Module, intended for installation in an engine compartment, comprising a frontal collision deflector

Abstract

The invention relates to a module (2) intended to be housed in an engine compartment (1) located at the front of a motor vehicle, said engine compartment (1) being delimited between a first longitudinal member (6) and a second longitudinal member (5); said module (2) comprising a support (4) having a first side equipped with fastening elements (16) and a component (3) attached to said support (4); the support (4) includes a frontal collision deflector (22). In the event of a frontal collision resulting in contact of the guide surface (23) with a braking system (10), contact forces exerted between the guide surface (23) and the braking system (10) generate a torque tending to rotate the module (2) in a direction orienting the rear of the module (2) towards the second longitudinal member (5). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Module, intended to be installed in an engine compartment, comprising a frontal collision deflector Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles and relates to collision safety with the objective of reducing the impact of a collision on the safety of their occupants.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to equipment which is intended to be installed in the engine compartment, located at the front of the vehicle, and which is fixed to one of the longitudinal rails in a configuration such that in the event of a frontal collision, it can cause a dangerous intrusion of other equipment into the passenger compartment. Technological background

[0003] In certain configurations, such as that illustrated in [Fig. 1], engine compartment equipment is attached to one of the two longitudinal members 5, 6 delimiting the engine compartment 1, and is aligned, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with the braking system 10. For example, in [Fig. 1], an electric compressor 3 is positioned inside the engine compartment 1 and attached to the right longitudinal member 6, while the vehicle is right-hand drive. The electric compressor 3 is therefore directly opposite the braking system 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0004] In such circumstances, in the event of a frontal collision causing deformation of the right longitudinal member 6 (this deformation is shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 1]), the electric compressor 3 (its position in the event of deformation is shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 1]) is likely to come into contact with the braking system 10 and push the latter into the passenger compartment 9, and more specifically into its footwell. Such an intrusion into the passenger compartment 9 of the vehicle is unacceptable since it compromises the safety of the driver and increases the risk of injury in the event of an accident. Summary

[0005] Also, a problem that the present invention aims to solve is to prevent the intrusion of the braking system into the vehicle's passenger compartment when equipment is attached to one of the longitudinal members defining the engine compartment and is aligned longitudinally with said braking system.

[0006] In order to solve this problem, and according to a first object, a module is proposed for housing in an engine compartment which is located at the front of a motor vehicle, said engine compartment being delimited between a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member; said module comprising a support having a first side and a second side and equipment which is fixed to said support; said first side being equipped with fixing members intended to fix said support laterally to the first longitudinal member, in front of a braking system and aligned longitudinally with said braking system; said module being notable in that the support includes a frontal collision deflector which protrudes rearward from said equipment, said frontal collision deflector having a guide surface which extends rearward, away from the first side towards the second side, such that in the event of a frontal collision resulting in contact of the guide surface with the braking system, contact forces exerted between the guide surface and the braking system generate a torque tending to rotate the module in a direction orienting the rear of the module towards the second longitudinal member.

[0007] Thus, in the event of a frontal collision, the rearward movement of the module is reduced, thereby limiting the recoil of the braking system. This makes it possible to restrict any potential intrusion of the braking system into the footwell to an acceptable level.

[0008] In addition, the installation of the frontal collision deflector is simple and does not require any additional operation since it is integrated into the module support.

[0009] According to embodiments, such a module may include one or more of the following characteristics.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the equipment is an electric compressor.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the support comprises, on the first side, a lateral wing which at least partially conforms to a housing of the equipment; the frontal collision deflector extending in line with said side wing.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the frontal collision deflector is formed as a single piece with said lateral wing of the support.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the support includes a stiffening gusset comprising a first edge along a front face of the frontal collision deflector and a second edge along an inner face of the lateral wing.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the guiding surface is a sector of a truncated cone.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the truncated cone sector is positioned, relative to a height of the truncated cone exclusively on the first side.

[0016] According to a second object, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising an engine compartment which is located at the front of said motor vehicle and is delimited by a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member; said motor vehicle comprising a braking system and a module of the aforementioned type, said module being fixed laterally to the first longitudinal member, in front of the braking system and aligned longitudinally with said braking system. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] is a partial top view of an engine compartment, not within the scope of the protection, in which an electric compressor is longitudinally aligned with the braking system.

[0019] [Fig.2] is a partial top view of an engine compartment according to an embodiment in which the support of the electric compressor is equipped with a collision deflector to deflect the trajectory of said electric compressor during a frontal collision.

[0020] [Fig.3] is a view similar to that of [Fig.2], in which the deformation of the right longitudinal spar and the resulting position of the electric compressor are schematically represented by dotted lines.

[0021] [Fig.4] is a three-quarter rear right perspective view of the electric compressor and its support according to the embodiment illustrated in figures 2 and 3.

[0022] [Fig.5] is a three-quarter rear left perspective view of the electric compressor and its support.

[0023] [Fig.6] is a partial top view of the electric compressor, its support and the braking system. Description of the implementation methods

[0024] The orientations expressed in the description are given with reference to an orthonormal XYZ frame, shown in the figures, in which X represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented from front to back, Y the transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented to the right, and Z the vertical direction oriented towards the top of the vehicle, in usual position, resting on its wheels.

[0025] Figure 2 shows an engine compartment 1 of a motor vehicle equipped with a module 2 comprising an electric compressor 3 and a bracket 4 for fixing it in the engine compartment 1. The motor vehicle has two longitudinal side members 5, 6 that laterally frame the engine compartment 1. These two longitudinal side members 5, 6 are connected at the front by a front crossmember 7 defining the front boundary of the engine compartment. 1, and at the rear, by a rear crossmember 8 located in front of the passenger compartment 9, thus marking the rear limit of the engine compartment 1.

[0026] The engine compartment 1 houses a braking system 10, which may include a master cylinder that converts the mechanical pressure applied to the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure. This braking system 10 is positioned in front of the brake pedal and is therefore located on the driver's side (on the right in the illustrated example). Thus, the braking system 10 is aligned with the longitudinal member 6 on the driver's side.

[0027] The engine compartment 1 houses the electric compressor 3. This compressor is dedicated to the vehicle's air conditioning system and its role is to compress the refrigerant fluid of the air conditioning system, thus allowing it to circulate in the air conditioning circuit and change state to absorb heat from the passenger compartment. Due to optimized space constraints in the engine compartment 1, the electric compressor 3 is fixed to one of the longitudinal members 5, 6, here the right-hand one, which places it in alignment, along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with the braking system 10.

[0028] With reference to Figures 4 to 6, the electric compressor 3 and its support 4, which allows it to be fixed to the longitudinal member 6, will be described below. The electric compressor 3 comprises an electric motor, not visible, which is supplied with electrical energy via an electrical connector 11, and a compression chamber, also not visible, in which the refrigerant is compressed and which is connected to the air conditioning circuit by a refrigerant inlet 12 and outlet 13. The electric compressor 3 also comprises a housing 14, at least partially cylindrical, in which the motor and the compression chamber are housed.

[0029] The housing 14 of the electric compressor 3 is fixed to the support 4 by a plurality of fasteners 15. The fasteners 15 are, for example, screws which pass through bores provided in the housing 14 of the electric compressor 3 and which are each received in a threaded bore of the support 4.

[0030] In the embodiment shown, the support 4 is formed in two parts, namely an upper element 17 and a lower element 18. The upper element 17 has a base 19 located below the electric compressor 3, which acts as a support, and a lateral wing 20 located laterally on the side of the compressor. The lateral wing 20 extends substantially vertically from the base 19 and is thus positioned between the electric compressor 3 and the longitudinal member 6 to which the support 4 is attached. The lateral wing 20 conforms to the shape of the housing 14 of the electric compressor 3. This lateral wing 20 also serves as an attachment point for the housing 14 of the electric compressor 3.

[0031] The lower element 18 is here fixed to the base 19 of the upper element 17 by damping fasteners 21 which allow to absorb and dissipate the vibrations generated by the electric compressor 3.

[0032] The support 4 is equipped with fastening elements 16, visible in particular on [Fig.4], which are arranged on the right side of said support 4 and allow it to be fixed laterally against the longitudinal stringer 6.

[0033] Furthermore, the support 4 has, at its rear end, a frontal collision deflector 22, visible in particular in figures 4 to 6, which allows the trajectory of the electric compressor 3 to be deflected in the event of a frontal collision causing a deformation of the longitudinal member 6. In the embodiment shown, the frontal collision deflector 22 is formed in one piece with the upper element 17.

[0034] The frontal collision deflector 22 has a guide surface 23 that is inclined so as to extend rearward away from the longitudinal member 6 to which the electric compressor 3 is attached. In other words, when the compressor is attached to the right longitudinal member 6, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the guide surface 23 is oriented so that it extends rearward, from right to left.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6, the guiding surface 23 is a truncated cone sector whose height extends along the longitudinal direction X. This truncated cone sector extends, relative to the height of the truncated cone, only on the side of the longitudinal spar 6 to which the support 3 is attached, that is, only to the right of the height of the truncated cone in the embodiment shown. The truncated cone sector therefore extends over an angle of less than 180°. In the embodiment shown, the truncated cone sector extends over an angle of approximately 90°. Advantageously, the base of the truncated cone sector extends in line with the lateral wing 20 and thus conforms to the shape of the housing 14 of the electric compressor 3.

[0036] In the event of a frontal collision causing deformation of the right longitudinal member 6 such that the frontal collision deflector 22 comes into contact with the braking system 10 (situation shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 3]), the contact forces exerted between the guide surface 23 and the braking system 10 have a tangential component that acts along the guide surface 23 and creates a lateral sliding effect. This sliding generates a torque that pushes the guide surface 23, and consequently the support 4 and the electric compressor 3, to pivot about a vertical axis in a direction orienting the rear of the electric compressor 3 towards the opposite longitudinal member 5, here the left one. The longitudinal member 6 deforms accordingly. This limits the displacement of the braking system. braking 10 along the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and consequently to limit its possible intrusion into the cellar on foot to an acceptable level.

[0037] It will also be observed that the conical profile of the guide surface 23 is particularly advantageous in that it allows for an effective change of trajectory even in the absence of certainty as to the exact initial point of contact between said guide surface 23 and the braking system 10.

[0038] Furthermore, in order to limit deformation of the frontal collision deflector 22 during potential contact with the braking system 10, it is advantageously made of steel. Its rigidity can also be increased by the use of one or more stiffening gussets 24. The stiffening gusset 24 is triangular in shape and has a first edge running along the front face of the frontal collision deflector 22 and a second edge running along the inner face of the side wing 20. The stiffening gusset 24 can be fixed, for example by welding, along the two aforementioned edges or be formed as a single unit with the side wing 20 and the frontal collision deflector 22.

[0039] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is clearly evident that it is by no means limited to them and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0040] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprendre" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those stated in a claim.

[0041] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses shall not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Demands

1. Module (2) intended to be housed in an engine compartment (1) which is located at the front of a motor vehicle, said engine compartment (1) being delimited between a first longitudinal member (6) and a second longitudinal member (5); said module (2) comprising a support (4) having a first side and a second side and equipment (3) which is fixed to said support (4); said first side being equipped with fastening members (16) intended to fix said support (4) laterally to the first longitudinal member (6), in front of a braking system (10) and aligned longitudinally with said braking system (10);said module (2) being characterized in that the support (4) comprises a frontal collision deflector (22) which protrudes rearward from said equipment (3), said frontal collision deflector (22) comprising a guide surface (23) which extends rearward, away from the first side towards the second side, such that in the event of a frontal collision resulting in contact of the guide surface (23) with the braking system (10), contact forces exerted between the guide surface (23) and the braking system (10) generate a torque tending to rotate the module (2) in a direction orienting the rear of the module (2) towards the second longitudinal member (5).

2. Module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is an electric compressor (3).

3. Module (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support (4) comprises, on the first side, a side wing (20) which at least partially conforms to a housing (14) of the equipment (3) and wherein the frontal collision deflector (22) extends in the continuation of said side wing (20).

4. Module (2) according to claim 3, wherein the frontal collision deflector (22) is formed in one piece with said side wing (20) of the support (4).

5. Module (2) according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the support (4) comprises a stiffening gusset (24) including a first edge along a front face of the frontal collision deflector (22) and a second edge along an inner face of the lateral wing (20).

6.

7.

8. Module (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guiding surface (23) is a frustum sector. Module (2) according to claim 6, wherein the frustum sector is positioned, with respect to a height of the frustum, exclusively on the first side. Motor vehicle comprising an engine compartment (1) which is located at the front of said motor vehicle and is delimited by a first longitudinal member (6) and a second longitudinal member (5); said motor vehicle comprising a braking system (10) and a module (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, said module (2) being fixed laterally to the first longitudinal member (6), in front of the braking system (10) and aligned longitudinally with said braking system (10).

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