Modular chassis for a motor vehicle

Abstract

This chassis (10) of a motor vehicle comprises a central floor (12), a front portion (14) attached to a first end of the central floor (12), and a rear portion (16) attached to a second end of the central floor (12), the central floor (12) comprising four unvarying corner elements (18) regardless of the type of vehicle to be produced. The four corner elements (18) are made of aluminium and are connected by two orthogonal pairs of aluminium sections (20, 22), the length of which varies according to the type of vehicle to be produced. The front portion (14) comprises a pair of front longitudinal members (24) and at least one front cross member (26) orthogonal thereto, and the rear portion (16) comprises a pair of rear longitudinal members (25) and at least one rear cross member (27) orthogonal thereto, the length of the front and rear longitudinal members (24, 25) and the front and rear cross members (26, 27) varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced.

Description

[0001] Title of the invention: MODULAR MOTOR VEHICLE CHASSIS

[0002] The present invention relates to a modular motor vehicle chassis.

[0003] The invention belongs to the field of motor vehicle chassis and is applicable to any means of rolling transport.

[0004] Currently, a wide variety of platforms or chassis, with different architectures and dimensions, is necessary to produce different types of motor vehicles, with different powertrains and different ground connections.

[0005] In order to reduce costs, it is known to provide a modular platform, comprising elements common to several types of vehicles and therefore making it possible to build several types of vehicles from the same platform.

[0006] However, the components of current platforms are often made of stamped sheet metal in materials with a high mass. In addition, the shape of many components of current platforms differs depending on the type of vehicle to be produced, which maintains a level of diversity and therefore high manufacturing costs.

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0008] For this purpose, the present invention proposes a motor vehicle chassis, comprising a central floor, a front part fixed to a first end of the central floor and a rear part fixed to a second end of the central floor, remarkable in that: the central floor comprises four invariant corner elements whatever the type of vehicle to be produced;the four corner elements are made of aluminum, comprise two front corner elements and two rear corner elements and are connected, on the one hand, by a pair of longitudinal aluminum profiles each connecting a front corner element and the rear corner element facing it and on the other hand, by a pair of front and rear transverse aluminum profiles, the front transverse profile connecting the front corner elements and the rear transverse profile connecting the rear corner elements, the length of the longitudinal profiles and the transverse profiles varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced;the front portion comprises a pair of front side members connecting the front portion to the central floor and at least one front cross member extending orthogonally between the front side members and the rear portion comprises a pair of rear side members and at least one rear cross member extending orthogonally between the rear side members, the length of the front and rear side members and the front and rear cross members varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced.;

[0009] Thus, not only does the modular nature of the chassis according to the present invention make it possible to use this chassis to produce various types of vehicles, by simply modifying its dimensions, but in addition, the use of invariant corner elements makes it possible to significantly reduce diversity and therefore manufacturing costs and times. Furthermore, the use of aluminum corner elements and aluminum profiles makes it possible to lighten the vehicles. The same chassis therefore makes it possible to produce lighter vehicles with different powertrains, different ground connections and different aesthetics more quickly, while being less expensive.

[0010] In a particular embodiment, the four corner elements are blocks from an aluminum foundry.

[0011] This offers a good compromise between robustness and lightness and provides optimal longevity to these parts.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the pair of longitudinal profiles and the pair of transverse profiles come from an aluminum extrusion die.

[0013] This makes it easy to adapt these parts to different sizes, depending on the type of vehicle to be produced.

[0014] In a particular embodiment, the pair of longitudinal profiles is a pair of sills, the front transverse profile is attached to the pair of sills between the front corner members and the rear transverse profile is attached to the pair of sills between the rear corner members.

[0015] This configuration facilitates the assembly of the vehicle. In a particular embodiment, the pair of sills is provided with a network of internal reinforcing ribs.

[0016] This network of ribs is easily adaptable depending on the desired rigidity of the body.

[0017] In a particular embodiment, the pair of flaps is fitted into cavities provided on the four corner elements.

[0018] This assembly is particularly simple to make and of good quality.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the pair of flaps is further fixed to the corner elements by glue and by at least one rivet.

[0020] This further increases the reliability of the assembly by eliminating any possible play between the flaps and the corner elements.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, the front part and the rear part are fixed to the central floor by screwing and / or bolting.

[0022] The assembly of the central floor and the front and rear sections is thus particularly simple to carry out and reinforces the modular nature of the chassis.

[0023] For the same purpose as that indicated above, the present invention also provides a motor vehicle, remarkable in that it comprises a chassis as described briefly above.

[0024] For the same purpose as that indicated above, the present invention also provides a range of at least two types of motor vehicles each comprising a chassis as described briefly above, remarkable in that the front and rear corner elements are invariant between the two types of vehicles, while at least one pair of profiles chosen from either the longitudinal profiles or the front and rear transverse profiles, has a different length for each of the two types of vehicles.

[0025] Since the advantages and special features of the vehicle and range are identical to those of the chassis, they are not repeated here.

[0026] Brief description of the drawings

[0027] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below of particular embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] is a schematic representation of a reference point classically used in automobile design;

[0029] [Fig. 2] is a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, the front of the vehicle being shown on the left in the figure, in a particular embodiment;

[0030] [Fig. 3] is a schematic sectional view of a sill included in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0031] [Fig. 4A] is a schematic sectional view showing the attachment between a sill and a rear corner element in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0032] [Fig. 4B] is a schematic perspective view showing the attachment between a sill and a rear corner element in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0033] [Fig. 5] is a schematic view showing the attachment between a front side member and a front corner member in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0034] [Fig. 6] is a schematic view showing the attachment between the rear part and the central floor in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment.

[0035] Description of embodiment(s)

[0036] Figure 1 shows a direct orthonormal XYZ coordinate system conventionally used in automotive design and which will be used in this description. The X axis designates the front-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear. The Y axis designates the transverse direction and is oriented towards the right of the vehicle. The Z axis designates the vertical direction and is oriented upwards.

[0037] This reference is present in Figure 2, which shows a motor vehicle chassis 10 according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment. The chassis 10 comprises a central floor 12, a front part 14 fixed to a first end of the central floor 12 and a rear part 16 fixed to a second end of the central floor 12.

[0038] By way of non-limiting example, the front part 14 and the rear part 16 can be fixed to the central floor 12 by screwing and / or bolting.

[0039] In accordance with the present invention, the central floor 12 comprises four corner elements 18, which are invariant, that is to say of the same dimensions, of the same shape and made of the same material, whatever the type of vehicle to be produced from the chassis 10.

[0040] The four corner elements 18 include two front corner elements 180 symmetrical about the XZ plane and two rear corner elements 182 symmetrical about the XZ plane.

[0041] The four corner elements 18 are made of aluminum and are typically formed from blocks produced by an aluminum casting process. In a conventional manner in casting, this process conditions the curves and angles of connection of the outer surfaces of the four corner elements.

[0042] The four corner elements 18 are connected by a pair of longitudinal profiles 20 extending in the front-rear longitudinal direction X, also called side members and by a pair of front and rear transverse profiles 22 extending in the left-right transverse direction Y. The term "profile" means that these parts have a constant section.

[0043] Each profile of the pair of longitudinal profiles 20 connects a front corner element 180 and the rear corner element 182 facing it.

[0044] The front transverse profile 22 connects the two front corner elements 180 to each other and the rear transverse profile 22 connects the two rear corner elements 182 to each other.

[0045] Furthermore, the profiles 20 and 22 are made of aluminum, for example extruded aluminum, that is to say that the profiles 20 and 22 can come from an aluminum extrusion die. The lengths of the profiles 20 and 22 vary from one type of vehicle to another within the same range of vehicles, following the direction of the arrows Fx and F Y .

[0046] The pair of longitudinal profiles 20 is for example a pair of flaps. In this embodiment, each flap 20 connects a front corner element 180 and the rear corner element 182 facing it.

[0047] In this embodiment, the pair of transverse profiles 22 is orthogonal to the pair of flaps 20. The front transverse profile 22 is attached to the pair of flaps 20 between the two front corner members 180 and the rear transverse profile 22 is attached to the pair of flaps 20 between the two rear corner members 182.

[0048] The front portion 14 comprises a pair of front side members 24 extending in the front-rear longitudinal direction X and at least one front cross member 26 extending between the two front side members 24 in the left-right transverse direction Y. Interface pieces provide the junction between the front side members 24 and the front corner members 180.

[0049] The rear portion 16 comprises a pair of rear side members 25 extending in the front-rear longitudinal direction X and at least one rear cross member 27 extending between the two rear side members 25 in the left-right transverse direction Y. Interface pieces provide the junction between the rear side members 25 and the rear corner elements 182.

[0050] The lengths of the front and rear side members 24, 25 and of the front and rear cross members 26, 27 vary from one type of vehicle to another, within the same range of vehicles, following the direction of the arrows FXAV and FYAV for the front part 14 and following the direction of the arrows FXAR and FYAR for the rear part 16.

[0051] The central floor 12 is delimited, at the front, by an apron 28 arranged between the front corner elements 180. The lower part of the apron 28 is constituted by the front transverse profile 22. The apron 28 forms a partition separating the passenger compartment from the front compartment of the vehicle.

[0052] Furthermore, the central floor 12 comprises a longitudinal central tunnel TC which extends in the front-rear longitudinal direction X over the entire length of the central floor 12. Cross members under the seats TS extend in the left-right transverse direction Y and connect the central tunnel TC on each of its sides to the longitudinal profiles or side members or skirts 20.

[0053] The interface pieces for attaching the front side members 24 to the front corner members 180 and the interface pieces for attaching the rear side members 25 to the rear corner members 182 are described below in connection with Figures 5 and 6, in particular embodiments.

[0054] Figure 5 shows the attachment between a front side member 24 and a front corner member 180, in a particular embodiment. As an example, Figure 5 shows the left front side member 24 and the left front corner member 180. The attachment between the right front side member 24 and the right front corner member 180 is similar, since the left and right front corner members 180 and the left and right front side members 24 are symmetrical with respect to the front-rear longitudinal direction X.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, a front interface part 50 has a first surface 51 attached to the front spar 24, for example by one or more rivets 510 and a second surface 52 attached to the front interface element 180 by one or more screws 520.

[0056] Figure 6 shows the attachment between the rear portion 16 and the central floor 12 and more particularly the attachment between a rear side member 25 and a rear corner element 182, in a particular embodiment. As an example, Figure 6 shows the left rear side member 25 and the left rear corner element 182. The attachment between the right rear side member 25 and the right rear corner element 182 is similar, since the left and right rear corner elements 182 and the left and right rear side members 25 are symmetrical with respect to the front-rear longitudinal direction X.

[0057] As shown in Figure 6, a first rear interface piece 60 connects, by means of one or more rivets 600, the longitudinal profile 20, the rear transverse profile 22 and the rear corner element 182. Furthermore, a second rear interface piece 62 connects, by means of one or more screws 620, the rear side member 25, the rear transverse profile 22 and the rear corner element 182. As shown in the sectional view of Figure 3, optionally, the interior of each longitudinal profile or side member or sill 20, also called sill web, may be provided with a network of ribs 30. The internal ribs 30 contribute to the reinforcement of the sills 20.

[0058] The core of the front and rear transverse profiles 22 and / or the front and rear side members 24, 25 and / or the front and rear cross members 26, 27 can also be provided with a network of reinforcing ribs.

[0059] In a particular embodiment, the flaps 20 of the pair of flaps are fitted at each of their ends into cavities provided on the four corner elements 18. The pair of flaps 20 can further be fixed to the corner elements 18 by glue and by one or more rivets.

[0060] Figures 4A and 4B show by way of example the attachment between a flap 20 and a rear corner element 182. The method of attachment between a flap 20 and a front corner element 180 is similar. Thus, as shown in the sectional view of Figure 4A and the perspective view of Figure 4B, in a particular embodiment, the rear end of each flap of the pair of flaps 20 is fitted into a cavity provided in the rear corner element 182 which receives this end. The shape of the walls of the cavity and the shape of the cross-section of the flap 20 which is fitted therein are complementary.

[0061] In the particular embodiment of Figures 4A and 4B, the rear end of each flap of the pair of flaps 20 is further fixed to the rear corner element 182 which receives this rear end by glue (the glued parts are indicated in Figure 4A by the reference C) and by at least one rivet 40.

[0062] Thanks to the adjustable nature of the dimensions of the sills 20, the front and rear transverse profiles 22, the front and rear side members 24, 25 and the front and rear cross members 26, 27, different types of vehicles, having different engines, different ground connections and different aesthetics, can be produced from the chassis 10 according to the invention, without modifying the corner elements 18, the chassis 10 being further lightened thanks to the corner elements 18 and the longitudinal and transverse profiles 20, 22 all made of aluminum.Thus, the invention proposes a range of at least two types of motor vehicles in accordance with the invention, each comprising a chassis 10 as described above, and in this range, the front corner elements 180 and the rear corner elements 182 are invariant between the various types of vehicles, while at least one pair of profiles chosen from either the longitudinal profiles 20 or the front and rear transverse profiles 22 has a different length for each of the various types of vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Chassis (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising a central floor (12), a front part (14) fixed to a first end of the central floor (12) and a rear part (16) fixed to a second end of the central floor (12), characterized in that: the central floor (12) comprises four corner elements (18) which are invariant regardless of the type of vehicle to be produced;the four corner elements (18) are made of aluminum, comprise two front corner elements (180) and two rear corner elements (182) and are connected, on the one hand, by a pair of longitudinal profiles (20) made of aluminum each connecting a front corner element (180) and the rear corner element (182) facing it and on the other hand, by a pair of front and rear transverse profiles (22) made of aluminum, the front transverse profile (22) connecting the front corner elements (180) and the rear transverse profile (22) connecting the rear corner elements (182), the length of the longitudinal profiles (20) and the transverse profiles (22) varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced;the front part (14) comprises a pair of front side members (24) connecting the front part (14) to the central floor (12) and at least one front cross member (26) extending orthogonally between the front side members (24) and the rear part (16) comprises a pair of rear side members (25) and at least one rear cross member (27) extending orthogonally between the rear side members (25), the length of the front and rear side members (24, 25) and of the front and rear cross members (26, 27) varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced.;

2. Chassis (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the four corner elements (18) are blocks from an aluminum foundry.

3. Frame (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pair of longitudinal profiles (20) and the pair of transverse profiles (22) come from an aluminum extrusion die.

4. Chassis (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the pair of longitudinal profiles (20) is a pair of sills (20), the front transverse profile (22) is fixed to the pair of sills (20) between the front corner members (180) and the rear transverse profile (22) is fixed to the pair of flaps (20) between the rear corner members (182).

5. Chassis (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the pair of flaps (20) is provided with a network of internal reinforcing ribs (30).

6. Frame (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pair of flaps (20) is fitted into cavities provided on the four corner elements (18).

7. Frame (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the pair of flaps (20) is further fixed to the corner elements (18) by glue (C) and by at least one rivet (40).

8. Chassis (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front part (14) and the rear part (16) are fixed to the central floor (12) by screwing and / or bolting.

9. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a chassis (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Range of at least two types of motor vehicles each comprising a chassis (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front and rear corner elements (180, 182) are invariant between the two types of vehicles, while at least one pair of profiles chosen from either the longitudinal profiles (20) or the front and rear transverse profiles (22), has a different length for each of the two types of vehicles.

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