FR3102516A1 - MOUNTING BRACKET ESPECIALLY FOR VEHICLE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP - Google Patents

Abstract

MOUNTING BRACKET ESPECIALLY FOR VEHICLE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP The support of the invention (2) is designed for the attachment in a vehicle of an accessory (3) incorporating an electric motor such as an electric water pump. The support comprises a base part (20), an elastomeric material decoupling sleeve (22) and a retaining part (21), the decoupling sleeve being arranged so that it can be mounted on the accessory, the part forming base being arranged so as to receive the decoupling sleeve, and the retaining part being arranged so as to be able to be mechanically secured by fixing with the part forming the base and to wedge with clamping the decoupling sleeve in the part forming the base. According to the invention, the fixing support comprises keying and pre-holding means arranged so as to determine a pre-positioning of the decoupling sleeve in the part forming the base and to ensure pre-holding thereof in the part forming the base before fixing the retaining part. Fig. 1

Description

MOUNTING BRACKET PARTICULARLY FOR VEHICLE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP

The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical attachment with vibro-acoustic decoupling in a vehicle of an accessory comprising an electric motor, such as an electric water pump. More particularly, the invention relates to a mounting bracket in a vehicle for an accessory integrating an electric motor, such as an electric water pump, but not exclusively, the mounting bracket being provided with decoupling means made of elastomeric material and means facilitating the assembly/disassembly operations of the accessory.

In a motor vehicle, various accessories are attached to the powertrain of the vehicle and are subjected to high stresses, such as in particular the water pump of the powertrain cooling system. The water pump forces a coolant through the powertrain cooling system. In recent years, the electric water pump has imposed itself, at the expense of the mechanical water pump, in the cooling systems of thermal, hybrid or electric powertrains.

Typically, the electric water pump is attached to the vehicle's powertrain. Such an assembly is particularly critical for the electric water pump, with possible problems of mechanical and vibration resistance and acoustics. It is common to mount the electric water pump on a bracket that is attached to the power train. This mounting bracket must provide vibro-acoustic decoupling between the pump and the drive train. The electric water pump generates its own acoustic vibrations which should be filtered at its mounting bracket, in particular to prevent them from spreading to the body and the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

In addition, the mounting bracket must be designed to facilitate the assembly and mounting operations of the electric water pump on the power unit, as well as its dismantling.

Document CN20905367U discloses a mounting bracket for a water pump electric motor. The mounting bracket is formed with an elastomeric material that dampens vibrations and has a keying notch. The keying notch is arranged to receive a corresponding boss of the water pump electric motor. The arrangement formed of the keying notch and the boss facilitates the assembly of the electric water pump motor and the mounting bracket during assembly.

Document WO2015169518A1 describes a mounting bracket for a water pump in a motor vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a retainer with decoupling elements. Decoupling elements provide vibration damping. The retainer also has two fixing studs.

Document FR2926411A1 discloses an electric motor support for a ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning system in a motor vehicle. The support here comprises a part forming a base and a ring both having a hollow cylinder shape. A parallelepiped plastic block is interposed between the part forming the base and the ring and performs a vibration decoupling function.

It is desirable to propose a new support which is suitable for the attachment to a vehicle powertrain of an accessory comprising an electric motor, such as an electric water pump, this support being designed and optimized to meet the vibration and acoustics and facilitate the assembly/disassembly of the accessory.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a mounting bracket in a vehicle for an accessory integrating an electric motor, comprising a part forming a base, a decoupling sleeve made of elastomeric material and a retaining part, the decoupling sleeve being arranged so as to be able to be mounted on the accessory, the part forming the base being arranged so as to receive the decoupling sleeve, and the retaining part being arranged so as to be able to be joined mechanically by fixing with the part forming the base and to be jammed with clamping the decoupling sleeve in the part forming the base. According to the invention, the fixing support comprises foolproofing and pre-holding means arranged so as to determine a pre-positioning of the decoupling sleeve in the part forming the base and to ensure a pre-holding of the latter in the base piece before fixing the retainer.

Foolproofing, pre-positioning and pre-holding functions are ensured by the fixing support during assembly/dismantling of the accessory thanks to the above-mentioned foolproofing and pre-holding means integrated into the fixing support.

According to a particular characteristic, the foolproofing and pre-holding means comprise first and second foolproofing and pre-holding orifices arranged in a part forming a seat of the part forming the base and first and second foolproofing and pre-holding tenons. holding formed in the decoupling sleeve and arranged so as to be able to be inserted respectively into the first and second keying and pre-holding holes, the first and second keying and pre-holding holes and tenons being arranged asymmetrically so as to allow only one mounting position of the decoupling sleeve in the part forming the base.

According to another particular characteristic, the first and second polarizing and pre-holding orifices and tenons have dimensions determined so as to ensure the pre-holding of the decoupling sleeve in the part forming the base.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the fixing support comprises an articulation arranged between the retaining part and the part forming the base, the articulation allowing a pivoting of the retaining part with respect to the part forming the base, and fixing means and clamping the retainer to the base piece when the retainer is in a collapsed position.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the part forming the base comprises a fixing base having a pre-positioning and pre-holding tenon projecting perpendicularly from an underside of the fixing base.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the decoupling sleeve comprises a retaining collar and a portion forming a skirt which extends the retaining collar, the retaining collar being arranged so as to allow its insertion into a corresponding recess formed in the part forming the base, and the portion forming a skirt comprising at least one angular indexing notch intended to receive an angular indexing boss of the accessory.

According to yet another particular feature, the retaining flange and the recess have a "U" profile shape.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the part forming the base, the retaining part and the decoupling sleeve are one-piece parts obtained by molding, the part forming the base and the retaining part being parts made of plastic material and the decoupling sleeve being a piece of synthetic rubber.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to an assembly in a vehicle of an accessory integrating an electric motor and a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket being a mounting bracket as briefly described above.

According to a particular embodiment, the accessory included in the above assembly is an electric water pump which is mechanically fixed to a powertrain of the vehicle via the fixing bracket as briefly described above.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description below of several particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is an overall perspective view showing an electric water pump attached to a powertrain by means of a mounting bracket according to the invention.

Fig.2 is a first perspective view of a part forming the base of the mounting bracket according to the invention.

Fig.3 is a second perspective view of the part forming the base of the mounting bracket according to the invention.

Fig.4 is a top plan view of the part forming the base of the mounting bracket according to the invention.

Fig.5 is a perspective view showing a mechanical attachment interface present in the powertrain for mounting the attachment bracket according to the invention.

Fig.6 is a perspective view showing the part forming the base of the fixing support according to the invention mounted on the mechanical fixing interface of the powertrain.

Fig.7 is a perspective view showing the mounting in the part forming the base of a decoupling sleeve of the mounting bracket according to the invention.

Fig.8 is a perspective view of the decoupling sleeve of the mounting bracket according to the invention.

Fig.9 is a perspective view showing the decoupling sleeve of the mounting bracket according to the invention mounted on the electric water pump of Fig.1.

Fig.10 is a plan view of the decoupling sleeve of the mounting bracket according to the invention mounted on the electric water pump of Fig.1.

Fig.11 is a perspective view of a retaining piece of the mounting bracket according to the invention.

There is now described below a particular embodiment 1 of an assembly, shown in Fig.1, formed by a fixing support 2 according to the invention and an electric water pump 3 as accessory comprising an electric motor. In this example of application of the invention, it is considered that the electric water pump 3 is mounted on a powertrain 4 by means of the mounting bracket 2. The powertrain 4 is here for example a rotary electric traction machine in an electric or hybrid vehicle. As will appear more clearly in the remainder of the description, the fixing support 2 comprises vibro-acoustic decoupling means, but also means facilitating the assembly or disassembly operations, by providing keying functions, pre-positioning and pre-maintenance.

As visible in Fig.1, the mounting bracket 2 essentially comprises a part forming a base 20, a retaining part 21 and a decoupling sleeve 22 made of elastomeric material.

With reference also to Figs.2 to 4, the part forming the base 20 is a one-piece part which is typically obtained by injection molding of a plastic material. The part forming a base 20 comprises a fixing base 200 and a part forming a seat 201 intended to receive the electric water pump 3 dressed in the decoupling sleeve 22.

The fixing base 200 notably comprises two through fixing holes 202 and 203 intended for its fixing by screws on a mechanical interface face 40, shown in FIG. 5, of the power unit 4. The fixing base 200 also comprises a pre-positioning and pre-holding stud 204. The pre-positioning and pre-holding stud 204 projects perpendicularly from an underside of the fixing base 200.

With reference also to Figs.5 and 6, when mounting the part forming the base 20 on the powertrain 4, the fixing base 200 is pressed against the mechanical interface face 40 and the pre-positioning and pre-positioning tenon. holding 204 is housed with a slight tightening in a corresponding orifice 400 of the mechanical interface face 40. A pre-holding of the part forming the base 20 on the powertrain 4 is thus ensured. The position of the part forming the base 20 is then adjusted by rotation around the axis defined by the tenon 204 so as to bring the orifices 202 and 203 into correspondence of the fixing base 200 with the corresponding tapped holes 401 and 402 of the mechanical interface face 40. The part forming the base 20 is thus pre-positioned and pre-held on the powertrain 4. The operator in charge of assembly then has both hands free to introduce two fixing screws 403 and 404 ( visible in Fig.6) in the holes 202 and 203 of the mounting base 200 and screw them into the tapped holes 401 and 402 using clamping means. The part forming the base 20 is thus secured to the powertrain 4, as shown in Fig.6.

As best seen in Figs.2 to 4, the part forming a seat 201 has substantially a circular semi-collar shape with its lower part in continuity of material with the fixing base 200. The part forming a seat 201 comprises in particular a recess 205 having a "U" profile shape, a hinge pin 206, a closure tab 207 and keying and pre-holding holes 208a and 208b.

The recess 205 is intended to receive a retaining flange 220 of the decoupling sleeve 22. The retaining flange 220, visible in Figs.7 to 10, is cylindrical and has an inverted "U" male convex profile shape which corresponds substantially to the concave female "U" profile shape of the recess 205. These substantially complementary "U" profile shapes facilitate a pre-holding function of the retaining flange 220 in the recess 205. Mounting with a slight tightening of the collar 220 in the recess 205, for pre-holding, is facilitated by the elasticity of the elastomer material of the collar 220.

The hinge pin 206 and the closure lug 207 are arranged at the upper part of the part forming the seat 201, substantially at the level of a junction face 209 of the part forming the seat 201 with the retaining part 21. hinge axis 206 allows hinged mounting in rotation of the retaining piece 21 on the piece forming the base 20. The closure lug 207 has a screw hole 207a for clamping and screw locking of the retaining piece 21 on the part forming the base 20, once folded down by rotation the retaining part 21 on the part forming the base 20.

The keying and pre-holding holes 208a and 208b are arranged in the lower part of the recess 205 and pass through the fixing base 200. As shown in Fig.4, the keying and pre-holding holes 208a and 208b are arranged asymmetrically with respect to a central axis AA of the circular half-collar shape of the part forming the seat 201. Thus, considering the plan view of FIG. are off-center from the central axis AA respectively by different distances L1 and L2, with here the distance L1 which is substantially less than the distance L2. As will appear more clearly later, this asymmetry in the arrangement of keying and pre-maintaining orifices 208a and 208b is provided to ensure a keying function during the installation of the electric water pump 3 in its support. fixing 2.

With reference also more particularly to Figs.8 to 10, the decoupling sleeve 22 is a one-piece part which is typically obtained by injection molding of an elastomeric material, typically a synthetic rubber. The decoupling sleeve 22 essentially comprises the aforementioned cylindrical retaining collar 220, four portions forming skirts 221a, 221b, 221c and 221d, and two keying and pre-holding tenons 222a and 222b.

As seen in Fig.8, the four portions forming skirts 221a to 221d project perpendicularly relative to a circular side face 223 of the retaining collar 220. The four portions forming skirts 221a to 221d are spaced around the periphery of the face circular side 223, leaving between them notches 224a to 224d.

As visible in Fig.9, the notch 224a in association with a boss 30 present on the body of the electric water pump 3 fulfill an angular indexing function for the assembly of the decoupling sleeve 22 on the body of the electric water pump 3. The adapted dimensions of the notch 224a and the boss 30 allow this insertion of the boss 30 in the notch 224a. The other cutouts 224b to 224d have different dimensions which do not allow insertion of the boss 30. These other cutouts 224b to 224d are here cutouts for removing material to obtain a lighter and more economical decoupling sleeve 22. The notch 224a and the boss 30 therefore form angular indexing means which determine a single desired positioning between the decoupling sleeve 22 and the electric water pump 3. It will be noted that the decoupling sleeve 22 can be premounted on the body of the electric water pump 3 to form an assembly which will be mounted directly in the mounting bracket 2.

The two keying and pre-holding studs 222a, 222b project parallel from the outer circumferential face of the retaining collar 220. As shown in FIG. 10, the keying and pre-holding studs 222a, 222b are arranged asymmetrically with respect to a central axis BB of the central circular recess of the decoupling sleeve 22. Thus, considering the plan view of FIG. the central axis BB and offset from the latter respectively by the distances L1, L2, mentioned above (cf. Fig.4).

The keying and pre-holding pins 222a, 222b can thus only be inserted into the keying and pre-holding holes 208a, 208b, respectively, when the decoupling sleeve 22 is correctly oriented in the part forming the base 20, as shown in Fig.7. A keying function is thus ensured thanks to the arrangement described of keying and pre-maintaining orifices 208a, 208b, and keying and pre-maintaining tenons 222a, 222b.

Furthermore, the diameters of the keying and pre-holding orifices 208a, 208b, and of the keying and pre-holding studs 222a, 222b, as well as the length L3 of the studs 222a, 222b, are determined so as to ensure a pre- positioning and pre-holding of the assembly of electric water pump 3 and decoupling sleeve 22 in the part forming the base 20 during assembly, before the retaining part 21 is folded down and locked. The diameters of the orifices 208a, 208b, and tenons 222a, 222b, are preferably determined so as to obtain a slight tightening between them and thus improve the pre-positioning and the pre-holding.

With reference to Fig.11, the retainer 21 is a one-piece piece which is typically obtained by injection molding of a plastic material. The retainer 21 has a substantially circular semi-collar shape. The retainer 21 notably comprises a recess 210 having a "U" profile shape, articulation nodes 211a and 211b, and a closure tab 212.

Like the recess 205 of the seat portion 201, the recess 210 is intended to receive the retaining flange 220 of the decoupling sleeve 22. The recess 210 and the retaining flange 220 have "U" profile shapes. substantially complementary. The elasticity of the elastomeric material of the retaining collar 220 facilitates the insertion with clamping of the retaining collar 220 into the recess 210.

The hinge nodes 211a, 211b, and the closure tab 212 are arranged substantially at the level of a junction face 213 of the retaining piece 21. The hinge nodes 211a, 211b are provided to receive the axis d articulation 206 of the part forming the seat 201 and obtaining the hinged mounting in rotation of the retaining part 21 on the part forming the base 20.

The closure tab 212 is provided to come into correspondence with the closure tab 207 of the seat-forming part 201. The closure tab 212 has a screw hole 212a for clamping and screw locking of the retainer 21 on the seat-forming part 201, once the retainer 21 has been folded down by rotation on the base-forming part 20. 222a, 222b, the operator in charge of the assembly has both hands free to grasp the fixing screw and the clamping means and to lock the retainer 21 on the part forming the seat 201 with screws.

In general, it will be noted that the invention allows a significant reduction in assembly times obtained in particular thanks to the elimination of sources of error during assembly and to the ease of assembly. Better ergonomics of the assembly station in the production line is also made possible by the invention.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments which have been described here by way of example. The person skilled in the art, depending on the applications of the invention, may make various modifications and variants falling within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (10)

Mounting bracket (2) in a vehicle for an accessory (3) integrating an electric motor, comprising a part forming a base (20), a decoupling sleeve (22) made of elastomeric material and a retaining part (21), said decoupling sleeve (22) being arranged to be mountable on said accessory (3), said base piece (20) being arranged to receive said decoupling sleeve (22), and said retainer (21) being arranged so as to be able to be joined mechanically by fixing with the said part forming the base (20) and to jam the said decoupling sleeve (22) with tightness in the said part forming the base (20), characterized in that it comprises means of coding and pre-holding (208a, 208b; 222a, 222b) arranged so as to determine a pre-positioning of said decoupling sleeve (22) in said part forming a base (20) and to ensure a pre-holding of the latter in said base piece (20) before said attachment of said retainer (21). Fixing support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said foolproofing and pre-holding means comprise first and second foolproofing and pre-holding orifices (208a, 208b) arranged in a part forming a seat (201) of the said part forming a base (20) and first and second foolproofing and pre-holding tenons (222a, 222b) formed in said decoupling sleeve (22) and arranged so as to be able to be inserted respectively into said first and second orifices of coding and pre-holding (208a, 208b), said first and second orifices (208a, 208b) and pins (222a, 222b) for coding and pre-holding being arranged asymmetrically (L1, L2) so as to n allowing only one mounting position of said decoupling sleeve (22) in said base piece (20). Fixing support according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said first and second orifices (208a, 208b) and studs (222a, 222b) for correcting and pre-holding have determined dimensions (L3) so as to ensure the said pre- retaining said decoupling sleeve (22) in said base piece (20). Fixing support according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises an articulation (206; 211a, 211b) arranged between the said piece forming the base (20) and the said retaining piece (21), the said articulation (206; 211a, 211b) allowing said retaining piece (21) to pivot relative to said piece forming a base (20), and fixing and clamping means (207, 207a; 212, 212a) of said piece of retainer (21) on said base piece (20) when said retainer (21) is in a collapsed position. Fixing support according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said base-forming part (20) comprises a fixing base (200) having a pre-positioning and pre-holding tenon (204) projecting perpendicularly from an underside of said mounting base (200). Mounting bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said decoupling sleeve (22) comprises a retaining flange (220) and a skirt portion (221a to 221d) which projects from said retaining flange. retainer (220), said retaining collar (220) being arranged so as to allow its insertion into a corresponding recess (205) formed in the part forming the base (20), and the said portion forming a skirt (221a to 221d) comprising at least one angular indexing notch (221b) intended to receive an angular indexing boss (30) of said accessory (3). Mounting bracket according to claim 6, characterized in that said retaining flange (220) and said recess (205) have a "U" profile shape. Fixing support according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said part forming the base (20), the said retaining part (21) and the said decoupling sleeve (22) are one-piece parts obtained by molding, the said base piece (20) and said retaining piece (21) being plastic material pieces and said decoupling sleeve (22) being a synthetic rubber piece. Assembly (1) in a vehicle of an accessory (3) integrating an electric motor and of a fixing support, characterized in that the said fixing support is a fixing support (2) according to any one of claims 1 at 8. Assembly according to Claim 9, characterized in that the said accessory is an electric water pump (3), the said electric water pump (3) being mechanically fixed to a powertrain (4) of the said vehicle by means of the said fixing support (2).