MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING A BUMPER WITH AN AIR INTAKE AND A DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A MUDGUARD TO AN AIR DUCT

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one bumper (10) with at least one air inlet, at least one bumper reinforcement, and at least one mudguard in the vicinity of a wheel and a braking device of that motor vehicle. This bumper reinforcement (20) comprises, between an upper part (21) and a lower part (22), a guiding surface (23) forming an aerodynamic technical space and arranged to guide an airflow from the air inlet. This motor vehicle comprises at least one air duct (60) arranged to be fixed to the bumper reinforcement (20) opposite this guiding surface (23) and to form with it an air channel towards the wheel and the braking device. Abstract figure: [Fig. 10]

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A BUMPER WITH AIR INTAKE AND A DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A MUDGUARD TO AN AIR DUCT

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one bumper with at least one air intake, at least one bumper reinforcement, and at least one wheel protection called mudguard in the vicinity of a wheel and a braking device.

[0002] Proper cooling of the wheel assembly, and more specifically the braking system, of a motor vehicle is a constant concern, as it determines the vehicle's performance, particularly in terms of safety. The front end of the vehicle is protected against impacts by several components assembled together, and at least one of these components is fitted with a wheel arch liner, also known as a mudguard. It is easier to draw cooling air from the front bumper than to modify the vehicle's bodywork, but it is still necessary to ensure these various functions of channeling and protection.

[0003] Document FR2939382B1 describes an air circulation duct for cooling the brakes of a motor vehicle. This circulation duct comprises a body with an outer and an inner side, where the outer side has ribs which, when pressed against the bumper, serve to stiffen the latter. Furthermore, the circulation duct may include means for retaining connectors, manufactured by molding ribs in plastic. The ribs of the outer side may have a closed cross-section and be polygonal in shape to increase the local rigidity of the bumper, and may have a variable depth to compensate for dimensional variations. The circulation duct may also include tabs for attaching connectors and is designed to be securely mounted between the mudguard and an air intake grille of the vehicle.

[0004] Document FR3037022B1 describes a motor vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic means for cooling the front brakes. This system comprises a cooling duct located entirely within a bulge-shaped aerodynamic skid plate, integral with the vehicle's central front air deflector. The inlet of the cooling duct is located at the front of the skid plate, and the outlet at the level of the mudguard, allowing air to be directed towards the brakes while remaining airtight along its entire length. The lower surface of the skid plate, facing the ground, is substantially flat.

[0005] However, these teachings do not allow the combination of a large lateral air intake, with the attachment of the mudguard, and while maintaining the rigidity of the mudguard. shocks. The cooling duct is bulky and quite expensive; its attachment to the mudguard requires the mudguard to be attached to another part of the vehicle, such as the body. The cooling duct forms an internal box for airflow and incorporates a mudguard attachment interface with ribs for sealing and reducing air leaks.

[0006] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a motor vehicle comprising at least one bumper with at least one air intake, at least one bumper reinforcement, and at least one wheel guard, also known as a mudguard, in the vicinity of a wheel and a braking device. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for integrating a mudguard attachment onto a bumper air duct to comply with the technical specifications.

[0007] The invention aims to provide at least one large lateral air intake, with the maximum possible dimensions, while integrating the mudguard attachment and maintaining the bumper's rigidity. The specific design of the bumper reinforcement, with the creation of a substantially central, smooth area constituting an aerodynamic technical space, makes it possible to limit the volume allocated to the cooling function. The creation of a lightweight and inexpensive component, forming an air duct that complements the volume of the aerodynamic technical space, allows for efficient air channeling to the wheel and the braking system. This air duct carries a mudguard attachment, replacing the central mudguard attachment of previous systems, and includes a specific rib to ensure X-shaped clamping and sealing.

[0008] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising at least one bumper with at least one air intake, at least one bumper reinforcement, and at least one mudguard in the vicinity of a wheel and a braking device included in said motor vehicle.

[0009] According to the invention, said at least one bumper reinforcement comprises, between an upper part and a lower part, a guide surface forming an aerodynamic technical space and arranged to guide an airflow from said at least one air inlet, and in that said motor vehicle comprises at least one air duct arranged to be fixed on said at least one bumper reinforcement facing said guide surface and to form with it an air stream towards said wheel and towards said braking device.

[0010] Thus, it is possible to achieve, with the least amount of space, an efficient air duct between the air inlet and the hot areas to be cooled.

[0011] More particularly, said at least one air duct includes at least one median fixing arranged for the fixing of said at least one mudguard.

[0012] This median fixing arranged on the air duct makes it possible to save a similar fixing at the level of the bumper reinforcement.

[0013] More particularly, said upper part and said lower part respectively comprise at least one upper fixing and at least one lower fixing arranged for the fixing of said at least one mudguard and framing said at least one median fixing.

[0014] The mudguard is thus held securely.

[0015] More particularly, said at least one air duct has a rib arranged to ensure that said at least one mudguard is pressed against a longitudinal direction X which is that of normal straight-line driving of said motor vehicle.

[0016] The longitudinal positioning of the mudguard is thus well ensured.

[0017] More specifically, said rib is arranged to ensure airtightness.

[0018] In this way it is possible to avoid any parasitic whistling emanating from the airflow.

[0019] More specifically, said at least one bumper reinforcement and said at least one air duct are made of plastic material and held clipped together in their service position.

[0020] Manufacturing is therefore economical, and assembly is easy.

[0021] More particularly, said rib includes a sealing gasket made of elastic material overmolded on said air duct or attached to said air duct.

[0022] This trim ensures acoustic comfort.

[0023] More particularly, said guide surface is smooth, as is the inner surface of said air duct which faces it.

[0024] The pressure losses in the air stream are thus minimal.

[0025] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.1] schematically illustrates, in front view, a part of the front area of ​​a vehicle according to the invention, comprising a bumper equipped with two air inlets near its lateral front extremities; the arrow visible on the detail illustrates the aerodynamic airflow at the level of the air inlet; - [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates, in partial perspective, viewed from inside the front technical compartment, the bumper of [Fig. 1], and a bumper reinforcement specific to the invention, which comprises, between an upper part and a lower part, each of which comprises a mudguard attachment, a guiding surface forming an aerodynamic technical space; - [Fig.3] is a detail of [Fig.2], centered on this bumper reinforcement; - [Fig.4] illustrates, similarly to [Fig.3], the same area with the conduit air according to the invention mounted clipped onto the bumper reinforcement, which defines an air channel with this guiding surface; - [Fig.5] illustrates, similarly to [Fig.4], the air duct alone, which includes a locking and sealing rib, as well as a median fixing for attaching the mudguard; - [Fig.6] schematically illustrates, in partial perspective, the compartment intended to receive the wheel and the braking system; this compartment is lined internally with at least one mudguard; the right part of the figure shows the oblong end of the air duct, and mudguard attachment points, including the median attachment on the air duct; - [Fig.7] is a detail of [Fig.6], centered on this area of ​​air arrival by the air vein; - [Fig.8] is a cross-section of this area, from right to left we can distinguish the bumper skin, with which the front bumper reinforcement is assembled, of which we can see a guiding surface forming an aerodynamic technical space, and opposite which is fixed the air duct, together determining the air vein in which the airflow from the air intake of the bumper circulates; the air duct carries the central fixing, to which the mudguard is attached; - [Fig.9] illustrates, similarly to [Fig.4], the upper, middle and lower fixings of the mudguard; - [Fig. 10] illustrates, similarly to [Fig.4], the operation of clipping the air duct onto the bumper reinforcement; - [Fig. 11] schematically illustrates, in elevation, a vehicle according to the invention.

[0026] The invention is located in the front area of ​​a motor vehicle 100, in the direction of travel in normal operating conditions of this vehicle 100, defining a longitudinal direction X orthogonal to a vertical direction Z parallel to the gravity field, and to a transverse direction Y.

[0027] In this front area, on the front perimeter, a front bumper area is advantageously provided with the integration of at least one air inlet 11 in a front bumper 10 on the front of the vehicle 100. The shape of the front bumper 10 is adapted to ensure a regular aerodynamic flow with each air inlet 11, without generating whistling or other noise. This front bumper area includes various surrounding technical parts, and more specifically wheel protection fixings, which are called mudguards 30.

[0028] The motor vehicle 100 includes at least one air intake 11, at least one bumper reinforcement 20, and at least one mudguard 30 in the vicinity of a wheel 40 and a braking device 50 included in this motor vehicle 100.

[0029] In the prior art, the mudguards 30 are fixed either to the body of the vehicle 100, or to a bumper reinforcement 20, or directly to the skin of the bumper 10.

[0030] We know how to take advantage of the existence of front bumper reinforcements 20, integrated into the latter, to fix mudguards 30 to them. In particular the fixings of the mudguard 30, generally at least three in number, are integrated into the front bumper reinforcement 20. And it is easy to fix the mudguards 30 to the front bumper reinforcements 20 by a few screws, for example three screws.

[0031] It is observed that, when the front bumper 10 is modified to integrate at least one air duct, it is difficult to use this method of fixing the mudguard 30 on the bumper reinforcement 20, because the priority function is the integration of at least one such air duct, intended to cool the wheel part 40 and more particularly the braking part 50 of the vehicle.

[0032] With a generously sized air inlet 11 in the front lateral part of the front bumper 10, it is necessary to reconcile the passage of this air duct with the attachment of the mudguard 30.

[0033] It remains necessary to proceed with the installation of a front bumper reinforcement 20, useful for the rigidity of the bumper 10.

[0034] To this end, the invention focuses on creating an air duct with suitable fixings, and in particular the invention includes a special bumper reinforcement 20, different from those of the prior art in that it comprises, between an upper part 21 and a lower part 22, a guiding surface 23 forming a large aerodynamic technical space to allow the passage of air coming from the air inlet 11 on the front face of the bumper 10. The guiding surface 23 is arranged to guide an airflow from the air inlet 11. More particularly, this guiding surface 23 is smooth to avoid noise.

[0035] However, the aerodynamic technical space 23 thus created is not sufficient to delimit the airflow. To this end, the motor vehicle 100, and more specifically the bumper reinforcement 20, includes a new component, called an air duct 60, which is an added component arranged to be fixed to at least one bumper reinforcement 20 facing the guide surface 23, and which cooperates with the guide surface 23, forming an aerodynamic technical space, to constitute with it an air circulation channel forming an air stream 70 to cool the wheel 40 and the braking system 50. This air duct 60 is more particularly an inner part (towards (interior of the vehicle), box-shaped, designed to ensure optimal airflow. The air duct 60 can take on a significantly flattened shape to ensure airflow without encroaching on the interior volume dedicated to other vehicle functions.

[0036] The mudguard 30 mounting has fewer attachment points than in the prior art, and in particular it comprises two attachments, upper 81 and lower 82, which are arranged on either side of the aerodynamic technical space 23 dedicated to the airflow. The central mudguard 30 mounting known in the prior art is thus eliminated, as its location is now occupied by the aerodynamic technical space 23.

[0037] Advantageously this air duct 60 is used to support the mudguard 30, with at least one median mudguard fixing 83 for fixing this mudguard 30.

[0038] In a particular embodiment, the air duct 60 is fixed to the bumper reinforcement 20 by clips.

[0039] More specifically, the external surface of the air duct 60, opposite the internal surface through which the cooling air flows, carries at least one such central mudguard attachment 83, preferably identical to the upper 81 and lower 82 attachments that frame this central attachment 83 and are present on the bumper reinforcement 20 on either side of the technical space 23 dedicated to the airflow. More specifically, this at least one central mudguard attachment 83 is integrated into the air duct 60, which is advantageously made by injection molding, particularly but not exclusively from plastic.

[0040] Advantageously the bumper reinforcement 20 and the air duct 60 are made of plastic material and held clipped together in their service position.

[0041] The cooling function is therefore fulfilled, as well as the optimization of the mudguard interface by three fixings: two, upper 81 and lower 82 on the bumper reinforcement 20, and one on 83 on the air duct 60.

[0042] Advantageously, the air duct 60 includes a rib 61 to ensure X-shaped (along the longitudinal direction) contact of the mudguard, and is also advantageously designed to ensure airtightness and reduce air leakage. More particularly, this rib 61 includes a sealing gasket made of elastic material overmolded onto the air duct 60, or attached to the air duct 60.

[0043] Preferably, the guide surface 23 is smooth, as is the inner surface of the air duct 60 which faces it.

[0044] In summary, the invention relates to the design of an air duct integrated into the front bumper, allowing both a significant lateral air intake and the attachment of the mudguard. To solve the compatibility problem between these two functions, the invention uses a new part, the air duct.

[0045] This air duct is attached to the bumper reinforcement, notably using clips, and includes a mounting interface for the mudguard, thus replacing the central mounting known in the prior art, which is eliminated by the invention to create an aerodynamic technical space dedicated to airflow. The addition of a rib improves sealing and reduces air leakage. This solution meets aerodynamic and design requirements by effectively integrating the mudguard mounting into the air duct, while maintaining the rigidity of the bumper, and complying with the technical specifications.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor vehicle (100) comprising at least one bumper (10) with at least one air intake (11), at least one bumper reinforcement (20), and at least one mudguard (30) in the vicinity of a wheel (40) and a braking device (50) of said motor vehicle (100), characterized in that said at least one bumper reinforcement (20) comprises, between an upper part (21) and a lower part (22), a guide surface (23) forming an aerodynamic technical space and arranged to guide an airflow from said at least one air intake (11), and in that said motor vehicle (100) comprises at least one air duct (60) arranged to be fixed to said at least one bumper reinforcement (20) opposite said guide surface (23) and to form with it an air stream (70) towards said wheel (40) and towards said braking device (50).

2. Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one air duct (60) comprises at least one median attachment (83) arranged for the attachment of said at least one mudguard (30).

3. Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 2 characterized in that said upper part (21) and said lower part (22) respectively comprise at least one upper fixing (81) and at least one lower fixing (82) arranged for the fixing of said at least one mudguard (30) and framing said at least one median fixing (83).

4. Motor vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said at least one air duct (60) has a rib (61) arranged to ensure a clamping of said at least one mudguard (30) in a longitudinal direction (X) which is that of normal straight-line driving of said motor vehicle (100).

5. Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 4 characterized in that said rib (61) is arranged to ensure a seal at Pair

6. 1 d.

11. Motor vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said at least one bumper reinforcement (20) and said at least one air duct (60) are in made of plastic and held clipped together in their service position.

7. Motor vehicle (100) according to claims 5 and 6 characterized in that said rib (61) comprises a sealing gasket made of elastic material overmolded on said air duct (60) or attached to said air duct (60).

8. Motor vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said guide surface (23) is smooth, as well as the inner surface of said air duct (60) which faces it.

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