Structure of a motor vehicle comprising an acoustic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure of a motor vehicle, in particular of an electric vehicle, and to a mounting method. The structure comprises a floor part, in which a housing (28) is provided, and an acoustic device installed in said housing, said housing having a bottom wall (36) and two vertical walls (38, 40) facing each other. Said housing (28) comprises first anchoring members (46, 52, 54) secured to said bottom wall and second anchoring members (56) secured to the other wall (40). Said acoustic device comprises a casing (62) having a lower wall (68) and two opposite ends (64, 66), said casing comprising, on the one hand, first connecting members (80) located in said lower wall (68) so as to be able to cooperate with said first anchoring members (46, 52, 54), and, on the other hand, second connecting members (82) located in the other (66) of said ends so as to be able to cooperate with said second anchoring members (56).

Description

[0001] Title of the invention: Structure of a motor vehicle comprising an acoustic device

[0002] The present invention relates to a structure of a motor vehicle equipped with an acoustic device.

[0003] More particularly, the invention aims at the implementation of an acoustic device adapted to reproduce the low frequencies of the audio spectrum, inside a motor vehicle. Such a device is also called: "subwoofer".

[0004] Indeed, the reproduction of sound in the different components of the sound spectrum requires means with different, even antagonistic, characteristics. This is particularly the case with the use of specific transducers for the reproduction of the lowest frequencies of the spectrum, thus corresponding to the lowest sounds. It is known to install subwoofers in the rear of motor vehicles, in the trunk, for thermal and space reasons. Indeed, the subwoofer comprises a box, which defines a resonance chamber of a certain volume and a loudspeaker installed on a wall of the box, as well as an amplifier usually mounted on said wall near the loudspeaker.

[0005] However, the amplifier generates thermal energy that must be dissipated. And the trunk of the car is the place where this thermal energy is easiest to dissipate.

[0006] However, the size of car trunks, especially electric vehicles, is becoming smaller, not only for the benefit of passengers, but also for the storage batteries. This development makes the implementation of subwoofers more complex.

[0007] Furthermore, the trunk of motor vehicles is connected to their passenger compartment and accumulator batteries present risks of potentially toxic gas emissions.

[0008] Therefore, it is also necessary to protect passengers from these fumes.

[0009] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide a structure of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, allowing the implementation of a subwoofer in complete safety for the passengers and, moreover, without compromising the trunk volume. In order to solve this problem, and according to a first object, a structure of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, is proposed, comprising a floor part in which a housing is provided, and an acoustic device installed in said housing, said housing having a bottom wall and two walls erected opposite each other with respect to said bottom wall, said acoustic device being adapted to reproduce the low sound frequencies of the audio spectrum.Said housing comprises first anchoring members secured to said bottom wall in the vicinity of one of said two walls and second anchoring members secured to the other of said two walls. And said acoustic device comprises a box defining a resonance chamber and having a bottom wall and two opposite ends, said box comprising on the one hand first connecting members located in said bottom wall in the vicinity of one of said ends to be able to cooperate with said first anchoring members of said housing and on the other hand, second connecting members located in the other of said ends to be able to cooperate with said second anchoring members.

[0010] Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the implementation of anchoring members on the bottom wall and on the other of said two walls while preserving the integrity of the walls. In other words, the anchoring members make it possible to avoid making holes in these walls. Consequently, the walls are sealed from the outside and in particular from the accumulator battery which extends under the floor of the motor vehicle.

[0011] Also, said housing preferably has two other walls erected opposite each other with respect to said bottom wall and respectively joining said two walls substantially perpendicularly.

[0012] As a result, the housing, open in its upper part towards the passenger compartment, is sealed with respect to the exterior of the vehicle.

[0013] Therefore, any toxic gas emissions from the accumulator battery do not pass through the floor of the motor vehicle.

[0014] Preferably, the housing is provided in the part of the floor corresponding to the trunk of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In addition, the box is formed from a single piece comprising first connecting members and second connecting members adapted to cooperate respectively with the first anchoring members and the second anchoring members so as to be able to easily maintain the box in a fixed position. Also, as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of the description, such elements allow easier and faster fixing of the box in the housing provided for this purpose.

[0016] In addition, the box is advantageously equipped with an electroacoustic transducer. This transducer is intended to reproduce the lowest frequencies of the audio spectrum. As will be explained in more detail below, the electroacoustic transducer is pre-installed on a wall of the box before being mounted in the housing.

[0017] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said first anchoring members comprise at least one stud extending substantially perpendicularly from said bottom wall. The stud thus has a thread adapted to engage in a nut after the box has been installed. The box then has an orifice in which the stud engages.

[0018] Preferably, the first anchoring members comprise two studs extending substantially parallel at a distance from each other.

[0019] Advantageously, said first anchoring members comprise a U-shaped section having two opposite wings secured to said bottom wall and a bottom extending at a distance from said bottom wall to receive said box in support. Thus, the free edges of the two opposite wings of the U-shaped section are for example welded to the bottom wall, while the bottom of the U-shaped section is spaced apart at a distance from the bottom wall of the housing. And the stud is then welded to the bottom of the U-shaped section, opposite the two wings. In this way, the box can come to rest on the bottom of the U-shaped section and be secured there by means of the stud and a nut.

[0020] Furthermore, said second anchoring members comprise a right-angled part having a free projecting part receiving a threaded part. Thus, the free projecting part extends substantially parallel to the bottom wall of the housing. And it can receive said other of said ends of the box in support. The latter then has a hole capable of receiving a screw which then engages by screwing into the threaded part. The threaded part is for example a nut welded onto one of the faces of the free projecting part. The nut then extends around a recess made in the free part. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said box has an upper wall opposite said lower wall and an external surface.And said upper wall has at least one zone in which the external surface extends in a chimney to said first connecting members of said lower wall. In this way, it is easy to access the first connecting members of the lower wall by crossing the box, the latter remaining closed at the level of the external surface extended in a chimney.

[0021] Advantageously, the upper wall has two distinct zones in which the external surface extends in a chimney to the two studs which pass through the lower wall of the box. Two nuts can then be screwed onto the studs respectively to secure the box. Such nuts are easily screwed using a screwdriver.

[0022] Also, said first connecting members advantageously have at least one wall portion and an orifice made in said wall portion. Preferably, the connecting members have two wall portions in which two orifices are respectively made to be able to receive the two studs.

[0023] In addition, the said box is further equipped with an amplifier. The amplifier is installed near the transducer to which it is connected by conductive wires.

[0024] According to a second object, in accordance with the invention, a method is proposed for producing a structure of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, comprising the following steps: a floor part of the motor vehicle, in particular the electric vehicle, is provided in which a housing is provided having a bottom wall and two walls erected opposite each other relative to said bottom wall, said housing comprising first anchoring members secured to said bottom wall in the vicinity of one of said two walls and second anchoring members secured to the other of said two walls;an acoustic device is provided suitable for reproducing the low sound frequencies of the audio spectrum, said acoustic device comprising a box defining a resonance chamber and having a lower wall and two opposite ends, said box comprising on the one hand first connecting members located in said lower wall in the vicinity of one of said ends and on the other hand, second connecting members located in the other of said ends; and, said acoustic device is installed in said housing so that said first connecting members and said first anchoring members of said housing on the one hand, and said second connecting members and said second anchoring members on the other hand, cooperate respectively with each other.;

[0025] The production method according to the invention will be explained in more detail in the following description.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, given for informational purposes but not as a limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a partial schematic perspective view from above of a motor vehicle element according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig. 2] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig. 1] and of another element which is the subject of the invention in a first state;

[0029] [Fig. 3] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig. 2] in a second state and of yet another element;

[0030] [Fig. 4] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig. 3] and of a complementary element;

[0031] [Fig. 5] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the object of the invention according to plane VV illustrated in [Fig. 4];

[0032] [Fig. 1] partially shows, seen from above, a rear structure 10 of a motor vehicle, and it is inscribed in an orthogonal reference frame X, Y, Z, in which the X axis extends in a longitudinal front-rear direction of the motor vehicle, oriented towards the rear; the Y axis extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented from left to right when in a normal driving situation; and the Z axis extends in a vertical direction, oriented away from the ground.

[0033] Also, [Fig. 1] partially shows two rear side members, a right side member 12, and a left side member 14 substantially parallel and connected together by a rear cross member 16. A stamped sheet metal 18 comes to bear on the two rear side members 12, 14 to form a floor part 20 corresponding to the rear trunk of the motor vehicle.

[0034] The stamped sheet 18 has two opposite lateral wings, a right wing 22 and a left wing 24, directly resting on the side members 12, 14, and between the two, two transverse zones, a rear zone 26 deeply stamped and forming a housing 28, and a front zone 30 less stamped. The rear zone 26 is delimited by a rear edge 32 defining a plane and against which a rear plate 34 is applied. The rear plate 34 is then welded to the rear edge 32.

[0035] Thus, the housing 28 extends transversely, from one 12 of the side members to the other side member 14. It has a bottom wall 36 and two side walls erected relative to the bottom wall 36 opposite each other, a right wall 38 and a left wall 40. Also, it has a rear wall 42 formed by the rear plate 34 and an opposite front wall 44, which rear walls 42 and front walls 44 respectively connect the two side walls 38, 40.

[0036] Thus, the bottom wall 36, the two side walls 38, 40 and the rear 42 and front 44 walls meet in a sealed manner and define a continuous hollow surface. In other words, the housing 28 that they define is sealed. On the other hand, it is open in its upper part.

[0037] Also, the housing 28 comprises a section of U-shaped profile 46, which has a bottom 45 and two opposite wings extended by two returns 48, 50 extending opposite one another to come to bear flat against the bottom wall 36. The section of U-shaped profile 46 extends longitudinally, that is to say perpendicular to the rear 42 and front 44 walls, near the right wall 38 of the housing 28. Preferably, the section of U-shaped profile 46 extends substantially between the right wall 38 of the housing 28 and the median plane Pm of the structure 10. The returns 48, 50 are then welded to the bottom wall 36. The bottom wall 36 is then not perforated at all.

[0038] Also, on the back of the U-shaped section 46, the bottom 45 is equipped with two studs spaced apart from each other, a front stud 52 and a rear stud 54. These two studs 52, 54 are welded to the bottom 45 of the U-shaped section 46 and are threaded.

[0039] Furthermore, a right-angled piece 56 is welded against the left wall 40 near the left wing 24 of the stamped sheet 18. In other words, the right-angled piece 56 extends away from the bottom wall 36. Also, the right-angled piece 56 has a free part 58 extending projecting from the left wall 40. The free part 58 has a first orifice 60 and it accommodates a nut located under the free part 58 and coaxial with the first orifice 60.

[0040] We will now refer to [Fig. 2] in which we find, in addition to the subject of [Fig. 1], a box 62 extending longitudinally between two opposite ends 64, 66. The box 62 is in one piece and is here fitted above the housing 28 inside which it is adapted to be installed.

[0041] The box 62 further has a lower wall 68 opposite an upper wall 70. It defines a resonance chamber and is delimited by an external surface 72.

[0042] The box 62 is equipped with an electroacoustic transducer 74 adapted to reproduce the low frequencies of the sound spectrum. The electroacoustic transducer 74 is mounted in the upper wall 70 substantially equidistant from the two opposite ends 64, 66.

[0043] Furthermore, between the electroacoustic transducer 74 and one 64 of the two opposite ends 64, 66, the upper wall 72 has two zones spaced from each other, a front zone 76 and a rear zone 78 where the external surface 72 extends, forming a chimney, up to the lower wall 68. It will be observed that at the level of the front zone 76 the external surface 72 extends by an open chimney.

[0044] The lower wall 68, directly above the front zone 76, has a front hole 80, while directly above the rear zone 78, it has a rear hole which is hidden here. The two holes are spaced apart from each other by a distance corresponding to the gap between the two front 52 and rear 54 studs.

[0045] Opposite the electroacoustic transducer, the other 66 of the two opposite ends 64, 66 of the box 62 has a bracket 82 having a second orifice 84.

[0046] Thus, the box 62 equipped with the electroacoustic transducer 74 is adjusted inside the housing 28 so that the front 52 and rear 54 studs engage inside the front 80 and rear holes, while the stirrup 82 comes to bear on the free part 58 of the bracket 56, the second orifice 84 at right angles to the first orifice 60.

[0047] Then, on the studs 52, 54 extending in projection from the lower wall 68 through the front bore 80 and the rear bore, nuts 86 are screwed, one of which appears in [Fig. 3], engaged on the front stud 52. These nuts are preferably screwed by means of a screwdriver engaged in the aforementioned chimneys. In this way, the box 62 is held in a fixed position on the U-shaped profile section 46. In addition, a screw 88 is engaged through the two coaxial orifices 84, 60 of the stirrup 82 and the free part 58 to be screwed into the nut secured to the free part 58 of the bracket 56.

[0048] In this way, the box is completely secured to the bottom wall 36 and the left wall 40 by means of, respectively, the U-shaped profile 46 and the bracket 56, without any drilling having been carried out either in the bottom wall 36, or in the left wall 40 and any more than in the other walls.

[0049] Then, an amplifier 90 is installed on the upper wall 70 of the box 62 between the electroacoustic transducer 74 and said one 64 of the two opposite ends 64, 66 of the box 62.

[0050] Furthermore, amplifier 90 is connected by conductive wires to the electroacoustic transducer 74, while amplifier 90 is itself connected to the source of the sound signal, usually located at the front of the vehicle.

[0051] Then, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], the electroacoustic transducer 74 and the amplifier 90 are covered with a protective cover 92. The protective cover 92 rests on the upper wall 70.

[0052] Also, the protective cover extends substantially to the level of the bottom of the front zone 30 of the stamped sheet 18.

[0053] In this way, the box 62 then equipped and connected to the sound source is not only installed in the housing 28, which is sealed with respect to the exterior of the floor, but in addition, it will be able to be covered, in the extension of the bottom of the front zone 30, by a trunk mat 94 shown in [Fig. 5],

[0054] In [Fig. 5], we find the box 62 held in a fixed position on the U-shaped section 46 and on the right-angled piece 56.

[0055] Thus, the acoustic device adapted to reproduce the low sound frequencies of the audio spectrum, is installed on the vehicle without compromising the space usually reserved for the trunk.

[0056] Also, the invention also relates to a method of producing a structure of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle.

[0057] It includes the assembly steps described above.

[0058] In other words, a part of the floor of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, is provided, comprising the two side members 12, 14 connected by the rear cross member 16, and the stamped sheet metal 18. In the latter is formed the housing 28, which has the bottom wall 36 and the two walls 38, 40 erected opposite one another with respect to said bottom wall 36. The housing comprises the U-shaped section 46 equipped with the two studs 52, 54 secured to the bottom wall 36 in the vicinity of one 38 of the two walls 38, 40 and the right-angled piece 56 secured to the other wall 40.

[0059] Also, the acoustic device is provided suitable for reproducing the low sound frequencies of the audio spectrum. It comprises the box 62 defining a resonance chamber and it has the lower wall 68 and the two opposite ends 64, 66. Also, it comprises the front 80 and rear holes in the lower wall 68 in the vicinity of the end 64 and on the other hand, the stirrup 82 located in the other end 66.

[0060] And, the acoustic device is installed in the housing 28 so that the front 80 and rear holes and the two studs 52, 54 of the U-shaped section 46 of the housing cooperate respectively together on the one hand, and the right-angled part 56 and stirrup 82 on the other hand, also cooperate.

[0061] Then, we install the 90 amplifier before making the wired connection to the sound source.

[0062] And finally, we report the protective cover 92.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Structure of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, comprising a floor portion in which a housing (28) is provided, and an acoustic device installed in said housing, said housing having a bottom wall (36) and two walls (38, 40) erected opposite each other relative to said bottom wall (36), said acoustic device being adapted to reproduce the low sound frequencies of the audio spectrum; characterized in that said housing (28) comprises first anchoring members (46, 52, 54) secured to said bottom wall in the vicinity of one (38) of said two walls (38, 40) and second anchoring members (56) secured to the other (40) of said two walls;and in that said acoustic device comprises a box (62) defining a resonance chamber and having a lower wall (68) and two opposite ends (64, 66), said box comprising on the one hand first connecting members (80) located in said lower wall (68) in the vicinity of one (64) of said ends to be able to cooperate with said first anchoring members (46, 52, 54) of said housing and on the other hand, second connecting members (82) located in the other (66) of said ends to be able to cooperate with said second anchoring members (56).;

2. Floor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing (28) has two other walls (42, 44) erected opposite one another with respect to said bottom wall (36) and respectively joining said two walls (38, 40) substantially perpendicularly.

3. Floor structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said box (62) is equipped with an electroacoustic transducer (74).

4. Floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first anchoring members comprise at least one stud (52, 54) extending substantially perpendicularly from said bottom wall (36).

5. Floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first anchoring members comprise a U-shaped section (46) having two opposite wings (48, 50) integral with said bottom wall (36) and a bottom (45) extending at a distance from said bottom wall to receive said box (62) in support.

6. Floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said second anchoring members comprise a right-angled part (56) having a free projecting part (58) receiving a threaded part.

7. Floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said box (62) has an upper wall (70) opposite said lower wall (68) and an external surface (72); and in that said upper wall (70) has at least one zone (76, 78) in which the external surface (72) extends in a chimney to said first connecting members (80) of said lower wall (68).

8. Floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said first connecting members have at least one wall portion and an orifice made in said wall portion.

9. Floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said box (62) is further equipped with an amplifier (74).

10. Method for producing a structure of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, comprising the following steps: - a floor portion of the motor vehicle, in particular the electric vehicle, is provided in which a housing (28) is provided having a bottom wall (36) and two walls (38, 40) facing each other relative to said bottom wall, said housing (28) comprising first anchoring members (46, 52, 54) secured to said bottom wall (36) in the vicinity of one (38) of said two walls (38, 40) and second anchoring members (56) secured to the other (40) of said two walls; - an acoustic device is provided that is suitable for reproducing the low sound frequencies of the audio spectrum, said acoustic device comprising a box (62) defining a resonance chamber and having a lower wall (68) and two opposite ends (64, 66), said box comprising on the one hand first connecting members (80) located in said lower wall (68) in the vicinity of one (64) of said ends and on the other hand, second connecting members (82) located in the other (66) of said ends; and, - said acoustic device is installed in said housing (28) so that said first connecting members (80) and said first anchoring members (46, 52, 54) of said housing on the one hand, and said second connecting members (82) and said second anchoring members (56) on the other hand, cooperate respectively with each other.

Images