Fairing including thermal insulation support

Abstract

Fairing comprising a thermal insulation support The invention relates to a fairing (10) intended to be fixed to the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, comprising a main body (11) configured to be arranged under the fuel tank so as to form an aerodynamic portion and to protect the fuel tank from the heat of the exhaust gases of the vehicle; and a thermal insulation support (15) fixed to the main body by a plurality of first fasteners (16) and configured to be fixed to the fuel tank by a plurality of second fasteners (17). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Fairing comprising a thermal insulation support Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automotive technology, more particularly the field of devices improving the aerodynamics of motor vehicles.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to a fairing configured to be fixed at least in part to the fuel tank of a vehicle with a short exhaust line and to form a heat shield to protect the tank against hot gases leaving the vehicle's exhaust line.

[0003] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a fairing.

[0004] The main area of application envisaged concerns motor vehicles with short exhaust lines. Prior art

[0005] The energy consumption of a vehicle is directly linked to its aerodynamics. In order to reduce vehicle consumption, manufacturers seek to improve the aerodynamics of the upper part of the vehicle body by smoothing the shapes and masking the protruding parts.

[0006] However, the aerodynamic shape of the underside of vehicle bodies is also important in reducing their air resistance, or drag. Drag is mainly caused by the pressure difference between the stagnation pressure at the front of the vehicle and the base pressure at the rear. It can be reduced by minimizing the difference between these two pressures.

[0007] Some vehicles have a fuel tank arranged in a lower part of the vehicle in such a way that the tank protrudes under the vehicle, facing the road. A fairing can then be fixed around the tank to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle as well as to protect the tank from any projections coming from the road during the driving phase. The fairing thus arranged between the tank and the road constitutes a protective skin.

[0008] Application FR3113383 A1 describes a vehicle comprising a fairing fixed to a lower face of the fuel tank.

[0009] Furthermore, some vehicles have a short exhaust line. The gas outlet of a short exhaust line is not located at the rear end of the vehicle. It generally opens at the front of the vehicle's fuel tank. However, the exhaust gases at the outlet of a short exhaust line have a temperature high temperature, typically above 300°C and possibly exceeding 400°C.

[0010] Therefore, good thermal insulation is necessary to avoid overheating of the tank.

[0011] Furthermore, high exhaust gas temperatures prevent the work of fasteners between the tank and the fairing arranged in the cone of the exhaust gas flow.

[0012] Application WO201638266 A1 describes a vehicle comprising a line short exhaust pipe and a heat shield protecting the tunnel receiving the exhaust line and the fuel tank. The heat shield extends between the tank and the exhaust line outlet. An aerodynamic screen is also attached under the tank.

[0013] Existing solutions are not entirely satisfactory. A heat shield as described in application WO201638266 A1 does not constitute a fairing, i.e. an element for improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle. The aerodynamic performance of the heat shield is not satisfactory. In addition, the aerodynamic screen and the heat shield are directly attached to the tank, which is likely to cause excessive heating of the tank.

[0014] There is therefore a need to propose a fairing intended to be fixed to a tank so as to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle while providing satisfactory protection of the tank against the high temperatures of the gases leaving the exhaust line.

[0015] The aim of the invention is to meet at least part of this need. Statement of the invention

[0016] To this end, the invention relates to a fairing intended to be fixed to the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a main body configured to be arranged under the fuel tank so as to form an aerodynamic portion and to protect the fuel tank from the heat of the vehicle exhaust gases; and - a thermal insulation support attached to the main body by a plurality of first fasteners and configured to be attached to the fuel tank by a plurality of second fasteners.

[0017] The fairing according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to thermally decouple the fuel tank of the vehicle and the main body of the fairing, which is subjected to the flow of exhaust gases at the outlet of the vehicle's exhaust line. Indeed, the thermal insulation support forms the interface between the fuel tank and the main body of the fairing. This avoids any direct attachment between the fairing and the tank. This ensures good protection of the tank against excessive temperatures. The fairing also ensures good aerodynamics of the vehicle, especially when it extends across the entire width of the vehicle.

[0018] The main body forms an aerodynamic portion which improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle by covering the lower surface of the fuel tank.

[0019] According to an advantageous characteristic, the main body is configured to be arranged in the gas outlet cone of a short exhaust line of the vehicle. In other words, the exhaust line of the vehicle opens directly onto the fairing and the exhaust gases, which form a cone at the outlet of the exhaust line, circulate directly under the main body of the fairing.

[0020] Preferably, the fairing comprises two side parts fixed to the main body so as to be arranged on either side of the exhaust gas outlet cone, the side parts preferably being made of plastic, in particular PET or PP. The use of plastic parts in the areas of the fairing which are outside the exhaust gas outlet cone makes it possible to minimize the weight of the fairing while improving its aerodynamic performance. Since the temperatures of the fairing reach lower values outside the gas cone, the use of plastic in these areas is possible. The side parts preferably form aerodynamic portions which improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle by covering portions of the lower surface of the vehicle.

[0021] More preferably, the fairing is configured so that the first fasteners are arranged on either side of the exhaust gas outlet cone. This makes it possible to prevent the first fasteners from directly being subjected to the high temperatures of the exhaust gases.

[0022] Advantageously, the main body is made of aluminum.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first fasteners are configured to withstand high temperatures, in particular above 150°C, 200°C, 250°C or 300°C, the first fasteners preferably being metal fasteners, in particular made of steel, and may in particular be stud-nut assemblies.

[0024] By "high temperatures" is meant the temperatures that the fairing can reach in the operating configuration of the vehicle, when the exhaust gases circulate under the fairing.

[0025] According to an advantageous characteristic, the second fasteners are metal fasteners or plastic fasteners, in particular metal stud-nut assemblies or plastic rivets. Said plastic material is preferably resistant to high temperatures, being for example polyamide 66 (PA 66).

[0026] According to one embodiment, the thermal insulation support is metallic, preferably made of steel or aluminum.

[0027] According to a preferred feature, the fairing is configured to extend across the entire width of the vehicle. This improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

[0028] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a fuel tank and a fairing according to the invention, the thermal insulation support of the fairing being fixed under the fuel tank by the second fixings. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents the thermal stresses under a part of a vehicle comprising a fairing according to the invention.

[0030] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view from below of a part of a vehicle comprising a fairing according to the invention.

[0031] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a detail view of the vehicle of [Fig.2].

[0032] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a detail view of the vehicle's thermal insulation support of [Fig.2].

[0033] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] illustrates the thermal insulation support of a fairing according to the invention. Detailed description

[0034] Throughout the present application, the terms "vertical", "lower", "upper", "lower", "higher", "below", "under", "above" and "on" are to be understood with reference to a motor vehicle as it is in the rolling configuration, the wheels being in contact with the ground. The terms "front" and "rear" are to be understood with reference to the orientation of the vehicle.

[0035] [Fig.l] and [Fig.2] partially represent a motor vehicle 1 seen from below and comprising a fairing 10 according to the invention.

[0036] The vehicle 1 has a short exhaust line 2 which does not open at the rear end of the vehicle but in front of the fuel tank. The exhaust gases leaving the exhaust line 2 form a cone 3 whose half-angle a is typically about 15°. The exhaust gases leaving the exhaust line 2 pass directly under the fairing 10 arranged under the fuel tank 4. The fuel tank 4 is hidden by the fairing 10 in Figures 1 and 2 but it is visible in [Fig. 3]. The temperature of the fairing 10 can exceed 300°C in the gas cone.

[0037] The fairing 10 comprises a main body 11 made of aluminum and two lateral parts 12, 13 fixed to the main body 11 on either side of the gas cone by the fasteners 14.

[0038] The fasteners 14 may be metal fasteners of the rivet type, in particular made of aluminum.

[0039] Since the side parts 12, 13 are not in the path of the exhaust gases, they are preferably made of plastic, in particular polyethylene terephthalate PET or polypropylene PP, or of composite material in particular based on PP fibers. This makes it possible to minimize the weight of the fairing. The side parts can however be made of other materials, in particular aluminum.

[0040] The fairing 10 advantageously extends over the entire width of the vehicle 1. This improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle compared to a fairing arranged only under the fuel tank.

[0041] The main body 11 and the side parts 12, 13 form aerodynamic portions.

[0042] Figures 3 and 4 are detailed views of the vehicle 1 in which the main body 11 is removed in order to reveal the thermal insulation support 15 and the fuel tank 4.

[0043] [Fig.5] is a detail view of the insulated thermal insulation support 15.

[0044] As can be seen more particularly in [Fig.4], the fuel tank 4 is fixed to the chassis of the vehicle by a fastening strap 5.

[0045] In the example illustrated, the thermal insulation support 15 is fixed on the one hand to the main body 11 by means of four first fixings 16, and on the other hand to the fuel tank 4 by means of four second fixings 17.

[0046] The first fasteners 16 between the thermal insulation support 15 and the main body 11 are preferably made of a metallic material, for example steel, since good temperature resistance is required. The first fasteners 16 are in fact in direct contact with the main body 11 which is subjected to the flow of exhaust gas and the temperature of which can reach high values. The first fasteners 16 are preferably arranged so as to be arranged outside the exhaust gas cone so as not to be directly subjected to the high temperatures of these gases.

[0047] The first fasteners may for example consist of metal stud-nut assemblies.

[0048] The second fasteners 17 between the thermal insulation support 15 and the fuel tank 4 are preferably made of materials suitable for withstanding high temperatures, in particular of suitable plastic material such as polyamide PA66 or of metal such as steel or aluminum. The second fasteners 17 may in particular be stud-nut assemblies and / or rivets, in particular of plastic material.

[0049] They can be arranged so as to be directly above the exhaust gas cone because they are protected by the main body 11 of the fairing and are not in direct contact with the latter.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, the thermal insulation support 15 consists of a single piece comprising four substantially rectilinear sections 18, 19, 20, 21 crossing two by two to form a geometry in the general shape of a sharp.

[0051] The thermal insulation support 15 is preferably made of a metallic material, in particular steel or aluminum.

[0052] The sections 18, 20 may be substantially parallel and extend substantially across the width of the vehicle, i.e. perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The first fasteners 16 are advantageously arranged at each of the ends of these two sections so as to be arranged outside the exhaust gas cone, the axis of which extends across the length of the vehicle.

[0053] The sections 19, 21 may be substantially parallel or inclined towards each other. They may extend substantially along the length of the vehicle but may also deviate significantly from this direction.

[0054] Other variants and improvements may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the thermal insulation support may be of any geometry allowing a plurality of first and second fixings according to the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Fairing (10) intended to be fixed to the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a main body (11) configured to be arranged under the fuel tank so as to form an aerodynamic portion and to protect the fuel tank from the heat of the vehicle's exhaust gases; and - a thermal insulation support (15) fixed to the main body by a plurality of first fasteners (16) and configured to be fixed to the fuel tank by a plurality of second fasteners (17).

2. Fairing according to claim 1, the main body being configured to be arranged in the gas outlet cone of a short exhaust line of the vehicle.

3. Fairing according to the preceding claim, comprising two lateral parts (12, 13) fixed to the main body so as to be arranged on either side of the exhaust gas outlet cone, the lateral parts preferably being made of plastic, in particular PET or PP.

4. Fairing according to one of claims 2 or 3, configured so that the first fasteners are arranged on either side of the exhaust gas outlet cone.

5. Fairing according to one of the preceding claims, the main body being made of aluminum.

6. Fairing according to one of the preceding claims, the first fixings being metal fixings, in particular stud-nut assemblies.

7. Fairing according to one of the preceding claims, the second fixings being metal fixings or plastic fixings, in particular metal stud-nut assemblies or plastic rivets.

8. Fairing according to one of the preceding claims, the thermal insulation support being metallic, preferably made of steel or aluminum.

9. A fairing according to any preceding claim, configured to extend across the entire width of the vehicle.

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a fuel tank (4) and a fairing according to one of the preceding claims, the support thermal insulation of the fairing being fixed under the fuel tank by the second fixings.

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