Motor vehicle back end fastened to a lining of the longitudinal beam

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: a chassis (4) comprising a rear part (4.1) with a left profiled section (6) and a right profiled section extending longitudinally and parallel to each other; a back end (8) comprising a cradle (8.1) with a front-left fastening point, a rear-left fastening point, a front-right fastening point (10) and a rear-right fastening point (11); characterised in that the front-left fastening point and the rear-left fastening point are directly fastened to the left profiled section and the front-right fastening point and the rear-right fastening point are directly fastened to the right profiled section.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: REAR AXLE OF MOTOR VEHICLE FIXED TO A LINING OF THE SIDE RAIL

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention claims priority from French application 2208445 filed on August 22, 2022, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly the field of motor vehicle chassis.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] Motor vehicles have a rear axle that is usually attached to a rear part of the body, and specifically attached to rear side rails, commonly referred to as side rails. These include a usually restricted environment to accommodate the attachment with the rear axle.

[0008] In this configuration, the attachment of the rear axle to the side members must be sufficiently compact and rigid to allow the absorption of any rear impacts on the chassis of the motor vehicle.

[0009] The published patent document FR 3 105 153 discloses a structure of the rear part of a motor vehicle body comprising a rear axle fixed by means of fixing members presented, respectively, in line with the lateral side members and in line with the side members arranged transversely at a distance from said lateral side members.

[0010] However, the solution proposed by the document generates additional constraints related to the adjustment tolerances of the rear axle. Indeed, such a configuration increases the position tolerances, then requiring practical implementation, i.e. making adjustments during the assembly of the motor vehicle, resulting in a loss of time and a high associated cost.

[0011] Statement of the invention

[0012] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a high-performance, simple and economical solution making it possible to ensure compact and optimal fixing of the rear axle to the structure of the motor vehicle, so as to reduce positioning tolerances.

[0013] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising:

[0014] - a chassis comprising a rear part with a left profile and a right profile, extending longitudinally and parallel to each other;

[0015] - a rear axle comprising a subframe with a front left attachment point, a rear left attachment point, a front right attachment point and a rear right attachment point; notable in that the front left attachment point and the rear left attachment point are attached directly to the left profile and the front right attachment point and the rear right attachment point are attached directly to the right profile.

[0016] According to one embodiment, each of the left and right profiles comprises, on a lower wall, a front orifice and a rear orifice each receiving a screw for fixing the corresponding fixing point of the cradle.

[0017] According to one embodiment, each of the left and right profiles further comprises a liner with a front hole aligned with the front hole of the bottom wall and supporting a front nut engaging with the corresponding fixing screw passing through said holes, and with a rear hole aligned with the rear hole of the bottom wall and supporting a rear nut engaging with the corresponding fixing screw passing through said holes.

[0018] According to one embodiment, each of the left and right profiles further comprises a front spacer disposed between the front orifice of the liner and the front orifice of the bottom wall, and a rear spacer disposed between the rear orifice of the liner and the rear orifice of the bottom wall.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the lower wall of each of the two left and right profiles forms at the front of said profile a downwardly directed projection, the front spacer extending vertically in said projection.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the lower wall of each of the left and right profiles has at the projection and at the front orifice a height less than a height at the rear orifice. According to one embodiment, each of the left and right profiles has a hollow and closed section, the lining being housed in said hollow and closed section.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the front spacer is longer than the rear spacer, preferably by at least 100%.

[0022] According to one embodiment, each of the front and rear nuts of each of the two profiles is housed in a cage fixed to the lining.

[0023] According to one embodiment, each of the cages is located mainly on one face of the lining which is opposite the corresponding lower wall.

[0024] Advantageously, the attachment of the rear axle to the motor vehicle of the invention is very precise because the front and rear holes of each lining are jointly produced. This eliminates the constraints linked to adjustment tolerances. To this end, the assembly of the rear axle on the motor vehicle does not require any practical implementation, saving time and controlling production costs.

[0025] Brief description of the drawings

[0026] [Fig 1] represents a perspective view from below of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig 2] shows a side sectional view of a hollow section profile of a rear part of the chassis of the vehicle of Fig. 1;

[0028] [Fig 3] shows an exploded view of a nut, a rear spacer and a cage intended to be fixed on a lining of the profile of the motor vehicle.

[0029] Detailed description

[0030] Figure 1 represents a perspective view from below of a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention.

[0031] The motor vehicle 2 comprises a chassis 4 comprising a rear portion 4.1 with two profiles 6, commonly referred to as "side members", extending longitudinally and parallel to each other. The profiles 6 are preferably connected to the underbody and to the floor of the motor vehicle 2. It can be seen that a rear axle 8 having a cradle 8.1 is rigidly fixed to each of the two profiles 6. In this configuration, the cradle 8.1 comprises a front right attachment point 10 and a rear right attachment point 11, as well as front left and rear left attachment points (not shown).

[0032] Each profile 6 comprises a lower wall 6.1 crossed by a fixing screw 12 allowing the front left and rear left fixing points to be directly fixed on the left profile as well as the front right 10 and rear right 11 fixing points on the right profile 6.

[0033] In this regard, the lower wall 6.1 comprises two orifices (not visible), corresponding to a front orifice and a rear orifice, each intended to receive the screw 12.

[0034] Figure 2 shows a side sectional view of the right profile 6 of the rear part

[0035] 4.1 of the chassis 4 of the motor vehicle 2 of figure 1. Preferably, the right and left profiles 6 are similar and symmetrical.

[0036] A hollow and closed section 6.2 of the profile 6 can be observed. Preferably, said hollow section 6.2 is U-shaped and is delimited, in the vertical direction Z, by the lower wall 6.1 and by a lining 7 preferably extending over at least one half of a total longitudinal extent of the profile 6.

[0037] The lining 7 is preferably obtained from a stamped sheet with a cross-section comprising a central portion 7.1, the latter preferably being parallel to the lower wall 6.1 of the profile 6.

[0038] It can be seen in Figure 2 that a nut cage 14 is arranged at the front 7.2 and rear 7.3 ends of the lining 7. In fact, the screw 12 (illustrated in Figure 1) of each of the front 10 and rear 11 fixing points, passes through the lining 7, and precisely passes through orifices 9, 9.1 arranged respectively at the front 7.2 and rear 7.3 ends in alignment with the front 10.1 and rear 11 orifices

[0039] 11.1 arranged on the lower wall 6.1 of the profile 6.

[0040] In this configuration, the fixing screw passes completely through a front spacer 16.1 and a rear spacer 16.2, the latter two being located in the hollow part 6.2 of the profile 6. The fixing screw also passes through a nut housed in the cage 14. Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the nut 18, the rear spacer 16.2 and the cage 14 intended to be fixed on the lining 7 of the left profile of figure 1.

[0041] Preferably, each of the front and rear spacers 16.2 is a hollow cylindrical part.

[0042] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the cage 14 is preferably a plastic part making it possible to hold the nut 18 on the lining 7. In this respect, the cage 14 advantageously comprises two clips 14.1 having a V shape intended to pass through the lining so as to ensure effective retention of the nut 18.

[0043] For this purpose, the cage 14 is located mainly on a face 7.4 of the lining 7 which is opposite the corresponding lower wall 6.1.

[0044] The clips 14.1 extend vertically towards the lower wall 6.1 and also make it possible to hold the spacer 16 in position and limit the movements in the hollow part 6.2 prior to fixing the assembly by means of the fixing screw.

[0045] It can be seen in Figure 2 that the lower wall 6.1 of the straight profile 6 forms at the front a projection 6.3 directed downwards. For this purpose, the lower wall 6.1 has at the level of the projection 6.3 and at the front opening 10.1 a height h1 lower than a height h2 at the rear opening 11.1. The heights h1, h2 preferably being relative to the ground.

[0046] The front spacer 16.1 extends vertically in the projection 6.3 from the front hole 9 of the liner 7 to the front hole 10.1 of the bottom wall 6.1. In this configuration, the front spacer 16.1 is longer than the rear spacer 16.2, preferably by at least twice its length, more preferably by approximately 150% (the term approximately corresponding to ±20%).

[0047] Preferably, the front spacer 16.1 passes through an intermediate orifice 10.2 arranged in line with an extension of the sheet metal forming the lower wall 6.1 from the rear orifice 9.1 upstream of the projection 6.3 and towards the front, said sheet metal being able to correspond to a first part of the lower wall 6.1. In this respect, the lower wall 6.1 in line with and downstream of the projection 6.3 may correspond to a second stamped part fixed on the first part so as to form the lower wall 6.1. Advantageously, the inventive assembly of the rear axle to the chassis of the motor vehicle following two fixing points at the level of the lining of the side member, makes it possible to reinforce the underbody of said motor vehicle, and makes it possible to ensure precise and improved fixing.

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1.] Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a chassis (4) comprising a rear part (4.1) with a left profile (6) and a right profile (6), extending longitudinally and parallel to each other; - a rear axle (8) comprising a cradle (8.1) with a left front attachment point, a left rear attachment point, a right front attachment point (10) and a right rear attachment point (11); characterized in that the left front attachment point and the left rear attachment point are attached directly to the left profile (6) and the right front attachment point (10) and the right rear attachment point (11) are attached directly to the right profile (6). [Claim 2.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, in which each of the left and right profiles (6) comprises, on a lower wall (6.1), a front orifice (10.1) and a rear orifice (11.1) each receiving a screw (12) for fixing the corresponding fixing point (10, 11) of the cradle (8.1). [Claim 3.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2, wherein each of the left and right profiles (6) further comprises a lining (7) with a front hole (9) aligned with the front hole (10.1) of the lower wall (6.1) and supporting a front nut (18) engaging with the corresponding fixing screw (12) passing through said holes (9, 10.1), and with a rear hole (9.1) aligned with the rear hole (11.1) of the lower wall (6.1) and supporting a rear nut (18) engaging with the corresponding fixing screw (12) passing through said holes (12). [Claim 4.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3, wherein each of the left and right profiles (6) further comprises a front spacer (16.1) disposed between the front orifice (9) of the lining (7) and the front orifice (10.1) of the lower wall (6.1), and a rear spacer (16.2) disposed between the rear orifice (9.1) of the lining (7) and the rear orifice (11.1) of the lower wall (6.1). [Claim 5.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 4, in which the lower wall (6.1) of each of the two left and right profiles (6) forms at the front of said profile (6) a projection (6.3) directed downwards, the front spacer (16.1) extending vertically in said projection (6.3). [Claim 6.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 5, in which the lower wall (6.1) of each of the left and right profiles (6) has at the projection (6.3) and at the front orifice (10.1) a height (h1) less than a height (h2) at the rear orifice (11.1). [Claim 7.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which each of the left and right profiles (6) has a hollow and closed section (6.2), the lining (7) being housed in said hollow and closed section (6.2). [Claim 8.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 4 to 7, in which the front spacer (16.1) is longer than the rear spacer (16.2), preferably by at least 100%. [Claim 9.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 3 to 8, in which each of the front and rear nuts (18) of each of the two profiles (6) is housed in a cage (14) fixed to the lining (7). [Claim 10.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 9, in which each of the cages (14) is located mainly on a face (7.4) of the lining (7) which is opposite the corresponding lower wall (6.1).

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