Arrangement for connecting equipment in a motor vehicle to ground.

Abstract

Arrangement for connecting equipment in a motor vehicle to ground. An arrangement (10) for connecting equipment (11) of a motor vehicle (100) to ground, the arrangement (10) being characterized in that it comprises: - equipment (11) fixed to a portion of a part (41) of the motor vehicle (100), the portion of the part (41) being electrically non-conductive; - a given structure (12) of the motor vehicle (100) comprising: • a conductive part (121) connected to the ground of the motor vehicle (100) and comprising an attachment area (1211) for a conductive wire (13); • a layer (122) of an electrically insulating material, in particular a thermoplastic material, encapsulating the conductive part (121) so as to cover the conductive part (121) except for the attachment area (1211) for a conductive wire (13); - a conductive wire (13) connecting the equipment (11) to the attachment area (1211) for a wire driver. Figure for the abbreviation: 2

Description

Title of the invention: Arrangement for connecting equipment of a motor vehicle to ground.

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for connecting equipment of a motor vehicle to ground. The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising such an arrangement. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an arrangement.

[0002] In a motor vehicle, each electrical or electronic device must be connected to the vehicle's ground, the ground being classically provided by a metal part of the bodywork located near the device.

[0003] However, the materials used to manufacture vehicle body parts increasingly include non-conductive materials, particularly thermoplastics. Consequently, ground connection points are less accessible than before in certain areas of the vehicle, especially when electronic equipment is attached to a part made of a non-conductive material, for example, a tailgate made of thermoplastic material.

[0004] Furthermore, the design of new vehicles may lead to changes in the position of certain electrical equipment, which may result in moving them further away from a point of connection to the vehicle's ground.

[0005] If the equipment is too far from a ground connection point, one solution is to use an intermediate component, such as a flat electrical conductor, for example, an aluminum film. Its flat shape makes it much less inductive than wiring. However, this solution has drawbacks, particularly when the equipment is mounted near a vehicle's rear window. The aluminum film must then be concealed under a trim panel, which reduces the rear field of vision. Furthermore, this solution is likely to create a magnetic field that is too close to the acceptable intensity limit.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for connecting equipment of a motor vehicle to ground that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and improves upon prior art arrangements for connecting equipment of a motor vehicle to ground. In particular, the invention makes it possible to implement a simple and reliable arrangement that facilitates the connection of equipment to the ground of a motor vehicle.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an arrangement for connecting equipment of a motor vehicle to ground, the arrangement comprising - equipment fixed to a portion of a part of the motor vehicle, the portion of the part being non-conductive, - a given structure of the motor vehicle comprising: (i) a conductive part connected to the chassis of the motor vehicle and comprising a fixing area for a conductive wire, (ii) a layer of an electrically insulating material, in particular a thermoplastic material, encapsulating the conductive part so as to cover the conductive part except for the area for attaching a conductive wire, - a conductive wire connecting the equipment to the fixing area for a conductive wire.

[0008] In one embodiment, a length of the conducting wire is less than a given threshold, in particular less than 30 centimeters, or even less than 20 centimeters, or even less than 10 centimeters.

[0009] In one embodiment, the given structure is a door, in particular a side door or a tailgate door of the motor vehicle, or a technical front face of the motor vehicle.

[0010] In one embodiment, the equipment is a filter fixed to the lower part of a tailgate door, the lower part of the tailgate door being made of an electrically insulating material.

[0011] In one embodiment, the conductive part is connected to a body of the motor vehicle via a hinge of the tailgate door or via a fixing of a ball joint of a balancer of the tailgate door of the motor vehicle.

[0012] In one embodiment, the conductive part is a reinforcing part located at the level of a side post of a tailgate door made of electrically insulating material.

[0013] In one embodiment, the attachment area for a conductive wire is a protruding part of the conductive part and / or a stud welded onto the conductive part.

[0014] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement according to the invention.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a given structure of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a step of manufacturing a mold suitable for preventing the electrically insulating material from covering the attachment area for a conductive wire, the mold manufacturing step comprising creating a recess in the mold around the attachment area for a conductive wire, the dimensions of the recess being defined so as to maintain a minimum distance between the walls of the recess and the attachment area for a conductive wire, the minimum distances being defined so as to allow demolding of the given structure according to a given demolding direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the method further includes a welding step of the attachment area of ​​the conductive part of the given structure of the arrangement on the conductive part of the given structure of the arrangement, and / or in that the minimum distances further determine an acceptable dispersion regarding a welding position of the attachment area on the conductive part.

[0017] Other details, features and advantages will become clearer upon reading the detailed description given below, by way of example and not limitation, in relation to the various embodiments illustrated in the following figures:

[0018] Fig. 1 defines an orthonormal frame of reference relative to the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a first illustration of a first embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0020] Fig. 3 is a second illustration of a first embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0021] Fig. 4 is a first illustration of an overmolding step of a manufacturing process for an arrangement according to the invention.

[0022] Fig. 5 is a second illustration of an overmolding step of a manufacturing process for an arrangement according to the invention.

[0023] Fig. 6 is an illustration of a second embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0024] An embodiment of a motor vehicle 100 comprising an arrangement 10 according to the invention is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The motor vehicle 100 may be a vehicle with a thermal, electric, or hybrid engine. Furthermore, the vehicle 100 may be a passenger vehicle, a commercial vehicle, or a vehicle dedicated to public transportation.

[0025] For the purposes of this description, and with reference to [Fig. 1], a direct orthonormal coordinate system R0, with axes X, Y, Z, commonly used in automotive design, is used, in which - the X-axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, - the Y axis designates the transverse direction and is oriented towards the right of the vehicle, and - the Z axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented upwards.

[0026] The motor vehicle 100 includes an arrangement 10 according to the invention, allowing a piece of equipment 11 of the motor vehicle 100 to be connected to ground.

[0027] Arrangement 10 comprises: - equipment 11 fixed to a portion of a part 41 of the motor vehicle 100, the portion of the part being electrically non-conductive, and - a given structure 12 of the motor vehicle 100, - a conductor wire 13, also called "electrical wire 13", connecting the equipment 11 to a fixing area 1211 of the given structure 12.

[0028] To this end, the given structure 12 comprises: • a conductive part 121 electrically connected to the chassis of the motor vehicle and comprising a fixing area 1211 for a conductive wire, • a layer 122 of an electrically insulating material, in particular a thermoplastic material, encapsulating the conductive part 121 so as to cover the conductive part 121 except for the attachment area 1211 for a conductive wire.

[0029] The conductive part 121 is also referred to as insert 121 or reinforcement 121 in the rest of the document.

[0030] In the remainder of this document, a first part is said to be "connected" to a second part when it is electrically connected to the second part, that is, connected by an electrical wire to the second part. When the first part and the second part are both made of a conductive material and are electrically connected, they are at the same electrical potential.

[0031] In the remainder of the document, the term "conductor" is used to describe an electrically conductive part.

[0032] The given structure 12 is predominantly made of a thermoplastic material, and is therefore non-conductive. Furthermore, the given structure 12 includes an insert 121, or conductive part 121, the thermoplastic material covering the conductive part 121 except for an area dedicated to the attachment of a conductive wire. The conductive part 121 is preferably made of a conductive material, in particular from a steel plate. According to one embodiment, the conductive part 121 can be made by molding a thermoplastic material. In this case, at least one electrically conductive element and / or at least one insert are pre-arranged in a mold intended for manufacturing the conductive part 121.

[0033] Advantageously, the length of the conducting wire 13 of the arrangement is less than a given threshold, in particular less than 30 centimeters. Limiting the length of the conducting wire 13 to 30 centimeters is intended to limit a magnetic field that could be induced by the flow of a current in the conducting wire 13. In one embodiment, the length of the conducting wire 13 could be limited to 20 centimeters, or even to 10 centimeters.

[0034] The conductive part 121 is advantageously electrically connected to the mass of the motor vehicle 100, in particular directly or indirectly to a body 30 of the motor vehicle 100. In particular, the conductive part 121 can be connected to a body 30 of the motor vehicle 100 by means of a part made of an electrically conductive material.

[0035] Thus, the arrangement 10 allows to connect to the mass of the vehicle an electrical equipment 11 which is fixed on a portion of a part 41 not electrically conductive of the motor vehicle 100.

[0036] The given structure 12 may be a door of the motor vehicle 100, in particular a side post 42 of a tailgate door 40 of the motor vehicle 100. Alternatively, the given structure could be a technical front face of the motor vehicle 100.

[0037] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which the equipment is a filter 11 fixed to a tailgate door 40 of the motor vehicle 100, the tailgate door 40 being made predominantly of a non-conductive material, in particular of thermoplastic material.

[0038] The tailgate door 40 comprises: - a lower part 41 to which the equipment 11 is fixed, the lower part 41 being made of a non-conductive material, - a side part 42 comprising a conductive part 121, i.e. a metal part covered by a non-conductive material over almost all of its surface, the conductive part 121 comprising a fixing area 1211 for a conductive wire 13 not covered by the electrically insulating material, the fixing area 121 being a stud 1211 welded onto the reinforcing part 121, - a hinge 43 of the tailgate door 40 allowing the conductive part 121, disposed in the side part 42, to be connected to the body 30 of the vehicle.

[0039] According to an alternative embodiment represented by [Fig.6], the fixing area 121 can be a fixing 1212 of a ball joint 44 of a tailgate balancer 40.

[0040] The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a given structure 12 of an arrangement 10 according to the invention.

[0041] The manufacturing process for a given structure 12 of an arrangement 10 according to the invention includes firstly a welding step of the fixing area 1211 on the conductive part 121, before the thermoplastic material is overmolded onto the reinforcement 121. The location of the fixing area 1211 is to be defined so as not to cause a visual defect perceptible to a user of the vehicle or a functional defect of the tailgate.

[0042] Advantageously, an acceptable dispersion is defined regarding the positioning of the fixing zone 1211 on the conductive part 121. In one embodiment, the tolerance may be a few millimeters. Preferably, the dispersion of the The position of the fixing area on the conductive part takes into account the minimum distances dl, d2, d3, d4 described below.

[0043] The method for manufacturing a given structure 12 of an arrangement 10 according to the invention further comprises a step of manufacturing a mold 201 suitable for preventing the fixing area 1211 for a conductive wire 13 from being covered by an electrically insulating material

[0044] The manufacturing step of the mold 201 includes creating a recess 2011 in the mold 201 around the attachment area 1211 for a conductive wire.

[0045] Overmolding the conductive part 121 requires that the injection mold 201 be in contact with the conductive part 121 to provide a negative reaction to the injection pressure of the plastic. Without this negative reaction, the injection pressure would cause deformation of the conductive part 121.

[0046] The presence of the fixing zone 1211 (i.e. the stud) very locally prevents the provision of a counter-reaction to the injection pressure of the plastic, because a recess 2011 in the mold 201 is necessary to avoid interference between the fixing zone 1211 and the mold 201. This recess must be dimensioned as precisely as possible in relation to the size of the fixing zone 1211, taking into account - on the one hand the positional dispersions of the fixing zone 1211 during the welding step described above, and - on the other hand, the closing kinematics of an injection tool which can locally generate a slight deformation of the conductive part 121 under the injection pressure.

[0047] Furthermore, the dimensions of the recess 2011 are defined so as to reserve minimum distances dl, d2, d3, d4 respectively between the walls 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 of the recess 2011 and the fixing area 1211 for a conducting wire 13. The minimum distances dl, d2, d3, d4 are defined so as to allow demolding of the given structure 12 along a given demolding direction DL

[0048] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the demolding direction Dl corresponds substantially to a direction opposite to the X-axis of the motor vehicle 100. Section AA shown in [Fig. 4] illustrates two distances dl, d2 projected onto a plane perpendicular to the demolding direction Dl, these two distances dl, d2 representing a margin to be provided between the recess 201 and the two points of the fixing zone 1211 located substantially in a plane (Y, Z) that are closest to the walls of the recess 2011. Similarly, section BB shown in [Fig. 5] illustrates two distances d3, d4 projected onto a plane perpendicular to the demolding direction Dl, these two distances d3, d4 representing a margin to be provided between the recess 201 and the two points of the fixing zone 1211 located substantially in a plane (X, Y) that are the closest to the walls of the 2011 excavation.

[0049] Finally, the arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to ensure a connection of electrical or electronic equipment to the ground of a vehicle comprising openings made mainly of a non-conductive material, while respecting a maximum threshold of length of a wire connecting the equipment to ground.

[0050] Advantageously, this technical solution does not require the use of an aluminium film, thus preserving the field of vision relative to the rear window.

[0051] Depending on the need, the arrangement according to the invention can integrate different components necessary for fitting the tailgate.

Claims

Demands

1. An arrangement (10) for connecting equipment (11) of a motor vehicle (100) to ground, the arrangement (10) being characterized in that it comprises: - equipment (11) fixed to a portion of a part (41) of the motor vehicle (100), the portion of the part (41) being electrically non-conductive; - a given structure (12) of the motor vehicle (100) comprising: • a conductive part (121) connected to the ground of the motor vehicle (100) and comprising an attachment area (1211) for a conductive wire (13); • a layer (122) of an electrically insulating material, in particular a thermoplastic material, encapsulating the conductive part (121) so as to cover the conductive part (121) except for the attachment area (1211) for a conductive wire (13); - a conductive wire (13) connecting the equipment (11) to the attachment area (1211) for a common thread.

2. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a length of the conducting wire (13) is less than a given threshold, in particular less than 30 centimeters, or even less than 20 centimeters, or even less than 10 centimeters.

3. Arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the given structure (12) is a door, in particular a side door or a tailgate door (40) of the motor vehicle (100), or a technical front face of the motor vehicle (100).

4. Arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the equipment (11) is a filter fixed to the lower part (41) of a tailgate (40), the lower part (41) of the tailgate (40) being made of an electrically insulating material.

5. An arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive part (121) is connected to a body (30) of the motor vehicle (100) via a hinge (43) of the tailgate (40) or via a fixing a ball joint (40) of a balancer of the tailgate door (40) of the motor vehicle (100).

6. Arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive part (121) is a reinforcing part disposed at the level of a side post (42) of a tailgate door (40) made of electrically insulating material.

7. Arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment area (1211) for a conductive wire (13) is a protruding part of the conductive piece (121) and / or a stud (1211) welded to the conductive piece (121).

8. Motor vehicle (100) characterized in that it comprises an arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A method for manufacturing a given structure (12) of an arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of manufacturing a mold (200) adapted to prevent the fixing area (1211) for a conductive wire (13) from being covered by the electrically insulating material, the mold manufacturing step (200) comprising creating a recess (201) in the mold (200) around the fixing area (1211) for a conductive wire (13), the dimensions of the recess (201) being defined so as to reserve a minimum distance (d1, d2, d3, d4) between the walls (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) of the recess (201) and the fixing area (1211) for a conductive wire (13), the minimum distances (d1, d2, d3, d4) being defined so as to allow demolding of the given structure along a given demolding direction (Dl).

10. A manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a welding step of the fixing zone (1211) of the conductive part (121) of the given structure (12) of the arrangement (10) on the conductive part (121) of the given structure (12) of the arrangement (10), and / or in that the minimum distances (dl, d2, d3, d4) further determine an acceptable dispersion concerning a welding position of the fixing zone (1211) on the conductive part (121).