ABSORPTION DEVICE WITH LOW-STRENGTH WELDS FOR AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to land vehicles, and more specifically to absorption devices intended to be fitted to the front or rear parts of land vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Some land vehicles, generally automobiles, include a front and / or rear section incorporating a shock absorption system concealed by a bumper or shield. This absorption system comprises a crossmember (or beam) mounted transversely to which two energy absorbers are fixedly attached, their ends coupled to the vehicle. In the event of an impact on the crossmember, these energy absorbers are arranged to compress their material along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, generally by forming folds, in order to absorb at least some of the impact energy.

[0003] Some of these absorption devices include a crossmember with opposite right and left ends, to which curved external plates are welded respectively. These plates are designed not only to increase the curvature of the crossmember at its opposite ends, but also to absorb, in place of the crossmember, certain lateral impacts known as "repairability" impacts occurring at low speed (typically less than 20 km / h) and at a low angle of incidence (typically at an angle of 10° relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle).

[0004] Currently, each outer plate includes an upper portion that extends upwards beyond the top face of the corresponding end of the cross member, and is therefore welded by weld beads defined on this upper face in the immediate vicinity of the edge located at the interface between the upper face and the front face of the corresponding end of the cross member. Consequently, if an outer plate is subjected to an impact, the weld beads are under significant stress, which can tear them and thus prevent the outer plate from performing its function correctly.

[0005] Furthermore, in some vehicles, two components are installed above the two outer plates of the crossmember, and when these components have a significant vertical extension, their lower ends may be positioned at (and in front of) the upper part of the outer plate. Consequently, if one of these components is impacted (for example, during a collision with a person's femur), it cannot rotate towards the energy absorbers because this rotation is prevented by the upper part of the adjacent outer plate. This results not only in severe stress on the weld seams, which can tear them and thus prevent the affected outer plate from functioning correctly, but also in the destruction of the impacted component and potential personal injury due to its blocked rotation.Document WO2021021842 shows an absorption device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] The invention is therefore intended, in particular, to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0007] In particular, it proposes for this purpose an absorption device, with the characteristics of claim 1, intended to equip a vehicle and comprising a cross member having opposite ends to which are welded respectively curved external plates, each having an upper part extending beyond an upper face of the corresponding end.

[0008] This absorption device is characterized by the fact that the upper part of each external plate is folded over the upper face of the corresponding end and includes an edge secured to this upper face by at least one weld bead spaced from a front face of the corresponding end in order to reduce its stress in the event of an impact.

[0009] Thus, in the event of an impact on an external plate, there is a very low probability of tearing of each associated weld bead and therefore an almost certain guarantee that this external plate will perform its function correctly.

[0010] The absorption device according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular: Each weld bead can have a cross-section in the general shape of a right triangle;

[0011] The invention also proposes a land vehicle, with the characteristics of claim 3, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one absorption device of the type presented above.

[0012] For example, the vehicle may include a front section incorporating the absorption device. In this case, the front section may also include two optical units mounted above the two opposite ends of the absorption device's crossmember. As an example, each of these optical units may provide a daytime running light (or DRL) function. Brief description of the figures

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which: [ Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front, an example of an embodiment of an absorption device according to the invention, before it is fitted to the front part of a vehicle, [ Fig. 2 ] schematically illustrates, in a rear perspective view, the left energy absorber of the absorption device figure 1 , with an optical block above it, and [ Fig. 3 ] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front, the left energy absorber of the absorption device figure 1 . Detailed description of the invention

[0014] The invention aims in particular to provide a DA absorption device intended to be installed in a front or rear part of a vehicle near a bumper in order to cooperate with the latter to absorb energy in the event of an impact suffered by this front or rear part.

[0015] In what follows, we consider, by way of non-limiting example, that the DA absorption device is intended to be part of a motor vehicle, such as a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates to any land vehicle comprising a front or rear section designed to include an absorption device.

[0016] Furthermore, the following examples, by way of non-limiting agreement, consider that the DA absorption device is intended to be part of the front section of a motor vehicle. However, the DA absorption device can also be intended to be part of the rear section of a land vehicle.

[0017] On the figures 1 to 3The X direction is the longitudinal direction of vehicle V, which is parallel to the side sides containing the side doors, the Y direction is the transverse direction of vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is the vertical direction of vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0018] We have schematically illustrated on the figure 1 an example of the realization of a DA absorption device according to the invention, before it is installed in a part (here front) of a vehicle (here automobile).

[0019] As illustrated on the figure 1 , an absorption device DA, according to the invention, comprises a cross member TA and two energy absorbers AEj right (j = 1) and left (j = 2).

[0020] The TA crossmember has its greatest extension along the transverse Y direction of the vehicle. It is preferably made of metal, for example, steel or aluminum. Furthermore, the TA crossmember has two opposing ends Ej (one right E1 and the other left E2), to which two curved external plates PEj are welded. Once installed in a vehicle, the TA crossmember is concealed by a bumper (or shield) with a front face FV oriented towards the bumper.

[0021] Each external plate PEj, attached to one end Ej, is designed to increase the curvature of the crossmember TA at that end Ej and to absorb, in place of the crossmember TA, certain lateral impacts known as repairability impacts. Preferably, each external plate PEj can be made of metal, for example, steel or aluminum.

[0022] Each energy absorber AEj is fixedly attached to one of the two ends Ej of the crossmember TA, for example by welding, and is intended to be coupled to the vehicle (here to its front part, preferably to a structural part). Each energy absorber AEj is preferably made of metal, for example steel or aluminum.

[0023] For example, and as illustrated but not limited to the Figures 1 And 2 The coupling between each energy absorber AEj and the part (here, the front) of the vehicle can be achieved via a mounting plate PFj. This plate (PFj) can, for example, be welded to one end of the associated energy absorber AEj and screwed onto the part (here, the front) of the vehicle.

[0024] Each AEj energy absorber is arranged so as to compress its material along the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle in the event of an impact suffered by the TA crossmember.

[0025] As illustrated on the figures 1 to 3Each outer plate PEj has an upper portion PS that extends upward beyond the upper face FS of the corresponding end Ej of the cross member TA, being folded over this upper face FS. Furthermore, each folded upper portion PS includes an edge BP that is bonded to the upper face FS of the corresponding end Ej by at least one weld bead CS. Due to this folding, each weld bead CS is spaced apart from the front face FV of the corresponding end Ej, thus reducing its stress in the event of an impact.

[0026] It is clear that by moving each CS weld bead away from the edge located at the interface between the upper face FS and the front face FV of the corresponding end Ej, in the event of an impact on an outer PEj plate, its edge BP exerts pressure on each CS weld bead substantially in the horizontal XY plane, rather than in a substantially vertical YZ plane. This prevents the upper part PS of this outer PEj plate from tilting backward (or toward the adjacent energy absorber AEj). Consequently, in the event of an impact on an outer PEj plate, each CS weld bead that secures it to the upper face FS is subjected to less stress, resulting in a very low probability of detachment of each CS weld bead and therefore a near-certain guarantee that this outer PEj plate will perform its function correctly.

[0027] Furthermore, when BO components with a significant vertical (Z-shaped) extension are installed above the two external PEj plates, their lower end EI is now positioned above the upper part PS because the latter (PS) is folded over. Consequently, if one of these BO components is subjected to an impact (for example, a collision with a person's femur), it can rotate towards the adjacent energy absorber AEj since this rotation is no longer impeded by the upper part PS of the adjacent external PEj plate. As a result, the struck BO component is no longer at risk of being destroyed by contact with the adjacent external PEj plate during its rotation, causing personal injury, or stressing each weld bead CS of the upper part PS of this external PEj plate.

[0028] In addition, if the shock induces a slight downward displacement of the BO equipment, the folding of the upper part PS of the adjacent external plate PEj can provide the lower end EI of this BO equipment with a support and sliding surface facilitating its rotation and upward movement.

[0029] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to the figure 2 The BO equipment is an optical unit providing a photometric daytime running light (or DRL) function (for "Daytime running Light (or Lamp)" - a light signal that automatically illuminates when the vehicle is put into operation during the day). But other types of equipment could be installed above each external PEj plate.

[0030] It should also be noted, as illustrated but not limited to the following, figures 2 And 3Each CS weld bead can have a cross-section in the general shape of a right triangle. In this case, the right angle (and therefore the substantially vertical face) of a CS weld bead is located against the BP edge of the upper part PS of the relevant PEj outer plate. This maximizes the contact area of ​​each CS weld bead with the relevant BP edge, thus defining a quality stop for the latter (BP). However, each CS weld bead could have a cross-section with other general shapes, including an L-shape or a rectangle.

[0031] It should also be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, on the figures 2 And 3The BP edge of the upper part PS of each external PEj plate is joined to the upper face FS by two CS weld beads spaced apart. However, the number of CS weld beads securing a BP edge to the upper face FS can be any value greater than or equal to one.

[0032] It should also be noted, as illustrated but not limited to the following, figures 1 to 3 The upper part PS of each external plate PEj can comprise two sub-parts SP separated by a cutout DP. This cutout DP advantageously facilitates folding the two sub-parts SP onto the upper face FS of the corresponding end Ej.

[0033] When the upper part PS of each outer PEj plate comprises two sub-parts SP, the edge BP of each sub-part SP is preferentially joined to the upper face FS of the corresponding end Ej by one of the two weld beads CS. This optimizes the joining of the upper part PS of each outer PEj plate to the upper face FS of the corresponding end Ej. However, in an unillustrated variant, only one of the two sub-parts SP of each upper part PS could be joined to the upper face FS of the corresponding end Ej by a weld bead CS.

Claims

1. Absorption device (DA) for equipping a vehicle and comprising a cross-member (TA) comprising opposite ends (Ej) to which are secured by welding and respectively bent outer plates (PEj) and each having an upper part (PS) extending beyond an upper face (FS) of the corresponding end (Ej), each upper part (PS) being folded over said upper face (FS) of the corresponding end (Ej) and comprising an edge (BP) secured to this upper face (FS) by at least one weld bead (CS) spaced by report from a front face (FV) of said corresponding end (Ej) in order to reduce its stress in the event of impact, wherein each edge (BP) is secured to said upper face (FS) by two weld beads (CS) spaced apart from each other, each upper part (PS) comprises two sub-parts (SP) separated by a cutout (DP) facilitating their folding over said upper face (FS) of the corresponding end (Ej), and in that said edge (BP) of each sub-part (SP) is secured to said upper face (FS) by one of said weld beads (CS).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each weld bead (CS) has a cross-section in the general shape of a right-angled triangle.

3. Land vehicle, comprising at least one absorption device according to one of the previous claims.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterised in that it comprises a front part comprising said absorption device (DA).

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterised in that said front part comprises two optical units (BO) installed respectively above said two opposite ends (Ej) of the cross-member (TA) of said absorption device (DA).

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterised in that each of said optical units (BO) performs a photometric function of a daytime running light.

7. Vehicle according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that it is of the automobile type.