METHOD FOR MOUNTING A SEALING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR PROPULSION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mounting a sealing device (1) in an electric motor for driving a motor vehicle, said device comprising an annular seal (3) and a ring (4) in two semi-circular parts (4a, 4b) provided at their ends with a housing (6a, 6b) in the form of a conduit, said method providing for the use of spacing means (7) comprising two tabs (8a, 8b) mounted to slide along one another, two rods (10) projecting respectively from each of said tabs, a latch (11) actuable in blocking to prevent said rods from moving closer to one another below a threshold gap, said method providing for inserting said rods into contiguous housings (6a, 6b), moving said tabs apart, actuating the latches in blocking and mounting said device. The invention also relates to a spacing means (7) for use in such a method. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR MOUNTING A SEALING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR PROPULSION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to a method for mounting a sealing device for an electric motor for driving a motor vehicle and a spacing means intended to be used in such a method.

[0002] It is known to mount a sealing device in an electric motor for propelling a motor vehicle, said device being in the form of a ring defining a mounting orifice, said device comprising: - an annular seal based on elastomer material, - and a ring made of molded plastic material fitted inside said seal, said ring being in the form of a first and a second disjointed semi-circular part held against each other by said seal receiving them in a fitting manner, so that said parts are separated from each other by two slots.

[0003] The use of a two-part ring allows, by stressing the slots to widen - with concomitant stretching of the seal - to benefit from an enlarged mounting orifice facilitating the mounting of the sealing device in the engine.

[0004] However, in the case of manual assembly of the sealing device, the assembly operation may prove to be not very ergonomic for an assembly operator.

[0005] The invention aims to overcome this drawback.

[0006] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a method for mounting a sealing device in an electric motor for propelling a motor vehicle, said device being in the form of a ring defining a mounting orifice, said device comprising: - an annular seal based on elastomer material, - and a ring made of molded plastic material fitted inside said seal, said ring being in the form of a first and a second disjointed semi-circular part held against each other by said seal receiving them in a fitting manner, so that said parts are separated from each other by two slots, said method providing that said first part is provided at each of its ends with first housings and said second part with second housings, said housings being in the form of conduits, said method further providing the use of two spacing means, each of said means comprising: - two legs mounted to slide along each other along a sliding axis, - two rods projecting respectively from each of said legs, - a latch that can be activated in a blocking manner to prevent said rods from coming together below a threshold difference said method comprising the following steps: - inserting said rods of each of said means into a first and a second contiguous housing, - move said legs of each of said means apart from each other and activate said latch in blocking, in order to widen the corresponding slot, - mount said device in said engine, - actuate the latches in release mode in order to allow said slots to return to the non-expanded configuration and to maintain said device in said engine, - remove said means from said device to finalize the assembly.

[0007] With such a method, a particularly ergonomic manual assembly of the sealing device is ensured.

[0008] It will also be noted that the elastic nature of the seal allows it to ensure, once retracted after its temporary stretching, the maintenance of the sealing device once mounted.

[0009] According to another aspect, the invention provides a spacing means for use in such a method, said means comprising: - two legs mounted to slide along each other along a sliding axis, - two rods projecting respectively from each of said legs, - a latch that can be activated in a blocking manner to prevent said rods from coming together below a threshold difference.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the legs are based on a metal plate.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the legs are folded at their furthest ends. from each other, so that said ends form gripping zones for actuating said legs away from each other.

[0012] According to one embodiment, a second tab is provided with an elongated slot along the sliding axis, a first tab being provided with a finger inserted into said slot.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the latch is mounted to rotate around the finger, said latch actuated in blocking mode bearing against a stop provided on the second tab.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the first leg has, in view along the sliding axis, two lateral guide folds along the second leg inserted between said folds.

[0015] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] is a partial schematic representation in axial section (i.e. along the axis of rotation X of the motor) of a motor provided with a sealing device according to one embodiment, - [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective representation of a device sealing during assembly with spacing means according to one embodiment, the mounting orifice being widened (A) and not widened (B)

[0016] A method of mounting a sealing device 1 in an electric motor for propelling a motor vehicle is now described with reference to the figures, said device being in the form of a ring defining a mounting orifice 2, said device comprising - an annular 3-ring seal based on elastomer material, - and a ring 4 made of molded plastic material fitted inside said joint, said ring being in the form of a first 4a and a second 4b disjointed semi-circular part held against each other by said joint receiving them in fitting, so that said parts are separated from each other by two slots 5, said method providing that said first part is provided at each of its ends with first housings 6a and said second part with second housings 6b, said housings being in the form of conduits, said method further providing the use of two spacing means 7, each of said means comprising: - two legs 8a, 8b mounted to slide along one another along a sliding axis 9, - two rods 10 projecting respectively from each of said legs, - a latch 11 which can be activated in a blocking manner to prevent said rods from moving closer to each other below a threshold difference, said method comprising the following steps: - inserting said rods of each of said means into a first 6a and a second 6b contiguous housing, - move said legs of each of said means apart from each other and actuate said latch in blocking, in order to widen the corresponding slot 5, - mount said device in said engine, - actuate the latches 11 in unlocking mode in order to allow said slots to return to the non-widened configuration and to maintain said device in said motor, - remove said means from said device to finalize the assembly.

[0017] As illustrated in [Fig.l], such a sealing device 1 is in particular mounted in a motor comprising a stator, said stator comprising a sleeve 13 and a plurality of coils of conductive wire mounted inside said sleeve and having a projecting part 14 extending beyond said sleeve and appearing in axial view - that is to say say according to the axis of rotation X of said motor - in a circle, said device fitting said projecting part.

[0018] A spacing means 7 for use in such a method is now described, said means comprising: - two legs 8a, 8b mounted to slide along one another along a sliding axis 9, - two rods 10 projecting respectively from each of said legs, - a latch 11 which can be activated in a blocking manner to prevent said rods from moving closer to each other below a threshold difference.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the legs 8a, 8b are based on a metal plate.

[0020] According to the embodiment shown, the legs 8a, 8b are folded at their ends 20a, 20b furthest from each other, so that said ends form gripping zones for actuating said legs away from each other.

[0021] According to the embodiment shown, a second tab 8b is provided with a slot 17 elongated along the sliding axis 9, a first tab 8a being provided with a finger 18 inserted into said slot.

[0022] In a manner not shown, the finger 18 may be provided with a means - such as a washer or a nut - ensuring that it is held in the slot 17.

[0023] According to the embodiment shown, the latch 11 is mounted in rotation around the finger 18, said latch actuated in blocking bearing against a stop 12 provided on the second tab 8b.

[0024] According to the embodiment shown, the first leg 8a has, in view along the sliding axis 9, two lateral guide folds 16 along the second leg 8b inserted between said folds.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for mounting a sealing device (1) in an electric motor for propulsion of a motor vehicle, said device being in the form of a ring defining a mounting orifice (2), said device comprising: - an annular seal (3) based on elastomer material, - and a ring (4) made of molded plastic material fitted inside said seal, said ring being in the form of a first (4a) and a second (4b) disjointed semi-circular part held against each other by said seal receiving them in fitting, so that said parts are separated from each other by two slots (5), said method providing that said first part is provided at each of its ends with first housings (6a) and said second part with second housings (6b), said housings being in the form of conduits, said method further providing the use of two spacing means (7),each of said means comprising: - two legs (8a, 8b) mounted to slide along one another along a sliding axis (9,) - two rods (10) projecting respectively from each of said legs, - a latch (11) operable in blocking to prevent said rods from coming together below a threshold gap, said method comprising the following steps: - inserting said rods of each of said means into a first (6a) and a second (6b) contiguous housing, - moving said legs of each of said means apart from one another and actuating said latch in blocking, in order to widen the corresponding slot (5), - mounting said device in said motor - actuating the latches (11) in unlocking in order to allow a return of said slots to the non-widened configuration and a maintenance of said device in said motor, - removing said means from said device to finalize the assembly.,

2. Spacing means (7) for use in a method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: - two legs (8a, 8b) mounted to slide along one another along a sliding axis (9) - two rods (10) projecting respectively from each of said legs - a latch (11) which can be activated in a blocking manner to prevent said rods from moving closer to each other below a threshold difference.

3. Spacing means (7) according to claim 2, characterized in that the legs (8a, 8b) are based on a metal plate.

4. Spacing means (7) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the legs (8a, 8b) are folded at their ends furthest apart (20a, 20b) from each other, so that said ends form gripping zones for actuating said legs apart from each other.

5. Spacing means (7) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a second tab (8b) is provided with a slot (17) elongated along the sliding axis (9), a first tab (8a) being provided with a finger (18) inserted into said slot.

6. Spacing means (7) according to claim 5, characterized in that the latch (11) is mounted in rotation around the finger (18), said latch actuated in blocking bearing against a stop (12) provided on the second tab (8b).

7. Spacing means (7) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the first tab (8a) has, in view along the sliding axis (9), two lateral folds (16) for guiding along the second tab (8b) inserted between said folds.

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