Support components for the vehicle's external opening controller

Abstract

The present invention relates to a side door of a motor vehicle, the side door including a housing below a window, the housing including: - a front wall and a rear wall; - a frame edge reinforcement (1) connecting the front wall and the rear wall along the window in the upper part of the housing; - an intermediate reinforcement (2) longitudinally arranged inside the housing of the door and extending between the front wall and the rear wall, and separated from the frame edge reinforcement (1); - a support (5) for an outward opening controller of the door, the support being arranged inside the housing of the door, the support (5) being arranged between the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2), and including a fixing area for fixing to the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application 2013131, filed on December 14, 2020, the contents of which (text, drawings, and claims) are incorporated herein by reference. The invention relates to a side door of a motor vehicle. The invention relates to a support for an outward-opening controller of the door. The invention particularly relates to a reinforcing structural member of the door. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a door according to the invention. Background Technology

[0002] Protection against impacts applied to the side of a vehicle necessitates changes to the structural components of the door, particularly in the lower part of the door and below the window or the door housing. These changes specifically relate to the internal reinforcing elements of the door housing.

[0003] It is more appropriate to ensure the good performance of the support for the external controller of the door before the increased severity of the new side impact protocol, which is necessary because the external controller of the door needs to be operable after the impact.

[0004] Therefore, the fixing or connection area used to fix or connect the support of the door's outward opening controller to the structural components of the door's housing needs to be reinforced.

[0005] Document EP3127731 describes a handle support manufactured as a single piece with a reinforcing member located in the upper part of the door housing and fixed to a frame reinforcement and the rear wall of the door housing. The side door according to document EP3127731 also includes a longitudinal reinforcement extending from the front to the rear of the door housing. However, in this configuration, the handle support is completely unsupported in its lower part and for most of its front portion, and in fact, the performance of the outward-opening controller in terms of side impact resistance is unsatisfactorily ensured by this reinforcement against increasingly severe side impacts. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a front door for a motor vehicle that is designed to meet protection regulations against side impacts while satisfactorily maintaining the outward opening controller of the door during such side impacts.

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to solve the above-mentioned problem, namely, to solve the problem of maintaining the outward opening controller of the door during increasingly severe side impacts.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides a side door for a motor vehicle, the side door including a housing below a window, the housing comprising:

[0009] - Anterior and posterior walls,

[0010] - A frame edge reinforcement member, which connects the front wall and the rear wall along the window portion in the upper part of the housing.

[0011] - An intermediate reinforcing member, which is arranged longitudinally inside the door housing and extends between the front and rear walls, and is separated from the frame edge reinforcing member.

[0012] - A support member for the outward opening controller of the door, the support member being arranged inside the door housing.

[0013] The door is characterized in that the support member of the outward opening controller is arranged between the frame edge reinforcement member and the intermediate reinforcement member, and is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement member on one side and to the intermediate reinforcement member on the other side.

[0014] Thus, the controller's support is held in place by two reinforcing members arranged on both sides of the outward-opening controller's support, and these two reinforcing members have good mechanical properties in terms of lateral impact.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the external opening control includes:

[0016] -handle,

[0017] - A plate, said plate being fixed to the support member on the side of the support member located inside the vehicle.

[0018] The handle is fixed to the plate.

[0019] The enclosure includes an outer panel.

[0020] Each of the support and the outer panel includes opposing openings through which the handle passes.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate reinforcing member is substantially parallel to the frame edge reinforcing member.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the frame edge reinforcement and the intermediate reinforcement include a flat wall facing the fixing area of ​​the support member of the outward-opening controller. The fixing area of ​​the support member includes a flat portion parallel to the flat wall of the reinforcement, and the flat portion is used to fix the flat wall of the reinforcement facing each other.

[0023] In embodiments of the invention, the support member is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement and the intermediate reinforcement by means of a microplastic decalage and / or by means of an adhesive and / or by screwing and / or by a combination of microplastic decalage and / or adhesive and screwing components.

[0024] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the support member and the frame edge reinforcement member are fixed by cordon tape, and the support member and the intermediate reinforcement member are fixed by cordon tape.

[0025] Thus, the upper wedge-fixing putty strip is arranged between the flat wall of the frame edge reinforcement and the flat portion facing each other of the support, and the lower wedge-fixing putty strip is arranged between the flat wall of the intermediate reinforcement and the flat portion facing each other of the support.

[0026] In another embodiment, the upper wedge-fixed putty strip and the lower wedge-fixed putty strip extend substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle over the entire length of the opposing walls and portions between the flat wall and the flat portion.

[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the side door includes an outer panel fixed to the door housing by a sertissage, the outer panel includes a fixing member on the inner side, and the support member of the outward opening controller includes a fixing engagement portion for cooperating with the fixing member, the fixing member being fixed to the outer panel.

[0028] Thus, the support member is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement and the intermediate reinforcement on its side inside the vehicle, and to the outer panel of the door.

[0029] In an embodiment of the invention, the handle of the outward-opening controller is of the "flush" type, that is, the handle in the non-use position is flush with the outer panel of the door.

[0030] The use of a handle support arranged on the inside relative to the outer panel of the door can effectively and safely secure the panel and therefore the handle.

[0031] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the plate of the outward-opening controller includes pre-holding hooks, and the support includes a joint for engaging with the hooks to hold the outward-opening controller before the plate is fixed to the support.

[0032] The plate is then (that is, once pre-held to the support) fixed to the support, for example, by screws.

[0033] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a side door according to the invention, the method comprising the following steps:

[0034] -E1: The assembly of the door includes assembly steps for assembling the door housing, the frame reinforcement, and the intermediate reinforcement.

[0035] -E2: For example, a robot deposits wedge-fixing putty strips on the flat walls (which are used to face the flat portion of the support) of the frame edge reinforcement and the intermediate reinforcement, respectively.

[0036] -E3: Fix the support of the outward-opening controller to the outer panel of the door.

[0037] -E4: The outer panel of the door is assembled to the door housing by folding and splicing, while the flat portion of the support member contacts and abuts against the wedge-fixed putty tape.

[0038] -E5: Pass the door through an electrophoresis bath to make the door corrosion resistant, and / or pass the door through an oven after the electrophoresis.

[0039] -E6: The plate of the outward-opening controller is pre-held on the support of the outward-opening controller by engaging the pre-holding hook in the joint of the support of the outward-opening controller, and then the plate of the outward-opening controller is fixed to the support of the outward-opening controller by screwing.

[0040] The electrophoresis and / or oven-baking process causes cross-linking of the wedge-fixing putty tape disposed between the support member of the outward-opening controller and the frame reinforcement and the intermediate reinforcement due to the temperature rise caused by the process. This cross-linking of the wedge-fixing putty allows the support member of the outward-opening controller to be firmly bonded to the frame reinforcement and the intermediate reinforcement.

[0041] The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a door according to the invention.

[0042] The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a door manufactured according to the method of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0043] The invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description and accompanying drawings given below by way of example only, in which:

[0044] - Figure 1 An exterior view of the side door is shown, wherein the outer wall of the door is not shown.

[0045] - Figure 2A sectional view is schematically shown relative to the vehicle along a vertical transverse plane.

[0046] - Figure 3 The manufacturing steps for producing a door according to the invention are illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The accompanying drawings are schematic diagrams provided to facilitate understanding of the invention. Components are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0048] In the following description, the term "comprising" is a synonym for "including" and, without limitation, allows for the presence of other elements, components, or portions thereof. Of course, the term "comprising" includes the term "consisting of". In different figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements.

[0049] Direction X is the longitudinal axis of the moving vehicle. Direction Y is the lateral direction of the moving vehicle. Direction Z is the vertical direction in which the vehicle points upward.

[0050] In the following description, the term "front" refers to the front of the vehicle, and "rear" refers to the rear of the vehicle relative to its position in motion.

[0051] Figure 1 A view of a side door 100 in its position on the vehicle, taken from the outside of the vehicle, is shown, in which the outer panel of the door 100 is not shown.

[0052] The side door 100 of the motor vehicle includes a housing 101 below the window, the housing 101 comprising:

[0053] -Anterior wall 102 and posterior wall 103,

[0054] - Frame edge reinforcement 1, which connects the front wall 102 and the rear wall 103 along the window portion in the upper part of the housing 101.

[0055] The door 100 also includes an intermediate reinforcement 2, which is arranged longitudinally inside the housing of the door 101 and extends between the front wall 102 and the rear wall 103, and is separated from the frame edge reinforcement 1.

[0056] The intermediate reinforcement 2 is arranged in the door housing 101 and, in the case of a vehicle, in a vertical position lower than the position of the frame reinforcement 1.

[0057] The door housing 101 also includes an outward opening controller 50 and a support member 5 for the outward opening controller 50. The support member 5 is arranged inside the door housing 101.

[0058] like Figure 1As shown, the support member 5 of the outward-opening controller is arranged between the frame edge reinforcement member 1 and the intermediate reinforcement member 2, and includes a fixing area for fixing to the frame edge reinforcement member 1, and a fixing area for fixing to the intermediate reinforcement member 2, so as to fix to the frame edge reinforcement member 1 on one side and to the intermediate reinforcement member 2 on the other side.

[0059] The door housing 101 includes an outer panel 4.

[0060] The support member 5 is arranged between the door frame edge reinforcement member 1 and the outer panel 4.

[0061] The support member 5 is arranged between the middle reinforcement member 2 of the door and the outer panel.

[0062] exist Figure 1 In the diagram, the housing 101 of the door 100 includes a lower reinforcement 3, which is arranged in the housing and longitudinally between the front wall 102 and the rear wall 103 of the housing 101, and connects the hinge fixing area of ​​the door at the position of the front wall to the lower corner of the rear of the housing 101 in the lower part of the housing 101. In another variation, the intermediate reinforcement 2 is arranged vertically and, in the case of a vehicle, between the frame reinforcement 1 and the lower reinforcement 3.

[0063] like Figure 2 As illustrated, the external controller 50 includes:

[0064] -Handle 51,

[0065] - Plate 52, which is fixed to the support 5 of the outward-opening controller and also fixed to the support 5 of the outward-opening controller on the inside of the vehicle. Handle 51 is fixed to plate 52. Each of the support 5 and the outer panel 4 includes opposing openings through which the handle passes.

[0066] In a variant of the invention, the handle 51 of the outward-opening controller 50 is of the "embedded" type. That is, the outer wall of the handle 51 in the non-use position does not extend beyond the outer panel 4 in the vehicle case and thus remains flush with the outer panel 4.

[0067] In a variation of the invention, each of the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2 includes a flat wall facing a fixing area of ​​the support 5 of the outward-opening controller for fixing to the reinforcements 1 and 2. The fixing area of ​​the support 5 of the outward-opening controller includes a flat portion parallel to and facing the flat wall of the reinforcement, the flat portion for fixing to the flat walls of the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2, respectively.

[0068] In a variation of the invention, the support member 5 is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2 by means of wedge putty and / or by means of adhesive and / or by screwing and / or by a combination of wedge putty and / or adhesive and screwing components.

[0069] In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member 5 is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement member 1 by means of wedge-fixed putty tape 6, and the support member 5 is fixed to the intermediate reinforcement member 2 by means of wedge-fixed putty tape 7.

[0070] In a variation of the invention, the wedge-fixed putty strips 6 and 7 longitudinally occupy almost the entire surface of the flat wall and the opposing surfaces of the flat portion.

[0071] The wedge-fixing putty is made of a material that cross-links after being heated to allow for fixation by bonding the flat walls and flat portions in contact with the wedge-fixing putty strip.

[0072] In the variant, wedge-bonded putty tapes 6 and 7 are automatically deposited on the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2 by means of nozzles configured on the robot.

[0073] In another variation, wedge-fixed putty strips 6 and 7 are deposited on the flat portion of the support of the outward-opening controller.

[0074] In a variant of the invention, the outer panel 4 includes a fixing member inside the vehicle, and the support member 5 of the outward opening controller includes a fixing engagement portion for engaging with the fixing member, which is fixed to the outer panel.

[0075] The outer panel 4 is fixed to the components of the door housing 101 by folding and inlaying.

[0076] In a variation of the invention, the fixing component for securing the support member 5 to the outer panel 4 is fixed to the outer panel 4 by means of wedge-fixing putty and / or by means of adhesive. Thus, this fixing of the support member 5 to the outer panel 4 is not visible from the outside of the vehicle.

[0077] In a variation of the invention, the plate 52 of the outward-opening controller includes pre-holding hooks. These pre-holding hooks hold the plate 52 in place against the support member 5, awaiting fixation of the plate 52 to the support member 5. The support member 5 includes an engagement portion for engaging with the pre-holding hooks to pre-hold the plate of the outward-opening controller. Fixation of the plate 52 to the support member is achieved by screwing.

[0078] In a variation of the invention, the pre-holding hook is made of a plastic or elastic material and includes a deformable portion for engaging with opposing joints in the support of the outward-opening controller.

[0079] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a side door according to the invention, the method comprising the following steps:

[0080] -E1: Assembly during the assembly operation of the door housing 101, frame reinforcement 1, and intermediate reinforcement 2.

[0081] -E2: Deposit wedge-fixing putty strips 6 and 7 respectively on the flat walls of the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2, the flat walls being designed to face the flat portion of the support 5.

[0082] -E3: Fix the support member 5 to the outer panel 4 of the door.

[0083] -E4: The outer panel 4 of the door is assembled with the box body 101 of the door by folding and splicing, while the flat part of the support member contacts and abuts against the wedge-fixed putty strips 6 and 7, which are respectively arranged on the flat walls facing each other of the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the middle reinforcement 2.

[0084] -E5: Pass the door through an electrophoresis bath and / or an oven.

[0085] -E6: The plate 52 of the outward-opening controller is pre-held on the support 5 by engaging the pre-holding hook in the joint of the support 5, and then the plate 52 is fixed to the support 5 by screwing.

[0086] During assembly step E1 of the housing 101 for assembling the door, the components for forming the housing are welded to each other, especially the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2 are welded to the front wall 102 and the rear wall 103 of the housing 101 for assembling the door.

[0087] During step E2, wedge-fixed putty strips 6 and 7 are deposited, for example by a robot, on the flat walls of the frame edge reinforcement 1 and the intermediate reinforcement 2.

[0088] In a variation of the invention, the frame reinforcement 1 is a profile made of sheet metal, comprising a substantially vertical and flat wall that lies substantially in a longitudinal vertical plane, forming the lowermost portion of the frame reinforcement 1 when the door is installed on the vehicle. A wedge-fixing putty strip 6 is disposed on the flat lowermost flat wall of the frame reinforcement. The intermediate reinforcement 2 is a profile made of sheet metal, comprising a substantially vertical and flat wall that lies substantially in a longitudinal vertical plane, forming the uppermost portion of the frame reinforcement 2 when the door is installed on the vehicle. A wedge-fixing putty strip 7 is disposed on the flat uppermost flat wall of the intermediate reinforcement 2.

[0089] In another variation of the invention, the intermediate reinforcement 2 has an "omega" shaped cross section in the vertical transverse plane YZ.

[0090] In step E4, the support 5 is fixed to the outer panel 4 by wedge-fixing putty.

[0091] During step E4, the outer panel 104 is folded and fitted to the door housing, while the flat portion of the support 5 contacts and abuts against the wedge-fixed putty strips 6 and 7.

[0092] The purpose of step E5, which involves passing the material through an electrophoresis bath, is to prevent corrosion of the components forming the door (particularly the steel metal components of the door housing 101). Electrophoresis causes a temperature increase.

[0093] In a variation of the invention, the electrophoresis process is followed by drying in an oven to allow the electrophoretic treatment to dry.

[0094] Due to the temperature increase, step E5 causes cross-linking and thus causes the hardening of the wedge-bonded putty bands 6 and 7.

[0095] Thus, the flat portion of the support member 5 is bonded to the flat walls of the frame edge reinforcement member 1 and the intermediate reinforcement member 2 by means of the cross-linked and thus hardened putty tapes 6 and 7.

[0096] During step E6, plate 52 is pre-held on support 5 by hooks, and then plate 52 and support 5 are fixed by screws.

[0097] The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a door 100 according to the present invention.

[0098] The present invention also relates to a door 100 manufactured according to the method of the present invention.

Claims

1. A side door (100) of a motor vehicle, said side door including a housing (101) below a window, said housing (101) comprising: - Anterior wall (102) and posterior wall (103). - A frame edge reinforcement (1), which connects the front wall (102) and the rear wall (103) along the window portion in the upper part of the housing (101). - An intermediate reinforcement (2), which is longitudinally arranged inside the box (101) of the side door and extends between the front wall (102) and the rear wall (103), and is separated from the frame edge reinforcement (1). - The support member (5) for the outward opening controller of the side door, the support member being arranged inside the housing of the side door. The feature is that the support member (5) of the outward-opening controller is arranged between the frame edge reinforcement member (1) and the intermediate reinforcement member (2), and includes a fixing area for fixing to the frame edge reinforcement member and the intermediate reinforcement member, so as to fix to the frame edge reinforcement member on one side and to the intermediate reinforcement member on the other side.

2. The side door according to claim 1, wherein the side door includes an outward opening controller (50), the outward opening controller comprising: - Handle (51) - Plate (52), the plate being fixed to the support (5) of the outward opening controller on the vehicle interior side relative to the support (5) of the outward opening controller. The enclosure (101) includes an outer panel (4). Each of the support (5) and the outer panel (4) includes opposing openings through which the handle passes.

3. The side door (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The handle (51) of the external controller (50) is of the "embedded" type.

4. The side door (100) according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2) includes a flat wall facing the fixing area of ​​the support (5) of the outward opening controller. The fixing area of ​​the support (5) of the outward opening controller includes a flat portion parallel to the flat wall of the reinforcement, which is used for fixing to the flat wall of the reinforcement.

5. The side door (100) according to claim 2, wherein, Each of the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2) includes a flat wall facing the fixing area of ​​the support (5) of the outward opening controller. The fixing area of ​​the support (5) of the outward opening controller includes a flat portion parallel to the flat wall of the reinforcement, which is used for fixing to the flat wall of the reinforcement.

6. The side door according to claim 4, wherein, The support (5) of the outward-opening controller is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2) by means of wedge putty and / or by means of adhesive and / or by means of screwing and / or by means of a combination of wedge putty and / or adhesive and screwing components.

7. The side door (100) according to claim 5, wherein, Each of the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2) includes a flat wall facing the fixing area of ​​the support (5) of the outward opening controller. The fixing area of ​​the support (5) of the outward opening controller includes a flat portion parallel to the flat wall of the reinforcement, which is used for fixing to the flat wall of the reinforcement.

8. The side door according to claim 4, wherein, The support member (5) is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement member (1) by means of wedge-fixed putty tape (6), and the support member (5) is fixed to the intermediate reinforcement member (2) by means of wedge-fixed putty tape (7).

9. The side door according to claim 5, wherein, The support member (5) is fixed to the frame edge reinforcement member (1) by means of wedge-fixed putty tape (6), and the support member (5) is fixed to the intermediate reinforcement member (2) by means of wedge-fixed putty tape (7).

10. The side door according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The side door includes an outer panel (4), which is fixed to the box body (101) of the side door by folding and inlaying. The outer panel (4) includes a fixing component on the inside of the vehicle. The support (5) of the outward opening controller includes a fixing joint, which is used to cooperate with the fixing component. The fixing component is fixed to the outer panel (4).

11. The side door according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9, wherein, The plate (52) of the outward-opening controller includes a pre-holding hook, and the support (5) includes a joint for engaging with the pre-holding hook to hold the plate (52) of the outward-opening controller before the plate is fixed to the support (5).

12. The side door according to claim 11, wherein, The plate (52) is fixed to the support member (5) by screws.

13. A method of manufacturing a side door (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the plate (52) of the outward opening controller includes a pre-holding hook, and the support (5) includes an engagement portion for engaging with the pre-holding hook to hold the plate (52) of the outward opening controller before the plate is fixed to the support (5), the method of manufacturing comprising the following steps in succession: - E1: Assembly during the assembly operation of the side door housing (101), frame reinforcement (1), and intermediate reinforcement (2), - E2: Deposit wedge-fixed putty strips (6, 7) on the flat walls of the frame edge reinforcement (1) and the intermediate reinforcement (2), respectively, the flat walls being used to face the flat portion of the support (5). - E3: Fix the support member (5) to the outer panel (4) of the side door. - E4: The outer panel (4) of the side door is assembled with the box body (101) of the side door by folding and splicing, while the flat part of the support member contacts and abuts the wedge-fixed putty strip (6, 7). - E5: Pass the side door through an electrophoretic bath to prevent corrosion. - E6: The plate (52) is pre-held on the support (5) by engaging the pre-holding hook in the joint of the support (5), and then the plate (52) is fixed to the support (5).

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 13, wherein, Following the step of passing the side door through an electrophoresis bath, the side door is then passed through an oven.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, The plate (52) is fixed to the support member (5) by screws.

16. A vehicle comprising a side door (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Images