DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AN ELECTROMOTIVE UNIT ON THE CHASSIS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supporting an electromotive group on a motor vehicle chassis comprising an electric motor (M) and a reducer (R) coupled to the lower part of the motor and provided with a bracket (1) intended for mounting elements for connection to the chassis, characterized in that said elements for connection to the chassis comprise a mandrel (11) made in one piece with the bracket (1) and intended to be housed in a central cavity (20) formed inside a partially cylindrical body (2) bearing downwards on the chassis. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AN ELECTROMOTIVE GROUP ON THE CHASSIS OF A VEHICLE CAR

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of electric motorization of motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with a device intended for mounting an electric powertrain on the chassis of the vehicle.

[0002] On vehicles equipped with an electric motor (electric or hybrid vehicles), the powertrain mainly comprises an electric motor coupled at the bottom to a reducer. This group is generally mounted on the chassis of the vehicle by means of support elements consisting, on the one hand, of a rod carried by a bracket made at the bottom of the reducer and, on the other hand, of a sleeve mounted around this rod and fixed at the bottom on a profile integrated into the chassis. The connection between the rod and the sleeve is reinforced by means of a threaded end portion of the rod cooperating by screwing with a nut.

[0003] However, with a support mode, the assembly operations are particularly complex and laborious because the group is heavy and bulky and it is therefore difficult to hold it and position it correctly to introduce the rod into the stem, then engage it in the sleeve before screwing the nut.

[0004] Furthermore, it turns out that such a mode of support involves the use of many parts and that, in particular, the sleeve is a heavy and oversized part for this specific assembly.

[0005] There are already many technical solutions for supporting a large assembly such as a motor-reducer unit on a vehicle chassis or, more generally, on a frame. Thus, for example, patent EP1533163B1 describes a device for supporting a motor vehicle power unit comprising, on the one hand, three elements, one of which is intended to support the engine and the other two to support the reducer and, on the other hand, torsion rods connecting parts of the engine to the vehicle body. One of the two support elements of the reducer has elasticity in the vertical direction.

[0006] However, these solutions, and in particular the one described in patent EP1533163B1, require the use of numerous elements to support the powertrain. Furthermore, the positioning of all these elements relative to both the group to be supported and the chassis remains a complex operation and therefore still very difficult to carry out manually.

[0007] In this context, the invention aims to solve the technical problems posed by the previous solutions by proposing an advanced device allowing easy mounting of the powertrain on the chassis and ensuring both rapid and precise pre-positioning and stable final support over time with light and space-saving means.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a device for supporting on a motor vehicle chassis an electromotive group comprising an electric motor and a reducer coupled to the lower part of the motor and provided with a bracket intended for mounting elements for connection with the chassis, characterized in that said elements for connection with the chassis comprise a mandrel made in one piece with the bracket and intended to be housed in a central cavity formed inside a partially cylindrical body bearing downwards on the chassis.

[0009] According to an advantageous characteristic of the support device of the invention, the mandrel carries at its end a boss which projects outside the cavity of the body and whose diameter is greater than the internal diameter of said cavity.

[0010] According to another characteristic of the support device of the invention, the length of the mandrel is greater than or equal to the length of the body.

[0011] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the outer casing of the body is semi-cylindrical and of half-moon section.

[0012] Preferably, the mandrel is cylindrical as is the section of the central cavity of the body.

[0013] According to yet another characteristic of the support device of the invention, the mandrel extends along a substantially horizontal axis and perpendicular to said bracket.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the support device of the invention, the bracket and the mandrel are made in a single piece by molding a plastic material with a casing enclosing the reducer.

[0015] According to yet another variant embodiment of the invention, the internal wall of the body cavity is provided with a longitudinal projection which fits into a complementary profile relief made on the mandrel.

[0016] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle equipped with an electromotive group and a device for supporting this group on its chassis by means of a device as defined above.

[0017] Thanks to the invention, it is now possible to do away with the rod and nut which were previously intended to ensure the joining of the various support elements of the electromotive group while guaranteeing the same functionalities with lightweight elements whose profile and reliability are optimized.

[0018] Furthermore, the simplified and lightened structure of the support device of the invention offers better ergonomics, an appreciable saving of time during operations factory assembly as well as after-sales vehicle maintenance using more economical spare parts.

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective view of an electromotive group equipped with the existing device for its support on the chassis of a motor vehicle.

[0021] [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view of an electromotive group equipped with a embodiment of the innovative device of the invention for its support on the chassis of a motor vehicle.

[0022] [Fig.3] is a detailed perspective view of the reducer of the electromotive group of [Fig.l] with the improvement integrated into the support device of the invention shown here partially.

[0023] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in the description and in the figures.

[0024] 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 together to propose others.

[0025] Generally speaking and as illustrated by [Fig.l], the invention relates to the means for mounting and supporting, on the chassis of a motor vehicle equipped with an electric motor, an electromotive group comprising, in particular, an electric motor M (shown here partially) and a reducer R. The chassis is here materialized by a profile P and a cradle B.

[0026] Traditionally, such an electromotive group is mounted on the vehicle by means of a device comprising, in particular, a support bracket 1 secured to the casing of the reducer R and extending downwards. Until now, this bracket 1 was provided with a bore receiving a threaded end rod T which is intended to be introduced into an orifice provided in an added sleeve K ensuring the connection in the lower part with the chassis. A nut E is generally screwed onto the threaded end of the rod T to ensure, at the end of assembly, its locking in the sleeve K, as illustrated by [Fig.l].

[0027] The invention aims to simplify and facilitate the assembly of the electromotive group by modifying this traditional device. Thus, the device which is the subject of the invention comprises elements for connection with the chassis which comprise a mandrel 11 made in one piece with the bracket 1 and which is intended to be housed in a central cavity 20 in the form of a longitudinal groove formed inside a partially cylindrical body 2 bearing downwards on the chassis via the profile P and the cradle B.

[0028] The length of the mandrel 11 is greater than the length of the body 2. Preferably, the mandrel 11 carries at its end a boss (not shown) which projects outside the cavity 20 of the body 2 and whose diameter is greater than the internal diameter of the cavity. This boss makes it possible to axially wedge the body 2 on the mandrel 11.

[0029] In order to lighten the assembly, the invention provides that the outer casing of the body 2 is semi-cylindrical having a cross-section in the shape of a half-moon. The mandrel 11 is, for its part, cylindrical as is the section of the central cavity 20 of the body 2 having substantially the same diameter which makes it possible to optimize their contact surfaces and to ensure good mechanical strength. The mandrel 11 extends perpendicular to the lower part of the bracket 1 and along a substantially horizontal axis.

[0030] The presence of the mandrel 11 in the upper part of the assembly guarantees the elimination of five degrees of freedom and the body 2, ensuring the connection in the lower part, makes it possible to block, in both directions, the only freedom of angular rotation of the electromotive group which is likely to remain. If necessary and in order to reinforce this blocking in rotation, the internal wall of the cavity 20 will be provided with at least one longitudinal projection (for example a rib) which is housed in a complementary profile relief made on the mandrel 11 or vice versa.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the support device of the invention, the bracket 1 and the mandrel 11 are made in a single piece by molding a plastic material, preferably also with the casing containing the reducer R.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for supporting on a motor vehicle chassis an electromotive group comprising an electric motor (M) and a reducer (R) coupled to the lower part of the motor and provided with a bracket (1) intended for mounting elements for connection with the chassis, characterized in that said elements for connection with the chassis comprise a mandrel (11) made in one piece with the bracket (1) and intended to be housed in a central cavity (20) formed inside a partially cylindrical body (2) bearing downwards on the chassis.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said mandrel (11) carries at its end a boss which projects outside the cavity (20) of the body (2) and whose diameter is greater than the internal diameter of said cavity.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the mandrel (11) is greater than or equal to the length of the body (2).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer casing of the body (2) is semi-cylindrical and of half-moon section.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mandrel (11) is cylindrical as is the section of the central cavity (20) of the body (2).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mandrel (11) extends along a substantially horizontal axis and perpendicular to said bracket (1).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bracket (1) and the mandrel (11) are made in one piece by molding a plastic material with a casing enclosing the reducer (R).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal wall of the cavity (20) of the body (2) is provided with a longitudinal projection which fits into a complementary profile relief made on the mandrel (11).

9. Motor vehicle equipped with an electromotive group and a device for supporting said group on its chassis according to one of the preceding claims.

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