Front bumper sub-assembly incorporating interface means for mounting a shutter behind the air intake grille

Abstract

The invention relates to a sub-assembly of a motor vehicle front bumper, comprising an outer skin, an air intake grille (200) located at an opening formed in the lower part of said outer skin and comprising a peripheral border (220) fixedly attached to this outer skin on the periphery of said opening, as well as an air deflector (300) extending below said air intake grille (200) and having a front portion housed in the interior volume defined by the lower portion of said outer skin; characterized in that the front portion of said deflector (300) and the upper portion of the peripheral border (220) of said air intake grille (200) respectively comprise first interfacing means (323) and second interfacing means suitable for allowing the mounting of a shutter (400) behind a part of said air intake grille (200).Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Front bumper sub-assembly incorporating interface means for mounting a shutter behind the air intake grille. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the problem of regulating the incoming cooling airflow of a motor vehicle. It relates in particular to a front bumper sub-assembly incorporating interface means for mounting a shutter behind the air intake grille. Previous technique

[0002] The regulation of the incoming cooling airflow of a motor vehicle is generally ensured by at least one first air inlet called the low-way inlet provided on the front bumper skin of the vehicle and extending vertically between the beams of the lower and upper reinforcements of the front bumper of this vehicle.

[0003] Thus, when the vehicle is moving, a quantity of more or less fresh air is received inside the engine compartment via the air intake grille located at an opening in the lower part of the outer skin of the front bumper of the vehicle.

[0004] The fresh air requirements of motor vehicles depend greatly on the type of propulsion they employ.

[0005] Thermal propulsion vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine are thus provided with a liquid cooling circuit called high temperature (HT) dedicated to cooling this engine and having temperatures that can reach and temporarily exceed 120°C in operation, and 140°C in hot weather, with locally up to 160 to 180°C, for example in a turbine housing of the turbocharger.

[0006] Purely electric propulsion vehicles, on the other hand, lack such a high-temperature circuit and include only a low-temperature (LT) cooling circuit dedicated to cooling the components of the electric traction chain (electrical machines, power electronics, inverters, converters, battery charger, etc.) and having operating temperatures generally between 60 and 90°C.

[0007] The amount of fresh air that must enter the vehicle to supply the heat exchangers of these different cooling circuits therefore varies greatly depending on the type of propulsion of the vehicle.

[0008] Knowing that this fresh air intake has the effect of degrading the aerodynamic drag coefficient SCx of the vehicle in proportion to the surface area of ​​the opening receiving the air intake grille, it is understood that for a given vehicle model, it may be advantageous to significantly reduce the dimensions of this opening and this grille for electric propulsion versions in order to optimize their range and reduce their CO2 emissions.

[0009] Specific sizing of these elements for electric vehicles thus implies a multiplication of the number of references to be managed for the car manufacturer, leading to a significant increase in storage and logistics management costs, especially since these are large-sized elements.

[0010] It is known from document FR 3 156 158 Al to provide, behind a lateral portion of the air intake grille, a shutter comprising a panel conforming to the shape of this grille so as to be placed as close as possible to the latter and block the air intake.

[0011] This shutter is fixed by means of upper and lower attachment tabs to the beams of the lower and upper reinforcements of the front bumper.

[0012] Unfortunately, in the event of a collision between a pedestrian and the front of the vehicle, such a shutter constitutes a hard point which may lead to risks of injury to the pelvis and / or the upper parts of the legs (femur areas) of this pedestrian.

[0013] In order to limit these risks of injury, frangible break zones can be provided on the attachment legs but their effectiveness proves to be limited. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention aims to improve the situation.

[0015] For this purpose, it proposes a sub-assembly of front bumpers for motor vehicles, comprising an outer skin, an air intake grille located at an opening in the lower part of said outer skin and comprising a peripheral border fixedly attached to this outer skin around the perimeter of said opening, as well as an air deflector extending below said air intake grille and having a front portion housed in the internal volume defined by the lower portion of said outer skin; characterized in that the front portion of said deflector and the upper portion of the peripheral border of said air intake grille respectively comprise first interfacing means and second interfacing means suitable for allowing the mounting of a shutter behind a part of said air intake grille.

[0016] The front bumper sub-assembly according to the invention thus offers the possibility of reducing the amount of fresh air entering the vehicle by allowing a shutter to be mounted behind a part of its air intake grille.

[0017] The invention thus makes it possible to use a single reference for outer skin and air intake grille for the thermal and electric propulsion versions of the same model of motor vehicle.

[0018] Furthermore, the placement of the interface means of such a shutter on the air intake grille and on the front portion of the deflector allows this shutter to accompany the recoil movement of these two elements in the event of a collision between a pedestrian and the front of the vehicle, so as not to constitute a hard point for the pelvis and / or the upper parts of the legs of this pedestrian.

[0019] According to preferred characteristics of said front bumper subassembly according to the invention: - said first interfacing means comprise two interfacing windows separated transversely from each other and provided to be crossed by corresponding shoring feet of said shutter; - said interface windows have an isosceles trapezoidal shape flaring out towards the rear; - said interface windows are provided with a chamfered peripheral edge; - said second interfacing means comprise at least one interfacing slot provided to cooperate by snapping with a corresponding clipping tab of said shutter; - the upper portion of the peripheral border of said air intake grille has, in the rear extension of each said interface slot, a corresponding guide chute; - said front bumper sub-assembly further comprises said shutter, fixedly mounted behind a portion of said air intake grille, and comprising a panel whose front face has in vertical cross-section a concave curved profile following that of said air intake grille; - said shutter has two protruding jambs below said panel and comprising at their respective lower ends two shims inserted through the two said interface windows; - one of said shoring feet has a transverse width identical to that of the narrowest portion of said corresponding interface window; and / or - said shutter has at least one clipping tab cooperating by snapping with said at least one corresponding interface slot. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an example embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which: - [Fig.1] represents a partial perspective cross-sectional view, taken along a vertical longitudinal cutting plane, of the right lateral part of a front bumper sub-assembly according to the invention on which a shutter is mounted; - [Fig.2] is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the shutter alone; - [Fig.3] represents a view illustrating a first stage of mounting the shutter on the front bumper sub-assembly of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.4] is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the right front portion of the deflector of the front bumper subassembly of [Fig.1]; and - [Fig.5] is a three-quarter front perspective view of the upper part of the shutter's attachment area on top of the air intake grille of the front bumper subassembly of [Fig.1]. Description of the implementation methods

[0021] Fig. 1 represents a sub-assembly of front bumper 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle.

[0022] By convention, an orthogonal XYZ frame comprising three axes perpendicular in pairs is defined with respect to this subset of front bumper 1, namely: - an X axis, defining a horizontal longitudinal direction, parallel to the ground and coinciding with the general direction of movement of the vehicle; - a Y-axis, defining a horizontal transverse direction, also parallel to the ground, which, together with the X-axis, defines a horizontal XY plane; and - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal XY plane.

[0023] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the frame defined above, the terms "longitudinal" or "longitudinally" shall refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms "transverse" or "transversely" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0024] Furthermore, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used to specify the longitudinal positioning of certain elements relative to the orientation of the X-axis, which conventionally points forward. Similarly, the terms "upper" and "lower" will be used to specify the relative position of certain elements with respect to the orientation of the Z-axis, which conventionally points upward.

[0025] Finally, the term "substantially" will indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially vertical" indicates that a deviation of approximately 15 to 20° from a strictly vertical orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0026] With reference to [Fig. 1], the front bumper subassembly 1 comprises an outer skin 100, conventionally made from one or more parts, each molded from a thermoplastic material, and advantageously painted in the same color as the vehicle's body. This outer skin 100 is designed to deform easily in the event of a pedestrian impact so as to absorb some of the energy of that impact.

[0027] The front bumper sub-assembly 1 also includes an air intake grille 200 located at an opening 110 provided in the lower part of the outer skin 100 and conventionally made from one or more parts, each molded from a thermoplastic material.

[0028] This grid 200 classically comprises a plurality of slats 210 arranged to form a mesh allowing the passage of air while preventing the passage of external foreign bodies which could damage certain components of the vehicle located at the rear.

[0029] The air intake grille 200 is fixedly attached to the outer skin of the front bumper 100 by means of non-visible snap-on means arranged along its peripheral edge 220 and cooperating with complementary means provided on the rear periphery of the opening 110.

[0030] The front bumper sub-assembly 1 further comprises an air deflector 300 conventionally made from one or more parts each molded from a thermoplastic material.

[0031] This deflector 300 includes a base 310 extending along a substantially horizontal average plane in the lower part of the vehicle so as to define its ground clearance, and having a front edge 311 fixedly attached by snapping against and along the rear lower edge of the outer skin 100.

[0032] This deflector 300 also includes a front portion 320 extending the sole 310 forward and fitting into the interior volume defined by the lower portion of the outer skin 100. This front portion 320 includes an energy absorption zone 321 formed by an alternation, in a transverse direction, of connecting walls 321A and hollow boxes 321B adapted together to deform in order to absorb part of the energy of an impact suffered by the vehicle at the front, for example with a pedestrian.

[0033] In front of this energy absorption zone 321, the front portion 320 also includes an extension 322 forming the front end of the deflector 300 and having a curved front edge 322A resting against the outer skin 100 just below the air intake grille 200.

[0034] Still with reference to [Fig.1], the front bumper sub-assembly 1 may also include a shutter 400 which is fixedly mounted behind a lateral portion of the air intake grille 200 (in this case the right portion).

[0035] Represented alone on [Fig.2], this shutter 400 comprises a panel 410 whose front face has in vertical cross-section a concave curved profile following that of this inlet grille 200, so as to be placed as close as possible to the latter and block the air supply.

[0036] The shutter 400 also includes two jambs 420 projecting below the panel 410 from its two lateral ends and comprising at their respective lower ends two shoring feet 421.

[0037] Presenting in section a U-shaped profile, these two identical shim feet 421 are intended to be inserted, during the assembly of this shutter 400 and as illustrated by [Fig.3], into two corresponding interface windows 323 provided on the advance 322 of the deflector 300 and spaced transversely apart from each other.

[0038] Better seen on [Fig.4], the interface windows 323 each have a longitudinal depth identical to that of the corresponding shim foot 421, so as to ensure longitudinal indexing without play of the lower part of the shutter 400 vis-à-vis this deflector 300.

[0039] These two interface windows 323 also have an isosceles trapezoidal shape flaring towards the rear so as to facilitate, as illustrated by [Fig.3], the simultaneous sliding insertion through them of the two leveling feet 421 in a mounting direction D oriented diagonally from top to bottom and from back to front.

[0040] Still with the aim of facilitating the insertion of the shoring feet 421 through the interface windows 323, the latter are advantageously provided with a chamfered peripheral edge.

[0041] One of the shim feet 421 (in this case the one located furthest to the left on the [Fig.3]) also has a transverse width identical to that of the narrowest front end portion of the corresponding interface window 323, so as to ensure play-free transverse indexing of the shutter 400 vis-à-vis this deflector 300.

[0042] In order to absorb the dimensional dispersions due to the normal manufacturing tolerances of the deflector 300 and the shutter 400, the narrowest front end portion of the other interface window 323 (the one located furthest to the right in [Fig.3]) has a transverse width slightly greater than that of the corresponding shim foot 421. This difference in width is advantageously between one and five millimeters.

[0043] With further reference to [Fig.2], the shutter 400 further comprises an upper band 430 extending above and along the curved panel 410, and opposite the upper portion of the peripheral border 220 of the air intake grille 200. This shutter 400 also comprises at least one clipping tab 431 projecting in front of this upper band 430.

[0044] As illustrated by [Fig.5], each clipping tab 431 is intended to cooperate by snapping, when pivoting upwards and forwards the shutter 400 after the insertion of the shims 421 into the interface windows 323, with a corresponding interface slot 221 provided in the upper portion of the peripheral border 220 of the air intake grille 200.

[0045] In order to ensure better stability once mounted, the shutter 400 preferably has two clipping tabs 431 projecting in front of this band 430 from the two lateral ends of its upper edge and intended to cooperate by snapping with two corresponding interface slots 221 provided in the upper portion of the peripheral border 220 of the air intake grille 200 and spaced transversely apart from each other.

[0046] As can be clearly seen in [Fig.2], each clipping tab 431 is provided at its free end with a tooth 431A formed of a ramp inclined backwards and upwards to a retaining tooth intended to cooperate in buttock with the front perimeter of a corresponding interface slot 221, so as to ensure the longitudinal indexing of the upper part of the obturator 400 vis-à-vis the air intake grille 200 (see [Fig.5]).

[0047] The clipping tabs 431 each have a thickness identical to the height of the corresponding interface slot 221, so as to also ensure the vertical indexing of this shutter 400.

[0048] As illustrated by [Fig.3] and in order to facilitate the insertion of the clipping tabs 431 through the corresponding interface slots 221, the upper portion of the peripheral border 220 of the air intake grille 200 has, in the rear extension of each interface slot 221, a corresponding guide chute 222.

[0049] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the interfacing means provided respectively on the front portion of the deflector and on the air intake grille to allow the mounting of a shutter may differ.

[0050] The air intake grille may, for example, comprise only one interface slot designed to cooperate by snapping with a corresponding clipping tab of a shutter.

[0051] Many variants are conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all variants of execution within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Subassembly of front bumper (1) of motor vehicle, comprising an outer skin (100), an air intake grille (200) located at an opening (110) provided in the lower part of said outer skin (100) and comprising a peripheral rim (220) attached fixedly against this outer skin (100) on the periphery of said opening (110), as well as an air deflector (300) extending below said air intake grille (200) and having a front portion (320) housed in the internal volume defined by the lower portion of said outer skin (100);characterized in that the front portion (320) of said deflector (300) and the upper portion of the peripheral edge (200) of said air intake grille (200) respectively comprise first interfacing means (323) and second interfacing means (221) suitable for allowing the mounting of a shutter (400) behind a part of said air intake grille (200).

2. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first interfacing means comprise two interfacing windows (323) spaced transversely apart from each other and provided to be traversed by corresponding shoring feet (421) of said shutter (400).

3. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said interface windows (323) have an isosceles trapezoidal shape flaring towards the rear.

4. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said interface windows (323) are provided with a chamfered peripheral edge.

5. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said second interfacing means comprise at least one interfacing slot (221) provided to cooperate by snap-fitting with a corresponding clipping tab (431) of said shutter (400).

6. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the upper portion of the peripheral edge (220) of said air intake grille (200) has, in the rear extension of each said interface slot (221), a corresponding guide chute (222).

7. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises said shutter (400), fixedly mounted behind a portion of said air intake grille (200), and comprising a panel (410) the front face of which has in vertical cross-section a concave curved profile following that of said air intake grille (200).

8. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to claim 7 depending on any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said shutter (400) comprises two jambs (420) projecting below said panel (410) and comprising at their respective lower ends two shoring feet (421) inserted through the two said interface windows (323).

9. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that one of said shoring feet (421) has a transverse width identical to that of the narrowest portion of said corresponding interface window (323).

10. Front bumper subassembly (1) according to any one of claims 8 or 9 depending on any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said shutter (400) comprises at least one clipping tab (431) cooperating by snap-fit ​​with said at least one corresponding interface slot (221).

Images