WO2012022865A2

WO2012022865A2 - Device for assembling a vehicle engine automatic stop-start assembly on the body shell structure of the vehicle and associated method of assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2012022865A2
Application number: PCT/FR2011/051295
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric Muller; Germain Convers
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2010-08-20
Filing date: 2011-06-07
Publication date: 2012-02-23
Also published as: FR2963921B1; BR112013001729A2; WO2012022865A3; CN103261669A; CN103261669B; FR2963921A1; EP2606219A2; EP2606219B1; BR112013001729B1

Abstract

This device for assembling a motor vehicle automatic stop-start assembly (1, 2) on a body shell structure (3) of a vehicle comprises a mounting plate (40) for said assembly, and - at least one indexing peg (41) belonging to the mounting plate; - at least one eye intended to be secured to the body shell of said vehicle and able to accept said indexing peg (41), and - at least one damping block (42) intended to be interposed between said peg (41) and said eye.

Description

DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING A STOP ASSEMBLY AND AUTOMATIC RESTART OF A VEHICLE ENGINE ON THE BODY STRUCTURE

The invention relates to a device for assembling an assembly implementing a function of stopping and automatically restarting a vehicle engine on the body structure of this vehicle.

It also relates to a method of assembling said assembly on the body structure of the vehicle.

Such an assembly implementing a shutdown and automatic restart function of a vehicle engine is known as the system "STOP and START" in English terminology.

Car manufacturers concerned about the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in urban use have developed this "STOP and START" function, which consists of automatically turning off the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped and / or stalled. complete shutdown of the engine when the vehicle itself is stopped, then restart automatically the engine after, for example, a driver action interpreted as a restart request.

A typical situation of implementation of the function "STOP and

START "is that of stopping the vehicle at a red light.

When the driver stops the vehicle in fire, the STOP mode causes the automatic shutdown of the engine.

Then, when the driver wishes to restart, the vehicle then enters an automatic restart mode, or START mode, in which an automatic restart of the engine is performed, without the need to use the initial engine starting means , like a contact key for example.

The START mode is used to restart the engine automatically, in particular by means of an alternator-starter, following the detection by the control system when the vehicle is started of the depression by the driver of the clutch pedal, the accelerator pedal, or any other action that may be interpreted as the driver's desire to restart the vehicle.

During engine shutdown phases, fuel consumption is halted, resulting in substantial fuel economy. In addition, the vehicle emits no noise, which helps, especially in the city, to limit noise pollution. A known assembly device of an assembly for implementing the "STOP and START" function on a vehicle body structure is described in support of FIGS. 1 and 2.

An assembly implementing a "STOP AND START" function comprises a capacitor unit 1 (hereinafter named UC - see FIG. 2) intended to store electrical energy and a device for maintaining voltage and switching (hereinafter referred to as FIG. called DMTC) whose role is to ensure the distribution of the electrical power housed under a protective cover 2. This set is associated with an electric machine (not shown) that can be configured as an electric motor to start the engine start thermal.

The engine compartment does not offer sufficient space and accessibility to install all parts of the set. Thus, the known solutions implant UC 1, the DMTC and the associated protective cover 2 under a front wing of the vehicle, preferably under the left front fender. This assembly is then fixed on the body structure 3 of the vehicle by means of a support plate 4 on which all the elements of this set are fixed.

The mounting of the support plate 4 on the body structure 3 is effected by means of one or more attachment lugs 5 belonging to said support plate 4, intended to cooperate with screw / nut type screwing elements 6.

This solution has several disadvantages.

A disadvantage is that it takes a long time to implement on an assembly line.

Indeed, the assembly is long because of the multiplicity of parts to fix together, given the time dedicated to install each of these parts on the assembly line.

The productivity of the assembly line is affected.

Incidentally, this solution increases the difficulties for a person involved in the maintenance of the vehicle, during the life of the latter.

Another disadvantage lies in the fact that, for certain categories of vehicle, the front fenders of the vehicles are assembled on the body structure in the workshop for various reasons, such as the control of the games and outcrops of the various parts to be assembled or the painting the bodywork of the vehicle.

In this case, the assembly of the set "STOP and START" on the body structure 3 with the support plate 4 becomes impossible for reasons accessibility, the screwing of the screwing elements 6 on the ears 5 of the support plate 4 being unfeasible.

Indeed, the ears 5 of the support plate 4 are arranged behind the cover 2, itself arranged behind the wing.

This solution can not be considered for these categories of vehicles.

Fixing the support plate 4 is however essential to mount the CPU 1, the DMTC and its cover 2 on the body structure 3.

In addition, the fixing of the support plate 4 at several opposite points thereof on the body structure 3 has several advantages.

Indeed, without these attachment points, there is a risk that the support plate on which is mounted the assembly "STOP and START" tilts around the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle as shown in Figure 2. Now, a such movement would have the serious consequence of the loss of the support plate or the bodily injury to man.

Another disadvantage of this solution is that it transmits vibrations towards the "STOP and START" assembly, via the fixing points of the support plate 4 on the vehicle body structure 3, in this case formed by the ears 5 of the plate and the screwing elements 6.

An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly device that overcomes at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to allow the assembly of a set "STOP and START" under the front wing of any vehicle category after assembly thereof on the body structure of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly device which improves the vibration resistance of the support plate of a set "STOP and START" mounted on a vehicle body structure.

It is also desirable to provide an assembly device whose assembly is simple and quick to implement, thus reducing production costs.

For this purpose, there is provided according to the invention a device for assembling a stop assembly and automatic restart of a vehicle engine on a vehicle body structure, the device comprising a support plate for said assembly , remarkable in that the device comprises:

at least one indexing pin belonging to the support plate; at least one eyelet intended to be secured to the body of said vehicle and adapted to receive said indexing pin, and

at least one damping pad intended to be interposed between said pin and said eyelet.

With the present invention, it is thus possible to overcome at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks, as will result from the description which follows.

According to particular embodiments of the invention, the assembly device may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in combination technically possible:

- The support plate comprises at least two ears each provided with an orifice for fastening means, for example of the screw / nut type, with the vehicle body structure;

- The support plate has an upper part and a lower part, the pin and one of the two ears being disposed on the upper part of the plate, the other lug being disposed on the lower part of the plate;

- The assembly device is such that one of the ears is disposed at the end of the front portion of the plate; the pin is disposed on an upper zone of the rear part of the plate; the other of the two ears is disposed on a lower zone of the rear part of the plate;

- The pin is fixed, for example by welding, on a rear face of the support plate, the rear face being that which is intended to be placed vis-à-vis the body structure;

the damping pad is made of an elastically deformable material;

- The damping pad is made of a material capable of aborting mechanical vibrations, for example elastomer;

the damping pad has the shape of a double crown, the two rings being separated by a circumferential groove and having dimensions greater than those of the eyelet so that the stud can provide a blocking function of the assembly; formed by the pin and the stud in said eyelet;

Said eyelet is made in an ear belonging to the body structure, said ear extending substantially perpendicularly to a main face of said body structure.

Also provided according to the invention a method of assembling a set of stop and automatic restart of a vehicle engine on a vehicle body structure with a device according to the invention, remarkable in that it comprises at least the step of securing said eyelet with the damping pad, then the step of inserting the pin of the plate of support in the damping pad housed in this eyelet.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting examples and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle may be provided with a set "STOP and START" attached to the body structure with an assembly device according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 represents, in a perspective view, a "STOP and START" assembly fixed on a vehicle body structure by means of an assembly device according to the prior art, comprising a support plate for parts of the "STOP and START" set;

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) show a support plate used in an assembly device according to the invention for a "STOP and START" assembly and said assembly in different perspective views, namely an exploded view on Figure 3 (a) and an assembled view in Figure 3 (b); Figure 3 (c) specifying the destination of said assembly;

FIG. 4 represents a rear perspective view of the support plate of FIG. 3 (a);

- Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the assembly device according to the invention, once mounted on the body structure with the set "STOP and START";

- Figure 6 shows, in another perspective view, the assembly device according to the invention, once mounted on the body structure with the set "STOP and START";

- Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a fixing element of the support plate of the assembly device on the vehicle body;

FIG. 7bis is a perspective view of the damping pad of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an indexing peg of the support plate of the assembly device according to the invention, and - Figures 9 and 10 are further enlarged perspective views of the support plate used in the assembly device according to the invention, shown in Figure 3 (a) for example.

Conventionally, the X axis represents the longitudinal axis of rolling of the vehicle.

In the context of the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower" and "front", "rear" associated with the device according to the invention are respectively relative to the vertical and with respect to the direction of advancement. of a vehicle, once this device is mounted on the body of this vehicle.

FIG. 3 (c) shows a front left side structure of a motor vehicle, designated by the general reference 10.

We observe the left front wing 20, extended from an upper portion of this wing by a hood 21. This left front wing 20 is mounted on a flat wing support to the body structure 3, intended to be rigidly fixed by a base to an upper beam of the vehicle chassis. It is limited by a wheel passage 22 for receiving the left front wheel.

The assembly device for a "STOP and START" assembly according to the invention is described below, in support of FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 to 8.

The assembly device comprises a support plate 40 for the assembly "STOP and START", the latter comprising the CPU 1, the DMTC 8 and the cover 2 to protect the DMTC.

The plate 40 formed in one piece has two parts, namely a rear portion 47a and a front portion 47b.

The rear portion 47a comprises a tab 48b which allows the DMTC 8 protective cap 2 to be held on the support plate 40, as well as a stamp 48c allowing the breathing of a goretex chip located on the back of the DMTC 8.

Pins (or crimped screws) 49a, extending perpendicularly to the front face 43b of the front portion 47a of the plate 40 make it possible to fix the CPU 1 and the DMTC 8 on the plate 40, which constitutes a contribution of rigidity to the plate 40 after tightening these elements.

The front portion 47b comprises, in turn, a hole 48a for inserting the CPU 1.

The plate 40 also comprises at least two lugs 44, 45 each provided with an orifice for fastening means with the vehicle body structure 3. These fastening means may be screw / nut type.

Specifically, the front portion 47b of the plate comprises, at one end 46, one 45 of the two ears 44, 45 and the rear portion 47a of the plate comprises, in a lower zone (not referenced) of this rear portion 47a, the other 44 of the two ears 44, 45.

The plate 40 can be made of steel, for example with a shade

ES.

Its thickness is generally between 1 mm and a few millimeters, for example close to 1.5 mm.

In addition, in an alternative embodiment, it may comprise mechanical reinforcements 49b, for example made by stamping, to increase its rigidity.

According to the invention, the assembly device also comprises at least one indexing pin 41 belonging to the support plate 40, at least one damping pad 42 intended to receive the indexing pin 41 and at least one an eyelet 31 belonging to the body structure 3, intended to receive the assembly formed by the pin 41 and the stud 42.

The pin 41 is disposed on the rear portion 47a of the plate 40, and more specifically on an upper zone (not referenced) of this rear portion 47a.

The rear portion 47a is intended to be inserted behind the front fender of the vehicle, in an area of the body structure 3 not very accessible for an operator involved in the assembly.

In particular, the end zone (not referenced) of the rear portion 47a of the plate 40 is the least accessible for this operator.

The implantation of the pin 41 in this area is therefore particularly advantageous to overcome the difficulties of accessibility and congestion encountered with existing assembly devices.

Furthermore, the implantation of the pin 41 and the two lugs 44, 45 on the plate 40 is such that it prevents tilting of the assembly device supporting the assembly 10 about the axis X of the vehicle.

The pin 41 is, moreover, fixed on the rear face 43a of the plate 40, this rear face 43a being the one that is intended to be placed opposite the body structure 3.

It should be noted that it is from this rear face 43a of the plate 40 that the ears 44, 45 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to said rear face 43a. Advantageously, the fixing of the pin 41 on the rear face 43a of the plate 40 is made by welding.

Concerning the damping pad 42, the latter has the shape of a double ring 42a, 42b, said rings being separated by a circumferential groove 42c, and traversed by an orifice 42d intended to receive the pin 41, as can be seen in FIGS. Figures 7 and 7bis.

The two rings 42a, 42b have dimensions greater than those of the eyelet 31 so that the stud 42 can provide a blocking function of the assembly formed by the pin 41 and the stud 42 in the through eyelet 31.

To ensure the passage of the crown 42b, said upper ring, in the eyelet 31, the stud 42 is made of an elastically deformable material.

Thus, after having passed through the eyelet 31 by deforming (the passage is made in force under the action of the operator), the upper ring 42b can return to its initial position.

Its diameter greater than that of the eyelet 31 prevents any reverse movement in the absence of specific action.

The lower ring 42a is, for its part, not brought to pass through the eyelet 31. Its diameter greater than that of the eyelet 31 thus makes it possible to form a stop, when the operator inserts the pin 41 in the stud 42 (the eyelet 31 being put in place before).

Advantageously, the elastically deformable material forming the damping pad 42 is also capable of absorbing mechanical vibrations.

Such a material then makes it possible to absorb the vibrations coming from the engine. This limits the transmission of vibrations to the assembly "START and STOP" and improves the rolling behavior of the assembly 10 mounted on the bodywork of the vehicle body

An example of a suitable material for the damping pad 42 is, for example, an elastomer such as rubber.

The eyelet 31 of the body structure 3 can be made in an ear 32 belonging to the body structure 3. This ear 32 then extends substantially perpendicularly to a main face 33 of said body structure 3.

One method of mounting the "START and STOP" assembly implemented with the above-mentioned assembly device is as follows.

The parts 1, 2, 8 of the set 10 "START and STOP" are previously mounted on the plate 40 before they arrive on the assembly line. Thus, the assembly of the assembly 10 on the body structure 3 in the assembly line comprises two stages, the first consisting of inserting the damping pad 42 into the eyelet 31 of the body structure 3, then the inserting the pin 41 of the support plate 40 then supporting the CPU 1, the DMTC 8 and its cover 2 in the damping pad 42, which is already mounted. During this last step, the operator therefore passes the assembly 10 mounted on the plate 40 under the front left wing 20 of the vehicle.

At the end of this step, the operator only has to fix the two ears 44, 45 of the plate on the body structure 3 by appropriate means, such as screw / nut assemblies. If screws are used, tightening them to the recommended torque is usually done at a next station on the assembly line.

It should be noted that this assembly process fully respects the goal of ergonomics for the online assembly operator.

Indeed, the operator receives a complete set (plate 40 + parts of the assembly 10) already mounted, which in itself saves time on the assembly line.

This time saving is all the more important that the operator can mount, thanks to the assembly device according to the invention, this complete assembly (plate 40 + parts of the assembly 10) on the body structure 3 of the vehicle blind, without difficulty.

This is related to the implementation of an indexing pin 41 which can be easily housed in the damping pad 42 present in the eyelet 31 of the body structure 3, without seeing the manipulation.

Advantageously, guides arranged on the support plate 40 or on the body structure 3 (at the level of the ear 32) facilitate this manipulation to the blind, also allowing to guarantee the games of proximity.

Moreover, the assembly (the connection) formed by the indexing pin 41 and the damping pad 42 is based on a much faster fixing method than the tightening of a screw / nut assembly, hence additional time saving in editing.

In addition, the existence of a front wing on the body structure of the vehicle does not pose any difficulty in assembling the assembly 10 "START and STOP".

It is therefore quite possible to implement the assembly device according to the invention on categories of vehicles for which this could not be envisaged with the existing assembly devices. The cost related to this method of attachment (pin 41 + stud 42 in a grommet 31 of the body structure 3) remains low and quite acceptable compared to the cost of a type of fastening type screw / nut.

In addition, the damping pad 42 deformable material absorbs vibrations from the engine.

The implantation of the indexing pin 41 and the lugs 44, 45 within the plate 40 make it possible to obtain a good robustness of this plate, avoiding damage of the ER4 type (this is a dreaded event of severity 4 which is likely to cause bodily injury to the man, such as the loss of the assembly 10 resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle or an impact on the next vehicle).

A numerical calculation has also been performed to verify the behavior of the assembly device according to the invention, once mounted on the body structure: the vibration fatigue resistance responsive to the B21 7120 standard and endurance resistance reaches 1 million stress cycles of 1 g ± 1, 5g, g being the acceleration of gravity.

Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate, compared to the existing assembly devices of the prior art, the advantages provided by a device according to the invention.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the assembly device described above which is provided by way of example but it embraces on the contrary all possible variants.

For example, in an alternative embodiment, additional mechanical reinforcements may be provided on the plate 40.

Claims

1. Device for assembling an assembly (10) for stopping and automatically restarting a vehicle engine on a vehicle body structure (3), the device comprising a support plate (40) for said assembly (10) ), characterized in that the device comprises:

at least one indexing pin (41) belonging to the support plate;

at least one eyelet (31) intended to be secured to the body of said vehicle and capable of receiving said indexing pin (41), and

- At least one damping pad (42) intended to be interposed between said pin (41) and said eyelet (31).

2. An assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate (40) comprises at least two lugs (44, 45) each provided with an orifice for fastening means, for example screw type / nut, with the vehicle body structure (3).

3. Connecting device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the support plate (40) comprises an upper part (47a) and a lower part (47b), the pin (41) and one of the two ears ( 44, 45) being arranged on the upper part (47a) of the plate (40), the other lug being arranged on the lower part (47b) of the plate (40).

4. Assembly device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that:

one (45) of the lugs (44, 45) is disposed at the end (46) of the front portion (47b) of the plate (40);

- The pin (41) is disposed on an upper zone of the rear portion (47a) of the plate (40);

the other (44) of the two lugs (44, 45) is arranged on a lower zone of the rear part (47a) of the plate (40).

5. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pin (41) is fixed, for example by welding, on a rear face (43) of the support plate, this rear face (43) being that which is intended to be placed opposite the body structure (3).

6. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping pad (42) is of an elastically deformable material.

7. An assembly device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the damping pad is made of a material capable of aborbing mechanical vibrations, for example elastomer.

8. Connecting device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the stud (42) has the shape of a double ring (42a, 42b), the two rings (42b) being separated by a groove circumferential and having dimensions greater than those of the eyelet (31) so that the stud (42) can provide a blocking function of the assembly formed by the pin (41) and the stud (42) in the eyelet (31).

9. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the eyelet (31) is formed in an ear (32) belonging to the body structure (3), said ear (32) extending substantially perpendicular to a main face (33) of said body structure (3).

10. A method of assembling an assembly (10) for stopping and automatically restarting a vehicle engine on a body structure (3) vehicle with a device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least the step of securing said eyelet (31) with the damping pad (42), then the step of inserting the pin (41) of the support plate (40) into the stud damping element (42) housed in the eyelet (31).