ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising at least one housing (3), as well as an element (5) which is adjacent to said housing (3) and which comprises at least one mounting hole, said housing (3) comprising: – at least one mounting tab (7a) comprising a through hole (13); – a mounting element passing through said through hole (13) of said mounting tab (7a) and cooperating with the mounting hole of said adjacent element (5) to fix said housing (3) to said adjacent element (5); characterized in that, on the one hand, said through hole (13) of said mounting tab (7) or the mounting hole of said adjacent element (7) has an elongated shape, and, on the other hand, said assembly comprises a stop (11) located opposite the portion of the adjacent element (5) to which said mounting tab (7a) is fixed. Abbreviated figure: [Fig. 3]

Description

Title of the invention: ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of motor vehicles, and more particularly to the field of housings fixed, in the vehicle, on at least one element adjacent to said housing, for example a structural element, of said motor vehicle.

[0002] Indeed, a motor vehicle comprises thousands of parts that need to be arranged and / or fixed in relation to each other, so it is very common for a vehicle to include one or more housings in which an object can be placed, for example a heat-generating object, such as electrical and / or electronic components, etc.

[0003] Such housings are generally attached to vehicle components, for example to cross members, longitudinal members, etc., via one or more attachment points.

[0004] The requirements relating to the safety of the vehicle, and of such boxes, require that in the event of an accident (and therefore a shock), the integrity of the box is not altered (i.e. that the box is not damaged) and still has at least one functional attachment point.

[0005] This safety requirement is particularly relevant in the case of an OBC DC DC type box (acronym for the English expression "OnBoard Charger and DC / DC converter") or charger, such boxes having high voltage electrical and / or electronic components which may present a danger if the box is damaged or if it becomes detached from the vehicle after a shock.

[0006] Thus, when a vehicle is involved in a side impact at a speed of no more than 30 km / h, it is required that such a box be always fixed, by at least two fixing points, to an element of the vehicle, and this without the said box being damaged.

[0007] The alteration of such a housing during an impact results from the displacement of the element to which the housing is attached following the impact and the collision between the housing and said element, moreover the fasteners, such as screws, which secure the housing to said element then bear significant shear stresses which will destroy said fasteners and cause the loss of one or more of the attachment points between the housing and adjacent elements to which the housing is attached.

[0008] It is therefore necessary to find a solution to avoid the detachment of the casing and its deterioration following an impact, while minimizing the modifications required on current vehicles and casings.

[0009] The present invention thus aims to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of assembly for a motor vehicle, said assembly comprising at least one housing, as well as an element which is adjacent to said housing and which includes at least one mounting hole, said housing comprising: - at least one fixing bracket including a through hole; - a fastening element which passes through said through hole of said fastening lug and cooperates with the fastening orifice of said adjacent element to fix said housing to said adjacent element; characterized in that, on the one hand, said through hole of said fixing lug or the fixing hole of said adjacent element has an elongated shape, and, on the other hand, said assembly includes a stop located opposite the portion of the adjacent element to which said fixing lug is fixed.

[0010] Said assembly according to the invention is an ingenious architecture making it possible to limit, or even prevent, the alteration or destruction of the fastening element when an impact causes the displacement (for example relative) of an adjacent element towards said housing, thus limiting the risk that the housing will lose one or more of its fastening points and thus no longer meet the regulatory requirements for automotive safety.

[0011] Indeed, the elongated hole allows the fastening element to move during an impact, thus limiting the stresses experienced by said element, until the stresses experienced by said fastening element are taken up by the stop located opposite the portion of the element adjacent to which said fastening tab is attached

[0012] The assembly according to the invention also allows for a solid and shock-resistant fixing, while limiting the risks of breakage or damage to the fixing element.

[0013] Furthermore, it should be noted that if the elongated hole is provided on the mounting bracket, no further modifications are necessary on the adjacent elements to which the said housing is attached, thus limiting the costs associated with such modifications, and also not requiring modification of currently used mounting elements.

[0014] According to one possible feature, the fixing element disposed in the elongated hole has a play, the play between the stop and the adjacent element being less than the play of said fixing element. Note that the term "clearance" between two parts (or elements) refers to the smallest distance between them before they come into contact. Thus, during an impact, the fastener and the adjacent element are configured to move (for example, relatively) in the direction of the housing, the adjacent element coming into contact with the stop before the fastening element comes into contact with the end of the elongated hole closest to the housing (or furthest from the adjacent element before the impact), thus allowing the stop to take over the stresses suffered by the fastening element.

[0015] According to another possible feature, the play of the fixing element and the play between the stop and the adjacent element are located in two planes substantially parallel to each other. Advantageously, the clearances of the fixing element and between the stop and the adjacent element are located in the same plane or in planes substantially parallel to each other, so that the assembly exhibits predictable behavior during a shock, in particular when the shock suffered by the vehicle equipped with said assembly is not orthogonal to the external surface of the vehicle, but presents an angle.

[0016] According to another possible feature, the elongated hole has a longitudinal extension extending in the plane which is substantially collinear with the direction of displacement of the adjacent element during a shock. Advantageously, the longitudinal extension of the elongated hole defines the play of the fastening element, so it is advantageous that the direction of movement of the adjacent element be substantially collinear or parallel to said longitudinal extension (of the elongated hole).

[0017] According to another possible feature, said stop is configured to stop a displacement of the adjacent element towards the housing during an impact, displacement along a direction substantially collinear with the longitudinal extension of said elongated hole.

[0018] According to another possible feature, the housing comprises a main body, the stop and / or the fixing tab being made of materials with said main body.

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, said adjacent element is a cross member. It should be noted that the adjacent element can be any structural element of a motor vehicle on which said housing can be fixed and which is liable to deform and / or move in the direction of said housing during an impact.

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, said housing is made of metal and / or plastic. The said casing is advantageously made of metal, such as aluminium, steel, etc., or of plastic, such as polypropylene, etc., or a mixture of these two types of material depending on the stresses expected on the said casing during an impact.

[0021] According to another possible feature, said main body of the casing is monobloc. Advantageously, said main body is monobloc, thus reducing its manufacturing cost and complexity.

[0022] According to another possible feature, the housing includes one or more stiffening ribs which extend over said mounting tab and / or over the main body of said housing. Adding material to the level on said fixing tab, and in particular on the base of said tab in connection with the main body of the housing, preferably both partly on the main body and said tab, therefore in two distinct planes, makes it possible to modify the elasticity of said fixing tab (that is to say to modify the stiffness coefficient of said tab), and to strengthen its mechanical resistance to shocks, when there is displacement of the adjacent element.

[0023] According to another possible feature, said housing includes a cover closing the main body.

[0024] According to another possible feature, said enclosure is configured to house one or more electrical and / or electronic components. Advantageously, said enclosure is an OBC DC DC type enclosure or an (electric) charger.

[0025] According to another possible feature, said fixing tab has a rounded free end.

[0026] The invention also relates to a housing, characterized in that said housing is configured to be implemented in an assembly as defined above.

[0027] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, electric or hybrid, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an assembly as defined above or a housing as defined above.

[0028] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view from below of an assembly according to the invention mounted in a motor vehicle; - [Fig.2] is a schematic side perspective view of the whole of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.3] is a schematic, perspective and cross-sectional view of the whole of [[Fig.1]].

[0029] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of".

[0030] Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "front", "rear", "longitudinal" and "transverse" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle automobile, whether it is thermal, hybrid or electric, unless otherwise indicated.

[0031] Furthermore, an orthogonal frame of reference XYZ can be defined with respect to the vehicle, namely: - an X-axis, defining a longitudinal and horizontal direction of the vehicle, - a Y-axis, defining a transverse and horizontal direction, which together with the X-axis defines a horizontal XY plane, - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, orthogonal to the horizontal XY plane, the Z axis with the X axis defining a vertical XZ plane.

[0032] In this application, it should be noted that "substantially parallel" means a direction deviating by no more than 20°, or even by no more than 10° or 5°, from a parallel direction. It should also be noted that "substantially orthogonal" means a direction deviating by no more than 20°, or even by no more than 10° or 5°, from an angle of 90°.

[0033] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view from below of an assembly 1 according to the invention, the assembly 1 being mounted in a motor vehicle, such as an electric, hybrid or thermal vehicle.

[0034] Said assembly 1 thus comprises at least one housing 3, and an element 5 which is adjacent to said housing 3 and to which said housing 3 is fixed.

[0035] In the embodiment described herein, said housing 3 is configured to house one or more electrical and / or electronic components (not shown), but the housing 3 can also accommodate hydraulic elements, etc. The housing 3 is advantageously an OBC DC DC type housing or a charger.

[0036] This type of box is configured for example to convert an alternating current from, for example, a charging station into direct current and / or to lower a voltage, for example the voltage of a vehicle battery.

[0037] As can be seen more particularly in [Fig. 2], said housing 3 advantageously comprises a main body 3a, one side of which is open, and a cover 3b closing said open side of said main body 3a. The main body 3a and the cover 3b are advantageously made of metal, for example aluminum, steel, etc., and / or of plastic, for example polypropylene, etc. Furthermore, said main body 3a and / or the cover 3b of the housing 3 are advantageously one-piece (or unitary).

[0038] In the embodiment described herein, said adjacent element 5 is a crossmember, but may be any structural element 5 of the vehicle adjacent to said housing 3 and to which the housing 3 may be fixed, said element 5 being an element capable of deforming and / or displacing in the direction of said housing 3 during an impact. Said element 5 may also be a side member, a longitudinal member, etc.

[0039] The housing 3 further comprises several mounting tabs 7a and 7b, referred to as the first and second mounting tabs, each including a through hole 13 which allows the housing 3 to be secured, by means of a fastener (not shown), to various adjacent elements, in particular the cross member 5 which itself includes a mounting hole. These fasteners are, for example, screws, nuts, rivets, etc.

[0040] Said fastening element is thus configured to pass through said through hole 13 of said fastening lug 7a and cooperate with the fastening hole of the cross member 5 to fix said housing 3 to said cross member 5.

[0041] It will be noted that the mounting tabs 7a and 7b each have a main extension plane which, in the mounted position of the housing 3, is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane (or XY plane).

[0042] Furthermore, the mounting tabs 7a and / or 7b are advantageously made of the same material as the main body 3a of the housing 3. In addition, the first mounting tab 7a fixed to said cross member 5 advantageously has a rounded free end.

[0043] Furthermore, the housing 3 includes one or more stiffening ribs 9 which extend over said fixing tab 7a and / or the main body 3a of said housing 3. Said stiffening ribs 9 thus extend in the main extension plane of the fixing tab 7a, but also in the extension plane of one of the walls defining the main body 3a, planes (distinct) substantially orthogonal to each other.

[0044] Fig. 3 is, for its part, a schematic, perspective and cross-sectional view of assembly 1 according to the invention, assembly 1 being in the mounted position in a motor vehicle and the cross-section being made substantially along the transverse axis (or Y axis) of the vehicle.

[0045] Said assembly 1 further comprises a stop 11 located opposite the portion of the cross member 5 to which the first fixing lug 7a is attached. The stop 11 is advantageously formed from the same material as the main body 3a of the body 3.

[0046] Said stop 11 is thus configured to stop a relative displacement of the cross member 5 with respect to the housing 3 during an impact, the displacement of the cross member 5 being carried out in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle (or Y axis; and preferably substantially orthogonal to the main extension plane of said stop).

[0047] Furthermore, the through hole 13 provided in the first mounting bracket 7a is an elongated hole, such as an oblong hole. This elongated hole 13 thus has a longitudinal extension whose alignment is substantially collinear with the direction of movement of the cross member 5 during an impact.

[0048] The longitudinal extension of the elongated hole 13 thus defines a clearance for the fastening element disposed in said elongated hole 13. In addition, the stop 11 and the cross member 5 are at a distance from each other, so there is a clearance between the stop 11 and said cross member 5. It should be noted that "clearance" between two parts (or elements) means the smallest distance between these parts before these parts come into contact.

[0049] The assembly 1 is therefore configured so that the play of the fastening element in the through hole 13 is less than the play between the cross member 5 and the stop 11. The play of the fastening element and the play between the stop 11 and the cross member 5 are also located in two planes that are substantially parallel to each other (or located substantially in the same plane).

[0050] Thus, during an impact, the fastening element disposed in the elongated hole 13 of the fastening tab 7a and in the fastening hole of the cross member 5, as well as the cross member 5, are configured to move (relatively or not) in the direction of the housing 3.

[0051] The cross member 5 then comes into contact with the stop 11 before the fastening element comes into contact with the end of the elongated hole 13 closest to the main body 3a of the housing 3 (or the end furthest from the cross member before the impact).

[0052] The cross member 5, thus in contact with the stop 11, reduces the stresses on the fixing element of the fixing bracket 7a, thus limiting the risk of breakage of said fixing element during an impact.

[0053] In an unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the fixing hole of the cross member 5 has an oblong shape, while the through hole of said fixing lug has a substantially circular cross section.

[0054] In another unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the stop 11 is arranged on another element adjacent to said housing 3, such as a longitudinal member, a longitudinal member, etc.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising at least one housing (3), and an element (5) which is adjacent to said housing (3) and which includes at least one fixing hole, said housing (3) comprising: - at least one fixing tab (7a) comprising a through hole (13); - a fixing element which passes through said through hole (13) of said fixing tab (7a) and cooperates with the fixing hole of said adjacent element (5) to fix said housing (3) to said adjacent element (5); characterized in that, on the one hand, said through hole (13) of said fixing tab (7a) or the fixing hole of said adjacent element (5) has an elongated shape, and, on the other hand, said assembly comprises a stop (11) situated opposite the portion of the adjacent element (5) to which said fixing tab (7a) is fixed.

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fastening element disposed in the through hole (13) has a clearance, the clearance between the stop (11) and the adjacent element (5) being less than the clearance of said fastening element.

3. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the play of the fixing element and the play between the stop (11) and the adjacent element (5) are located in two planes substantially parallel to each other.

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the through hole (13) has a longitudinal extension extending in a plane which is substantially collinear with the direction of displacement of the adjacent element (5) during an impact.

5. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said stop (11) is configured to stop a displacement of the adjacent element (5) in the direction of the housing (3) during an impact, displacement in a direction substantially collinear with the longitudinal extension of said through hole (13).

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) comprises a main body (3a),

7.

8.

9.

10. the stop (11) and / or the fixing tab (7a) having come from materials with said main body (3a). Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (3) is made of metal and / or plastic material. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adjacent element (5) is a cross member. Housing (3) for assembly for motor vehicle characterized in that said housing (3) is configured to be implemented in an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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