Motor vehicle having at least one sound-generating system for producing an artificial engine noise

Abstract

A motor vehicle having at least one sound generating system for generating an artificial engine noise, which has at least one electrically controllable vibration exciter, wherein the vibration exciter is fastened to a component that is acoustically and/or vibrationally decoupled from a body of the motor vehicle. The component is retained on the motor vehicle by a retaining device, which covers the component at least to a large extent. By means of this measure, the acoustic properties of the sound-generating system can be significantly improved.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising: at least one sound-generating system for generating an artificial engine noise, which has at least one electrically controllable vibration exciter; a component that is acoustically and/or vibrationally decoupled from a body of the motor vehicle, the vibration exciter being fastened to the component; and a retaining device to retain the component on the motor vehicle, the retaining device substantially covering the component.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vibration exciter is fastened to a side of the component that is substantially covered by the retaining device.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device has an opening located in an area of the vibration exciter and surrounds the vibration exciter.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the opening is closed by an air-permeable and flexible material.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the air-permeable and flexible material is inserted into the opening of the retaining device to close the opening.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the opening of the retaining device is aligned with the vibration exciter.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the component is completely covered by the retaining device.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device is formed as a single piece.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, on the component, there are tongue-shaped elements integrally connected thereto.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the component is fastened acoustically and/or vibrationally decoupled to the retaining device, and wherein the retaining device is fastened acoustically and/or vibrationally decoupled to another component of the motor vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device has a depression into which the component retaining the vibration exciter is inserted.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the component has an approximately circular shape in outline.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the component is fastened to a support structure on which at least one radiator is retained.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the component is fastened to an engine shield.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the component is fastened to a bottom wall of the engine shield.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the component is fastened to an upper wall of the engine shield.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a grill covering a front of the retaining part, such that the component is positioned between the grill and a back wall of the retaining part, and wherein the vibration exciter is positioned on a back side of the component, the back side of the component facing the back wall of the retaining part.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the vibration exciter is positioned on the back side of the component such that the vibration exciter faces toward an engine of the motor vehicle.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device substantially covers a back side of the component as well as lateral side edges of the component.

20. A support structure for a motor vehicle, said support structure retaining at least one radiator and at least one component connected to at least one vibration exciter, wherein the component is retained acoustically and/or vibrationally decoupled on a retaining device and the component is substantially covered by the retaining device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a front part of a motor vehicle from a side according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view according to view II of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the retaining device for the plate-like component, retaining the vibration exciter, according to view III of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view according to view IV of FIG. 2, but in a further embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the front part of a motor vehicle from a side in an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a view, comparable to FIG. 2, of an embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 7a illustrates the flat component, illustrated without a vibration exciter, in an embodiment;

(9) FIG. 7b illustrates the flat component of FIG. 7a in a side view;

(10) FIG. 8 a illustrates the flat component, illustrated without a vibration exciter, in an embodiment;

(11) FIG. 8b illustrates the flat component of FIG. 8a in a side view;

(12) FIG. 9 illustrates the fastening of the component with the vibration exciter to a bottom wall of an engine shield;

(13) FIG. 10 illustrates the fastening of the component with the vibration exciter to an upper wall of an engine shield;

(14) FIG. 11 shows a detailed illustration of the bottom wall according to FIG. 9; and

(15) FIG. 12 shows a detailed illustration for FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) A motor vehicle K, made as an all-electric vehicle, can be seen in FIG. 1. Of course, the solution of the invention can also be used advantageously for other motor vehicles that can be driven without noise, as mentioned, for example, in the introduction to the description, for example electric vehicles.

(17) Vehicle K has an engine compartment 2 that can be covered by a hood 10 with an electric motor 3, used for traction of motor vehicle K.

(18) A support structure 1 (mounting support) at whose bottom area a radiator 4 and a fan 5 are mounted or taken up can be seen in the front area of vehicle K (so-called front end).

(19) Radiator 4 is used for cooling power electronics and power units such as, for example, those of electric motor 3.

(20) Air intakes 6 are provided in front of radiator 4, so that incoming air can reach radiator 4 more easily while vehicle K is being driven.

(21) A plate-like component 7 is fastened above radiator 4 to mounting support 1 by means of a frame-like retaining part 11. A vibration exciter 8 is attached in turn to component 7 approximately in the middle of the surface extension of plate-like component 7.

(22) Vibration exciter 8 can operate, for example, piezoelectrically, electrostatically, magnetically, electromagnetically, or in some other suitable manner. It is used for the vibrational excitation of plate-like component 7, whereby the frequencies of vibration exciter 3 can be controlled. Necessary electrical connections are not shown in greater detail.

(23) In order to optimally decouple plate-like component 7 vibrationally and/or acoustically from the body of motor vehicle K, component 7 is connected at fastening points 73 in a vibrationally decoupled manner to frame-like retaining part 11, and frame-like retaining part 11 is connected in turn via vibrationally decoupled fastening elements 9 to mounting support 1. Fastening elements 9 are preferably made as multicomponent parts (for example, steel/elastomer).

(24) Very good sound radiation S in the direction of travel and thereby an extremely good warning effect for passersby are possible by positioning component 7 together with vibration exciter 8 in mounting support 1.

(25) FIGS. 2 and 3 show that frame-like retaining part 11 has a circular, plate-like depression T, in which component 7 (cf. also FIG. 8) is inserted and is connected in a vibrationally decoupled manner at fastening points 73 (openings) to retaining part 11.

(26) Depression T is surrounded by a flange-like frame 113, which likewise has fastening points 117 (openings), in order to mount retaining part 11 at said fastening points 117 by means of vibrationally decoupled fastening elements 9 (not shown in greater detail) on support structure 1.

(27) Depression T is formed by a circumferential, lateral wall 112, which merges into a back wall 110. Back in this case therefore means facing engine 3 (cf. also FIG. 1). As is evident, wall 110 of retaining part 11 covers a large part of a back side 72, facing it, of plate-like component 7, so that back wall 72 of component 7 is no longer visible to a great extent. Only a preferably circular opening 115 remains in the center of wall 110. Opening 115 surrounds vibration exciter 8 in the immediate vicinity, preferably concentrically. With good shielding, an unimpeded mobility of vibration exciter 8 can be assured by opening 115, which is preferably only slightly larger in its diameter than the surface extension of vibration exciter 8 in the same direction. An overall flat and compact construction of retaining part 11 is also possible thereby.

(28) Further, there can be a front grille 13 for better protection of a front side 71 of component 7, said side otherwise not covered by retaining part 11.

(29) It is shown in FIG. 4 that opening 115 can be provided with a cover 12. Cover 12 is flexible and air-permeable and can be formed of foam, for example.

(30) In addition or alternatively, back wall 110 can have a sound-absorbing surface 14. Said surface can be connected integrally to wall 110 or also be formed as a sound-absorbing coating (e.g., nonwoven material).

(31) Retaining part 11 in the exemplary embodiments is formed as a single piece. In a departure therefrom, it is naturally conceivable to configure retaining part 11 in the form of multiple parts as well.

(32) It can be gathered from FIG. 5 that retaining part 11 for the sound-generating system (7, 8) can also be attached in the same way to hood 10.

(33) FIG. 6 describes a different embodiment of the invention in which, in contrast to FIG. 2, back wall 110 is completely closed. Component 7 is retained vibrationally decoupled on flanges 114, located in depression T, at fastening points 73. If necessary, flanges 114 enable the creation of a greater distance to back wall 110. Further, a ventilation opening 116 is provided for pressure equalization.

(34) This embodiment offers the best acoustic properties, but is not quite as compact as the solution according to FIG. 2.

(35) In a departure from the exemplary embodiments, vibration exciter 8 can also be similarly mounted on front side 71 of plate-like component 7. A plurality of vibration exciters 8 can also be attached to the front and/or back side 71, 72 of plate-like component 7.

(36) As is evident from FIG. 7, plate-like component 7 can be, for example, rectangular, especially approximately square, in outline. On the periphery, it has four tongue-like elements 70, which are connected integrally to component 7 and are provided with fastening points 73 at their ends in the form of openings. Clear spaces are labeled with the number 75.

(37) Instead of on the periphery, tongue-like elements however can also be located farther inward on the surface of component 7, as indicated by way of example with the dashed lines by the reference numbers 70 and 75. A fastening opening 74 for vibration exciter 8 (not shown here) can be seen in the center of component 7.

(38) As a departure from this, FIG. 8 shows plate-like component 7 having an approximately circular shape in outline, which can be used preferentially especially in tight places.

(39) FIG. 9 shows as a further embodiment a motor vehicle K, particularly a hybrid vehicle, with an engine block 15 (only an internal combustion engine is shown), which is shielded laterally by side walls 220 by a capsule-like engine shield 20, downwardly toward a roadbed (not shown) by a bottom wall 221, and upwardly by an upper wall 222.

(40) Other necessary units and apertures for exhaust gas lines, supply lines, and the like are not shown.

(41) As a departure from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, it is conceivable that engine shield 20 also comprises fewer or more of the illustrated walls 220 to 222.

(42) In the present case, a plate-like component 7 is fastened by means of vibrationally decoupled fastening elements 9 to bottom wall 221, namely, on the inner side facing engine block 15. Component 7 in turn supports a vibration exciter 8 on its side facing engine 15. Vibration exciter 8 can operate, for example, piezoelectrically, electrostatically, magnetically, electromagnetically, or in some other suitable manner.

(43) As a further embodiment a motor vehicle K with an engine shield 20 can be seen in FIG. 10; in contrast to FIG. 9, planar component 7, supporting vibration exciter 8, is fastened outside to upper wall 222 of engine shield 20. Here as well, vibration exciter 8 is again attached on the side, facing engine 15, of plate-like component 7.

(44) FIG. 11 now shows a somewhat detailed illustration of bottom wall 221 according to FIG. 9.

(45) Wall 221 has an outer, frame-like, peripheral fastening region, in which, on the one hand, retaining flange 2210 is located, which can be pushed onto the body, and, on the other, mounting grommets 2211 are located for screw connection to the body. Polypropylene (PP 20), for example, is highly suitable as a material for wall 221.

(46) Reinforcement ribs 2212 are provided to achieve a desired degree of stiffness.

(47) Plate-like component 7 supporting vibration exciter 8 is fastened, for example, screwed, to wall 221 in the front area of wall 221 via vibrationally decoupled fastening elements 9. Component 7 can also be provided with reinforcement ribs 76.

(48) Necessary electrical lines for electrical control and the on-board voltage supply for vibration exciter 8 are not shown in greater detail.

(49) As is evident from FIG. 12, the vibrationally decoupled fastening elements 9 are connected integrally as tongue-like elements 751 to component 7. They have a widened, round end area 752 with a cup-like depression 753.

(50) On the bottom of cup-like depression 753, there is a fastening opening 750 at which end area 752 of tongue-like element 751 and thereby component 7 can be fastened, for example, screwed, to bottom wall 221 of engine shield 20. For this purpose, wall 221 also has a suitable fastening opening 2213.

(51) Tongue-like elements 751 are formed by surrounding fastening openings 750 in each case by a slit-like recess A.

(52) The invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiment(s). These were used only for a general explanation of the core idea of the invention. On the contrary, the invention within its scope of protection can also assume embodiments and shapes different from those in the previously described exemplary embodiments or shapes. In this case, it can have in particular features that represent a combination of the individual features in the particular claims.

(53) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.