Motor vehicle comprising a liquid container supported by a powertrain support

Abstract

Motor vehicle comprising a liquid container supported by a powertrain support The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) comprising a body structure (2) defining an engine compartment (4) in which at least one side member (3) extends, a wheel arch element (10) mounted on the body structure between a wheel of the vehicle and the engine compartment, and a liquid container (20), in particular a windscreen washer reservoir. The engine compartment receives a powertrain connected to the side member of the body structure by a powertrain support (5). The liquid container is supported by the wheel arch element and by a protrusion (7) of the powertrain support. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a liquid container supported by a powertrain support Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the automotive field. It relates more particularly to a motor vehicle comprising a powertrain support adapted to at least partially support a liquid container, in particular a windshield washer reservoir.

[0002] A windshield washer fluid container is a liquid container adapted to contain a windshield washer fluid and which is fluidically connected to nozzles configured to spray the windshield washer fluid onto the windshield of the vehicle. The windshield washer fluid container is conventionally arranged between a front wheel arch and the technical front of the vehicle or in a front wing of the vehicle. Prior art

[0003] Motor vehicles generally comprise a body structure which delimits in particular an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. The engine compartment houses a powertrain, in particular thermal or electric, which is connected to the body structure via one or more powertrain supports.

[0004] In the context of the design of motor vehicles, it may be desirable to allow easier access to one or more essential functions of a vehicle. In particular, to limit the need to open the hood providing access to the engine compartment, it may be advantageous to allow access to functions which are usually accessible through the hood without it being necessary for the user to open the latter.

[0005] In particular, filling the windscreen washer reservoir generally requires, on existing vehicles, opening the hood.

[0006] Furthermore, existing vehicles are often designed in such a way that the mounting of the windscreen washer reservoir during vehicle assembly can be relatively complex, sometimes requiring fixing by several screws, and this mounting can take a significant amount of time.

[0007] There is therefore a need to make access to a motor vehicle liquid container, such as a windshield washer reservoir, easier, while simplifying its installation during vehicle assembly.

[0008] The aim of the invention is to meet at least part of this need. Summary of the invention

[0009] To this end, the invention relates in one of its aspects to a motor vehicle comprising:

[0010] - a body structure defining an engine compartment into which extends at least one spar;

[0011] - a wheel arch element mounted on the body structure between a wheel of the vehicle and engine compartment; and

[0012] - a container of liquid, in particular a window cleaning jar,

[0013] the engine compartment receiving a powertrain connected to the side member of the body structure by a powertrain support,

[0014] the liquid container being supported by the wheel arch element and by an outgrowth of the powertrain support.

[0015] The liquid container may in particular be arranged in the volume between the wheel arch element, the side member and the outer surface of the vehicle, in particular above a front part of the wheel arch element.

[0016] According to an advantageous characteristic, the powertrain support comprises a cover fixed to the powertrain, a buffer support fixed to the side member and a buffer connecting the buffer support and the cover, the protrusion being arranged on the buffer support.

[0017] Preferably, a protrusion attached to the liquid container is inserted into an opening of the protrusion.

[0018] Advantageously, the vehicle comprises a hatch on the exterior surface of the vehicle arranged opposite an orifice of the liquid container, so as to allow a user to access the orifice by opening the hatch.

[0019] According to a preferred characteristic, a tab is fixed by one of its ends to the liquid container and fixed by the other of its ends to the wheel arch element, preferably by means of a screw.

[0020] Preferably, the wheel arch element being an arch element for the right front wheel of the vehicle.

[0021] The powertrain can be electric or thermal.

[0022] A wheel arch element within the meaning of the invention is a rigid envelope arranged above a wheel. It is generally arranged between the wheel and the engine compartment of the vehicle and generally has a curved shape. The wheel arch element may partially delimit the engine compartment.

[0023] The invention therefore uses the powertrain support to at least partially support the liquid container. The liquid container can be placed on the engine support and on the wheel arch element. In particular, it can be inserted into an opening in the protrusion of the powertrain support. It is then sufficient to use a single screw fixing the container to the wheel arch element. to ensure the liquid container is mounted during vehicle assembly. This simplifies assembly and reduces assembly time.

[0024] Furthermore, the addition of a suitable protrusion to support the liquid container is a simple operation and uses little additional material for the manufacture of the support, in particular when the powertrain support is specifically designed.

[0025] Advantageously, the liquid container is arranged above an upper surface of the wheel arch element: thus, the container is arranged at a relatively high height which makes it easily accessible to a user. The accessibility of the container is further improved when the orifice of the container is accessible through a hatch on the surface of the vehicle: it is then not necessary to open the hood to fill the container. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a partial view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, showing the arrangement of the liquid container.

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of the vehicle shown in [Fig.l].

[0028] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a first sectional view of the vehicle's liquid container of [Fig.l].

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a second sectional view of the liquid container of the vehicle of [Fig.l].

[0030] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] shows a front passage element and a powertrain support portion of the vehicle of [Fig.l].

[0031] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a powertrain support of a vehicle according to the invention. Detailed description

[0032] Throughout the present application, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "lower", "above" and "on" are to be understood with reference to a motor vehicle as it is in the rolling configuration, the wheels being in contact with the ground. The terms "right", "left", "front" and "rear" are to be understood with reference to the orientation of the vehicle.

[0033] [Fig. 1] shows a partial view of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. For reasons of clarity, only certain elements of the vehicle 1 are shown.

[0034] The vehicle 1 comprises a body structure 2 which comprises a side member 3. The side member 3 extends towards the front of the vehicle and partly delimits the engine compartment 4 which houses the powertrain, arranged at the front of the vehicle. The powertrain is supported by a powertrain support 5, shown in more detail in [Fig. 6]. The powertrain support 5 comprises in particular a buffer support 6 which is supported by the side member 3. The buffer support 6 comprises a protrusion 7 which projects vertically on top of the buffer support 6. The powertrain is also supported on the opposite side by a second powertrain support resting on a second side member of the body structure 2, these elements not being shown.

[0035] A wheel arch element 10 is arranged on the body structure 2 above the right front wheel of the vehicle. It is arranged on the side opposite the engine compartment 4 with respect to the side member 3, i.e. on the right side of the side member 3.

[0036] A container 20 of liquid, which may in particular be a windshield washer jar, is arranged above the wheel arch element 10. The container 20 of liquid rests on three support points: on the protrusion 7 of the buffer support 6, on a first interface 11 of the wheel arch element 10 and on a second interface 14 of the wheel arch element 10.

[0037] For this purpose, a tab 12, fixed to the container 20, is also fixed by a screw 13 to the second interface 14 of the wheel arch element 10. The container 20 therefore rests on the second interface 14 via the tab 12.

[0038] The container 20 is advantageously shaped so as to leave free access from above to the screw 13. This facilitates the screwing of the latter during assembly of the vehicle.

[0039] The container 20 is advantageously shaped so that its lower surface at least partially matches the shape of the wheel arch element 10 on which it is arranged.

[0040] A protrusion 15 is fixed on the underside of the container 20, so as to be inserted into a complementary opening 16 arranged on an upper face of the protrusion 7 of the buffer support 6. This protrusion 15 facilitates the positioning of the container 20 on the protrusion 7 during assembly of the vehicle. It also contributes to maintaining the container 20 after assembly.

[0041] The container 20 has on an upper part an orifice 17 closed by a removable stopper. A liquid can be poured into the container 20 through this orifice 17.

[0042] Preferably, the orifice 17 is accessible to a user by opening a hatch arranged on the bodywork opposite the orifice 17. Thus, the user can access the orifice 17 without opening the hood of the vehicle.

[0043] [Fig.2] shows the elements represented in [Fig.l] in a top view.

[0044] [Fig.3] and [Fig.4] show the elements represented in [Fig.l] in a sectional view along two different planes.

[0045] [Fig. 5] is a detailed view of the wheel arch element 10, the buffer support 6 and the side member 3. For reasons of clarity, the liquid container 20 is not shown in this figure.

[0046] [Fig. 6] shows the powertrain support 5. The buffer support 6 is fixed to a buffer 8, itself fixed to a cover 9. The cover 9 supports the powertrain of the vehicle. Thus, the powertrain support 5, which comprises the buffer support 6, the buffer 8 and the cover 9, connects the powertrain to the side member 3. It also supports the container 20 thanks to the protrusion 7 formed on the buffer support 6.

[0047] A second powertrain support 5 is provided on the opposite side of the engine compartment 4, i.e. the left side, for holding the powertrain on both sides of the motor vehicle.

[0048] Other variations and improvements may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a body structure (2) defining an engine compartment (4) in which at least one side member (3) extends; - a wheel arch element (10) mounted on the body structure between a wheel of the vehicle and the engine compartment; and - a container (20) for liquid, in particular a windscreen washer reservoir, the engine compartment receiving a powertrain connected to the side member of the body structure by a powertrain support (5), the liquid container being supported by the wheel arch element and by a protrusion (7) of the powertrain support.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, the powertrain support comprising a cover (9) fixed to the powertrain, a buffer support (6) fixed to the side member and a buffer (8) connecting the buffer support and the cover, the protrusion (7) being arranged on the buffer support.

3. Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, a protrusion (15) fixed on the liquid container being inserted into an opening (16) of the protrusion (7).

4. A motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a hatch on the outer surface of the vehicle arranged opposite an orifice (17) of the liquid container, so as to allow a user to access the orifice by opening the hatch.

5. Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, a tab (12) being fixed by one of its ends to the liquid container and fixed by the other of its ends to the wheel arch element, preferably by means of a screw (13).

6. Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, the wheel arch element being an arch element for the right front wheel of the vehicle.

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