VEHICLE WITH FRONT CROSSBEAM REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle equipped with reinforcement elements for the front side crossmembers.

[0002] These reinforcements are justified primarily during the vehicle manufacturing process.

[0003] In order to understand the positioning of the different parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is made with reference to a direct orthonormal XYZ frame in which X is a front-to-back longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0004] A vehicle typically has two side crossmembers, located in the front of the vehicle and aligned along the vehicle's Y-axis. During the various assembly phases of a vehicle in the factory, it rests on two supports, positioned at two pilot holes that ensure the platform's geometric alignment. These two pilot holes are located in each of the vehicle's front side crossmembers. Vertical, shouldered pins are inserted into the pilot holes of the side crossmembers to ensure the platform's geometry is correctly aligned; they also provide support for the vehicle during the manufacturing process. The two crossmembers must therefore bear the entire weight of the vehicle without undergoing plastic deformation.Given the level of stress applied to the two crossbeams, it is necessary to locally reinforce these lateral crossbeams to prevent plastic deformation. This reinforcement is achieved by means of reinforcing elements attached to the two crossbeams.

[0005] However, currently, a major drawback of these reinforcement elements is that they have a significant mass, most often between 0.3kg and 0.4Kg, and therefore significantly increase the mass of the vehicle.

[0006] Document FR 2 839 491 A1 describes a vehicle comprising two front side cross members conforming to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] A vehicle according to the invention has reinforcement elements for the front side cross members, the mass of which has been reduced through optimization of their geometry, while maintaining intact their mechanical holding properties when supporting said vehicle.

[0008] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising two front side cross members, each having a first horizontal wall with two pilot holes and a third wall which is inclined relative to the first wall, and two reinforcement elements each intended to be attached to one of said side cross members.

[0009] According to the invention, each reinforcement element comprises a main body connecting the first and third walls, inclined at an angle α to said first wall. The reinforcement element is fixed to both the first and third walls. In this way, thanks to a specific geometry of the reinforcement element and its judicious positioning on the front side crossmember, it is possible to significantly reduce its dimensions and therefore its mass, while maintaining a certain level of mechanical strength during vehicle assembly along an assembly line. This reinforcement element is fixed to the crossmember, acting as a spacer between the first and third walls, and in such a way as not to encroach upon the pilot holes. It is therefore shaped to be positioned around these pilot holes.Advantageously, the reinforcement element includes at least one attachment point to the first wall and at least one attachment point to the third wall. Each attachment point of the reinforcement element to a wall of the front crossmember can be achieved by any means, such as welding or screws. The adjective "horizontal" applied to the first wall of the horizontal crossmember should be considered as if the vehicle were resting on a horizontal surface. The main body of the reinforcement element is preferably flat. The pilot holes are designed to receive vertical pins, which will act as supports to hold the vehicle in a horizontal position.

[0010] According to one possible feature of the invention, the third wall is a rear wall of the front side crossmember. Advantageously, the third rear wall extends along a transverse Y direction of the vehicle.

[0011] According to one possible feature of the invention, the first wall and the third wall are perpendicular. In other words, the third wall extends in a vertical plane.

[0012] According to one possible feature of the invention, the angle α is between 20° and 50°. Indeed, the reinforcing element is particularly effective when its main body is inclined relative to the first wall, within this angle range.

[0013] According to one possible feature of the invention, the reinforcement element comprises two attachment points to the first wall, aligned along a horizontal axis, and two attachment points to the third wall, also aligned along a horizontal axis. In this configuration, the reinforcement element is securely fastened to the first and third walls of the front side crossmember. The presence of two attachment points on each wall prevents the reinforcement element from pivoting relative to those walls, as would occur if there were only one attachment point.

[0014] According to the invention, the reinforcing element is extended by a fixing tab extending between the two pilot holes. This fixing tab is preferably flat and thin, so as to establish extensive contact with a surface of the first wall of the front crossmember.

[0015] According to one possible feature of the invention, the reinforcement element includes a point of attachment to the first wall, which is located on the fixing bracket. This fixing bracket increases the contact area between the reinforcement element and the first wall, and thus helps to stabilize the position of said reinforcement element relative to the front side crossmember.

[0016] According to one possible feature of the invention, each reinforcing element is made of metal.

[0017] According to one possible feature of the invention, the reinforcing element is attached to the first wall and the third wall by weld points. These weld points have the advantage of being compact and not requiring any special mounting structure, such as a threaded hole for a screw.

[0018] The invention also relates to a reinforcement element for the production of a vehicle conforming to the invention.

[0019] According to the invention, the reinforcement element comprises a flat main body extended by a flat mounting bracket inclined relative to said body. The body includes a central rib aligned with the mounting bracket, separating two parallel grooves. The presence of the rib and the two grooves strengthens the mechanical integrity of the reinforcement element, which can then effectively relieve the front side crossmember of the stresses generated by placing the vehicle on support pins.

[0020] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of being able to be effectively supported on blocks in the form of vertical pins, while remaining lightweight thanks to a specific geometry of the reinforcing elements and their judicious positioning on the front side crossmembers of said vehicle. Furthermore, it has the advantage of not requiring any fundamental structural modifications to achieve this result. Finally, it has the advantage of maintaining a constant overall size compared to existing vehicles.

[0021] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures: [ Fig. 1 ] is a perspective view of a vehicle structure floor showing the positioning of the two front side crossmembers, [ Fig. 2 ] is an enlarged view of an area of ​​the figure 1 including a front side crossmember, [ Fig. 3 ] is an enlarged perspective view of a front side crossmember and a reinforcement element of a vehicle according to the prior art, [ Fig. 4 ] is a front view of the front part of the vehicle structure of the figure 1 , [ Fig. 5 ] is a perspective view of an assembly of a front crossmember and a reinforcement element of a vehicle according to the prior art, [ Fig. 6 ] is a perspective view of an assembly of a front crossmember and a reinforcement element of a vehicle according to the invention, [ Fig. 7 ] is a side view of an assembly of a front crossmember and a reinforcement element of a vehicle according to the invention, [ Fig. 8 ] is a perspective view from another angle of an area of ​​the assembly of the figure 5 , [ Fig. 9 ] is a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the figure 7 , of a reinforcement element of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0022] By referring to the figure 1 , a vehicle structure 1 generally includes a floor 1, the rear part of which 2 is extended by a housing 3 intended to house a spare wheel, and the front area 4 of which includes two lateral cross members 5, 6. These two lateral cross members 5, 6 are aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, and are positioned so as to be flush with a longitudinal and lateral edge 37, 38 of the vehicle, leaving a distance between them.

[0023] By referring to the figure 2 Each lateral crossmember 5, 6 comprises a first flat wall 7 extending in a substantially horizontal plane when the vehicle is placed on a horizontal surface, a second flat wall 8 at the front extending in a vertical plane, and a third flat wall at the rear 30 also extending in a vertical plane. The first flat wall 7 is bordered by two parallel edges 9, 10, one 9 being shorter than the other 10, by a third edge 11 connecting said two parallel edges 9, 10 at a perpendicular angle to them, and by a fourth edge 12 connecting these two parallel edges 9, 10 at an angle to said third edge 11. The second flat wall 8 originates at this fourth edge 12 and extends upwards in a vertical plane along a direction situated between a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and a transverse axis Y of the vehicle.The third rear flat wall 30 originates at the third edge 11 and extends upwards in a vertical plane extending along a transverse axis Y of the latter. The first wall 7 includes two pilot holes 13, 14 designed to receive a wedge in the form of a cylindrical pin 15, which is external to the vehicle and extends along a vertical axis. In other words, the vehicle 1 is designed to rest on wedges 15 that fit into the pilot holes 13, 14 of each lateral crossmember 5, 6.

[0024] By referring to figures 4 And 7, each cylindrical pin 15 comprises an enlarged cylindrical base 16, extended by a rounded central stud 17, the diameter of which is less than that of said base 16. When the vehicle 1 rests on these pins 15, the central stud 17 has been completely inserted into the hole 13, 14, and the enlarged base 16 comes against the first flat wall 7 of the front side cross member 5, 6 delimiting the hole 13, 14.

[0025] By referring to figures 3, 4 et 5 On vehicles of the prior art, a reinforcing element 18 is fixed to each front lateral cross member 5, 6, in order to reinforce said cross member 5, 6 and prevent it from undergoing plastic deformation under the effect of the weight of the vehicle 1. This reinforcing element 18, which is positioned in the extension of the pilot hole 13, 14, must ensure sufficient clearance on the top of the cross member 5, 6, to allow the passage of the pin 15. However, this passage constraint requires the manufacture of a reinforcing element 18 which must have a certain height, and therefore a certain mass, which is incompatible with a lightening of the vehicle.

[0026] To address this mass problem, the geometry of the reinforcement element 118 and its positioning on the lateral cross member 5, 6 have been modified.

[0027] In this way, by referring to figures 6, 7 , 8 et 9 The reinforcement element 118 in a vehicle according to the invention comprises a main body 120 extended by a central mounting bracket 121. The central body 120 includes a straight central rib 122, bordered on each side by a straight groove 123, 124, said grooves 123, 124 extending parallel to said central rib 122. The main body 120 has a rectangular contour, and the mounting bracket 121 emerges from an edge 126 of said body 120, in line with the central rib 122. The main body 120 is inscribed in a plane that is inclined with respect to the plane in which the mounting bracket 121 is inscribed.

[0028] By referring to figures 6, 7 And 8, the reinforcement element 118 is fixed to the front cross member 5, 6, so that the fixing tab 121 is in contact with the first wall 7 of the front cross member 5, 6 at the level of an area 125 separating the two pilot holes 113, 114, that the edge 127 of the main body 120 which is opposite the edge 126 from which the fixing tab 121 emerges is in contact with the third rear wall 30 of said front cross member 5, 6, and that the main body 120 makes an angle α with the first wall 7.

[0029] The reinforcing element 118 is advantageously metallic, and the main body 120 has two attachment points 128, 129 to the third wall 30, which are aligned along a horizontal axis, and two attachment points 130, 131 to the first wall 7, which are also aligned along a horizontal axis. The reinforcing element 118 also has an attachment point 132 to the first wall 7, at the level of the attachment bracket 121. All these attachment points 128, 129, 130, 131, 132 are advantageously made by welding. Thus positioned, the reinforcing element 118 serves as a spacer between the first wall 7 and the third wall 30 of the front crossmember 5, 6. The angle α is advantageously between 20° and 50°.

[0030] Thanks to this new geometry of the reinforcement element 118 and thanks to the new positioning of said reinforcement element on the front crossmember 5, 6, the mass of this reinforcement element 118 can be divided by three compared to the mass of the existing reinforcement elements 18, and the mass gain of the vehicle can reach a few hundred grams.

[0031] It should be noted that on the figure 7 The pilot pin 15 is not shown in its correct location relative to the front side rail 5, 6. It is just present in an arbitrary location, to allow evaluation of its dimensions relative to the reinforcement element 118 and the front side rail.

[0032] Reinforcing element 118 is made from a sheet metal part produced by stamping.

[0033] The reinforcing element 118, fixed to the first wall 7 and the third wall 30, is arranged to be suspended between these walls like a bridge or flying buttress. A passage is maintained under the reinforcing element.

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising two front lateral crossmembers (5, 6) each having a first horizontal wall (7) provided with two pilot holes (13, 14) and a third wall (30), which is inclined relative to the first wall (8), and two reinforcement elements (18, 118) each intended to be fastened to one of said lateral crossmembers (5, 6), each reinforcement element (118) comprising a main body (120) connecting the first wall (7) and the third wall (30) and being inclined by an angle α relative to said first wall (7), and the reinforcement element (118) being fastened both to the first wall (7) and to the third wall (30), characterized in that the reinforcement element (118) is extended by a fastening lug (121) extending between the two pilot holes (13, 14).

2. Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the third wall (30) is a rear wall of the front lateral crossmember (5, 6).

3. Vehicle according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first wall (7) and the third wall (30) are perpendicular.

4. Vehicle according to Claim 3, characterized in that the angle α is between 20° and 50°.

5. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reinforcement element (118) comprises two fastening points (130, 131), which are aligned along a horizontal axis, for fastening to the first wall (7) and two fastening points (128, 129), which are aligned along a horizontal axis, for fastening to the third wall (30).

6. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reinforcement element (118) comprises a fastening point (132), which is situated on said fastening lug (121), for fastening to the first wall (7).

7. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each reinforcement element (118) is made of metal.

8. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the reinforcement element (118) is fastened to the first wall (7) and to the third wall (30) by spot welds (128, 129, 130, 131, 132).

9. Reinforcement element (118) for producing a vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a planar main body (120) extended by a planar fastening lug (121), which is inclined relative to said body (120), and in that said body (120) comprises a central rib (122), which is aligned with the fastening lug (121) and separates two parallel grooves (123, 124).