Reinforcement for a longitudinal member with two fastening positions according to the track width of the motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (2) comprising: two longitudinal members (4) extending longitudinally on either side of a passenger compartment floor (6), each longitudinal member comprising an inner longitudinal member (4.1) and an outer longitudinal member (4.2) fastened to the inner longitudinal member by at least one junction rebate (4.3, 4.4); a reinforcement (10) arranged in each of the two longitudinal members, between the inner longitudinal member and the outer longitudinal member; a tab for fastening the reinforcement to the at least one junction rebate; characterized in that the reinforcement comprises two fastening positions (7, 9) for the tab that are offset transversely so as to adapt to two different track widths of the motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: SIDE RAIL REINFORCEMENT WITH TWO FIXING POSITIONS ACCORDING TO THE TRACK WIDTH OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention claims priority from French application 2302422 filed on March 16, 2023 (03 / 16 / 2023), 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 to the field of the structure of motor vehicles.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] The platforms of motor vehicles comprising a tray for electric traction energy accumulators, commonly referred to as a battery tray, have side members comprising various reinforcements, for example, the arrangement of reinforcements in internal parts of the side members, an increase in thickness at the level of the external and internal walls, partitions, etc. In addition, other elements of the motor vehicle are generally reinforced, such as the central tunnel, the floor, the B-pillar, the roof, etc.

[0008] These various reinforcements make it possible, particularly for electric vehicles, to avoid any contact with the battery tray which would cause a fire to start, and make it possible to limit dynamic door intrusions, tunnel collapses (causing floor tears) and folds and / or tears in the side member, which makes it easier for vehicles to obtain satisfactory results during side impact protocols.

[0009] However, it is common for a car manufacturer to produce two or more models with similar platforms that may only have minor differences, for example, a difference only in track width. Such a difference conventionally results in the use of internal side member reinforcements adapted to each of the two platforms. This is an uneconomical solution that therefore offers room for improvement in order to standardize the internal side member reinforcements, and thus ensure a reduction in manufacturing costs. Published patent document GB 2 357472 A1 discloses a support assembly suitable for a convertible type motor vehicle chassis, comprising a tubular reinforcement welded to the assembly by means of an L-shaped bracket, and making it possible to provide additional structural support to the vehicle.

[0010] However, the solution presented by the document does not effectively overcome the technical problem, because the support assembly does not allow its use on two similar motor vehicle platforms with different track widths.

[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 for reinforcing the side members of a motor vehicle, while being adaptable to two different track widths of two models of motor vehicles having substantially similar platforms.

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

[0014] - two side members extending longitudinally on either side of a passenger compartment floor, each side member comprising an inner side member and an outer side member fixed to the inner side member by at least one joining rebate;

[0015] - a reinforcement placed in each of the two side members, between the inner side member and the outer side member;

[0016] - a tab ensuring attachment of the reinforcement to the at least one joining groove; remarkable in that the reinforcement comprises two transversely offset tab attachment positions, so as to adapt to two different track widths of the motor vehicle.

[0017] Preferably, the outer side member is part of one side of the body of the motor vehicle. The tab is preferably arranged at one end, advantageously the rear, of the reinforcement.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the two fixing positions comprise screw and / or rivet fixing holes arranged on an upper wall of the reinforcement.

[0019] According to one embodiment, each of the two fixing positions comprises two holes, preferably threaded, distributed longitudinally along the reinforcement. According to one embodiment, the at least one joining groove comprises an upper joining groove and a lower joining groove, the tab being fixed by welding in the upper joining groove.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the leg comprises an L-shaped section with a branch fixed by screwing and / or riveting to one of the two fixing positions.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the leg comprises a stiffening rib extending between two holes for fixing to the reinforcement, over at least 70% of a total extent of the L-shaped section of said leg.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the tab comprises an end provided with at least one tab directly welded into the upper joining groove.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the two fixing positions of the tab are offset transversely by at least 20 mm and at most 80 mm.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a motor vehicle model with, selectively, a first track width or a second track width greater than the first track width, comprising the following steps:

[0025] - assembly of a passenger compartment floor and two interior side members on either side of said passenger compartment floor;

[0026] - installation of a reinforcement in each of the two interior side members;

[0027] - assembly of two outer side members on the two inner side members, respectively; remarkable in that the motor vehicle is according to the invention; and, in the step of placing the reinforcement, the tab is fixed, selectively, to a first of the two reinforcement fixing positions for the first track width or to a second of said two reinforcement fixing positions for the second track width.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the leg has an L-shaped profile with opposite orientations when secured at the first securing position and the second securing position.

[0029] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the side member reinforcement allows for the mounting of two motor vehicles having two different track widths. Indeed, the fixing holes on this reinforcement allow the bracket to be fixed in such a way as to effectively reinforce the two side members of the motor vehicle, regardless of the track width of said motor vehicle. The invention can be adapted to electric vehicles, because it improves the protection of the battery tray.

[0030] The method of assembling a motor vehicle according to the invention makes it possible to ensure considerable simplicity and time savings during the assembly of the motor vehicle, as well as significant savings in production costs.

[0031] Brief description of the drawings

[0032] [Fig 1] represents a perspective view of a motor vehicle model during assembly of said motor vehicle, following an assembly method according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig 2] represents a perspective view of the motor vehicle of figure 1 comprising a reinforcement placed in an interior side member, and a tab fixed to a first fixing position of said reinforcement for a first track width of said motor vehicle;

[0034] [Fig 3] represents a perspective view of the motor vehicle of figure 1 comprising the reinforcement placed in the inner side member, and a tab fixed to a second fixing position of said reinforcement for a second track width of said motor vehicle which is greater than the first track width.

[0035] Detailed description

[0036] Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a motor vehicle model 2 during assembly of said motor vehicle, according to an assembly method according to the invention, in which one can see a body side 8 approaching laterally the motor vehicle 2, towards an inner side member 4.1.

[0037] The body side 8 preferably comprises an outer side member 4.2 intended to be fixed by welding to the inner side member 4.1, so as to form a side member 4. For this purpose, the motor vehicle 2 comprises two side members 4 extending longitudinally on either side of a passenger compartment floor 6.

[0038] Each of the two side members 4 comprises a reinforcement 10 arranged between the inner side member 4.1 and the outer side member 4.2. This reinforcement 10 makes it possible to stiffen the structure of the motor vehicle 2 in order to limit intrusions and body twisting in the event of a side impact, and thus protect a battery tray (not shown) arranged under the floor 6 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0039] The inner reinforcement 4.1 comprises an upper joining rebate 4.3 and a lower joining rebate 4.4 intended to be joined by welding to corresponding joining rebates on the outer spar 4.2.

[0040] The reinforcement 10 is fixed to the inner spar 4.1 by means of at least one of the joining grooves 4.3, 4.4, preferably corresponding to the upper joining groove 4.3, the fixing being ensured by a stiffening tab (visible in figures 2 and 3).

[0041] Advantageously, the reinforcement 10 comprises two transversely offset stiffening tab fixing positions, so as to adapt to two different track widths of the motor vehicle 2.

[0042] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively, each of the two fixing positions comprising a first position 7 for a first track width, and a second position 9 for a second track width greater than the first track width of the motor vehicle 2. Indeed, the first position 7 corresponds to a narrow position in which the tab is fixed to an inner transverse half of the reinforcement 10 (towards the floor 6), and the second position 9 corresponds to a wide position in which the tab is fixed to an outer transverse half of said reinforcement 10 (towards the outer side member 4.2).

[0043] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the motor vehicle 2 comprising the first track width. In this configuration, the reinforcement 10 is fixed to the upper rebate 4.3 by means of the tab 12, the latter comprising an L-shaped section with a branch 12.1 fixed to an upper wall 10.1 of the reinforcement 10, by screwing and / or by riveting.

[0044] In this regard, fixing holes 11 are arranged longitudinally along the reinforcement 10, and which preferably correspond to threaded holes and the number of two holes 11 ensuring the fixing of the lug 12 by screwing for the first track width of the motor vehicle 2.

[0045] Preferably, the tab 12 comprises an end 12.2 provided with at least one tab 12.3 directly welded into the upper joining groove 4.3, and preferably comprises two tabs 12.3 longitudinally spaced along the end 12.2 and both fixed to said joining groove 4.3. Thus, the tab 12 makes it possible to ensure rigid retention of the reinforcement 10 with the side member of the motor vehicle 2.

[0046] Advantageously, the tab 12 comprises a stiffening rib 12.4 extending centrally between the two fixing holes 11, and this over at least half of the total extent of said tab 12, and preferably over approximately 80% (±10%) of its total extent.

[0047] The tab 12 illustrated in Figure 2 corresponds to a tab according to a first embodiment, this being adapted to the first position 7 of fixing in narrow gauge. It can be seen that the upper wall 10.1 is pointed with two opposite slopes 10.2, 10.3 forming a crest 10.4 separating the two fixing positions. For this purpose, the slope 10.3 preferably comprises two fixing holes 13 so as to ensure the fixing of the reinforcement 10 to the inner beam 4.1, in the second position of fixing in wide gauge, by means of a tab according to a second embodiment visible in Figure 3.

[0048] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the motor vehicle in the second lane width.

[0049] It is noted here that the upper joining groove 4.3 (illustrated in dotted lines) is further transversely moved outwardly from its initial position, so as to ensure the attachment of the reinforcement with the inner side member 4.1 in the second wide track attachment position 9. Indeed, the upper joining groove 4.3 illustrated in dotted lines belongs to the motor vehicle model 2 having the wide track width, in which the floor 6 and / or the inner side member 4.1 is wider in the transverse direction.

[0050] In this configuration, the reinforcement 10 is fixed to the upper rebate 4.3 illustrated in dotted lines by means of the tab 14. Similar to the tab 12 of Figure 2, the tab 14 comprises an L-shaped section with a branch 14.1 fixed to the slope 10.3 of the upper wall 10.1 of the reinforcement 10, by screwing and / or by riveting, and more preferably by screwing. Thus, the fixing holes 13 correspond to threaded holes and to the number of two holes 13.

[0051] Preferably, the tab 14 comprises an end 14.2 provided with at least one tab 14.3 directly welded into the upper joining groove 4.3, and preferably comprises two tabs 14.3 longitudinally spaced along the end 14.2 and fixed to said joining groove 4.3 to ensure rigid retention of the reinforcement 10 to the spar.

[0052] Advantageously, the leg 14 comprises a central stiffening rib 14.4 extending over at least half of the total extent of the leg 14, and preferably over approximately 70% (±10%) of its total extent.

[0053] With reference to figures 2 and 3, the two fixing positions of the tab 12, 14 are offset transversely by at least 10 mm and at most 100 mm, and preferably by at least 20 mm and at most 80 mm, and even more preferably by approximately 50 mm (±10 mm). This transverse offset corresponds to the distance separating the two fixing holes 11 and 13, between the slope 10.2 and 10.3 of the upper wall 10.1 of the reinforcement 10.

[0054] Advantageously, the same reinforcement 10 of the inner side member 4.1 is used for the narrow track and the wide track. Thus, it is possible to mount two motor vehicles having two different track widths, by means of a single reinforcement 10. Indeed, the fixing holes 11, 13 on this reinforcement 10 make it possible to fix the bracket 12, 14 regardless of the track width of the motor vehicle. This results in considerable simplicity and time savings during the assembly of the motor vehicle of the invention, associated with a significant saving in production costs.

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1.] Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - two side members (4) extending longitudinally on either side of a passenger compartment floor (6), each side member (4) comprising an inner side member (4.1) and an outer side member (4.2) fixed to the inner side member (4.1) by at least one joining groove (4.3, 4.4); - a reinforcement (10) arranged in each of the two side members (4), between the inner side member (4.1) and the outer side member (4.2); - a tab (12, 14) ensuring attachment of the reinforcement (10) to the at least one joining groove (4.3, 4.4); characterized in that the reinforcement (10) comprises two positions (7, 9) for attachment of the tab (12, 14) offset transversely, so as to adapt to two different track widths of the motor vehicle (2). [Claim 2.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the two fixing positions (7, 9) comprise fixing holes (11, 13) by screwing and / or riveting arranged on an upper wall (10.1) of the reinforcement (10). [Claim 3.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2, in which each of the two fixing positions (7, 9) comprises two holes (11, 13), preferably threaded, distributed longitudinally along the reinforcement (10). [Claim 4.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 or 3, in which the at least one joining rebate (4.3, 4.4) comprises an upper joining rebate (4.3) and a lower joining rebate (4.4), the tab (12, 14) being fixed by welding in the upper joining rebate (4.3). [Claim 5.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the lug (12, 14) comprises an L-shaped section with a branch (12.1, 14.1) fixed by screwing and / or riveting to one of the two fixing positions (7, 9). [Claim 6.] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 5, in which the leg (12, 14) comprises a stiffening rib (12.4, 14.4) extending between two fixing holes (11, 13) to the reinforcement (10), over at least 70% of a total extent of the L-shaped section of said tab (12, 14). [Claim 7.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which the tab (12, 14) comprises an end (12.2, 14.2) provided with at least one tab (12.3, 14.2) directly welded into the upper joining rebate (4.3). [Claim 8.] Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the two positions (7, 9) for fixing the lug (12, 14) are offset transversely by at least 20 mm and at most 80 mm. [Claim 9.] A method of assembling a motor vehicle model (2) with, selectively, a first track width or a second track width greater than the first track width, comprising the following steps: - assembly of a passenger compartment floor (6) and two interior side members (4.1) on either side of said passenger compartment floor (6); - installation of a reinforcement (10) in each of the two internal side members (4-1); - assembly of two outer side members (4.2) on the two inner side members (4.1), respectively; characterized in that the motor vehicle (2) is according to one of claims 1 to 8; and, in the step of placing the reinforcement (10), the tab (12, 14) is fixed, selectively, to a first of the two positions (7, 9) for fixing the reinforcement (10) for the first track width or to a second of said two positions (7, 9) for fixing the reinforcement (10) for the second track width. [Claim 10.] An assembly method according to claim 9, wherein the tab (12, 14) has an L-shaped profile with opposite orientations when fixed at the first fixing position (7) and at the second fixing position (9).

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