BODY ELEMENT WITH A SURFACE FOR DRAINING ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Description

[0001] The technical field concerns motor vehicle bodywork elements, in particular rear trunk lids, comprising a conductive surface for the purpose of dissipating electrical energy.

[0002] The invention also relates to vehicles equipped with such bodywork elements, as for example described in document JP2016-120759.

[0003] The electrical equipment installed on board modern vehicles is increasingly numerous and diverse. However, these are susceptible to interference from unwanted electrical currents, the greatest possible quantity of which must be dissipated. Thus, radio antennas and numerous amplifiers are among the most sensitive electrical equipment to be protected, in particular to improve the quality of on-board audio systems.

[0004] Conventional solutions for preventing or dissipating unwanted electrical currents involve metal braids, also known as ground braids, which connect the electrical equipment to be protected to the metal body of the vehicle. These solutions require the use of electrically conductive hinges for the joints between body parts, to ensure continuity of electrical conductivity. Indeed, it is common to place the electrical equipment to be protected in the openings, particularly the rear trunk lid.

[0005] Automotive manufacturers are increasingly using plastic or composite body parts to assemble their vehicles because these materials offer many advantages, such as reduced production costs, weight savings, and increased shape possibilities. However, the use of such body parts can complicate the dissipation of unwanted electrical currents. To compensate for the lack of electrical conductivity of such body parts, automotive manufacturers have adopted the habit of adding metal mesh when molding body parts. The addition of such metal mesh represents a significant additional cost and, in some cases, is simply impossible.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for technical solutions allowing the integration of means of dissipating unwanted electrical currents for vehicles comprising body parts made of electrically non-conductive material, while avoiding the conventional solutions, set out above, which are too complex and expensive to implement.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a bodywork element making it possible to dissipate unwanted electrical currents in order to protect at least one piece of electrical equipment to be protected, while reducing manufacturing costs.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a bodywork element of a motor vehicle comprising a lining defining an internal volume intended to be closed by an outer skin, the lining being composed of electrically non-conductive material and the bodywork element comprising at least two internal structural elements arranged in the internal volume, between which a conductive surface of electrically conductive material is extended at a distance from the lining, so as to allow the dissipation of electrical energy. The invention also relates to a trunk flap comprising a bodywork element according to the invention, comprising an outer skin assembled on the lining.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a vehicle comprising a trunk flap according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the bodywork element according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a trunk lid which is capable of dissipating all or part of an unwanted electric current even if the bodywork element is composed of a material that is not electrically conductive. Indeed, the conductive surface, arranged in the internal space of the lining, is capable of dissipating at least part of an unwanted electric current. However, unwanted electric currents are likely to generate electromagnetic interference. By a bodywork element composed of a non-conductive material it is understood that the bodywork element according to the invention is composed indifferently of one or more materials.

[0011] Furthermore, it is easy to fix, in particular by gluing, the conductive surface by extending it between at least two of the internal structural elements. Therefore, by extending the conductive surface between two internal structural elements, it is not necessary to resort to the addition of a metal mesh at the time of molding the lining. Thus, the bodywork element according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to produce and makes it possible to obtain a sufficiently large conductive surface to dissipate all or part of an unwanted current. Extending a conductive surface between at least two internal structural elements, at a distance from the lining, makes it possible to overcome the complex shapes and volumes of the lining.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the internal structural elements is a reinforcing rib of the lining. The presence of one or more ribs is common in linings intended for body parts, so that little or no modification is necessary to obtain a body element according to the invention from a lining. According to one embodiment, the conductive surface is composed of at least one sheet of conductive material. By conductive material, it is understood that the sheet can be composed of one or more materials. A sheet of electrically conductive material is simple to extend and fix between two internal structural elements. In addition, a sheet of conductive material, in particular a metal sheet such as an aluminum sheet, is readily available and inexpensive.Advantageously, the metal film is stretched between the two internal structural elements: during assembly, the operator simply has to stretch the film and place it on the internal structural elements to fix it, for example by gluing it.

[0013] Advantageously, each sheet of conductive material is a metal film reinforced by a plastic film. Such a plastic film makes it possible to reinforce the metal film and thus prevent any tearing during assembly of the bodywork element or the trunk lid.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the conductive surface is electrically connected to at least one tab intended to ensure electrical continuity between the conductive surface and at least one electrical equipment to be protected from an unwanted electric current. Each tab is used to electrically connect, directly or indirectly, the electrical equipment to be protected to the conductive surface to allow an unwanted electric current to be conveyed to the conductive surface.

[0015] Advantageously, at least one tab extends through the liner.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the outer skin is glued to a gluing zone arranged around a periphery of the lining and is separate from the internal structural elements. Thus, the conductive surface is suspended in the internal space, between the lining and the outer skin of the trunk lid. The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description which follows, given solely as a non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 , represents a perspective view of a liner used to obtain a body element according to the invention and illustrates internal structural elements used to form the body element according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 , represents a perspective view of a bodywork element obtained from the lining shown in the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 , represents a longitudinal sectional view along an axis AA, shown on the figures 1 et 2 , of a trunk flap obtained from the bodywork element shown in the figure 2 ;

[0017] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0018] A bodywork element 1 according to the invention, shown in figure 2 , includes a 2-liner, shown on the figures 1 et 2 , which defines an internal volume 3 intended to be closed by an external skin 4, represented on the figure 3 The lining 2 with the outer skin 4 fixed, for example, by gluing on the lining 2 form a trunk flap 5, shown in the figure 3 , in particular a rear trunk flap 5 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, not shown in the figures. The lining 2 and the flap 5 have a longitudinal extension along an axis AA, shown in the figures 1 et 2 . In order to assemble the outer skin 4 on the lining 2, the latter has a gluing zone 6 arranged around a periphery of the lining 2. During assembly, a bead of glue 7 is thus arranged on the lining 2 and then the outer skin 4 is pressed against the bead of glue 7. The lining 2 is made of electrically non-conductive material. It is specified that the lining 2 is made indifferently of one or more non-conductive materials. For example, the lining 2 is made of one or more plastics. The bodywork element 1 according to the invention further comprises at least two internal structural elements 8, shown in the figure 1 , arranged in the internal volume 3. The internal structural elements 8 are an integral part of the lining 2 in the example shown in the figures but could also be attached to it by gluing and / or any other means of fixing. In the example illustrated in the figure 1 , each internal structural element 8 forms a rib 9 intended to reinforce the lining 2.

[0019] The bodywork element 1 according to the invention also comprises a conductive surface 10 formed from an electrically conductive material, visible on the figures 2 And 3 , designed to dissipate all or part of an electric current flowing through it. It is understood that the conductive surface 10 is made indifferently of one or more materials. This conductive surface 10 extends between at least two of the internal structure elements 8, at a distance from the lining 2 between said internal structure elements 8. The conductive surface 10 is fixed to the internal structure elements 8. This fixing of the conductive surface 10 is obtained for example by gluing. For this purpose, the conductive surface 10 advantageously has flaps 11, visible on the figures 2 And 3, folded down on a side face 12 of the internal structural elements 8, one of which is visible on the figure 2 , in order to improve the fixing of the conductive surface 10 on the internal structural elements 8. This conductive surface 10 is easily formed using a sheet 13 of conductive material, in particular by a metal film 14. For this purpose, an aluminum film is particularly suitable for forming the conductive surface 10. Advantageously, the metal film 14 forming the conductive surface 10 is reinforced by a plastic film bonded to the metal film 14. Such reinforcement using a plastic film makes it possible to prevent the metal film 14 from tearing during assembly of the bodywork element 1. For optimal protection of the metal film 14, the plastic film completely covers one face of the metal film 14. Advantageously, the metal film 14 is stretched between the internal structural elements 8.

[0020] Advantageously, the conductive surface 10 is electrically connected to at least one tab 15 intended to ensure electrical continuity between the conductive surface 10 and at least one piece of electrical equipment, not shown in the figures, which must be protected from an undesirable electric current generally a source of electromagnetic interference. Thus, each tab 15 makes it possible to route an undesirable electric current from an electrical equipment to be protected to the conductive surface 10 which contributes to dissipating it at least in part. In the example illustrated in the figures, the bodywork element 1 comprises two tabs 15. Advantageously, the tabs 15 are formed by an extension of the conductive surface 10. If necessary, in particular when the electrical equipment to be protected is arranged outside the internal volume 3, at least one tab 15 extends through the lining 2 for example through orifices 16, one of which is shown in the figure 3 , provided for this purpose in lining 2.

[0021] Thus, the bodywork element 1 according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a trunk flap 5 capable of dissipating all or part of an unwanted electric current thanks to the conductive surface 10, even if the bodywork element 1 is composed of material(s) that are not electrically conductive. The conductive surface 10, arranged in the internal space 3 of the lining 2, allows simple implantation despite the size and complexity of the internal volume 3. The procedure for assembling a bodywork element 1 is simple and represents an appreciable economic gain.

[0022] As illustrated in the figure 3 , to form the trunk flap 5 according to the invention, the outer skin 4 is glued to the gluing zone 6 preferably separate from the internal structural elements 8, so that the metal film 14 is also extended at a distance from the outer skin 4.

[0023] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the bodywork element 1 or the trunk flap 5 described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the framework and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bodywork element (1) of a motor vehicle comprising a lining (2) defining an inner volume (3) to be closed by an outer skin (4), the lining (2) being composed of electrically non-conductive material and the bodywork element (1) comprising at least two internal structural elements (8) arranged in the inner volume (3), between which a conductive surface (10) of electrically conductive material is extended at a distance from the lining (2), so as to allow the dissipation of electrical energy.

2. Bodywork element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the internal structural elements (8) is a rib (9) for reinforcing the lining (2).

3. Bodywork element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conductive surface (10) is composed of at least one sheet (13) of conductive material.

4. Bodywork element (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each sheet (13) of conductive material is a metal film (14) reinforced by a film of plastic material.

5. Bodywork element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conductive surface (10) is electrically connected to at least one tongue (15) intended to ensure electrical continuity between the conductive surface (10) and at least one piece of electrical equipment to be protected from an undesirable electrical current.

6. Bodywork element (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one tongue (15) extends through the lining (2).

7. Trunk flap (5) comprising a bodywork element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an outer skin (4) assembled on the lining (2).

8. Flap (5) according to claim 7, characterized in that the outer skin (4) is glued to a gluing zone (6) arranged on a periphery of the lining (2) and is distinct from the elements of internal structure (8).

9. Vehicle characterized in that it comprises a trunk flap (5) according to claim 7 or 8.