Cradle horn incorporating a suspension wedge for a motor vehicle's electric motor

Abstract

CRADLE HORN INTEGRATING A SUSPENSION BLOCK FOR AN AUTOMOBILE POWERTRAIN The present invention relates to a cradle (4) for an automotive powertrain (2), comprising: - two horns (6) arranged on either side of said cradle, each horn having an arm (8) projecting substantially vertically from said cradle, said arm having a proximal end (8.1) forming a base provided with a first means for attachment to the cradle and a distal end (8.2) opposite said base and having a second means for attachment of said arm to a structure of the motor vehicle, notable in that the arm includes a longitudinal wall (14) projecting substantially longitudinally from said arm and vertically from the cradle, said longitudinal wall having a transverse opening (16) intended to receive a suspension block (18). (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: CRADLE HORN INTEGRATING A SUSPENSION BLOCK FOR AN AUTOMOBILE ELECTROMAGNETIC UNIT Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of motor vehicle structure. Previous technique

[0002] Motor vehicles are generally equipped with a subframe, or chassis, which is a rigid structural element designed to receive the vehicle's powertrain. This subframe is part of a structure comprising various parts ensuring, among other things, attachment to the vehicle body and the front axle, as well as the attachment of various surrounding accessories.

[0003] In many modern vehicles, the powertrain is mounted on specific supports or suspensions to absorb vibrations and shocks, thereby improving driving comfort and protecting the powertrain components.

[0004] Currently, the functions of the subframe are independent of those of the powertrain suspension. The arrangement of the suspension shim supports requires considerable space, making their integration impossible on current subframes. This difficulty is particularly pronounced on certain vehicle models with reduced front dimensions, especially those equipped with electric motors, further complicating the arrangement of the suspension shims due to space constraints.

[0005] The published patent document FR 3 080 079 Al discloses a welded structural element comprising a cradle, two extensions, and two brackets arranged on either side of the cradle that secure the extensions to the cradle. The structural element also includes a piece welded to the cradle for attaching the suspension arms and reinforcements welded between the brackets and the cradle.

[0006] However, the solution proposed in the document does not ensure effective attachment of a powertrain suspension to the subframe. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More particularly, the invention aims to provide a simple, efficient, and economical solution for effectively connecting a powertrain to a motor vehicle cradle.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a cradle for a powertrain for a motor vehicle, comprising: - two horns arranged on either side of said cradle, each horn comprising an arm projecting substantially vertically from said cradle, said arm comprising a proximal end forming a base provided with a first means of attachment to the cradle and a distal end opposite said base and comprising a second means of attachment of said arm to a structure of the motor vehicle, remarkable in that the arm comprises a longitudinal wall projecting substantially longitudinally from said arm and vertically from the cradle, said longitudinal wall being provided with a transverse opening intended to receive a suspension wedge.

[0009] Advantageously, the longitudinal wall and the transverse opening form a support for a suspension wedge for the powertrain. The suspension wedge corresponds to a third means of attaching the horn arm to the powertrain.

[0010] Preferably, the longitudinal wall extends essentially along a longitudinal direction of the corresponding motor vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal wall is formed from a single monobloc piece with the corresponding horn arm.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal wall comprises a rectangular parallelepiped shape, having a vertical extent equal to at least 70% of a total vertical extent of the arm.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal wall and the arm extend longitudinally over at least 50 mm.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the transverse opening crosses an entire transverse thickness of longitudinal wall.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the transverse opening comprises a main axis perpendicular to the longitudinal wall.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the main axis extends substantially perpendicularly to an axis defined by each of the first and second arm fixing means.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the transverse opening comprises a diameter equal to at least one quarter of a total vertical extent of the arm.

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a structure and a cradle fixed to said structure, notable in that said cradle is according to the invention.

[0019] According to one embodiment, said motor vehicle further comprising a powertrain provided with a suspension fixed to the cradle by means of a wedge inserted in the opening of each of the two horns on either side of said cradle.

[0020] The features of the invention are advantageous in that the horns, incorporating the transverse opening to receive the suspension wedge, thus allow for the sharing of support functions. This compact cradle design results in the absence of dedicated wedge supports and additional fastening interfaces, leading to a significant weight reduction without requiring an increase in the longitudinal length of the cradle. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] [Fig-1] represents a schematic top view of a motor vehicle comprising a cradle according to the invention, provided with two horns configured to form a suspension wedge support for a powertrain of said motor vehicle;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a schematic side view of one of the two horns of the cradle of [Fig.1], provided with a transverse opening intended to receive the suspension wedge;

[0023] [Fig. 3] illustrates a side view of the cradle according to the invention, including the horn of [Fig. 2] and showing in dotted lines a horn of a cradle according to the prior art. Detailed description

[0024] Fig. 1 represents a schematic top view of a motor vehicle 2 comprising a cradle 4 according to the invention, fixed to a structure 1 of said vehicle 2. Advantageously, it is a front cradle of a powertrain (not shown) of the vehicle 2.

[0025] The cradle 4 comprises a central cross member 4.1 and four extensions 4.2, 4.3, of which two extensions 4.2 are located towards the rear along a longitudinal direction X of the vehicle 2, and two other extensions 4.3 are arranged towards the front of the cradle 4, thus giving a general H-shape to said cradle 4.

[0026] Advantageously, the cradle 4 according to the present invention comprises two horns 6 arranged on either side of said cradle 4 and configured to form a suspension mount for the powertrain of the motor vehicle 2. Thus, the horns 6 are capable of sharing support functions, including the attachment of the powertrain suspension. Details of the architecture of the cradle 4 and the horn 6 will be disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 in this description.

[0027] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of one of the two horns 6 of the cradle 4 of Fig. 1, provided with a transverse opening 16 intended to receive the suspension wedge (shown in Fig. 3).

[0028] The horn 6 comprises an arm 8 projecting substantially vertically from said cradle (along the vertical axis Z). The arm 8 comprises a proximal end 8.1 forming a base 8.1 provided with a first means of attachment 10 to the cradle, and a distal end 8.2 opposite said base 8.1 and comprising a second means of attachment 12 to a structure of the motor vehicle.

[0029] The fixing means 10 and 12 are represented by axes, as they preferentially correspond to holes formed in the horn 6 intended to receive fixing screws.

[0030] Preferably, the arm 8 comprises a longitudinal wall 14 projecting substantially longitudinally from said arm 8. The term "substantially" here means that the longitudinal wall 14 is aligned with the longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle, or inclined at most 30° with respect to it. Preferably, the longitudinal wall 14 also extends substantially vertically, or inclined at most 30° with respect to the Z axis.

[0031] Advantageously, the longitudinal wall 14 is provided with the transverse opening 16 intended to receive a suspension wedge (not shown here).

[0032] The longitudinal wall 14 is preferably formed as a single piece with the arm 8 of the corresponding horn 6. In this configuration, each of the two horns 6 of the cradle incorporates the function of supporting the suspension wedge of the powertrain.

[0033] Preferably, the transverse opening 16 comprises a main axis 16.1 and forms a bore in the longitudinal wall 14 which fully traverses a thickness E (visible in [Fig.1]) of said wall 14.

[0034] The main axis 16.1 is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal wall 14. Said axis 16.1 may extend along the transverse direction Y, or may alternatively extend at an angle of no more than 45° with respect to said direction Y.

[0035] For this purpose, the main axis 16.1 extends substantially perpendicularly to the axes defined by each of the first and second fixing means 10, 12.

[0036] Preferably, the transverse opening 16 has a diameter D equal to at least one quarter of a total vertical extent H of the arm 8 presented between the two ends 8.1, 8.2. More preferably, the diameter D is between 50 mm and 100 mm.

[0037] The longitudinal wall 14 preferably comprises a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a vertical extent L between the base 8.1 and an upper end 14.1 of said wall 14, equal to at least 70% of the total vertical extent H of the arm 8.

[0038] The longitudinal wall 14 and the arm 8 extend longitudinally, between a rear end 8.3 at the level of the arm 8 and a front end 14.2 presented at the level of the wall 14, so as to define a longitudinal length W equal to at least 50 mm, and at most 300 mm. More preferably, the longitudinal length W is between 120 mm and 200 mm.

[0039] Preferably, the transverse opening 16 is disposed on the longitudinal wall 14 at approximately one upper half of its vertical extent L (along the Z axis), and at approximately one forward half along the longitudinal length W. The term "approximately" corresponds to ±20% of the nominal value of the extent L and / or the corresponding length W.

[0040] Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the cradle 4 according to the invention. It schematically shows the differences between the horn 6 of the cradle 4 of the invention and the horn 106 of the cradle 104 of the prior art. In this respect, the horn 6 is visible superimposed on the horn 106 shown in dotted lines.

[0041] The common elements between the cradle 104 of the prior art and that of the invention share the same reference signs, while the different elements are incremented by 100.

[0042] For example, the arm 108 of the horn 106 according to the prior art had a substantially vertical and arched shape up to the second fixing means 12. In the cradle 4 of the present invention, said arm 8 is formed with the longitudinal wall 14, the latter constituting a continuous longitudinal extension of the arm 8 towards the front of the motor vehicle 2.

[0043] It can be seen that the transverse opening 16 receives the suspension wedge 18. Advantageously, the clear positioning of the transverse opening 16 at the level of an upper front half of the horn 6 makes it possible to free up enough space between the suspension wedge 18 and the arm 8, thus facilitating the assembly of the corresponding suspension without requiring the total length of the cradle 4 to be extended.

[0044] Advantageously, the present invention ensures a compact shape for the cradle 4, without the need for additional interfacing parts. This allows for the sharing of support functions, eliminating the need for independent supports and saving space, while further compacting the cradle 4.

[0045] Indeed, the cradle 4 is devoid of wedge supports and corresponding fixing interfaces, because the horns 6 combine all the support functions, which makes it possible to achieve a mass saving at the level of the cradle 4.

Claims

Demands

1. Cradle (4) of a powertrain for a motor vehicle (2), comprising: - two horns (6) arranged on either side of said cradle (4), each horn having an arm (8) projecting substantially vertically from said cradle (4), said arm (8) having a proximal end (8.1) forming a base (8.1) provided with a first means of attachment (10) to the cradle (4) and a distal end (8.2) opposite said base (8.1) and having a second means of attachment (12) of said arm (8) to a structure (1) of the motor vehicle (2), characterized in that the arm (8) has a longitudinal wall (14) projecting substantially longitudinally from said arm (8) and vertically from the cradle (4), said longitudinal wall (14) having a transverse opening (16) intended to receive a suspension wedge (18).

2. Cradle (4) according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal wall (14) is formed as a single piece with the arm (8) of the corresponding horn (6).

3. Cradle (4) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the longitudinal wall (14) comprises a rectangular parallelepiped shape, having a vertical extent (L) equal to at least 70% of a total vertical extent (H) of the arm (8).

4. Cradle (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the longitudinal wall (14) and the arm (8) extend longitudinally for at least 50 mm.

5. Cradle (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transverse opening (16) runs through a whole transverse thickness (E) of longitudinal wall (14).

6. Cradle (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transverse opening (16) comprises a principal axis (16.1) perpendicular to the longitudinal wall (14).

7. Cradle (4) according to claim 6, in which the main axis (16.1) extends substantially perpendicularly to an axis defined by each of the first and second fastening means (10, 12) of the arm (8).

8. Cradle (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transverse opening (16) comprises a diameter (D) equal to at least one quarter of a total vertical extent (H) of the arm (8).

9. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a structure (1) and a cradle (4) fixed to said structure (1), characterized in that said cradle (4) is according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 9, further comprising a powertrain provided with a suspension fixed to the cradle (4) by means of a wedge (18) inserted into the opening (16) of each of the two horns (6) on either side of said cradle (4).

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