FR3089177A1 - Front panel module for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Front panel module for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a front panel module (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a safety device (28) comprising an airbag (30) contained in a housing (34) and a cross member (40) or a supporting frame (50) capable of supporting at least one heat exchanger (8,10). According to the invention, said housing (34) is fixed to said cross member (40) or to said supporting frame (50). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a front panel module (1). Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Front panel module for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a front panel module for a motor vehicle comprising a safety device as well as a motor vehicle, and in particular an electric motor vehicle, comprising such a front panel module 1.

Safety devices are known from the prior art as being airbags (more known by the English name "airbag" corresponding to a flexible membrane or envelope, into which a gas is injected very quickly, or is expanding, following an explosive chemical reaction, to inflate the envelope and thus absorb a shock. These airbags 30 are mainly used to protect passengers in a collision and thus prevent them from violently striking certain accessories of the car ( steering wheel, side windows, front headrest for a rear passenger, etc.).

Document EP 2 360 068 describes an airbag adapted to protect the pedestrian, the envelope inflating at the level of the windshield.

Although such a safety device is adapted to protect the head of a pedestrian, however, this device does not protect the whole body of this pedestrian.

The invention therefore seeks to overcome this drawback and provides a safety device protecting the entire body of a pedestrian being knocked over by a motor vehicle while ensuring that the cushion can deploy properly following a impact, that is to say by overturning a pedestrian, and does not encounter obstacles, in particular sharp objects, which could hinder the proper deployment of the bag.

For this, the invention provides a front panel module for a motor vehicle comprising a safety device comprising an airbag contained in a housing and a cross member or a support frame capable of carrying at least one heat exchanger. According to the invention, said housing is fixed to said cross member or to said support frame.

Thus, according to the invention, the housing is fixed to a rigid element, such as the sleepers or the supporting frame. The deployment of the airbag is sudden and very rapid, which represents a strong kinetic energy. To better resist this impact, the housing should be fixed to the crossmember or to the supporting frame to ensure proper deployment of the airbag.

[0008] Other embodiments propose that:

- The housing is molded on said cross member or on said support frame;

- The housing is an integral part of the structure of said cross member or said support frame;

- the safety device is configured so that when the airbag inflates it deploys towards the air intake;

- The housing comprises metal inserts, the housing being overmolded on said cross member or on said support frame at said inserts;

- Said module further comprises an air guide defining a flow duct through which an air flow flows, the air guide being intended to be connected to an air inlet on the one hand and to a heat exchange device on the other hand so as to guide the air flow entering through the air inlet to the heat exchange device, the housing being secured to the air guide;

- The safety device is configured so that when the airbag inflates it matches the shape of the walls of the air guide, in other words, the airbag abuts against the walls of the air guide;

- the airbag comprises two parts when fully inflated, a first part extending inside the air guide, and a second part extending outside the air guide;

the air guide comprises a hatch with at least one fusible zone and a hinge zone to allow the airbag to deploy within the air guide, the airbag in a state before impact being arranged outside the flow conduit;

- The hatch is arranged to abut against the heat exchange device when the air cushion inflates;

- the air duct has an elbow.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a front panel module.

According to a particular embodiment, the airbag once inflated comprises two parts, a first part extending inside the air guide, and a second part extending outside the vehicle.

Other embodiments of the motor vehicle taken in isolation or in combination propose that:

the vehicle comprises an air inlet, optionally provided with a grille, the outlet of the flow channel comprises a cleaning duct arranged to conduct the air flow towards the outside of the vehicle and a cooling duct arranged to direct the air flow to the engine compartment of the vehicle;

- The vehicle further comprises an additional air inlet and an additional duct connecting said additional inlet to a cleaning duct.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a front panel module according to the invention in a side view, the airbag being in a state before accident,

FIG. 2 illustrates the front face module of FIG. 1 in an accident state,

FIG. 3 illustrates a front panel module according to the invention according to a profile view, the airbag being in a state before accident, according to another embodiment,

FIG. 4 illustrates a front panel module in an accident state, according to another embodiment,

FIG. 5 illustrates a front panel module in an accident state, according to another embodiment,

- Figure 6 illustrates a front panel module in a state before accident, according to another embodiment.

Figure 1 illustrates the front panel module 1 for a motor vehicle according to the invention. The front panel module 1 extends in a longitudinal (X), transverse (Y) and vertical (Z) direction, for example relative to the axes of the vehicle when the front panel module 1 is installed in the motor vehicle, as represented by the axes in FIG. 1. The airbag is in a stationary state in a state before accident, that is to say before having overturned a pedestrian.

According to the present invention, the terms downstream, upstream, in series and parallel qualify the position of one component relative to another, according to the direction of flow of an air flow in the module 1 of front face according to the present invention.

The front panel module 1 according to the invention comprises an air guide 2 corresponding to a sheath, an envelope, or even a housing, with a plurality of walls thus defining a flow conduit 4, in other words a flow channel, with at least one air inlet 20 and one air outlet 22 in which an air flow LE flows. The air guide 2 is made of flexible material in order to absorb the vibrations of the vehicle when it is traveling, and in sufficiently resistant material to support elements such as heat exchangers, sets of flaps, certain plastics by for example polypropylene or polyamide-6 lend themselves to such use.

The front panel module 1 according to the invention further comprises a heat exchange device 6. The heat exchange device 6 comprises at least one heat exchanger 8,10 intended to allow heat exchange between the flow air LE and the fluid circulating within the heat exchanger. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat exchange device 6 here comprises first and second heat exchangers 8, 10. The first heat exchanger 8 corresponds for example to a condenser while the second heat exchanger 10 corresponds for example to a radiator. The heat exchange device 6 further comprises a motorized fan group 12 corresponding to a fan with blades and an associated motor so as to be able to suck in and release the air flow FE through the module 1 from the front face, and this even when the vehicle is stationary.

The heat exchange device 6 can be arranged within the air guide 2, the heat exchangers 8,10 can for example be carried by the chassis of the vehicle. According to an embodiment not illustrated, the heat exchange device 6 can also include a support frame 50 corresponding to a rigid structure, more precisely a rigid plastic frame, with four uprights delimiting a surface in which the heat exchangers are arranged. 8,10 and said fan unit 12. In order to guarantee the continuity of the flow duct 4, the air guide 2 is tightly fixed to the support frame 50. In other words the support frame 50 ensures the continuity of the supply duct flow 4, or in other words, the carrying frame 50 corresponds to a part of the flow conduit 4.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, a motor vehicle comprises a bumper beam 24 below which is arranged an opening 26 formed in the shield 3, or the fascia or the body of the vehicle. The shield 3 here corresponds to the part of the body located at the front of the vehicle, or in other words the engine trim comprising the hood and the front face carrying the headlights, the structure and passenger compartment, or even the outer shell of the vehicle. This opening 26 corresponds to an air inlet for the air flow FE. This opening may or may not be adorned with a grille 52, or grid, configured to allow the flow of FE air into the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises an air guide 2 as described above and below.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the motor vehicle may include two openings 26 formed in the shield 3, or the fascia, of the vehicle. These two openings 26 correspond to two air inlets for the air flow FE, these air inlets 26 being arranged on either side of the bumper beam 24. In these embodiments, the motor vehicle comprises two calenders 52, one for each air inlet 26.

The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one air inlet and an air guide 2 attached to this said at least one air inlet, so that it can be said that the inlet air 20 of the air guide 2 corresponds to the air inlet of the vehicle produced at the opening 26. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the air guide 2 comprises two air inlets 20 which connect and form the flow conduit 4. The air outlet 22 of the flow conduit 4 may correspond to the part of the flow conduit 4 leading to the heat exchange device 6, or the outlet of air 22 can be arranged downstream of the heat exchange device 6. In other words, the air guide 2 extends from the air inlet (s) 20 and extends at least to the heat exchange device 6.

The front panel module 1 according to the invention further comprises a safety device 28 making it possible to limit the injuries of a pedestrian when he is knocked down by a vehicle according to the present invention. The safety device 28 comprises an airbag 30, or airbag, and a cartridge 32 corresponding for example to a pyrotechnic generator of non-toxic cold gases. These elements are contained in a housing 34, generally metallic. In order to allow the correct deployment of the airbag 30, the housing 34 corresponds to a receptacle, or an open box, with a plurality of rigid walls, for example five metal walls forming a housing open on one side, and a fragile wall, by example a fabric wall which can tear easily and closing the open housing 34 defined by the rigid walls. Thus when the airbag 30 deploys, the fabric wall tears and the airbag 30 deploys only in the direction of the fabric wall. The fragile wall is arranged opposite, in other words facing, the air guide 2, in particular at the level of a hatch 36 which will be described later.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the vehicle has not been impacted, in other words, the vehicle has not yet overturned a pedestrian. The safety device 28 is therefore in a so-called stationary state where the airbag 30 remains folded within the housing 34. The front panel module 1 and the vehicle according to the invention further comprise a detection system comprising a set of sensors and radars arranged at the front face of the vehicle, for example at the grille 52 or the bumper beam 24, intended to detect the presence of bodies located at the front of the vehicle. In the scenario where a pedestrian suddenly appears in front of the vehicle, the detection system, by locating the pedestrian, then sends an electronic command to the safety device 28 to trigger the deployment of the airbag 30. The cartridge 32 by receiving the signal from the detection generates a gas, the gas then enters the airbag 30 and thus causes it to swell and deploy as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. We can also speak of a progressive deployment of the airbag 30.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the housing 34 is subject to the air guide 2. The housing 34 can be fixed to the air guide 2 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The housing 34 can be for example fixed on a rigid element of the front panel module 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6.

The front face modules generally include two types of structures. Either the front panel module 1 comprises a support frame 50 (better known by the English term “bolster” or “bulkhead”) as described previously, or the front module only comprises an upper crosspiece 40. If the front panel module 1 comprises a support frame 50, this comprises two cross members extending in a transverse direction (axis Y) to the vehicle and two lateral uprights extending in a vertical direction (axis Z) to the vehicle. The crosspieces and uprights can be mounted in a dissociable or inseparable manner and define between them a frame in which the heat exchange device 6 is arranged. In other words, the support frame serves as a support for the heat exchangers 8, 10 and the group. motor fan 12, the carrying frame 50 is itself carried by the chassis or the side members of the vehicle.

the front panel module 1 only comprises an upper cross member 40, in this configuration, the heat exchangers 8, 10 are directly carried by the chassis or the side members of the vehicle, the upper cross member 40 covering the upper part of the device heat exchange 6. The upper and lower terms referring to the vertical axis Z, when the front panel module 1 is installed in the motor vehicle.

The housing 34 can for example be fixed on an upper cross member 40 of the module 1 on the front face as illustrated in FIG. 3. The housing 34 can also be fixed on a lower cross member of the module 1 on the front face as illustrated in FIG. 4 , in particular on the lower cross member of the support frame 50. The upper and lower terms referring to the vertical axis Z, when the front panel module 1 is installed in the motor vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the housing 34 is preferably overmolded on said upper crosspiece 40 or on said support frame 50, in other words, overmoldings 42 secure the housing 34 to the upper crosspiece 40 or to said support frame 50. Obviously , the housing 34 can be screwed, riveted, welded or glued to said cross member or to said frame. The housing 34 can for example be molded onto one of the lateral uprights of the carrying frame 50. In fact, the deployment of the airbag 30 is sudden and rapid, which represents a high kinetic energy. It is advisable to fix the box 34 to a rigid element, such as the crosspieces or the supporting frame, in order to better resist the impact and thus to ensure a good deployment of the airbag 30. According to one embodiment, the box 34 can be made of plastic and include metal inserts, these inserts being overmolded on said cross member or on said support frame. Likewise, the supporting frame 50 or the upper crosspiece 40 can be made of plastic or be made of a composite material with or without a metal insert. The housing 34 can also be integrated into the support frame 50 so as to form an integral part of the support frame 50.

The housing 34 is subject to the air guide 2 to allow the deployment of the airbag 30 within the air guide 2. For this, the air guide 2 comprises a removable hatch 36 comprising a fusible area, that is to say an area with a weakening which can break or break under the effect of an abrupt force, and a hinge area 46, that is to say a joint, so as to allow the pivoting of the hatch 36.

The airbag 30 by inflating abruptly under the effect of gas, tears the fragile wall and abuts against the hatch 36. The fusible area then gives way under the impulse and the airbag 30 can thus deploy within the air guide 2. The hatch 36, through the hinge zone, pivots until the free end, that is to say the end corresponding to the fusible zone, comes to bear against a heat exchanger 8, that is to say against the heat exchange device 6. Obviously, the hinge zone can be configured to stop the front pivoting, for example so as not to allow the flap 36 to pivot on an angle 90 °. According to another mode, the free end can pivot through an angle of 180 ° until it abuts another part of the air guide 2. The airbag 30 extends within the air guide 2 under the effect of the gas and by folding the cushion and the heat exchanger 8, the cushion deploys within the air guide 2 by marrying the walls of the air guide 2. The airbag 30 is configured to deploy in the direction of the air inlet 20. The hatch 36 may also include two fusible zones yielding under the impulse of the deployment of the airbag 30 according to another embodiment.

In order not to injure the pedestrian, it is necessary to add a device for tilting the grille 52. For this, the grille 52 may for example include a fusible zone and a hinge zone. Thus when the airbag 30 while deploying collides with, or strikes, the grille 52, the fusible area, under the kinetic shock generated by the deployment of the airbag 30, gives way and the hinge zone allows the grille 52 to pivot. The area fuse corresponds to a zone with a weakening or a reduction in material and a hinge zone to a joint so as to allow the pivoting of the grille. The hinge area can be configured to allow the grille 52 to pivot through an angle from 60 ° to 180 °.

The front panel module 1 may further comprise a shutter device not illustrated comprising a set of shutter flaps capable of rotating in rotation so as to vary the flow rate of the air flow LE, said device d the shutter is arranged in the flow duct 4 upstream of the heat exchange device 6 with respect to the flow of the air flow LE. The shutter device further comprises a support frame having bearings so as to carry the shutters. According to one embodiment, it is also possible to arrange a device for tilting the set of movable flaps by arranging a fusible zone and a hinge zone on the support frame or the bearings carrying the movable flaps.

Once the grille 52 has fallen, the airbag 30 extends outside the air guide 2 and outside the vehicle. Leaving the air guide 2, through the folds 38, or welds or seams, the airbag 30 deploys in an upward direction along the vertical axis Z as illustrated in the figure, so as to be able to cover maximum shield 3 of the vehicle and better protect the pedestrian. The airbag 30 can also extend downwards along the vertical axis Z. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the airbag 30 can deploy up and down along the Z axis, for example upwards and low relative to the bumper beam 24. Thus, the airbag 30 once inflated, or deployed, comprises two parts, a first part 30a extending inside the air guide 2, and a second part 30b extending outside the air guide 2 and the vehicle. The part 30b outside the vehicle covers a large part of the front face of the vehicle so that a pedestrian by being knocked down, will strike the airbag 30 which will absorb the impact much more than the hood of the vehicle. The pedestrian therefore suffers a less violent shock. This safety device 28 is made possible by the deployment of the airbag 30 within the air guide 2 of the front panel module 1 which corresponds to an element with smooth walls without protuberance. This ensures that the airbag 30 cannot tear. The airbag 30 once deployed adopts a predetermined shape and adapted to protect a pedestrian with the folds 38. The airbag 30 deploys correctly under the effect of gas by folding beforehand. The airbag 30 while deploying can exit the air guide 2 through the lower air inlet, that is to say that arranged below the bumper beam 24 as illustrated in Figure 1 and 2. In this case, the part 30b of the cushion located outside the vehicle will deploy mainly upwards, that is to say above the bumper beam 24. The airbag 30 will deployant can also exit the air guide 2 through the upper air inlet 20, that is to say the one arranged above the bumper beam 24 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case , the part 30b of the cushion situated outside the vehicle will deploy mainly upwards and downwards, that is to say on either side of the bumper beam 24.

It should be understood, however, that these exemplary embodiments are given by way of illustration of the subject of the invention. The invention is not limited to these embodiments described above and provided only by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that a person skilled in the art may envisage in the context of the present invention and in particular any combination of the various embodiments described above.

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] Front panel module (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a safety device (28) comprising an airbag (30) contained in a housing (34) and a crossmember (40) or a support frame (50) capable of carrying at least a heat exchanger (8,10) characterized in that said housing (34) is fixed to said crosspiece (40) or to said support frame (50). [Claim 2] Front panel module (1) according to claim 1, in which the housing (34) is molded onto said cross-member (40) or onto said support frame (50). [Claim 3] Front panel module (1) according to claim 1, in which the housing (34) is an integral part of the structure of said crosspiece (40) or of said support frame (50). [Claim 4] Front panel module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which said module (1) further comprises an air guide (2) defining a flow duct (4) through which flows a flow of air (FE), the air guide (2) being intended to be connected to an air inlet (20, 26) on the one hand and to a heat exchange device (6) on the other hand so guiding the air flow (FE) entering through the air inlet (20, 26) to the heat exchange device (6), the housing (34) being secured to the air guide (2) . [Claim 5] Front panel module (1) according to claim 4, in which the air guide (2) comprises a flap (36) with at least one fusible zone and a hinge zone to allow the airbag (30) to deploy at the within the air guide (2), the airbag (30) in an uninflated state being arranged outside the flow conduit (4). [Claim 6] Front panel module (1) according to one of Claims 2, 4 or 5 dependent on Claim 2, in which the housing (34) comprises metal inserts, the housing (34) being overmolded on said crosspiece (40) or on said carrier frame (50) at said inserts. [Claim 7] Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a front panel module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6. 1/2