FR3037551A1 - FASTENING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A PORTION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE FRONT PANEL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE TO THE EXCHANGE HEAD OF A HEAT EXCHANGER DURING A FRONTAL SHOCK ON THE AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Fastening device (10) for a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle comprising a front face module (1) provided with a front face structure (2) and a heat exchanger (6, 7), the fastener comprising a first end (11) adapted to fix the fastening device (10) to the front face structure (2) and a second free end (12) adapted to be secured to the heat exchanger (6, 7) following a shock. The invention also relates to a front-end module comprising a front face structure (2) for a motor vehicle and such a fixing device (10). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a front-end module.

Description

FIXING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A PORTION OF THE FRONT-SIDE STRUCTURE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE TO THE HEAT-EXCHANGE EXCHANGE BEAM DURING A FRONTAL SHOCK ON THE MOTOR VEHICLE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device adapted to form a connection between at least a portion of the front face structure of a motor vehicle and at least a portion of a heat exchanger, when the motor vehicle collides with an obstacle.

State of the art In a known manner, a motor vehicle comprises a front-end module forming the front portion of said motor vehicle. In the automotive industry, it is known to use the term "Front End Module" to define said front-end module. The front panel module is located at the rear of the front bumper and under the hood of the motor vehicle. The front-end module generally comprises a relatively rigid front face structure and a beam, positioned in a substantially horizontal direction, adapted to absorb a given amount of energy in the event of a frontal impact suffered by the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle also comprises, in known manner, a cooling system comprising, in particular, a heat exchanger comprising an exchange beam and a header box positioned at the rear of the beam. The front-end module is a part that can be manufactured by an automotive supplier and assembled by the car manufacturer within the motor vehicle, as a separate automobile part. The regulation on the automotive industry imposes specific criteria concerning the deformation of the front panel module. Indeed, the face module 3037551 2 front positioned in a space between the front bumper and the engine, must be able to deform, effectively, in order to absorb a determined amount of energy during a collision between a motor vehicle and an obstacle, for example, a pedestrian. The pedestrian's physical integrity involved in the collision is proportional to the amount of energy absorbed by the front-end module during said collision. Thus, the front panel module must not contain any rigid element, to avoid any adverse impact on the pedestrian during a collision. The front-end module also includes a front-end structure, generally rectangular in shape, having an upper cross member, a lower cross member and two members positioned in a vertical direction between the upper cross member and the lower cross member. A hood latch is attached to the upper cross member of said front structure of the motor vehicle.

In a moderate speed collision between, for example, a motor vehicle and a pedestrian, the various components of the front-end module are able to deform and move without compromising the shape or integrity of the vehicle. front face structure of the motor vehicle.

On the other hand, during a collision at a more sustained speed, the deformation of the various elements composing the front-end module, displaced during the impact, may cause the deformation of the upper cross member of the structure of the front face. of the motor vehicle, thus causing a vertical displacement of said front face structure, or even an opening of the hood. Thus, after the collision, the movement of the upper cross member of the front structure of the motor vehicle may prevent proper closure of the hood, which is absolutely undesirable for obvious reasons of safety. For the reasons mentioned above, it is therefore impossible to connect the upper cross member and the lower cross member of the front face structure of a motor vehicle with the aid of a rigid fastening element to guarantee a solid retention of the cover. In addition, the use of a rigid fastener increases the risk of damaging the physical integrity of the pedestrian involved in a collision, at moderate speed, with a motor vehicle.

It is therefore necessary to make improvements to the devices known in the prior art in order to guarantee that the bonnet is effectively held within the front structure of the motor vehicle during a moderate-speed collision and at the same time. high speed.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device for a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle comprising a front-end module provided with a front-end structure and a heat exchanger, the device fixing device comprising a first end adapted to fix the fastening device to the front face structure and a second free end adapted to be fastened to the heat exchanger following an impact.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing device is adapted to move with said front face structure, the second free end moving, following an impact, a first position away from the exchanger of heat to a second position in contact with the heat exchanger.

According to one aspect of the invention, the second free end, following an impact, moves to come into contact with the collector box of the heat exchanger. According to one embodiment of the invention, the first end is provided with a flat element with at least one opening for receiving fastening means for securing said fastening device to the front face structure, said fastening device from the flat member to the second end having substantially the shape of an L. According to one embodiment of the invention, said fixing device is made of a metallic material. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a front-end module comprising a front-end structure for a motor vehicle and such a fixing device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastening device is fixed on the upper cross member of the front face structure. According to one embodiment of the invention, the second free end is directed towards the front of the motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a front-end module and a heat exchanger in which the fixing device is fixed to the front-face structure, the second free end being adapted to be attached to the heat exchanger. heat following a shock. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects, objects and features of the present invention and its advantages will become more apparent upon reading the description below, of the preferred embodiments of a front-end structure fastening system. of a motor vehicle, according to the invention, with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a front-end module comprising a front-end structure according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the fastening device present within the front face structure according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 shows a side view of the fastening device according to a method of embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the fastening device according to the invention, between a first non-engaged position and an engaged position, during a collision, n an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The following description is intended to set forth the invention in a sufficiently clear and complete manner, particularly by way of examples, but should not be construed as limiting. the extent of protection to the particular embodiments and examples presented below. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a front-end module 1 comprising a set of elements that can be manufactured by an automobile equipment supplier. The automotive supplier produces the front panel module 1 as a car part in its own right which is then assembled in a motor vehicle by the car manufacturer. The front-end module 1, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a front-end structure 2 of a motor vehicle, said front-face structure 2 being in substantially rectangular or square form. Within FIG. 1, the front face structure 2 comprises an upper cross member 3 and a side jamb 4. The front face structure 2 also comprises a hood latch (not shown) to allow said hood to close. The other 20 elements composing the front face structure 2 are not shown in FIG. 1. The front face module 1 is assembled with a bodywork part, commonly called a shield, where is arranged a beam 5 adapted to absorb a determined quantity of energy during a frontal impact on the motor vehicle. The shield includes an air inlet 9, for an outside air flow, behind which a heat exchanger is disposed. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchange bundle 6 and a manifold 7 for the fluid flowing in the exchanger. The manifold 7 is positioned above said exchange bundle 6.

During a moderate-speed collision experienced by the motor vehicle, the energy is absorbed by the bumper (not shown in FIG. 1) of the motor vehicle, in combination with the beam 5 and the front-end module 1. If the impact on the motor vehicle is light, the shape and integrity of the front face structure 2 of said motor vehicle are not degraded. Indeed, the closure of the hood of the motor vehicle is ensured because the fastening of the hood lock does not undergo any major deformation. The upper cross member 3 of the front face structure 2 of the motor vehicle 5 comprises a fixing device 10. A high speed collision generates a determined amount of energy which causes a deformation of the various elements shown in FIG. fixing 10 according to the invention avoids the opening of the hood of the motor vehicle during such a collision.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the fastening device 10. The fastening device 10 comprises a first end 11 comprising a flat element 13 fixed on the upper cross member 3 of the front face structure 2 of the motor vehicle by means of FIG. fasteners such as bolts. The fixing device 10 comprises a second free end 12 which does not come into contact with any element of the front-face module 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The fastening device 10 is positioned in the vicinity of the exchange beam. 6 of the heat exchanger of the motor vehicle. The functionality of the fastening device 10 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a portion of the front panel module 1 according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device 10 is fastened to the upper cross member 3 of the front face structure 2. FIG. 3 shows the manifold 7 whose diameter is greater than that of the exchange beam of FIG. 'heat exchanger. The assembly, as shown in FIG. 3, composed of the exchange bundle 6 and the manifold 7, forms a protrusion 8. The fastening device 10 is provided at its free end 12 with a rounded shape adapted to cooperate with said protuberance 8.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the possible positions for the fixing device 10. According to the invention, during a collision, the fastening device 10 moves from a first position A called "not engaged" (in the clear in Fig. 3) to a second position B called "engaged" (in bold in Fig. 4). In a collision, the fastener 10 moves toward the compound assembly 35 of the heat exchange bundle 6 of the heat exchanger and the manifold 7 to engage said assembly below. of the protrusion 8. When using a motor vehicle under normal conditions, that is to say during use before collision, the free end 12 of the fastening device 10 is connected neither the heat exchange bundle 6 of the heat exchanger and the manifold 7.

The free end 12 of the fixing device 10 is positioned in the vacuum, which prevents any transfer of energy to the fixing device 10. This free position is an important advantage. Indeed, the front face structure 2 of the motor vehicle is directly related to the elements of said motor vehicle and is exposed to forces imposed by the motor, such as vibration for example.

The assembly, composed of the exchange bundle 6 and the manifold 7 of the heat exchanger, is fixed within the front panel module by means of specific fastening elements capable of absorbing the vibrations and of avoid the propagation of such vibrations.

A high speed collision generates a determined quantity of energy which causes a deformation of the various elements shown in FIG. 1. The fastening device 10, according to the invention, makes it possible to avoid the opening of the hood of the motor vehicle when such a collision.

When the motor vehicle undergoes a collision, the fixing device 10 moves from the first position A said position "not engaged", as shown clearly in Figure 4, to a second position B called "engaged", as shown in FIG. According to the position B, the free end 12 of the fixing device 10 is engaged with the assembly composed of the exchange bundle 6 and the collecting box 7, is thus maintained by said assembly. Fixing the free end 12 of the fastener 10 prevents the movement of the upper cross member 3 of the front face structure 2 of the motor vehicle. In the event of a collision, the attachment of the upper cross member 3 of the structure of the front face 2 to the assembly composed of the heat exchange bundle 6 and the manifold 7 increases the rigidity and the resistance to the deformation of the the structure of the front face 2. The maintenance of the hood in the closed position is thus guaranteed. Indeed, the position of the lock of said cover on the upper cross member 3 of the front face structure 2 prevents movement of said cover in the event of a collision.