WO2013026965A1

WO2013026965A1 - Motor vehicle cooling module

Info

Publication number: WO2013026965A1
Application number: PCT/FR2012/051549
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Bui; Pascal ROUGIER
Original assignee: Renault S.A.S.
Priority date: 2011-08-22
Filing date: 2012-07-03
Publication date: 2013-02-28
Also published as: FR2979424A1; FR2979424B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle cooling module including: an assembly comprising at least two elements (3, 5, 7) essentially extending in a main plane, and at least one assembly means (9) for assembling the elements. The module is characterised in that the assembly means (9) is oriented such as to assemble the elements along an assembly axis orthogonal to the main plane and comprises an automatic assembly device (31, 50) for automatically assembling the elements (3, 5, 7) by moving said elements relative to one another along the assembly axis. The motor vehicle cooling module according to claim 1 is characterised in that the automatic securing device comprises: a rigid tab (11) anchored to a first element (5), and at least one first hook (35a, 52a) which is anchored to a second element (3, 7) and which can deform elastically in order to grip the tab (11) in a fixed position.

Description

COOLING MODULE OF A VEH ICU LE

AUTOMOBI LE

The invention relates to a cooling module of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to the assembly of the elements of this cooling module.

The invention relates to a cooling module of a motor vehicle, also called a "cooling case", comprising:

a set of at least two elements extending generally along a main plane, and

at least one means for assembling said elements.

The cooling modules consist of elements used for cooling and cooling the vehicle. They are usually located near the front or front of the vehicle, and they are attached to a structural element of the vehicle body. It is necessary to design means of connection between the different elements so that they can be quickly and easily assembled.

EP-A2-1403606 discloses an assembly of a radiator and a condenser which constitute two elements of a cooling module. The assembly is achieved by means of a mechanism for assembly and relative positioning of the two elements. The assembly mechanism is attached to a structural element of the vehicle and, in the mounted position, it is intended to be framed by the two elements of the assembly. This assembly device, disclosed, also comprises means for fixing and holding the two elements. These fixing and holding means are such that the assembly is carried out along two main axes.

For the assembly and disassembly of the cooling case it is necessary to provide sufficient space for allow the assembly and disassembly of the various components of the cooling module.

In general this space is accessible by opening the hood of the vehicle. This space extends substantially along the vertical axis of the vehicle. The space must also allow two-axis referencing of the fastening elements for assembly or disassembly.

The disadvantage of this type of known assembly is to require a space dedicated to the passage of the various elements or components and their reference, and this space is not exploitable for other elements or functions.

In addition another disadvantage is that it is necessary to bind the elements constituting the cooling module to an element dedicated to their attachment.

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling module comprising only elements necessary for its operation, which can easily integrate into the environment of the powertrain (GMP) and having good resistance to vibrations .

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly solution that is also removable.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a cooling module of the type defined above. According to the invention, the assembly means is oriented so as to assemble said elements along an assembly axis orthogonal to the main plane and comprises a device for automatically fixing the elements by moving the elements relative to each other. along said assembly axis.

According to additional features:

the automatic fixing device comprises: a rigid tab anchored on a first element, and - At least a first hook anchored to a second resiliently deformable member for gripping said tab in the fixed position, the automatic fixing device comprises at least a second hook opposite to said first hook to cooperate with distinct edges of the tab.

the automatic fixing device comprises at least a first positioning finger and guiding the hooks relative to the tab.

the cooling module comprises a set of at least three elements comprising a radiator, a condenser and a motorcycle fan unit.

the first element is interposed between the second and third elements, the second element comprises a first pair of hooks and the third element comprises a second pair of hooks angularly offset relative to said first pair of hooks.

the tab has a hole, and said first pair of hooks is integral with a first finger arranged to penetrate into the hole of the tab.

■ the first finger has a cavity, and the second pair of hooks is secured to a second finger arranged to enter the cavity of the first finger.

at least one of the attachment means comprises a peripheral profile.

■ the peripheral profile has a window allowing the passage of a disassembly tool.

at least one of the tab and / or hooks is molded with the element on which it is anchored.

at least one of the tab and / or hooks is attached to the element on which it is anchored.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the reading of the detailed description which will be learned, given by way of non-limiting example. For his understanding, we will refer to drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of three elements of a cooling module according to the invention which are represented before their assembly and assembly;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of detail of Figure 1 on a larger scale which illustrates assembly means of the motorcycle fan assembly and the condenser;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of detail of Figure 1 on a larger scale which illustrates the attachment means of the radiator with the condenser;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the elements of the cooling module similar to that of Figure 1 and on which the radiator is attached to the condenser;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of detail of Figure 4 on a larger scale which illustrates the attachment of the radiator on the condenser;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of detail of Figure 4 on a larger scale which illustrates the attachment means of the motorcycle fan unit on the subassembly consisting of the radiator and the condenser hooked to each other;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1, wherein the elements of the cooling module are illustrated assembled to one another;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of detail of Figure 7 on a larger scale which illustrates the hooking means of the three elements;

- Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 according to another angle of view;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of three elements of a cooling module according to the invention which are represented before assembly and assembly; - Figure 11 is a sectional view of the particular embodiment after mounting the three elements.

In the following description, to facilitate its understanding as well as that of the claims, will be adopted without limitation the longitudinal, vertical and transverse directions, respectively L, V and T according to the direct trihedron indicated in the figures. In the description which follows, identical, similar or similar elements will be designated by the same references.

By automatic assembly is meant an assembly that can be performed without manipulation of the assembly means by an operator.

As represented in FIG. 1, a cooling module 1 intended to be mounted on a front face of a motor vehicle, comprises three elements or components 3, 5, 7. For example, in the example illustrated, the three elements are along the longitudinal axis L and from the front to the rear of the vehicle, a radiator 3, a condenser 5 and a Motorcycle Fan Group (GMV) 7. The three elements 3, 5, 7 are generally planar and contour Rectangular and they extend p ri n ci pa t me nt salt on a vertical main plane V of transverse orientation.

The cooling device 1 comprises means for assembling and relative positioning the three elements 3, 5, 7. The assembly and positioning means comprise automatic assembly means 9 integrated in each element 3. 5, 7. These automatic assembly means 9 are here located on each of the vertical lateral sides of the elements 3, 5, 7.

The assembly means 9 here comprise two pairs of assembly means of the same design. For the sake of clarity, only one side of the three elements is shown in detail and in the following description only the assembly means 9 located in the lower part of the visible side will be described. The assembly means 9, described in the remainder of the document, make it possible to automatically hook two adjacent elements to one another without direct manipulation of the assembly means 9.

According to the example shown in Figures 2 to 4, an assembly means 9 comprises a rigid lug 11 carried by a first element. In the embodiment shown, said first element is the condenser 5. The lug 11 comprises two planes of symmetry defined along the axes V, T, and along the axes L, T. The lug 11 is delimited longitudinally by two plane faces 13, 15, opposite and parallel to each other. The tab 11 is delimited laterally by three edges 17, 19, 21 and unsheathed pa 23 connecting the tab 11 to the condenser 5. The tab 11 is substantially square in outline and extends transversely outwards in the plane V, T.

The lug 11 has a hole 25 opening substantially located in the center of the surfaces 13, 15.

The tab 11 comprises, in particular, four notches 27a, 27b, 29a, 29b parallel and identical in pairs along the symmetry planes of the tab 11. The notches 27a, 27b, 29a, 29b are located in the same plane defined by the axes V, T, and they are located respectively in the middle of the edge 19, the hook 23 and the edges 21, 19.

According to Figure 3, the assembly means 9 comprises a first automatic assembly device 31 carried by a second element. In the embodiment shown, said second element is the radiator 3. The first assembly device 31 also has a double design symmetry with respect to the V, L and L, T planes.

The first assembly device 31 comprises a plate 33 fixed to the radiator 3. This plate 33 comprises a pair of hooks consisting of a first hook 35a, and a second hook 35b, a contact surface 37 and a finger 39.

The hooks 35a, 35b are symmetrical with respect to the plane V, L. As the hooks 35a, 35b are symmetrical, the technical characteristics described below, the first hook 35a are also present for the second hook 35b. The hooks 35a, 35b are intended to cooperate with the notches 27a, 27b of the lug 11, respectively.

The first hook 35a comprises a body 41a in the form of a flexible tab able to deform elastically, and whose free end 43 is bent to r rip the tab 11 in the fixed position. This end 43 bent allows the automatic attachment of the radiator 3 on the condenser 5.

The length of the body 41a is calculated in such a way as to ensure a good, long, without play backing, once the radator 3 is mounted on the condenser 5. In particular, the length of the inner part of the body 41a is substantially equal to the thickness of the leg 11.

The flat contact surface 37 is intended to come into contact with the surface 13 of the tab 11 and has two opposite horizontal flanges 42 protruding vertically. The contact surface 37 is surmounted at its center by the finger 39, of substantially cylindrical shape, having a convex outer surface complementary to the hole 25 of the lug 11. The finger 39 has a hole 45 not opening open opposite the leg 11.

According to FIG. 2, the assembly means 9 comprises a second automatic assembly device 50 made by G MV 7. The second assembly device 50 is substantially similar to the first assembly device 31. The second assembly device 50 thus comprises a pair of hooks 52a, 52b, a plate 54 and a finger 56. The second assembly device 50 differs from the first device 31 in that the hooks 52a, 52b and the planes of symmetry are angularly offset by 90 degrees about the axis L, and in that the finger 56 is not intended to be inserted into the hole 25 of the lug 11 but in the hole 45 of the finger 39. The second device of FIG. assembly 50 still differs from the first device assembly 31 in that it has no flanges 42.

The hooks 52a, 52b are intended to cooperate with the notches 29a, 29b, respectively. As for the first device 31 described above, only the hook 52a will be described here. The hook 52a comprises a body 58a in the form of a flexible tab adapted to deform elastically, and whose free end 60a is curved ramp. In the example shown, the hook 52a is intended to cooperate with one of the opposite horizontal flanges 42 of the first assembly device 31. As a result, the length of the inner surface, along the axis L, is substantially equal to the thickness of the lug 11, increased by the thickness of a flange 42. This design ensures a good fit without backlash once in the mounted position of the cooling module 1.

The curved end 60a allows the automatic coupling of the GMV 7 to the subassembly formed by the radiator 3 and the condenser 5.

As explained above, the hooks 52a, 52b are identical and angularly offset by 180 ° about the axis L. So the hook 52b has a body 58b identical to the body 58a and a free end 60b identical to the free end 60a.

The finger 56 has a substantially cylindrical shape whose convex outer surface is substantially complementary to the concave inner surface of the hole 45 of the first assembly device 31. This complementarity of shapes and dimensions allows the axial insertion along the axis L , dud oigt 56 carried by the second connecting device 50 in the hole 45 of the first connecting device 31.

In addition, the plate 54 is also provided with a pair of elastically deformable strips 62a, 62b. The slats 62a, 62b forming a spring are both oriented towards the finger 56 and they are intended to rest on the surface 15 of the tab 11. In other words, the slats 62a, 62b will have the same function as 'a spring vis-à-vis the leg 11 by allowing, in the mounted position, a catch-up games along the axis L.

According to the embodiment shown, the second assembly device 50 comprises a box-shaped peripheral section 64 having the outer surfaces of g uidage are intended to be positioned opposite the edges 17, 19, 21. The internal surfaces of the peripheral profile 64 are such as to allow relative movement between the peripheral profile 64 and the lug 11, with a slight clearance. With reference to FIG. 4, when the user wishes to assemble the radiator 3 on the condenser 5, it moves the two elements 3, 5 towards each other along the axis L so that the first assembly devices 31 carried by the radiator 3 come into contact with the tabs 11 carried by the condenser 5. According to the example shown in Figure 5, the finger 39 is brought into contact with the hole 25 of the lug 11, as well as the hooks 35a, 35b. The positioning of the hooks 35a, 35b in the notches 27a, 27b is possible only when the finger 39 is aligned with the hole 25 of the lug 11. This assembly is performed with an automatic hooking thanks to the hooks, by the form of ramp or cam of their free end and thanks to the elastic deformation of the hooks.

In addition, the finger 39 carried by the first assembly means 31 has the advantage of ensuring the proper positioning and guiding of the radiator 3 relative to the condenser 5, otherwise the hooks can cooperate with the notches.

Once the radiator 3 assembled on the condenser 5, the user moves the subset composed of the radiator 3 and the condenser 5, along the axis L to the G MV 7, or vice versa, in order to assemble the elements 3, 5, 7 between them.

As represented in FIGS. 7 to 9, the finger 56 carried by the second assembly device 50 has the same function of centering and axial alignment as that carried by the first assembly device 31, to ensure the proper positioning and guiding of the GMV 7 with respect to the subassembly 3, 5. The finger 56 penetrates into the non-opening hole 45 of the finger 43 carried by the first assembly device 31.

Once the finger 56 of the second assembly device 50 in the hole 45, the relative displacement of the elements 3, 5, 7 allows the hooks 52a, 52b to come into contact with the notches 29a, 29b. This alignment and relative positioning of the components or elements 3, 5, 7 is performed simultaneously by the two pairs of devices 9 arranged at the four corners or corners of the module.

Once the brackets 52a, 52b correctly placed beyond the upper and lower flanges 42, the module 1 is correctly mounted. This configuration has the advantage of limiting the games between the different parts, games that are the source of noise when the module is mounted in a vehicle or when it is attached to an element subject to vibration.

The finger 56 carried by the second connecting device 50 has the advantage of ensuring proper positioning and guiding between the GMV 7 and the subassembly formed by the radiator 3 and the condenser 5, otherwise the hooks 52a, 52b can not cooperate to perform the automatic snap.

In the mounted position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the peripheral profile 64 at least partially covers the first assembly device 31. This profi le peripheriq ue 64 has the advantage of allowing the guiding of the GMV 7 with respect to the two Other elements 3, 5. In addition, another advantage is that, in the mounted position, the peripheral profile 64 makes it possible to avoid any accidental disassembly of the hooks 35a, 35b. The peripheral profile 64 thus surrounds and protects the assembly means 9. Disassembly is carried out simply by removing the hooks 35a, 35b, 52a, 52b elastically deformable, in the reverse order of the assembly. That is to say, first discarding the hooks 52a, 52b of the second assembly device 50 and then the hooks 35a, 35b of the first assembly means 31.

According to an alternative embodiment represented in FIGS. 8 and 9, the peripheral profile 64 comprises, on its side extending parallel to the axis V, a window 65 able to allow the passage of a disassembly tool in order to facilitate disassembly of the second assembly device 50.

According to a particular embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11, which differs from the main embodiment in that the finger 39 has a through hole 90 and in that the finger 56 has a hole 100 not opening facing the finger 39 The hole 100 is intended to receive a screw 110. The screw 110 would be screwed when the elements 3, 5, 7 are assembled. This improves the robustness and durability of the assembly vis-à-vis the vibrations transmitted to the cooling module.

The screw 110 may be of the soft material type, which has the advantage of not requiring a thread on the inner surface of the hole 100.

According to one embodiment not shown, it is possible to modify the shape of the fingers of the various assembly means in order to have a device with a coding function and thus to ensure that the assembly of the cooling model is assembled. is correct. By way of non-limiting example, there may be mentioned oval, polygonal, star-shaped, etc.

In general, the complementarity of shapes between the fingers 39 of the first assembly devices 31, the fingers 56 of the second assembly device 50 and the hole 25 have the advantage of ensuring relative positioning between the radiator 3 , the condenser 5 and the GMV 7.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Cooling module of a motor vehicle comprising:

a set of at least two elements (3, 5, 7) extending generally along a main plane,

at least one assembly means (9) for said elements,

characterized in that said connecting means (9) is oriented to assemble said elements along an assembly axis orthogonal to the main plane and comprises an automatic assembly device (31, 50) of the elements (3, 5, 7) by moving the elements relative to each other along said assembly axis.

Cooling module for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic fixing device comprises:

a rigid tab (11) anchored on a first element (5), and

- At least a first hook (35a, 52a) anchored to a second element (3, 7) elastically deformable to grip said tab (11) in the fixed position.

3. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the automatic fixing device comprises at least a second hook (35b, 52b) opposite said first hook (35a, 52a) to cooperate with edges. distinct from the paw (11).

4. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the automatic fixing device comprises at least a first finger (39, 56) for positioning and guiding the hooks (35a, 52a, 35b, 52b) relative to the tab (11).

5. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module of cooling comprises an assembly of at least three elements comprising a radiator (3), a condenser (5) and a fan motor unit (7).

6. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the first element (5) is interposed between the second and third elements (3, 7), in that the second element (3) comprises a first pair of hooks (35a, 35b) and in that the third element (7) comprises a second pair of hooks (52a, 52b) angularly offset relative to said first pair of hooks (35a, 52a).

7. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the lug (11) has a hole (25), and in that said first pair of hooks is integral with a first finger (39). arranged to penetrate the hole (25) of the tab (11).

8. The cooling module of a motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said first finger (39) has a hole (45), and in that said second pair of hooks is secured to a second finger (56). ) arranged to enter the hole (45) of the first finger (39).

9. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the attachment means comprises a peripheral section (64).

10. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the peripheral section (64) comprises a window (65) allowing the passage of a disassembly tool.

11. Cooling module of a motor vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the lug (11) and / or hooks (35a, 35b, 52a, 52b) is molded with the element on which it is anchored.

12. Module for cooling a motor vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the tab (11) and / or hooks (35a, 35b, 52a, 52b) is reported. on the element on which it is anchored.