FR2809073A1 - FRONT PANEL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND CORRESPONDING FRONT BLOCK - Google Patents

Abstract

This front face comprises a body (5) and at least one member (12) for mounting an item of equipment (3) on the body, the member (12) being movable between a first position in which it advances from the body. body (5) for retaining the equipment against displacement in a first direction intended to be oriented substantially vertically upwards when the front face is mounted on a motor vehicle, and a second position for releasing the equipment (3). In its second position, the assembly member is retracted to allow the equipment to be dismantled by translation in the first direction.

Description

The present invention relates to a front face for a motor vehicle,

  type comprising a body and at least one member for mounting equipment on the body, the member being movable between a first position in which it advances from the body to retain the equipment against movement in a first direction intended to be oriented substantially vertically upwards when the front face is mounted on a vehicle

  automotive, and a second equipment release position.

  The invention applies in particular to the mounting of the upper end of a radiator but can also be applied to the mounting of a condenser, a motor-fan unit or other equipment such as a

liquid tank.

  To mount a radiator on a front face, elastic supports or "silentblocs" must be placed between the radiator and the front face to

  limit problems related to vibrations.

  Generally in a front face of the aforementioned type, two upper fixed legs, spaced laterally from one another, advance forward from the body of the front face. Holes are provided in these legs. An annular elastic support is forced into each of these holes. The front face comprises two upper mounting members each in the form of a rod provided with an upper shoulder. Each rod is inserted into an upper elastic support and snapped into place by its lower end in the radiator. It is also known to use as upper mounting members two attached fixing lugs in which the upper elastic supports have been previously mounted. Then introduce upper radiator rods into the upper elastic supports and then fix the

  tabs on the front, for example by snap-fastening.

  In these two cases, the lower end of the radiator has lower rods inserted in lower elastic supports. The lower elastic supports are received in holes provided in tabs which

  extend forward from the lower end of the body of the front panel.

  To dismantle the radiator, it must be tilted forward around a lower horizontal axis, i.e. after removal of the mounting components when

  these are rods, or to remove these mounting members when it is legs.

  The radiator is then lifted to release its lower rods from the lower elastic supports. When the front face is mounted in a motor vehicle, such a tilting movement is prevented by the neighboring elements of the motor vehicle and in particular by the bumper beam which is located in front of the radiator. It is therefore necessary to dismantle the entire front panel in order to be able to

  disassemble the radiator and, for example, change or repair it in the event of a fault.

  The cost of dismantling the radiator and therefore of

after-sales service is high.

  An object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a front face of the aforementioned type which allows less costly disassembly of the

  radiator when the front panel is mounted on a motor vehicle.

  To this end, the invention relates to a front face of the aforementioned type, characterized in that, in its second position, the mounting member is retracted to allow disassembly of the equipment by translation in the

first sense.

  According to particular embodiments, the front face can comprise one or more of the following characteristics taken alone or according to all technically possible combinations: - it comprises means for retaining the mounting member relative to the body when the mounting member is in its second position; - in its second position, the mounting member is retracted to allow disassembly of the equipment by simple translation in the first

meaning; -

  - the mounting member comprises a rotation shaft received in the body to allow the mounting member to pivot around a first axis and to slide along this first axis to move between its two positions - the first axis is intended to be substantially vertical when the front face is mounted on a motor vehicle; - The front face comprises means for blocking the mounting member in its first position; - The locking means comprise complementary fitting parts of the mounting member and the body which fit into each other to prevent rotation of the mounting member about the first axis; - The fitting part of the body defines a receiving cavity of the mounting member in its first position; - The locking means comprise at least one snap-fit relief that can be actuated and moved between a locking position and a position for releasing the mounting member; - In its blocking position, the snap relief prevents the mounting member from sliding along the first axis; - the snap relief is carried by the rotation shaft; - The front face comprises means for holding the mounting member in its second position; and the holding means comprise complementary fitting parts of the mounting member and of the body which fit one into

  The other to hold the mounting member.

  The invention further relates to a front unit and equipment mounted on the front face, characterized in that the front face is a front face as defined above, the equipment being mounted on the front face by

the mounting member.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow, given only by way of example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a front unit according to the invention illustrating the radiator mounted on the body of the face before, - Figure 2 is an enlarged, schematic, partial view, taken along arrow II of Figure I; - Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 111-111 of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the disassembly of the radiator; - Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view, schematic, taken along the arrow Vl of Figure 5; - Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Figure 6; - Figure 8 is a schematic side view of a mounting member according to a variant of the invention; and - Figure 9 is a top view of the mounting member of the

figure 8.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a front unit 1 of a motor vehicle which notably comprises a front face 2, a radiator 3 disposed in front of the

  front face 2, and a bumper beam 4 disposed in front of the radiator 3.

  The front face 2 is symmetrical with respect to a vertical and median longitudinal plane, and comprises a body 5, produced for example by overmolding of plastic material on a metal frame, and lower means 6 and

  upper 7 for mounting the radiator 3 on the front face 2.

  The lower mounting means 6 conventionally comprise two tabs 8 laterally offset from one another which extend forward from the body 5 under the radiator 3. Only one tab 8 is visible in FIG. 1. Each tab 8 has an orifice in which an elastic support 9 is housed. This support 9 receives a lower vertical rod 10 of the radiator 3. Each tab 8 is for example metallic and made of material with

the metal framework of the body 5.

  The upper mounting means 7 comprise two mounting members 12 which are offset laterally from one another. Only one of these organs

  is visible in Figure 1 and will be described later.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4, the mounting member 12, made for example from a single piece of plastic material, comprises a rectangular base plate 13. The plate 13 is extended downwards at a first end 14 by a rotation shaft 16, of circular current section and of vertical axis A. The free end 17 of the shaft 16 is extended

  longitudinally on either side by two lower latching reliefs 18.

  These two reliefs 18 extend from the end 17 upwards and outwards, forming a V. The reliefs 18 have lower ramp surfaces 19, which converge towards each other and downwards, and surfaces

  retaining upper 20 substantially horizontal.

  The rotation shaft 16 has in its upper half two lateral slots 21 which open laterally and which extend upwards in

  the base plate 13 for opening upwards.

  The slots 21 define between them a core 22 of substantially rectangular section. The core 22 is extended from its lower end 23 by two latching fingers 24. Each finger 24 extends in a lateral slot 21 from the end 23 laterally outwards and upwards. The fingers 24 therefore form a V directed downwards and are terminated by the free ends 25 situated above the base plate 13. Each finger 24 has a snap relief 26 located at an intermediate level of the finger 24 and in protruding outwards. The reliefs 26 have lower ramp surfaces 27 converging towards each other and downwards, and surfaces

  retaining upper 28 substantially horizontal.

  At its second end 30, the base plate 13 is extended downwards by a vertical rod 31 of length shorter than that of the shaft of

  rotation 16. The free end of the rod 31 is chamfered.

  The body 5 has an upper crosspiece 32 carrying the organs

mounting 12.

  More particularly, this cross member 32 has, for each mounting member 12, a vertical lower orifice 33 of circular section which opens into the lower surface 34 of the cross member 32 and into an upper cavity 35 of parallelepiped shape. This cavity 35 itself opens into the

  upper surface 36 and in the front surface 37 of the cross member 32.

  The upper end of the radiator 3 has, opposite each mounting member 12, an orifice 38 receiving an annular upper elastic support 39. The elastic support 39 is retained in the orifice 38 by a flange

  annular 40 engaged in a peripheral groove 41 of the elastic support 39.

  The rotation shaft 16 of each mounting member 12 has been inserted into the corresponding orifice 33 by displacement downwards and by deformation

  elastic of the lower latching reliefs 18.

  Each mounting member 12 is movable relative to the body of the front face 2 between a first position for retaining the upper end of the radiator 3, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and a second position for

  release of the upper end of the radiator 3, shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

  In its first position, the end 14 of the base plate 13 is received in the cavity 35 which prevents, by form complementarity, the rotation of the member 12 relative to the body of the front face 2 around the axis A of

the rotation shaft 16.

  The retaining faces 28 of the intermediate latching reliefs 26 of the large fingers 24 bear on the lower surface 34 of the cross-member 32 while maintaining the base plate 13 at the bottom of the cavity 35. The reliefs 26, in this locking position , prevent the rotation shaft 16 from sliding relative to the body 5 along the axis A. The mounting member 12 is therefore locked in its first position

  relative to the body 5 of the front face 2.

  In this position, the base plate 13 advances forwards from the cross member 32 orthogonally thereto. The rod 31 is engaged in a

  central orifice 42 of the corresponding upper elastic support 39.

  The mounting member 12 therefore retains the radiator 3 relative to the

  front face 2, in particular against a vertical upward movement.

  To bring the mounting member 12 into its second position, the free ends 25 of the latching fingers 24 are grasped and brought together

  as illustrated by the arrows 44 in FIG. 3.

  Therefore, the intermediate latching reliefs 26 are brought closer to the core 22 of the rotation shaft 16, until the fingers 24 occupy a release position allowing the reliefs 26 to pass through the orifice 33 The mounting member 12 is then pulled upwards as illustrated by the arrow 45 in FIG. 3, until the reliefs 26 are brought above the orifice 33. The rod 31 is

  then removed from the corresponding upper elastic support 39 and located above

  above the upper surface 36 of the cross member 32.

  The end 14 of the base plate 13 is then disengaged from the cavity 35. As illustrated by the arrow 48, the mounting member 12 is then pivoted a quarter of a turn around the axis A to bring back the end 30 of the plate 13 towards the rear. When the base plate 13 is substantially parallel to the cross-member 32, the rod 31 is located above a vertical orifice 47 formed in the cross-member 32. The member 12 is then lowered by translation of the shaft 16 in the orifice 33 along the axis A, as illustrated by the arrow 48 in FIG. 7. The

  rod 31 then enters hole 47.

  The mounting member 12 is then in a retracted position where it does not extend above the radiator 3. It will be noted that the orifice 47 makes it possible to maintain the mounting member 12 in its retracted position by

complementarity of form.

  When the two mounting members 12 are in their first

  positions, the radiator 3 is integral with the body 5 of the front face 2.

  As can be seen in FIG. 5, when the members 2 are in their second positions, the radiator 3 can be removed by simple vertical translation upwards, as illustrated by the arrow 49. This displacement makes it possible to

  remove the lower rods 10 from the lower elastic supports 9.

  To reassemble the radiator 3 on the front panel 2, for example

  after repair, we proceed in reverse.

  It should be noted that when a mounting member 12 is lowered to insert its rod 31 into the corresponding elastic support 39, the intermediate latching reliefs 26 are placed automatically under the lower surface 34 of the cross member 32 by elastic deformation of the snap-in fingers 24. It is therefore not necessary to actuate the fingers 24 to

  return the mounting member 12 to its first position.

  As tilting of the radiator 3 is not essential for dismantling it, it is not necessary to remove the entire front face 2 of the vehicle to

dismantle the radiator 3.

  The mounting members 12 therefore allow economical mounting and dismounting of the radiator 3. In addition, the lower snap-fit reliefs 18 retain the mounting members 12 against a total extraction of these from the body 5 of the front face 2. Thus, these reliefs 18 constitute means for retaining the mounting members 12 relative to the body 5. The

  risks of loss of the mounting members 12 are therefore limited.

  It should also be noted that the maintenance of the mounting members 12 in their two positions is ensured in a simple and effective manner without added element. The above principles can be applied to the mounting of various equipment on a front face, for example a condenser, a motor-fan unit or a liquid tank. Such equipment may be disposed at the rear of the body 5. In this case, the or each mounting member 12, in its first position, advances rearward from the body 5 to retain

  the equipment against vertical upward translation.

  According to the variant of Figures 8 and 9, each mounting member 12 has at the end 30 of the base plate 13, an orifice 54 for receiving an upper elastic support 39. In this case, the upper end of the radiator 3 has an associated upper rod which engages in the central passage 42 of the elastic support 39, when the mounting member 12 is in its first position. In the second position of the member 12, a rod projecting upwards from the upper surface of the cross member 32 is engaged in the orifice 42 of the elastic support 39 to prevent the rotation of the member.

mounting 12.

  It should be noted that a straight slot 55 is made in the base plate 13 to open into the orifice 54. This slot 55 allows easy mounting of the elastic support 39. Indeed, it suffices to penetrate an edge 56 of this slot 55 in the groove 41 of the elastic support 39, then to rotate the elastic support 39 relative to the mounting member 12 until the edge

  57 of the orifice 54 is completely housed in the groove 41 of the support 39.

Claims (13)

  1. Front face (2) for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a body (5) and at least one member (12) for mounting equipment (3) on the body, the member (12) being movable between a first position in which it advances from the body (5) to retain the equipment against displacement in a first direction intended to be oriented substantially vertically upwards when the front face is mounted on a motor vehicle, and a second position equipment release (3), characterized in that, in its second position, the mounting member is retracted to allow   disassembly of the equipment by translation in the first direction.   2. Front face according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (18) for retaining the mounting member relative to the   body (5) when the mounting member (12) is in its second position.   3. Front face according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in its second position, the mounting member is retracted to allow the   disassembly of the equipment by simple translation in the first direction.   4. Front face according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the mounting member (12) comprises a rotation shaft (16) received in the body (5) to allow the mounting member to pivot around a first axis (A) and to slide the along this first axis to get move between its two positions.   5. Front face according to claim 4, characterized in that the first axis (A) is intended to be substantially vertical when the front face is   mounted on a motor vehicle.   6. Front face according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises means (14, 26, 35) for blocking   the mounting member in its first position.   7. Front face according to claim 4 or 5 taken in combination with claim 6, characterized in that the locking means comprise complementary interlocking parts (14, 35) of the mounting member (12) and of the body (5) which fit together to prevent rotation   of the mounting member (12) around the first axis.   8. Front face according to claim 7, characterized in that the fitting part of the body (15) defines a cavity (35) for receiving   the mounting member (12) in its first position.   9. Front face according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that   that the locking means comprise at least one latching relief (26) which can be actuated and moved between a locking position and a release position of the mounting member (12).   10. Front face according to claim 4 or 5 taken in combination with claim 9, characterized in that, in its locking position, the latching relief (26) prevents the sliding of the mounting member (12) along the first axis.   i 1. Front face according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that   the snap relief (26) is carried by the rotation shaft (16).   12. Front face according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises means (31, 47; 42) for maintaining   the mounting member (12) in its second position.   13. Front face according to claim 12, characterized in that the holding means comprise complementary interlocking parts (31, 47) of the mounting member (12) and of the body (5) which fit together one in   the other to hold the mounting member.   14. Front unit comprising a front face (2) and an equipment (3) mounted on the front face, characterized in that the front face is a front face   according to one of the preceding claims, the equipment being mounted on the face   front thanks to the mounting member (12).