FR3121905A1 - LAND VEHICLE WITH FRONT COMPARTMENT SEALED BY A SEAL PRESSED ON A QUASI-CONTINUOUS SUPPORT SURFACE - Google Patents

Abstract

A land vehicle comprises a bumper frame (AP) comprising an upper edge (BS) having two right and left ends (E) to which are secured fixing lugs (PF) of optical units (BO) each comprising an upper face (FS), and a front cover comprising an internal face covering in the closed position a front compartment (CM) by having a sub-part extending above the upper edge (BS) and upper faces (FS). Each fixing lug (PF) comprises a support wall (PP) extending the upper edge (BS) at the level of the corresponding end (E) towards the upper face (FS) of its optical unit (BO). A seal (JE) is fixedly secured to the sub-part of the internal face or to the upper edge (BS), support walls (PP) and upper faces (FS), in order to ensure sealing in the upper front part (PS) of the front compartment (CM). Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 1

Description

LAND VEHICLE WITH FRONT COMPARTMENT SEALED BY A SEAL PRESSED ON A QUASI-CONTINUOUS SUPPORT SURFACE

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to land vehicles comprising a front compartment masked by a front bonnet, and more specifically the sealing in the upper front part of the front compartment of such vehicles.

State of the art

Certain land vehicles, often of the automobile type, comprise a front compartment which is concealed by a front cover. The latter is frequently associated with a seal making it possible to make the upper front part of the front compartment as airtight as possible in order to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and/or to prevent the entry of water and/or dirt. prevent the overpressure of air in the front compartment from exerting pressure on the bonnet (likely to induce vibrations).

In order to have a continuous seal in the upper front part of the engine compartment, an upper bearing surface can be created on the assembled bumper (for example either on the skin of the bumper, or on a part bumper reinforcement), then secure this seal securely to this upper support surface which covers all the technical parts located in the upper front part of the vehicle, namely the bumper frame, the crosspiece, the right and left optical units (or projectors), and the fixings. The inner face of the front bonnet then exerts pressure on this seal when the latter is in the closed position. However, such a solution is only possible on condition that the bumper is extended upwards and therefore defines what those skilled in the art call a front bumper.

When the bumper is not extended, it is necessary to provide an additional support piece (such as an engine cover or an upper shelf), which is fixed on the technical parts in order to cover them, then a seal is fixedly fastened to this additional part. But such a solution leads to an increase in size and weight (because the additional part is very large), but also additional design, manufacturing and assembly time costs.

Instead of using such an additional part, several small seals can be used, but this increases certain costs (number of fixing parts, tools, assembly time), and especially the interruptions between the various seals do not make it possible to obtain a quality seal.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

In particular, it proposes for this purpose a land vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a bumper frame comprising an upper edge terminated by two right and left ends to which are respectively fastened lugs for fixing optical units each comprising an upper face, and, on the other hand, a front cover comprising an internal face covering in the closed position a front compartment by having a sub-part extending above the upper edge and upper faces.

This land vehicle is characterized by the fact:

- that each fixing lug includes a support wall extending the upper edge at the level of the corresponding end in the direction of the upper face of its optical unit, and

- that it includes a seal fixedly fixed to the sub-part of the internal face, or to the upper edge, support walls and upper faces, in order to ensure a seal in an upper front part of the front compartment.

Thanks to the quasi-continuous bearing surface defined by the bumper reinforcement and the light units, a quality seal can be ensured by a single seal in the upper front part of the front compartment, without an additional support piece must be added.

The land vehicle according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- the support wall of each mounting lug can end just before the upper face of its optical unit so that they are separated by an opening promoting separation between this mounting lug and its optical unit in the event of an impact;

- as a variant, the support wall of each fixing lug can extend as far as the upper face of its optical block;

- the upper face of each optical unit can be inclined relative to a horizontal plane of the vehicle by having an increasing level from its fixing lug. In this case, the support wall of each fixing lug can be inclined with respect to this horizontal plane with a level increasing from the corresponding end of the upper edge of the bumper reinforcement;

- in the presence of the last option, each fixing lug can comprise under its bearing wall at least one reinforcing rib extending as far as the corresponding end of the upper edge of the bumper reinforcement in order to prevent deformation of its bearing wall when the gasket is pressed against it;

- in a first embodiment, the seal can be fixedly attached to the upper edge, support walls and upper faces. In this case, the sub-part (of the internal face of the front bonnet) can rest continuously on the seal when the front bonnet is in the closed position;

- in this first embodiment, each of the upper edges, bearing walls and upper faces may comprise at least one hole to which is coupled a clip to which the seal is coupled;

- in a second embodiment, the seal can be fixedly secured to the sub-part of the inner face (of the front cover) which is part of a lining of the front cover, and can rest continuously against the upper edge, support walls and upper surfaces when the front cover is in the closed position;

- in this second embodiment, the lining may comprise holes to which clips are coupled to which the seal is coupled;

- it can be of the automotive type.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings (obtained in CAD/DAO ("Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Drawing")), on which :

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, a left front part of an example of a front compartment of a land vehicle according to the invention, with the seal installed,

schematically illustrates, in a front view from the front side, the left front part of the land vehicle of the , before installing the gasket,

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a vertical and longitudinal plane at the level of the support wall of the mounting bracket of the left optical unit, the left front part of the land vehicle of the , with the bonnet in the closed position,

schematically illustrates, in a front view of the rear side, the fixing lug of the left optical unit of the land vehicle of the , And

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a vertical and longitudinal plane at the level of the support wall of the mounting bracket of the left headlight unit, the bumper reinforcement of the land vehicle of the with the left optical unit mounting bracket placed on the left end of its upper edge.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a land vehicle comprising a front bonnet CV masking in the closed position a front compartment CM whose upper front part is sealed and which is partly delimited by a bumper frame AP to which are secured optical units BO.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the land vehicle is a motor vehicle, such as a car for example. But the invention is not limited to this type of land vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising a front bonnet masking in the closed position a front compartment CM.

Furthermore, it is considered in what follows, by way of non-limiting example, that the front compartment CM is an engine compartment accommodating at least part of the powertrain (or GMP) of the land vehicle. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the front compartment CM could be a storage space (or front trunk).

In what precedes and what follows, the notion of "front" is defined in relation to the front end of the vehicle, and the notion of "rear" is defined in relation to the rear end of the vehicle (as opposed to the front end). Therefore, the front part (or face) of an element is oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, while the rear part (or face) of this element is oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, the direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is parallel to the lateral sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the lateral sides and to the longitudinal direction X , and the Z direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

We have schematically illustrated on the a left front part of an example of a front compartment CM of a land vehicle according to the invention. This front compartment CM is intended to be concealed by a front cover CV when the latter (CV) is in a closed (or folded down) position illustrated in the .

The front part of this front compartment CM is in particular delimited by a bumper frame AP and two right and left optical units BO (only the left being shown).

It is considered in what follows, by way of non-limiting example, that each optical unit BO is a projector (or headlight) providing at least one lighting function, such as for example a high beam function or a traffic light function of crossing. The two right and left optical units BO are therefore installed respectively close to the right and left lateral (or longitudinal) sides of the vehicle which comprise the side doors. But the invention is not limited to this type of optical unit.

The AP bumper frame is one of the elements of the vehicle's front bumper. It is fixedly attached to the structure of the vehicle. Although this does not appear in the figures, the front bumper also comprises a support secured fixedly to the bumper frame AP and to which the bumper skin is secured fixedly (part visible from the outside of the vehicle).

As partially illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this bumper frame AP comprises an upper edge BS which is terminated by two right and left ends E (only the left is shown here) and to which are respectively secured fixing lugs PF right and left BO optical units (only the left is shown here). For example, and as illustrated without limitation (and at least partially) in FIGS. 1 to 3, each fixing lug PF can be secured to the corresponding end E by screwing. In this case, it comprises a hole T1 intended to be crossed by a screw which is screwed into a threaded hole of the corresponding end E or into a nut placed behind another hole defined in the corresponding end E.

Each optical unit BO comprises an upper face FS. In the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, each upper face FS is part of a housing BB of an optical unit BO, to which is fixedly attached a lens G through which photons emerge which take part in each photometric function ensured by the latter (BO). But in a variant embodiment the upper face FS could be part of the glass G.

Furthermore, in the example illustrated without limitation in Figures 1, 2 and 4, each fixing lug PF is part of the housing BB of the optical unit BO. But in a variant embodiment, the fixing lug PF could be part of the crystal G.

As partially illustrated in the , the front bonnet CV comprises an internal face FI which covers the front compartment CM in the closed position by having a sub-part SP which extends above the upper edge BS of the bumper reinforcement AP and the upper faces FS of optical units BO. For example, and as illustrated without limitation in the , this internal face FI can be part of a lining DC of the front cover CV.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, each fixing lug PF of an optical unit BO comprises a bearing wall PP which extends the upper edge BS of the bumper reinforcement AP at the level of the corresponding end E towards the upper face FS of its optical block BO. The expression “which extends” here means which continues almost in continuity. The support wall PP is therefore oriented upwards (along Z).

There is thus a quasi-continuous support surface defined (from left to right) by the upper face FS of the left optical unit BO, the support wall PP of the fixing lug PF of the left optical unit BO , the upper edge BS of the bumper frame AP, the bearing wall PP of the mounting bracket PF of the right optical unit BO, and the upper face FS of the right optical unit BO.

As illustrated without limitation on the , the vehicle also includes a seal JE which is responsible for sealing in an upper front part PS of the front compartment CM. In the example illustrated without limitation on the , this JE seal is fixedly secured to the upper edge BS, bearing walls PP and upper faces FS, and consequently, the sub-part SP rests continuously on the JE seal when the front cover CV is in the closed position, which presses the JE seal against the quasi-continuous bearing surface. But in a variant embodiment not shown, the seal JE could be fixedly secured to the sub-part SP of the internal face FI which extends above the upper edge BS of the bumper reinforcement AP and the upper faces FS of the optical blocks BO when the front cover CV is in the closed position. In this variant, it is therefore the seal JE which bears continuously against the upper edge BS, bearing walls PP and upper faces FS (and therefore against the quasi-continuous bearing surface) when the CV front cover is in the closed position.

Thanks to the quasi-continuous support surface defined by the bumper reinforcement AP and the optical units BO, a quality seal can be ensured by a single seal JE in the upper front part PS of the front compartment CM, without having to add an additional support piece.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 4, the support wall PP of each fixing lug PF can end just before the upper face FS of its optical unit BO so that they are separated by an opening OF which favors the separation between this fixing lug PF and its optical unit BO in the event of an impact suffered. It will indeed be understood that this opening OF (local absence of material) makes it possible to confer local fusibility on the housing BB of the optical unit BO such as to allow a depression of the latter (BO) during a frontal impact of a person with her head.

But in a variant embodiment not shown, the bearing wall PP of each fixing lug PF could extend (without discontinuity) as far as the upper face FS of its optical block BO. However, it adds rigidity to the BB case.

It will be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, that the upper face FS of each optical block BO can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane XY of the vehicle by having an increasing level from its fixing lug PF. In this case, the support wall PP of each fixing lug PF is inclined with respect to this horizontal plane XY having an increasing level from the corresponding end E of the upper edge BS. It will be understood that the inclination of the support wall PP is intended to pass from the level (along Z) of the upper edge BS (at the level of its end E) to the level (along Z) of the upper face FS (at the level of the interface with the fixing bracket PF). These inclinations are not necessarily linear (and therefore constant). This is not the case in the example shown.

When the support wall PP is inclined, each fixing lug PF may comprise under its support wall PP at least one reinforcing rib NR which extends to the corresponding end E of the upper edge BS, in order to lean on it, as illustrated without limitation in Figures 4 and 5. This makes it possible, when the seal JE is pressed against the bearing wall PP, to prevent the deformation of the latter (PP) ( which could induce a local reduction in the quality of the seal).

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 4 and 5, each fixing lug PF comprises two reinforcing ribs NR erected perpendicularly to the internal face of its bearing wall PP and defined substantially parallel to a vertical and longitudinal plane XZ of the vehicle. But each fixing lug PF could comprise a single reinforcing rib NR or even more than two reinforcing ribs NR.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1, 2 and 4, that when the JE seal is fixedly secured to the upper edge BS, bearing walls PP and upper faces FS, each of these (BS, PP and FS) may comprise at least one hole T2 to which an AF staple is coupled. The JE seal is then coupled to each AF clip. Preferably, each support wall PP comprises only one hole T2, the upper edge BS comprises at least three holes T2, and each upper face FS comprises at least two holes T2.

When the seal JE is fixedly attached to the sub-part SP of the internal face FI which is part of the lining DC of the front cover CV, this lining DC may include holes to which clips are coupled. In this case, the JE gasket is coupled to these DC liner clips.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, that each end E may comprise an indexing pin PI erected in the vertical direction Z and intended to pass through a hole T3 defined in the fixing lug PF. This indexing pin PI makes it easier to pre-position the upper part of the optical block BO on the corresponding end E before screwing it in via its hole T1. In addition, once the screwing has been carried out, it prevents the rotation of the fixing lug PF concerned. As a variant, it is each fixing lug PF which could comprise an indexing pin intended to pass through a hole defined in the corresponding end E.

Claims (10)

Land vehicle comprising a bumper frame (AP) comprising an upper edge (BS) terminated by two right and left ends (E) to which are respectively secured fixing lugs (PF) of optical units (BO) each comprising a side (FS), and a front cover (CV) comprising an internal face (FI) covering in the closed position a front compartment (CM) by having a sub-part (SP) extending above said upper edge (BS) and upper faces (FS), characterized in that each fixing lug (PF) comprises a bearing wall (PP) extending said upper edge (BS) at the level of the corresponding end (E) in the direction of said upper face (FS) of its optical block (BO), and in that it comprises a seal (JE) fixedly secured to said sub-part (SP) of the internal face (FI) or to said upper edge (BS) , support walls (PP) and upper faces (FS), in order to ensure a seal in a front upper part (PS) of said front compartment (CM). Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said support wall (PP) of each fixing lug (PF) ends just before the said upper face (FS) of its optical unit (BO) so that they are separated by an opening (OF) favoring a separation between this fixing lug (PF) and its optical unit (BO) in the event of an impact suffered. Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said support wall (PP) of each fixing lug (PF) extends as far as the said upper face (FS) of its optical unit (BO). Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said upper face (FS) of each optical unit (BO) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the said vehicle with a level increasing from its fixing lug (PF), and in that said bearing wall (PP) of each fixing lug (PF) is inclined with respect to said horizontal plane at an increasing level from said end (E) corresponding to said upper edge (BS ). Vehicle according to Claim 4, characterized in that each fixing lug (PF) comprises under the said support wall (PP) at least one reinforcing rib (NR) extending as far as the said end (E) corresponding to the edge upper (BS) in order to prevent a deformation of said bearing wall (PP) when said seal (JE) is pressed against it (PP). Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said seal (JE) is fixedly secured to the said upper edge (BS), support walls (PP) and upper faces (FS), and in that that said sub-part (SP) rests continuously on said seal (JE) when said front cover (CV) is in the closed position. Vehicle according to Claim 6, characterized in that each of the said upper edge (BS), support walls (PP) and upper faces (FS) comprises at least one hole to which is coupled a clip (AF) to which the said gasket is coupled. sealing (I). Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said seal (JE) is fixedly secured to the said sub-part (SP) of the internal face (FI) which forms part of a lining (DC ) of said front cover (CV), and rests continuously against said upper edge (BS), support walls (PP) and upper surfaces (FS) when said front cover (CV) is in the closed position. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that said lining (DC) comprises holes to which clips are coupled to which said gasket (JE) is coupled. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.