Motor vehicle rear train attached by a cubic spacer to the inside of the longitudinal member

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a chassis comprising a rear part with two profiles (6) extending longitudinally and parallel to each other; - a rear train comprising a cradle rigidly attached to each of the two profiles, characterised in that at least one attachment of the cradle to one of the profiles comprises a screw passing through the profile and engaging with a spacer (16) inside the profile and a nut (18) inside the profile, the spacer being arranged between, and against, a bottom wall (6.1) of the profile and a reinforcing tab (20), the nut being against the reinforcing tab opposite the spacer.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: REAR AXLE OF MOTOR VEHICLE SECURED BY A CUBIC SPACER INSIDE THE SIDE MEMBERS

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention claims priority from French application 2213045 filed on December 9, 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 "sills". 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 A1 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 requires the use of bulky reinforcements at the level of the fixing members, both at the level of the side members and the longitudinal members, in order to stiffen the fixing. Such a configuration makes the assembly of the rear axle heavier and more complex, resulting in 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 simple, efficient and economical solution making it possible to ensure optimal fixing of the rear axle to the structure of the motor vehicle and which guarantees endurance of the holding of said fixing of the rear axle, and this in a compact environment and without causing an increase in the mass of the assembly.

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

[0014] - a chassis comprising a rear part with two profiles extending longitudinally and parallel to each other;

[0015] - a rear axle comprising a cradle rigidly fixed to each of the two profiles, remarkable in that at least one fixing of the cradle to one of the profiles comprises a screw passing through the profile and engaging with a spacer inside the profile and a nut inside the profile, the spacer being arranged between, and against, a lower wall of the profile and a reinforcing tab, the nut being against said reinforcing tab opposite said spacer.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the spacer is rigidly fixed to the lower wall, preferably by welding.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the motor vehicle further comprises a reinforcement forming a profile of right-angled cross-section, with a first wall between the lower wall and a front face of the spacer and a second wall fixed against a side face of the spacer.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the lateral face of the spacer is flat.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the nut is housed in a cage fixed to the reinforcement lug, preferably by clipping.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the reinforcing tab forms a bracket with a vertical wall fixed against a side wall of the profile, and a horizontal wall between the spacer and the nut.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the reinforcement extends longitudinally along a length greater than or equal to a total longitudinal extent of the reinforcement tab and less than or equal to twice said total longitudinal extent of the reinforcement tab. According to one embodiment, the spacer is fixed at right angles to a central portion of the extent of the reinforcement.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the at least one attachment comprises two attachments forming a left rear attachment point and a right rear attachment point of the cradle on each of the two profiles, respectively.

[0023] The invention also relates to a profile of hollow and closed section, for a motor vehicle chassis, comprising an orifice intended to receive a fixing screw, characterized in that the profile comprises a reinforcement fixed to a lower wall of the profile, a spacer located in the profile, a reinforcement tab fixed to the profile, and a nut resting on the reinforcement tab, and located in the profile, said nut being housed in a cage fixed to the reinforcement tab, said spacer comprising a lateral face fixed to a vertical wall of the reinforcement.

[0024] The attachment of the rear axle cradle to the profiles of the motor vehicle of the invention makes it possible to ensure an optimal, lightweight and space-saving attachment. Indeed, the reinforcement extends longitudinally in an optimized manner, thus minimizing the total mass of the profile, resulting in a reduction of the associated costs.

[0025] The spacer fixed by welding to the reinforcement, and resting against the reinforcement lug, ensures good endurance of the rear axle attachment to the structure of the motor vehicle.

[0026] Brief description of the drawings

[0027] [Fig 1] represents a perspective view from below of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig 2] represents a perspective view of a hollow section profile of a rear part of the chassis of the vehicle of Fig. 1;

[0029] [Fig 3] represents a perspective view of a nut housed in a cage intended to be fixed to a reinforcing tab mounted on the profile of figure 2;

[0030] Detailed description

[0031] Figure 1 shows a perspective view from below of a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 2 comprises a chassis 4 comprising a rear part 4.1 with two profiles 6, commonly referred to as "spars", extending longitudinally and parallel to each other.

[0032] It can be seen that a rear axle 8 has a cradle 8.1 rigidly fixed to each of the two profiles 6. In this configuration, the cradle 8.1 preferably comprises two rear fixing points 10 corresponding to a right rear fixing point and a left rear fixing point.

[0033] Each profile 6 comprises a lower wall 6.1 crossed by a fixing screw 12 10. In this regard, the lower wall 6.1 comprises an orifice (not shown) intended to receive the screw 12.

[0034] Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the profile 6 of the rear part 4.1 of the chassis 4 of the motor vehicle 2 of figure 1.

[0035] A hollow and closed section 6.2 of the profile 6 can be observed. Preferably, each of the two profiles 6 of the motor vehicle comprises a hollow U-shaped section.

[0036] In this configuration, the hollow part 6.2 of the profile 6 is delimited, in the vertical direction Z illustrated in figure 1, by the lower wall 6.1. The latter comprises a reinforcement 7 forming a profile of right-angled cross-section extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] The screw 12 of the fixing 10 illustrated in figure 1, extends vertically in the profile 6 passing successively through: the lower wall 6.1, the reinforcement 7, a spacer 16 arranged inside the profile 6, a reinforcement tab 20 and a nut arranged against said reinforcement tab 20.

[0038] The spacer 16 is sandwiched between the reinforcing tab 20 and the reinforcement 7. In this respect, the reinforcement 7 comprises a first wall 7.1 fixed by welding to the lower wall 6.1 of the profile 6, and the tab 20 comprises a horizontal wall 20.1 arranged between the spacer 16 and the nut 18 visible in Figure 3.

[0039] Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the nut 18 housed in a cage 14 intended to be fixed to the reinforcing tab 20.

[0040] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the cage 14 is preferably a plastic part for holding the nut 18 on the lug 20. In this respect, the cage 14 advantageously comprises two clips 14.1 having a V shape and intended to pass through the reinforcing lug so as to ensure effective retention of the nut 18. 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 screw. In this configuration, the screw 12 of the fixing 10 of Figure 1 passes completely and vertically through the spacer 16, the nut 18 and the cage 14.

[0041] Preferably, the leg 20 forms a bracket with, in addition, a vertical wall 20.2 directly fixed to a side wall 6.3 of the profile 6.

[0042] The spacer 16 comprises a front face 16.1 bearing against the first wall 7.1 of the reinforcement 7. The latter also comprises a second wall 7.2 fixed against a lateral face 16.2 of the spacer 16. Preferably, the second wall 7.2 extends perpendicular to the first wall 7.1.

[0043] In this regard, the spacer 16 preferably comprises a rectangular parallelepiped shape. More preferably, the spacer 16 comprises a cubic shape. Thus, the lateral face 16.2 of the spacer 16 is flat.

[0044] The spacer 16 is preferably rigidly fixed by welding to the first 7.1 and second walls 7.2 of the reinforcement 7. In this configuration, a weld bead can be arranged at each junction between lateral faces of the spacer 16 with the walls 7.1, 7.2 of the reinforcement 7.

[0045] Advantageously, the vertical support of the spacer 16 against the reinforcing lug 20 as well as its rigid fixing on the reinforcement 7 makes it possible to improve the resistance of the assembly against axial and radial forces, and thus to ensure good endurance of the holding of the fixing of the rear axle on the structure of the motor vehicle.

[0046] The reinforcement 7 extends longitudinally along a length i greater than or equal to a total longitudinal extent j of the reinforcement tab 20 and less than or equal to twice said total longitudinal extent j of the tab 20.

[0047] Preferably, the length i of the reinforcement 7 is between 40 mm and 200 mm. The spacer 16 is fixed at right angles to a central part of the extent i of the reinforcement 7. Advantageously, the reinforcement 7 extends longitudinally in the profile 6 in an optimized manner, minimizing the total mass of said profile 6 and thus that of the motor vehicle, resulting in a reduction in the associated costs.

[0048] The profile 6 of the invention makes it possible to fix the cradle of the rear axle to the motor vehicle effectively with firm support of the nut on the reinforcement lug guaranteeing good endurance of the fixing, and this by means of optimized reinforcement, thus guaranteeing lightness to the assembly of the motor vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1.] Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a chassis (4) comprising a rear part (4.1) with two profiles (6) extending longitudinally and parallel to each other; - a rear axle (8) comprising a cradle (8.1) rigidly fixed to each of the two profiles (6), characterized in that at least one fixing (10) of the cradle (8.1) to one of the profiles (6) comprises a screw (12) passing through the profile (6) and engaging with a spacer (16) inside the profile (6) and a nut (18) inside the profile (6), the spacer (16) being arranged between, and against, a lower wall (6.1) of the profile (6) and a reinforcing tab (20), the nut (18) being against said reinforcing tab (20) opposite said spacer (16). [Claim 2.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer (16) is rigidly fixed to the lower wall (6.1), preferably by welding. [Claim 3.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2, further comprising a reinforcement (7) forming a profile of right-angled cross-section, with a first wall (7.1) between the lower wall (6.1) and a front face (16.1) of the spacer (16) and a second wall (7.2) fixed against a side face (16.2) of the spacer (16). [Claim 4.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the lateral face (16.2) of the spacer (16) is flat. [Claim 5.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the nut (18) is housed in a cage (14) fixed to the reinforcing lug (20), preferably by clipping. [Claim 6.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reinforcing tab (20) forms a bracket with a vertical wall (20.2) fixed against a side wall (6.3) of the profile (6), and a horizontal wall (20.1) between the spacer (16) and the nut (18). [Claim 7.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3 or one of claims 4 to 6 as they depend on claim 3, characterized in that the reinforcement (7) extends longitudinally along a length (i) greater than or equal to a total longitudinal extent (j) of the reinforcing tab (20) and less than or equal to twice said total longitudinal extent (j) of the reinforcing tab (20). [Claim 8.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claims 3 and 7, characterized in that the spacer (16) is fixed at right angles to a central part of the extent of the reinforcement (7). [Claim 9.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one attachment (10) comprises two attachments forming a left rear attachment point and a right rear attachment point of the cradle on each of the two profiles (6), respectively. [Claim 10.] Profile (6) of hollow and closed section (6.2), for chassis (4) of motor vehicle (2), comprising an orifice intended to receive a fixing screw (12), characterized in that the profile (6) comprises a reinforcement (7) fixed to a lower wall (6.1) of the profile (6), a spacer (16) located in the profile (6), a reinforcement tab (20) fixed to the profile (6), and a nut (18) resting on the reinforcement tab (20), and located in the profile (6), said nut (18) being housed in a cage (14) fixed to the reinforcement tab (20), said spacer (16) comprising a lateral face (16.2) fixed to a vertical wall (7.2) of the reinforcement (7).

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