HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITH A REINFORCEMENT DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE FRONT ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of hybrid electric vehicles.

[0002] Hybrid vehicles include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric motor. The two motors operate simultaneously or alternately to reduce the vehicle's total power consumption. The electric motor's battery is generally rectangular in shape and is located either under the vehicle floor, at the level of the front seat crossmember, or at the rear of the vehicle, in the trunk or under the body.

[0003] When installed under the vehicle floor, the battery is generally small and weighs less than 150 kg. This configuration is typical of hybrid vehicles with limited range. This is referred to as an MHEV (Medium Heated Electric Vehicle) powertrain. Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle These hybrid vehicles have a battery that assists the internal combustion engine.

[0004] In the case of a rear-mounted battery compartment, it is possible to install larger batteries weighing over 150 kg, or even over 250 kg. This type of hybrid vehicle offers greater range than MHEVs because the battery is rechargeable and can be charged from an external power source. This is referred to as a PHEV (Plug and Ride Electric Vehicle). Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle »).

[0005] When the battery is mounted under the floor, it must, for example, span the front subfloor frame, which limits the size of batteries that can be installed. One solution to increase the size of underfloor batteries in a vehicle is not to span the subfloor frames but to cut them. However, in the event of a frontal impact, the load transfer is then taken over by the battery casing or by protective frames designed and arranged for this purpose. Nevertheless, cutting the subfloor frames presents the risk of compromising the underbody's strength during frontal impacts, particularly by increasing the likelihood of floor shearing.

[0006] Furthermore, in the event of a violent impact, there is a significant risk that the stretchers will move backwards until they come into contact with the protective casings of the batteries or "battery tray", which is undesirable given the risks associated with damage to the batteries following a perforation of said battery tray.

[0007] When the battery is located at the rear of the vehicle, this significantly increases its mass and therefore its power. However, in the event of a frontal impact, the load transfer is generally handled by the underbody shield, which is positioned under the floor in front of the battery. Depending on the severity of the impact, the floor can also shear, as the battery, due to its considerable mass, will push against and crush the floor.

[0008] To reinforce the floor, document DE 102014006718 describes the presence of a reinforcing structure extending transversely between the tunnel and the side members and longitudinally from a rear portion of the tunnel to a front portion of the side members. This reinforcing structure provides a floor with a certain degree of resistance in a frontal impact with a small overlap. This particular configuration helps prevent the front wheels from entering the vehicle's passenger compartment in a frontal impact with a small overlap. Document DE 10 2010 039109 A1 discloses the preamble to claim 1.

[0009] However, while it is possible to integrate an energy accumulator within the described reinforcement structure, the displacement of the underfloor stretchers during a frontal impact is not taken into account, and such a structure does not solve the problem if this energy accumulator is housed in the rear area of ​​the vehicle.

[0010] The invention aims to improve upon the previous situation. In particular, the invention seeks to find a means of dissipating the energy introduced by a frontal impact on the stretchers so as to reduce or prevent shearing of the floor of a hybrid electric vehicle.

[0011] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a hybrid electric vehicle comprising a floor with a central tunnel, at least two longitudinal members arranged respectively at each lateral edge of the floor, a heel board extending under the floor and transversely between said at least two members, at least two shafts extending under the floor towards said heel board, of which at least two front shafts are arranged on either side of the central tunnel. Said vehicle is remarkable in that it further comprises one or more reinforcement devices selected from at least one bypass device and / or at least one anchoring device, in that the reinforcement device(s) are elongated bodies comprising two ends defining a front end and a rear end, one of said ends being fixed to a shaft.and in that the reinforcement device(s) are fixed under the vehicle floor and are arranged to extend in a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The vehicle further comprises at least one anchoring device fixed to a front stretcher at its front end and to the heel board at its rear end, the rear end being contiguous to a side member and / or the vehicle further comprises an internal underfloor stretcher extending parallel to a front stretcher and disposed between said front stretcher and the central tunnel, and the vehicle comprises at least one anchoring device fixed to a front stretcher at its front end and to the heel board at its rear end, the rear end being contiguous to said internal stretcher.

[0012] As can be understood from the definition just given, the invention proposes the creation of at least one additional load path to reduce the stress on the stretcher(s) in the event of a frontal collision. The energy received during the impact is dissipated via the reinforcement device(s) and is no longer directed directly towards the rear of the vehicle onto the heel board. Thanks to the addition of reinforcement devices according to the configuration of the invention, the load path is lengthened, which allows for energy dissipation and thus reduces the loads on the heel board and also prevents shearing of the floor, within the limits of the frontal impact's severity.

[0013] According to a first embodiment, the vehicle further comprises at least one external underfloor stretcher extending parallel to a front stretcher and disposed between said front stretcher and a side member, and comprises at least one bypass device attached to an external stretcher at one of its ends. Preferably, at least one bypass device is attached to the external stretcher at its front end. Preferably, at least one bypass device is attached to the front stretcher at its rear end.

[0014] Preferably, the vehicle also includes a battery mounted under the floor, and at least one front stretcher or an outer stretcher is a cut stretcher; a cut stretcher comprising two parts defining a front and a rear portion between which the battery is positioned, the rear portion comprising a rear end attached to the heel board, and at least one bypass device attached to the rear portion of a cut stretcher. For example, at least one cut stretcher is a front stretcher.

[0015] Advantageously, the vehicle includes at least one hybrid reinforcement device comprising a bypass device and an anchoring device placed end to end to form a single piece, the hybrid reinforcement device(s) being attached to an external stretcher by their front end and to the heel board by their rear end. Preferably, at least one hybrid reinforcement device is configured to span and attach to a front stretcher.

[0016] According to a second embodiment, alternative to the first embodiment, the vehicle includes a battery housed at the rear of the heel board and at least two anchoring devices are fixed on the same front stretcher.

[0017] Regardless of the chosen method of implementation, the following characteristics advantageously define the reinforcement device(s):

[0018] Preferably, at least one reinforcement device is a hollow body.

[0019] Preferably, at least one reinforcement device shows a height of less than 30 mm, or less than 25 mm, or less than 20 mm.

[0020] Preferably, the reinforcing device(s) are steel parts; for example, steel parts showing a tensile strength between 400 and 1200 MPa as determined by ISO 6892-1, or between 500 and 1100 MPa, or between 600 and 1000 MPa.

[0021] Preferably, the reinforcement device(s) are U-shaped profiles and at least one end of said profiles shows a bend.

[0022] Therefore, regardless of the embodiment chosen, the vehicle preferably includes at least one anchoring device attached to a front stretcher at its front end and to the heel board at its rear end. For example, at least two anchoring devices are attached to the same front stretcher.

[0023] Also, whatever the embodiment chosen, the vehicle includes for example a rear seat cross member placed on the floor, one of said ends of the reinforcement device(s) is fixed to a front stretcher below the rear seat cross member.

[0024] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear upon reading the following description given with reference to the attached drawing plate on which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a view of the underside of the floor of a hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) according to the invention. Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a view of the underside of the floor of a PHEV (Personal Hybrid Electric Vehicle) according to the invention. Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 shows a reinforcement device according to the invention.

[0025] In the remainder of this description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not restrictive in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle to which it refers. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of".

[0026] Similarly, the terms "lower", "higher", "top" and "bottom" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "bottom" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than respectively the terms "higher" and "top".

[0027] The terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "front" and "rear" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel.

[0028] In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0029] In a frontal collision, the underfloor suspension arms of a vehicle transmit energy to the rear of the vehicle. In the case of a hybrid electric vehicle, battery protection is a requirement. sine qua non à For occupant safety, it is necessary to dissipate energy in order to preserve the integrity of the floor, within the limits of the frontal impact's force, thus preventing damage to the battery itself during the collision. Therefore, the invention, by attaching one or more subfloor reinforcement devices to the chassis rails and arranging them to extend at an angle to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, dissipates energy towards the rear of the vehicle. Floor shearing is then reduced, or even eliminated, because the deformation of the vehicle's structural elements is contained.

[0030] The invention therefore relates to a hybrid electric vehicle whose floor 1 is shown from below to figures 1 et 2 The floor 1 therefore comprises a central tunnel 3, at least two longitudinal stringers 5 arranged respectively at each lateral edge of the floor 1, a heel board 7 extending under the floor and transversely between said at least two stringers 5 (only one is shown on each of the figures 1 et 2 ), at least two stretchers (9, 11, 13) extending under the floor towards said heel board 7, of which at least two front stretchers 9 are arranged on either side of the central tunnel 3 (only one is shown on each of the figures 1 et 2 The vehicle according to the invention further comprises one or more reinforcement devices (15, 17) selected from at least one bypass device 15 and / or at least one anchoring device 17, the reinforcement device(s) (15, 17) being elongated bodies comprising two ends defining a front end and a rear end, one of said ends being fixed to a frame (9, 11, 13). In addition, the reinforcement device(s) (15, 17) are fixed under the floor 1 of the vehicle and are arranged to extend in a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0031] For example, at least one reinforcement device is a hollow body.

[0032] The reinforcement device(s) may, for example, have a height of less than 30 mm, or less than 25 mm, or less than 20 mm. This distance ensures sufficient ground clearance for the vehicle floor.

[0033] The reinforcement device(s) are advantageously steel components; for example, steel components exhibiting a tensile strength between 400 and 1200 MPa as defined by ISO 6892-1, or between 450 and 1150 MPa, or between 500 and 1100 MPa, or between 550 and 1050 MPa, or between 600 and 1000 MPa. The reinforcement device(s) are, for example, attached to the floor, to one of the stretchers, and / or to the heel board by welding, preferably using electric spot welds.

[0034] The reinforcing device(s) are advantageously U-shaped profiles, and at least one end of said profiles shows a bend 19, visible on the figure 3 and allowing them to be placed on the sides of the stretchers and / or on the side of the heel board, particularly the side facing the front of the vehicle. The reinforcement device(s) are then attached to one of the stretchers and / or the heel board at elbow 19 by welding, in particular using spot welds. However, they can also be attached by any other means; for example, by screwing.

[0035] There figure 3 It also allows visualization of the presence of at least one reinforcing relief 23 arranged along the main direction of the reinforcing device(s). The presence of this relief helps to ensure adequate stiffness of the reinforcing device(s).

[0036] Since the reinforcement device(s) are fixed under the floor, the device(s) may overlap cables and / or moldings visible through the floor. Therefore, at least one edge of the reinforcement device(s) according to the invention may have at least one notch 25 for passing the cable(s) and / or the floor molding(s).

[0037] Finally, the reinforcement device(s) may have one or more holes 27, which are used during the cataphoresis process to remove excess paint.

[0038] Among the reinforcement devices, the bypass device is positioned to prevent the force from being directed directly against a specific component of the vehicle, such as a battery or the heel board. The bypass device can also be used to redirect the force exerted on the vehicle to another structural element of the vehicle.

[0039] The anchoring system is positioned to prevent structural elements, such as the heel board, from deforming during impact to the point of causing shearing of the floor. It is arranged to distribute the force across different points on the structural element.

[0040] The reinforcement device(s) are arranged to extend in a direction that forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. For example, this angle can be between 20° and 70°, or between 30° and 60°, or between 35° and 55°.

[0041] Advantageously, it is beneficial for the vehicle to include at least one anchoring device 17 fixed to the front stretcher 9 at its front end and to the heel board 7 at its rear end. Indeed, in a frontal collision, a stretcher connected to the heel board is likely to transmit the force to the latter. The presence of an anchoring device 17 fixed at one end to the front stretcher and at the other end to the heel board creates an additional point on the heel board 7 where the force can be transmitted, thus reducing the loads on the heel board because the energy induced in the vehicle structure will be dissipated, at least partially.

[0042] More preferably, the vehicle includes at least two anchoring devices 17 fixed to the same front stretcher 9. This provides three locations on the heel board where the force can be transmitted in the event of a frontal impact.

[0043] For example, the vehicle includes at least one anchor device 17 attached to a front stretcher 9 by its front end and to the heel board 7 by its rear end, the rear end being contiguous to a side member 5. Moving the point where the anchor device attaches to the heel board further away from the point where the front stretcher attaches to the heel board further optimizes the dissipation of energy induced during the frontal impact and further reduces the loads on the heel board.

[0044] For example, the vehicle includes an interior underfloor stretcher 11 that extends parallel to a front stretcher 9 and is positioned between said front stretcher 9 and the central tunnel 3. In this case, the vehicle may include at least one anchoring device 17 attached to a front stretcher 9 by its front end and to the heel board 7 by its rear end, the rear end being contiguous to said interior stretcher 11.

[0045] It is preferable to fix the reinforcement device(s) to the stretchers, for example to the front stretcher 9, at a place which is located below (i.e. vertically) the rear crossmember of the vehicle, the one being located on the floor.

[0046] According to a first embodiment, illustrated in figure 1 The hybrid electric vehicle is of the MHEV type. This vehicle includes at least one external underfloor stretcher 13 which extends parallel to a front stretcher 9 and which is disposed between said front stretcher 9 and a side member 5. The vehicle includes at least one bypass device 15 fixed to a front stretcher 9 by one of its ends and to an external stretcher 13 by its other end.

[0047] The bypass device(s) 15 therefore provide an additional path of force so that the force exerted on the external stretchers is not directed directly onto the heel board 7.

[0048] For example, the MHEV type vehicle includes a battery 21 located under the floor, which implies that at least one of the front 9 or outer 13 frame members is a cut frame, preferably the front 9 frame member. For example, the battery 21 can be located under the floor below the front seat crossmember. The cut frame member comprises two parts, defining a front and a rear section between which the battery 21 is positioned. The rear section includes a rear end attached to the heel board 7. Advantageously, at least one bypass device 15 is attached to the rear section of a cut frame member, and the energy induced during a frontal impact, within the limits of the impact's severity, will then bypass the battery and no longer cause the frame member(s) to penetrate the battery. Preferably, this at least one bypass device 15 is attached to the outer 13 frame member at its front end.

[0049] When the hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) advantageously includes at least one anchoring device, it is possible to combine the bypass device 15 and an anchoring device 17. The two devices are placed end to end and can therefore be joined by welding, for example, by forming electrical tack welds. This results in a combined reinforcement device, comprising the two devices placed end to end. The combined reinforcement device is attached to the outer frame at its front end and to the heel board at its rear end.

[0050] Advantageously, it can be economical for the combined reinforcement device to be a single piece. This simplifies the mounting of these devices on the vehicle. Preferably, the combined reinforcement device is configured to span and attach to a front stretcher.

[0051] According to a second embodiment, illustrated in figure 2The hybrid electric vehicle is of the PHEV type. This vehicle includes a battery 21 housed at the rear of the heel board 7 and at least two anchoring devices 17 are fixed to the same front strut 9.

[0052] In a frontal collision, the energy induced in the vehicle will therefore be dispersed in three different places on the heel board, making it possible to lighten the load on it and to reduce, or even eliminate, the shearing of the floor.

Claims

1. Hybrid electric motor vehicle comprising a floor (1) with a central tunnel (3), at least two longitudinal side members (5) disposed respectively at the level of each lateral edge of the floor (1), a heel board (7) extending under the floor and transversely between said at least two side members (5), at least two stretchers (9, 11, 13) extending under the floor at the management of said heel board (7), including at least two front stretchers (9) disposed on either side of the central tunnel (3), said vehicle further comprising one or more reinforcing devices (15, 17) chosen from at least one bypass device (15) and / or at least one anchoring device (17), the reinforcing device(s) comprising elongated bodies two ends defining a front end and a rear end, one of said ends being fixed to a stretcher (9, 11, 13), and the reinforcing device(s) (15, 17) being fixed under the floor (1) of the vehicle and being arranged to extend along a management forming an angle with the longitudinal management of the vehicle, the vehicle is characterised in that it comprises at least one anchoring device (17) fixed to a front stretcher (9) by its front end and to the heel board (7) by its rear end, the rear end being contiguous with a side member (5), and / or the vehicle comprises an inner sub-floor stretcher (11) extending parallel to a front stretcher (9) and arranged between said front stretcher (9) and the centre tunnel (3), and the vehicle comprises at least one anchoring device (17) fixed to a front stretcher (9) by its front end and to the heel board (7) by its rear end, the rear end being contiguous to said inner stretcher (11).

2. Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterised in that at least one reinforcing device (15, 17) is a hollow body; preferably, at least one reinforcing device (15, 17) has a height of less than 30 mm.

3. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises at least one anchoring device (17) fixed to a front stretcher (9) by its front end and to the heel board (7) by its rear end; preferably, at least two anchoring devices (17) are fixed to the same front stretcher (9).

4. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the vehicle comprises a rear seat cross-member arranged on the floor, one of said ends of the reinforcing device(s) (15, 17) is fixed to a front stretcher (9) below the rear seat cross-member and / or in that the reinforcing device(s) (15, 17) are U-shaped sections and at least one of the ends of said sections shows an elbow (19).

5. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the reinforcing device(s) (15, 17) are steel components; preferably, steel components having a tensile strength of between 400 and 1200 MPa as determined by ISO 6892-1.

6. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it further comprises at least one outer sub-floor stretcher (13) extending parallel to a front stretcher (9) and arranged between said front stretcher (9) and a spar (5), and in that it comprises at least one bypass device (15) fixed to an outer stretcher (13) by one of its ends; preferably, at least one bypass device (15) is fixed to the outer stretcher (13) by its front end.

7. Vehicle according to Claim 6, further comprising a battery (21) implanted under the floor, wherein at least one front stretcher (9) or one outer stretcher (13) is a cut stretcher; a cut stretcher comprising two parts defining a front part and a rear part between which the battery (21) is arranged, the rear part comprising a rear end fixed to the heel board (7), and wherein at least one bypass device (15) is fixed to the rear part of a cut stretcher; preferably, at least one cut stretcher is a front stretcher (9).

8. Vehicle according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that it comprises at least one combination reinforcement device comprising a bypass device (15) and an anchoring device (17) placed end to end so as to form a single component, the combination reinforcement device(s) being fixed to an outer stretcher (13) by their front end and to the heel board (7) by their rear end; preferably, at least one combination reinforcement device is configured to straddle and attach to a front stretcher (9).

9. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises a battery (21) housed in the rear of the heel board (7) and in that at least two anchoring devices (17) are fixed to the same front stretcher (9).