Connecting bar for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module in a motor vehicle compartment.

Abstract

Connecting bar for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module in a motor vehicle compartment Connecting bar (12) for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module (14) arranged inside a compartment of a motor vehicle (10), in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle (10), the connecting bar (12) being intended to be mounted transversely inside said compartment so as to at least partially surround said heating and / or air conditioning module (14), the connecting bar (12) comprising at least one curved metal tube so as to have distinct portions inclined relative to each other, including a central portion (16) and two end portions (18) which form ends of the connecting bar (12),the end portions (18) each comprising a fixing plate (20) configured to accommodate at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar (12) to its environment; said connecting bar (12) being characterized in that it comprises at least one fixing lug (24) configured to be fixed to the heating and / or air conditioning module (14) in order to hold said module (14). Figure for the abstract: Fig.1,

Description

Title of the invention: Connecting bar for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module in a motor vehicle compartment.

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting bar for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module arranged inside a compartment of a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a connecting bar. The invention further relates to an arrangement of a heating and / or air conditioning module inside a compartment of a motor vehicle which comprises such a connecting bar. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such a connecting bar or equipped with such an arrangement.

[0002] For some time now, the development of motor vehicles with electric or hybrid engines has brought new challenges to be met in terms of equipment to be integrated into these vehicles and in terms of the arrangement of said equipment inside the engine compartments of these vehicles.

[0003] Generally speaking, such an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprises a high-performance heating and / or air conditioning module, but this module is generally very heavy and quite bulky. In order to provide maximum space for the driver, the heating and / or air conditioning module can be moved forward into the engine compartment space. However, this arrangement has a major drawback: the mass of the heating and / or air conditioning module is then cantilevered, and this mass is generally considered too large to be self-supporting by the body structure of the motor vehicle in question. Without adequate support, the cantilevered mass of the heating and / or air conditioning module can cause vibrations to rise in the vehicle structure and / or be the cause of cracks in this vehicle structure.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks described above by proposing a solution which makes it possible to create at least one additional anchoring point to hold the heating and / or air conditioning module in the motor vehicle compartment.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a connecting bar for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module arranged inside a compartment of a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle, the connecting bar being intended to be mounted transversely inside said compartment so as to at least partially surround said heating and / or air conditioning module. tisation, the connecting bar comprising at least one curved metal tube so as to have distinct portions inclined relative to each other, including a central portion and two end portions which form ends of the connecting bar, the end portions each comprising a fixing plate configured to accommodate at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar to its environment; said connecting bar being characterized in that it comprises at least one fixing lug configured to be fixed to the heating and / or air conditioning module in order to hold said module.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the at least one fixing lug comprises a flat surface.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the edges of said flat surface of the fixing lug are curved so as to give the fixing lug a “U” shaped section.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the at least one fixing lug has a hook shape.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the connecting bar comprises several fixing lugs, in particular four fixing lugs arranged on the central portion of the connecting bar.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the connecting bar comprises at least one additional support arm and the free end of said additional arm has a fixing blade configured to accommodate at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar to its environment.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the connecting bar has an asymmetrical structure.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the at least one curved metal tube has a circular section having a diameter between 25 mm and 50 mm, and more particularly a diameter equal to 30 mm.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the at least one curved metal tube is between 2.5 mm and 5 mm, and more particularly equal to 3 mm.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a connecting bar as described above, characterized in that said connecting bar is obtained during a cold bending process.

[0015] The invention also relates to an arrangement of a heating and / or air conditioning module inside a compartment of a motor vehicle, the arrangement being characterized in that it comprises a connecting bar as described above or a connecting bar obtained according to the manufacturing method described above, said connecting bar being arranged transversely inside said compartment so as to at least partially surround the heating and / or air conditioning module and characterized in that the at least one fixing lug of said connecting bar is fixed to said module so as to carry part of the weight of the module, or even the entire weight of the heating and / or air conditioning module and in that the fixing plates of the free ends of the two extreme portions of the connecting bar are fixed to side parts of a body of the motor vehicle.

[0016] The invention also relates to a vehicle characterized in that it is equipped with a connecting bar as described above or equipped with a connecting bar obtained according to the manufacturing method described above or equipped with an arrangement as described above.

[0017] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:

[0018] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a perspective view of an arrangement of a heating and / or air conditioning module within a compartment of a motor vehicle which comprises a connecting bar.

[0019] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a first embodiment of the connecting bar of [Fig.l].

[0020] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the connecting bar of [Fig.2] from another perspective.

[0021] [Fig.4] illustrates the connecting bar of Figures 2 and 3 from another perspective.

[0022] [Fig.5] illustrates the connecting bar of Figures 2 to 4 from another perspective.

[0023] A trihedron with three axes X, Y, Z is illustrated in [Fig.l]. In this document, the axis X denotes the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 10. When moving forward and in a straight line, the vehicle 10 moves from the rear to the front, in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The X axis is oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle 10, that is to say in the direction of reverse travel. The Y axis denotes the transverse axis of the vehicle 10. The Y axis is oriented from left to right, left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle 10. The Z axis denotes the axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. The vehicle 10 is considered to be resting on horizontal ground. The Z axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y and Z axes form an orthogonal reference frame.This same reference, defined by reference to a vehicle 10, will also be used to describe the connecting bar 12 and the heating and / or air conditioning module 14, even when considered outside the vehicle 10, since these elements are intended for mounting in a specific orientation in the vehicle 10.

[0024] In [Fig.l] is illustrated an example of an arrangement of a heating and / or air conditioning module 14 inside a compartment of a motor vehicle 10 which comprises a connecting bar 12 according to the invention. In this arrangement, the connecting bar 12 is mounted transversely inside said compartment so as to at least partially surround said heating and / or air conditioning module 14.

[0025] The connecting bar 12 comprises at least one curved metal tube so as to have distinct portions inclined relative to each other. Among these distinct portions, one can distinguish at least one central portion 16 and two extreme portions 18 which form ends of the connecting bar 12. The metal tube is for example made of steel, but other types of metals can be envisaged for this connecting bar 12.

[0026] In the arrangement illustrated in [Fig.l], the central portion 16 of the at least one metal tube of the connecting bar 12 is arranged in front of the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 while the two end portions 18 which form ends of the connecting bar 12 are located on the sides of said module 14. In other words, the central portion 16 of the at least one metal tube of the connecting bar 12 extends parallel to the transverse Y axis, as illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the connecting bar 12 illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the free ends of the two end portions 18 which form ends of the connecting bar 12 each comprise a fixing plate 20 configured to accommodate at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar 12 to its environment. In the embodiment illustrated in all of Figures 1 to 5, the fixing plates 20 have an arcuate shape. Furthermore, each of these fixing plates 20 is pierced with two holes 22 to accommodate at least one fixing element, such as a screw, in order to fix the connecting bar 12 to its environment.

[0028] Generally speaking, the fixing plates 20 of the free ends of the two end portions 18 of the connecting bar 12 are fixed to lateral parts of a body of the motor vehicle 10. In the arrangement illustrated in [Fig.l], the fixing plates 20 of the free ends of the two end portions 18 of the connecting bar 12 are more particularly fixed to shock absorber cups 21 arranged on the lateral parts of the body of the motor vehicle 10. In this arrangement, the connecting bar 12 is thus connected to the lateral parts of the body of the motor vehicle 10 by means of four fixing points distributed over two shock absorber cups 21.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the connecting bar 12, the at least one curved metal tube may have a circular section having a diameter of between 25 mm and 50 mm. According to a particular embodiment, the diameter of the at least one curved metal tube may have a diameter equal to 30 mm, so as to provide optimal rigidity.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the connecting bar 12, the at least one curved metal tube is hollow and its thickness is between 2.5 mm and 5 mm. According to a particular embodiment, the thickness of the at least one curved metal tube is more particularly equal to 3 mm, so as to offer a good compromise between the rigidity of the connecting bar 12 and its weight.

[0031] In a manner common to all embodiments, the connecting bar 12 comprises at least one fixing lug 24 configured to be fixed to the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 in order to hold said module 14. More particularly, the at least one fixing lug 24 fixed to the module 14 makes it possible to carry part of the weight of the module 14, or even the entire weight of said module: the at least one fixing lug 24 thus makes it possible to add an anchoring point for holding the module 14 in a compartment of a motor vehicle 10.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting bar 12 comprises several fixing lugs 24. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the connecting bar 12 comprises in particular four fixing lugs 24 arranged on the central portion 16 of the connecting bar 12. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the four fixing lugs 24 of the connecting bar 12 are fixed to an upper face of the module 14.

[0033] In this preferred embodiment, the four fixing lugs 24 are arranged on the same side of the central portion 16 of the connecting bar 12, however, it is entirely possible to imagine an embodiment of the connecting bar 12 for which certain fixing lugs 24 are arranged on one side of the central portion 16 of the connecting bar 12 and other fixing lugs 24 are arranged on the other side of this same central portion 16 of the connecting bar 12. It is also possible to imagine an embodiment of the connecting bar 12 for which at least one fixing lug 24 is fixed on one of the end portions 18 of the connecting bar 12.

[0034] In the case where the connecting bar 12 comprises several fixing lugs 24, the fixing lugs 24 may have different shapes and dimensions from one another. More particularly, the width, length, thickness and / or shape of the fixing lugs 24 may vary from one fixing lug 24 to another for the same connecting bar 12.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the at least one fixing lug 24 comprises a flat surface 26. This flat surface 26 makes it possible to create an additional support surface for holding the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 inside the engine compartment. The flat surface 26 can be pierced to accommodate a fixing element such as a screw for fixing the at least one fixing lug 24 to the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 inside the engine compartment.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the edges 28 of said flat surface 26 of the fixing lug 24 are curved so as to give the fixing lug 24 a “U” shaped section. The curved edges 28 make it possible to stiffen the fixing lug 24. Furthermore, the curved edges 28 can serve as support and / or guide rail to enable other engine compartment components, such as cables and / or pipes, to be attached thereto. In this way, the at least one fixing lug 24 not only makes it possible to create an additional support surface for the heating and / or air conditioning module 14, but also to create a support surface for other engine compartment components. The function of the at least one fixing lug 24 can thus be diversified.

[0037] In order to adapt as best as possible to its environment, in particular in terms of available space, the at least one fixing lug 24 may have a hook shape. This is more particularly illustrated in [Fig. 2], in [Fig. 4] and in [Fig. 5]. Generally speaking, it is the geometry of the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 and the environment in which said module 14 and the connecting bar 12 are arranged which dictates the geometry of this connecting bar 12. Thus, the length, the width, the thickness, the general shape of the at least one fixing lug 24, as well as its position on the connecting bar 12 depend strongly on the geometry of the module 14 and the environment in which said module 14 and the connecting bar 12 are arranged.

[0038] Since it is the geometry of the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 and the environment in which said module 14 and the connecting bar 12 are arranged which dictate the geometry of this connecting bar 12, the connecting bar 12 may in particular have an asymmetrical structure. By “asymmetrical structure” is meant that the end portions 18 of the connecting bar 12 are not identical either in length or in inclination relative to the central portion 16 of the connecting bar 12, which gives an asymmetrical shape to said connecting bar 12. An embodiment of such a connecting bar 12 with an asymmetrical structure is in particular illustrated in [Fig. 3].

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting bar 12 may comprise at least one additional support arm 30 in addition to the curved metal tube which forms the central portion 16 and the two end portions 18 of the connecting bar 12. The at least one additional arm 30 notably comprises an end secured to the curved metal tube which forms the central portion 16 and the two end portions 28 of the connecting bar. Furthermore, the at least one additional arm 30 extends so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X.

[0040] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the connecting bar 12 more particularly comprises two additional support arms 30. These two additional arms 30 have in particular the same length and they are parallel to each other. In addition, the fixed ends of the additional arms 30 are located at the junctions between the central portion 16 and the two end portions 18 of the connecting bar 12.

[0041] In this embodiment, the free end of the at least one additional arm 30 may have a fixing blade 32 configured to accommodate at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar 12 to its environment. The fixing blade 32 notably comprises at least one opening which is configured to accommodate said fixing element therein. The fixing element may notably be a screw intended to be arranged in a nut.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment, the fixing blades 32 of the two additional support arms 30 are fixed on shock-absorbing cup reinforcements. By fixing the connecting bar 12 to the apron via the fixing blades 32 of the two additional support arms 30, the assembly formed by the connecting bar 12 and the apron can contribute to the overall stability of the motor vehicle 10.

[0043] A connecting bar 12 which has a structure and dimensions as described above also has the advantage of being easy to manufacture. According to a preferred manufacturing method for such a connecting bar 12, it can in particular be obtained during a cold bending process. Such a manufacturing method is reliable and economical.

[0044] Thanks to its general geometry and more particularly thanks to the presence of at least one fixing lug 24, the connecting bar 12 not only makes it possible to create at least one additional attachment point for the heating and / or air conditioning module 14, thus overcoming the problem of the mass of the module 14 overhanging inside the compartment, but also to create a support surface for other components of the engine compartment. Such a connecting bar 12 also provides additional rigidity to the motor vehicle 10 in the event of a frontal impact. Generally speaking, such a connecting bar 12 makes it possible to reinforce the protection of the components inside the engine compartment of the motor vehicle 10.

[0045] The geometry of such a connecting bar 12, in particular the number of fixing lugs 24, the location of said fixing lugs 24 and the angles of inclination of said fixing lugs 24 and / or of the portions 16, 18 of the at least one tube of the connecting bar 12 and / or of the additional support arm(s) 30 can be adapted to the geometry of the heating and / or air conditioning module 14 and the environment in which said module 14 and the connecting bar 12 are arranged, which dictate the geometry of this connecting bar 12. Each connecting bar 12 is thus adaptable according to the vehicle 10 in which it is intended to be mounted and, through its versatility, it allows a multitude of functions to be performed in the same arrangement of a heating and / or air conditioning module 14 inside a compartment of a motor vehicle 10.

Claims

Claims

1. Connecting bar (12) for holding a heating and / or air conditioning module (14) arranged inside a compartment of a motor vehicle (10), in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle (10), the connecting bar (12) being intended to be mounted transversely inside said compartment so as to at least partially surround said heating and / or air conditioning module (14), the connecting bar (12) comprising at least one curved metal tube so as to have distinct portions inclined relative to each other, including a central portion (16) and two end portions (18) which form ends of the connecting bar (12), the end portions (18) each comprising a fixing plate (20) configured to receive at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar (12) to its environment;said connecting bar (12) being characterized in that it comprises at least one fixing lug (24) configured to be fixed to the heating and / or air conditioning module (14) in order to hold said module (14).;

2. Connecting bar according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one fixing lug (24) comprises a flat surface (26) and in that the edges (28) of said flat surface (26) of the fixing lug (24) are curved so as to give the fixing lug (24) a “U” shaped section.

3. Connecting bar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one fixing lug (24) has a hook shape.

4. Connecting bar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several fixing lugs (24), in particular four fixing lugs (24) arranged on the central portion (16) of the connecting bar (12).

5. Connecting bar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one additional support arm (30) and in that the free end of said additional arm (30) has a fixing blade (32) configured to accommodate at least one fixing element intended to fix the connecting bar (12) to its environment.

6. Connecting bar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bar (12) has an asymmetrical structure.

7. Connecting bar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one curved metal tube has a circular section having a diameter between 25 mm and 50 mm, and more particularly a diameter equal to 30 mm and / or characterized in that the thickness of the at least one curved metal tube is between 2.5 mm and 5 mm, and more particularly equal to 3 mm.

8. Method of manufacturing a connecting bar (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting bar (12) is obtained during a cold bending process.

9. Arrangement of a heating and / or air conditioning module (14) inside a compartment of a motor vehicle (10), the arrangement being characterized in that it comprises a connecting bar (12) according to one of claims 1 to 7 or a connecting bar (12) obtained according to the manufacturing method of claim 8, said connecting bar (12) being arranged transversely inside said compartment so as to at least partially surround the heating and / or air conditioning module (14) and characterized in that the at least one fixing lug (24) of said connecting bar (12) is fixed to said module (14) so ​​as to carry part of the weight of the module (14), or even the entire weight of the heating and / or air conditioning module (14) and in that the fixing plates (20) of the free ends of the two end portions (18) of the connecting bar (12) are fixed to parts sides of a motor vehicle body (10).

10. Motor vehicle (10), characterized in that it is equipped with a connecting bar (12) according to one of claims 1 to 7 or equipped with a connecting bar (12) obtained according to the manufacturing method of claim 8 or equipped with an arrangement according to the preceding claim.

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