Arrangement of a front part of a motor vehicle incorporating an airflow channel

Abstract

Arrangement of a front part of a motor vehicle comprising an airflow channel. The invention relates to an arrangement (1) of a front part of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a bumper (2), a lighting unit (3), a fastening device (4) intended in particular for assembling the bumper to the lighting unit, and an airflow channel (5) formed along the bumper by the fastening device and the bumper. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such an arrangement. Figure for the abstract: [Fig. 4]

Description

Title of the invention: Arrangement of a front part of a motor vehicle comprising an air flow channel Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles and more particularly to the field of bodywork design, such as a front bumper comprising at least one headlight unit and an airflow channel. The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a bumper, a headlight unit, and a fastening device for attaching the bumper to the headlight unit. The invention relates to a vehicle having such an arrangement. Prior art

[0002] A vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, generally includes aerodynamic elements designed to reduce energy consumption. For example, it is known to create openings at the front of the vehicle through which air can flow in order to reduce the vehicle's drag coefficient when in motion.

[0003] Some vehicles thus include, at the level of the front bumper, air openings leading into the engine compartment in order to cool the components it contains, or into air flow ducts which expel the air from the vehicle, for example through the underside of the vehicle or through the side sides.

[0004] A vehicle incorporating an air exhaust duct requires at least one additional assembly operation at the assembly line, which affects the vehicle's manufacturing cost. Furthermore, during vehicle design, adding a duct also requires attachment interfaces to surrounding parts, which tends to complicate the design.

[0005] The object of the invention tends to make the situation more acceptable by providing a technical solution that is simple and frugal, while being effective in terms of reducing the aerodynamic coefficient. Presentation of the invention

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for the front part of a vehicle, in particular an automobile, the arrangement comprising a bumper, a lighting unit, and a fastening device intended in particular for assembling the bumper to the lighting unit, thus overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above. To this end, the arrangement includes an airflow channel formed along the bumper by the fastening device and the bumper. Summary of the invention

[0007] The arrangement that is the subject of the invention may further comprise the following characteristics taken separately or in combination with each other: - the fastening device comprises at least two shield assembly walls, in particular two walls having in whole or in part areas intended for assembly by ultrasonic welding of the fastening device to the shield, and a distal wall connecting said two assembly walls together, such that the airflow channel is formed by the space between the shield and the distal wall of the fastening device, - it includes at least one first interface for attaching the lighting unit to the shield, at least one first interface being made in particular on the lighting device and / or on the shield, - it includes a wheel arch screen and at least one second interface for attaching the screen, - at least one second interface being implemented on the fastening device, - the distal wall includes a substantially vertical portion - the substantially vertical portion is parallel to an inner face of the shield with respect to which the distal wall is disposed, at least two transverse portions, in particular an upper transverse portion and a lower transverse portion, said transverse portions being at least partly inclined relative to each other such that the airflow channel has a changing cross-section, - the upper transverse portion is substantially straight, - the lower transverse portion comprises a front part inclined towards the upper transverse portion and a rear part substantially parallel to the upper transverse portion which directly faces it. - at least one of the front and rear parts of the lower transverse portion being, in particular, straight, - the air flow duct includes an air inlet section larger than an air outlet section such that the air pressure at the outlet of the duct is intended to be greater than the air pressure at the inlet, - the fastening device includes centering-type indexing means, - the indexing means are intended for pre-positioning the fastening device on the shield, - the fixing device includes indexing means of the structural support type to the lighting unit, - the fastening device is a reinforcement part of the shield, - the fastening device being made by molding a plastic material with a thickness between 3 mm and 1 mm, preferably 2.5 mm, the thickness being notably greater than the thickness of the shield, - the shield includes an opening through which the lighting unit is placed - The lighting unit is specifically designed for daytime use, - The lighting unit extends substantially flush with the shield, - The lighting unit is locally offset from a peripheral edge of the opening, specifically an outer peripheral edge, to create a passage for the airflow channel inlet formed by the mounting device and the shield assembly.

[0008] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular of the type of an automobile, comprising an arrangement having at least some of the aforementioned characteristics. Presentation of the figures

[0009] These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description of an embodiment of an opening arrangement given by way of non-limiting agreement in relation to the accompanying figures, among which: - [Fig. 1] is a partial schematic representation of a front part of a motor vehicle seen from the outside, according to the arrangement of the object of the invention, - [Fig. 2] is another schematic representation of the arrangement according to a more distant view of [Fig. 1], a lighting unit having been removed, - [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of a fastening device, taken in isolation, visible on [Fig. 2], - [Fig. 4] is a perspective view of the inside of a bumper equipped with the fastening device of [Fig. 3] on which a lighting unit will be fixed, - [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of the inside of a bumper equipped with the fastening device of [Fig. 1].3] on which a wheel arch screen will be fixed. Detailed description.

[0010] The direction in which a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, moves in a straight line is defined as the longitudinal direction X. By convention, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, located in a plane parallel to the ground, is called the transverse direction Y. The third direction, perpendicular to the other two, is called the vertical direction Z. Thus, a right-handed coordinate system XYZ is used in which X is the longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle, i.e., directed towards the rear, Y is the transverse direction directed to the right, and Z is the vertical direction directed upwards. The forward direction corresponds to the direction in which the vehicle usually moves in the longitudinal direction and is opposite to the backward direction.

[0011] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a front bumper 2, more particularly the left end portion of the vehicle, which includes a polygonal lighting unit 3. The outer face of the lighting unit 3 may comprise two superimposed faces separated by an approximately horizontal edge 31. The lighting unit 3 may have a three-dimensional outer face and includes a second edge 32, which may extend substantially vertically. The lighting unit 3 preferably comprises the daytime running lights. It may also include at least one turn signal element. The bumper 2 includes an opening substantially complementary in shape to that of the lighting unit, in particular complementary in shape to a peripheral edge of the outer face of the lighting unit. A passage 50 for airflow through the bumper 2 is provided at a lateral area of ​​the opening 20.The passage 50 is created by the gap between the lateral peripheral edge, in particular a lower portion of the outer lateral peripheral edge 33 of the lighting block 3, and the opening 20 of the shield 2. The portion 33 of the lighting block can be inclined backwards more than the adjacent face of the block 2 such that the portion 33 guides the air towards the passage 50 made by the local gap between the lighting block 3 and the shield 2.

[0012] Figure 2 shows, in a zoomed-out view, the left side of the shield of Figure 1, from which the optical unit has been removed from the opening 20 to reveal a mounting device 4. The mounting device 4 is positioned on an inner face of the shield 2, along a substantially longitudinal portion of the lateral end of the shield. The mounting device 4 includes a distal wall 421 which, together with the shield 2, defines an airflow channel 5. This channel is intended for the circulation of air for cooling the braking elements, in that it includes an air outlet that opens near an area of ​​the front wheel arch. The peripheral edge 201 of the opening 20 in the shield 2 includes an outer peripheral edge 2011 which is located substantially opposite the inlet of the channel 5.

[0013] Figure 3 shows the fastening device 4 in isolation to highlight its particular design. The fastening device 4 is substantially omega-shaped in cross-section in that it comprises two assembly walls 41 connected to each other by a distal wall 42. The distal wall 42 comprises a substantially vertical portion 421 parallel to an inner face 21 of the abacus with respect to which the distal wall is disposed, and at least two transverse portions 422, in particular an upper transverse portion and a lower transverse portion. Preferably, said transverse portions are at least partially inclined relative to each other such that the airflow channel 5 has a variable cross-section. Each of the assembly walls 41 comprises at least one A substantially flat zone 410 is intended to bear against the inner face of the shield, which has a complementary shape. Each zone 410 may have a substantially rectangular profile and project beyond the outer face of the assembly wall intended to bear against the shield. Each zone 410 is intended for connection to the shield 2 by an ultrasonic welding process. The inner face that accommodates the fastening device 4 may also include zones dedicated to assembly by ultrasonic welding. The fastening device 4 comprises an upper assembly wall 41 and a lower assembly wall 41, each comprising at least one zone 410, preferably two zones 410, so as to complete the assembly of the assembly device 4 and the shield 2, thus forming a single-piece module after welding.

[0014] The assembly device 4 further includes an indexing means 7 comprising centering devices 71 and 72 respectively for positioning the fastening device 4 on the shield 2 and for positioning the lighting unit on the fastening device 4. The distinctive feature of the centering devices 71 lies particularly in their design, which aims to create mechanical stress in the assembly of the fastening device 4 and the shield 2. To this end, the centering devices 71 are deformable blades designed to exert a constant mechanical stress between the fastening device 4 and the shield 2 on which it is assembled. Thus placed under mechanical tension, the areas of the fastening device 4 located away from the areas 410 intended for welding assembly prevent any vibration from being transmitted to the fastening device 4, and consequently to each of the elements assembled to the fastening device 4.The centering elements 72 are in the form of pads with a roughly rectangular cross-section, protruding from the inner face of the assembly walls 4L. These centering elements 72 are designed for positioning the lighting unit 3, which includes concave sections to cover each pad according to an interlocking principle. Advantageously, no other fasteners are required for assembling the mounting device 4 to the shield 2, thus simplifying the assembly process and reducing assembly time, as these operations typically involve positioning and ultrasonic welding.

[0015] The channel 5, defined by the assembly of the fastening device 4 against an inner face 21 of the shield 2, comprises an inlet 51 and an outlet 52. Since the cross-section of the air inlet 51 is larger than that of the outlet 52, the channel 5 is a convergent channel designed to pressurize the air circulating within it, such that the air at the outlet has a higher flow velocity than that at the inlet. The reduction in cross-section along the channel is gradual. To achieve this, the fastening device 4 comprises a substantially vertical wall 421, or at least one intended to extend substantially parallel to the inner face 21 of the shield 2, the edges of which The upper and lower walls are extended by transverse walls 422. The upper and lower assembly walls 41 are connected respectively to the vertical wall 421 via a transverse wall 422. In order to create the reduced cross-section of the channel 5, the upper and lower transverse walls 422 are inclined relative to each other, particularly in part, as shown in [Fig. 3]. The configuration of the fastening device 4 with transverse walls 422 allows the creation of a distal wall 42 which extends along the inner face 21 of the shield 2 to create the airflow channel 5.

[0016] Due to its rigidity resulting from its substantially U-shaped cross-section, the mounting device 4 is a structural support element onto which a lighting unit 3 is assembled, as shown in [Fig. 4]. The dashed lines point to the first mounting interfaces 43, which are part of the arrangement of the invention. Part of the mounting interfaces 43 are located on the mounting device 4; part of them are integral with the shield 2, notably in pairs. An inner portion of the peripheral edge 201 of the opening 20 comprises two blocks projecting from the inner face 21, forming the first mounting interface 43. The first mounting interface 43, formed on the mounting device 4, coincides with the centering elements 71, such that the lighting unit 3 includes mounting tabs enabling it to be screwed onto the centering elements of the lighting device.

[0017] According to another advantage, the mounting device 4 is the structural support to which a wheel arch screen 6 is also attached, as shown in [Fig. 5]. For this purpose, the mounting device 4 includes, near its rear portion, second mounting interfaces 44 for attaching the wheel arch screen 6, which includes a mounting portion adjacent to an outer edge of the screen 6. The dashed lines in [Fig. 5] highlight the portion of the mounting device 4 to which the screen 6 is attached. This arrangement allows the air captured by the channel 5 to be directed towards the front wheel of the vehicle, in order to improve the cooling of the friction elements of the associated braking system.

[0018] The screen 6, as a front wheel arch, has a curved profile such that the mounting device 4 includes a rear profile that is substantially complementary in shape. The second interfaces 44 are respectively in the form of a bracket comprising a transverse wall against which the screen 6 is attached and screwed. The brackets extend transversely out of the distal wall 42, as shown in [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 5]. The second interfaces 44 also extend near the outlet 52, more specifically such that they adjoin the rear edge of the mounting device 4.

[0019] As a note, the fixing device 4 is a structural support which stiffens the shield 2 in its lateral portion to make it a robust fixing area on which the lighting unit 3 and the wheel arch screen 6 are assembled.

[0020] The movement of the vehicle incorporating the arrangement described above generates an airflow at the lower portion of the outer lateral peripheral edge 33 of the lighting unit 3, which then flows within the channel 5 formed by the assembly of the fastening device 4 on the inner face 21 of the bumper 2, before being directed towards the wheel arch. Due to the airflow through the bumper, the vehicle's drag coefficient is reduced, which contributes favorably to reducing the vehicle's energy consumption.

Claims

Demands

1. Arrangement (1) of a front part of a vehicle, in particular an automobile, the arrangement comprising a shield (2), a lighting unit (3) and a fastening device (4) intended in particular for assembling the shield to the lighting unit, characterized in that it comprises an airflow channel (5) formed along the shield, by the fastening device and the shield.

2. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fastening device (4) comprises at least two assembly walls (41) to the shield, in particular two walls comprising in whole or in part areas (410) intended for assembly by ultrasonic welding of the fastening device (4) to the shield (2), and a distal wall (42) connecting said two assembly walls (41) to each other, such that the airflow channel is made by the space between the shield and the distal wall of the fastening device.

3. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least a first interface (43) for fixing the lighting unit (4) to the shield (2), the at least first interface (43) being in particular made on the lighting device (4) and / or on the shield (2).

4. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a wheel arch screen (6) and at least one second interface (44) for the attachment of the screen (6), the at least one second interface (44) being made on the attachment device (4).

5. Arrangement (1) according to at least one of claims 1, 3 and 4 in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the distal wall (42) comprises a substantially vertical portion (421) parallel to an inner face (21) of the shield with respect to which the distal wall is disposed, at least two transverse portions (422), in particular an upper transverse portion and a lower transverse portion, said transverse portions being at least partly inclined relative to each other such that the airflow channel (5) has a changing cross-section.

6. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper transverse portion is substantially straight, and in that the lower transverse portion (422) comprises a front part inclined towards the upper transverse portion and a rear part substantially parallel to the upper transverse portion which directly faces it, at least one of the front and rear parts of the lower transverse portion (422) being in particular straight.

7. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the airflow channel (5) comprises an air inlet section (51) of a dimension greater than an air outlet section (52) such that the air pressure at the outlet of the channel is intended to be greater than the air pressure at the inlet.

8. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening device (4) comprises centering type indexing means (71) for pre-positioning the fastening device (4) on the shield (2), and / or structural support type indexing means (72) for the lighting unit (3)

9. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening device (4) is a reinforcement piece of the shield (2), the fastening device being made by molding a plastic material of thickness between 3 mm and 1 mm, preferably 2.5 mm, the thickness being in particular greater than the thickness of the shield.

10. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield (2) includes an opening (20) through which the lighting unit (3) is disposed substantially flush with the shield, the lighting unit being locally offset from a peripheral edge (201) of the opening (20), in particular from an outer peripheral edge (2011), in order to locally create a passage in view of which is disposed the inlet (51) of the airflow channel (5) formed by the assembly consisting of the fixing device (4) and the shield (2).

11. Vehicle, in particular of the type of an automobile, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims.