Functional module for an energy converter device and arrangement of a body of a vehicle comprising such a module

Abstract

The invention relates to a functional module (1) for an energy converter device, the functional module comprising an air supply device (2) comprising an air collector box (21) in which an air filter is arranged, characterized in that the air collector box comprises an air filter, a closing cover and a sealing means arranged between the air filter and the cover and / or a back wall (114) of the air collector box (21). The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a body of a vehicle comprising such a module, and to an air filter.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Functional module for an energy converter device and arrangement of a vehicle body comprising such a module.

[0002] The invention relates to the field of vehicles, more specifically vehicles whose powertrain comprises an air supply device and a cooling device. The powertrain may comprise an energy converter device, such as a fuel cell. The invention relates to a functional module comprising in part the air supply and / or cooling devices, the air supply device possibly comprising an air collector box, the cooling device possibly comprising a water box. The invention also relates to an arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a body and the functional module. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular an electric and / or hybrid vehicle, comprising the aforementioned functional module or arrangement.

[0003] The operation of a fuel cell requires a supply of filtered air as well as cooling, the latter being preferably carried out by means of a cooling fluid circuit in which the fuel cell to be cooled is positioned.

[0004] Air intake devices are known which use, in particular, air filters contained in air boxes and cooling devices in which there is a degassing device useful for the proper functioning of the cooling device. Such systems are most often installed in a compartment located at the front of the vehicle, regardless of the location of the powertrain at the front or, more rarely, at the rear of the vehicle.

[0005] Due to the strong implementation constraints aimed at housing increasingly complex technology in a vehicle, some of the powertrain elements are partly located at the rear of the vehicle. This may, for example, be the case for the energy converter device located below the floor of the vehicle, particularly under a rear seat. Such an architecture then comes to constrain the very design of the air supply and cooling devices which are fully necessary for the proper functioning of the energy converter device. New architectures are emerging from car manufacturers, in particular with the installation on vehicles of air supply devices and / or cooling devices outside traditional areas, particularly outside the front part of the vehicle.

[0006] For reasons of efficiency of the air supply and cooling devices, reduction of manufacturing costs, but also optimization of the vehicle architectures, the invention proposes a functional module for an energy converter device, said functional module comprising an air supply device comprising an air collector box in which an air filter is arranged. In particular, the air collector box comprises an air filter, a closing cover and a sealing means arranged between the air filter and the cover and / or a bottom wall of the air collector box.

[0007] The module which is the subject of the invention may also include the following characteristics, taken separately or in combination with each other:

[0008] - the module comprises a peripheral edge extending in a sealing plane, the peripheral edge comprising a fixing means intended for assembling the module to a vehicle body, in particular by screwing;

[0009] - the module includes a cooling device comprising a water box;

[0010] - the filter is of the cylindrical type;

[0011] - the air and water boxes have a common partition forming a separation of the air supply and cooling devices;

[0012] - the closing cover is cylindrical and mounted reversibly to the air collector box, in particular using a rotating clip-on assembly;

[0013] - the closing cover comprises an inner face outside of which a cylindrical support projects around which the inner face of an outer side of the cylindrical filter extends;

[0014] - the inner face of the closing cover comprises hooks distributed uniformly near a peripheral edge, and in that the opening of the air collector box, through which the air filter is adapted to be positioned inside the air collector box, comprises radially projecting lugs distributed uniformly around the opening, each hook being intended to engage with a lug, included around the opening of the air collector box;

[0015] - the water box comprises an inner wall having a portion of inclination relative to the sealing plane, and a filling opening arranged at the level of the inclined inner wall and covered with a closing cap;

[0016] - the module comprises an outer casing comprising upper side walls, lower side walls, lateral sides walls, and bottom walls, connected to each other, in particular by said bottom wall;

[0017] - the outer casing extends approximately perpendicular to the peripheral edge extending out of the outer casing;

[0018] - the air collector box comprises at least one air inlet opening, in particular several openings parallel to each other defining an air inlet grille arranged on the upper side wall and / or the lower side wall and / or the lateral side wall;

[0019] - the bottom wall comprises an inner face from which a cylindrical support projects on which the cylindrical filter is mounted;

[0020] - the enclosure comprises a filtered air collection chamber in fluidic connection with the interior of the cylindrical filter, the air collection chamber being in particular coaxial with the cylindrical support, the collection chamber extending in projection out of the opposite face of the bottom wall on which the cylindrical support extends in projection;

[0021] - the filter comprises on at least one of these end edges, a cylindrical groove in which said sealing means is arranged, in particular an O-ring. The invention also relates to an arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a body and at least one functional module as mentioned above, the arrangement being remarkable in that at least one opening is provided at the body, the functional module being arranged through the opening in order to be fixed to the body, such that a part of the functional module extends outside the vehicle, in particular inside a wheel arch and / or above a wheel, another part of the functional module extending inside the vehicle in order to make it possible to access the air manifold and / or the water box from inside the vehicle, in particular from the rear part of the vehicle body delimiting a loading compartment of the vehicle.

[0022] Finally, the invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a fuel cell, characterized in that it comprises a functional module as mentioned above, or an arrangement as mentioned above.

[0023] The attached drawings represent, by way of example, a functional module and an arrangement comprising such a module, according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig. 1 ] schematically represents, in a perspective view, a functional module according to the invention; [Fig. 2] represents the functional module of [Fig. 1 ] during a change of the filter element; [Fig. 3] schematically represents in perspective the interior of a closing cover of an air supply device of the functional module of [Fig. 2]; [Fig. 4] schematically represents in section along the axis AA of [Fig. 1 ] the functional module according to the invention; [Fig. 5] schematically represents in three-quarter rear perspective the functional module of [Fig. 1 ], according to the invention; [Fig. 6] represents a pre-positioning of the functional module on a body element of a vehicle, according to the invention; [Fig. 7] represents an arrangement of a body and the functional module of [Fig. 1 ], according to the invention; [Fig.8] schematically represents an exterior view of a wheel arch in which the functional module is fitted, according to the arrangement which is the subject of the invention.

[0025] We will refer to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ, in which the X axis designates the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, the Y axis designates the transverse direction of the vehicle and is oriented from the left to the right of the vehicle, left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle, the Z axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented from bottom to top, the vehicle resting on horizontal ground.

[0026] The terms “upper” and “lower” are defined with reference to the Z axis. The terms “front” and “rear” are defined with reference to the X axis. [Fig.1] represents a functional module 1 which is intended to be fluidically connected to an energy converter device (not shown) on board a vehicle, for example in the rear part of the latter, as will be detailed later.

[0027] The functional module 1 comprises an air supply device 2 and a cooling device 3.

[0028] The air supply device 2 comprises an air collector box 21.

[0029] The cooling device 3 comprises a water box 31, allowing the degassing of the cooling fluid.

[0030] The air collector box 21 and the water box 31 are arranged adjacent to each other, preferably in a side-by-side arrangement.

[0031] The cooling device 3 is included in a cooling circuit of the energy converter device.

[0032] The functional module 1 comprises a main body 10 on which various elements are attached, in particular removable elements, including a cover 25 and a plug 33, respectively intended for the air supply device 2 and the cooling device 3.

[0033] The main body 10 and the added elements can be made by molding a plastic material. The main body 10 of the functional module 1 partly comprises an outer casing 11 visible in [Fig.2],

[0034] The main body 10 may comprise a first concave body 11 comprising a collar 113 intended for assembly to a second concave body 12 by a collar 123. A means 13 for assembling the first and second bodies 11 and 12 provides the connection of the collars which have a common geometry. The first and second bodies 11 and 12 may be receptacles, respectively of the box type, which are attached to each other opposite each other by the collars 113 and 123 located at the free edge of one of the first and second bodies 11 and 12.

[0035] The fluid connection is provided by pipes 60, which belong respectively to an air supply device 2 and to a cooling device 3 comprising the functional module 1.

[0036] The air supply device 2 comprises an air filter 20 arranged in the collector box 21. The air filter 20 is of the cylindrical filter type.

[0037] Each of the end edges of the filter 20 cooperates with a sealing means 26. For example, each end edge comprises an O-ring.

[0038] According to an alternative embodiment, each of the end edges of the filter 20 houses a sealing means 26, in the sense that each end edge comprises an annular groove in which an O-ring is housed.

[0039] The cooling device 3 comprises a water box 31 which allows expansion of the volume of coolant and degassing of the latter.

[0040] In [Fig.2] is shown the air supply device 2 which comprises an air collector box 21, air inlet openings 22 and an air outlet opening 24, visible in [Fig.4],

[0041] The collector box of substantially polygonal section accommodates a cylindrical filter 20 which makes it possible to reduce pressure losses while increasing the filtration surface. The filter 20 is mounted inside the air collector box 21 according to a sliding movement of axis B.

[0042] The main body 10 comprises an inlet opening 27 made at an inner face of the functional module 1. Radially, lugs 255 are distributed along the cylindrical opening 27. The lugs 255 are four in number, spaced 90° apart from each other around the axis B.

[0043] The water box 31 is of the through type in that it comprises an inlet pipe 35 and an outlet pipe 34 for the coolant, which are respectively connected to inlet pipes 63 and outlet pipes 62 for the coolant.

[0044] The water box 31 is comparable to a coolant reservoir which comprises a filling opening on which is arranged a closing cap 33, in particular screwed on. As will be detailed later, the functional module 1 is intended to take up as little space as possible. It comprises in particular an inner wall 32 which comprises a portion of inclination relative to a bottom wall 114 of the outer casing 11, the inclination portion vertically extending a lower portion which is approximately parallel to the bottom wall 114.

[0045] The inner wall 32 comprises a portion of inclination relative to a sealing plane defined by a peripheral edge 10 projecting from the upper 111, lower 112 and lateral 113 side walls of the outer casing 11. These walls are connected to each other in such a way that the lateral side walls 113 are each connected to the upper 111 and lower 112 side walls. These walls are further connected to each other by the bottom wall 114.

[0046] The air collector box 21 and the water box 31 comprise a common partition 41 forming a separation of the air supply 2 and cooling 3 devices.

[0047] [Fig. 3] illustrates the hatch 25 taken in isolation. The inner face 251 comprises fixing means making it possible to reversibly mount the cover 25 on the main body 10 of the functional module 1. The means for fixing the cover 25 are in the form of hooks 253, in particular four in number, distributed uniformly around the peripheral edge 252 of the cover. Each hook 253 is produced along a rib 254 adjoining the peripheral edge 252. The rib 254 extends outside the inner face 251. Each hook 253 comprises a tab which delimits with the inner face a housing in which a lug 255 of the main body 10 is intended to be housed in order to lock the cover 25 in the closed position.In order to make it possible to insert the lugs 255 into the hooks 253 in identical number, the rib 254 of the cover 25 comprises notches 256 allowing axial displacement of axis B of the cover on the body 10, before rotation of the cover 25 in order to lock the cover 25 by means of the hooks 253 and the lugs 255. The axial movement prior to the rotation of the cover by an angle around the axis B of between 10° and 30°, preferably 15°, is necessary in order to create a stressing of the sealing means 26 and consequently make the inlet opening 27 airtight when the air filter 20 is housed inside the functional module 1 in the locked state of the cover 25.

[0048] [Fig. 4] shows the functional module 1 in longitudinal section. The air outlet pipe 24 is in the form of a pipe intended for the connection of an air supply duct 61 located in the rear part of the functional module 1.

[0049] The cylindrical filter 20 is connected to the interior of the functional module 1 by means of a support means 27. The cylindrical filter inner wall 20 is intended to come into contact against a first support means 271 extending in projection inside the rear portion 13. The first support means 271 is cylindrical and coaxial with the chamber 115.

[0050] On the opposite side, in the front part, a cover 25 provides a second support means 272 on which the cylindrical filter 20 is mounted when the cover 25 is assembled to the body 10, in the locked state.

[0051] The closing cover 25 comprises an inner face outside of which a cylindrical support projects against which the inner face of the cylindrical filter 20 is intended to come to bear.

[0052] So that the air to be filtered present inside the chamber 115 has been previously filtered by the cylindrical filter 20, a sealing means 26 is arranged partly between the cylindrical filter 20 and the cover 25, as well as between the cylindrical filter 20 and the inner face of the bottom wall 114.

[0053] [Fig. 5] represents the functional module 1 seen from a three-quarter rear view, according to which the rear portion 13 of the lateral side wall 113 comprises the air intake grille 23. The air intake grille may, according to an alternative embodiment, be located at the level of the front portion 12 of the outer casing 11.

[0054] The outer casing 11 has an interfacing portion 116 which is shaped according to the geometry of a screen 8 arranged inside the passage 6 of the wheel 7, as can be seen in [Fig.8]. [Fig.5] shows the functional module 1 in a rear three-quarter view in order to highlight the presence of a chamber 115, which is intended to collect the filtered air, and which extends projecting out of the bottom wall 114. The chamber 115 comprises a radial fixing flange on which the air supply duct 61 is fixed. The chamber 115 has a substantially cylindrical section, and comprises a bottom substantially parallel to that of the bottom wall 114.

[0055] The water box 31 of the functional module 1 is delimited by the outer casing 11.

[0056] The outer casing 11 is preferably obtained by molding a plastic material. It comprises a front portion 12 and a portion 13 connected to each other by a junction line 14. The front 12 and rear 13 portions can be produced separately by molding a plastic material, then assembled to each other by overmolding the junction line 14.

[0057] According to an alternative embodiment, the rear portion 13 can be overmolded onto the front portion 12 so that the junction line 14 is produced concomitantly with the rear portion 13. The front portion 12 comprises the inlet 35 and outlet 34 pipes of the water box 31. The rear portion 13 comprises the air outlet pipe 24 and the air inlet opening 22.

[0058] Preferably, the air collector box 21 comprises several air inlet openings 22, in particular linear openings, preferably rectilinear, in order to form an air inlet grille 23. [Fig. 6] represents the arrangement of a body part 5, in particular a rear body part of the vehicle, and of the functional module 1. The body 5 more particularly comprises a wall 52 which comprises an opening 51 shaped according to the geometry of the functional module 1. The wall 52 is a body part of the vehicle body which partly delimits a rear wheel arch.

[0059] According to the arrangement of the invention, the functional module 1 is arranged inside the passage 6 in such a way that it is attached through the opening 51 and screwed onto the periphery of the opening 51, in particular by screwing.

[0060] To do this, the outer casing 11 comprises the main body 10 from which a collar 100 projects. The body 10 is intended to come to bear against the inner face of the wall 52.

[0061] Preferably, a sealing means is arranged between the outer casing 11 and the wall 51. The sealing means is a seal 16 visible in [Fig.4] which is previously attached against the outer face of the peripheral edge 100 in order to be sandwiched between the wall 51 and the body 10 of the functional module 1.

[0062] The peripheral edge 100 may locally comprise radial protrusions in which openings 50 are made such that these openings are distributed uniformly along the peripheral edge, thereby making it possible to assemble the functional module 1 on the body 1 of the vehicle, in particular by the use of a screw-type fixing means to the wall 52, at the edge 51 of the opening 6.

[0063] The functional module 1 arranged on the body 5 is operated by placing the body of the functional module 1 through the opening 51 made through the wall 52. The functional module 1 thus extends inside the wheel arch 6 7 which is a wet part of the vehicle. The inner face of the functional module 1 is arranged at a dry area of ​​the vehicle, which may be a loading compartment, in particular a rear trunk. Consequently, access to the air filter 20 and filling of the cooling circuit can be carried out from inside the vehicle.

[0064] [Fig.7] represents the interior side of a loading compartment 55 delimited laterally by the wall 52 in particular, the functional module 1 having been assembled to the body 5 of the vehicle.

[0065] Therefore, the functional module 1 can be made accessible from inside the rear loading compartment of the vehicle. Filling with coolant via the cap 33 can be made possible from the loading compartment of the vehicle.

[0066] Replacement of the air filter 20 after removal of the cover 25 can be made possible from the loading compartment of the vehicle.

[0067] Preferably, the functional module 1 can be attached to a top portion of the wheel arch delimited by the wall 52. [Fig. 8] represents a part of the exterior of the body 5, the arrangement of the body of a vehicle, comprising the wall 52, the functional module 1, a screen 8 arranged at a wheel arch 6 of the wheel 7. The functional module 1 is shaped in such a way that it fits the top portion of the screen 8. The functional module 1 is located above the screen 8 along the Z axis.

[0068] The conduits 60 extend between the functional module 1 and a part located upstream of the functional module 1, in a direction thus opposite to the longitudinal axis X. The pipes 24, 34 and 35 are arranged towards the front of the vehicle, preferably as close as possible to the fuel cell to which they are connected, which tends to optimize the architecture of the air supply 2 and cooling 3 devices.

[0069] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the functional module may comprise only either an air supply device or a cooling device. In this case, the arrangement of the vehicle body comprises an opening on each of the left and right wheel arches such that a first functional module comprising an air supply device 2 is arranged and fixed on one of the left and right wheel arches, and a second functional module comprising the cooling device 3 is arranged and fixed on the other of the left and right wheel arches.

[0070] According to another variant embodiment not shown, a first functional module comprises an air supply device 2, a second functional module comprises a cooling device 3, the functional modules being intended to be mounted against each other. A fixing means can be used to securely connect the modules together so as to form a pre-assembled unitary assembly.

[0071] The arrangement of the vehicle body can thus comprise a single opening through which the first and second modules are arranged in the at least one opening made on at least one of the left wheel arches and the right wheel arches, thereby adjacent the first and second modules next to each other.

[0072] The body layout comprising at least one functional module 1 in the trunk compartment promotes accessibility and rapid maintenance of the vehicle for any maintenance intervention. The body layout preserves the trunk volume while providing a functional module 1 in the immediate vicinity of the fuel cell, which reduces the length of the conduits.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Functional module (1) for an energy converter device, said functional module comprising an air supply device (2) comprising an air collector box (21) in which an air filter (20) is arranged, characterized in that the air collector box comprises a closing cover and a sealing means arranged between the air filter (20) and the cover and / or a bottom wall (114) of the air collector box (21).

2. Module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a cooling device (3) comprising a water box (31).

3. Module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filter is of the cylindrical type.

4. Module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closing cover (25) is cylindrical and mounted reversibly to the air collector box (21), in particular according to a rotational clip-on assembly.

5. Module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closing cover (25) comprises an inner face outside of which projects a cylindrical support around which extends the inner face of an outer side of the cylindrical filter.

6. Module (1) according to the combination of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the inner face of the closing cover (25) comprises hooks distributed uniformly near a peripheral edge, and in that the opening of the air collector box, through which the air filter is able to be positioned inside the air collector box, comprises radially projecting lugs distributed uniformly around the opening, each hook being intended to engage with a lug, included around the opening of the air collector box.

7. Module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an outer casing (11) comprising upper side walls (111), lower side walls (112), lateral side walls (113), bottom walls (114), connected to each other, in particular by said bottom wall.

8. Module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air collector box (21) comprises at least one air inlet opening (22), in particular several openings parallel to each other defining an air inlet grille (23) arranged on the upper side wall (111) and / or the lower side wall (112) and / or the lateral side wall (113).

9. Module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the filter comprises on at least one of these end edges, a cylindrical groove in which said sealing means is arranged, in particular an O-ring.

10. Arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a body (5) and at least one functional module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one opening (51) is provided at the body, the functional module being arranged through the opening in order to be fixed to the body, such that a part of the functional module extends outside the vehicle, in particular inside a wheel arch (6) (7) and / or above a wheel (7), another part of the functional module extending inside the vehicle in order to make the air manifold and / or the water box (21; 31) accessible from inside the vehicle, in particular from the rear part of the body (5) of the vehicle delimiting a loading compartment (55) of the vehicle.

11. Vehicle comprising a fuel cell, characterized in that it comprises a functional module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or an arrangement according to claim 10.

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