011] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the technique by proposing a fixing element for vehicle cooling system pipes driven at least partially by electrical energy to ensure a sufficient dynamic loop in a restricted engine space comprising shorter pipes, while protecting the pipes from the welds of the crossmember.

[0012] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a fastening element is provided for holding at least one pipe of a cooling system in an engine compartment of a vehicle driven at least partially by electrical energy. The fastening element comprises a fastening portion configured to hold the pipe and a deformable portion connected to the fastening portion. The deformable portion is configured to form a compressed spacer held between a crossmember and a structure of the vehicle.

[0013] The invention thus provides a fixing element for vehicle cooling system pipes driven at least partially by electrical energy making it possible to ensure a sufficiently long dynamic loop in a restricted engine space comprising shorter pipes, while protecting the pipes from the welds of the crossmember.

[0014] The fixing element allows pipes to be fixed to a moving crosspiece, without additional fixing means (clip or screw). The fixing clip fixed to the crosspiece to fix the pipes, according to the prior art, is eliminated.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the deformable part is formed from an elastomer.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the deformable part protrudes from a first longitudinal side of the fixing part by a first thickness el and from a second side longitudinal side of the fixing part, opposite the first longitudinal side, of a second thickness e2.

[0017] Thus, when the cross member approaches the structure during rolling, the deformable part is further compressed and deformed. It returns to its initial shape when the cross member moves away from the structure to return to its initial position. The fixing element provides sufficient dynamic mouth length.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the first and second thicknesses e1, e2 are identical and greater than 3 mm, preferably greater than 6 mm and / or less than 13 mm and preferably less than 10 mm.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the deformable part has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a lateral face to which the fixing part is connected.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the fixing portion extends perpendicularly to the lateral face of the deformable portion. This configuration makes it possible to provide a simple fixing element.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the fixing part comprises at least one orifice intended to be crossed by the pipe to fix the pipe to the fixing part.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the fixing part comprises two orifices intended to be crossed by two respective pipes to fix the pipes to the fixing part.

[0023] The two pipes are surrounded by the fixing part and therefore held and protected against welds present on the edge of the crosspiece.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the fixing part comprises a protective tab extending along a lower edge of the fixing part and intended to come into contact with an edge of the crosspiece.

[0025] The protective tab provides additional protection for the two pipes from the welds on the edge of the crosspiece.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a vehicle powered at least partially by electrical energy comprising a cooling system in an engine compartment and a fixing element as defined above. The fixing element comprises a fixing part holding the pipe and a deformable part forming a compressed spacer held between a cross member and a structure of the vehicle. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.l]: a perspective view of an engine compartment of a vehicle powered at least partially by electrical energy comprising an element of fixing, according to one embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.2]: a longitudinal sectional view of the fixing element in the com engine compartment; • [Fig.3]: a perspective view of the fixing element.

[0028] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. Detailed description of an embodiment

[0029] [Fig.l] illustrates an engine compartment 2 of a vehicle powered at least partially by electrical energy comprising a cooling system comprising two pipes 3, 11.

[0030] Each pipe 3, 11 comprises a first end 16, 16' intended to be connected to a cooling circuit of an electrical machine and a second end 17, 17' connected to a collector 19 connected to a pump and to a radiator. The first ends 16, 16' are integral with the electrical machine.

[0031] The vehicle comprises a fixing element 1 comprising a fixing part 4 configured to hold the two pipes 3, 1 and a deformable part 5 connected to the fixing part 4.

[0032] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the deformable part 5 forms a spacer between a cross member 6 and a structure 7 of the vehicle. The deformable part 5 is blocked by compression between the cross member 6 and the structure 7.

[0033] The deformable part 5 is formed from a flexible material and preferably an elastomer such as rubber or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), for example.

[0034] The deformable part 5 has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a lateral face 8 to which the fixing part 4 is connected.

[0035] The fixing part 4 can be connected to the deformable part 5 by fixing means. The fixing part 4 can be formed from a hard plastic material and the deformable part 5 from an elastomer.

[0036] Alternatively, the fixing element 1 may be a unitary part, the fixing part 4 and the deformable part 5 being obtained during a molding step, for example. The fixing part 4 and the deformable part 5 are then formed from the same elastomer material.

[0037] The fixing part 4 comprises a lateral side 20 connected to a lateral face 8 of the deformable part 5. The fixing part 4 extends perpendicularly to the lateral face 8 in a longitudinal direction Y, perpendicular to the transverse direction X. The fixing element 1 has a T-shaped section.

[0038] When the vehicle is placed on the ground, the transverse direction X corresponds to a vertical direction and the longitudinal direction Y corresponds to a horizontal direction. rizontal.

[0039] The deformable part 5 protrudes from a first longitudinal side 14 of the fixing part 4 by a first thickness e1, and from a second longitudinal side 15 of the fixing part 4, opposite the first side 14, by a second thickness e2.

[0040] Preferably, the first and second thicknesses e1, e2 are identical and greater than 3 mm, preferably greater than 6 mm and / or less than 13 mm and preferably less than 10 mm.

[0041] Consequently, the deformable part 5 has a height greater than that of the fixing part 4 in the transverse direction X.

[0042] Preferably, the first and second thicknesses e1, e2 are 8 mm. The deformable part 5 forming a spacer is therefore higher than the fixing part 4 by 16 mm, in the transverse direction X.

[0043] The deformable part 5 can thus absorb 10 mm of displacement of the crosspiece 6 in the transverse direction X. To define the height of the deformable part 5, the manufacturing tolerances which are approximately 3 mm maximum and an oversize of approximately 3 mm making it possible to guarantee the wedging or maintenance of the deformable part 5 between the crosspiece 6 and the structure 7 have been taken into account.

[0044] Preferably, the fixing part 4 is centered in the middle of the lateral face 8 of the deformable part 5.

[0045] The deformable part 5 comprises a first holding side 21 of flat shape bearing against the structure 7 of the vehicle and a second holding side 22 of flat shape, opposite the first holding side 21, bearing against the cross member 6.

[0046] During assembly, the deformable part 5 is mounted in compression between the crosspiece 6 and the structure 7 to ensure that it is held between these two elements.

[0047] Thus, when the cross member 6 approaches the structure 7 during rolling, the deformable part 5 is further compressed and deformed. It returns to its initial shape when the cross member 6 moves away from the structure 7 to return to its initial position. A sufficiently long dynamic mouth is thus provided.

[0048] The fixing part 4 has a generally parallelepiped shape and comprises at least one orifice 9, 10 intended to be passed through by the pipe 3, 11 to fix the pipe 3, 11 to the fixing part 4.

[0049] In the example of Figures 1 to 3, the fixing part 4 comprises two orifices 9, 10 crossed by two respective pipes 3, 11. The two pipes 3, 11 are blocked in the orifices 9, 10.

[0050] The two pipes 3, 11 are surrounded by the fixing part 4 and therefore protected against welding of the crosspiece 6.

[0051] Alternatively, the two pipes 3, 11 are supported by the circular edges 23, 24 delimiting the orifices 9, 10 but are not blocked in the orifices 9, 10. They are movable relative to the holes 9, 10 and therefore to the fixing part 4.

[0052] The orifices 9, 10 are positioned next to each other in the longitudinal direction Y.

[0053] Alternatively, the fixing part 4 comprises a protective tab 12 extending along a lower edge 13 of the fixing part 4, in the longitudinal direction Y.

[0054] The protective tab 12 has a curved shape extending in a direction opposite to the orifices 9, 10, that is to say in a direction opposite to the transverse and longitudinal directions X, Y and so as to match the shape of an edge 26 of the crosspiece 6 on which the protective tab 12 rests.

[0055] Alternatively, the fixing part 4 comprises a recess 25 formed between the lower edge 13 and the lateral face 8 of the deformable part 5.

[0056] During the assembly phase, the electric machine is mounted on the cross member 6 with the pipes 3, 11 of the cooling system.

[0057] The pipes 3, 11 are passed through the holes 9, 10 of the fixing part 4.

[0058] Alternatively, the fixing part 4 is overmolded around the pipes 3, 11.

[0059] The fixing part 4 may be formed from the same material as that of the part formable 5 or be formed from another material that is rigid, such as plastic for example.

[0060] The fixing part 4 is then fixed to the deformable part 5.

[0061] During the phase of mounting the pipes 3, 11 on the crosspiece 6, the pipes 3, 11 are initially higher by a thickness e2 than their final position because the deformable part 5 is not yet compressed. The protective tab 12 does not yet rest on the edge 26 of the crosspiece 6.

[0062] When the structure 7 is fitted onto the crosspiece 6, the deformable part 5 is compressed between the structure 7 and the crosspiece 6, making it possible to fix the deformable part 5. The height of the deformable part 5 then decreases by the thickness e2 and the protective tab 12 is pressed against the edge 26 of the crosspiece 6.

[0063] During the movements of the crosspiece 6, the deformable part 5 deforms but the fixing part 4 remains in position against the edge 26 of the crosspiece 6 and holds the pipes 3, 11.

[0064] Naturally, the invention is described in the above by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0065] It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relation to other determined characteristics, both individually and in combinations any, may be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Claims

1. Fastening element (1) intended to hold at least one pipe (3, 11) of a cooling system in an engine compartment (2) of a vehicle driven at least partially by electrical energy, the fastening element (1) comprising a fastening part (4) configured to hold the pipe (3, 11), characterized in that it comprises a deformable part (5) connected to the fastening part (4) and configured to form a compressed spacer and held between a crossmember (6) and a structure (7) of the vehicle.

2. Fastening element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformable part (5) is formed from an elastomer.

3. Fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformable part (5) protrudes from a first longitudinal side (14) of the fastening part (4) by a first thickness e1 and from a second longitudinal side (15) of the fastening part (4), opposite the first longitudinal side (14), by a second thickness e2.

4. Fastening element (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second thicknesses e1, e2 are identical and greater than 3 mm, preferably greater than 6 mm and / or less than 13 mm and preferably less than 10 mm.

5. Fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the deformable part (5) has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a lateral face (8) to which the fastening part (4) is connected.

6. Fastening element (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening part (4) extends perpendicularly to the lateral face (8) of the deformable part (5).

7. Fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fastening part (4) comprises at least one orifice (9, 10) intended to be passed through by the pipe (3, 11) to fix the pipe (3, 11) to the fastening part (4).

8. Fastening element (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening part (4) comprises two orifices (9, 10) intended to be crossed by two respective pipes (3, 11) to fix the pipes (3, 11) to the fastening part (4).

9. Fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fixing part (4) comprises a protective tab (12) extending along a lower edge (13) of the fixing part (4) and intended to come into contact with an edge (26) of the crosspiece (6).

10. Vehicle powered at least partially by electrical energy comprising a cooling system in an engine compartment (2), characterized in that it comprises a fixing element (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and comprising a fixing part (4) holding the pipe (3, 11) and a deformable part (5) forming a compressed spacer and held between a cross member (6) and a structure (7) of the vehicle.

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