EP1456075A1

EP1456075A1 - Motor vehicle front end comprising a fluid tank

Info

Publication number: EP1456075A1
Application number: EP02805399A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Louis Lanard; Christian Marsais; Pascal Harand
Original assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur SA
Current assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur SA
Priority date: 2001-12-20
Filing date: 2002-12-18
Publication date: 2004-09-15
Also published as: FR2833920B1; WO2003053768A1; FR2833920A1; AU2002364666A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a motor vehicle front end comprising a support for receiving components. Said support (10) comprises at least a portion (12, 18) incorporating a fluid tank (21, 22) so as to form a single-piece assembly. For example, an upper crosspiece (12) incorporates a heat exchanger manifold (21) and a crosspiece (18) incorporates a manifold (22) of the same heat exchanger. Said heat exchanger is advantageously a cooling radiator for the motor vehicle engine.

Description

Front panel of a motor vehicle comprising a fluid reservoir

The invention relates to a front face of a motor vehicle and more particularly such a front face of the type comprising a support intended to receive equipment, and in particular a fluid reservoir.

10

A front face, also called front face, is a structural element capable of supporting various vehicle equipment, such as headlights, turn signals, horn, heat exchanger, motor-fan unit, etc.

15

The front panel, thus provided with its equipment, constitutes a unitary module prepared and delivered by the supplier and ready to be mounted on the vehicle by the manufacturer. The mounting of this unitary module is done by connection to lateral structural elements of the vehicle, such as side members, wings or hull, then fitting of a bumper or frontal shield attached to the module.

Such a front face is generally produced in the form of a one-piece element, in particular in the form of a composite or hybrid metal / plastic element. In fact, it is known, in particular from publication EP-A-0 658 470, to produce a front face in the form of a metal frame of stamped sheet metal, on which a plastic material, in particular of plastic, is overmolded. polyamide type.

In most known embodiments, the front face comprises a horizontal upper beam, a horizontal lower beam and two substantially vertical uprights 35 which connect the two beams to one another. These four elements delimit between them a hollow space of generally rectangular shape in which a module is usually placed. heat exchange system which usually includes either a single heat exchanger (usually the engine cooling radiator) or a heat exchange group, for example an engine cooling radiator and a condenser connected to an air conditioning circuit .

This heat exchange module must be fixed to the front face by fixing means of suitable shape which most often consist of lugs and / or rubber studs to lock the heat exchange module in position relative to on the front side.

This traditional solution therefore requires the installation of fixing means which complicate the assembly operations and which, moreover, generate bulk. As a result, the space allocated to the heat exchange module is not optimized.

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

To this end, it proposes a front face of a motor vehicle, of the type defined above, in which the support comprises at least one part integrating a fluid reservoir, so as to constitute a one-piece assembly.

Thus, the fluid reservoir constitutes an element integrated directly into a part of the support, being made in one piece with this part.

This results in a simplification of the mounting operations and, in addition, a reduction in the size.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tank is a manifold connected to a bundle of a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger is advantageously a cooling radiator, namely the radiator for cooling the vehicle engine.

In one embodiment, the front face comprises two manifolds with a general horizontal direction, respectively integrated in an upper cross member and in a lower cross member forming part of the front face.

In this case, provision can be made for the two manifolds to each comprise a wall with a U-shaped profile closed by a cover, said wall comprising holes for receiving the tubes of the bundle with interposition of sealing means.

It is also possible to provide that the two manifolds each comprise a U-shaped wall having a peripheral rim and that each of the manifolds is closed by a manifold plate which receives the tubes of the bundle with the interposition of sealing means.

In this embodiment, it is advantageous for the front face to be produced in two parts: an upper part comprising the upper cross member and a lower part comprising the lower cross member.

In another embodiment, the front face comprises two manifolds with a general vertical direction respectively integrated in two uprights connected to an upper crosspiece.

In this case, provision may be made for each of the manifolds to comprise a tubular wall having a face provided with holes for receiving the tubes of a bundle with interposition of sealing means, the tubular wall being closed by at least one cover. end.

In another variant, each of the manifolds has a U-shaped wall suitable for being closed by a collecting plate which receives the tubes of a bundle.

The manifold plate can be attached to the manifold in different ways. It can, for example, be crimped. Alternatively _^ the collector plate is mounted in slideways of the wall U.

In another embodiment of the invention, the reservoir is an expansion tank for a fluid, in particular for a cooling fluid.

In this case, the tank is advantageously integrated in an upright connected to an upper crosspiece. Obviously, it is possible to conceive that this tank is also integrated in an upper cross member or in a lower cross member of the front face.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reservoir and the part in which it is integrated came from plastic molding. This plastic material is chosen, for example, from a polyamide or polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers.

In another embodiment, the reservoir and the part in which it is integrated are formed from a composite or hybrid material of metal / plastic type.

In the description which follows, given solely by way of example, reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a front face of a motor vehicle incorporating two manifolds in a generally horizontal direction, forming part of a heat exchanger; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of part of the front face of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second front face according to Figure 1; - Figure 5 shows a part, in exploded perspective of the front face of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third front face according to Figure 1; - Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of part of the front face of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a principle view of a front face incorporating two manifolds of a generally vertical direction heat exchanger; - Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of a first front face according to Figure 8; Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of a second front face according to Figure 8; Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of a third front face according to Figure 8; Figure 12 is a partial sectional view of a manifold according to Figure 8 with which is associated a manifold; Figure 13 is a partial perspective view of a fifth front face according to Figure 8; Figure 14 illustrates a mounting detail of the front face of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a partial perspective view of a sixth front face according to Figure 8; - Figures 16 to 19 illustrate different operations for mounting a header plate in a header box according to Figure 15; Figure 20 is a principle view of a front face incorporating an expansion tank; and - Figure 21 is a principle view of another front face incorporating an expansion tank. Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which represents a front face of a motor vehicle, which comprises a support 10 composed of two parts, namely an upper part 10A and a lower part 10B. The upper part 10A constitutes a monobloc element which comprises a horizontal upper cross member 12 linking two optical boxes 14 each extended by two substantially vertical uprights 16.

The lower part 10B comprises a substantially horizontal lower cross member 18 extended vertically by two uprights 20 whose upper ends are fixed to the lower ends of the uprights 16 to constitute the front face 10.

The upper cross member 12 incorporates a reservoir 21 of elongated shape, generally horizontal, forming a manifold. This manifold thus constitutes a one-piece assembly with the part 10A.

Correspondingly, the part 10B incorporates another tank 22 of elongated shape, in a generally horizontal direction, constituting another manifold. Again, this manifold constitutes a one-piece assembly with the part 10B.

Parts iθA and 10B can be made, for example, of plastic, in particular of polyamide or polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers. In this case, the manifolds 21 and 22 will be molded respectively with the parts 10A and 10B. Alternatively, the parts 10A and 10B can also be made of a composite or hybrid material of metal / plastic type.

The manifolds 21 and 22 are intended to be connected to the two ends of a bundle 24 of a heat exchanger, for example of a radiator for cooling the engine of the vehicle. This bundle 24 comprises, in the example, a plurality of tubes 26 arranged vertically and passing through a plurality of generally horizontal fins 28. The ends of the tubes 26 are received in a sealed manner in the manifolds 21 and 22 in different ways, as will be seen below.

Figures 2 and 3 show a first alternative embodiment according to Figure 1.

The common elements are designated by the same reference numerals. As can be seen in Figure 2, the headlight housings 14 are each provided with a lug 30 intended for attachment to an upper beam (not shown) of the vehicle structure. Furthermore, the uprights 16 of the upper part 10A are connected to fixing plates 32 of generally rectangular shape intended for fixing to the lower side members (not shown) of the vehicle.

In the example shown, the uprights 20 of the part 10B are extended by plates 34 which are fixed on the uprights 16, for example by bolting.

The manifold 22 integrated in the lower cross member 18 comprises a wall 36 in the shape of a U, the opening of which faces downwards. This wall 36 has a bottom 38 provided with circular openings 40 intended to receive the lower ends of the tubes 26 of the bundle with the interposition of a seal 42 placed outside the U-shaped wall. This U-shaped wall is closed in the lower part by a cover 44. When the part 10B is made of plastic, the cover 44 is advantageously made of plastic and fixed to the U-shaped wall by any suitable means, in particular by bonding or welding.

The manifold 21 placed in the upper part comprises also a wall 46 in the shape of a U, the opening of which is directed towards the rear and is intended to be closed by a cover 48, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The wall 46 has, on one of its faces , circular holes (not visible in Figure 2) intended to receive the upper ends of the tubes 26 of the bundle with the interposition of a seal (not shown).

The lower part 10B comprises a tube 50 directed towards the rear of the front face, while the cover 48 comprises a tube 52 directed towards the rear of the front face. These two pipes are intended to allow the entry and exit of a fluid, in the example the engine cooling fluid which thus circulates in the tubes 26 of the bundle.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, the manifold 22 placed in the lower part comprises a wall 54 with a U-profile whose opening is directed upwards. This wall has a continuous peripheral rim 56 delimiting a groove 58 suitable for receiving a seal (not shown). The collector box 22 is closed by a collector plate 60 having a crimping rim 62 (for example tabs) intended to cooperate with the peripheral rim 56 to achieve mutual assembly of the collector box and the collector plate. The collector plate 60 is provided with holes (not shown) receiving the lower ends of the tubes 26 of the bundle for sealing.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a fluid inlet or outlet tubing 64 is provided on the rear face of the lower cross member and communicates with the manifold 22.

The manifold 21, integrated into the upper cross member 12, is produced in a similar manner. It also includes a U-shaped wall 66, the opening of which is directed towards the bottom, this plate being intended to be closed by a collecting plate (not shown) receiving the upper ends of the tubes 26 of the bundle.

The embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 is similar to that of Figures 2 and 3. As in the previous embodiment, the manifold 22 includes a similar U-shaped wall 36, the bottom 38 is formed in depression to form a bowl receiving a seal 42 produced here in the form of a sheet. It is the same for the manifold 21 integrated into the upper cross member 12.

We now refer to Figure 8 which shows another front face integrating the two manifolds of a heat exchanger, in particular a cooling radiator. In this embodiment, the upper cross member 12 connects two optical boxes 14 each extended downwards by a generally vertical upright 70. These two uprights 70 respectively integrate two tanks 72 which constitute the manifolds of a heat exchanger. However ^* , these two tanks are in a general vertical direction and the tubes 26 of the bundle are arranged horizontally and crossed by fins 28 arranged vertically. In the lower part, the two uprights 70 are connected together by a lower cross member 18.

In the embodiment of Figure 9, which is similar to that of Figure 8, each of the manifolds 72 is delimited by a tubular wall 74 which has a side face 76 provided with circular holes 78 to receive the ends of the tubes 26 of the bundle with the interposition of a sealing plate 80 placed outside the face 76. The tubular wall 74 is closed in the upper part by the optical unit 14 and in the lower part by an end cover 82. When the front face is made of plastic, the cover 82 is advantageously made in the same material and connected to sealing at the tubular wall 74 by welding or by gluing. The cross member 18, which also forms a beam, is advantageously glued or mechanically fixed to the lower end of the upright 70. It should be noted that the cover 82 may, in a variant, form an integral part of the lower cross member 18.

In the embodiment of Figure 10, to which we now refer, the upright 70 comprises a wall 84 in the shape of a U whose opening is directed towards the beam side and which is extended by two ribs 86 substantially coplanar. The U-shaped wall 84 is closed by a collecting plate 88 which receives the tubes 26 of the bundle. Advantageously, the plate 88 is metallic and the tubes 26 are brazed on the latter. The collector plate 88 comprises a peripheral groove receiving an O-ring 90, the assembly being slidably mounted in grooves 92 arranged facing each other inside the wall 84.

In the embodiment of Figure 11, the manifold 72 integrated in the upright 70 is delimited by a U-shaped wall 94, the opening of which also faces the bundle. The tubes 26 are brazed to a metal collecting plate 96 intended to be crimped onto the U-shaped wall 94 with the interposition of a seal 98.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the manifold 72 integrated into the upright 70 comprises a U-shaped wall 100 whose sides are provided with a flexible stop 102. The manifold plate 104 comprises a peripheral return 106 and a seal seal 108 is interposed between respective shoulders of the collector plate 104 and the wall 100 in a U shape.

In the embodiment of Figures 13 and 14, each manifold 72 includes a U-shaped wall 110 closed by a bottom 112 having holes 114. The bundle comprises a collector plate 116 in which the bundle tubes are brazed and this collector plate 116 is held in position by side pins 118 in the form of a comb which pass through openings 119 in the wall in U 110 and through corresponding openings in the collector plate.

In the embodiment of Figures 15 to 19, the manifolds 72 are each delimited by a U-shaped wall 84 resembling that of Figure 10. Each of these walls also includes two grooves or slides 92 similar to those of the Figure 10, allowing the beam to be mounted in a drawer. This consists of two collecting plates 120 of generally rectangular shape which receive the ends of the tubes of the bundle and which come to engage in the slides 92, as also seen in FIGS. 16 and 17. Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. Figures 18 and 19, the slides are not parallel but go closer to one another and, correspondingly, the collector plates 120 are delimited by longitudinal edges 122 which are not parallel and go closer one of the other. This arrangement facilitates the positioning of the collector plates 120 in the slides 92 of the two collector boxes.

Referring now to Figure 20 which schematically shows a part of another front face of a motor vehicle also comprising a cross member 12, two optical boxes 14 and two uprights 130, substantially vertical, connected to the cross member 12 and the optical box 14 In the example shown, at least one of the two uprights is made hollow to define a reservoir 132. This constitutes, in the example, an expansion tank for a fluid, in particular for a cooling fluid. . In the example, the reservoir 132 is delimited by a tubular wall closed at the upper end by the cross member 12 and at the lower end by an attached cover 134. This is advantageously fixed by gluing or welding.

In the embodiment of FIG. 21, which is similar to that of FIG. 20, the reservoir 132 is produced in the upper cross member 12. In a variant not shown, the reservoir 132 could be integrated in the lower cross member 18.

It is possible to arrange on the reservoir 132, forming an expansion vessel, a filling tube 133 closed by a plug 135, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments given previously by way of examples and numerous variant embodiments are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

In the invention, the fluid reservoir integrated in the front face is intended above all to receive the coolant from the vehicle engine.

As described above, the reservoir advantageously constitutes either a manifold of a heat exchanger, such as a cooling radiator, or even an expansion tank for the fluid. It is also possible to combine, in the same front face, two manifolds of a heat exchanger and a fluid expansion vessel.

Claims

claims

1. Front face of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a support intended to receive equipment, characterized in that the support (10) comprises at least one part integrating a _. fluid reservoir (21, 22; 72; 132) so as to constitute a one-piece assembly.

2. Front face according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir is a manifold (21, 22) connected to a bundle (24) of a heat exchanger.

3. Front face according to claim 2, characterized in that the box (21, 22) is connected to a bundle (24) of a cooling radiator.

4. Front face according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises two manifolds (21, 22) of generally horizontal direction, integrated respectively in an upper crosspiece (12) and in a lower crosspiece (18 ) forming part of the front panel.

5.. Front face according to claim 4, characterized in that the two manifolds (21, 22) each comprise a U-profile wall (36; 46) closed by a cover (44, 48), said wall comprising holes for receiving the tubes (26) of the bundle with interposition of sealing means.

6. Front face according to claim 4, characterized in that the two manifolds (21, 22) each comprise a wall (54) with a U-profile having a peripheral flange (56) and in that each of the manifolds is closed by a collecting plate (60) which receives the tubes (26) of the bundle with interposition of sealing means.

Front panel according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it is made in two parts: an upper part (10A) comprising the upper cross member (12) and a lower part (10B) comprising the lower cross member (18).

8. Face, -front according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises two manifolds (72) generally vertical direction integrated respectively in two uprights (70) connected to an upper crosspiece (12).

9. Front face according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the manifolds comprises a tubular wall (74) having a face (76) provided with holes (78) for receiving the tubes (26) of the bundle with interposition of means d sealing (80), and in that the tubular wall is closed by at least one end cover (82).

10. Front face according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the manifolds (72) has a U-shaped wall (84) suitable for being closed by a manifold plate (88, 96) which receives the tubes (26) of the bundle .

11. Front face according to claim 10, characterized in that the collector plate (96) is crimped.

12. Front face according to claim 10, characterized in that the collector plate (88) is housed in slides (92) of the U-shaped wall.

13. Front panel according to claim 2, characterized in that the reservoir is an expansion tank (132) for a fluid, in particular for a cooling fluid.

14. Front face according to claim 13, characterized in that the expansion tank (132) is integrated in an upright (130) connected to an upper crosspiece (12).

15. Front face according to claim 13, characterized in that the expansion tank (132) is integrated in a crosspiece (12, 18) forming part of the front face.

16. Front face according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the reservoir (132) forming an expansion vessel is provided with a filling tube (133) closed by a plug (135).

17. Front face according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the reservoir and the part in which it is integrated came from plastic molding.

18. Front face according to claim 17, characterized in that the plastic material is chosen from a polyamide or polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers.

19. Front face according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the reservoir and the part in which it is integrated are formed from a composite or hybrid material of metal / plastic type.