Functional module for an energy converter device and layout of a vehicle body containing such a module.

Abstract

The invention relates to a functional module (1) for an energy conversion device, said functional module comprising partly an air supply device (2) including an air collection box (21) in which an air filter is disposed, and / or partly a cooling device (3) including a water box (31), characterized in that the module comprises a peripheral edge (10) extending in a sealing plane, the peripheral edge including a fastening means (50) for assembling the module to a vehicle body. The invention also relates to an arrangement comprising a body and such a module, as well as a vehicle having such a module or such an arrangement. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Functional module for an energy converter device and arrangement of a vehicle body comprising such a module.

[0001] The invention relates to the field of vehicles, more particularly vehicles whose powertrain comprises an air supply device and a cooling device. The powertrain may comprise an energy converter device, such as a fuel cell. The invention relates to a functional module comprising in part the air supply and / or cooling devices, the air supply device being able to comprise an air collector box, the cooling device being able to comprise a water box. The invention also relates to an arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a body and the functional module. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular an electric and / or hybrid vehicle, comprising the aforementioned functional module or arrangement.

[0002] The operation of a fuel cell requires a supply of filtered air as well as cooling, the latter being preferably carried out by means of a cooling fluid circuit in which the fuel cell to be cooled is positioned.

[0003] Air intake devices are known which use in particular air filters contained in air boxes and cooling devices in which there is a degassing device useful for the proper functioning of the cooling device. Such systems are most often installed in a compartment located at the front of the vehicle, regardless of the location of the powertrain at the front or, more rarely, at the rear of the vehicle. Due to the strong implementation constraints aimed at housing increasingly complex technology in a vehicle, some of the elements of the powertrain are partly located at the rear of the vehicle. This may, for example, be the case for the energy converter device located below the floor of the vehicle, particularly under a rear seat. Such an architecture then comes to constrain the very design of the air supply and cooling devices which are fully necessary for the proper functioning of the energy converter device. New architectures are emerging from car manufacturers, in particular with the installation on vehicles of air supply devices and / or cooling devices outside traditional areas, particularly outside the front part of the vehicle.

[0004] For reasons of efficiency of air supply and cooling devices dissement, reduction of manufacturing costs, but also optimization of vehicle architectures, the invention proposes a functional module for an energy converter device, comprising in particular a fuel cell, said functional module comprising an air supply device and / or a cooling device, the air supply device comprises an air collector box, and in particular an air filter, the cooling device comprises a water box. In particular, the module comprises a peripheral edge extending in a sealing plane, the peripheral edge comprising a fixing means intended for assembling the module to a vehicle body.

[0005] The module which is the subject of the invention may also include the following characteristics, taken separately or in combination with each other: - it comprises an air supply device and a cooling device such that the air and water collector boxes are adjacent and integral with each other; - the module is made in one piece, in particular by molding a plastic material; - the air and water boxes have a common partition forming a separation of the air supply and degassing devices; - it includes a removable hatch allowing access to the inside of the air box; - the air box includes a means for guiding the assembly, in particular by sliding, and for holding an air filter inside the air box, in particular in an inclined manner; - the air filter is roughly rectangular in shape; - the water box comprises an inner wall inclined relative to the sealing plane, and a filling flange arranged at the level of the inclined inner wall; - the filling opening is of the type of a conduit at the end of which a plug is capable of being attached, the plug being arranged on the inclined inner wall in such a way that neither the flange nor the plug extends through the sealing plane of the module; - it comprises an outer envelope comprising upper side walls, lower side walls, lateral sides, connected to each other, in particular by a bottom wall; - the cap fixed on the filling opening is located at a housing provided in the module, at the water box, said housing for receiving the cap being delimited by the partition wall, the outer casing and the inclined inner wall; - the outer envelope extends approximately perpendicular to the peripheral edge which delimits a collar extending projecting outside the outer envelope interior; - the bottom wall extends substantially perpendicular to the sealing plane; - the peripheral edge comprises a fixing means, in particular fixing screws distributed uniformly along the peripheral edge; - the air box comprises at least one air inlet opening, in particular several openings such that the outer casing comprises an air inlet grille; - the air inlet grille is located at the lower side wall of the outer casing; - the air box comprises a connection flange located at the bottom wall, in particular at its top part, the connection flange being suitable for fixing a filtered air supply duct intended for the operation of a fuel cell; - the portion of the bottom wall located at the level of the air box includes an internal impression with an evolving section located above the air filter, opening at the level of the connection flange; - the portion of the bottom wall located at the level of the water box comprises an external impression located in the upper part which is intended for the positioning of a conduit of the air supply device; - the water box comprises at least one connection flange located at the level of the outer casing, in particular at the level of the lateral side wall; - the peripheral edge includes a sealing gasket.

[0006] The invention also relates to an arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a body and at least one aforementioned functional module, having the following characteristics: - at least one opening is provided at the body, the functional module being arranged through the opening in order to be fixed to the body, such that a part of the functional module extends outside the vehicle, in particular inside a wheel arch and / or above a wheel, another part of the functional module extending inside the vehicle in order to make the air box and / or the water box accessible from inside the vehicle, in particular from the rear part of the vehicle body delimiting a loading compartment; - the opening is made at the level of a wall of the body forming a wheel arch; - the opening is delimited by a contour against which the inner peripheral edge of the functional module is fixed, in particular by screwing; - it includes a protective screen located inside the wheel arch wall, the geometry of the outer casing of the functional module partially following the protective screen profile; - the connecting flanges of the functional module extend respectively towards the front of the body; - one of the left and right wheel arches has an opening in which a functional module provided with an air supply device is arranged, the other of the left and right wheel arches has an opening in which a functional module provided with a cooling device is arranged; - one of the left and right wheel arches has an opening in which a functional module provided with both an air supply device and a cooling device is arranged; - one of the left and right wheel arches has an opening in which both a first functional module provided with an air supply device and a second functional module with a cooling device are arranged, the first and second functional modules being arranged adjacent to each other.

[0007] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising an energy converter device, in particular of the fuel cell type, characterized in that it comprises the aforementioned functional module and / or the aforementioned arrangement.

[0008] The attached drawings represent, by way of example, an embodiment of a functional module and of an arrangement comprising such a module, according to the invention. [Fig.l] schematically represents, in a perspective view, a functional module according to the invention; [Fig.2] schematically represents the functional module of [Fig.l] seen from the side; [Fig.3] schematically represents the functional module of [Fig.l] seen from below; [Fig.4] schematically represents the functional module of [Fig.l] and a body element of a vehicle comprising an opening for receiving said functional module; [Fig.5] schematically represents the arrangement of a box and a functional module, according to the invention; [Fig.6] schematically represents an exterior view of a wheel arch in which the functional module according to the invention is fitted.

[0009] Reference will be made to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ, in which the X axis designates the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, the Y axis designates the transverse direction of the vehicle and is oriented from the left to the right of the vehicle, left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle, the Z axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented from the bottom to the top, the vehicle resting on a horizontal floor. The terms "upper" and "lower" are defined with reference to the Z axis. The terms "front" and "back" are defined with reference to the X axis.

[0010] [Fig.l] represents a functional module 1 which is intended to be fluidically connected to an energy converter device (not shown) on board a vehicle, for example in the rear part of the latter. The functional module 1 comprises a main body on which various elements are attached, including a removable hatch 25 and a cap 33. The body and the attached elements can be made by molding a plastic material. The body of the functional module 1 partly comprising the outer casing 11 visible in [Fig.2]. The fluid connection is provided by pipes 60, which belong respectively to an air supply device 2 and to a cooling device 3 comprising the functional module 1.

[0011] The air supply device 2 comprises an air collector box 21, in that it is provided with an air inlet opening 22 and an air outlet opening 24 between which an air filter 20 is arranged. The air outlet opening is in the form of a tube intended for the connection of an air supply duct 61. The air collector box 21 is delimited by the outer casing 11 of the functional module 1. In order to increase the filtration surface, the air filter 20 is arranged inside the air collector box 21 in an inclined manner. For this purpose, the inner face of the wall delimiting the air collector box 21 comprises transverse ribs along which the air filter 20 is slidably positioned. Preferably, in pairs, the inner face of the air collector box comprises ribs cooperating respectively with front and rear edges of the air filter. The ribs delimit in pairs a transverse housing in which the lateral edges of the air filter 20 are arranged in order to maintain the filter inside the air collector box 21.

[0012] Access to the interior of the air collector box 21, in particular for maintenance purposes by replacing the air filter 20, is made possible by a removable hatch 25. The hatch 25 comprises fixing means making it possible to reversibly mount the hatch 25 on the body. The fixing means of the hatch 25 may be fixing screws and / or hinges. According to the preferred embodiment, the hatch 25 comprises on one of its lateral edges two tabs 251 which are each intended to engage with a hook 252 produced at the main body of the functional module 1.

[0013] The cooling device 3 comprises a water box 31 which allows the degassing of the cooling liquid as well as the expansion of the volume of cooling liquid circulating through the cooling device 3. The water box 31 is delimited by the outer casing 11 of the functional module 1. The cooling device 3 is included in a cooling circuit of the energy converter device.

[0014] The air collector box 21 and the water box 31 are arranged adjacent to each other, preferably in a side-by-side arrangement. The air collector box 21 and the degassing box 22 comprise a common partition 41 forming a separation of the air supply 2 and degassing 3 devices. For example, the removable hatch 25 is aimed at the level of the common partition by one of the lateral edges of the hatch opposite the edge comprising the tabs 251.

[0015] The water box 31 is of the through type in that it comprises an inlet pipe 35 and an outlet pipe 34 for the cooling liquid, which are respectively connected to inlet pipes 63 and outlet pipes 62 for the cooling fluid. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the water box could comprise only one single pipe to make a connection to the cooling circuit. The water box 31 can be compared to a coolant reserve which includes a filling opening on which is arranged a closing cap 33, in particular screwed on.

[0016] As will be detailed later, the functional module 1 is intended to take up as little space as possible. For this purpose, it comprises an inner wall 32 which comprises a portion of inclination relative to a bottom wall 114 of the outer casing 11. The inner wall 32 comprises a portion of inclination relative to a sealing plane PE shown in [Fig. 2], which is produced at the level of the outer casing 11. The sealing plane PE is defined relative to a peripheral edge 10 projecting from the upper 111, lower 112 and lateral 113 side walls of the outer casing 11. These walls are connected to each other in such a way that the lateral side walls 113 are each connected to the upper 111 and lower 112 side walls. These walls are connected to each other by the bottom wall 114.

[0017] [Fig. 2] represents the functional module 1 in a rear three-quarter view in order to highlight the presence of a receiving portion 115 of the air supply duct 61 shaped at the level of the bottom wall 114, such that the volume of the functional module 1 is contained.The receiving portion 115 has a substantially curved profile, defining a housing whose concavity makes it possible to partially house the air supply duct 61 which extends longitudinally to the functional module 1.

[0018] The outer casing 11 is preferably obtained by molding a plastic material. It comprises a front portion 12 and a portion 13 connected to each other by a junction line 14. The front 12 and rear 13 portions can be produced separately by molding a plastic material, then assembled to each other by overmolding the junction line 14. According to an alternative embodiment, the rear portion 13 can be overmolded onto the front portion 12 so that the junction line 14 is produced concomitantly with the rear portion 13. The front portion 12 comprises the inlet 35 and outlet 34 pipes of the water box 31. The rear portion 13 comprises the air outlet pipe 24 and the air inlet opening 22. Preferably, the air collector box 21 comprises several air inlet openings 22, in particular linear openings, preferably rectilinear, in order to form an air inlet grille 23.

[0019] [Fig. 3] shows the functional module 1 seen from below, according to which the lower side wall 112 comprises the air inlet grille 23. The air inlet grille can be located at the front portion 12 of the outer casing 11. The outer casing 11 has an interfacing portion 116 which is shaped according to the geometry of a screen 8 arranged inside the passage 6 of the wheel 7, as can be seen in [Fig.6].

[0020] The body 5 of the vehicle comprises a wall 52 partly delimiting the inner side of a wheel arch 6 7. [Fig.4] represents the arrangement of a part of the body, in particular the rear, and of the functional module 1. The body 5 comprises more particularly a wall 52 which comprises an opening 51 shaped according to the geometry of the functional module 1. According to the arrangement of the invention, the functional module 1 is arranged inside the passage 6 in such a way that it is attached through the opening 51 and screwed onto the periphery of the opening 51, in particular by screwing. The outer casing 11 comprises a peripheral edge 10 from which a collar 100 projects. The peripheral edge 10 is intended to bear against the inner face of the wall 52. Preferably, a sealing means is arranged between the outer casing 11 and the wall 51. The sealing means is a seal 16 previously attached against the outer face of the peripheral edge 10.

[0021] The collar 100 comprises openings distributed uniformly along the peripheral edge in order to make it possible to fix the functional module 1 to the body 1 of the vehicle by a screw-type fixing means 50, in particular at the wall 52. The functional module 1 arranged on the body 5 is operated by placing the body of the functional module 1 through the opening 51 made through the wall 52. The functional module 1 thus extends inside the wheel arch 6 7 which is a wet part of the vehicle. The inner face of the functional module 1 is arranged at a dry area of ​​the vehicle, which may be a loading compartment, in particular a rear trunk. Consequently, access to the air filter 20 and the filling of the cooling circuit can be carried out from inside the vehicle. Consequently, each of the water and air boxes of the functional module 1 can be made accessible from inside the rear loading compartment of the vehicle, for any maintenance operation, whether it be a change of the air filter or a filling of coolant.

[0022] [Fig. 5] represents the interior side of a loading compartment 55 delimited laterally in part by a wall 52 comprising the functional module 1. The functional module 1 is located in the top position of the wheel arch delimited in part by the wall 52.

[0023] [Fig. 6] represents the arrangement of the body of a vehicle, seen from the outside of the body 5, comprising the wall 52, the functional module 1, the screen 8 arranged at the level of a wheel arch 6 7. The functional module 1 is shaped in such a way that it fits the top part of the screen 8. The functional module 1 is located above the screen 8 along the Z axis.

[0024] The conduits 60 extend between the functional module 1 and a part located upstream, in a direction thus opposite to the longitudinal axis X. The openings 24, 34 and 35 are arranged towards the front of the vehicle, preferably as close as possible to the fuel cell to which they are connected, which tends to optimize the architecture of the air supply 2 and cooling 3 devices.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the functional module comprises an air supply device or a cooling device, but not both devices together. In this case, the arrangement of the vehicle body may comprise an opening on each of the left and right wheel arches such that a first functional module partly comprising an air supply device for example is arranged and fixed on one of the left and right wheel arches, and a second functional module partly comprising a cooling device for example is arranged and fixed on the other of the left and right wheel arches.

[0026] According to another variant embodiment not shown, a first functional module comprises an air supply device, and a second functional module comprises a cooling device, the first and second functional modules being intended to be mounted against each other. In this case, each of the first and second functional modules delimits the air collector box or the water box. A fastening means can then be used to securely connect the modules together, in particular before mounting on the vehicle. The arrangement of the vehicle body can include a single opening through which the first and second functional modules can be arranged adjacent to each other.

[0027] The object of the invention is remarkable in that it allows increased compactness of the air supply and cooling devices making it possible to make operational the operation of a fuel cell located near a rear part of a vehicle, in particular according to a location near a second row of seats of the vehicle. The fact of arranging the functional module(s) directly at the level of a rear wheel arch also facilitates maintenance operations.

Claims

Claims

1. Functional module (1) for an energy converter device, said functional module comprising in part an air supply device (2) comprising an air collector box (21) in which is arranged in particular an air filter, and / or in part a cooling device (3) comprising a water box (31), characterized in that the module comprises a peripheral edge (10) extending in a sealing plane (PE), the peripheral edge comprising a fixing means (50) intended for assembling the module to a vehicle body (5).

2. Module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an air supply device (2) and a cooling device (3) such that the air and water collector boxes (21; 31) are adjacent and integral with each other.

3. Module (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the air and water boxes (21; 31) comprise a common partition (41) forming a separation of the air supply (2) and cooling (3) devices.

4. Module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a removable hatch (25) providing access to the interior of the air box (2).

5. Module (1) according to the preceding claim in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the water box (31) comprises an inner wall (32) having a portion of inclination relative to the sealing plane, and a filling flange arranged at the level of the inclined inner wall.

6. Module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an outer casing (11) comprising upper side walls (111), lower side walls (112), lateral side walls (113), connected to each other, in particular by a bottom wall (114).

7. Module (1) according to the preceding claim in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the outer casing (11) extends approximately perpendicular to the peripheral edge (10) delimiting a collar (100) extending projecting out of the outer casing.

8. Module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, ca- characterized in that the air box (21) comprises at least one air inlet opening (22), in particular several openings defining an air inlet grille (23).

9. Arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a body (5) and at least one functional module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one opening (51) is provided at the body, the functional module being arranged through the opening in order to be fixed to the body, such that a part of the functional module extends outside the vehicle, in particular inside a wheel arch (6) (7) and / or above a wheel (7), another part of the functional module extending inside the vehicle in order to make the air box and / or the water box (21; 31) accessible from inside the vehicle, in particular from the rear part of the body (5) of the vehicle delimiting a loading compartment (55) of the vehicle.

10. Vehicle comprising a fuel cell, characterized in that it comprises a functional module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or an arrangement according to the preceding claim.

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