REAR BODY STRUCTURE OF A VEHICLE WITH A SINGLE HINGE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the automotive field and more specifically concerns a rear body structure for a vehicle with a tailgate. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising such a body structure. Document EP 0 410 917 A1 discloses a rear structure according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Most vehicle doors, especially rear doors, use hinges. The rear door opens by rotating around an axis passing through its hinges and located on the rear of the vehicle, adjacent to the opening providing access to the cargo area. An open rear door can therefore obstruct loading. Furthermore, the hinges often disrupt the vehicle's lines and detract from its appearance.

[0003] The present invention provides a rear body structure for a vehicle, and a vehicle equipped with such a rear structure, making it possible to overcome at least in part the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0004] To this end, the invention proposes a rear body structure for a vehicle, the structure comprising at least: two facing walls, at least one of which includes a guiding means, at least one articulating arm, a gate mounted movable relative to the two walls by means of the articulating arm, the gate being capable of closing a space between the walls, the structure being characterized in that the guiding means comprises at least two cam tracks, the articulation arm comprising two cams fixed to the articulation arm, each arranged in a different cam track of the two cam tracks, the two cam tracks each comprising a first portion and a second portion inclined relative to the first portion, the first portions of the cam tracks being parallel to each other, the second portions of the cam tracks being inclined in opposite directions relative to each other.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, an initial translation of the gate is performed when the articulation arm follows the first portions of the cam tracks, offsetting the gate from the two walls while keeping it facing the space between them. This translation is followed by a movement that disengages the gate laterally from the space, while maintaining it between two main extension planes, each corresponding to and extending from a wall. The gate then performs a movement combining translation and rotation and is positioned either above or below an access point to the space. This movement is performed when the articulation arm follows the second portions of the cam tracks.Indeed, since the second portions are traversed at the same time by two cams of the articulation arm, with the main extension directions of these second portions not being parallel, the gate does not simply translate to clear the space between the two walls, but rotates on itself, without using hinges.

[0006] Preferably, the first and second sections extend mostly along straight segments. This allows for easier handling of the gate when opening.

[0007] Advantageously, the articulation arm comprises a main arm extending orthogonally to the tailgate and an end arm inclined relative to the main arm, each end of the end arm carrying a cam of the articulation arm. "Orthogonally" means substantially orthogonally or strictly orthogonally. A main extension direction of the main arm is therefore orthogonal to the main extension plane of the tailgate, with a tolerance, for example, of 5 degrees of inclination around this orthogonality. The main arm is thus fixed at one end to the tailgate and at the other end to the end arm. The articulation arm therefore has a profile with a geometry that is substantially gooseneck-shaped, which allows the tailgate, when opening, to bypass a floor or loading panel of the rear body structure, while remaining close to it in the open position.This therefore reduces the bulk of the gate in the open position and facilitates access to the space.

[0008] More precisely, the second portion of a first cam track of said cam tracks is inclined relative to the first portion of the first cam track at an acute angle measured clockwise, and the second portion of a second cam track of said cam tracks is inclined relative to the first portion of the second cam track at the same acute angle measured counterclockwise. These acute angles are measured between first lines along which the first portions are predominantly inscribed and second lines along which the second portions are predominantly inscribed.

[0009] Preferably, the cam tracks are grooves and the cams are rollers or bearings sliding in the grooves. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage of simplicity.

[0010] The cam tracks are preferably located in the same plane, which reduces the overall size of the articulation system. This plane is advantageously perpendicular to a plane in which the floor of the rear structure is mostly located.

[0011] Preferably, the gate has two hinge arms, each wall having a guide for one of the two hinge arms. The cam tracks for the guide for each wall are formed in a plate, and the plates for each wall of the rear body structure are arranged parallel to each other. This design with two hinge arms, with or without plates, provides stability to the gate opening system.

[0012] The crate structure according to the invention preferably comprises at least one balancer, one end of which is fixed to the wall and the other end of which is fixed to the articulation arm. The second end is, for example, attached to the elbow of the articulation arm connecting the main arm and the end arm of the articulation arm. One balancer for each articulation arm is used, for example, when the gate has two articulation arms.

[0013] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a rear body structure according to the invention, the vehicle comprising a floor bordered by said walls and by said gate, the vehicle further comprising a loading panel parallel to the floor and attached to said walls, the gate being able to provide access to the space between the loading panel and the floor by a first translational movement in a direction parallel to the floor and then by a second movement bringing the gate above a lower surface of the loading panel or below a higher surface of the floor.

[0014] The vehicle according to the invention is, for example, a utility vehicle comprising a cab and a compartmentalized rear area. The rear area includes, in particular, the space between the floor and the load-through panel, which can be used because it is secured by the tailgate, and a loading area above the load-through panel, which can be either open or closed. This allows for the efficient use of the space between the floor and the load-through panel, as the load-through panel cannot be positioned too low, i.e., as close as possible to the vehicle's chassis, for intensive use of the loading area. Indeed, loads placed on the load-through panel must be positioned high enough to prevent back pain for the utility vehicle operator.

[0015] Advantageously, the floor includes a rail suitable for protecting the guide means and the articulation arm of the rear body structure during loading of said space. Preferably, the floor includes two rails, one next to each wall containing a guide means, to protect both the articulation arms and the balancers. These rails can also guide the loading of bulky objects in the space between the floor and the loading panel. The rail as described here can therefore fulfill both a protective and a guiding function.

[0016] Advantageously, the load panel includes assembly and locking elements designed to receive and secure a removable load box onto the load panel. The load panel is, for example, screwed to the sides and is specific to a particular type of load box. The vehicle can therefore be easily adapted to a different type of load box by screwing another load panel onto the vehicle's sides.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which: [ fig 1 ] illustrates a vehicle according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, [ fig 2 ] illustrates the vehicle of the figure 1 with a cargo box, [ fig 3 ] illustrates a guidance means that equips a wall of a vehicle according to the invention, [ fig 4 ] illustrates an articulation arm of a vehicle gate according to the invention, [ fig 5 ] illustrates a rear body structure according to the invention, with a gate in the closed position, [ fig 6 ] illustrates the rear body structure of the figure 5 , with a gate in an intermediate opening position, [ fig 7 ] illustrates the rear body structure of the figure 6 , with a gate in the open position.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, a vehicle 2 according to the invention, represented figure 1 , comprises a cab, and a rear body structure itself comprising a floor 4, two walls 6 and 12 lateral to the vehicle and a rear bumper 8 comprising a gate 10. Vehicle 2 is for example a utility vehicle and comprises a loading panel 14 attached by screws to the side walls 6 and 12. Alternatively, the loading panel is attached by means other than screws to the walls of the rear body structure.

[0019] The vehicle extends longitudinally along a horizontal direction X, walls 6 and 12 extend along the horizontal direction X and a vertical direction Z, gate 10 extends along the vertical direction Z and a transverse direction Y, orthogonal to the horizontal direction X and vertical direction Z.

[0020] The hatch 10 provides access to a loading space 80 left free between the loading panel 14 and the floor 4. In an alternative embodiment, the hatch is located between a wall of the cab and the rear bumper. Of course, the invention is also feasible on a non-commercial vehicle, as the loading panel can be replaced by the roof of the non-commercial vehicle, for example. In this case, the hatch 10 constitutes the tailgate of this vehicle.

[0021] The vehicle 2 according to the invention comprises a loading box 16 fixed to the loading panel 14 by means 18 for assembling and locking the loading box 16 to the loading panel 14. These means 18 are, for example, electrically actuated quarter-turn means. The loading box 16 is positioned on the loading panel 14, for example, by means of a forklift whose forks are insertable between the loading panel 14 and the lower surface of the loading box 16. Indeed, the assembly and locking means 18 are positioned on corners of the loading box 16 and the loading panel 14, so as to leave a space between the loading box 16 and the loading panel 14, this space allowing the insertion of the forks of a forklift.

[0022] The gate 10 is mounted movably on the walls 6 and 12 by means of two articulating arms, each of the two articulating arms having one end fixed solidly to the gate 10 and an opposite end mounted movably relative to one of the walls 6 or 12.

[0023] Each wall 6, 12 has on its side, on the side of the loading space 80, a plate 50 shown on the figure 3 , screwed onto the rear body structure and comprising a guide means 35 consisting of two cam tracks 30 and 40, allowing to guide an articulation arm of the gate 10, when opening or closing it.

[0024] The plate 50 is arranged in a plane P, parallel to the longitudinal X direction relative to vehicle 2 and to the vertical Z direction relative to vehicle 2.

[0025] Only one articulated arm 20 is shown on the figures 4 , 5 And 7for more visibility, but the invention finds a particular application when the rear body structure includes two guide means 35 and two articulation arms 20.

[0026] For simplicity, we only describe the guide means 35 associated with the wall 6 and the articulation arm 20, the wall 12 nevertheless having a guide means 35 similar to that of the wall 6, guiding an articulation arm similar to the articulation arm 20. This similar guide means and articulation arm are arranged symmetrically to the guide means of the wall 6 and the articulation arm 20 with respect to a vertical plane separating the vehicle 2 longitudinally in two.

[0027] The articulation arm 20 shown on the figure 4 includes a main arm 204 fixed at one of its ends securely to the gate 10, for example screwed to the gate 10. The main arm 204 extends in particular orthogonally to the main extension plane of the gate 10 up to a bend from which extends an end arm 202 of the articulation arm 20. The articulation arm 20 is cut from a flat sheet and the end arm 202 forms an obtuse angle with the main arm 204 so as to give the main arm 20 a profile substantially in the shape of a gooseneck.

[0028] A first cam 208 is fixed to the end of the end arm 202 which is located at the elbow of the articulation arm 20 and a second cam 206 is fixed to the other end of the end arm 202. The cams 208 and 206 are rollers mounted for rotation on rods orthogonal to the main extension plane of the articulation arm 20, or bearings mounted on the articulation arm 20.

[0029] As depicted on the figure 3 , the first cam 208 is mounted to slide in a first cam track 40, here a groove in the plate 50, and the second cam 206 is mounted to slide in a second cam track 30, here another groove in the plate 50. Alternatively, the first and second cam tracks 40 and 30 are sheaths fixed to the wall 6.

[0030] The first cam track 40, proximal to the gate 10 relative to the second cam track 30, comprises a first portion 402 extending straight along a first direction u, parallel to the horizontal direction X, and a second portion 404 extending mainly along a second direction v inclined at an acute angle α clockwise to the first direction u. The second portion 404 extends the first portion 402 at a bend connecting one end of the second portion 404 to one end of the first portion 402. The other end of the second portion 404 forms a stop for the first cam track 40, and the other end of the first portion 402 forms another stop for the first cam track 40. The second portion 404 is proximal to the gate 10 relative to the first portion 402.

[0031] The second cam track 30 also includes a first portion 302 extending straight along the direction u, and a second portion 304 extending along a direction w inclined at an acute angle α counterclockwise to the direction u. The second portion 304 extends the first portion 302 at a bend connecting one end of the second portion 304 to one end of the first portion 302. The other end of the second portion 304 forms a stop for the second cam track 30, and the other end of the first portion 302 forms another stop for the second cam track 30. The second portion 304 is proximal to the gate 10 relative to the first portion 302.

[0032] The second portion 304 of the second cam track 30 is positioned above the first portion 402 of the first cam track 40, along the vertical direction Z. Of course, the cam tracks 30 and 40 can be arranged differently, provided that their arrangement allows the two cams 206 and 208 to follow the cam tracks 30 and 40 simultaneously, the distance between the two cams 206 and 208 being fixed. For example, the second cam track 30 may be proximal to the gate, while the first cam track 40 is distal to the gate. In this variant, the articulation arm, which moves in these cam tracks, is bent in the opposite direction to the curvature of the articulation arm 20 of the variant illustrated in figures 3 à 7 , to allow the gate to be opened so that it is positioned lower than floor 4, in the open position.

[0033] When the gate 10 is in the closed position, the cams 206 and 208 are positioned respectively near the stop of the second cam track 30, which is distal to the gate, and near the stop of the first cam track 40, which is distal to the gate, as shown in the figure 5 .

[0034] When a user of vehicle 2 pulls the door 10, via handles located on an upper surface of the door 10 parallel to the floor 4, the cams 206 and 208 respectively follow the first portions 302 and 402 of the cam tracks 30, 40 up to the bends of each of the cam tracks 30 and 40. This stroke of the cams 206 and 208 translates the door 10 along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, moving the door 10 away from the storage space 80, while keeping it facing this space, as shown in the diagram. figure 6 .

[0035] Then, as the user continues to pull the gate 10, the cams 206 and 208 follow the respective second portions 302 and 402 of the cam tracks 30 and 40 until they reach the proximal stops of the gate 10 on the respective cam tracks 30 and 40. This movement lifts the gate 10 while rotating it approximately a quarter turn, this rotation occurring along an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction Y of the rear body structure. According to the invention, this axis of rotation moves by translating along a straight line with longitudinal and vertical components. This movement brings the gate 10 into the position illustrated in figure 7 .

[0036] Thus, the gate 10 is positioned above the loading panel 14 while remaining close to it. The footprint of the gate 10 opening is therefore reduced compared to a conventional rear vehicle gate opening.

[0037] In order to keep the gate 10 in the open position, a balancer 60, shown figures 5 And 7 , and which can for example take the form of a jack, is disposed between the articulation arm 20 and the wall 6. More precisely, one end 602 of the balancer 60 is fixed on the wall 6 and the other end 604 of the balancer 60 is fixed at the elbow of the articulation arm 20.

[0038] Two rails 70 are fixed on either side of the floor 4 near the walls 6 and 12, notably by being screwed into the floor 4. These lateral rails 70 are each oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction X, so as to protect, during the loading or unloading of the storage space 80, the opening system of the gate, i.e. the cam tracks 30 and 40 of the walls 6 and 12, the plates 50 comprising the cam tracks 30, 40 when the invention is provided for them, the balancers 60 and the two articulation arms of the gate 10.

Claims

1. Rear body structure of a vehicle (2), the structure including at least: - two walls (6, 12) facing one another, at least one of which comprises a guide means (35), - at least one articulation arm (20), - a gate (10) mounted so as to be mobile relative to the two walls (6, 12) by means of the articulation arm (20), the gate (10) being able to close a space (80) between the walls (6, 12), the structure being characterized in that the guide means (35) includes at least two camways (30, 40), the articulation arm (20) including two cams (206, 208) rigidly attached to the articulation arm (20), each arranged in a different camway of the two camways (30, 40), the two camways (30, 40) each including a first portion (402, 302) and a second portion (404, 304) inclined relative to the first portion (402, 302), the first portions (402, 302) of the camways (30, 40) being parallel to one another and the second portions (404, 304) of the camways (30, 40) being inclined relative to one another in opposite directions.

2. Rear body structure according to Claim 1, in which the first portions (402, 302) and the second portions (404, 304) extend mostly along straight line segments.

3. Rear body structure according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the articulation arm (20) includes a main arm (204) extending orthogonally relative to the gate (10) and an end arm (202) inclined relative to the main arm (204), each end of the end arm (202) carrying a cam (206, 208) of the articulation arm (20).

4. Rear body structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the second portion (404) of a first camway (40) of said camways (30, 40) is inclined relative to the first portion (402) of the first camway (40) at an acute angle (α) measured in the clockwise direction, the second portion (304) of a second camway (30) of said camways (30, 40) being inclined relative to the first portion (302) of the second camway (304) at the same acute angle (α) measured in the counterclockwise direction.

5. Rear body structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the camways (30, 40) are grooves and the cams (206, 208) are rollers or bearings sliding in the grooves.

6. Rear body structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the camways (30, 40) are inscribed in the same plane (P).

7. Rear body structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the gate (10) includes two articulation arms (20), each wall (6) including a guide means (30, 40) of a separate articulation arm (20) of the two articulation arms (20), the camways (30, 40) of the guide means (15) of each wall (6, 12) being formed in a plate (50), the plates (50) of each wall (6, 12) of the rear body structure being disposed parallel to one another.

8. Rear body structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, including at least one balancer (60), a first end (602) of which is rigidly attached to the wall (6) and a second end (604) of which is rigidly attached to the articulation arm (20).

9. Vehicle (2) including a rear body structure according to any one of the preceding claims, the vehicle (2) including a floor (4) flanked by said walls (6, 12) and by said gate (10), the vehicle (2) further including a loading panel (14) parallel to the floor (4) and mounted on said walls (6, 12), the gate (10) being able to free access to the space (80) between the loading panel (14) and the floor (4) by a first movement in translation in a direction parallel to the floor (4) followed by a second movement bringing the gate (10) above a lower surface of the loading panel (14) or below an upper surface of the floor (4).

10. Vehicle (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the floor (4) includes a rail (70) adapted to protect the guide means (35) and the articulation arm (20) of the rear body structure when loading said space.