EP2480782A1

EP2480782A1 - Functional module including a distributor and a fuel rail, and production method thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2480782A1
Application number: EP10770610A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jérôme Roussel
Original assignee: Mark IV Systemes Moteurs SAS
Current assignee: Sogefi Air and Cooling SAS
Priority date: 2009-09-22
Filing date: 2010-09-22
Publication date: 2012-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-22
Also published as: US9151261B2; WO2011036410A1; FR2950396B1; FR2950396A1; US20120298076A1; EP2480782B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a functional module including a distributor with a plenum and multiple pipes forming a common attachment and connection plate, a fuel rail and a retainer part for locking the fuel rail in position. The functional module (1) is characterised: in that it is formed by an interlocked arrangement comprising the distributor (2), the fuel rail (7) and the retainer part (9), said fuel rail (7) being held between the retainer part (9) and the distributor (2); and in that the retainer part (9) and the distributor engage to form a longitudinal recess for receiving the fuel rail (7), in which the fuel rail can be locked, the insertion opening of said recess being defined between an arrangement of projections (10) from the retainer part (9) and the plate (5) of the pipes (4).

Description

Functional module incorporating a distributor and an injection rail and its manufacturing method

The present invention relates to the field of equipment and accessories for internal combustion engines, especially those powered by high pressure injection ramps.

The invention more particularly relates to a functional module incorporating a distributor and an injection rail, and a method of manufacturing such a module.

In vehicles with internal combustion engine, the various pistons are fed by a common injection rail, the latter is often located near the tundish in the immediate environment of the engine, these two accessories must also be rigidly attached to the engine block.

It was therefore obvious to those skilled in the art to attempt to connect these two accessories together so that they form a structural assembly having internal cohesion and can be secured together with the engine block. Various solutions in this direction have already been formulated and presented.

Thus, it has been proposed to mount the injection rail on the distributor, for example by the document F 2 779 681.

In this document, the two accessories are interconnected by a quick coupling.

Nevertheless, an indirect fixation of the injection rail on the engine block through the distributor is necessarily less rigid and less resistant than a direct attachment and additionally additionally solves at least a part of said distributor, as well as its points. of fixation.

It has also been proposed to fix the distributor and the injection manifold in a combined manner at the same attachment points, while ensuring a mechanical connection between the two elements.

Thus, document EP 1 240 423 discloses a combined distributor / injection manifold assembly, in which said ramp is provided with annular extensions in the form of blanks each enclosing a manifold manifold. These blanks formed on the ramp are provided with tubular support feet for the passage of the fastening screws, which coincide with the fixing holes of the tubing connection plate and which come into pressure contact with said plate at said openings during assembly on the engine block.

In another embodiment disclosed by this document, the flanks are made in a single independent piece, devoid of support lugs, coming to cover the connecting plate of the tubes and close from above the receiving housing of the ramp. in the platinum.

In both embodiments, the set of attachment points of the tubing plate and the flanks are merged and they are not in direct support on the engine block, but rely on the platen they solidarize and pinch, with the help also of the ramp, against said engine block.

As a result, the fastening of the flanks and the fixing of the tubes are totally interdependent and the injection manifold itself participates in the assembly with locking of said pipes on the engine block.

Such a construction nonetheless results in a complex structure for the injection rail when it is formed integrally with the flanks.

In addition, these known embodiments impose a forced configuration for the tubing connection plate in order to achieve a total coincidence between support feet of the flanks and fixing holes of the tubing plate. This may result in implantation of the fixing sites of the connection plate which is not optimized in terms of stresses and stresses, especially since this plate is assembled with the intake manifold, whose positioning in the space of the main body can be offset or offset from that of the plate.

Moreover, soliciting the injection rail to participate positively in the joining of the tubing plate on the engine block generates mechanical stresses at this ramp which can be detrimental in the long term to its structural integrity, particularly given the vibratory context.

Finally, a forced disconnection of the tubing plate during disengagement or disassembly of the retaining piece may not be desirable in certain contractive configurations and may even be disadvantageous, for example in terms of loss of time, difficulties when reassembling and / or sealing. The present invention is intended to overcome at least some, preferably all the aforementioned drawbacks.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a functional module integrating, on the one hand, a distributor or intake manifold with a mixing / distribution chamber or plenum and several manifolds extending laterally from said chamber and physically connected between they at their outlet ports to form a common mounting plate and sealed connection to the cylinder heads of an internal combustion engine, optionally provided with flow control means at the outlet orifices, on the other hand, a high-pressure injection rail in the form of a duct provided with a plurality of lateral housings for injectors and finally a retaining piece for locking in position of said injection rail,

said functional module being constituted by a mutually interleaved and nested arrangement comprising the distributor, the injection rail and the retention part, the injection rail being maintained between the retention part and the distributor,

functional module characterized

in that the retention piece is intended to bear directly on and to be secured to the engine block and comprises a first and a second group of support and fixing lugs each extending respectively on either side of the engine block. the common plate of the tubes,

in that the support and fixing lugs of the two groups are connected to each other by a formation of material constituting a bridge,

in that at least part of said bridge, one of the groups of support and fixing lugs forming a remote alignment of the plate and a side wall portion of said fixing and connecting plate and / or wall portions of the different pipes together form, by cooperation, a longitudinal receiving housing with blocking of the injection rail, and

in that the distributor is provided, on the one hand, in particular at the fixing and connecting plate, with points or sites of clean fixing on the engine block, distinct from the points of attachment of the support lugs and fixing the retaining piece and, on the other hand, additional upper fastening tabs extending at a distance from the plate and coinciding with and bearing on the support and fixing lugs of the first group of the retention piece, in the assembled state of the arrangement forming the functional module.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views in two different directions of a combined functional module according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the intake manifold forming part of the module shown in Figs. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 2B and 2C are perspective views illustrating two stages of the assembly of the retention piece with the intake distributor allowing, after mounting of the injection rail, to lead to a module as shown in FIGS. Figures 1A and 1B;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a splitter 2 and a retention piece 9 forming part of a variant of the module shown in Figures 1 and 2, before assembly;

FIGS. 4A to 4F illustrate, in the form of cross-sectional views along a sectional plane passing through a support and fixing lug of the second group of the retention piece, the successive steps of the engagement assembly with interlocking of the retention piece with the distributor as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view in a direction perpendicular to the sectional planes of Figures 4 of the functional module after introduction of the injection rail in its receiving housing;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, the injection rail being locked in position at the bottom of the receiving housing (difference with respect to FIG. 5: lateral displacement in translation of the retention part with respect to the distributor) ;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the functional module as shown in FIG. 6, respectively along a sectional plane passing through a support and fixing lug of the second group of the retention piece (FIG. 7A). and in a section plane passing through a support lug and fixing the first group of the retention piece (Figure 7B); FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating a second embodiment of the functional module according to the invention, respectively an exploded view in perspective before assembly of the module (FIG 8A) and a cross-sectional view along a sectional plane passing through a support lug and fixing the first group of the retention piece (Figure 8B), after assembly of the module, and,

Figs. 9A and 9B are respectively views similar to those of Figs. 8A and 8B, illustrating a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view partially illustrating

(Without the injection rail) a fourth embodiment of the module according to the invention in which the body of the distributor (not shown) and the connecting plate and fixing the pipes consist of two parts manufactured separately and assembled in a sealed manner at the level of the different tubings;

Figure 1 1 is a perspective view illustrating the two components of the assembly (platinum - retention piece) of Figure 10 before assembly;

Figures 12A and 12B are perspective views at two different angles of a functional module substantially similar to that of Figures 1A and 1B and showing only minor constructive differences in the shape of certain constituent parts;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the intake manifold forming part of the module shown in Figs. 12A and 12B;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view, along a plane extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the conduit of the injection rail, of the module shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the section plane passing through the points. fasteners specific to the splitter, and

FIGS. 15A and 15B are cross-sectional views, in a plane perpendicular to the section plane of FIG. 14, respectively at a support foot of the retention piece (FIG. 15A) and at the level of FIG. a specific attachment point of the distributor (Figure 15B), before installation of injections (injection ramp not yet solicited towards the bottom of the longitudinal receiving housing).

FIGS. 1, 5 to 9, 12 and partially FIGS. 3, 10 and 11 show a functional module 1 integrating, on the one hand, a distributor or intake manifold 2 with a mixing / distribution chamber or plenum 3 and several pipes 4 extending laterally from said chamber 3 and physically connected to each other at their outlets 4 'to form a common plate 5 for fixing and sealing connection to the cylinder heads of an internal combustion engine, optionally provided with means or regulating means 6 for the flow at the outlet orifices 4 ', on the other hand, a high-pressure injection ramp 7 in the form of a duct 8 provided with a plurality of lateral housings 8' for injectors and, finally, a retention piece 9 for locking in position of said injection rail 7.

This functional module 1 is constituted by a mutually nested and nested arrangement comprising the distributor 2, the injection rail 7 and the retention part 9, the injection rail 7 being maintained between the retention part 9 and the distributor 2.

According to the invention, the retention piece 9 is intended to bear directly on and to be secured to the engine block and comprises a first and a second group of support and fastening lugs 10, 1 1 each extending respectively on either side of the common plate 5 of the tubes 4.

In addition, the support and fastening lugs 10 and 11 of the two groups are interconnected by a formation of material constituting a bridge 12, and at least a portion of said bridge 12, one of the groups of lugs 10 d support and fixing forming a remote alignment of the plate 5 and a side wall portion of said mounting plate 5 and connection and / or wall portions 15 'of the various pipes 4 together form a longitudinal housing cooperating 13 receiving with blocking of the injection rail 7.

In addition, the distributor 2 is provided, in particular at the mounting plate and connection, on the one hand, points or sites of attachment 20 clean and distinct from the points of attachment of the support and fastening lugs 10 and 1 1 of the retention piece 9 and, on the other hand, additional attachment tabs 14 extending further away from the plate 5 and coinciding with and bearing on the support and fixing lugs 10 of the first group of the retention piece 9, in the assembled state of the arrangement forming the functional module 1.

Thus, the injection rail 7 is securely held in a receiving housing 13 which can extend over the entire length of the said ramp 7 and the implementation of a separate retention piece 9 makes it possible to limit the structural complexity of the ramp 7 and the distributor 2.

In addition, the injection ramp 7 does not participate in the attachment of the distributor 2, and is not solicited in terms of constraints for this purpose.

Finally, the differentiation of at least some of the fixing points of the retention piece on the one hand and the distributor, or at least the plate 5, on the other hand, allows to maintain a certain constructive freedom for these two elements , to choose the best points and sites of fixation for each of them (localization, shape of the legs, form of the eyelets or flanges, ...) and to decouple the operations of assembly / disassembly between these two elements.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the material bridge 12 is constituted by a wing-shaped body 12 'with a substantially continuous structure, adjacent laterally to the support and fixing lugs 10 of the first group and having several projections 12 "extending to the support and fastening lugs 1 1 of the second group, these projections 12" each extending through a passage or clear space 4 "between two consecutive pipes 4, this in the assembled state in view mounting the arrangement forming the functional module 1, preferably being interlocked between these pipes 4 with locking in position by cooperation of complementary shapes.

Thus, it follows from the complementary conformations projections 12 "and tubing 4 a mechanical coupling of the retention piece 9 and the distributor 2, blocking these two components mutually between them at least in the longitudinal direction defined by the alignment of the tubes 4 and the injection ramp 7.

According to a characteristic of the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, 8A, 9A, 12, 14 and 15A of the accompanying drawings, the tabs 10, 11 of the first and second groups have a constitution in tubular eyelets for the passage of the fixing screws and the offset positioning of the material bridge 12 with respect to said plate 5.

According to a practical embodiment of the invention, the upper additional fastening tabs 14 of the distributor 2 coinciding with the first group of tabs 10 of the retention piece 9 are formed on the walls of the tubes 4, in the form of projections or protrusions of material in one piece with these walls (Figures 2 and 13 in particular). This results in a partial sharing of the attachment points between part 9 and splitter 2 allowing a multiplication of anchor sites for each of these components, without causing excessive multiplication of all the attachment sites.

In order to provide additional attachment points specific to the distributor 2, the latter may also be provided with fixing lugs or eyelets 14 'located at the fixing and connecting plate 5 and formed s in one piece with it, these lugs or eyelets 14 'corresponding, at least for some, preferably in all, at the fixing points 20 distinct from the points of attachment of the support and fixing lugs 10 and 1 1 of the retention piece 9 (FIGS. 2A, 3, 9A, 13, 14 and 15B in particular).

Similarly, the retention piece 9 may also comprise clean and separate attachment points in the form of support lugs and attachment 1 1 of the second group (Figures 1B, 7A, 9A, 1 1, 14 and 15A in particular) .

Finally, the splitter 2 may optionally comprise at least one other fastening eyelet 14 'forming for example part of the plate 5 and with which comes into coincidence a lug with eyelet 1 terminating a projection 12 "side of the body-shaped wing 12 'of the retention piece 9.

This fixing eyelet 14 'and this part 1 1' can be connected by a screw ensuring the locking of the assembly between part 9 and distributor 2.

Thus, the assembly piece 9 / manifold 2 can be locked even before its mounting on the engine block and the connection between eyelets 1 Γ and 14 contributes to the stiffening of the structure of the composite module, without being anchored in the breech block ( does not participate in fixing on the engine block).

In accordance with an advantageous constructive form, particularly apparent from FIGS. 1A, 4F, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8B and 9B of the drawings, the longitudinal receiving housing 13 with blocking of the injection manifold 7 has in cross-section a oblong shape with, on the one hand, an introduction opening 13 'located between the bases of the tabs 10 of the first group, preferably forming an aligned arrangement, and the lower face of the common plate 5, on the other hand, a part intermediate, housing the injectors and / or serving as guide zone for the ramp injection 7 during its assembly in the module 1, delimited by said tabs 10 of the first group and the ends of the tubing 4 adjacent to the plate 5 and finally a bottom housing location for reception with wedging of the ramp 7, defined by cooperation of an internal cavity 12 "'of the wing-shaped body 12' of the retaining piece 9 extending laterally at the lugs 10 of support and attachment of the first group and of wall portions 15 'of the ends of the tubes 4 close to the mounting plate 5 and connection.

According to an advantageous constructive feature, the wall portions 15 'of the different tubes 4 forming concordant lateral bearing zones for the injection manifold 7 in its locked state in the receiving housing 13, correspond to wall portions of the 4 proximal tubing of the plate 5, for example to wall portions 15 'of the receiving housing of the regulating members 6 of said tubing forming part of a tabular formation 15 receiving the common control axis 16 of the various regulating members the flow of the various pipes 4, the retention piece 9 being provided with a lateral flange 17 blocking the control shaft 16 in said tabular formation 15 at the opening 15 "thereof.

In accordance with a first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 and providing for mounting of the ramp 7 after assembly of the distributor 2 and of the part 9, the latter is, after assembly with nesting and before fixing, advantageously movable in such a way limited to the distributor 2 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the receiving housing 13 of the injection rail 7, thus allowing a modification of the width of said housing 13 between a value allowing the introduction and extraction of said injection ramp 7 and a value causing a locking thereof in said housing 13 in the mounted position of said ramp 7.

The limited relative movement allowed between the retention room

9 and the splitter 2, after assembly with nesting of these two components, is apparent in particular from a comparison of Figure 4F with Figure 7 A and a comparison of Figure 5 with Figure 6.

When the retention piece 9 is moved in the position shown in FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B, the injection ramp 7 is pressed by the tabs 10 and the material bridge 12 against the wall portions 15 ', resulting in a blocking position of said ramp 9 at the bottom of the housing 13.

This blocked positioning of the ramp 7 can advantageously be exploited to perform a manipulation and transport of the fully pre-assembled functional module 1 (splitter 2, retention piece 9, injection rail 7), without risk of losing the ramp 7 .

The above-mentioned pre-assembly of the module 1 may optionally be locked by one or more temporary fastening screws 21 connecting the retention piece 9 to the distributor 2 during the handling and transport phases of this module (FIGS. 12B and 13).

When mounting the module 1 on the engine block, a new relative movement of the part 9 relative to the distributor 2 (possibly after removal of the temporary fastening screws) will put the module 1 in its mounting configuration and fixing, the injection ramp 9 is then normally no longer in contact with the wall portions 15 ', but only wedged with locking in the footprint 12 "' of the material bridge 12 under the action of the springs of the injectors.

According to a preferred method of manufacture of the constitutive components of the functional module 1 according to the invention, the retention piece 9 is made in one piece of a molded material and the inlet distributor 2 consists of at least two complementary pieces 2 'and 2 "of molded material assembled by welding by vibration, gluing or screwing, at additional peripheral grouting areas.

In accordance with a second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the wing-shaped body 12 'of the retention piece 9 has an internal cavity 12 "' forming, by cooperation with the ends of the bearing lugs 10 and attaching the first group contiguous to the material bridge 12, a receiving site with blocking for the injection rail 7, for producing a structural unit by mechanical assembly of the retention piece 9 and the injection rail 7 .

The retention piece 9 may in this case in particular be made of a metallic material, thermoplastic or thermoset.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the injection manifold 7 is, after assembly of the pre-assembled unit 19 with the distributor 2, bearing laterally against wall portions 15 'forming part of the pipes 4, for example wall portions of the receiving housing of the regulating members 6 (not shown) of said pipes.

Said ramp 7 is thus positively and mechanically locked in the reception site formed by the impression 12 "'and the tabs 10, which already holds it alone by a pivoting effect, for example.

In accordance with a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the retention piece 9 and the injection ramp 7 are assembled by welding or soldering, in a structural unit, the injection ramp 7 and at least partially the retention piece 9 being made of a metallic material.

In this embodiment, the injection manifold 7 may also, as shown in FIG. 9B, be additionally locked in position by lateral support of its housings 8 'for receiving the injectors against wall portions 15' of the tubes. or the fixing and connecting plate 5.

The intake distributor 2 may advantageously be of the type described and represented in the French patent application No. 09 56042 filed on September 4, 2009 in the name of the applicant, that is to say by integrating the circuit of evacuation of the crankcase gases.

As is apparent from Figures 10 and 1 1 at least, and in accordance with another constructive embodiment of the module 1 according to the invention, the mounting plate and connection 5 may consist of a separate part, preferably obtained by molding by injection of a thermoplastic material, integrating at least the ends of the pipes 4 and sealed assembly with the body of the distributor 2, the latter possibly being provided with complementary portions of said pipes 4 and, where appropriate, consisting of at least two complementary pieces 2 'and 2 "of molded material assembled, for example by welding (by vibration), gluing, overmoulding or screwing, at the level of complementary peripheral grouting areas (the splitter 2 is then constituted by the assembly of at least three pieces).

The present invention also relates to a vehicle with internal combustion engine powered by an injection ramp 7, characterized in that it comprises a functional module 1 as described above.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a functional module 1 as described above. According to a first embodiment of the invention and as shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, this method mainly consists in producing separately, on the one hand, an intake manifold or distributor 2, on the other hand, an injection ramp 7 and, finally, a retention piece 9, to assemble the retention piece 9 with the distributor 2 by introducing each of the support and fastening lugs 1 1 of the second group in a space or clear passage corresponding between two pipes 4 in a pivoting movement so as to result in an interlocking of said lugs 1 1 and their respective adjoining projections 12 "between the tubes 4 concerned and forming a longitudinal housing 13 with an oblong section for the reception of the injection ramp 7 between the support and fastening lugs 10 of the first group, a portion 15 'of common side wall of the ends of the tubes 4 and their mounting plate 5 and coupling ordement and a wing-shaped body 12 'of the retention piece 9, to introduce the injection ramp 7 at the bottom of said longitudinal housing 13, the latter having a width greater than the diameter of said ramp 7 and finally to moving the retention piece 9 and the distributor 2 relative to one another to reduce the width of the longitudinal housing 13 and thus block the injection ramp 7 at the bottom of the housing 13.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, which is apparent from FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 of the drawings, the method may consist essentially of producing separately, on the one hand, an intake distributor 2 or a plate 5 of the tubes. on the other hand, an injection ramp 7, and finally a retention piece 9, to form a pre-assembled unit 19 by assembling the injection rail 7 with the retention piece 9, to assemble the unit premounted 19 with the distributor 2 or the plate 5 by introducing each of the support lugs and 1 1 fixing of the second group in a space or clear passage 4 "corresponding between two pipes 4 in a pivoting movement so as to result in a nesting with locking of said lugs 1 1 and their respective adjoining projections 12 "between the tubes 4 concerned and forming a longitudinal housing 13 with an oblong section for receiving the injection rail 7 between the lugs 10 and fixing the first group, a portion 15 'of common side wall of the ends of the tubes 4 and their mounting plate 5 and connection and a wing-shaped body 12' of the retention piece 9. In accordance with a first variant, and as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the realization of the pre-assembled unit 19 consists in mechanically assembling the injection manifold 7 with the retention piece 9 at a location of reception with blocking of the latter.

In accordance with a second variant, and as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the embodiment of the pre-assembled unit 19 consists in assembling by welding or brazing the injection manifold 7 with the retention piece 9 at the shaped body. wing 12 'of the latter.

According to a feature of the invention, this method also consists, prior to the assembly of the part 9 or the premounted unit 19 with the distributor 2 or the plate 5, to set up regulating members, for example the valve type, in the ends of the pipes 4 through the plate 5, then to introduce longitudinally the common control axis 16 of said organs in a tubular formation 15 interconnecting and passing through the various pipes 4.

Preferably, the retention piece 9 is formed in one piece by molding, for example of thermoplastic or metal material, and the distributor 2 is formed by assembling at least two parts 2 'and 2 ", for example by welding, bonding or other, each of said parts being made in one piece by injection molding, for example of thermoplastic material.

When the plate 5 with the ends of the tubes 4 forms a separate part of the body of the distributor 2 (Figures 10 and 1 1), the assembly (plate 5 - ramp 7 - part 9) is first preassembled, then the body of the splitter 2 is sealingly mounted on said plate 5 by connection at the level of the tubes. Both variants of the manufacturing method mentioned above are compatible with such an embodiment of the splitter 2.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

EVENDICATIONS

1) Functional module integrating, on the one hand, a distributor or intake manifold (2) with a mixing / distribution chamber or plenum (3) and several manifolds (4) extending laterally from said chamber and physically connected between they at their outlets (4 ') to form a common plate (5) for fixing and sealing connection to the cylinder heads of an internal combustion engine, optionally provided with means (6) for regulating the flow at the level of outlets, on the other hand, a high-pressure injection manifold (7) in the form of a duct (8) provided with a plurality of lateral housings (8 ') for injectors and, finally, a retention piece ( 9) for locking in position of said injection rail (7),

said functional module (1) being constituted by a mutually interleaved and nested arrangement comprising the distributor (2), the injection manifold (7) and the retention part (9), the injection manifold (7) being maintained between the retention piece (9) and the distributor (2),

functional module (1) characterized

in that the retention piece (9) is intended to bear directly on and to be secured to the engine block and comprises a first and a second group of support and fixing lugs (10, 1 1) extending each respectively on either side of the common plate (5) of the tubes (4),

in that the support and fixing lugs (10 and 11) of the two groups are interconnected by a material formation constituting a bridge (12),

in that at least part of said bridge (12), one of the groups of support and fixing lugs (10) forming a remote alignment of the plate (5) and a sidewall portion of said plate (5) securing and connecting and / or wall portions (15 ') of the various pipes (4) together form by cooperation a longitudinal receiving housing (13) with blocking of the injection rail (7), and ,

in that the distributor (2) is provided, on the one hand, in particular at the fixing and connecting plate, with points or clean sites (20) for fixing on the motor unit, distinct from the attachment points. bearing and fixing lugs (10 and 11) of the retention piece (9) and, on the other hand, additional fastening lugs (14) extending further away from the plate (5) and coinciding with and bearing on the support and fixing lugs (10) of the first group of the part retention element (9) in the assembled state of the arrangement forming the functional module (1).

2) Functional module according to claim 1, characterized in that the material bridge (12) is constituted by a wing-shaped body (12 ') with a substantially continuous structure, adjacent laterally to the support and fixing lugs ( 10) of the first group and having several projections (12 ") extending to the support legs and fixing (1 1) of the second group, these projections (12") each extending through a passage or cleared space (4 ") between two consecutive pipes (4), in the assembled state for mounting the arrangement forming the functional module (1), preferably being fitted between these pipes (4) with locking in position by cooperation complementary shapes.

3) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said lugs (10, 1 1) of the first and second groups have a constitution in tubular eyelets for the passage of the fixing screws and the offset positioning of the material bridge (12) with respect to said plate (5).

4) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper fastening tabs (14) of the distributor (2) coinciding with the first group of tabs (10) of the retention piece (9) are formed on the walls of the pipes (4), in the form of projections of material in one piece with these walls.

5) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distributor (2) is also provided with tabs or fixing eyes (14 ') located at the level of the plate of fixing and connecting and formed integrally with it, these lugs or eyelets (14 ') corresponding, at least for some, to the fixing points (20) separate from the points of attachment of the support lugs and fixing (10 and 1 1) of the retention piece (9).

6) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the longitudinal receiving housing (13) with blocking of the injection manifold (7) has in cross section an oblong shape with, of a on the other hand, an introduction opening (13 ') situated between the bases of the legs (10) of the first group, preferably forming an aligned arrangement, and the lower face of the common plate (5), on the other hand, an intermediate part, housing the injectors and / or serving as a guide zone for the injection rail (7) during its assembly in the module (1), delimited by said legs (10) of the first group and the ends of the pipes (4) adjacent to the plate (5) and, finally, a housing bottom location for receiving wedging of the injection manifold (7), defined by cooperation of an internal imprint (12 "') of the wing-shaped body (12') of the retaining piece (9) extending laterally at the lugs (10) for supporting and fixing the first group and portions wall (15 ') of the ends of the pipes (4) close to the plate (5) for fixing and connection.

7) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the wall portions (15 ') of the various pipes (4) forming concordant lateral bearing areas for the injection rail (7). in its locked state in the receiving housing (13), correspond to wall portions of the tubules (4) proximal to the plate (5), for example to wall portions (15 ') of the receiving housings of the regulating (6) said tubings forming integral parts of a tubular formation (15) receiving the common control shaft (16) of the different flow control members of the different tubes (4), the retention piece (9) being provided a lateral flange (17) blocking the control shaft (16) in said tubular formation (15) at the opening (15 ") thereof.

8) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the retention piece (9) is, after assembly with nesting and before fixing, movable in a limited way relative to the distributor (2) in one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the receiving housing (13) of the injection rail (7), thereby allowing a modification of the width of said housing (13) between a value allowing the introduction and extraction of said ramp (7) injection and a value causing a locking of the latter in said housing (13) in the mounted position of said ramp (7).

9) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the retention piece (9) is made in one piece of a molded material and in that the intake distributor (2) is consisting of at least two complementary pieces (2 'and 2 ") of molded material assembled by vibration welding, bonding or screwing, at additional peripheral grouting areas.

10) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the mounting plate and connection (5) consists of a separate part, preferably obtained by injection molding of a thermoplastic material, integrating at least the ends of the pipes (4) and sealingly assembled with the body of the distributor (2), optionally provided with complementary portions of said pipes (4) and, where appropriate, consisting of at least two complementary parts (2 'and 2) ") of molded material assembled, for example by welding, gluing, overmoulding or screwing, at additional peripheral grouting areas.

1 1) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wing-shaped body (12 ') of the retention piece (9) has an internal cavity (12 "') forming by cooperating with the ends of the lugs (10) for supporting and fixing the first group contiguous to the material bridge (12), a receiving site with blocking for the injection rail (7), making it possible to produce a structural unit by mechanical assembly of the retention piece (9) and the injection ramp (7).

12) Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the retention piece (9) and the injection manifold (7) are assembled by welding or brazing, in a structural unit, the ramp d injection (7) and at least partially the retention piece (9) being made of a metallic material.

13) Internal combustion engine vehicle powered by an injection ramp, characterized in that it comprises a functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14) A method of manufacturing a functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 10, to separately produce, on the one hand, an intake manifold or distributor (2), on the other hand, a ramp of injection (7) and, finally, a retention piece (9),

characterized in that it also consists in assembling the retaining piece (9) with the distributor (2) by introducing each of the support and fixing lugs (1 1) of the second group into a space or passage (4 " ) corresponding clearance between two pipes (4) in a pivoting movement so as to result in an interlocking of said lugs (1 1) and their respective adjoining projections (12 ") between the pipes (4) concerned and forming a longitudinal housing (13) oblong section for receiving the injection rail (7) between the support and fastening lugs (10) of the first group, a portion (15 ') of common side wall of the ends of the tubes (4) and their mounting plate (5) for attachment and connection and a body-shaped wing (12 ') of the retention piece (9), to introduce the injection ramp (7) at the bottom of said longitudinal housing (13), the latter having a width greater than the diameter of said ramp (7) and, finally, to move the retention piece (9) and the distributor (2) relative to each other to reduce the width of the longitudinal housing (13) and thus block the injection ramp (7) at the bottom housing (13).

15) A method of manufacturing a functional module according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it consists in producing separately, on the one hand, an intake distributor (2) or a platen (5 ) tubings, on the other hand, an injection manifold (7), and finally a retention piece (9), to form a pre-assembled unit (19) by assembling the injection manifold (7) with the retention piece (9), to assemble the pre-assembled unit (19) with the distributor (2) or the plate (5) by introducing each of the support and fixing lugs (1 1) of the second group into a space or clear passage (4 ") corresponding between two pipes (4) in a pivoting movement so as to result in interlocking with locking of said lugs (1 1) and their respective adjoining projections (12") between the pipes (4) concerned and forming an elongate longitudinal housing (13) for receiving the injection rail (7). re the support and fastening lugs (10) of the first group, a portion (15 ') of common side wall of the ends of the tubes (4) and their mounting plate (5) for attachment and connection and a shaped body wing (12 ') of the retention piece (9).

16) The manufacturing method according to claim 15, characterized in that the realization of the pre-assembled unit (19) consists in mechanically assembling the injection manifold (7) with the retention piece (9) at the level of a reception site with blocking of the latter.

17) The manufacturing method according to claim 15, characterized in that the realization of the pre-assembled unit (19) consists in welding or welding the injection rail (7) with the retention piece (9) at the wing-shaped body (12 ') thereof.

18) Method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that it also consists, prior to assembly of the part (9) or the pre-assembled unit (19) with the distributor (2) or the plate (5), to set up regulating members, for example of the valve type, in the ends of the pipes (4) through the plate (5), then to introduce longitudinally the common control shaft (16) said members in a tabular formation (15) connecting with each other and passing through the various pipes (4).

19) Method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the retention piece (9) is formed in one piece by molding, for example of thermoplastic or metal material, and in that the distributor ( 2) is formed by assembling at least two parts (2 'and 2 "), for example by welding, gluing or other, each of said parts being made in one piece by injection molding, for example of thermoplastic material.