Vehicle equipped with a multi-function rear central crossmember

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric vehicle (1, 100) comprising a rear floor delimited by two parallel longitudinal members (2, 3), said rear floor having a rear part (4) having a front area (5) intended for the attachment of rear seats and the housing of an electric battery (6), and a rear area (7) intended to support a fuel tank (8), said two areas (5, 7) being separated from each other by a rear central cross member (10) extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle (1, 100). According to the invention, the rear central crossmember (10) is comprised of three distinct elements (15, 16, 17), including a straight central segment (15) and two lateral housings (16, 17), and in that the central segment (15) extends along a transverse direction Y of the vehicle, each of the two lateral housings (16, 17) being fixed to one end of said central segment (15) and to a side member (2, 3). Figure for the abbreviated version: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle equipped with a multi-function rear central cross member.

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle provided with a multi-function rear central cross member.

[0002] For the purposes of the description, reference will be made to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ conventionally used in automobile design, in which 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.

[0003] Throughout the following text, the terms “rear central crossmember” and “crossmember” are equivalent.

[0004] Motor vehicles generally comprise a chassis configured to support all of the mechanical components and the body of the vehicle. The chassis conventionally comprises two longitudinal side members and a plurality of transverse cross members arranged between said side members. A motor vehicle floor is supported by the chassis and delimits the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Generally, the floor of a motor vehicle comprises a rear portion called the "rear floor", connected to a front portion called the "front floor".

[0005] The rear floor delimits the rear passenger cabin and comprises a front portion delimiting a floor area intended to receive the passengers' feet, also called a "foot well" and a rear portion raised relative to the front portion and delimiting a floor area intended to receive the seats of the second row of seats. This rear portion comprises a front area intended for attaching rear seats and housing an electric battery, and a rear area intended to support a fuel tank. These two areas are separated from each other by a rear central cross member extending in a horizontal and transverse direction Y of the vehicle and being attached to the two longitudinal side members. The term "horizontal" must be interpreted assuming that the vehicle is resting on horizontal ground.

[0006] Such a rear central cross member is generally sized to protect the electric battery and the fuel tank against an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, said impact being able to be frontal, lateral or rear. In the event of such an impact, this cross member also allows good retention of the rear seats and limits the twisting of the vehicle.

[0007] But a disadvantage of this type of sleepers is that they are only designed for a single type of vehicle having a floor with a geometry and dimensions well-defined. Indeed, if this vehicle were, for example, to be available in several versions or models, each time with a slight modification to the associated floor, the initially designed cross member would not be suitable for the other models or versions, and it would then be necessary to design a new rear central cross member specifically adapted to the new model in question.

[0008] A vehicle according to the invention has a rear central crossmember having a universal character, in particular being designed to be able to adapt to several types of floor, while retaining its original properties.

[0009] The subject of the invention is a vehicle comprising a rear floor delimited by two parallel side members, said rear floor comprising a rear part having a front zone intended for fixing rear seats and for housing an electric battery, and a rear zone intended to support a fuel tank, said two zones being separated from each other by a rear central cross member extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle.

[0010] According to the invention, the rear central crossmember is divided into three separate elements, including a rectilinear central segment and two lateral boxes, the central segment extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle and each of the two lateral boxes being secured to one end of said central segment and to a side member. Usually, such a rear central crossmember is made in a single piece, and if the vehicle underwent small structural modifications, said crossmember would no longer be suitable, and a new one would then have to be manufactured. The principle of the invention is to produce this crossmember in three parts, including a constant central segment and two variable lateral boxes. Indeed, by dividing the rear central crossmember into three parts, if the vehicle underwent slight structural modifications, it would then be sufficient to keep the central segment and adapt only the two lateral boxes to these structural modifications.This division into three parts thus gives the rear central crossmember a universal character, because the central segment is retained, only the side boxes will be adapted to the new configuration of the vehicle. Preferably, each box is made up of an open wall delimiting an internal space, and can therefore be assimilated to a hollow part. The central segment is a thin wall extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and whose cross section is profiled to adapt in particular to the environment of the vehicle in which it will be mounted, while presenting good rigidity.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two side boxes are symmetrical. They thus have the same dimensions, while presenting a symmetrical profile. Each side box corresponds to the image of the other box returned by a mirror.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the central segment and the two The housings are made of metal. This rear central crossmember must have a certain robustness, particularly in the event of the vehicle hitting an external obstacle, because it must protect the electric battery and the fuel tank, and effectively hold the rear seats. A metal, which could be steel for example, can effectively ensure this robustness.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two side boxes are fixed to the central segment by means of a fixing technique to be chosen from welding and screwing carried out with screws and nuts. It is important that this fixing is solid, because the two side boxes must neither move nor vibrate relative to the rectilinear central segment once the cross member has been mounted in the vehicle.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each housing, once it has been fixed in said vehicle, comprises an upper face having fixing means for fixing at least one functional element of said vehicle. A functional element may for example be constituted by an electric battery or by a rear axle. The presence of at least one fixing point on the cross member makes this cross member multifunctional. Indeed, in addition to the robustness aspect required for such a cross member in order in particular to contain the effects of an impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, this cross member also plays the role of a relay support part for fixing other elements of the vehicle. This robustness aspect is thus exploited to be able to fix other elements of the vehicle.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each side box comprises first fixing means cooperating with first complementary fixing means of the electric battery to fix said battery in the vehicle. Each side box of the rear central cross member serves as an anchoring point for the electric battery and thus makes it possible to ensure a certain stability for said electric battery in the vehicle.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each side box comprises second fixing means cooperating with second complementary fixing means of a rear axle to fix said rear axle in the vehicle. Each side box of the rear central cross member serves as an anchoring point for the rear axle, and thus makes it possible to ensure a certain stability for said rear axle in the vehicle.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each side housing comprises a pin for pre-positioning the electric battery in the vehicle. The rear central crossmember also serves as a guide element for the battery in order to correctly position it in a housing provided in the rear part of the rear floor.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each housing comprises at least one stiffening rib extending parallel to the central segment. This rib increases the rigidity of the rear central crossmember. Preferably, this rib extends the straight central segment of said crossmember.

[0019] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each side box has a first wall forming a continuity with the central segment and a second wall forming a continuity with the side member to which it is fixed. In this way, each side box is fixed in the vehicle by presenting a surface contact with a side member and with one end of the central segment. This fixing is therefore robust and clean, without creating an overhang.

[0020] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having a universal rear central cross member allowing it to be adapted to different vehicle platforms, by means of slight modifications to the two side boxes. It also has the advantage of having a multifunctional rear central cross member, playing both the role of a stiffening part to preserve certain first elements present in the vehicle in the event of an accidental impact against an external obstacle, and the role of a relay support part to secure certain other elements of said vehicle.

[0021] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below with reference to the following figures:

[0022] [fig. 1] represents a perspective view of the underside of a rear floor of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0023] [fig.2] represents a view from below of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0024] [fig.3] represents a longitudinal axial sectional view of a rear floor of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0025] [fig.4] represents an enlarged area of ​​the rear floor of figure 3,

[0026] [fig.5] represents a perspective view of a rear central cross member of a vehicle according to the invention, said crosspiece being assembled,

[0027] [fig.6] represents an exploded perspective view of the crosspiece of figure 5,

[0028] [fig.7] represents a perspective view of the fixing points of a battery electric and a rear axle of a vehicle according to the state of the art,

[0029] [fig.8] represents a perspective view of one end of a central crosspiece rear of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0030] [fig.9] represents a view from below of a vehicle according to the invention, which has been deformed following a side impact against a pole.

[0031] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle 1 according to the invention is preferably a hybrid vehicle and comprises a rear floor, said rear floor comprising a rear part 4. This rear part 4 comprises a front zone 5 intended in particular for the fixing of rear seats and the housing of an electric battery 6, and a rear zone 7 intended in particular to support a fuel tank 8 and the passage of a rear axle 9. These two zones 5, 7 are separated from each other by a rear section 4. the other by a rear central cross member 10 extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle 1.

[0032] This rear part 4 of the rear floor is delimited by two parallel side members 2, 3, extending in a longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the electric battery 6 is housed in a compartment 11 of the front zone 5, which is delimited by a front wall 12 extending in a transverse and vertical plane YZ of the vehicle 1, and also called a glazing bead. The rear zone 7 houses the fuel tank 8 which is located in the immediate vicinity of the electric battery 6, a charger 30 for the electric battery 6 which is placed behind the fuel tank 8, and the rear axle 9 located under said charger 30. An exhaust line 13 extends along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle passing under the front zone 5 and under the rear zone 7 of the rear part 4 of the rear floor.The rear central cross member 10 therefore separates the front zone 5 from the rear zone 7, and is located between the electric battery 6 and the fuel tank 8.

[0033] Assuming that the front zone 5 and the rear zone 7 are separated from each other by a fictitious wall extending in a transverse and vertical plane YZ of the vehicle 1, the rear central crossmember 10 would be located in an upper part of said fictitious wall, just below a floor 14. In the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, the rear central crossmember 10 is covered by a rigid trim plate 31, placed above said crossmember 10 in order to hide it. In this way, an occupant of the vehicle 1 cannot see this rear central crossmember 10. The trim plate 31 is to be considered as being a steel floor sheet. This sheet contributes greatly to the overall performance of the crossmember 10 because it directly contributes to the support of the rear seats and to its stiffness.This floor sheet forms what is called a hollow body with the crosspiece 10, and it is this hollow body which improves all of the stiffness, endurance, shock and even vibration performance.

[0034] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the rear central crossmember 10 of a vehicle 1 according to the invention is presented in three distinct parts, comprising a rectilinear segment 15 and two housings 16, 17. The rectilinear segment 15 is elongated, and the two housings 16, 17 are fixed to the two ends of said rectilinear segment 15, considered along a longitudinal axis thereof. The two housings 16, 17 and the rectilinear segment 15 are preferably made of metal, and advantageously of the same metal. The two housings 16, 17 are secured to the rectilinear segment 15 by means of a fixing technique to be chosen from welding and screwing carried out with screws and nuts. The crosspiece 10 is therefore made up of a central rectilinear segment 15 and two lateral boxes 16, 17 fixed to the ends of said central segment 15.

[0035] Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 8, the rectilinear segment 15 is constituted by an elongated wall of small thickness, the cross-section of which is profiled so as to to give this segment 15 good rigidity and to allow said segment 15 to adapt to the environment of the vehicle 1 in which it will be mounted. This rigidity can for example be achieved by means of at least one rib extending along the central segment 15.

[0036] Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 8, the two housings 16, 17 have the same dimensions and are symmetrical with respect to each other. In other words, each housing 16, 17 corresponds to the image of the other housing 16, 17 that a mirror would reflect.

[0037] Referring to Figure 8, each housing 16, 17 is delimited by an open wall delimiting an internal space. Schematically, this wall comprises a first section 18 intended to be fixed to a side member 2, 3, and a second section 19 intended to be fixed to the central segment 15 of the cross member 10, said two sections 18, 19 being perpendicular. The second section 19 has at least one rib 20, and preferably three parallel ribs 20, extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central rectilinear segment 15, so as to reinforce its rigidity. When the housing 16, 17 is fixed to the central rectilinear segment 15, it surrounds the wall materializing said segment 15.

[0038] The first section 18 comprises an upper face 21 having first fixing means in the form of a welded nut 22, and intended to cooperate with first complementary fixing means of the electric battery 6 in order to fix said electric battery 6 in the vehicle. This upper face 21 also comprises second fixing means in the form of a welded nut 23 with a control function, and intended to cooperate with second complementary fixing means of the rear axle 9 in order to fix said rear axle 9 in the vehicle 1. This upper face 21 also has a pre-positioning pin 24 intended to correctly position the battery 6 in its compartment 11.

[0039] Figure 7 shows the attachment points of the battery 122 and the rear axle 123 of a vehicle 100 according to the state of the art, and which have been offset to the upper face 21 of a housing 16, 17 of a cross member 10 of a vehicle 1 according to the invention. This figure also shows the pin 124 for pre-positioning the electric battery 6 in a vehicle 100 according to the state of the art, and which has also been offset to said upper face 21.

[0040] The cross member 10 of a vehicle according to the invention 1, whether at the level of the lateral housings 16, 17 or of the central rectilinear segment 15, is dimensioned to serve as a fixing point for any element or equipment located in the immediate environment of said cross member 10.

[0041] Referring to Figure 1, each lateral housing 16, 17 is fixed both to a spar 2, 3 and to the central rectilinear segment 15 of the cross member 10, so that the first section 18 is in continuity with the spar 2, 3 and the second section 18 is in the continuity of said rectilinear segment 15. In this way, the cross member 10 creates neither an offset with the side members 2, 3, nor an overhang with them. Each lateral housing 16, 17 creates a surface contact with the side member 2, 3 to which it is fixed, and a surface contact with the central segment 15. In this way, the rear central cross member 10 is solidly anchored in the vehicle 1.

[0042] The rear central cross member 10 of a vehicle 1 according to the invention has a certain robustness to contain the effects produced during an impact of said vehicle 1 against an external obstacle, and also serves as an attachment point for certain elements present in the vehicle 1, such as for example the electric battery 6 and the rear axle 9.

[0043] Figure 9 highlights the importance of properly dimensioning the rear central crossmember 10, in particular so that it can effectively contain the effects produced during a lateral impact of the vehicle 1 against a post 32 (the post is not directly visible in the figure, but its location is suggested). The body of the vehicle 1 deforms laterally, and the crossmember 10 must have a certain rigidity to preserve the integrity of the electric battery 6, and more generally, of all the elements gravitating around said crossmember 10, including the fuel tank 8 and the rear axle 9.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric vehicle (1, 100) comprising a rear floor delimited by two parallel side members (2, 3), said rear floor comprising a rear part (4) having a front zone (5) intended for fixing rear seats and for housing an electric battery (6), and a rear zone (7) intended to support a fuel tank (8), said two zones (5, 7) being separated from each other by a rear central cross member (10) extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle (1, 100), characterized in that the rear central cross member (10) is broken down into three separate elements (15, 16, 17), including a rectilinear central segment (15) and two lateral boxes (16, 17), and in that the central segment (15) extends in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle, each of the two lateral boxes (16, 17) being secured to one end of said central segment (15) and a spar. (2, 3).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the two side boxes (16, 17) are symmetrical.

3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the central segment (15) and the two housings (16, 17) are metallic.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two side boxes (16, 17) are fixed to the central segment (15) by means of a fixing technique to be chosen from welding and screwing carried out with screws and nuts.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each housing (16, 17) once it has been fixed in said vehicle comprises an upper face (21) having fixing means (22, 23) making it possible to fix at least one functional element (6, 9) of said vehicle.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that each side housing (16, 17) comprises first fixing means (22) cooperating with first complementary fixing means of the electric battery (6) to fix said battery (6) in the vehicle (1).

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each side box (16, 17) comprises second fixing means (23) cooperating with second complementary fixing means of a rear axle (9) to fix said rear axle (9) in the vehicle (1).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each side housing (16, 17) comprises a pin (24) for prepositioning the electric battery (6) in the vehicle (1).

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each housing (16, 17) comprises at least one stiffening rib (20) extending parallel to the central segment (15).

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each side box (16, 17) has a first wall (19) forming a continuation of the central segment (15) and a second wall (18) forming a continuation of the side member (2, 3) to which it is fixed.

Images