Bumper device with integrated absorber and vehicle with this device

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2013335 filed on December 16, 2020.

[0002] The invention relates to a vehicle rear bumper and a vehicle equipped with such a bumper.

[0003] It is common practice to install a bumper skin on the rear of a vehicle, covering a rear bumper beam that extends transversely across the vehicle. One or more stiffening elements, commonly referred to as bumper skin reinforcement, are sometimes attached behind the bumper skin. The role of this reinforcement is to provide rigidity to the bumper skin. Typically, a gap exists between this reinforcement, or the bumper skin, and the rear bumper beam, because the curvature of the bumper skin or reinforcement is greater than that of the bumper beam.

[0004] Document EP1633603 describes a vehicle with a bumper beam positioned transversely across the vehicle, and a bumper skin covering said beam. An impact-absorbing element is positioned between the beam and the bumper skin, attached to said beam, to reduce injuries in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. It includes

[0005] The drawback of such a solution is that it requires the addition of a supplementary part, complicating assembly, increasing cost, and adding to the vehicle's weight. Furthermore, it only offers one type of absorption.

[0006] The objective of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks. In particular, one of the aims of the invention is to propose a vehicle bumper system, especially for the rear of the vehicle, comprising a device filling the gap between a bumper beam and a bumper skin, at a lower cost, simple to install and limiting the mass of the vehicle.

[0007] This goal is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a vehicle bumper device according to claim 1.

[0008] This advantageously reduces the number of parts to be installed, as the impact absorption element is integrated into the bumper skin. Therefore, it is not necessary to install a separate impact absorption component in addition to the bumper skin before installing the bumper skin. Vehicle assembly is simplified, while maintaining the impact absorption function between the beam and the bumper skin to limit injuries and / or vehicle damage in the event of a collision with the bumper.

[0009] According to the invention, the absorption means forms a protruding pad extending from the inner face, the pad has a contact part at its end opposite the inner face and an intermediate part between the inner face and the contact part, the intermediate part being more rigid than the contact part with respect to forces directed towards the inner face parallel to the protrusion direction of the pad.

[0010] Advantageously, in the event of a very low-speed impact, for example below 4 km / h, the absorption system absorbs the low impact energy, thus preventing damage to the outer surface, such as the paintwork. It also absorbs the energy of an impact at a lower speed, but higher than the very low speed threshold, for example between 4 km / h and 16 km / h. This allows the system to better control the deformation of the bumper skin, thereby preventing damage to the frame and the bodywork components surrounding the bumper. This absorption also reduces damage to the bumper skin itself.

[0011] According to the invention, the intermediate part forms a hollow body having an opening opposite the inner face, on the side of the contact part, the contact part extending opposite this opening, from one side to the other of said opening, projecting from this opening, the contact part is a wall having a convex area in the opposite direction to the inner face and extending from one edge to the other of the opening, preferably having two convex areas.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, the bumper skin has several studs in the middle part along a transverse direction corresponding to the transverse direction of the vehicle when the device is installed on said vehicle.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, the absorption means is arranged transversely in the middle part of the bumper skin, and said bumper skin has two areas reinforced by ribs on its inner face, arranged transversely on either side of the middle part containing the absorption means, the transverse direction corresponding to the transverse direction of the vehicle when the device is installed on said vehicle.

[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the bumper device includes a lower skirt covering the outer face of the bumper skin at least in the parts of said skin comprising the absorption means and / or the two reinforced areas.

[0015] Advantageously, the skirt covering the part of the bumper skin containing the absorption means and / or the two reinforced areas means that these are not visible from outside the vehicle.

[0016] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a rear bumper beam and a bumper device as described above, preferably at the rear of said vehicle.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention relating to the vehicle, the absorption means and / or the two reinforced areas are opposite the bumper beam along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [ Fig.1[ ] represents a rear view of a vehicle featuring a bumper device according to the invention at the rear. Fig. 2 ] represents a view of the bumper assembly seen from its inner face facing the interior of the vehicle. Fig.3 ] represents a perspective view of an absorption means equipping the bumper device. Fig. 4 ] represents a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal and transverse plane to the vehicle of the absorption means. Fig. 5 ] represents a perspective view of the bumper device installed on a vehicle at a reinforced area.

[0019] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same reference numerals correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0020] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same reference numerals correspond to the same components from one figure to another. The X-axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y-axis the transverse direction, and the Z-axis the vertical direction. The forward, backward, up, and down directions are taken in the vehicle's frame of reference.

[0021] There figure 1Figure 1 represents a vehicle 1 with a rear bumper assembly 2. The bumper assembly 2 has a bumper skin 3 positioned in front of a bumper beam 10, shown as a dashed line. In other words, the beam 10 is located between the skin 3 and the structure of the vehicle 1. The beam 10 extends transversely to the vehicle 1, that is, parallel to the transverse axis Y of the vehicle 1. The portion of the bumper skin 3 opposite the bumper beam 10 is intended to be the first point of contact in the event of an impact, for example, if the vehicle reverses against a wall or a post.

[0022] As illustrated in figure 2The bumper skin 3 comprises an outer face 31 and an inner face 32. The inner face 32 is positioned opposite the structure of the vehicle 1, and in particular opposite the beam 10. In other words, the inner face 32 is located on the passenger side of the vehicle 1. The outer face 31 is located opposite the inner face 32, that is to say, oriented towards the outside of the vehicle 1. An absorption means 33 is positioned on the side of the inner face of the skin, opposite the bumper beam 10, so as to bear against said beam 10 when the vehicle 1 receives an impact on the outer face 31 of the bumper skin 3, directed generally in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle 1. The absorption means 33 is formed from the same material as the bumper skin 3. That is to say, it is formed from a single block with the bumper skin 3.

[0023] As illustrated in figures 2 to 4The absorption means 33 has the form of a projecting stud 33 extending from the inner face 32, thus extending towards the bumper beam 10. The stud 33 comprises a contact portion 331 at its end opposite the inner face 32 and an intermediate portion 332 between the inner face 32 and the contact portion 331. The intermediate portion 332 is also more rigid than the contact portion 331 with respect to forces directed towards the inner face 32 parallel to the projection direction of the stud 33, i.e., in the longitudinal direction X. The contact portion 331 is dimensioned to absorb impacts against a wall or post up to a first limiting speed of the vehicle 1, for example, a speed of 8 km / h or 4 km / h.When the speed of vehicle 1 is between this first speed limit and a second speed limit, the contact portion 331 is crushed, and the intermediate portion 332 transmits the forces to the beam 10. The second speed limit is, for example, 20 km / h or 16 km / h. This could correspond, for example, to the speed used for a crash test known as a repairability crash test. Other speed limits can be defined depending on the configuration of the vehicle 1 chosen. The greater rigidity of the intermediate portion 332 allows it to absorb a greater amount of energy in the event of a crash than the end portion 331.

[0024] According to the invention illustrated in figures 3 and 4The intermediate part 332 forms a hollow body having an opening 334 opposite the inner face, on the side of the contact part. The contact part 331 extends opposite this opening 334, from one side of said opening 334 to the other, projecting from this opening 334. In the representation of the figures 3 and 4The intermediate part 332 is formed by four lateral walls, giving a rectangular section to said intermediate part 332 in a YZ plane transverse and vertical to the vehicle 1. That is to say, the intermediate part 332 has an overall cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross-section, open at its two ends, and the opening 334 is disposed at the end located opposite the inner face 32, that is to say the one closest to the beam 10. The contact part 331 extends from a first lateral wall of the intermediate part 332 to a second lateral wall of the intermediate part 332 opposite the first lateral wall, from the edge of each of these lateral walls forming a part of the edge of the opening 334.

[0025] For example, the contact part 331 is in the form of a contact wall 331 which has a convex area 335 in the opposite direction to the inner face 32 and extending from one edge to the other of the opening 334. In the embodiment of the figures 3 and 4 This contact wall 331 comprises two convex zones 335. These convex zones 335 provide flexibility to the contact wall 331 and come into contact with the beam 10 in the event of a rear impact. In cross-sectional view along a vertical and longitudinal XZ plane to the vehicle 1, as illustrated in figure 4 , the contact part has an elongated “m” cross-section, the two ends of the lateral branches of the “m” being connected to the edge of the opening 334.

[0026] As illustrated in figure 2, the bumper skin may have several studs in the middle part of the skin 3 along the transverse direction Y. This middle part extends for example over 50% of the width of the bumper device 2, that is to say according to its dimension in the transverse direction Y of the vehicle 1, on either side of the median plane XZ longitudinal and vertical to the vehicle and the bumper device 2.

[0027] As illustrated in the implementation method of figure 2The absorption means 33 is arranged transversely in the middle portion of the bumper skin 3, i.e., several studs are arranged far apart in the transverse direction Y and in the middle portion of the skin 3. This bumper skin 3 has two reinforced areas 36 with ribs 37 on its inner face 32. The two reinforced areas 36 are arranged on either side of the middle portion of the skin 3 containing the absorption means, along the transverse direction Y. As illustrated in figure 5The ribs 37 extend in a vertical direction Z, opposite and on either side of the bumper beam 10. These ribs 37 reduce the deformation of the bumper skin 3 in the event of a low-speed impact against the bumper skin 3 at these reinforced areas 36, and thus reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle bodywork elements 1 located around said bumper skin 3 due to its deformation. In the figure 5 The beam 10 is fixed to the structure of the vehicle 1 by two impact absorption boxes 5, known as crash boxes, located at each end of the beam 10. In the event of a collision, the impact absorption box 5 collapses to absorb the impact energy, for example, in so-called repairable type collisions. The two reinforced areas 36 are arranged, for example, opposite one of the impact absorption boxes 5 in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle 1.

[0028] In the figures 1 to 5 , the bumper device 2 includes a lower skirt 4 which covers the outer face 31 of the bumper skin 3 at least in the parts of said skin 3 which includes the absorption means 33, as well as at the level of the two reinforced areas 36 when these are present.

[0029] The contact part 331 of the block 33 is spaced a few millimeters, or a few centimeters, from the beam 10. Alternatively, the contact part 331 of the block 33 is in contact with the beam 10.

[0030] The intermediate section 332 is deformable. For example, it includes areas with programmed deformation, such as areas of reduced thickness, or a shape allowing it to be compressed like an accordion. It may also include openings 337, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 on some of these side walls in order to adjust its rigidity. Other shapes within the reach of a person skilled in the art are applicable.

Claims

1. Vehicle bumper device (2) (1) comprising a bumper skin (3) comprising an outer face (31) and an inner face (32), an absorption means (33) arranged on the side of the inner face (32) of the skin (3) and intended to face a bumper beam (10) when the bumper device (2) is installed on a vehicle (1), so as to bear against said beam (10) in the event of impacts against the outer face of the bumper skin (3), the absorption means (33) being made in one piece with the bumper skin (3), the absorption means (33) forming a protruding stud (33) extending on the side of the inner face (32), the stud (33) comprising a contact part (331) at its end opposite the inner face (32) and an intermediate part (332) between the inner face (32) and the contact part (331), the intermediate part (332) being stiffer than the contact part (331) with respect to forces directed towards the inner face parallel to the projection management of the stud (33), the intermediate part (332) forming a hollow body comprising an opening (334) opposite the inner face (32), on the side of the contact part (331), the contact part (331) extending opposite this opening (334), from one side to the other of said opening (334), projecting by report at this opening (334) wherein the contact part (331) is a wall comprising a convex zone (335) on the opposite management to the inner face and extending from one edge to the other of the opening (334), preferably comprising two convex zones (335).

2. A bumper device (2) according to claim 1, the bumper skin (3) of which comprises several studs (33) in the middle part according to a transverse management corresponding to the transverse management of the vehicle (1) when the device (2) is installed on the said vehicle (1).

3. Bumper device (2) according to one of the previous claims, the absorption means (33) of which is disposed transversely in the middle part of the bumper skin (3), and the said bumper skin (3) comprises two zones reinforced (36) by ribs (37) on its inner face, each disposed transversely on either side of the middle part comprising the absorption means (33), the transverse management corresponding to the transverse management of the vehicle (1) when the device (2) is installed on the said vehicle (1).

4. Bumper device (2) according to one of the previous claims, comprising a lower skirt (4) covering the outer face (31) of the bumper skin (3) at least in the parts of said skin (3) comprising the absorption means (33) and / or the two reinforced zones (36).

5. Vehicle (1) comprising a rear bumper beam (10) and a bumper device (2) according to one of the previous claims, preferably in the rear of said vehicle (1).

6. Vehicle (1) according to the previous claim, in which the absorption means (33) and / or the two reinforced zones (36) face the bumper beam (10) along the longitudinal management (X) of the vehicle (1).