Rear reinforcement for a sill

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear reinforcement (14) for a sill (2), the rear reinforcement being intended for cooperating with a sill (2) of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the rear reinforcement (14) has, at a front longitudinal edge (20), a tongue which projects with regard to the front longitudinal edge (20) and relative to the longitudinal axis.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Rear reinforcement of the side member

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2205621 filed on June 10, 2022, the content of which (text, drawings, and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The technical context of the present invention is that of body sub-assemblies intended to improve the passive safety of motor vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a motor vehicle structure. [2] In the prior art, body sub-assemblies designed to improve the passive safety of motor vehicles are known. Among these sub-assemblies are identified horizontal elements, including a side member, a roof arch, and a window pillar, and vertical elements, including a front pillar, a center pillar, and a rear pillar. The horizontal and vertical elements constitute a load-bearing network within the motor vehicle. [3] In particular, the spar forms a hollow body on which the central foot rests. The hollow body forming the spar results from an assembly of different elements in rabbet, among which an inner part of the spar formed of an inner spar, an outer part of the spar formed of a spar reinforcement and a rear spar reinforcement, and a spar web forming a flat inner web of the spar, the web of the spar being contained between the inner part of the spar and the outer part of the spar. [4] During a pole impact, the horizontal and vertical structural elements of the motor vehicle are subjected to stress on its lateral face. It is understood that, to guarantee the passive safety of the motor vehicle during a pole impact, continuous load paths are necessary to avoid a weak point in the distribution of forces. [5] The disadvantage of these body sub-assemblies is that they offer ineffective lateral protection at the junction between the side member and the central pillar in the event of a "pole impact". In other words, during a "pole impact", or "pole collision", that is to say, in the event of a lateral impact against a narrow surface, Such as a fixed obstacle in the form of a tree or post, the junction between the side member and the central support creates a weak point in the structure. Indeed, in these body sub-assemblies, to facilitate cutting the parts and optimize their mass, the cut of the rear side member reinforcement is straight. This cut corresponds to the position of the central support reinforcement and the absence of overlap between the web's rabbet and that of the side member reinforcement. This configuration creates a break in inertia within the body sub-assembly, which is detrimental to the safety of the vehicle's occupants in the event of a pole impact. [6] The present invention aims to provide a new rear longitudinal reinforcement intended to collaborate with a motor vehicle longitudinal member in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to further advantages. [7] Another object of the invention is to provide a rear longitudinal reinforcement intended to collaborate with a motor vehicle longitudinal member which is reliable in its operation, and as a structure. [8] Another object of the invention is to provide a rear longitudinal reinforcement intended to collaborate with a motor vehicle longitudinal member configured to reduce the severity of a pole impact at the level of the motor vehicle it equips. [9] Another object of the invention is to provide a rear longitudinal reinforcement intended to collaborate with a motor vehicle longitudinal member configured to improve the robustness of the motor vehicle it equips in a pole impact situation.

[0010] Another aim of the invention is to provide a rear reinforcement for a side member intended to collaborate with a side member of a motor vehicle configured to ensure continuity of inertia between the elements that compose it in the event of a pole impact.

[0011] Another objective of the invention is to provide a rear reinforcement for a side member intended to collaborate with a side member of a motor vehicle whose assembly is made more reliable by eliminating a recurring weak point at the junction between the side member and the central support.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a rear spar reinforcement intended to collaborate with a spar of a motor vehicle, the rear reinforcement having, at the level of a front longitudinal edge, a tongue which extends in projection relative to the front longitudinal edge and relative to a longitudinal axis.

[0013] In a motor vehicle equipped with the rear longitudinal reinforcement conforming to the first aspect of the invention, the adjectives "front" and "rear" refer to a trajectory of the motor vehicle when it is moving forward, in a straight line and on a flat road.

[0014] In the rear spar reinforcement according to the first aspect of the invention, the tongue forms an extension of the front longitudinal edge of the rear reinforcement. The tongue extends projecting forward from the front longitudinal edge.

[0015] In the rear side member reinforcement according to the first aspect of the invention, the tongue reinforces the stiffness of the rear side member reinforcement according to the invention at its leading longitudinal edge. Such a tongue ensures, in the motor vehicle it equips, continuity of inertia between the central support and the rear side member reinforcement according to the invention. This tongue increases the mechanical resistance to stresses imposed on the rear side member reinforcement according to the invention.

[0016] Such a rear side member reinforcement, equipped with a tongue, provides support to the fixed central foot in the event of a pole impact. This foot is integral to the side member within the rear reinforcement of the vehicle it equips. It is understood that such a rear side member reinforcement ensures continuity of the load-bearing structure within the vehicle in the event of a pole impact. Thus, this solution ensures the overall integrity of the side member in the event of a pole impact, while remaining simple to implement. The rear side member reinforcement according to the invention has the advantage of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks without requiring significant modifications.

[0017] The rear longitudinal reinforcement conforming to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0018] - the rear spar reinforcement includes a blade that extends relative to the longitudinal axis and is designed to bear against a web of the spar and A rebate extending from the blade in an L-shaped profile, the rebate being designed to fit onto a spar reinforcement of said spar, the tongue projecting from a forward longitudinal side of the rebate. The blade reinforces the stiffness of the rear spar reinforcement according to the invention in front of the forward longitudinal side of the rebate. Such a blade ensures, within the spar it equips, continuity of inertia between the web of the spar and the rear spar reinforcement according to the invention;

[0019] - the front edge of the rear reinforcement blade of the spar is located, relative to the longitudinal axis, inset from a front longitudinal end of the tongue;

[0020] - The distance between the front longitudinal end of the tongue and a front longitudinal side of the rear reinforcement blade is between 15 mm and 30 mm. This distance allows adjustment of the relative position of the rear side member reinforcement and the central support fixed to the side member in the motor vehicle equipped with the invention. Preferably, the distance between the front longitudinal end of the tongue and the front longitudinal side of the rear reinforcement blade is 20 mm.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention, a side member for a motor vehicle is proposed, the side member comprising: (i) an inner side member intended to extend along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle; (ii) a side member reinforcement intended to extend along the longitudinal axis, the inner side member and the side member reinforcement together forming a hollow profile delimiting a space; (iii) a side member web extending along the longitudinal axis and within the space delimited by the side member reinforcement and by the inner side member; (iv) a rear side member reinforcement conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any one of its improvements, the rear reinforcement extending over the side member reinforcement.

[0022] In the side member conforming to the second aspect of the invention, the inner side member, the side member reinforcement, the side member web, and the rear side member reinforcement are designed to extend along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. It is understood that the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle corresponds to the trajectory of the motor vehicle when it is moving forward, in a straight line, and on a flat road. The longitudinal axis corresponds to a direction going from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle, and it is oriented from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle.

[0023] In the longeron conforming to the second aspect of the invention, the longeron web extends from a front termination of the longeron towards a rear termination of said longeron, while the rear reinforcement of the longeron extends from a rear termination of said longeron towards the front termination.

[0024] In the longeron conforming to the second aspect of the invention, the blade of the rear reinforcement of the longeron thus comes in the longitudinal extension of the web of the longeron, relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0025] In the longeron conforming to the second aspect of the invention, a transition zone, formed between the interruption of the web of the longeron and that of the blade of the rear reinforcement of the longeron, gains in robustness compared to the longerons of the prior art having a cut of the rear reinforcement straight.

[0026] The invention thus makes it possible to reduce rigidity defects in the transition zone formed between the interruption of the longeron web and that of the rear longeron reinforcement blade. Additionally, the invention optimizes the mass of the rear longeron reinforcement without adding any intermediate part to the longeron.

[0027] The longeron conforming to the second aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0028] - relative to the longitudinal axis, a rear edge of the spar web and the front longitudinal end of the rear reinforcement tongue are misaligned. By being misaligned, the tongue helps to smooth out variations in inertia and prevent the spar from bending during a post impact;

[0029] - relative to the longitudinal axis, the rear edge of the spar web is located in an intermediate position between the front edge of the rear spar reinforcement blade and the front longitudinal end of the tongue. It is understood that, at the front longitudinal flank of the rear reinforcement, the tongue and blade form an "S"-shaped cut that is substantially complementary to the geometry of the rear edge. of the spar core. Such a configuration reinforces the stiffness at the transition zone.

[0030] According to a third aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising a side member conforming to the second aspect of the invention or to any of its improvements and a central foot fixed securely to the side member on an upper part of the side member.

[0031] Such a vehicle offers increased robustness in the event of a pole impact by ensuring continuous inertia in the side member as previously described. Additionally, this solution ensures the side member's integrity in the event of a pole impact, while remaining simple to implement. In the event of a pole impact, the side member's deformation is controlled. The motor vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks without requiring significant modifications.

[0032] The motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0033] - a first gap, taken relative to the longitudinal axis and between, on the one hand, a rear edge of the central foot bearing against the spar reinforcement and, on the other hand, the front longitudinal end of the tongue of the rear spar reinforcement is less than a second gap, taken relative to the longitudinal axis and between, on the one hand, the rear edge of the central foot bearing against the spar reinforcement and, on the other hand, the front edge of the blade of the rear spar reinforcement. During a post impact, this configuration allows a progressive variation of inertia which makes it possible to smooth out a stress load at the level of the transition zone between the central foot and the spar reinforcement, in order to avoid the formation of creases there;

[0034] - The first gap is between 10 mm and 20 mm. Preferably, the first gap is 15 mm. Such a configuration reinforces the rigidity of the motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention at the transition zone.

[0035] Various embodiments of the invention are envisaged, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features described herein.

[0036] 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:

[0037] [Fig.1] illustrates a schematic view of a motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention;

[0038] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic view of a side member for a motor vehicle conforming to the second aspect of the invention;

[0039] [Fig.3] illustrates two cross-sectional views of the spar conforming to the second aspect of the invention shown in FIGURE 2;

[0040] [Fig.4] illustrates a detailed view of a rear spar reinforcement according to the first aspect of the invention, the rear spar reinforcement collaborating with the spar according to the second aspect of the invention shown in FIGURE 2;

[0041] [Fig.5] illustrates a detailed view of the motor vehicle conforming to the third aspect of the invention taken at the level of the rear longitudinal reinforcement shown in FIGURE 4;

[0042] [Fig.6] illustrates a detailed view, following a pole impact, of the motor vehicle side member conforming to the second aspect of the invention.

[0043] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may include only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from prior art.

[0044] In particular, all the variants and embodiments described can be combined with each other if there are no technical obstacles to this combination.

[0045] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0046] Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 conforming to the third aspect of the invention. The motor vehicle 1 conforming to the third aspect of the invention comprises a side member 2 conforming to the second aspect of the invention and a central support 3 fixed rigidly to the side member 2.

[0047] In FIGURE 1, the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention is shown without a body, so as to highlight the side member 2 and the central pillar 3. The motor vehicle 1 according to the invention further comprises a roof arch 4 forming a span that extends predominantly along a longitudinal axis 5 of the motor vehicle 1, a rear pillar 6 and a front pillar 7. The rear pillar 6, the front pillar 7 and the central pillar 3 extend predominantly along a vertical axis 8 of the motor vehicle 1, the central pillar 3 being located between the rear pillar 6 and the front pillar 7. The central pillar 3 connects the roof arch 4 to a window pillar 9 extending between the roof arch 4 and the front pillar 7.

[0048] In FIGURE 1, the side member 2 conforming to the second aspect of the invention extends along the longitudinal axis 5 of the motor vehicle 1. The side member 2 extends along the longitudinal axis 5 of the motor vehicle 1 from the front foot 7 to the rear foot 6, the central foot 3 being fixed rigidly in a median part 10 of said side member 2.

[0049] In the following description, an orthonormal coordinate system is used to identify orientations and directions. The longitudinal direction is represented by the OX axis, the lateral direction by the OY axis, and the vertical direction by the OZ axis. The vertical axis 8 of motor vehicle 1 extends along the OZ axis, and the longitudinal axis 5 of motor vehicle 1 extends along the OX axis.

[0050] Figure 2 shows the longeron 2 conforming to the second aspect of the invention, and Figure 3 shows, in a first inset 301, a cross-sectional view AA and in a second inset 302 a cross-sectional view BB of said longitudinal member 2. The cross-sections AA and BB are illustrated in FIGURE 2.

[0051] FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3 show that the longeron 2 conforming to the second aspect of the invention comprises an inner longeron 11, a reinforcement 12 of longeron 2, a web 13 of longeron 2 and a rear reinforcement 14 of longeron 2 conforming to the first aspect of the invention.

[0052] Figure 2 shows that, in the side member 2 according to the second aspect of the invention, the inner side member 11 and the side member reinforcement 2 both extend along the longitudinal axis 5 of the motor vehicle 1. Figure 3 shows that, in the side member 2 according to the second aspect of the invention, the inner side member 11 and the side member reinforcement 12 together form a hollow profile delimiting a space 15.

[0053] FIGURE 2 shows that the longeron 2 according to the second aspect of the invention extends from a front termination 16 towards a rear termination 17. The longeron 2 according to the second aspect of the invention further comprises an upper part 18 opposed to a lower part 19. As shown in FIGURE 4, the upper part 18 of the longeron 2 according to the invention forms a support for the attachment of the central foot 3.

[0054] Figure 2 shows that, in the longeron 2 conforming to the second aspect of the invention, the web 13 of longeron 2 extends along the longitudinal axis 5. Figure 3 shows that the web 13 of longeron 2 extends within the space 15 delimited by the reinforcement 12 of longeron 2 and by the inner longeron 11. It is understood from Figure 2 that the web 13 of longeron 2 extends from the front termination 16 of longeron 2, towards the rear termination 17 of said longeron 2.

[0055] The second inset 302 of FIGURE 3 shows that, in the longeron 2 according to the second aspect of the invention, the rear reinforcement 14 of longeron 2 according to the second aspect of the invention extends over the reinforcement 12 of longeron 2. FIGURE 2 shows that the rear reinforcement 14 of longeron 2 according to the first aspect of the invention extends from the rear termination 17 of longeron 2 towards the front termination 16.

[0056] Figure 4 shows the rear reinforcement 14 of the longeron 2 conforming to the first aspect of the invention working with the longeron 2 conforming to the second aspect of the invention, said longeron 2 being fixed to the central foot 3 at the level of the upper part 18 of the longeron 2. FIGURE 4 shows that the rear reinforcement 14 according to the invention comprises a front longitudinal edge 20 opposed to a rear longitudinal edge 21.

[0057] In FIGURE 4, a first dotted frame 401, taken at the level of the front longitudinal edge 20 of the rear reinforcement 14 of the longeron 2, corresponds to an area illustrated in detail in FIGURE 5. A second dotted frame 402 corresponds to an area illustrated in FIGURE 6.

[0058] FIGURE 5 shows that, in the rear reinforcement 14 according to the invention, a tongue 22 extends, relative to the longitudinal axis 5, projecting from the front longitudinal edge 20 of the rear reinforcement 14. The tongue 22 comprises a free front longitudinal end 23, opposite a rear longitudinal end 24.

[0059] Figure 5 shows that the rear reinforcement 14 according to the invention comprises a blade 25 extending relative to the longitudinal axis 5 and a rebate 26 extending from the blade 25. In Figure 5, the blade 25 is supported against the web 13 of the spar 2 and in an L-shaped profile. The rebate 26 fits over the reinforcement 12 of the spar 2. The tongue 22 projects from a front longitudinal side 27 of the rebate 26.

[0060] FIGURE 5 shows that a front edge 28 of the blade 25 of the rear reinforcement 14 of the spar 2 is located, relative to the longitudinal axis 5, inset from the front longitudinal end 23 of the tongue 22.

[0061] FIGURE 5 shows a first gap 29 forming a distance between, relative to the longitudinal axis 5, on the one hand, a rear edge 30 of the central foot 3 bearing against the reinforcement 12 of the longeron 2 and, on the other hand, the front longitudinal end 23 of the tongue 22 of the rear reinforcement 14 of the longeron 2. A second gap 31 forming a distance between, relative to the longitudinal axis 5, on the one hand, the rear edge 30 of the central foot 3 bearing against the reinforcement 12 of the longeron 2 and, on the other hand, the front edge 28 of the blade 25 of the rear reinforcement 14 of the longeron 2. In this case, the first gap 29 is less than the second gap 31.

[0062] Figure 5 shows that the blade 25 of the rear reinforcement 14 of the longeron 2, conforming to the first aspect of the invention, is in the longitudinal extension of the web 13 of the longeron 2, relative to the longitudinal axis 5. Relative to the axis longitudinal 5, a rear edge 32 of the web 13 of spar 2 and the front longitudinal end 23 of the tongue 22 of the rear reinforcement 14 are misaligned.

[0063] Figure 6 shows the side member 2 for a motor vehicle 1, conforming to the second aspect of the invention, following a pole impact. The forces resulting from the pole impact are represented by an arrow 600. The invention allows for a progressive variation of inertia behind the central support 3, as shown in an ellipse 601. The rear reinforcement 14 of the side member 2, conforming to the first aspect of the invention, thus prevents the formation of a crease in the side member 2 located behind the central support 3. Therefore, the risk of breakage of the side member 2, which would be detrimental to the safety of the motor vehicle 1, is eliminated.

[0064] In summary, the invention relates to a rear reinforcement 14 of a side member 2 intended to collaborate with a side member 2 of a motor vehicle 1. According to the invention, the rear reinforcement 14 has, at the level of a front longitudinal edge 20, a tongue 22 which extends in projection relative to the front longitudinal edge 20 and relative to the longitudinal axis 5.

[0065] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Specifically, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Demands

1. Rear reinforcement (14) of a side member (2) intended to collaborate with a side member (2) of a motor vehicle (1), the rear reinforcement (14) having, at a front longitudinal edge (20), a tongue (22) which extends in projection from the front longitudinal edge (20) and relative to a longitudinal axis (5).

2. Rear reinforcement (14) of a longeron (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the rear reinforcement (14) of the longeron (2) comprises a blade (25) extending relative to the longitudinal axis (5) and intended to be placed in the extension of a web (13) of the longeron (2) and a rebate (26) extending from the blade (25) and in an L-shaped profile, the rebate (26) being intended to fit onto a reinforcement (12) of the spar (2) of said spar (2), the tongue (22) projecting from a front longitudinal side (27) of the rebate (26).

3. Rear reinforcement (14) of spar (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein a front edge (28) of the blade (25) of the rear reinforcement (14) of spar (2) is located, relative to the longitudinal axis (5), inset from a front longitudinal end (23) of the tongue (22).

4. Rear reinforcement (14) of spar (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein a distance separating the front longitudinal end (23) of the tongue (22) from a front longitudinal flank of the blade (25) of the rear reinforcement (14) is between 15 mm and 30 mm.

5. Side member (2) for a motor vehicle (1), the side member (2) comprising: - an inner longitudinal member (11) intended to extend along a longitudinal axis (5) of the motor vehicle (1); - a reinforcement (12) of the spar (2) intended to extend along the longitudinal axis (5), the inner spar (2) and the reinforcement (12) of the spar (2) together forming a hollow profile delimiting a space (15); - a web (13) of a spar (2) extending along the longitudinal axis (5) and inside the space (15) delimited by the reinforcement (12) of a spar (2) and by the inner spar (11); - a rear reinforcement (14) of the longeron (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, the rear reinforcement (14) extending over the reinforcement (12) of the longeron (2).

6. Longitudinal (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein, relative to the longitudinal axis (5), a rear edge (32) of the web (13) of the longitudinal (2) and the front longitudinal end (23) of the tongue (22) of the rear reinforcement (14) are misaligned.

7. Longer (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein, relative to the longitudinal axis (5), the rear edge (32) of the web (13) of the longer (2) is located in an intermediate position between the front edge (28) of the blade (25) of the rear reinforcement (14) of the longer (2) and the front longitudinal end (23) of the tongue (22).

8. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a side member (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 7 and a central foot (3) fixed securely to the side member (2) on an upper part (18) of the side member (2).

9. Motor vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a first gap (29), taken with respect to the longitudinal axis (5) and between, on the one hand, a rear edge (30) of the central foot (3) bearing against the reinforcement (12) of the side member (2) and, on the other hand, the front longitudinal end (23) of the tongue (22) of the rear reinforcement (14) of the side member (2) is less than a second gap (31), taken with respect to the longitudinal axis (5) and between, on the one hand, the rear edge (30) of the central foot (3) bearing against the reinforcement (12) of the side member (2) and, on the other hand, the front edge (28) of the blade (25) of the rear reinforcement (14) of the side member (2).

10. Motor vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first gap (29) is between 10 and 20 mm.

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