Arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) comprising a radiator (11), a first body structure (12), a fastening part (13) and a shock-absorbing system (15), wherein: - the shock-absorbing system (15) is fastened to the first body structure (12) via a so-called lateral surface (131) of the fastening part (13), the lateral surface (131) extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (100); - a longitudinal surface of the fastening part, extending substantially perpendicular to a lateral axis of the vehicle, comprises a first fastening means (1321); and - a longitudinal surface (111) of the radiator (11), extending in parallel with the longitudinal surface (132) of the fastening part (13), comprises a second fastening means collaborating with the first fastening means (1321), for fastening the radiator (11) to the longitudinal surface of the fastening part (13).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Arrangement for motor vehicle.

[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle arrangement comprising a radiator, a body structure, a mounting bracket, and a shock absorption system. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an arrangement.

[0004] To improve the aerodynamic performance of motor vehicles, manufacturers are seeking to reduce the size, particularly the vertical dimensions, of components installed in the vehicle's engine compartment. This is especially true for an engine cooling module that must be positioned vertically within a confined space that also contains a shock absorption system.

[0005] Existing space-saving solutions have drawbacks. The aim of the invention is to provide an arrangement comprising a radiator, a housing structure, a mounting bracket, and a shock absorption system that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and improves upon prior art arrangements comprising a radiator, a housing structure, a mounting bracket, and a shock absorption system. In particular, the invention makes it possible to create a simple and reliable arrangement that reduces the space required by the presence of the radiator in the engine compartment.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a radiator, a first body structure, a fixing piece and a shock absorption system.

[0007] Moreover,

[0008] - the shock absorption system is attached to the first body structure via a so-called lateral surface of the mounting part, the lateral surface extending substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle,

[0009] - a so-called longitudinal surface of the fastening part, extending substantially perpendicularly to a lateral axis of the vehicle, comprises a first fastening means, and

[0010] - a so-called longitudinal surface of the radiator, extending parallel to the longitudinal surface of the fixing piece, includes a second fixing means collaborating with the first fixing means, for fixing the radiator onto the longitudinal surface of the fixing piece.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first body structure is a side member of the motor vehicle.

[0012] In one embodiment, the arrangement includes a second body structure and the longitudinal surface of the radiator includes a third fastening means collaborating with a fourth fastening means disposed on the second body structure.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second body structure is a cradle for the motor vehicle.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first fastening means, the second fastening means, the third fastening means and the fourth fastening means do not include screws or threads.

[0015] In one embodiment, the third mounting means comprises a first rod and the fourth mounting means comprises a bracket fixed to the second body structure, in particular the bracket being U-shaped, the first rod being inserted into the bracket so as to provide rotational guidance for the radiator about an axis extending laterally from the vehicle. In one embodiment, the U-shaped bracket is equipped with an anti-vibration filter and / or the first rod is equipped with a quarter-turn pin.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first fastening means includes at least one first hole into which the second fastening means is inserted, the first, second, third and fourth fastening means collaborating to define an angle of inclination of the radiator with respect to a lateral plane of the motor vehicle, and / or the at least first hole includes a plurality of holes capable of defining a plurality of angles of inclination of the radiator, and / or the second fastening means includes a quarter-turn pin.

[0017] In one embodiment, a first height of the second fastening means and a second height of the third fastening means are less than or equal to, or even strictly less than, a third height of a highest point of the radiator, the first height, the second height and the third height being measured along a vertical axis of the motor vehicle.

[0018] In one embodiment, the lateral surface of the fixing piece is welded to the first box structure.

[0019] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement according to the invention.

[0020] These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment given by way of non-limiting agreement in relation to the accompanying figures, among which: Figure 1 schematically represents a motor vehicle equipped with an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Figure 2 defines a direct orthonormal frame of reference of a motor vehicle equipped with an arrangement according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0023] Figure 4 is a side view of a fastening device for an arrangement according to the invention.

[0024] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fastening device for an arrangement according to the invention.

[0025] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an upper part of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0026] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a lower part of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0027] Figure 8 illustrates a first embodiment of a fastening part of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0028] Figure 9 illustrates a second embodiment of a fastening part of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0029] Figure 10 illustrates a third embodiment of a fastening part of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0030] An embodiment of a motor vehicle 100 according to the invention is described below with reference to Figure 1. The motor vehicle 100 is a motor vehicle of any type, in particular a passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle. The motor vehicle 100 may be a combustion engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle.

[0031] For the purposes of this description, and with reference to Figure 2, we use a direct orthonormal coordinate system R0, with axes X, Y, Z, commonly used in automotive design, in which

[0032] - The X-axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, - the Y-axis designates the transverse direction and is oriented towards the right of the vehicle, and

[0033] - the Z axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented upwards.

[0034] In the remainder of this document, the term "lateral" is used to describe a surface or part positioned perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal axis X. Furthermore, the term "longitudinal" is used to describe a surface or part positioned perpendicular to the vehicle's lateral axis Y.

[0035] Furthermore, in the remainder of the document, the term "height" refers to a dimension, or distance, measured along the vertical Z axis of the motor vehicle, for example a dimension of a part measured along the vertical Z axis or a distance measured between two points along the vertical Z axis.

[0036] In the remainder of the document, the term "plateau" is used to define a mounting support for various components.

[0037] The term "body in white" refers to the structural assembly of the vehicle, comprising a chassis, side members, and side pillars of the vehicle doors.

[0038] Furthermore, the terms "shock absorption system" or "crashbox" refer to a set of vehicle components designed to absorb energy during a collision. Thus, the absorption system may include a transverse beam supported by the ends of the vehicle's body-in-white side members via shock absorbers, referred to as "crash boxes." In one embodiment, the side members themselves are part of the shock absorption system. Shock absorption systems are designed to deform, absorbing as much of the impact energy as possible so that the side members are spared and the vehicle can be repaired without modifying its body-in-white structure. Such a shock absorption path, supported by the body-in-white side members, is called a "high absorption path."

[0039] Some vehicles, in addition to such a high-impact absorption track, also have a so-called "low-impact absorption track," supported by engine cradle extensions or small side members, roughly parallel to the side members of the high-impact track but located at the height of a pedestrian impact beam. An engine cradle with extensions is called a "long cradle," as opposed to an engine cradle without extensions, which is called a "short cradle."

[0040] According to a first embodiment called "first shock absorption method", the absorbers or crash boxes are designed to deform by absorbing as much of the impact energy as possible so that the side members are spared and the vehicle can be repaired without intervention on its body-in-white.

[0041] In addition or as an alternative, the motor vehicle 100 may include, in addition to a first absorption track, a so-called "second shock absorption track", supported directly or indirectly on the vehicle cradle located at the height of a pedestrian impact beam.

[0042] In the remainder of this document, the terms "insurance impact" or "repairability impact" refer to a vehicle impact at approximately 15 km / h against a rigid wall, such as that known under the RCAR standard (Research Council for Automobile Repair), or at approximately 8 km / h against a pole (pole impact, standard 11 HS). Such an impact is analyzed with the objective of reducing vehicle repair costs and, consequently, protecting the vehicle's body-in-white.

[0043] In the remainder of the document, the term "shock absorption system" refers to a system capable of handling shocks.

[0044] The motor vehicle 100 includes an arrangement 1 according to the invention.

[0045] Arrangement 1 includes a radiator 11, a first body structure 12, a fixing piece 13 and a shock absorption system 15.

[0046] Furthermore, the shock absorption system 15 is attached to the first body structure 12 by means of a so-called lateral surface 131 of the fastening piece 13, the lateral surface 131 extending substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle 100. Moreover, a so-called longitudinal surface 132 of the fastening piece extends substantially perpendicularly to the lateral axis Y of the vehicle, and the longitudinal surface includes a first fastening means 1321.

[0047] In addition, a so-called longitudinal surface 111 of the radiator 11 extends parallel to the longitudinal surface 132 of the fixing piece 13, and it includes a second fixing means 1111 collaborating with the first fixing means 1321, for fixing the radiator 11 onto the longitudinal surface 132 of the fixing piece 13.

[0048] Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement 1 according to the invention. Figures 4 and 5 describe more specifically the fastening piece 13 attached to the first box structure 12.

[0049] The fastening piece 13 of the arrangement 1 according to the invention comprises two surfaces substantially perpendicular to each other, a lateral surface 131 and a longitudinal surface 132:

[0050] - the lateral surface 131 of the fixing piece 13 has, in particular, the function of allowing the shock absorption system 14 to be fixed to the first body structure 12, and

[0051] - the longitudinal surface 132 of the fixing piece 13 has the function of enabling the fixing of the radiator 11 in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle 100. For this purpose, the longitudinal surface 132 of the fixing piece includes a first fixing means 1321 intended to collaborate with the second fixing means 1111 disposed on a longitudinal face 111 of the radiator 11.

[0052] In the remainder of the document, the term "radiator" refers to a component of the cooling system of motor vehicle 100, whose role is to dissipate the heat produced by the vehicle's traction engine.

[0053] In the described embodiment, the radiator 11 of arrangement 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, one dimension of which, measured along the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, is reduced. In other words, one dimension of the longitudinal surface 111 of the radiator 11, measured along the X axis, is reduced.

[0054] In the described embodiment, the radiator 11 is arranged substantially vertically, meaning that the so-called principal faces of the radiator 11 (i.e., the faces with the largest surface area) are arranged substantially vertically. Thus, the angle measured between a transverse plane of the motor vehicle and a principal face of the radiator is very small, in particular less than 15 degrees, or even close to 0 degrees.

[0055] In one embodiment, the arrangement further includes a second body structure 14 and the longitudinal surface 111 of the radiator includes a fastening means 1112 cooperating with a fastening means 141 disposed on the second body structure 14. In a preferred embodiment, the radiator 11 is thus equipped with two fastening means 1111, 1112:

[0056] - the fastening means 1111 being intended to collaborate with the first fastening means 1321, disposed on a longitudinal surface 132 of the fastening part 13, the fastening part 13 being fixed to a first case structure 12, and

[0057] - the fastening means 1112 collaborating with a fastening means 141 disposed on a second body structure 14.

[0058] So,

[0059] - the radiator 11 is fixed to a longitudinal surface 132 of the mounting part 13, which is itself connected to a first body structure 12, in particular to a longitudinal member 12 of the motor vehicle 100, and

[0060] - the radiator 11 is fixed to a second body structure 14, in particular directly or indirectly to a cradle of the motor vehicle 100.

[0061] For this reason,

[0062] - the fastening means 1111, located in an upper area of ​​the longitudinal face 111 of the radiator 11, collaborates with a fastening means 1321, located on the longitudinal surface 132 of the fastening piece 13, and

[0063] - the fixing means 1112, located in a lower area of ​​the longitudinal face 111 of the radiator 11, collaborates with a fixing means 141 disposed on the second body structure 14.

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment, to simplify the mounting of the radiator 11 on the fixing piece 13 and on the second body structure 14, the fixing means 141, 1111, 1112, 1321 do not include screws or threads.

[0065] A lower portion of the radiator 11 is attached to a body structure 14 located at the very bottom of the body. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means 1112 comprises a first rod 11121 and the fastening means 141 comprises a tab 1411 attached to the second body structure 14. Advantageously, the tab 1411 is U-shaped, the first rod 11121 being inserted into the tab 1411 so as to implement rotational guidance of the radiator 11 around an axis extending in a lateral direction Y of the vehicle.

[0066] Advantageously, the U-shaped bracket 1411 is equipped with a vibration damper 1412. In addition, or alternatively, the first rod 11121 is equipped with a quarter-turn pin 1413. The term "quarter-turn pin" refers to a fastening device used to quickly assemble the first rod to the bracket. The quarter-turn pin can be a small mechanism that fits into a hole and is locked by a quarter turn, thus facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the parts.

[0067] Similarly, in one embodiment, the fastening means 1111 includes a first rod 11111 and the fastening means 141 includes a tab 1411 fixed on the second body structure 14. Advantageously, the tab 1411 is U-shaped, the first rod 11121 being inserted into the tab 1411 so as to implement rotational guidance of the radiator 11 around an axis extending in a lateral direction Y of the vehicle.

[0068] Advantageously, the U-shaped bracket 1411 is equipped with a vibration damper 1412. In addition, or alternatively, the first rod 11121 is equipped with a quarter-turn pin 1413. The term "quarter-turn pin" refers to a fastening device used to quickly assemble the first rod to the bracket. The quarter-turn pin can be a small mechanism that fits into a hole and is locked by a quarter turn, thus facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the parts.

[0069] In one embodiment, the second fastening means 1111 also includes a quarter-turn pin 11112. Furthermore, a primary objective of an arrangement according to the invention is to limit the overall size of the radiator 11 along the vertical axis Z of the vehicle. To this end, the fastening means 1111, 1112 of the radiator 11 are arranged on a longitudinal surface 111 of the radiator 11, and more specifically on a lateral face of the rectangular parallelepiped located opposite the fastening piece 11. Thus, as is particularly visible in Figure 3, the respective heights of the fastening means 1111, 1112 are less than or equal to the height of the highest point of the radiator 11, the heights being measured along the vertical axis Z of the motor vehicle 100.

[0070] Different embodiments of a fastening piece 13 are illustrated by figures 8 to 10, the variants relating to different embodiments of the longitudinal surface 132 and of the first fastening means 1321.

[0071] In a first embodiment illustrated by figures 4, 5 and 8, the longitudinal surface 132, and more particularly the fixing means 1321, comprises two holes 13211 and 13212,

[0072] - the first hole 13211 allowing the radiator to be fixed in a roughly vertical position P11, and

[0073] - the second hole 13212 allowing the radiator to be fixed in a slightly inclined position P12 relative to a vertical plane.

[0074] In a second embodiment illustrated by figure 9, the fastening means 1321 includes a single hole 13213. By rotating the fastening piece 13 by 180 degrees around the vertical axis Z, two possible positions P2, P22 are obtained for the hole 13213.

[0075] In a third embodiment illustrated by figure 10, the fastening means 1321 includes a single hole 13214. However, the longitudinal surface 132 of the fastening piece 13 can perform a rotational movement around the Y axis of the motor vehicle, which allows the hole 13214 to be placed in two distinct positions P31, P32.

[0076] Finally, the arrangement according to the invention reduces the radiator's vertical dimensions, thereby improving the vehicle's aerodynamic performance. Indeed, thanks to the arrangement according to the invention, the radiator mounting means are positioned to allow for the lowest possible mounting of the radiator relative to the vehicle body. Furthermore, placing the mounting means on a face of the radiator oriented along an (X, Z) plane—that is, on the side of the radiator—prevents an increase in the radiator's overall height along the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0077] The design also allows the radiator to be fixed without screws, simplifying radiator installation. Furthermore, the design includes a means of filtering radiator vibrations.

[0078] The arrangement according to the invention also relies on adapting an existing mounting piece, designed to attach a shock absorption system to a body structure. To this end, the mounting piece is modified to incorporate new features suitable for attaching the radiator.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle (100) comprising a radiator (11), a first body structure (12), a fastening part (13) and a shock absorption system (15), the arrangement (1) being characterized in that - the shock absorption system (15) is fixed to the first body structure (12) via a so-called lateral surface (131) of the fixing part (13), the lateral surface (131) extending substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle (100), - a so-called longitudinal surface (132) of the fastening piece, extending substantially perpendicularly to a lateral axis (Y) of the vehicle, comprises a first fastening means (1321), and - a so-called longitudinal surface (111) of the radiator (11), extending parallel to the longitudinal surface (132) of the fixing piece (13), includes a second fixing means (1111) collaborating with the first fixing means (1321), for fixing the radiator (11) onto the longitudinal surface (132) of the fixing piece (13).

2. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first body structure (12) is a longitudinal member of the motor vehicle.

3. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a second body structure (14) and in that the longitudinal surface (111) of the radiator comprises a third fastening means (1112) collaborating with a fourth fastening means (141) disposed on the second body structure (14).

4. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second body structure (14) is a cradle for the motor vehicle (100).

5. Arrangement according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the first fastening means (1321), the second fastening means (1111), the third fastening means (1112) and the fourth fastening means (141) do not comprise a screw or thread.

6. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the third fastening means (1112) comprises a first rod (11121) and the fourth fastening means (141) comprises a tab (1411) fixed to the second body structure (14), in particular the tab (1411) being U-shaped, the first rod (11121) being inserted into the tab (1411) so as to implement rotational guidance of the radiator (11) around an axis extending in a lateral direction (Y) of the vehicle.

7. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the U-shaped leg (1411) is equipped with an anti-vibration filter (1412) and / or in that the first rod (11121) is equipped with a quarter-turn pin (1413).

8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the first fastening means (1321) comprises at least one first hole (13211) into which the second fastening means (1111) is inserted, the first, second, third, and fourth fastening means collaborating to define an angle of inclination of the radiator with respect to a lateral plane of the motor vehicle, and / or in that the at least first hole (13211) comprises a plurality of holes (13211, 13212) capable of defining a plurality of angles of inclination of the radiator (11), and / or in that the second fixing means (1111) includes a quarter-turn pin (1112).

9. Arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that a first height of the second fastening means (1111) and a second height of the third fastening means (1112) are less than or equal to, or even strictly less than, a third height of a highest point of the radiator (11), the first height, the second height and the third height being measured along a vertical axis (Z) of the motor vehicle (100).

10. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral surface (131) of the fixing piece is welded to the first body structure (12).

11. Motor vehicle (100) comprising an arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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