MOTOR VEHICLE FRONT HOOD CONFIGURED TO COOL A HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle front hood (3) configured to cool a heat exchanger (2), the front hood (3) comprising an opening (4) formed in a front end region (5) of said front hood (3), the front hood (3) being remarkable in that the opening (4) is configured to be traversed by cooling means (7) extending from an upper peripheral surface 8 of a heat exchanger (2) towards the outside, and in that an air passage (10) is formed between the front hood (3) and a blade secured to the front hood (3) configured to cover the cooling means (7). Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE FRONT HOOD CONFIGURED TO COOL A HEAT EXCHANGER

[0001] One aspect of the invention relates to a front hood of a motor vehicle configured to cool a heat exchanger, for example formed by a radiator participating in the cooling of an engine and / or a battery.

[0002] The invention finds a particularly interesting, but not exclusive, application in the field of cooling the batteries of electric vehicles.

[0003] In order to dissipate the heat generated by a heat engine and / or an electrical component such as a battery and / or an electric motor of a vehicle, it is known to equip it with a heat exchanger, in particular a radiator. Such a radiator is usually arranged opposite an opening made in the front face so that the ambient air passes through the radiator to cool the coolant circulating in this radiator. The liquid thus cooled then participates in the cooling of the engine and / or the electrical components of the vehicle.

[0004] For example, document US-B2-9744848 discloses a system for cooling components of a vehicle. This cooling system comprises an air intake arranged in the front face of the vehicle, the air intake opening into a duct arranged to distribute the air between a first channel comprising a first heat exchanger and a second channel comprising a second heat exchanger.

[0005] If such an implementation allows the cooling of the heat exchangers and therefore of the vehicle components, it on the other hand actively contributes to a reduction in the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to propose a solution for cooling a vehicle heat exchanger making it possible to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

[0007] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a front hood of a motor vehicle configured to cool a heat exchanger.

[0008] The hood according to this aspect of the invention is remarkable in that it comprises an opening provided in a front end region, said opening being configured to be crossed by cooling means extending from an upper peripheral surface of a heat exchanger of the vehicle towards the outside of the heat exchanger, and in that an air passage is formed between the hood and a blade secured to the front hood configured to cover the cooling means.

[0009] Front means the forward side of the vehicle and rear means the reverse side of the vehicle.

[0010] Thanks to the invention, and more particularly thanks to the through opening provided in the cover, the heat exchanger, for example formed by a radiator, has cooling means, such as fins or spikes which extend outside the cover.

[0011] Compared to the state of the art, the air intake that the The front of the vehicle is no longer necessary. The aerodynamics of the vehicle are thus significantly improved.

[0012] Furthermore, the space required for the installation under the radiator hood is reduced. Thus, compared to hoods of the prior art, the front part of the hood can have a more plunging shape. The aerodynamics of the vehicle is therefore improved.

[0013] Furthermore, the blade which covers the cooling means makes it possible in particular to protect pedestrians in the event of an impact.

[0014] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0015] Another aspect of the invention relates to a cooling assembly for a motor vehicle heat exchanger, said assembly comprising: • A front hood having an opening, the opening being provided in a front end region of the hood; • A heat exchanger comprising cooling means extending from an upper peripheral surface of the heat exchanger to the outside of the heat exchanger, through the opening, • A blade attached to the hood covering the cooling means; • An air passage formed between the hood and the blade.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the cooling means are formed by fins.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the cooling means are formed by pins.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger is formed by a radiator configured to dissipate heat from an engine and / or a battery of the vehicle.

[0019] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger is formed by a heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from a passenger compartment cooling system.

[0020] A different aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising a cooling assembly according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention.

[0021] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle is of the electric type.

[0022] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle is of the hybrid type.

[0023] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle is of the thermal type.

[0024] The invention and its various applications will be better understood upon reading the description which follows and the examination of the figures which accompany it.

[0025] [Fig-1] illustrates, schematically, part of a cooling assembly of a motor vehicle heat exchanger according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0026] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically, part of a cooling assembly of a motor vehicle heat exchanger according to a different non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0027] [Fig.3] schematically represents the cooling assembly illustrated in [Fig.l] further comprising a blade covering cooling means.

[0028] [Fig.4] schematically represents a side view of the cooling assembly development illustrated in [Fig.3] showing an air flow.

[0029] [Fig.5] schematically represents a different shape of the hood than includes the cooling assembly shown in [Fig.3].

[0030] [Fig.l] illustrates a part of a cooling assembly 1 of a heat exchanger 2 of a motor vehicle according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0031] The vehicle is for example of the electric type. In this case, according to a non-limiting embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 can be formed by a radiator and be used to cool a traction battery and / or one or more electric traction motor(s) of the vehicle.

[0032] This cooling assembly 1 comprises a vehicle front hood 3. The front hood 3 comprises an opening 4 passing through the thickness of the front hood 3.

[0033] According to this non-limiting embodiment, this opening 4 is substantially rectangular, but it is understood that it could be square or even oval.

[0034] The opening 4 is provided in a front end region 5 of the front cover 3.

[0035] According to this embodiment, this front end region 5 is opposite an axis of rotation 6 of the front hood 3. When the front hood 3 is mounted on the vehicle, this axis of rotation 6 is located near the front windshield (not shown) of the vehicle.

[0036] According to a different implementation not illustrated, the axis of rotation of the front hood 3 may be located in the front end region 5. In this case, when the front hood 3 is mounted on the vehicle, this axis of rotation is located at the front face of the vehicle.

[0037] It should be emphasized that the heat exchanger 2 comprises cooling means 7 extending from an upper peripheral surface 8 of the heat exchanger 2 towards the outside of said heat exchanger 2. In other words, these cooling means 7 originate at the level of the upper peripheral surface 8 and extend along a vertical axis towards the outside of the front cover 3.

[0038] According to this non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the cooling means 7 are formed by fins.

[0039] According to a different embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the cooling means 7 are formed by pins.

[0040] These cooling means 7 extend vertically through the opening 4 and protrude from the front hood 3. Thus, when the vehicle is moving, the cooling means 7 are crossed by an air flow. In contact with this air flow, the temperature of the cooling means 7 decreases, and more generally the temperature of the heat exchanger 2 decreases. The heat exchanger 2 thus cooled then participates in the cooling of the traction battery and / or one or more electric traction motor(s) that the electric vehicle comprises.

[0041] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig.3], in order to protect pedestrians in the event of an impact, the cooling means 7 are covered with a blade 9. These cooling means 7 are represented by the transparency of the blade 9.

[0042] This blade 9 is secured to the front cover 3. The blade 9 can for example be secured to the front cover 3 via screws, or by welding.

[0043] As illustrated in [Fig.4] which illustrates a side view of the cooling assembly 1, this blade 9 is sufficiently spaced vertically from the front cover 3 so as to form, with the front cover 3, an air passage 10.

[0044] Thus, when the vehicle moves, an air flow 11 circulates between the upper surface 12 of the front hood 3 and the lower surface 13 of the blade 9, passing through the cooling means 7. In other words, the upper surface 12 of the front hood 3 and the lower surface 13 of the blade 9 form the walls of a flow duct for the air flow 11.

[0045] Since the heat exchanger 2 is cooled via cooling means 7 arranged partly or entirely outside the front hood 3, it is not necessary to provide an air inlet in the front face of the vehicle. The aerodynamics of the vehicle is therefore greatly improved.

[0046] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig. 5] and in comparison with [Fig. 4], this feature makes it possible to use a front hood 3 having a more plunging front end region 5. The dotted line designated by the reference 3' illustrates the curvature of the front hood 3 illustrated in [Fig. 4]. Such a design of the front hood 3 also contributes to improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Front hood (3) of a motor vehicle configured to cool a heat exchanger (2), said front hood (3) comprising an opening (4) formed in a front end region (5) of said front hood (3), said front hood (3) being characterized in that said opening (4) is configured to be traversed by cooling means (7) extending from an upper peripheral surface (8) of a heat exchanger (2) of said vehicle towards the outside of said heat exchanger (2), and in that an air passage (10) is formed between said front hood (3) and a blade (9) integral with said front hood (3) configured to cover said cooling means (7).

2. Cooling assembly (1) of a motor vehicle heat exchanger (2), said cooling assembly (1) comprising: - A front cover (3) comprising an opening (4), said opening (4) being provided in a front end region (5) of said front cover (3), said cooling assembly (1) being characterized in that it further comprises: - A heat exchanger (2) comprising cooling means (7) extending from an upper peripheral surface (8) of said heat exchanger (2) towards the outside of said heat exchanger (2) through said opening (4), - A blade (9) integral with said front cover (3) covering said cooling means (7), - An air passage (10) formed between said front cover (3) and said blade (9).

3. Cooling assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cooling means (7) are formed by fins.

4. Cooling assembly (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooling means (7) are formed by pins.

5. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the heat exchanger (2) is formed by a radiator configured to dissipate heat from an engine and / or a battery of the vehicle.

6. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of the claims- indications 2 to 4, characterized in that the heat exchanger (2) is formed by a heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from a passenger compartment cooling system.

7. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a cooling assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6.

8. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is of the electric type.

9. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it is of the hybrid type.

10. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it is of the thermal type.

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