VEHICLE KIT INCLUDING PROTECTIVE INSULATION FOR AN ECU

Abstract

Vehicle assembly comprising a protective insulator for a control unit. Assembly (1) for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle cockpit, comprising a motor vehicle insulator (2) and a control unit (3) for said motor vehicle. The insulator (2) includes a protruding guard (4) for protecting the control unit (3), said guard (4) comprising a cover (7) capable of being positioned closed and open, the open position allowing access to the control unit (3) for maintenance. Figure for abbreviation: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING PROTECTIVE INSULATION FOR A COMPUTER technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computers and in particular the protection of computers for vehicles.

[0002] Vehicle control units are generally surrounded by components that can generate moisture and sometimes cause fluid leaks, particularly water. However, control units are electronic components that are at risk of significant functional degradation if they come into contact with a fluid and must therefore be protected from it.

[0003] This is why today's control units include covers that provide a watertight seal against potential fluid leaks. Generally, in vehicle assembly, the control unit cover is installed after the control unit and surrounding components. The cover is thus mounted to the control unit using screws.

[0004] However, in some cases, the space between the surrounding components and the computer is insufficient to allow a cover to be mounted and screwed onto the computer. This causes problems with securing the cover and with accessing and removing the cover from the computer.

[0005] For example, in the case of a control unit for a motor vehicle airbag located at the front of the vehicle, more precisely in the vehicle's cockpit, the control unit is mounted before the vehicle's air conditioning system. The air conditioning system is positioned directly above the control unit and includes a fluid drain outlet that circulates around the airbag control unit. The area between the air conditioning system and the control unit is restricted in terms of space, making it impossible to mount and remove a cover for said control unit. Description of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a solution that addresses the aforementioned problems.

[0007] The invention therefore relates to a vehicle assembly, in particular a vehicle cockpit assembly, comprising vehicle insulation and a vehicle computer. The insulation comprises a protruding protective cover for the computer, said cover being capable of assuming a position closed and an open position, the open position allowing access to the computer in case of maintenance.

[0008] According to a first embodiment, the cover is movable. The movable cover comprises an end attached to the protection and a body capable of moving to adopt a closed or an open position.

[0009] Advantageously, the cover is mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation.

[0010] Optionally, the cover is movable in rotation around several axes of rotation.

[0011] Advantageously, the cover includes a reduction in thickness at the axis of rotation.

[0012] According to a second embodiment, the cover is removable. The removable cover is completely detachable from the guard.

[0013] Advantageously, the cover is removable and is removed from the protection when said cover is in the open position by means of pre-cuts machined on the insulator.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the cover is removable and is held in place partly on the protection by its shape when said cover is in the closed position.

[0015] Advantageously, the insulation comprises waterproof and sound-absorbing materials.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assembly as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] - Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a cockpit assembly for motor vehicle, the assembly including an insulator, a safety airbag control unit and a protective cover for the control unit;

[0019] - Figure [Fig. 2] is a side view of a movable protective cover for a calculator, including a transverse axis of rotation;

[0020] - Figure [Fig. 3] is a front view representation of a movable protective cover for a calculator, including a longitudinal axis of rotation;

[0021] - Figure [Fig. 4A] is a front view representation of a movable protective cover for a calculator in closed position, comprising two longitudinal axes of rotation;

[0022] - Figure [Fig. 4B] is a front view representation of a movable protective cover for a calculator in open position, comprising two longitudinal axes of rotation; and

[0023] - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a removable protective cover for a calculator. Detailed description

[0024] Figure 1 shows a cockpit assembly for a motor vehicle, the assembly being designated by the reference numeral 1. The assembly 1 comprises an insulator 2 for the motor vehicle cockpit and a control unit 3 for said motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is situated in an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z. The X axis denotes the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis denotes the transverse direction oriented to the left of the vehicle viewed from the front, along the X direction, and the Z axis denotes the vertical direction, oriented upwards towards the vehicle.

[0025] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the insulator 2 of assembly 1 is a component that isolates the floor of the motor vehicle from the rest of the vehicle. It comprises two layers of material: the first layer, 2a, is a sound-absorbing foam that dampens vibrations from the motor vehicle's mechanisms, and the second layer, 2b, is a waterproof plate. The insulator 2 forms a sealed and sound-absorbing shell between the floor of the motor vehicle and the components of the motor vehicle's cockpit. It includes a protruding protective cover 4 designed to protect the control unit 3.

[0026] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the control unit 3 is the control unit for a vehicle airbag located under the vehicle's air conditioning system 5. The air conditioning system 5 includes a fluid outlet 6 that circulates around the airbag control unit 3. There is therefore a risk that fluid from the outlet 6 of the air conditioning system 5 may be sprayed onto the control unit 3. Furthermore, since the space between the air conditioning system 5 and the control unit 3 is limited, the control unit 3 does not include a protective cover. For this reason, the insulation 2 includes a protective cover 4 for the control unit 3, the cover 4 being integrated directly into the insulation 2. The control unit 3 is a parallelepiped-shaped electronic component, comprising an upper surface 3a facing an inner surface of the cover 4 and a lower surface 3b positioned on the floor of the vehicle.

[0027] During the assembly of a motor vehicle, the insulator 2 is mounted first, then the control unit 3 is installed on the vehicle floor, and finally the air conditioning system 5 with all the cockpit components. The protective cover 4 is designed to facilitate the assembly of and access to the control unit 3 for maintenance. In particular, the protective cover 4 includes a cover 7 which can be in a closed position PF and an open position PO, the open position PO allowing access to the control unit 3.

[0028] The protruding protection 4 is therefore an extension of the vehicle's insulation 2, providing protection for the computer 3, and the cover 7 is a part of the protection The cover can be movable or removable to adopt the closed position (PF) and the open position (PO) as needed. The cover 4 comprises the same materials as the insulator 2, specifically a layer of sound-absorbing foam and a waterproof plate. The protruding cover 4 forms a protective shell for the control unit 3, conforming to the shape of the control unit 3. The cover 4 is designed to also protect the front of the control unit 3 while allowing the control unit 3 cables to pass through.

[0029] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4B, the cover 7 is a movable cover. The movable cover 7 is characterized in that it comprises an end attached to the protection 4 and a body capable of moving to adopt the closed position PF or the open position PO. The cover 7 comprises the same materials as the insulation, which are sufficiently flexible to be bent relatively easily. In principle, the cover 7 is operated by an operator who is able to open and close the cover 7 manually.

[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2], the movable cover 7 includes a rotation axis extending along the transverse axis Y. The rotation axis is located at the rear of the computer 3, at the same height as its upper surface 3a. The cover 7 is therefore opened and closed longitudinally around the transverse axis Y, from front to back of the computer 3.

[0031] The cover 7 includes a local reduction in thickness 8 at the axis of rotation to facilitate the cover's mobility. Thus, at the transverse axis of rotation, the thickness of the protective element 4 is reduced. In particular, the thickness of the sound-absorbing foam is reduced, making it easier to fold the cover 7 at its end attached to the protective element 4.

[0032] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], the movable cover 7 includes a rotation axis extending along the longitudinal axis X. The rotation axis is located on the side of the computer 3, almost at the same height as its lower surface 3b. The cover 7 is therefore opened and closed laterally around the longitudinal axis X above the computer 3.

[0033] The cover 7 includes a local reduction in thickness 8 at the axis of rotation to facilitate the cover's mobility. Thus, at the longitudinal axis of rotation, the thickness of the protective element 4 is reduced. In particular, the thickness of the sound-absorbing foam is reduced, making it easier to fold the cover 7 at its end attached to the protective element 4.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, the movable cover 7 comprises two axes of rotation extending along the longitudinal axis X. A first axis of rotation is located on the side of the computer 3, almost at the same height as its upper surface 3a, and a second axis of rotation is located away from the computer 3 and is located at the same height as the lower surface 3b of the calculator 3. The cover 7 is therefore opened and closed laterally around two longitudinal axes X above the calculator 3.

[0035] The cover 7 includes two thickness reductions 8 located at the axes of rotation to facilitate the cover's mobility. Thus, at the longitudinal axes of rotation, the thickness of the protective layer is reduced. In particular, the thickness of the sound-absorbing foam is reduced, making it easier to fold the cover 7 at its first axis of rotation and at its end attached to the protective layer 4.

[0036] When the insulator 2 is supplied for vehicle assembly, it includes a pre-cut 9 in the cover 7 and the necessary local thickness reduction(s) 8. During vehicle assembly, the insulator 2 is positioned against the floor of the motor vehicle with the cover 7 of the protective cover 4 in the closed position PF. The cover 7 is then opened by folding around one or more axes of rotation to access the space intended to house the computer 3. The computer 3 is installed on the floor of the motor vehicle with the rest of the cockpit, and then the cover 7 of the protective cover 4 is closed over the computer 3.

[0037] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 5], the cover 7 is a removable cover. The removable cover 7 is completely detachable from the guard 4. When the cover 7 is in the closed position PF, it is fitted onto the guard 4, and when the cover 7 is in the open position PO, it is removed from the guard 4 and is no longer in contact with said guard 4.

[0038] The pre-cut 9 machined into the insulator 2 allows for the complete detachment of the cover 7 if it is removable. The cover 7 is completely cut out and detached from the protective cover 4 before the insulator 2 is installed on the floor of the vehicle to accommodate the control unit 3. Once the insulator 2, the control unit 3, and the cockpit components are installed, the cover 7 is closed and thus positioned on the protective cover 4. The cover 7 is held in place naturally when in the closed position (PF). The shape of the cover 7 fits perfectly onto the protective cover 4 and holds the cover 7 in place transversely along the Y-axis and longitudinally along the X-axis. The cover 7 is held vertically along the Z-axis by the surrounding components.

[0039] Of course, we do not depart from the scope of the invention when element 1 has a different composition. The protruding protection 4 of the insulator 2 is suitable for protecting any computer 3 in any vehicle architecture.

[0040] The protruding protection 4 of the insulator 2 saves a part since the computer 3 does not require an additional cover. The solution thus provides a watertight seal for the computer 3 while also soundproofing the vehicle floor and provides a protection solution for the control unit 3 when the environment is restricted. Furthermore, the manufacturing, assembly, disassembly of assembly 1 and maintenance operations performed on the control unit 3 are simplified.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly (1) for vehicle, in particular for cockpit for motor vehicle, comprising an insulator (2) for motor vehicle and a computer (3) for said motor vehicle, characterized in that the insulator (2) comprises a protruding guard (4) intended to protect the computer (3), said guard (4) comprising a cover (7) capable of adopting a closed position (PF) and an open position (PO), the open position (PO) allowing access to the computer (3) in case of maintenance.

2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (7) is movable.

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the cover (7) is movable in rotation about an axis of rotation.

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover (7) is movable in rotation about several axes of rotation.

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the cover (7) includes a reduction in thickness (8) at the axis of rotation.

6. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (7) is removable.

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 6, wherein the cover (7) is removable and is removed from the protection (4) when said cover (7) is in the open position (PO) by means of pre-cuts (9) machined on the insulator (2).

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1, 6 and 7, wherein the cover (7) is removable and is held in place partly on the guard (4) by its shape when said cover is in the closed position (PF).

9. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insulation (2) comprises waterproof and sound-absorbing materials.

10. Motor vehicle comprising an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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