COLUMN FOR FIXING AN ELEMENT TO A SUPPORT

Abstract

Column (1) for fixing an element (2) to a support (3), and comprising: - a first end (E1) provided with a first fixing means (D1, 4) intended to fix the column (1) to the support (3), - a second end (E2), opposite the first end (E1), provided with a second fixing means (5) intended to fix the column (1) to the element (2), the first fixing means (D1, 4) comprising: - an external diameter (D1) of the first end (E1), intended to be fitted into a bore (6) of the support (3) over a predetermined depth (P), and - a magnetic means (4) integral with the column (1) and intended to magnetize the column (1) in the bore (6). Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: COLUMN FOR FIXING AN ELEMENT TO A SUPPORT

[0001] The invention relates to the fixing of an engine cover, also called a styling cover, on the engine of a motor vehicle and in particular an internal combustion engine. The invention relates more particularly to a fixing assembly between this styling cover and the engine.

[0002] The style covers are generally located under the engine hood of vehicles and have several functions: An aesthetic function if the hood is open, an acoustic and / or thermal function, and a protective function during impacts, particularly with a pedestrian.

[0003] The protection function is carried out by the style cover itself since it protects the engine during impacts and in the case of impact with a pedestrian will cushion the impact and thus protect the pedestrian.

[0004] The fixing assembly comprises, for example, fixing spacers, such as column screws. However, these column screws have the disadvantage of requiring screwing into a part of the engine, for example a cylinder head cover, and above all tightening to a controlled torque to avoid loosening of the screwed part, in particular due to vibrations of the engine, which adds a costly assembly operation in terms of tightening means, control range, and quality monitoring.

[0005] Patent document FR-A1-2975659 discloses a magnetic fixing assembly for a lower engine cover. While this type of fixing avoids torque tightening, this magnetic fixing is unfortunately not suitable for fixing to the engine because it is in the form of a button made of a magnetic material and inserted into the thickness of the engine cover: this engine cover is in fact a fairing of the underside of the vehicle, flush with the supporting structure of the vehicle and therefore pressed against and fixed to the latter. Such a fixing is unthinkable on the engine for reasons of size and distance between the cover and the engine.

[0006] The field of our invention relates to a cover which is fixed on the engine, and capable of hiding all of the engine components and therefore with engine fixing zones which are distant from this engine, and with little space allocable to the fixing on the engine which requires re-use of the column spacers previously introduced.

[0007] The aim of the invention is to remedy this problem by proposing an improvement in the fixings of these columns. To this end, the invention relates to a column for fixing an element to a support, and comprising: - a first end provided with a first fixing means intended to fix the column to the support, - a second end, opposite the first end, provided with a second fixing means intended to fix the column to the element, the first fixing means comprising: - an outside diameter of the first end, intended to be fitted into a bore of the support to a predetermined depth, and - a magnetic means secured to the column and intended to magnetize the column in the bore.

[0008] The magnetic means is for example a permanent magnet, or a hard material having a remanent magnetization and capable of exerting an attractive force on any ferromagnetic material. These materials are perfectly known to those skilled in the art. The securing of this magnetic means is carried out for example by gluing, or by force-fitting the magnetic means into a suitable housing of the column. Other securing means are conceivable such as for example crimping, screwing, clipping without this posing any question to those skilled in the art.

[0009] The support will advantageously be ferromagnetic, and if it is made of non-magnetic metallic material such as aluminum for example, the person skilled in the art will know how to insert a ferromagnetic insert without difficulty.

[0010] The outside diameter of the first end, if it is fitted into the bore of the support to a predetermined depth, allows a mechanical connection of the column of the embedding type in the support, so that a radial force on the column, even significant, does not dislodge it from the support. The magnetic means, for its part, makes it possible to maintain the column at the bottom of the bore, the magnetic attraction opposing a tearing force along the axis of the column, and / or a rotation of the latter in the bore.

[0011] Thus, this first fixing means does not require any torque tightening tool, because the magnetic means will prevent any possible unscrewing and / or dislodging of the column.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the column has an axis along its length, the magnetic means having an axis of symmetry coincident with the axis of the column.

[0013] Advantageously, the axis of the external diameter will also coincide with the axis of the column.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the magnetic means is an attached magnetic pellet.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer diameter comprises a thread intended to cooperate by screwing with the bore.

[0016] Thus the tearing force along the axis of the column will be considerably increased, and although screwed, this column will not require a screwdriver whose torque is monitored since the magnetic means will ensure that the column does not unscrew.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second fixing means is a spherical protrusion intended to fit into a deformable housing of the element.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the second fixing means comprises a second magnetic means secured to the column and intended to magnetize the element.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the magnetic means secured to the column and intended to magnetize the column in the bore is capable of exerting an attractive force along the axis of the column greater than or equal to 100 N.

[0020] This is generally sufficient for an element of the type described below.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle engine comprising a support, and comprising a column as previously described, fixed to the support by the first fixing means.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, this engine being an internal combustion engine, the support is a component of the engine from an assembly comprising a cylinder head, a cylinder head cover, a camshaft cover, an engine support, an engine crankcase, an engine block.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, this engine comprises the element, this element being an engine cover.

[0024] As previously described, this engine cover, also called a style cover, has several functions: An aesthetic function since it hides engine components whose external appearance is purely technical, an acoustic and / or thermal function making it possible to limit the diffusion of noise or heat emanating from the engine, and a protective function during impacts, particularly with a pedestrian for application to motor vehicles.

[0025] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a support, an element, and the column as previously described.

[0026] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the engine as previously described. For example, a so-called thermal vehicle, the drive of which is provided entirely by the internal combustion engine, or a so-called electric vehicle if the engine is electric, or even a vehicle with hybrid drive.

[0027] Other features and advantages will appear on reading the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the single [Fig.l] in which:

[0028] [Fig.l]: represents a column according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] [Fig.l] discloses a fixing column 1 of an element 2 to a support 3, and comprises: - a first end El provided with a first fixing means Dl, 4 intended to fix the column 1 to the support 3, - a second end E2, opposite the first end El, provided with a second fixing means 5 intended to fix the column 1 to the element 2.

[0030] This column 1 comprises an elongated body connecting the first end E1 to the second end E2. If this column 1 is screwed into the support 3, this body is for example of square or hexagonal section, so that a screwdriver socket can cover the second end E2 while applying a tightening torque to it.

[0031] The first fixing means D1, 4 comprises: - an external diameter Dl of the first end El, intended to be fitted into a bore 6 of the support 3 to a predetermined depth P, and - a magnetic means 4 secured to the column 1 and intended to magnetize the column 1 in the bore 6.

[0032] This column has an axis X along its length, the magnetic means 4 having an axis of symmetry coincident with the axis X of the column 1.

[0033] A simple example, as illustrated, will have the axis of the outer diameter Dl also coincident with the axis X of the column 1.

[0034] The magnetic means 4 illustrated is an attached magnetic pellet.

[0035] As shown in [Fig.l], this magnetic means 4 is housed in a cavity of the first end El, for example force-fitted, and protrudes from this cavity so as to be in contact with the bottom of the bore 6, in other words the air gap is zero, thus maximizing the magnetic attraction between the column 1 and the support 3, but this is not obligatory. This magnetic means 4 could, as a variant or in addition, simply be glued to the first end EL. The magnetic means 4 can also have the outer diameter D1 but what is shown in [Fig.l] is a magnetic means 4 in the form of a pellet whose outer diameter D2, protruding from the cavity of the first end El, is smaller than the outer diameter D1, so that the magnetic means 4 is only stressed in tension, and not in bending, this bending being taken up directly by the diameter D1 of the column 1.Indeed, if the magnetic medium is a permanent magnet of the sintered type, it presents a fragility to shear stresses and therefore to bending forces, this arrangement makes it possible to avoid this.

[0036] For example and not shown, the external diameter D1 comprises a thread intended to cooperate by screwing with the bore 6, which reinforces the holding of the pin 1 in the bore 6, the function of the magnetic means 4 then being simply to prevent the unscrewing of the pin 1, and therefore tightening to the torque. In this case, the pellet ma magnetic means 4 will have a diameter D2 close to that of the internal thread of the bore 6 so as to increase the anti-unscrewing magnetic torque. But other embodiments are possible, for example the magnetic means 4 can be a crown arranged around the body of the column and serving as a stop for the insertion of the first end El into the bore 6.

[0037] It will be noted that in [Fig. 1], an insert 7 is shown, embedded in the material of the support 3 and forming at least the bottom of the bore 6, and therefore close to or even in contact with the magnetic means 4 if the column 1 is fixed there. This insert 7 is advantageously made of ferromagnetic material, or is even a permanent magnet having a magnetic pole opposite that facing the magnetic means 4. Thus, if the support 3 is made of plastic material, or of aluminum alloy for example, this insert 7 will still allow the column 1 to be magnetically glued to the support 3.

[0038] This insert 7 is shown embedded, that is to say overmolded in the support 3, but not necessarily: it can be force-fitted, or screwed or glued or shrunk. The insert 7 shown is also in the form of a pellet and only forms the bottom of the bore 6, but in a variant not shown it can also form the entire bore 6 of course, the invention not being limited to these examples of inserts 7. In particular, if the magnetic means 4 is the aforementioned ring, the insert 7 may have, opposite this ring, a collar on which the ring will come to bear.

[0039] The second fixing means 5 is for example a spherical protrusion intended to fit into a deformable housing of the element 2, as illustrated. For example, the element 2 is a deformable plastic wall: once the sphere is fitted into the housing, a force must be exerted to dislodge it. This wall 2 may comprise several layers, in particular layers of thermal and sound insulation, as many layers of deformable material as can accommodate the sphere. But this is not obligatory and in one of the variant embodiments, not shown, the second fixing means comprises a second magnetic means secured to the column 1 and intended to magnetize the element 2, or one or more clips.

[0040] For example, the magnetic means 4 secured to the column 1 and intended to magnetize the column 1 in the bore 6 is capable of exerting an attractive force along the X axis of the column 1 greater than or equal to 100 N, in particular 100 N. This is in fact an example of maximum force that is permitted for an operator wishing to eclipse the wall 2 of the column 1, in an ergonomic manner. Thus, for example, the sphere and the wall 2 will be configured so that the force for unclipping the sphere is strictly less than the magnetic attraction, or strictly less than 100 N for this example. Thus, unclipping the sphere will not dislodge the column 1 from the support 3 even if this column 1 is not screwed. In the case where the column 1 is magnetized and screwed into the support 3, it is not useless but not necessary that this attraction force along the X axis of the column 1 greater than or equal to 100 N, because in this case we will be more interested in the anti-unscrewing magnetic torque caused by the presence of the magnetic means 4, this torque being for example of the order of 10 Nm to which we can add a second anti-unscrewing torque due to the friction of the thread, but the advantage of this solution being precisely to do without a controlled tightening torque, we will prefer a dimensioning of the anti-unscrewing magnetic torque sufficient on its own.

[0041] The values of this anti-unscrewing magnetic torque or of this attractive force along the X axis of the column 1 are given as an example for a broad application, including an application on a motor vehicle engine, whether electric or internal combustion, but of course these values are to be adapted according to the level of vibration / accelerations of the support 3, the masses and inertias of the column 1 and of the element 2.

[0042] Thus, an advantageous application concerns that of a motor vehicle engine, this engine comprising the support 3, and a column 1 as previously described, fixed to the support 3 by the first fixing means D1, 4. This motor vehicle engine is for example an internal combustion engine capable of generating a mechanical torque for driving the vehicle or a driving torque for an electric generator recharging a battery, in particular a battery powering an electric motor. But this motor vehicle engine can also be an electric motor capable of participating in the mechanical torque for driving the vehicle. It will be noted that multiple applications outside the automotive world are possible, for example on an internal combustion engine of a construction site generator, a pump, or on board a vehicle such as a ship or airplane; the applications are very broad.

[0043] The support 3 of this internal combustion engine is for example a component of the engine from an assembly comprising a cylinder head, a cylinder head cover, a camshaft cover, an engine support, an engine crankcase, an engine block.

[0044] Element 2 is for example an engine cover, but could also be a plastic casing protecting a belt or any other engine component, protection against dust or splashes of water or impurities in general. This element 2 can also be a light plastic part of the air intake neck type, various housings such as that of the air filter, or any hose or electrical harness requiring occasional support or holding to avoid coming into contact with a metal element of the engine; the applications are numerous.

Claims

Claims

1. A fixing column (1) for an element (2) to a support (3), and comprising: - a first end (El) provided with a first fixing means (Dl, 4) intended to fix the column (1) to the support (3), - a second end (E2), opposite the first end (El), provided with a second fixing means (5) intended to fix the column (1) to the element (2), characterized in that the first fixing means (Dl, 4) comprises: - an external diameter (Dl) of the first end (El), intended to be fitted into a bore (6) of the support (3) to a predetermined depth (P), and - a magnetic means (4) integral with the column (1) and intended to magnetize the column (1) in the bore (6).

2. Column (1) according to claim 1 having an axis (X) along its length, the magnetic means (4) having an axis of symmetry coincident with the axis (X) of the column (1).

3. Column (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the magnetic means (4) being an attached magnetic pellet.

4. Column (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the external diameter (Dl) comprising a thread intended to cooperate by screwing with the bore (6).

5. Column (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the second fixing means (5) being a spherical protrusion intended to fit into a deformable housing of the element (2).

6. Column (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, the second fixing means comprising a second magnetic means secured to the column (1) and intended to magnetize the element (2).

7. Post (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the magnetic means (4) secured to the post (1) and intended to magnetize the post (1) in the bore (6) being capable of exerting an attractive force along the axis (X) of the post (1) greater than or equal to 100 N.

8. Motor vehicle engine comprising a support (3), characterized in that it comprises a column (1) according to one of the preceding claims, fixed to the support (3) by the first fixing means (D1, 4).

9. Engine according to claim 8, with internal combustion, the support (3) being a component of the engine among an assembly comprising a cylinder head, a cylinder head cover, a camshaft cover, an engine support, an engine crankcase, an engine block.

10. Engine according to one of claims 8 or 9, comprising the element (2), this element (2) being an engine cover.

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