Radiator grille for a motor vehicle, with protective bars

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiator grille (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a frame, a plurality of active shutters (3a, 3b) which change from an open position to a closed position and are located within the frame of the grille (1), and at least one bar (4) for protection in the event of an impact. The protective bar (4) is secured within the frame of the grille (1) and is located in front of the active shutters (3a, 3b) when the active shutters (3a, 3b) are in the open position, and behind the active shutters (3a, 3b) when the active shutters (3a, 3b) are in the closed position. The grille frame comprises an upper crossmember (5), a lower crossmember (6), a left lateral crossmember and a right lateral crossmember.

Description

[0001] TITLE: RADIATOR GRILLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WITH PROTECTIVE BARS

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of radiator grilles for motor vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to the protection of persons in the event of contact with a radiator grille for a motor vehicle.

[0004] A motor vehicle radiator advantageously includes active shutters which provide an essentially aesthetic function allowing the technical elements behind the grille to be hidden. When the radiator needs to recover air for engine cooling, the active shutters open.

[0005] There is an ECE 26 standard that aims to eliminate aggressive edges on a motor vehicle, which could injure a person upon contact.

[0006] This standard considers that a sphere with a diameter of 100 millimeters represents a person, for example an adult's knee. For an area that can be contacted to be considered compliant, the radius of an edge at the point of contact must be greater than or equal to 2.5 millimeters, and greater than or equal to 2.7 millimeters for the Renault brand specifically.

[0007] The ECE 26 standard also stipulates that in the event of double contact of the motor vehicle with the sphere, the radii of the edges at the contact points may be less than 2.7 millimeters depending on the distance between these two points.

[0008] Today, there are several solutions which consist of placing visible protective bars compliant with the ECE 26 standard in front of the active shutters in order to protect pedestrians.

[0009] However, for aesthetic reasons, these solutions are not optimal, requiring the visible presence of protective bars. Also known, from document FR2 303 500, is a grille frame which has advanced edges conforming to the ECE 26 standard, preventing contact of the sphere with the active shutters, when these are open.

[0010] However, this solution remains unattractive, and requires precise dimensions of the grille so that the edges are close enough together to prevent contact between the sphere and the active shutters when they are open.

[0011] Statement of the invention

[0012] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned problems and, in particular, to protect people in the event of contact with the active shutters of a motor vehicle when they are open, while providing aesthetic freedom to the vehicle.

[0013] The invention therefore relates to a radiator grille for a motor vehicle comprising a frame, several active flaps varying from an open position to a closed position and located inside the frame of the grille, and at least one protective bar in the event of an impact. The protective bar is fixed inside the frame of the grille, being located in front of the active flaps when said active flaps are in the open position, and behind the active flaps when said active flaps are in the closed position.

[0014] Advantageously, the frame comprises an upper crosspiece, a lower crosspiece, a left side crosspiece and a right side crosspiece.

[0015] According to a first embodiment, the protective bar is arranged horizontally between the left side crosspiece and the right side crosspiece, when the active shutters are arranged horizontally between the left side crosspiece and the right side crosspiece.

[0016] According to a second embodiment, the protective bar is arranged vertically between the upper cross member and the lower cross member, when the active shutters are arranged vertically between the upper cross member and the lower cross member. Optionally, a protective bar is integrated into the grille for an active shutter.

[0017] Advantageously, the protective bar comprises rounded edges with radii greater than and / or equal to 2.7 millimeters.

[0018] Active shutters have an intermediate position between their open position and their closed position.

[0019] Optionally, the active shutters are an assembly of diamond-shaped patterns in the proportions of the Renault emblem.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle radiator comprising a grille as defined above.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a radiator as defined above, which comprises a grille as defined above.

[0022] Brief description of the drawings

[0023] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0024] - [Fig. 1] is a schematic view of a radiator grille for a motor vehicle comprising active shutters in the closed position;

[0025] - [Fig. 2A] is a schematic view illustrating the ECE 26 standard during contact between the motor vehicle and a sphere representing a person;

[0026] - [Fig. 2B] is a schematic view illustrating the ECE 26 standard during double contact between the motor vehicle and a sphere representing a person;

[0027] - [Fig. 3A] is a top view of a grille comprising active shutters in the closed position and not comprising protective bars;

[0028] - [Fig. 3B] is a top view of a grille comprising active shutters in the open position and not comprising protective bars; - [Fig. 4A] is a top view of a grille comprising active shutters in the closed position and protective bars;

[0029] - [Fig. 4B] is a top view of a grille including active shutters in the open position and protective bars;

[0030] - [Fig. 5A] is a front view of a grille including active shutters in the closed position and protective bars;

[0031] - [Fig. 5B] is a front view of a grille including active shutters in the open position and protective bars;

[0032] - [Fig. 6A] is a front view of a grille comprising active shutters in the closed position and protective bars, the active shutters being an assembly of patterns representing diamonds in the proportions of the Renault emblem; and

[0033] - [Fig. 6B] is a front view of a grille comprising active shutters in the open position and protective bars, the active shutters being an assembly of diamond-shaped patterns in the proportions of the Renault emblem.

[0034] Detailed description

[0035] In Figure 1, there is shown a radiator grille 1 for a motor vehicle, designated by the reference numeral 1 and falling within an orthogonal reference frame X, Y, Z. The X axis designates the front-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis designates the transverse direction oriented towards the right of the vehicle according to a driving situation, and the Z axis designates the vertical direction, oriented towards the top of the vehicle.

[0036] The grille 1 comprises a frame 2, several active flaps 3 located inside the frame 2 of the grille 1, and at least one protective bar 4 in the event of an impact between the motor vehicle and a person, not shown in FIG. 1.

[0037] The frame 2 of the grille 1 comprises an upper cross member 5, a lower cross member 6, a left side cross member 7 and a right side cross member 8. The active shutters 3 are located inside the frame 2 of the grille 1, varying from an open position PO to a closed position PF, passing through an intermediate position.

[0038] According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the active flaps 3 are arranged vertically between the upper cross member 5 and the lower cross member 6 of the grille 1. The grille 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises nine active flaps 3, each formed from a column of patterns. These patterns vary according to the desired aesthetic for the grille 1 of the vehicle.

[0039] The active shutters 3 can also be arranged horizontally between the left side cross member 7 and the right side cross member 8, according to a second embodiment not shown in the figures. The active shutters 3 can also be arranged diagonally in the frame 2 of the grille 1.

[0040] As explained previously, when the active shutters 3 are in the closed position PF, as illustrated in FIG. 1, they perform an essentially aesthetic function making it possible to hide the technical elements behind the grille 1 and, when the active shutters 3 are in the open position PO, they allow air to enter for cooling the engine via the radiator of the motor vehicle.

[0041] A standard, called ECE 26, aims to protect pedestrians by eliminating aggressive edges of a motor vehicle that could injure a person upon contact. This standard considers that a sphere S with a diameter D of 100 millimeters, as illustrated in Figure 2A, represents a person, for example an adult knee. For an area that can be contacted to be considered compliant by the ECE 26 standard, the radius R of the rounded edge at the point of contact must be greater than or equal to 2.5 millimeters, and greater than or equal to 2.7 millimeters for the Renault brand specifically.

[0042] As illustrated in Figure 2B, the ECE 26 standard also stipulates that in the case of double contact of the motor vehicle with the sphere S, the radii R of the rounded edges at the contact points may be less than 2.7 millimeters depending on the distance C between these two points. This second case follows a law according to the following table [Table 1]:

[0043] [Table 1]

[0044] For a distance C between two contact points greater than 40 millimeters, the radii R of the edges of the contact points are greater than or equal to 2.7 millimeters.

[0045] For a distance C between two contact points between 25 millimeters and 40 millimeters, the radii R of the edges of the contact points are greater than or equal to 1.2 millimeters.

[0046] For a distance C between two contact points less than or equal to 25 millimeters, the radii R of the edges of the contact points are greater than or equal to 0.7 millimeters.

[0047] Figure 3A is a top view of a grille 1 comprising three active shutters 3 in the closed position PF and not comprising protective bars 4.

[0048] An active shutter 3 comprises a front face 9 and a rear face 10 connected to each other by links 11, and an upper pivot and a lower pivot 12, which allow the rotation of the active shutter 3 from a closed position PF to an open position PO.

[0049] When the active shutters 3 are in the closed position PF, the ECE 26 standard is respected since there is no aggressive edge with a radius R less than 2.7 millimeters protruding from the grille 1.

[0050] On the other hand, when the active flaps 3 are in the open position PO, as in FIG. 3B, the front faces 9 of the active flaps 3 comprise a prominent edge 13 that can be brought into contact with a person. Specifically, the prominent edge 13 is located at the joint plane P of the front face 9 of the active flap 3. A prominent edge 13 follows the pattern of the front face 9 of the active flap 3, which means that it does not necessarily form a single straight line. In the case shown in FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B, the prominent edges 13 comprise two projecting parts.

[0051] ECE 26 prohibits the design of a joint plane P comprising edges with radii R greater than or equal to 2.7 millimeters. The radii R of the prominent edges 13 of the active flaps 3 cannot therefore be greater than 2.7 millimeters.

[0052] However, a distance C between two points of the same prominent edge 13 which does not form a single straight line, can be greater than 40 millimeters. According to table 1 of the ECE 26 standard, it is therefore imperative that the radii R of the prominent edges 13 are greater than or equal to 2.7 millimeters. This is not possible without manufacturing flaps 3 comprising a thickness of 6 millimeters, which brings technical and economic complexities. Indeed, a flap 3 of 6 millimeters thickness comprises two shells of 2.5 millimeters which are assembled together, which doubles the manufacturing cost.

[0053] This is why, without a protective bar 4, the grille 1 as shown in Figure 3B is dangerous for a pedestrian. Indeed, a sphere S can easily be in double contact with the prominent edges 13 of the active flaps 3.

[0054] It is therefore necessary for the grille 1 to comprise at least one protective bar 4 conforming to the ECE 26 standard, which makes it possible to prevent contact between the sphere S and the active flaps 3. A protective bar 4 conforming to the ECE 26 standard implies that it comprises rounded edges with radii R greater than and / or equal to 2.7 millimeters. The grille 1 may also comprise more than one protective bar 4.

[0055] The protective bar 4 is fixed inside the frame 2 of the grille 1, and is located behind the active shutters 3 when these are in the closed position PF, making it possible to optimize the aesthetic freedom of the grille 1, and located in front of the active shutters 3 when these are in the open position PO, making it possible to protect the pedestrian in the event of contact with the motor vehicle.

[0056] According to an embodiment shown in Figure 4A, the grille 1 comprises three active flaps 3 and three protective bars 4 arranged vertically between the upper crosspiece 5 and the lower crosspiece 6 of the frame 2. Advantageously, a protective bar 4 is integrated into the grille 1 for an active flap 3. In other words, in general, an active flap 3 is coupled with a protective bar 4. In practice, a protective bar 4 follows the cutting edge of the active flap 3 with which it is coupled.

[0057] The location of the protective bars 4 according to the example presented by FIGS. 4A and 4B, was determined by studying the movement A of the prominent edge 13 of a first active shutter 3a and by studying the movement B of the rear point of the front face 9 of a second active shutter 3b. The alignment L of the prominent edges 13 of the active shutters 3 when they are in the open position PO is also taken into account. Without limitation, the protective bars 4 are thus arranged in the free zone between the movement of the prominent edge 13 of a first active shutter and the movement of the rear point of the front face 9 of a second active shutter.

[0058] Figure 4B represents the grille 1 illustrated in Figure 4A, when the active shutters 3 are in the open position PO and the protective bars 4 are visible. It can be seen that the protective bars 4 are arranged in front of the alignment L created by the prominent edges 13 of the active shutters 3. Thus, when a person, represented by a sphere S, comes into contact with one or two protective bars 4 of the grille 1, he does not hurt himself.

[0059] In Figure 5A, the grille 1 shown comprises eight active flaps 3 and eight protective bars 4. The active flaps 3 are in the closed position PF, and the protective bars 4 are not visible. This therefore allows the optimization of the aesthetic freedom of the grille 1. In the case shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the prominent edges 13 of the active flaps 3 also comprise two projecting parts s1 and s2.

[0060] Figure 5B shows the grille 1 of Figure 5A with the active shutters 3 in the open position PO. The radiator can thus collect air for cooling the engine, and the protective bars 4 protect people in the event of contact with the vehicle.

[0061] Figures 6A and 6B show a grille 1 comprising three active shutters 3 respectively in the closed position PF and in the open position PO, and three protective bars 4. The active shutters 3 are an assembly of patterns representing diamonds in the proportions of the Renault emblem. Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the freedom of aesthetics to be exploited for a grille 1 of a motor vehicle.

[0062] According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, the grille 1 comprises active shutters 3 and protective bars 4 arranged horizontally between the left lateral crosspiece 7 and the right lateral crosspiece 8 of the frame 2. The active shutters 3 and the protective bars 4 can also be arranged diagonally in the frame 2 of the grille 1.

[0063] This solution is suitable for many possible shapes and orientations of the active shutters 3 and the protective bars 4 of a grille 1.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Radiator grille (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a frame (2), several active flaps (3) varying from an open position (PO) to a closed position (PF) and located inside the frame (2) of the grille (1), and at least one protective bar (4) in the event of an impact, characterized in that the protective bar (4) is fixed inside the frame (2) of the grille (1), being located in front of the active flaps (3) when said active flaps (3) are in the open position (PO), and behind the active flaps (3) when said active flaps (3) are in the closed position (PF).

2. Grille according to claim 1, in which the frame (2) comprises an upper crosspiece (5), a lower crosspiece (6), a left side crosspiece (7) and a right side crosspiece (8).

3. Grille according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the protective bar (4) is arranged horizontally between the left side crosspiece (7) and the right side crosspiece (8), when the active flaps (3) are arranged horizontally between the left side crosspiece (7) and the right side crosspiece (8).

4. Grille according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the protective bar (4) is arranged vertically between the upper crosspiece (5) and the lower crosspiece (6), when the active flaps (3) are arranged vertically between the upper crosspiece (5) and the lower crosspiece (6).

5. Grille according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 4, in which a protective bar (4) is integrated into the grille (1) for an active shutter (3).

6. Grille according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 5, in which the protective bar (4) comprises rounded edges with radii (R) greater than and / or equal to 2.7 millimeters.

7. Grille according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 6, in which the active shutters (3) have an intermediate position between their open position (PO) and their closed position (PF).

8. Grille according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the active shutters (3) are an assembly of patterns representing diamonds in the proportions of the Renault emblem.

9. Motor vehicle radiator comprising a grille (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A motor vehicle which comprises a radiator according to claim 9 which comprises a grille (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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