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 (23) for attaching 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 in 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 in the vicinity of an electric motor of the motor vehicle without contact between said motor and the compressor.

[0003] In general, the invention applies to the positioning of any type of embedded system in a vehicle. Previous techniques

[0004] An electric motor vehicle generally includes an electric compressor used in the air conditioning system of said vehicle. This air conditioning system is intended to cool the passenger compartment and / or the vehicle's battery.

[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 faster battery charging for electric vehicles requires a significant increase in the size of the electric air conditioning compressor, particularly to allow for acoustic attenuation of the noise generated. The location directly above the engine is generally not suitable for positioning a large electric compressor due to the presence of nearby frame rails.

[0007] Furthermore, replacing refrigerants used in the past, such as HFCs (now sometimes banned), with carbon dioxide-based refrigerants for circulation in the electric compressor requires an increase in working pressure. The pressure required to use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant is approximately five times greater than for other refrigerants. This pressure increase increases the stresses applied to the electric compressor and its various related circuits, which could therefore be more easily damaged due to vibrations generated by the vehicle's electric motor. Description of the invention

[0008] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a compressor fixing device allowing the latter to be integrated into an engine compartment of a motor vehicle and its reliable support against the risks 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 including a first location configured to house the compressor, and a second support including a second location configured to house the first support, the second support including means for fixing said second support to at least one crossmember of the motor vehicle.

[0010] Thus, the presence of two supports makes it possible on the one hand to decouple the compressor from the motor compared with the prior art, and on the other hand to be able to provide various guarantees in terms of safety, vibration and acoustics.

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

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

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the second support includes means for fixing said second support to a cross member between the cup 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 cross-section are breakable so as to break when they are subjected to an impact greater than a predetermined force.

[0015] Advantageously, the first location of the first support includes at least one sheet metal 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 includes an opening made through the second support, the first support being configured to be partly housed across said opening.

[0017] Advantageously, the second support includes at least one fixing for electrical wiring and / or a muffler for 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 including an air conditioning circuit for the passenger compartment of said vehicle, the engine compartment further comprising a crossmember between the cup and a technical front face, the air conditioning circuit including a compressor and the fixing device as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig.1] is an exploded view of a mounting device for a compressor in an air conditioning system according to the invention; and

[0022] [Fig.2] is an assembled view of a fastening device according to [Fig.1] in a motor vehicle.

[0023] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0024] A schematic and exploded view of a mounting device 1 of a compressor 3 of an air conditioning circuit of a motor vehicle is shown in [Fig.1].

[0025] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the present invention in its assembled configuration, and in particular a motor vehicle 5 comprising an engine compartment 7 including an air conditioning circuit 9 for the passenger compartment of said vehicle 5, the engine compartment 7 further comprising a crossmember 11 and a technical front panel 13, the air conditioning circuit 9 including the compressor 3 and the mounting device 1 shown in Figure 1. In particular, the compressor 3 and the mounting device 1 are arranged slightly elevated above the engine so as not to be affected by engine vibrations when said engine is running.

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

[0027] In a particular embodiment, the motor vehicle is an electric motor vehicle 5, that is to say, 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 fastening device 1 includes 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 fastening device 1 further includes 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 includes means for fixing said second support 19 to at least one cross member of the motor vehicle.

[0033] Said fastening means 23 comprise, for example, four tabs 23 fixed with screws to cross members of the motor vehicle. For example, two tabs 23 are fixed to a cross member between the struts 11 of the engine compartment 7 of the vehicle 5, and two other tabs 23 are fixed to a technical front panel 13, in other words, a cross member located at the front of the motor vehicle 5.

[0034] Advantageously, the fastening means 23 of the second support 19 to the crossmember 11 are breakable so as to shatter when subjected to an impact exceeding a predetermined force. For example, the screws and tabs 23 securing the second support 19 to the crossmember 11 are breakable so as to shatter when subjected to an impact exceeding a predetermined force. The screws and tabs 23 securing the second support 19 to the technical front face 13 are not breakable under said predetermined force. This allows for controlled deformation of the engine compartment 7 during an impact of the vehicle 5 with an obstacle.

[0035] Advantageously, the first support 15 includes fasteners 25 for attaching said first support 15 to the compressor 3. The fasteners 25 include, for example, three screws passing through threads in the compressor 3 and 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 pad 27 may include a screw for attaching the first support 15 to the second support 19 via a threaded hole in the second support 19. Each pad 27 may also include a portion made of an elastic material, for example, rubber. This embodiment allows 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 pads 27. The fastening device 1, thus separated into a first support 15 and a second support 19, is particularly suitable for preventing 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 conforming to 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 partially housed across said opening 21. The opening 21 allows the first support 15 to move slightly and vibrate within 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 includes at least one mounting 31 for electrical wiring 33 and / or a muffler 35 for the air conditioning system and / or air conditioning hoses. A muffler is an acoustic cavity that reduces noise from the air conditioning system. A mounting 31 facilitates the arrangement of all the components of the air conditioning system 9 in the engine compartment 7.

Claims

Demands

1. A fastening device (1) for 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 for fastening (23) said second support (19) to a cross member (11; 13) 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, the means for fastening (23) of the second support (19) to the cross member between the cup (11) being breakable so as to break when they are subjected to an impact greater than a predetermined force.

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

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 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).

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 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 partially housed across said opening (21).

6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second support (19) includes at least one attachment (31) for electrical wiring (33) and / or a muffler (35) of the air conditioning circuit (9) and / or air conditioning hoses.

7. Air conditioning circuit (9) comprising a compressor (3) and the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Electric motor vehicle (5) comprising an engine compartment (7) comprising an air conditioning circuit (9) of the passenger compartment of said vehicle (5), the engine compartment (7) further comprising a crossmember (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 6.

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