Thermal protection device.

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal protection device (1) designed to equip a motor vehicle and to be arranged between an exhaust element (2), participating in an exhaust line, and a bodywork element (3) to be protected, the device (1) comprising a first fixing interface (7), designed to allow the device (1) to be fixed to the body (8) of the vehicle, the device (1) having a protective part (9) designed to be arranged and extend between the exhaust element (2) and the bodywork element (3) to be protected in order to form a heat shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element (2), the device (1) further comprising a second fixing interface (12), separate from the first interface (7) and designed to cooperate with the bodywork element (3) by embedding to fix the device (1) on the bodywork element (3). The device (1) also makes it possible to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle.(Figure 2).

Description

Title of the invention: Thermal protection device.

[0001] The technical field relates to thermal protection devices designed to protect a bodywork element from an exhaust element as well as motor vehicles equipped with such devices.

[0002] Modern motor vehicles have an ever-increasing number of elements whose arrangements represent complex challenges due to the necessarily limited space, but also compatibility constraints. For example, vehicles with thermal engines have certain elements which heat up during operation of the vehicle and which therefore need to be positioned at a distance from other elements which risk deteriorating under the effect of heat.

[0003] In this context, the elements constituting the exhaust line release a lot of heat during operation and are particularly bulky. For example, the silencer is commonly installed just after a rear axle crossmember, in the wheel axis to benefit from the size of the wheels which protects against impact with the ground. Further back from the rear axle crossmember, the ground clearance of the vehicle must increase in order to limit the risk of impacts with the ground when the vehicle climbs an obstacle such as a curb. Thus, the available space decreases towards the rear of the vehicle. Also, in order to exploit the space provided behind a rear axle crossmember, to house a silencer, the latter must generally have two stamped shells. Such a silencer is notably more expensive than a rolled and crimped silencer with a single shell.

[0004] Furthermore, the area of ​​the underbody of a vehicle located behind the wheels is particularly important for the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Indeed, to ensure as low aerodynamic drag as possible, automobile manufacturers generally equip their vehicles with an aerodynamic screen to smooth the underbody of the vehicle. It is therefore complicated to accommodate an exhaust element, in particular without disturbing the aerodynamic flow of air over the underbody of the vehicle.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution allowing an exhaust element to be positioned in a heat-sensitive area, in particular behind the rear axle crossmember.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a thermal protection device making it possible to reduce the usual constraints linked to the release of heat from the elements of an exhaust line.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a thermal protection device designed to equip a motor vehicle and to be arranged between an exhaust element, participating in a thermal vehicle exhaust line, and a bodywork element to be protected, the device comprising a first fixing interface, designed to allow the device to be fixed to the body of the vehicle, the device having a protective part designed to be arranged and extend between the exhaust element and the bodywork element to be protected in order to form a heat shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element, the device further comprising a second fixing interface, separate from the first interface and designed to cooperate with the bodywork element by embedding to fix the device on the bodywork element.

[0008] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an exhaust element and a bodywork element to be protected, the vehicle further comprising a protection device according to the invention, the device being fixed between the exhaust element and the bodywork element, the device forming a heat shield to protect the bodywork element against a high temperature of the exhaust element.

[0009] Thus, the thermal protection device makes it possible to reduce the spacing between an exhaust element, releasing heat during operation, and a bodywork element which must be protected from the heat. Indeed, the protective part forms a heat shield protecting the element to be protected from the heat radiated by the exhaust element. The first fixing interface makes it possible to ensure a positive fixing of the device on the vehicle, directly on the body and / or via the exhaust element, while the second interface allows easy and rapid mounting of the device on the bodywork element. The second fixing interface also makes it possible to dispense with positive fixings to ensure its fixing.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the device, the second interface has at least one tab each designed to be inserted into a locking slot provided in the bodywork element to be protected.

[0011] According to one possibility of the device, the first interface is designed to allow positive fixing, preferably screwing of the device onto the body of the vehicle.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the device is shaped to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle between the exhaust element and the bodywork element to be protected, when it is attached to the vehicle.

[0013] In one embodiment, the device is formed from a stamped metal sheet.

[0014] According to one possibility of the vehicle, the bodywork element is an aerodynamic deflector, preferably made of plastic.

[0015] In one embodiment of the vehicle, the device, when fixed to the vehicle, covers at least one well for fixing the bodywork element to the body. Thus, the device according to the invention makes it possible to improve the aerodynamic behavior of the vehicle by eliminating the harmful effects of the fixing well(s) required for fixing the bodywork element.

[0016] According to one possibility of the vehicle, the protective part is arranged so as to leave an air gap, which, combined with the protective part, together forms a heat shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element.

[0017] Advantageously, the exhaust element is a silencer.

[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a partial view from below of a motor vehicle according to the invention showing a device according to the invention fixed to the vehicle, the device being shown transparent to facilitate understanding;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a longitudinal sectional view of the vehicle of [Fig.l] showing the device installed on the vehicle.

[0021] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0022] A thermal protection device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip a motor vehicle according to the invention. The device 1 is designed to be arranged between an exhaust element 2, participating in an exhaust line of the thermal vehicle, and a bodywork element 3 to be protected from the vehicle. In the example illustrated in the figures, the exhaust element 2 is a silencer 4. Preferably, the bodywork element 3 is an aerodynamic deflector 5 designed to form a rear part of the underbody of the vehicle according to the invention. The deflector 5 makes it possible to reduce the drag of the vehicle by facilitating the flow of air when the vehicle is moving. The deflector 5 is, for example, made of plastic.

[0023] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the protective device 1 is formed from a stamped metal sheet 6, illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The metal sheet 6 is preferably a sheet made of aluminum, galvanized steel or stainless steel. The metal sheet 6 has, for example, a thickness of between 1 and 2.5 mm.

[0024] The device 1 comprises a first fixing interface 7, illustrated in [Fig. 2], designed to allow the device 1 to be fixed to the body 8 of the vehicle, illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The first interface 7 is advantageously designed to allow positive fixing of the device 1 to the body 8. By positive fixing, it is meant a fixing designed to ensure a solid and secure connection between two components. A positive fixing is, for example, a screw fixing.

[0025] The device 1 has a protective part 9 designed to be arranged and extend between the exhaust element 2 and the bodywork element 3 to be protected, in order to form a heat shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element 2. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the protective portion 9 forms a protective plate 10. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], the protective plate 10 extends from the bodywork 8 and extends along the exhaust element 2. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the protective portion 9 is arranged so as to leave an air gap 11, which, together with the protective portion 9, together form a heat shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element 2. For example, the air gap 11 has a thickness E, measured between the protective portion 9 and the exhaust element 2, of between 30 mm and 85 mm, preferably of the order of 35 mm.For example, in the absence of the device 1 and the protective part 9, a minimum distance of 85 mm must be maintained between the silencer 4 and the plastic deflector 5, in order to prevent the latter from melting under the effect of the heat released by the exhaust element 2.

[0026] The device 1 further comprises a second fixing interface 12, distinct from the first interface 7. This second interface 12 is designed to cooperate with the bodywork element 3 by embedding to fix the device 1 on the bodywork element 3. In the example illustrated in the figures, the second interface 12 has at least one tab 13, in this case three tabs 13, each designed to be inserted into a locking slot 14, illustrated in [Fig. 2], formed in the bodywork element 3 to be protected. The shapes, orientations and dimensions of the tabs 13 and slots 14 are chosen to allow fixing of the device 1.

[0027] Advantageously, and as illustrated in [Fig.l], the device 1 is shaped to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle according to the invention, between the exhaust element 2 and the bodywork element 3, when it is fixed to the vehicle. For this purpose, the device 1 comprises an aerodynamic part 15 forming a plate also participating in the underbody of the vehicle, in the extension of the aerodynamic deflector 5. In the example illustrated in the figures, the protective 9 and aerodynamic 15 parts form a substantially right angle.

[0028] Finally, in order to improve the reduction of the drag of the underbody of the vehicle according to the invention, the device 1, when it is fixed on the vehicle, covers at least one fixing well 16 of the bodywork element 3 to the body 8. Experience has shown that the covering of each fixing well 16 allows an aerodynamic gain of the order of 0.2 dm2 for a deflector 5 with a surface area of ​​1 dm2.

[0029] Thus, the thermal protection device 1 makes it possible to reduce the spacing between the exhaust element 2, releasing heat during operation, and the bodywork element 3 which must be protected from the heat. Indeed, the protection part 9 forms a heat shield protecting the bodywork element 3 to be protected from the heat radiated by the exhaust element 2. The first fixing interface 7 ensures positive fixing of the device 1 on the vehicle, while the second interface 12 allows easy and rapid mounting of the device 1 on the bodywork element 3.

[0030] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the protection device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Thermal protection device (1) designed to equip a motor vehicle and to be arranged between an exhaust element (2), participating in a thermal vehicle exhaust line, and a bodywork element (3) to be protected, the device (1) comprising a first fixing interface (7), designed to allow the device (1) to be fixed to the body (8) of the vehicle, the device (1) having a protective part (9) designed to be arranged and extend between the exhaust element (2) and the bodywork element (3) to be protected in order to form a thermal shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element (2), the device (1) further comprising a second fixing interface (12), separate from the first interface (7) and designed to cooperate with the bodywork element (3) by embedding to fix the device (1) on the bodywork element (3).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second interface (12) has at least one tab (13) each designed to be inserted into a locking slot (14) provided in the bodywork element (3) to be protected.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first interface (7) is designed to allow positive fixing, preferably screwing of the device (1) onto the body (8) of the vehicle.

4. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is shaped to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle between the exhaust element (2) and the bodywork element (3) to be protected, when it is fixed to the vehicle.

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is formed from a stamped metal sheet (6).

6. A motor vehicle comprising an exhaust element (2) and a bodywork element (3) to be protected, the vehicle further comprising a protective device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, the device (1) being fixed between the exhaust element (2) and the bodywork element (3), the device (1) forming a heat shield to protect the bodywork element (3) against a high temperature of the exhaust element (2).

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the bodywork element (3) is an aerodynamic deflector (5), preferably made of plastic.

8. Vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the device (1), when fixed to the vehicle, covers at least one fixing well (16) of the bodywork element (3) to the body (8).

9. Vehicle according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the protective part (9) is arranged in such a way as to leave an air gap (11), which, together with the protective part (9), forms a heat shield against a high temperature of the exhaust element (3).

10. Vehicle according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the exhaust element (3) is a silencer (4).

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