Motor vehicle deflector comprising deformable cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a deflector (1) intended to be mounted on the underbody structure (3) of a motor vehicle and comprising a protective wall (4) in which at least one cell (5) is formed, the cell (5) comprising a side wall (6) and a base (7) positioned at an inner end (11) of the cell (5), the base (7) comprising a hole (8) intended to receive a securing part (9) for securing the cell (5) to the underbody structure (3). The side wall (6) of the cell (5) comprises at least one elongate slit (10) extending over the height of the cell (5).

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Motor vehicle deflector comprising deformable cells

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles comprising an underbody structure under which a deflector is mounted.

[0002] A motor vehicle commonly includes an underbody structure under which components and equipment are fixed. Fairing elements, such as at least one deflector, are also fixed to the underbody structure, under the vehicle body to cover the equipment.

[0003] The deflector has several functions. It provides protection for equipment mounted under the body, particularly against splashes of water or gravel, but also potentially against impacts with objects placed on the road. The deflector has an aerodynamic shape and helps improve the stability of the vehicle while moving and / or reduce its drag. Finally, the deflector can also be configured to channel the air flowing under the body in order, for example, to supply a vehicle cooling circuit.

[0004] The deflector is a substantially flat part comprising a lower face facing the road and an upper face in contact with the vehicle body. The deflector is typically fixed under the body by fasteners such as nuts or screws.

[0005] To ensure the aerodynamic function of the deflector, the fixing parts are generally mounted in cells or barrels formed in the underside of the deflector.

[0006] Document FR3119826 is known, which discloses a deflector comprising a wall in which at least one cell is formed. The cell comprises a side wall and a base comprising an orifice intended to receive a nut for fixing the cell to the base structure.

[0007] Depending on the environment under the body and the airflow limits, the deflectors may include protruding parts located locally outside the ground clearance of the vehicle, i.e. protruding from the ground clearance. ground and directed towards the ground. This leads to a risk of the deflector breaking against a curb, for example.

[0008] To eliminate this risk, the current solution is to reduce or cut the deflectors to bring them to the level of the ground clearance but at the expense of the airflow surface.

[0009] This goes against a need for maximum underbody protection and a maximum airflow requirement.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an underbody deflector capable of absorbing shocks so as to be able to include portions extending beyond the ground clearance.

[0011] To this end, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a deflector intended to be mounted on an underbody structure of a motor vehicle and comprising a protective wall in which at least one cell is formed. The cell comprises a side wall and a bottom positioned at an internal end of the cell. The bottom comprises an orifice intended to receive a fixing part for fixing the cell to the underbody structure.

[0012] According to the invention, the side wall of the cell comprises at least one elongated slot, extending in the direction of the height of the cell.

[0013] The invention thus provides an underbody deflector capable of absorbing shocks so as to be able to include portions extending beyond the ground clearance.

[0014] The proposed solution allows the shape of the current deflectors to be maintained with maximum underbody coverage, ensuring optimal protection and maximum aeraulic function. The deflector can thus have parts protruding towards the ground and exceeding the ground clearance, without risk of being damaged.

[0015] The cells act like fuses. The cells deform if a part of the deflector protruding above the ground clearance hits a curb, for example.

[0016] When the curb is passed, the cells return to their original shape. The risk of the deflector breaking is avoided.

[0017] In addition, the absorption of shocks by the cells means that shocks are not transmitted to the parts protected by the deflector.

[0018] Alternatively, each slot extends in the side wall from the inner end of the cell toward an outer end of the cell opposite the inner end. The outer end is connected to an outer portion of the protective wall.

[0019] This configuration allows for maximum elongation of the slot to increase the shock absorption capacity of the cell.

[0020] According to another variant, the side wall of the cell has a generally truncated cone shape with an axis of revolution. The side wall includes several slots regularly distributed around the axis of revolution.

[0021] This distribution provides the flexibility necessary for the deformation of the alveolus to absorb a shock.

[0022] According to another variant, each slot and the axis of revolution are contained in the same plane. The slot is inclined relative to the axis of revolution.

[0023] This configuration optimizes the flexibility of the cell while maintaining the rigidity necessary for its maintenance on the base structure.

[0024] According to another variant, each slot extends from the bottom to around the outer part of the protective wall.

[0025] According to another variant, the side wall of the cell comprises a main part of a truncated cone shape connected to a curved edge. The curved edge is connected to the external part of the protective wall. The slot extends along the main part and the curved edge, from the bottom and to the vicinity of the external part of the protective wall.

[0026] This solution provides maximum length to the slot to optimize its deformation.

[0027] According to another variant, the slot comprises a straight portion extending into the main part of the side wall of the cell and a curved portion extending into the curved border.

[0028] According to another variant, the slit has a length between 4 cm and 8 cm.

[0029] According to another variant, the slot has a width of between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0030] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an underbody structure on which a deflector as defined above is mounted.

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0032] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a view from below of a motor vehicle comprising a deflector provided with cells;

[0033] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a detailed view of a cell of Figure 1;

[0034] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a view along a longitudinal section of the deflector of figure 1.

[0035] Figure 1 illustrates a view from below of a motor vehicle 2 comprising a body 17 comprising an underbody structure 3.

[0036] The underbody structure 3 comprises a plurality of fairing elements including a deflector 1 which forms a fairing profile intended to improve the aerodynamic properties of the motor vehicle 2, such as for example its drag. The fairing elements also constitute protective shields for equipment of the motor vehicle 2. The fairing elements may also have other functions such as for example participating in a cooling system.

[0037] The deflector 1 comprises a protective wall 4 with a lower face 19, which in use, is positioned opposite the driving surface such as the road. The deflector 1 is therefore positioned under the body 17.

[0038] The deflector 1 has a substantially planar shape with possibly protrusions. The deflector 1 comprises an upper face 20 fixed to the base structure 3. The deflector 1 is composed of a polymer.

[0039] The example of Figure 1 shows two cells 5 which are formed in the protective wall 4 of the deflector 1 so as to receive a fixing part 9 allowing the fixing of the deflector 1 to the body 17 of the motor vehicle 2. The fixing part 9 can be a nut or a screw, to ensure fixing of the deflector 1. In this example, the fixing element 9 is a screw 21 comprising a rod inserted into the underbody structure 3 and a head 22.

[0040] The screw 21 is preferably made of plastic, but a metal can also be used to form the screw 21.

[0041] To ensure the aerodynamic function of the deflector 1, the screw 21 is mounted in one of the cells 5.

[0042] Each cell 5 is connected to an external part 26 of the protective wall 4 and comprises a side wall 6 and a bottom 7 positioned at an internal end 11 of the cell 5, as illustrated in Figure 2. The bottom 7 is flat and comprises a circular orifice 8 intended to receive the fixing part 9.

[0043] The cell 5 has an elongated profile and forms a projection on the upper face 20 of the deflector 1, directed towards the base structure 3.

[0044] Cell 5 has a general truncated cone shape and an axis of revolution R. Its shape can also be cylindrical.

[0045] The cell 5 is, for example, obtained at the same time as the protective wall 4 during a molding step of the deflector 1.

[0046] According to the invention, the side wall 6 of the cell 5 comprises at least one elongated slot 10 extending over the height of the side wall 6.

[0047] In other words, the slot 10 extends in the side wall 6 from the inner end 11 of the cell 5 to an outer end 12 of the cell 5, opposite the inner end 11. The outer end 12 is connected to the outer part 26 of the protective wall 4.

[0048] The slot 10 is a longitudinally shaped opening created in the side wall 6, forming an openwork cell 5.

[0049] The external part 26 is the substantially flat part of the deflector 1 which protects the elements of the base structure 3.

[0050] In the example of figures 1 to 3, the side wall 6 comprises several slots 10 regularly distributed around the axis of revolution R. More precisely, the side wall 6 comprises eight slots 10 in this example.

[0051] Each slot 10 and the axis of revolution R are contained in the same plane. The slot 10 is inclined relative to the axis of revolution R by an angle between 20° and 70°.

[0052] The slots 10 can be oriented so as to have respective ends converging towards the same point by projection.

[0053] Alternatively, the slots 10 may not be oriented so as to have respective ends converging towards the same point by projection.

[0054] Alternatively, each slot 10 and the axis of revolution R may not be contained in the same plane.

[0055] Each slot 10 extends from the bottom 7 to around the external part 26 of the protective wall 4, without reaching the external part 26.

[0056] Alternatively, each slot 10 extends from the bottom 7 to the external part 26 of the protective wall 4.

[0057] Strips 28 or lamellae are formed in the side wall 6 of the cell 5 between the slots 10. These strips 28 are deformable and locally movable relative to each other. The strips 28 have a generally trapezoidal shape in this example. The strips 28 are attached to the bottom 7, to the inner end 11 of the cell 5, and attached to the outer part 26 of the protective wall 4, to the outer end 12 of the cell 5.

[0058] The side wall 6 of the cell 5 comprises a main part 13 of truncated cone shape which is connected to a curved edge 14 positioned at the external end 12 of the cell 5. The curved edge 14 has a generally annular shape with a curved section according to an axial section passing through the axis of revolution R. The curved edge 14 comprises a first edge 23 connected to the main part 13 and a second edge 24 connected to the external part 26 of the protective wall 4 of the deflector 1.

[0059] Preferably, the slot 10 extends into the main part 13 from the bottom 7 and continues into the curved edge 14 to about the external part 26 of the protective wall 4 of the deflector 1, that is to say that the slot 10 stops before the external part 26. The slot 10 can optionally extend as far as the external part 26.

[0060] Each slot 10 comprises a rectilinear portion 15 extending along the main part 13 of the side wall 6 of the cell 5 and a curved portion 16 extending along the curved edge 14.

[0061] For example, slot 10 has a length between 4 cm and 8 cm and a width between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0062] Figure 3 illustrates a portion of the deflector 1 positioned facing a road 29 on which the motor vehicle 2 is traveling. The portion of the deflector 1 protrudes beyond the ground clearance of the motor vehicle 2, that is to say it is positioned below a ground clearance limit G of the motor vehicle 2, in a vertical direction X. The front bumper may be above the ground clearance limit G, for example.

[0063] However, when this part of the deflector 1 encounters a sidewalk, it deforms and moves towards the base structure 3, following a direction opposite to the road 29, without being damaged thanks to the cell 5. This part of the deflector 1 returns to its initial shape and position once the sidewalk has passed.

[0064] The cell 5 has absorbed the shock and the mechanical stress due to the thrust exerted by the pavement on the external part 26 of the protective wall 4 of the deflector 1 which exceeds the ground clearance limit G. The side wall 6 of the cell 5 is deformed thanks to the slots 10 which allow a deformation of the strips 28 formed between the slots 10.

[0065] When the sidewalk is passed, the strips 28 return to their initial position and the deflector 1 remains intact.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Deflector (1) intended to be mounted on an underbody structure (3) of a motor vehicle (2) and comprising a protective wall (4) in which at least one cell (5) is formed, the cell (5) comprising a side wall (6) and a bottom (7) positioned at an internal end (11) of the cell (5), the bottom (7) comprising an orifice (8) intended to receive a fixing part (9) for fixing the cell (5) to the underbody structure (3), characterized in that the side wall (6) of the cell (5) comprises at least one slot (10) of elongated shape, extending in the direction of the height of the cell (5).

2. Deflector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each slot (10) extends in the side wall (6) from the inner end (11) of the cell (5) and towards an outer end (12) of the cell (5), opposite the inner end (11), and connected to an outer part (26) of the protective wall (4).

3. Deflector (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the side wall (6) of the cell (5) has a generally truncated cone shape with an axis of revolution (R), the side wall (6) comprising several slots (10) regularly distributed around the axis of revolution (R).

4. Deflector (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each slot (10) and the axis of revolution (R) are contained in the same plane, the slot (10) being inclined relative to the axis of revolution (R).

5. Deflector (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each slot (10) extends from the bottom (7) to around the external part (26) of the protective wall (4).

6. Deflector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the side wall (6) of the cell (5) comprises a main part (13) of truncated cone shape connected to a curved edge (14), the curved edge (14) being connected to the external part (26) of the protective wall (4), the slot (10) extending along the main part (13) and the curved edge (14), from the bottom (7) and to the vicinity of the external part (26) of the protective wall (4).

7. Deflector (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the slot (10) comprises a rectilinear portion (15) extending in the main part (13) of the side wall (6) of the cell (5) and a curved portion (16) extending in the curved edge (14).

8. Deflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the slot (10) has a length of between 4 cm and 8 cm.

9. Deflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the slot (10) has a width of between 1 mm and 3 mm.

10. Motor vehicle (2), characterized in that it comprises a base structure (3) on which is mounted a deflector (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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