FR3052137A1 - METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A PUMP DEVICE UNDER BODY - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method of the invention, the pump device (13) is mounted under a front floor (111) of a base (1) of the motor vehicle. The method includes a step of placing the pump device at a predetermined location (13a) under the front floor and a step of mechanically securing the device under the front floor. Preferably, the predetermined location is located in a central portion (14) of the front floor remote from a side sill (110) of the underbody. For better protection of the device, it is mounted between a stretcher reinforcement (112) and a tunnel reinforcement (114).

Description

METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A DEVICE

PUMP

[001] The invention relates to a method of mounting under a box of a pump device in a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a fuel metering pump device of an additional heating boiler and a vehicle underbody equipped with such a pump device.

[002] The move upmarket of motor vehicles requires car manufacturers to find industrializable solutions for mass-equipped vehicles with equipment whose rate of increase was previously limited. This is the case for additional heating boilers running on the Webasto type of fuel (registered trademark).

[003] The additional heating boilers were previously proposed by the car manufacturers to equip vehicles to circulate in areas of extreme cold. Today, with the move upmarket of vehicles, they find a massive application in the preheating of vehicle interiors or their additional heating in addition to conventional heating. These boilers produce heat independently by burning fuel. They are therefore well suited for the remote control preheating function of the passenger compartment in winter, which can thus be offered with the engine off.

[004] The boiler is usually located in the front block of the vehicle and the hot air produced is blown into the passenger compartment. In order to bring the fuel to the boiler, an underbody pipe is provided to connect the boiler to the vehicle fuel tank. The fuel tank is usually located under the second row of seats in a passenger vehicle. An electric pump called fuel metering pump must also be mounted in the connection between the boiler and the fuel tank. This pump is required to meter the amount of fuel to be supplied to the boiler based on heating requirements.

[005] Different implantations of the fuel metering pump are known to the inventive entity. In general, known implantations are located in the area of the fuel tank, that is to say, under the rear floor of the vehicle.

[006] A known implementation is to fix the fuel metering pump to a strap of the fuel tank, by means of a fastening collar. This operation done by an operator "hands in the air" is applicable for small series or for after-sales installations. It is unsatisfactory for mass-produced first-runs on automated production lines.

Another known implementation provides in the fuel tank a dedicated housing in which the metering pump is inserted and is held mechanically by clipping. In order to minimize modifications on the surrounding elements of the vehicle, the pump is disposed against the outer wall of the reservoir, in a concavity-zone of the wall. This solution, however, has the disadvantage of impacting the liter of the fuel tank. In addition, different tank models are available from car manufacturers for current vehicles based on modular platforms and this variability leads to a limitation on the possible level of standardization. This results in increased R & D and tooling costs and lower cost reductions.

[008] By the document EP1238844B1, it is also known an arrangement for fixing in a motor vehicle of a fuel line located under the body. The fixing solution proposed by EP1238844B1 aims at reducing the mechanical vibrations of the fuel line and the acoustic noises. A fuel pump and a filter forming part of the fuel pipe are housed in this arrangement which ensures their attachment to the body. The arrangement includes an elastic damping element surrounding the fuel line and held in place between the vehicle floor plate and a structural member of the arrangement. Such an arrangement is more suitable for a fuel supply pump of the engine than for an additional heating boiler fuel metering pump. Indeed, the fuel metering pump must provide a much lower flow rate compared to that of the engine fuel pump and the level of vibration produced does not require the use of specific elastic damping means. This arrangement has the disadvantage of a large space due in particular to the presence of the elastic damping element surrounding the pump and the filter. This large size does not facilitate the implementation under the box and the holding of a ground clearance rating that must be respected between the bodies under the body and the floor plan.

[009] The present invention aims to provide a solution to the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing an underbody fuel pump assembly well suited for automated industrial production, offering a high level of standardization and which impacts the organs as little as possible. surrounding the vehicle.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method of mounting under a box of a pump device in a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the pump device is mounted under a floor before a base of the motor vehicle.

The front floor in the current modular architectures is a modular area with low variability between different vehicles of a range proposed by a car manufacturer. The method of the invention therefore allows a high level of standardization.

According to a particular characteristic, the method comprises a step of setting up under the pump device at a predetermined location under the front floor and a mechanical fixing step of the device under the front floor, the predetermined location being located in a central part of the remote front floor of side rails of the underbody.

This feature of the invention has the advantage of sheltering the pump device in the event of a side impact, thus avoiding a risk of fire by fuel leakage following the side impact.

According to another particular feature, at least one of the aforementioned steps of setting up and mechanical fixing of the pump device is performed at least partially in an automatic mode.

According to a particular embodiment of the method of the invention, the implementation step comprises a substep of assembly preparation in which the pump device is installed in an automatic mounting frame-tooling and a Sub-step of spatial matching under the body of this chassis-tooling with the underbody of the vehicle.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to an additional heating boiler fuel metering pump device, adapted to be mounted under a front floor of a motor vehicle by the implementation of the method of the invention described briefly. above. According to the invention, the device comprises a fuel metering pump and a housing housing and protection in which is housed the pump, the housing housing and protection comprising mechanical fixing means of the device under the front floor of the vehicle.

According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to a modular motor vehicle base, comprising a front floor and equipped with different bodies located under the body. According to the invention, the fuel metering pump device, briefly described above, equips the underbody and is mounted under the front floor in a central part thereof.

According to a particular feature, the fuel metering pump device is mounted in the underbody under the front floor, between a stretcher reinforcement and a tunnel reinforcement located in said central portion.

This implantation of the metering pump device between two underbody reinforcements has the advantage of increased protection of the device.

According to another particular feature, the front floor comprises in its underbody side a concave portion in which is mounted the fuel metering pump device.

The above feature may be implemented to facilitate the holding of a ground clearance rating that must comply with the bodies mounted under body relative to the plane of the roadway.

According to yet another characteristic, the fuel metering pump device is connected to a fuel line between a fuel tank of the vehicle and an additional heating boiler.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising the underbody briefly described above.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below of several particular embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. partial box in perspective, a vehicle underbody according to the invention equipped with a pump device under the front floor; Fig.2 is a cross section of the base of Fig.1, at the implantation of the pump device; Fig.3 is a block diagram showing a succession of steps included in the method according to the invention; Fig.4 is a partial perspective view showing a mounting of a pump device according to the invention in a chassis-tool used in a step of the method according to the invention; and [0029] Fig.5 is a box view of a pump device according to the invention fixed under the front floor of the vehicle.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a modern vehicle with modular architecture, the equipped base or platform 1 of the vehicle comprises a front block zone 10, shown partially, in which is mounted the engine (not shown), a front floor zone 11 and a rear floor zone 12. Typically, in the front floor areas 11 and rear 12 of the vehicle are located in the passenger compartment thereof front and rear seat rows (not shown). Front seat rails 11a serving as support for mounting the front seats of the vehicle are visible in the section of Fig.2.

The front floor zone 11 comprises first and second side sills or rockers 110 and 110 ', a front floor 111, the first and second longitudinal stretcher reinforcements 112 and 112', a floor tunnel 113 and first and second longitudinal tunnel reinforcements 114 and 114 '. In known manner, the tunnel 113 having an inverted U shape is aligned on a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and is covered with a coating 113a. The exhaust line 113b is housed in the tunnel 113.

As shown in Figs.1 and 2, according to the mounting method according to the invention, the pump device 13 is mounted at a location 13a which is located under the front floor 111.

According to a particular embodiment, the location 13a is located in a central zone 14 of the front floor 11 substantially between the stretcher reinforcements 112 and 112 'of the basement 1. More specifically, the location 13a is located here between the stretcher reinforcement 112 and the tunnel reinforcement 114. This choice of implantation of the pump device 13 between the stretcher and tunnel reinforcements is advantageous because the pump device 13 can thus be placed in the passage of pipes 115, 115a, 115b between the front and the rear of the vehicle, and in particular in the passage of a fuel line 115a which feeds the additional heating boiler housed in the front block from the fuel tank 116 of the vehicle located at the back of it. The distance from the lateral spar 110 and the implantation between the stretcher and tunnel reinforcements protect the pump device 13 and the pipes against side impacts.

Referring more particularly to the section of Fig.2, it will be noted that the location 13a for mounting the pump device 13 does not pose a problem for the holding of the Dmin ground clearance rating must meet all the bodies mounted under the body in a motor vehicle. The ground clearance rating Dmin is the minimum distance that must be respected between the lowest point of the member concerned and the road surface. Indeed, in the great majority of applications, the pump device 13 will be above a plane 112a of a lower face of the stretcher brace, plane 112a which respects the Dmin dimension. In cases where a large size of the pump device (high power pump) does not allow compliance with the Dmin dimension, the invention provides the arrangement in the front floor 111 of a 111a concavity form, according to the Z + axis, which is shown in dotted line in Fig.2. This concave shape 111a is then arranged to accommodate the pump device 13 and allow compliance with the Dmin dimension.

Referring to Figs.3 to 5, there is now described steps of a semi-automated embodiment of the method of mounting under the box of a pump device according to the invention.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, the method comprises a first general step S1 which will allow the pump device 13 to be put in position 13a, before the mechanical fixing thereof in a step S2. . The general step S1 comprises two substeps SS10 and SS11.

As shown in Fig.4, in the substep SS10, the pump device 13 and other bodies to be mounted underbody are installed in a frame-tooling of automatic assembly 2 said POM chassis for "Preparation of Mechanical Organs ". In this particular embodiment of the method, the sub-step SS10 is essentially performed by an operator using different tools. In known manner, the installation positions of the device 13 and other members in the tooling frame 2 are defined spatially in a geometric reference (X, Y, Z), in correspondence with underbody mounting locations on the base. 1.

In step SS11, the chassis-tool 2 is raised by an elevator (not shown) and is locked in position under the base 1, the base 1 being suspended on a swing that moves from station to station in the production line. An under-space spatial mapping of the chassis-tool 2 with the underbody 1 is then obtained. The pump device 13 is thus in place under the front floor 111 opposite the location 13a. This substep SS11 is performed in automatic mode and ends the general step S1.

In step S2, the mounting of the device 13 is completed by the mechanical attachment thereof under the front floor 111, as shown in Fig.5. In this step S2, pushing, crimping and screwing tools associated with the tooling frame 2, such as crimping tools 20 shown in FIG. 4, are automatically actuated to mechanically fix the pump device 13 at its location. 13a.

The pump device 13 shown in Figs.4 and 5 is a fuel metering pump device for an additional heating boiler. The device 13 comprises a plastic housing 130 in which is housed a fuel metering pump 131. A footprint having a shape corresponding to that of the pump 131 is provided in the housing 130 to receive and immobilize in position the pump 131. housing 130, the pump 131 is connected to the fuel line 115a and an electric cable 116 providing its power supply.

As shown in Fig.5, once the device 13 mounted underbody, the housing 130 covers the pump 131 and protects it against projections and possible shocks. The device 13 is fixed under the front floor 111 by two nuts 132 and a crimped plastic element 133a. The nuts 132 are screwed on studs welded to the front floor 111 in which are inserted fastening tabs 130a of the housing. The housing 130 is also attached to a pipe 115b by the crimped element 133a, the pipe 115b being fixed to the front floor 111 by other crimped elements 133b.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments which have been described here by way of example. Although the invention has been described in the context of its application to the box mounting of an additional heating boiler fuel metering pump, it is clear to those skilled in the art that it will find applications in the assembly under crate of other types of pumps that could equip motor vehicles.

Claims (10)

A method of mounting a pump device (13) in a motor vehicle under a box, characterized in that said pump device (13) is mounted under a front floor (111) of a base (1) of the vehicle automobile. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step (S1) of setting up the pump device (13) at a predetermined location (13a) under the front floor (111) and a step (S2 ) for mechanically fixing said device (13) under the front floor (111), said predetermined location (13a) being located in a central portion (14) of the front floor (111) distant from a side sill (110) of the basement ( 1). 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of said steps (S1, S2) for setting up and mechanically fixing said pump device (13) is performed at least partially in an automatic mode. 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the step (S1) of implementation comprises a sub-step (SS1) preparation underbody in which the pump device (13) is installed in a automatic mounting frame-tooling (2) and a sub-step (SS2) of underbody space mapping of said frame-tool (2) with the underbody (1) of the vehicle. 5. Additional heating fuel metering pump device, suitable for being mounted under a front floor (111) of a motor vehicle by carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that comprises a fuel metering pump (131) and a housing housing and protection (130) in which is housed said metering fuel pump (131), said housing housing and protection (130) having mechanical fixing means (132, 133a) of said device (13) under the front floor (111) of the vehicle. 6. Motor vehicle modular architecture underbody, comprising a front floor (111) and equipped with various underbody bodies, characterized in that it is equipped with a fuel metering pump device (13) according to claim 5. , said device (13) being mounted under the front floor (111) in a central portion (14) thereof. The underbody according to claim 6, characterized in that said fuel metering pump device (13) is mounted under the front floor (111) between a stretcher reinforcement (112) and a tunnel reinforcement (114) located in said central portion (14). 8. Undercarriage according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the front floor (111) comprises in its underside a concave portion (111a) in which is mounted the metering fuel pump device (13). 9. Underbody according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the fuel metering pump device (13) is connected to a fuel line (115a) between a fuel tank (116) of the vehicle and a fuel additional heating boiler. 10. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a base (1) according to claim 6 to 9.