Motor vehicle comprising a fluid container supported by a powertrain support

Abstract

Motor vehicle comprising a fluid 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 extends at least one side member (3), a wheel arch element (10) mounted on the body structure between a wheel of the vehicle and the engine compartment, and a fluid container (20), in particular a windshield washer fluid reservoir. The engine compartment receives a powertrain connected to the side member of the body structure by a powertrain support (5). The fluid container is supported by the wheel arch element and by a protrusion (7) of the powertrain support. Figure for the 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 support at least partially a liquid container, in particular a windshield washer fluid reservoir.

[0002] A windshield washer reservoir is a container designed to hold windshield washer fluid and which is fluidly connected to nozzles configured to spray the windshield washer fluid onto the vehicle's windshield. The windshield washer reservoir is typically located between a front wheel arch and the front technical panel of the vehicle or in a front fender of the vehicle. Previous technique

[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 by means of one or more powertrain mounts.

[0004] In the context of motor vehicle design, it may be desirable to allow easy access to one or more essential vehicle functions. 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 that are usually accessible through the hood without requiring the user to open it.

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

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

[0007] There is therefore a need to make access to a vehicle fluid container, such as a windshield washer fluid container, easier, while simplifying its assembly 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, one aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising:

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

[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 cleaner bottle,

[0013] the engine compartment receiving a powertrain connected to the body structure side member 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 can in particular be placed 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 feature, the powertrain support comprises a cap fixed to the powertrain, a buffer support fixed to the side member and a buffer connecting the buffer support and the cap, the protrusion being arranged on the buffer support.

[0017] Preferably, a protrusion fixed on the liquid container is inserted into an opening in the protrusion.

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

[0019] According to a preferred feature, 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 a right front wheel arch element of the vehicle.

[0021] The powertrain can be electric or thermal.

[0022] A wheel arch element as defined in the invention is a rigid enclosure positioned above a wheel. It is generally located between the wheel and the vehicle's engine compartment and typically has a curved shape. The wheel arch element may partially delimit the engine compartment.

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

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

[0025] Advantageously, the liquid container is positioned above a top surface of the wheel arch element: thus, the container is positioned at a relatively high height, making it easily accessible to a user. The container's accessibility is further improved when its opening is accessible via a hatch on the vehicle's surface: it is then unnecessary to open the hood to refill the container. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] [Fig.1] Fig.1 is a partial view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, representing the arrangement of the liquid container.

[0027] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a top view of the vehicle shown in Fig.1.

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

[0029] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a second cross-sectional view of the liquid container of the vehicle of the [Fig.1].

[0030] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] represents a front passage element and a part of the powertrain support of the vehicle of the [Fig.1].

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

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

[0033] Figure 1 illustrates a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention in partial view. For clarity, only certain elements of the vehicle 1 are shown.

[0034] The vehicle 1 comprises a body structure 2 which includes a longitudinal member 3. The longitudinal member 3 extends towards the front of the vehicle and partially 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 has a projection 7 which protrudes vertically on the top of the buffer support 6. The powertrain is also supported on the opposite side by a second powertrain support bearing 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 located on the opposite side from the engine compartment 4 relative to the side member 3, i.e. on the right side of the side member 3.

[0036] A liquid container 20, which may in particular be a windshield washer fluid container, is positioned above the wheel arch element 10. The liquid container 20 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 allow free access from above to the screw 13. This facilitates screwing the latter during vehicle assembly.

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

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

[0041] The container 20 has an opening 17 on its upper part, closed by a removable stopper. Liquid can be poured into the container 20 through this opening 17.

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

[0043] Fig. 2 shows the elements represented in Fig. 1 in a top view.

[0044] Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the elements represented in Fig. 1 in a cross-sectional view along two different planes.

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

[0046] Figure 6 shows the powertrain support 5. The buffer support 6 is attached to a buffer 8, which is itself attached to a cap 9. The cap 9 supports the vehicle's powertrain. Thus, the powertrain support 5, which includes the buffer support 6, the buffer 8, and the cap 9, connects the powertrain to the side member 3. It also supports the container 20 by means of 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 retaining the powertrain on both sides of the motor vehicle.

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

Claims

Demands

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) of fluid, in particular a windshield washer fluid reservoir, the engine compartment receiving a powertrain connected to the side member of the body structure by a powertrain support (5), the fluid container being supported by the wheel arch element and by an extension (7) of the powertrain support.

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

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

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

5. Motor vehicle according to any 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 any one of the preceding claims, the wheel arch element being a right front wheel arch element of the vehicle.

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