Mounting device for an air conditioning compressor in a motor vehicle

Abstract

This mounting device (1) for a compressor (3) of an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle comprises a first bracket (15) having a first location (17) configured to house the compressor (3), and a second bracket (19) having a second location (21) configured to house the first bracket (15), the second bracket (19) comprising means for mounting said second bracket (19) to at least one crossmember of the motor vehicle (5). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for fixing a compressor of an air conditioning circuit of a motor vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the positioning of an air conditioning compressor of an electric motor vehicle.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to the support of such a compressor near an electric motor of the motor vehicle without contact between said motor and the compressor.

[0003] Generally speaking, the invention applies to the positioning of any type of on-board system in a vehicle. Previous techniques

[0004] An electric motor vehicle generally comprises an electric compressor used in the air conditioning circuit of said vehicle. The purpose of this air conditioning circuit is to be able to cool the passenger compartment and / or the battery of the vehicle.

[0005] The electric compressor is commonly positioned in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle, in particular placed on the engine casing.

[0006] However, the development of increasingly rapid recharging of the battery of electric motor vehicles requires a significant increase in the volume of the electric air conditioning compressor, in particular to allow acoustic attenuation of the noise generated. The location directly above the engine is generally not intended to position an electric compressor of large size, due to the presence of side members nearby.

[0007] In addition, replacing refrigerants used in the past, such as HFCs, and now sometimes banned, with carbon dioxide-based refrigerants intended to circulate in the electric compressor requires an increase in working pressure, the pressure required to use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant being approximately five times greater than for other refrigerants. This increase in pressure increases the stresses applied to the electric compressor and the various circuits linked to it, which could therefore be damaged more easily due to the vibrations generated by the vehicle's electric motor. Statement of the invention

[0008] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a device for fixing a compressor allowing the latter to be integrated into a motor vehicle engine compartment and its reliable support against the risk of damage.

[0009] The present invention relates to a device for fixing a compressor of an air conditioning circuit in a motor vehicle, said device comprising a first support comprising a first location configured to house the compressor, and a second support comprising a second location configured to house the first support, the second support comprising means for fixing said second support to at least one cross member of the motor vehicle.

[0010] Thus, the presence of two supports makes it possible on the one hand to separate the compressor from the engine in comparison with the state of the art, and on the other hand to be able to provide various guarantees in terms of safety, vibrations and acoustics.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first support comprises at least three pads comprising a resilient material configured to secure the first support to the second support and to filter and absorb vibrations emitted by the compressor and the first support.

[0012] Advantageously, the first support comprises elements for fixing said first support to the compressor.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the second support comprises means for fixing said second support to an inter-cup cross member of the motor vehicle on the one hand and to a technical front face of the motor vehicle on the other hand.

[0014] Advantageously, the means for fixing the second support to the intercup crosspiece are breakable so as to break when they undergo an impact greater than a predetermined force.

[0015] Advantageously, the first location of the first support comprises at least one sheet positioned at the bottom of said first location so as to form an acoustic barrier between the compressor and the motor vehicle.

[0016] In a particular embodiment, the second location of the second support comprises an opening made through the second support, the first support being configured to be partially housed across said opening.

[0017] Advantageously, the second support comprises at least one fixing for electrical wiring and / or a muffler of the air conditioning circuit and / or air conditioning pipes.

[0018] The present invention also relates to an air conditioning circuit comprising a compressor and the device as defined above.

[0019] The present invention also relates to an electric motor vehicle comprising an engine compartment comprising an air conditioning circuit for the passenger compartment of said vehicle, the engine compartment further comprising an inter-cup cross member and a technical front face, the air conditioning circuit comprising a compressor and the fixing device as defined previously. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig.l] is an exploded view of a device for fixing a compressor of an air conditioning circuit according to the invention; and

[0022] [Fig.2] is an assembled view of a fastening device according to [Fig.l] in a motor vehicle.

[0023] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0024] [Fig.l] shows schematically and in exploded view a fixing device 1 for a compressor 3 of an air conditioning circuit of a motor vehicle.

[0025] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates in assembled configuration the present invention and in particular a motor vehicle 5 comprising an engine compartment 7 comprising an air conditioning circuit 9 for the passenger compartment of said vehicle 5, the engine compartment 7 further comprising an inter-cup cross member 11 and a technical front face 13, the air conditioning circuit 9 comprising the compressor 3 and the fixing device 1 shown in [Fig. 1]. In particular, the compressor 3 and the fixing device 1 are arranged slightly raised above the engine so as not to be subjected to vibrations from the engine when said engine is in operation.

[0026] In particular, the compressor 3 may be an electric compressor, the air conditioning circuit 9 may make it possible to cool the passenger compartment of the vehicle 5 and / or the battery (not shown) of the vehicle 5.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, the motor vehicle is an electric motor vehicle 5, in other words comprising an electric motor. The air conditioning circuit 9 is for example positioned in the engine compartment 7 of the vehicle, said engine compartment 7 also housing the electric motor and being positioned at the front of the motor vehicle 5.

[0028] The fixing device 1 comprises a first support 15 comprising a first location 17 configured to house the compressor 3.

[0029] The first support 15 is for example mainly made of a metallic material.

[0030] The fixing device 1 further comprises a second support 19 comprising a second location 21 configured to house the first support 15.

[0031] The second support 19 is for example mainly made of a metallic material.

[0032] The second support 19 comprises means 23 for fixing said second support 19 to at least one cross member of the motor vehicle.

[0033] Said fixing means 23 comprise for example four tabs 23 fixed with screws to crossmembers of the motor vehicle. For example, two tabs 23 are fixed to an inter-cup crossmember 11 of the engine compartment 7 of the vehicle 5, and two other tabs 23 are fixed to a technical front face 13, in other words a crossmember located at the front of the motor vehicle 5.

[0034] Advantageously, the means 23 for fixing the second support 19 to the inter-cup crossmember 11 are breakable so as to break when they undergo an impact greater than a predetermined force. For example, the screws and the tabs 23 fixing the second support 19 to the inter-cup crossmember 11 are breakable so as to break when they undergo an impact greater than a predetermined force. The screws and the tabs 23 fixing the second support 19 to the technical front face 13 are not breakable under said predetermined force. This makes it possible to promote controlled deformation of the engine compartment 7 during an impact of the vehicle 5 against an obstacle.

[0035] Advantageously, the first support 15 comprises fixing elements 25 for said first support 15 to the compressor 3. The fixing elements 25 comprise, for example, three screws passing through threads in the compressor 3 and in the first support 15 so as to secure the compressor 3 to the first support 15.

[0036] In one embodiment, the first support 15 comprises at least three pads 27, for example four pads 27, comprising an elastic material and configured to fix the first support 15 to the second support 19 and to filter and absorb the vibrations emitted by the compressor 3 and the first support 15.

[0037] In particular, each stud 27 may comprise a screw enabling the first support 15 to be fixed to the second support 19 via a thread made in the second support 19. Each stud 27 may also comprise a part made of elastic material, for example rubber. This embodiment enables the first support 15 and the compressor 3 to move and vibrate when the latter is in operation, without the vibrations being transmitted to the second support 19, the vibrations being absorbed by the studs 27. The fixing device 1 thus separated into a first support 15 and a second support 19 is particularly suitable for avoiding runaway vibrations and movements propagated to the second support 19.

[0038] In one embodiment, the first location 17 of the first support 15 comprises a sheet metal 29 matching the shape of the compressor 3 and positioned at the bottom of said first location 17, the first location 17 being open only towards the compressor 3. The sheet metal 29 thus forms an acoustic barrier between the compressor 3 and the motor vehicle 5.

[0039] In a particular embodiment, the second location 21 of the second support 19 comprises an opening 21 formed through the second support 19, the first support 15 being configured to be partly housed across said opening 21. The opening 21 allows the first support 15 to be able to be slightly in movement and to vibrate in the housing formed by the opening 21 while the second support 19 remains fixed. In particular, the second location 21 is an opening 21 and has dimensions similar to the first support 15.

[0040] Advantageously, the second support 19 comprises at least one attachment 31 for electrical wiring 33 and / or a muffler 35 of the air conditioning circuit and / or air conditioning pipes. A muffler is an acoustic cavity for reducing the noise of the air conditioning circuit. A attachment 31 makes it easier to arrange all the components of the air conditioning circuit 9 in the engine compartment 7.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for fixing a compressor (3) of an air conditioning circuit (9) in a motor vehicle (5), characterized in that it comprises a first support (15) comprising a first location (17) configured to house the compressor (3), and a second support (19) comprising a second location (21) configured to house the first support (15), the second support (19) comprising means (23) for fixing said second support (19) to at least one cross member (11; 13) of the motor vehicle (5).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first support (15) comprises at least three pads (27) comprising an elastic material configured to fix the first support (15) to the second support (19) and to filter and absorb the vibrations emitted by the compressor (3) and the first support (15).

3. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the first support (15) comprises elements (25) for fixing said first support (15) to the compressor (3).

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the second support (19) comprises means (23) for fixing said second support (19) to an inter-cup cross member (11) of the motor vehicle (5) on the one hand and to a technical front face (13) of the motor vehicle (5) on the other hand.

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, in which the fixing means (23) of the second support (19) to the inter-cup crosspiece (11) are breakable so as to break when they undergo an impact greater than a predetermined force.

6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first location (17) of the first support (15) comprises at least one sheet metal (29) positioned at the bottom of said first location (17) so as to form an acoustic barrier between the compressor (3) and the motor vehicle (5).

7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second location (21) of the second support (19) comprises an opening (21) made through the second support (19), the first support (15) being configured to be partly housed across said opening (21).

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in wherein the second support (19) comprises at least one attachment (31) of electrical wiring (33) and / or a muffler (35) of the air conditioning circuit (9) and / or air conditioning pipes.

9. Air conditioning circuit (9) comprising a compressor (3) and the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Electric motor vehicle (5) comprising an engine compartment (7) comprising an air conditioning circuit (9) for the passenger compartment of said vehicle (5), the engine compartment (7) further comprising an inter-cup cross member (11) and a technical front face (13), the air conditioning circuit (9) comprising a compressor (3) and the fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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