SUPPORT DEVICE FOR A STEERING RACK AND SUSPENSION ARMS OF THE ELECTROMETOR UNIT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a support device for a steering rack (C) and the suspension arms (B) of an electric motor unit (G) on a motor vehicle chassis comprising longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) subframes, characterized in that it comprises at least two bearings (1a, 1b) mounted side-by-side on the subframes, each of said bearings receiving, in its lower part, the rack (C) along a horizontal axis (X) and, in its upper part, one of the suspension arms (B) along an axis (Y) perpendicular to the axis (X) of said rack (C). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A STEERING RACK AND THE SUSPENSION ARMS OF THE ELECTROMOTIVE GROUP OF A VEHICLE CAR

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the fields of steering and motorization of motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with a device intended for the joint support of the steering rack and the suspension of the electromotive group.

[0002] Today in motor vehicles, the functions of steering and suspension of the electromotive group are always separate. Consequently, the efficiency of the architecture located under the hood of the vehicle is degraded because it is necessary to have one component per function and to provide dedicated supports for each of these components.

[0003] Thus, the vehicles comprise, in a restricted and constrained geometric environment, both support elements for the suspension arms of the electromotive group and support elements for the steering rack. These separate support elements are mounted on longitudinal and transverse cradles, constituting, at least partially, the lower part of the chassis of the vehicle.

[0004] Furthermore, in such a configuration, it is necessary for the suspension arms of the electromotive group to be able to span the rack above the cradles, which requires giving them a great length and leads to raising the architecture of the assembly. However, the current trend is, on the contrary, to reduce the size and mass of this architecture in the front block of the vehicle.

[0005] Consequently, the existing architecture is not satisfactory and the invention therefore sought a solution making it possible to group and combine each of the support elements of these steering and suspension components on a single element in order to optimize the compactness of this architecture and to reduce, in particular, the length of the suspension arms.

[0006] Patent application KR20140016089A describes a device for supporting a steering rack for a motor vehicle comprising bearings intended to reduce the friction generated during rotation of the rack.

[0007] Patent application CN11528521 IA describes a support structure for a steering rack for a motor vehicle comprising a bearing supporting a transmission shaft whose positioning can be adjusted and controlled.

[0008] However, the steering rack support means which are proposed in these two documents are neither suitable nor intended to cooperate with the suspension means of an electromotive group in order to reduce their dimensional characteristics and simplify the architecture of the assembly. These documents therefore do not provide a solution to the technical problem addressed by the invention.

[0009] In this context, the invention consists in proposing a device for supporting a steering rack and the suspension arms of an electromotive group on a motor vehicle chassis comprising longitudinal and transverse cradles, characterized in that it comprises at least two bearings mounted juxtaposed on the cradles, each of said bearings receiving, in the lower part, the rack along a horizontal axis and, in the upper part, one of the suspension arms along an axis perpendicular to the axis of said rack.

[0010] According to an advantageous characteristic of the support device of the invention, one of the ends of the suspension arms is fixed to the electromotive group and the other end is mounted on the upper part of its support bearing via a shim.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, the axis of the wedge extends vertically from the axis of the rack.

[0012] According to a specific variant embodiment of the support device of the invention, the axis of the suspension arms extends along an axis parallel to the longitudinal cradles.

[0013] According to another variant embodiment of the support device of the invention, the bearings are mounted on the same transverse cradle and the electromotive group rests on at least one transverse cradle.

[0014] Preferably, the bearings are made in the form of castings.

[0015] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor and a rack and pinion steering system, characterized in that it is provided with a joint support device for the electromotive group and the rack as defined above.

[0016] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to reduce the interposed spaces between the electromotive group and the rack by dimensioning the bearings, the shim and the suspension arms of the electromotive group as precisely as possible while limiting the possible overhang. Thus, the compactness and the mass of the front block of the vehicle are significantly improved.

[0017] Furthermore, the simplified structure of the support device of the invention offers an appreciable saving of time during assembly operations in the factory.

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

[0019] [Fig.l] is a side view of a traditional device for supporting an electromotive group and a steering rack on the chassis of a vehicle au- car.

[0020] [Fig.2] is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention for supporting an electromotive group and a steering rack on the chassis of a motor vehicle.

[0021] [Fig.3] is a rear view of the support device of [Fig.2].

[0022] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in the description and in the figures.

[0023] Naturally, the embodiment of the invention illustrated schematically by the figures presented above and described below is given only as a non-limiting example. It is explicitly provided within the scope of the invention that different embodiments can be proposed and combined with each other to propose others.

[0024] Generally speaking and as illustrated by [Fig. 1], the invention relates to the means for mounting and supporting, on the chassis of motor vehicles equipped with an electric motor, an electromotive group G and a steering system. Such a chassis comprises, in particular, longitudinal cradles L or side members and transverse cradles T.

[0025] The electromotive group G generally carries at least two suspension arms B associated with shims K and cast support elements. The steering system comprises, for its part, a column connected by pinions (not shown) to a rack C which is associated with another cast support element. The suspension arms B of the electromotive group G span the rack C above the cradles L, T.

[0026] Currently, there are therefore separate means for ensuring the mounting and support, on the one hand, of the electromotive group G and, on the other hand, of the rack C. However, this architectural configuration is not favorable because it occupies a significant volume in the underlying environment of the hood, the free space of which is already very limited.

[0027] The invention aims to reduce the overall dimensions of this architecture and, in particular, the length of the connecting arms B. To this end and as illustrated by figures 2 and 3, the invention proposes a support device common to the electromotive group G and to the rack C which comprises at least two bearings 1a, 1b mounted juxtaposed on the cradles L or T.

[0028] Each bearing 1a, 1b is intended to receive, in the lower part, a section of the rack C which is mounted along a horizontal axis X and, in the upper part, one of the suspension arms B along an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X of the rack, and therefore here, a substantially horizontal axis and directed towards the rear, as illustrated by [Fig.2],

[0029] Thus, one of the ends of the suspension arms B is fixed to the electrical group- tromotor G while its other end is mounted, possibly in an articulated manner, on the upper part of its support bearing 1a, 1b via a shim K. Preferably, this shim K is positioned on a vertical axis Z relative to the axis X of the rack.

[0030] The Z axis is therefore perpendicular to the Y axis of the arms B which here extends along an axis parallel to the longitudinal cradles L. The bearings 1a, 1b are preferably mounted on the same transverse cradle T and the electromotive group G rests, for its part, on at least one transverse cradle T.

[0031] The suspension arms B thus have a significantly reduced length and the assembly consisting of the electromotive group G and the rack C is no longer in such an advanced position as previously, as shown by the comparison between figures 1 and 2.

[0032] Preferably, the bearings 1a, 1b are made in the form of castings and each bearing is made in a single piece. However, an alternative embodiment of the invention could consist of making each of the bearings in the form of two superimposed and secured pieces, for example, by means of vertical lag screws screwed through these two pieces.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for supporting a steering rack (C) and the suspension arms (B) of an electromotive group (G) on a motor vehicle chassis comprising longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) cradles, characterized in that it comprises at least two bearings (1a, 1b) mounted juxtaposed on the cradles, each of said bearings receiving, in the lower part, the rack (C) along a horizontal axis (X) and, in the upper part, one of the suspension arms (B) along an axis (Y) perpendicular to the axis (X) of said rack (C).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the ends of said suspension arms (B) is fixed to the electromotive group (G) and the other end is mounted on the upper part of its support bearing (la, 1b) via a wedge (K).

3. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axis (Z) of the wedge (K) extends vertically from the axis (X) of said rack.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis (Y) of the suspension arms (B) extends along an axis parallel to the longitudinal cradles (L).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bearings (1a, 1b) are mounted on the same transverse cradle (T).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electromotive group (G) rests on at least one transverse cradle (T).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bearings (1a, 1b) are produced in the form of castings.

8. Motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor and a rack and pinion steering system (C), characterized in that it is provided with a joint support device for the electromotive group (G) and the rack according to one of the preceding claims.

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