Support including reinforced pads

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bracket (1) for a vehicle, comprising a lower shell (11), an upper shell (12) and a pad, the lower shell (11) being integral with the upper shell (12) while delimiting a hollow space (13), the pad being positioned in the hollow space and supported between the two shells (11, 12), the bracket (1) being suitable for forming, at the location of the pad, a support for supporting a suspension element or a steering control element, the lower shell further comprising a support (3) projecting into the hollow space (13) for fixing the bracket (1) on a vehicle structure, a reinforcing element (4) being positioned in the hollow space (13), the reinforcing element (4) being integral with the lower shell (11) on the side of the support (3) for fixing the bracket (1) and comprising an opening in which the pad is positioned.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application claims priority from French application N° 2009780 filed on September 25, 2020, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to a cradle of a vehicle and to a vehicle comprising such a cradle.

[0003] The present application more particularly relates to such a cradle comprising a lower shell, an upper shell and an entretoise, the lower shell being integral with the upper shell while delimiting a hollow space, the entretoise being positioned in the hollow space and supported between the two shells, the lower shell also comprising a support projecting in the hollow space for fixing the cradle on a vehicle structure, the cradle being suitable for forming, at the location of the entretoise, a support for supporting a suspension element, an engine fixing element or a steering control element. BACKGROUND

[0004] Such a cradle is disclosed in document EP2902303B1, which has an entretoise fixed with two shells at each of its two ends by an annular weld.

[0005] In the event of a collision, such a cradle does not allow a great strength at the location of the entretoise, since the two welds formed at the ends of the entretoise shear quite early when a collision occurs.

[0006] These welds also fatigue over time due to the lack of maintenance of the central part of the entretoise, which also risks shearing the welds. SUMMARY

[0007] The device according to the application makes it possible to overcome this drawback.

[0008] Indeed, according to a first feature, the device comprises a cradle of a vehicle, the cradle comprising a lower shell, an upper shell and an entretoise, the lower shell being integral with the upper shell while delimiting a hollow space, the entretoise being positioned in the hollow space and supported between the two shells, the cradle being suitable for forming, at the location of the entretoise, a support for supporting a suspension element, an engine fixing element or a steering control element, the lower shell also comprising a support projecting in the hollow space for fixing the cradle on a vehicle structure, characterized in that a reinforcing element is positioned in the hollow space, the reinforcing element being integral with the lower shell en bordure du support for fixing the cradle and comprising an opening in which the entretoise is positioned.

[0009] According to a second feature of the application, the portion of the reinforcement element in which the opening is formed is spaced apart from the lower shell by a distance of at least 1 / 3 of the height of the pad.

[0010] According to a second feature of the application, the reinforcement element is formed from sheet metal.

[0011] According to a third feature of the application, the support for fixing the bracket comprises a sleeve welded to the lower shell, the sleeve being positioned in the hollow space.

[0012] According to a fourth feature of the application, the reinforcement element is integrated with the lower shell by a weld.

[0013] According to a fifth feature of the application, the bracket comprises at least two pads positioned on the same side of the bracket, the reinforcement element comprising at least two openings, the at least two pads being respectively positioned in the at least two openings.

[0014] According to a fifth feature of the application, a first pad of the two pads is suitable for fixing a suspension triangle, a second pad of the two pads being suitable for fixing a steering rack.

[0015] According to a sixth feature of the application, the bracket comprises at least one third pad suitable for fixing the suspension triangle with the first pad, the reinforcement element comprising at least one third opening in which the third pad is positioned.

[0016] According to a seventh feature of the application, the reinforcement element also forms a pre- maintenance part for pre-maintaining one or more pads when the bracket is assembled.

[0017] The application also relates to a vehicle comprising such a bracket. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] The appended drawings illustrate the application:

[0019] Figure 1 A perspective view of a bracket according to the application is shown, the bracket comprising a suspension element.

[0020] Figure 2 Only a partial view of a bracket according to the application is shown.

[0021] Figure 3 Only a partial view of a bracket according to the application is shown, the upper shell of the bracket not being shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] With reference to these figures, the bracket 1 of a vehicle comprises a lower shell 11 and an upper shell 12 which delimit a hollow space 13.

[0023] A pad 2 is positioned in the hollow space 13, which is able to rigidify the two shells to fix suspension elements, engine fixing elements or steering control elements on the bracket 1.

[0024] A reinforcing element 4 is also positioned in the hollow space 13, which is able to rigidify the bracket 1 in the event of a collision.

[0025] The reinforcing element 4 is formed from a sheet metal panel obtained by a stamping method.

[0026] The end 40 of the sheet metal panel 4 is integrated with the lower shell 11 by means of a weld 41, the sheet metal panel 4 is then spaced from the lower shell 11 close to the pad 2 to form a support for the pad 2 while maintaining it in position during assembly of the bracket 1 and fitting of suspension elements or steering control elements on the bracket 1.

[0027] To this end, the sheet metal panel 4 is spaced from the lower shell 11 by at least 1 / 3 of the height of the pad 2 and comprises an opening 42 in which the pad 2 is positioned.

[0028] The lower shell 11 comprises a reinforcing element 3, in particular a sleeve, which is welded on the lower shell 11 and is able to integrate the bracket 1 with the vehicle structure.

[0029] The sleeve 3 is positioned projecting in the hollow space 13 formed in the bracket 1, in which the end 40 of the sheet metal panel 4 is positioned on the edge of the sleeve 3 to be able to make this end 40 of the sheet metal panel 4 abut against the sleeve 3 in the event of a collision on the bracket 1.

[0030] In the case of a rear bracket, the sleeve is positioned in front of the bracket so that a rear collision makes the sheet metal panel advance against the sleeve.

[0031] In the embodiment as shown, the bracket 1 is a front bracket, in which the sleeve 3 is positioned behind the bracket so that a front collision makes the sheet metal panel 4 retreat against the sleeve 3.

[0032] Also in the embodiment as shown, a first pad and a second pad of the pads 2 form a support for fixing a lower suspension A-arm 5 on the bracket 1, a third pad of the pads 2 forms a support for fixing a steering rack on the bracket 1.

[0033] The metal plate 4 comprises three openings 42 corresponding respectively to the three pads 2, so that in the event of a frontal impact, the three pads 2 are maintained in position at their central part by the metal plate 4 which itself is maintained against the sleeve 3.

[0034] The three openings are formed in the upper housing 12 in correspondence with the openings formed in each of the three pads 2 and with the three openings formed in the lower housing 11 to enable the passage of the three screws 6 to fix the lower suspension A-arms 5 and the steering rack to the bracket 1.

[0035] The presence of the metal plate 4 also enables the pads 2 to be assembled with ease when manufacturing the bracket 1 by forming a pre-maintenance, by simplifying the welding operations and by reducing the fatigue problems that can occur at the position of the welds between the end of the pads 2 and the lower housing 11 and with the upper housing 12.

Claims

1. A bracket (1) for a vehicle, comprising a lower shell (11), an upper shell (12) and a pad (2), said lower shell (11) and said upper shell (12) being integral and delimiting a hollow space (13), said pad (2) being positioned in said hollow space and supported between said lower shell (11) and said upper shell (12), said bracket (1) being suitable for forming, at the position of said pad (2), a support for supporting a suspension element, an engine fixing element or a steering control element, said lower shell further comprising a support (3) projecting into said hollow space (13) for fixing said bracket (1) on a vehicle structure, characterized in that, A reinforcing element (4) is positioned in the hollow space (13), the reinforcing element (4) is integrated with the lower housing (11) on the side of the support (3) for fixing the bracket (1) and comprises an opening (42) in which the pad (2) is positioned.

2. The support (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The part of the reinforcing element (4) in which the opening (42) is formed is separated from the lower housing (11) by a distance of at least 1 / 3 of the height of the pad (2).

3. Stent (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The reinforcing element (4) is formed of sheet metal type sheet material.

4. The support (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The support (3) for fixing the bracket (1) comprises a sleeve welded with the lower housing (11), the sleeve being positioned in the hollow space (13).

5. The support (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The reinforcing element (4) is integrated with the lower housing (11) by a welding point (41).

6. The support (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The bracket (1) comprises at least two pads (2) positioned on the same side of the bracket (1), the reinforcing element (4) comprising at least two openings (42) in which the at least two pads (2) are respectively positioned.

7. The support (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that A first pad of the two pads (2) is suitable for fixing a suspension A-arm (5), a second pad of the two pads (2) is suitable for fixing a steering rack.

8. The support (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The bracket (1) comprises at least one third pad (2) suitable for fixing the suspension A-arm (5) together with the first pad (2), the reinforcing element (4) comprising at least one third opening (42) in which the third pad (2) is positioned.

9. The support (1) according to any one of claims 1, 2, 7 and 8, characterized in that, The reinforcing element (4) also forms a pre-maintenance part for pre-maintaining one or more pads (2) when assembling the bracket (1).

10. A vehicle comprising a bracket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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