AUTOMOTIVE POWERTRAIN UNIT WITH SUPPORT AND QUICK-RELEASE PIPE FITTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A motor vehicle powertrain comprising a pipe (20), and a quick-fixing system for this pipe (20) on a support (4) having two spaced fixings, each having a recess for a rigid tube (22) of the pipe (20), and a clamp (16), one end of each clamp being connected on one side of the recess to the support (4) by a pivot (34) having an axis parallel to the axis of the tube (A), the other end of the clamp (16) having a fixing clip that locks into a window (40) formed on the support (4) on the other side of the recess. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: AUTOMOBILE POWERTRAIN UNIT WITH SUPPORT AND QUICK-FAST PIPE FIXING SYSTEM

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle powertrain comprising a quick-fixing system for a pipe, as well as a method for working on the powertrain and a motor vehicle equipped with such a powertrain.

[0002] A type of known vehicle electric traction powertrain, presented in particular by document CN-U-219857059, includes a support fixed to the electric machine comprising a platform receiving above a box containing fuses for the power supply of this machine.

[0003] A vertical metal plate of the support, located under the platform, receives low voltage electrical cables on one side and high voltage electrical cables on the other side, which are fixed by clamps to this plate, forming electromagnetic insulation between the cables in order to avoid signal disturbances that could lead to failures.

[0004] A coolant passage tube arranged flat under the support plate, having at one end a connection to a cooling circuit, has a collar surrounding it which is fixed under this plate.

[0005] In general, fixing a tube on a powertrain support poses problems of simplicity and speed of implementation, as well as reliability of the tightening which must guarantee over time a limitation of vibrations and movements of the pipe in order to avoid premature wear at the point of tightening.

[0006] Furthermore, a known solution for fixing a tube to a support involves an open collar attached to the support, comprising a clamping screw that tightens this collar around the tube. This type of assembly uses a screw that the operator, after closing the collar, must insert into a threaded hole and then tighten with a clamping tool, which requires the supply of a screw and then a series of assembly operations. Disassembly for maintenance operations is also time-consuming.

[0007] Another known solution for securing a tube comprises a collar attached to the support, including a band with notches along its length that is engaged in a passage having a ratchet that only allows the band to advance. The operator wraps the band around the tube, engages its end in the passage, and then pulls on the protruding end on the other side to tighten the tube.

[0008] However, this solution does not allow easy disassembly, for example during maintenance operations, because of the ratchet which does not easily allow the band to come out.

[0009] Moreover, these solutions including a clamp may allow the tube to oscillate slightly around this clamp with the vibrations of the powertrain, which leads to risks of wear and failure.

[0010] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0011] To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle powertrain comprising a pipe, and a system for quickly fixing this pipe to a support having clamps, this powertrain being remarkable in that the support has two widely spaced fixings each having a recess for shimming a rigid tube of the pipe, and a clamp, one end of each clamp being connected to the support on one side of the recess by a pivot having an axis parallel to the axis of the tube, the other end of the clamp having a fixing clip which locks into a window formed on the support on the other side of the recess.

[0012] An advantage of this powertrain is that on the support including the collar fixed by its pivot which is open, an operator places the rigid tube on the two shims of the support which positions it, closes each collar by rotating it to engage its fixing clip in the window of the support, then presses on it to lock the clips.

[0013] Since the operator does not need to provide any parts, the tube is secured quickly and easily without tools. Thanks to the clip-on mechanism, the tube is clamped onto the support by the collar, preventing any movement or vibration of this connection. Furthermore, thanks to the two widely spaced fixings on the same rigid tube, the tube cannot rotate around either fixing, thus preventing movement and wear.

[0014] We ensure both a simple and ergonomic tube assembly, a secure connection which prevents wear and ensures safety, and a possibility of quick disassembly by opening the clip, without any part coming loose and being lost.

[0015] The powertrain according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the support comprises two spaced arms arranged perpendicularly to a flat face of this support, each comprising a shimming recess and a window.

[0017] In this case, advantageously the collar pivot is formed on each arm between the shimming hollow and the flat face.

[0018] Advantageously, each hollow has an arc-shaped section that receives the rigid tube in a fitted manner.

[0019] Advantageously, the collar has an elastic deformation comprising a displacement of the fixing clip of its end in the direction of the pivot when it is inserted into the window.

[0020] Advantageously, the collar, the pivot and the support are formed by the same molding of a plastic material.

[0021] Advantageously, the support has two parallel slots arranged perpendicular to the axis of the rigid tube, delimiting between them a thin tab forming the pivot, this tab extending into the collar.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method of intervention on a powertrain comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that for a pipe assembly with the two clamps open, it includes a step of placing the rigid tube in the hollows of the fixings, then a step of introducing each clip into its window with an elastic deformation of this clip in the direction of its pivot.

[0023] Moreover, advantageously for dismantling the pipeline the process includes a step of pressing the clip towards its pivot, then a step of lifting the collar taking its clip out of the window.

[0024] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a powertrain including any of the preceding characteristics, notable in that the piping contains a refrigerant fluid.

[0025] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] presents a support for a refrigerant tube fixed above an electronic housing arranged on a motor vehicle powertrain according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] is a view of the support alone including the open tube fixing collars;

[0028] [Fig.3] shows the tube being placed on the support after the clamps have been opened; and

[0029] [Fig.4] is a detailed view of the support showing the closed collar successively in external view, and in section in a median plane of this collar.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an electronic housing 2 placed flat on top of a powertrain not shown, and an elongated support 4 fixed above this housing, which holds a coolant pipe 20 arranged horizontally in front of this support.

[0031] The support 4 has a horizontal upper plane 6 comprising at each end a hole 8 disposed in a circular hollow 10, receiving a screw having a head integrated in this hollow for fixing the support.

[0032] The front face 12 of the support 4, arranged vertically along the length of this support, has on each side, opposite a mounting hole 8, an arm 14 perpendicular to this face, extending in a forward direction AV, receiving above it a rigid tube 22 of the refrigerant line 20 which is arranged parallel to this face. Each arm 14 has a clamp 16 for the rigid tube 22, which covers it by being fixed to this arm at its two ends.

[0033] The rigid tube 22 extends on each side by a flexible tube 24 connected to other elements away from the powertrain, with a flexibility that can absorb position adjustments during assembly without putting stress on the fixings, and absorb vibrations generated by the group in operation.

[0034] Figures 2, 3 and 4 show each support arm 14 having, starting from its front end, an inclined upper face 30 which rises, a window 40, then a hollow 32 forming an arc of a circle having an axis A centered on that of the rigid tube 22 which fits into this hollow.

[0035] Each clamping collar 16 has at its end facing the support 4 a pivot 34 fixed on the arm 14 behind the hollow 32, having an axis B parallel to the axis A of the rigid tube 22, to allow its lifting S as shown [Fig.2] and its folding R as shown [Fig.4].

[0036] Each arm 14 has between the hollow 32 and the front face of support 12 two parallel slots 50 arranged perpendicular to the axis A of the rigid tube 22, delimiting between them a thin tongue forming the pivot 34, which extends into the collar 16.

[0037] The front end of each collar 16 has an inclined plane forming a point 36, ending in a rear rim 38 forming a clip which fits into the window 40 formed in front of the hollow of the arm 32. When the point 36 descends into the window 40, its inclined plane presses on the edge formed on the front side of the window 40, causing this plane to move backward with an elastic deformation of the collar 16.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows the two collars 16 of the support 4 raised, allowing an operator to place the rigid tube 22 on the hollows 32 of the two arms 14, thus positioning this rigid tube along the axis A of these hollows.

[0039] The operator then presses with a force F on each collar 16 to rotate it by inserting its point 36 into the window 40, tightening the rigid tube 22 until its rim 38 exceeds the front edge of the window 40. At this moment, by elastic return, there is a forward displacement of the rim 38 under the edge of the window 40 forming a clip, which locks the collar 16 in its closed position while keeping the rigid tube 22 tight.

[0040] A pipe 20 is quickly fixed to the support 4, without tools or parts needing to be brought in, by simple pressure on each clamp 16 after having removed the tube 22. The two spaced collars 16 clamping the rigid tube 22 at two distant points, which are positioned precisely thanks to the hollows 32 of the arms 14, give this tube a defined orientation and effective support preventing any vibration and any movement which guarantees its stability over time.

[0041] The two flexible tubes 24 at the ends of the rigid tube 22 prevent stresses from being put on this rigid part which would be transmitted to the fixings, thus securing these fixings.

[0042] Advantageously each arm 14 with its collar 16 is made by a plastic molding forming at the same time the pivot 34, which makes it possible in the same molding operation to produce economically the complex shapes of this assembly.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows the removal of the pipe 20 during a maintenance operation, the operator applying a rearward pressure P on the front end of each clamp 16, just above the window 40, which folds this clamp by elastic deformation thanks to a rearward play of this window, freeing the rim 38 from its front edge.

[0044] The operator then easily lifts each collar 16 by the lifting movement S, to release the rigid tube 22. The operation of releasing the rigid tube 22 is also carried out without tools, and without detaching any part from the support, which avoids losing any and facilitates subsequent reassembly.

[0045] The mounting system for the powertrain according to the invention allows any type of pipe to be attached to this unit. It can easily be modified to accommodate, for example, other pipe diameters, by simply adapting the shape of the recesses 32 and the dimensions of the clamps 16.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle powertrain comprising a pipe (20), and a quick-fixing system for this pipe (20) on a support (4) having clamps (16), characterized in that the support (4) has two spaced fixings each having a recess (32) for shimming a rigid tube (22) of the pipe (20), and a clamp (16), one end of each clamp (16) being connected on one side of the recess (32) to the support (4) by a pivot (34) having an axis (B) parallel to the axis of the tube (A), the other end of the clamp (16) having a fixing clip (38) locking into a window (40) formed on the support (4) on the other side of the recess (32).

2. Powertrain according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (4) comprises two spaced arms (14) arranged perpendicularly to a flat face (12) of this support (4), each comprising a shimming recess (32) and a window (40).

3. Powertrain according to claim 2, characterized in that the collar pivot (34) is formed on each arm (14) between the shim recess (32) and the flat face (12).

4. Powertrain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each hollow (32) has an arc-shaped section receiving the rigid tube (22) in a fitted manner.

5. Powertrain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (16) has an elastic deformation comprising a displacement of the fixing clip (38) from its end towards the pivot (34) when it is inserted into the window (40).

6. Powertrain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (16), the pivot (34) and the support (4) are formed by the same molding of a plastic material.

7. Powertrain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (4) has two parallel slots (50) arranged perpendicular to the axis (A) of the rigid tube (22), delimiting between them a thin tab forming the pivot (34), this tab extending into the collar (16).

8. A method of intervention on a powertrain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a pipe assembly (20) with the two clamps (16) open, it comprises a step of placing the rigid tube (22) in the hollows of the fasteners (32), then a step of introducing each clip (38) into its window (40) with an elastic deformation of this clip (38) in the direction of its pivot (34).

9. Intervention method according to claim 8, characterized in that for dismantling the pipeline (20) it comprises a step of pressing (P) the clip (38) towards its pivot (34), then a step of lifting the collar (16) taking its clip (38) out of the window (40).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a powertrain according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pipe (20) contains a refrigerant fluid.

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