MOTOR VEHICLE COOLING FACADE FIXING SYSTEM

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a fastening system 6 for a vehicle cooling front panel element on a structural element 1 of said vehicle, the fastening system 6 comprising: A stud 9 having: A central elastic portion 10 in which a bore 11 is provided for receiving a pin on the cooling front panel element, and An external portion 12 securely receiving the central elastic portion 10, A platform 13 for securing the stud 9 to the structural element 1 of the vehicle, the platform 13 having means 14 for fastening said structural element 1 and an upper surface 19 constructed and arranged to cooperate by magnetism with a lower surface 20 of the external portion 12 of the stud 9. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: SYSTEM FOR FIXING A COOLING FACADE ELEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to a system for maintaining a cooling facade element of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Such a cooling facade element may for example be formed by a glycol water exchanger, such as a cooling radiator. It may also be formed by an air conditioning condenser, a motor fan unit or an air exchanger, such as a charge air cooler, or an oil exchanger.

[0003] The cooling facade of a motor vehicle, provided with a radiator, is generally located in the front part of the vehicle and is usually mounted on cross members by means of fixing devices. More particularly, the radiator is held by two fixing devices on an upper cross member and two opposite fixing devices on a lower cross member.

[0004] The radiator is constantly subjected to vibrations. In order to compensate for these vibrations, the two fixing devices fixed to the lower cross member include elastic means for absorbing these vibrations.

[0005] Each fixing device is formed by an elastic central part, often made of rubber, in which is provided a bore for receiving a pin that the radiator includes, and an external part securely receiving the elastic central part. This external part is made of plastic material and is clipped into a housing that the lower crosspiece includes.

[0006] In use, the central part is subject to numerous vibrations as well as significant temperature variations. These vibrations and temperature variations contribute to the wear of the central rubber part. When replacing the fixing devices, it is necessary to access the external part to be able to exert force on the clip and separate it from the lower cross member.

[0007] The difficulty of accessing this fixing device makes it difficult to replace.

[0008] The aim of the invention is in particular to propose a system for maintaining a vehicle cooling facade element which can be easily dismantled.

[0009] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest acceptance, to a system for fixing a vehicle cooling facade element to a structural element of the vehicle, the fixing system comprising a stud comprising • An elastic central part in which a bore is provided for receiving a pin that the cooling facade element includes, and • An external part securely receiving said elastic central part.

[0010] The fixing system further comprises a platform for securing the stud to the structural element of the vehicle, the securing platform comprising means for securing to the structural element and an upper surface constructed and arranged to cooperate by magnetization with a lower surface of the external part of the stud so as to secure the securing platform to the stud by magnetization.

[0011] As the stud is simply secured to the platform, and therefore to the structural element of the vehicle, by magnetism, when the central part of the stud is damaged, it is sufficient to remove the stud using simple pliers to reposition a new stud. The operation of replacing the elastic central part is thus greatly facilitated.

[0012] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the system according to the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the upper surface of the securing platform is made of a magnetic material and the lower surface of the external part of the pad is made of a ferromagnetic material.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the upper surface of the securing platform is made of a ferromagnetic material and the lower surface of the external part of the pad is made of a magnetic material.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the fixing system comprises a peripheral surface of a shape other than circular.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the peripheral surface is oblong in shape.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the fixing means are formed by a threaded tube originating at a lower surface of the securing platform and extending perpendicular to said lower surface, said lower surface being arranged opposite the upper surface.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the elastic central part is secured to the external part by force fitting.

[0019] Another aspect of the invention relates to a structural element of a motor vehicle, said structural element being provided with two housings. The structural element is remarkable in that a fixing system according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention is positioned in each of the housings.

[0020] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, each housing consists of a counterbore extended by an orifice, the orifice being constructed and arranged to receive the threaded tube.

[0021] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the structural element comprises a cooling facade element provided with two positioning pins, each pin being positioned in a pin-receiving bore which one of the two fixing systems comprises.

[0022] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0023] [Fig-1] illustrates, schematically, a structural element constructed and arranged to support two cooling facade elements of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a system for fixing a vehicle cooling facade element according to the invention.

[0025] [Fig.3] shows an exploded view of the fixing system according to the invention illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0026] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

[0027] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

[0028] [Fig.l] illustrates a structural element 1 of the facade of a motor vehicle constructed and arranged to fix two facade elements for cooling the vehicle.

[0029] A first cooling facade element 2 is, for example, formed by a cooling radiator and a second cooling facade element 3 is, for example, formed by an air conditioning condenser.

[0030] The structural element 1 comprises a lower cross member 4 comprising four housings 5. A fixing system 6 for a vehicle cooling facade element 2, 3 according to the invention is inserted into each of the housings 5.

[0031] The first and second cooling facade elements 2, 3 comprise pins 7. Each pin 7 is intended to be positioned in one of the fixing systems 6 of a vehicle cooling facade element 2, 3.

[0032] The structural element 1 further comprises an upper crosspiece 8 on which the first and second cooling facade elements 2, 3 are fixed, for example by means of screws.

[0033] [Fig.2] illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fixing system 6 of an element of cooling facade 2, 3 of vehicle according to the invention.

[0034] More particularly, [Fig.2] illustrates a sectional view of a fixing system 6 secured to a structural element 1 of the facade of a motor vehicle.

[0035] [Fig. 3] shows an exploded sectional view of the fastening system 6 illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0036] For the remainder of the description, reference is made to Figures 2 and 3.

[0037] According to this embodiment, the housing 5 formed in the structural element 1 has a counterbore 7 extended by a through hole 8.

[0038] The fixing system 6 of a vehicle cooling facade element 2, 3 comprises a stud 9.

[0039] The pad 9 comprises an elastic central part 10 in which a bore 11 is provided for receiving a pin 7 which the cooling facade element 2, 3 comprises.

[0040] The elastic central part 10 is made of a material capable of absorbing vibrations, such as rubber.

[0041] The pad 9 also comprises an external part 12 securely receiving the elastic central part 10. The external part 12 surrounds the elastic central part 10.

[0042] The elastic central part 10 is secured to the external part 12 by force fitting. The elastic central part 10 thus forms an elastic lining for the stud 9.

[0043] The stud 9 formed from the external part 12 provided with the elastic central part 10 is positioned in the counterbore 7.

[0044] The fixing system 6 of a cooling facade element 2, 3 of a vehicle further comprises a platform 13 for securing the stud 9 to a structural element 1 of the vehicle.

[0045] The securing platform 13 is positioned in the counterbore 7 and is sandwiched between the bottom of the counterbore 7 and the stud 9.

[0046] The securing platform 13 comprises means 14 for fixing to the structural element 1.

[0047] According to this embodiment, the fixing means 14 are formed by a threaded tube originating at a lower surface 15 of the securing platform 13. The threaded tube 14 is positioned in the orifice 8 extending the counterbore 7.

[0048] A screw 16 whose head 17 bears on a lower surface 18 of the structural element 1 is screwed into the threaded tube 14. Thus, the securing platform 13 is secured to the structural element 1 by a cooperation of this screw 16 and the threaded tube 14.

[0049] According to another embodiment not illustrated, the fixing means 14 of the securing platform 13 are formed by clipping means constructed and arranged to cooperate with other clipping means that the structural element 1 comprises.

[0050] The securing platform 13 further comprises an upper surface 19 constructed and arranged to cooperate by magnetization with a lower surface 20 of the external part 12 of the pad 9.

[0051] Thus, when the securing platform 13 is positioned in the housing 5 of the structural element 1, when it is secured to the structural element 1 by means of the screw 16, and when the stud 9 is positioned in the housing 5, the securing platform 13 is secured by magnetization with the stud 9.

[0052] It follows that when the elastic central part 10 of the pad 9 is worn, it is sufficient to remove the cooling facade element 2, 3, then to remove the pad 9 from its housing 5 by means of pliers. It is not necessary to remove the securing platform 13. Since it is not necessary to remove any screw, or even any clipping means, the operation of dismantling the pad 9 with a view to its replacement is thus greatly facilitated.

[0053] According to a first non-limiting embodiment, the upper surface 19 of the securing platform 13 is made of a magnetic material and the lower surface 20 of the external part 12 of the pad 9 is made of a ferromagnetic material.

[0054] According to another non-limiting embodiment, the upper surface 19 of the securing platform 13 is made of a ferromagnetic material and the lower surface 20 of the external part 12 of the pad 9 is made of a magnetic material.

[0055] Furthermore, in order to prevent the fixing system 6 from rotating in the housing 5, the housing 5 is oblong in shape and the peripheral surface 21 of the fixing system 6 is of complementary oblong in shape.

[0056] In a non-limiting manner, the housing 5 may be rectangular, ovoid or even triangular in shape. The peripheral surface 21 of the fixing system 6 is then of complementary shape.

Claims

Claims

1. System (6) for fixing a cooling facade element (2, 3) of a vehicle to a structural element (1) of said vehicle, said fixing system (6) comprising a stud (9) comprising: - An elastic central part (10) in which is formed a bore (11) for receiving a pin (7) that said cooling facade element (2, 3) comprises, and - An external part (12) securely receiving said elastic central part (10), - said fixing system (6) being characterized in that it further comprises a platform (13) for securing said stud (9) to said structural element (1) of said vehicle,said securing platform (13) comprising means (14) for fixing to said structural element (1) and an upper surface (19) constructed and arranged to cooperate by magnetization with a lower surface (20) of said external part (12) of said pad (9) so as to secure said securing platform (13) to said pad (9) by magnetization.,

2. Fixing system (6) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper surface (19) of the securing platform (13) is made of a magnetic material and the lower surface (20) of the external part (12) of the stud (9) is made of a ferromagnetic material.

3. Fixing system (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface (19) of the securing platform (13) is made of a ferromagnetic material and the lower surface (20) of the external part (12) of the stud (9) is made of a magnetic material.

4. Fastening system (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a peripheral surface (21) of shape other than circular.

5. Fastening system (6) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the peripheral surface (21) is oblong in shape.

6. A fastening system (6) according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, characterized in that the fixing means (14) are formed by a threaded tube originating at a lower surface (15) of the fixing platform (13) and extending perpendicular to said lower surface (15), said lower surface (15) being arranged opposite the upper surface (19)

7. Fixing system (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic central part (10) is secured to the external part (12) by force fitting.

8. Structural element (1) of a motor vehicle, said structural element (1) being provided with two housings (5), said structural element (1) being characterized in that a fixing system (6) according to any one of the preceding claims is positioned in each of said housings (5).

9. Structural element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each housing (5) consists of a counterbore (7) extended by an orifice (8), said orifice (8) being constructed and arranged to receive the threaded tube (14).

10. Structural element (1) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a cooling facade element (2, 3) provided with two positioning pins (7), each pin (7) being positioned in a bore (11) for receiving a pin which comprises one of the two fixing systems (6).

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