Front-end stabilization device for electric motor vehicles against high-speed frontal impacts.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for stabilizing the front end of electric vehicles in the event of a frontal collision, said front end incorporating an upper support element (2) for an electric motor unit (3) and an extension (4) of a lower cradle, characterized in that it comprises a strut (1) providing a connection, at its upper part, with the support element (2) of the electric motor unit (3) and, at its lower part, with the extension (4) of the cradle. Abstract figure: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Device for stabilizing the front end of electric motor vehicles against high-speed frontal impacts.

[0001] The invention applies to the general field of passive safety of electric motor vehicles and, in particular, protection against high-speed frontal impacts.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a device for stabilizing the front unit of electrically powered vehicles.

[0003] In the context of impact tests, numerous protocols must be satisfied depending on the type of obstacle and the recovery rate. In all cases, to obtain a favorable result, the front block of the vehicle must remain stable during the frontal impact in order to optimize the absorption of kinetic energy.

[0004] This front block generally integrates, in the upper part, the electromotive group provided with a support element on a stretcher of the vehicle and, in the lower part, the extension of a cradle.

[0005] However, under penalty of having to oversize the stretcher, it is preferable to use the extension of the cradle to stabilize the front block. However, this solution requires a force between the stretcher and this extension of the cradle which is already subject to forces oriented in the three directions.

[0006] Furthermore, on new electric vehicle platforms, the electromotor group is very far forward in the front block and this configuration does not offer sufficient space to install a traditional fixing method between the cradle and the vehicle body.

[0007] Today there are various solutions for reinforcing or stabilizing the structure of the front block of motor vehicles, such as that described in patent FR2887211 which describes a structure connecting the side member to the cradle extension.

[0008] Another solution is proposed in patent FR2887211 which describes an assembly intended for absorbing shocks at the front or rear of vehicles, this assembly comprising a force element between the stretcher and an extension of the cradle.

[0009] However, none of these solutions is satisfactory because they do not allow the size to be limited and are therefore not adapted to the specific configuration of new electric vehicle platforms. Furthermore, they do not allow the number of interfaces for fixing the stabilization means to be reduced.

[0010] In this context, the invention aims to overcome the technical problems posed by the previous stabilization solutions and to overcome their shortcomings by using, in particular, the mounting bracket for the electric motor unit which is itself connected to the stretcher.

[0011] This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a device for stabilizing the front unit of electric vehicles in the event of a frontal impact, said front unit integrating an upper element for supporting an electromotive group and the extension of a lower cradle, characterized in that it comprises a strut ensuring the connection, in the upper part, with the element supporting the electromotive group and, in the lower part, with the extension of the cradle.

[0012] According to a first variant embodiment of the device of the invention, the strut is made in a single piece with the upper support element of the electromotive group.

[0013] According to a characteristic of this first variant, the strut is embedded in the lower part in the extension of the lower cradle.

[0014] According to another characteristic of this first variant, the strut has a rectilinear profile with a widened lower part.

[0015] According to a second variant embodiment of the device of the invention, the upper and lower ends of the strut are connected to the upper support element of the electromotive group and to the extension of the lower cradle via pivots, respectively, upper and lower.

[0016] According to a characteristic of this second variant, the support element of the electromotive group comprises a lower tab on which the upper pivot of the strut is mounted.

[0017] According to another characteristic of this second variant, said strut has a profile curved laterally towards the outside and flattened ends.

[0018] According to yet another characteristic of this second variant, the pivots comprise rods engaged without tightening through orifices provided in the ends of the strut and screwed, for the upper pivot, into the support element and, for the lower pivot, into the extension of the cradle.

[0019] Preferably, the strut is made of a light alloy such as T5 aluminum or partially of steel.

[0020] Another object of the invention is an electrically powered motor vehicle comprising a front unit stabilization device having the characteristics defined above.

[0021] The device of the invention makes it possible to ensure better stabilization and optimal compression of the front block of the vehicle in the event of a frontal impact at high speed, regardless of the method of recovery. Thus, the efficiency of absorption of kinetic energy by the front block is increased via the cooperation between the stretchers and the extension of the cradle.

[0022] Thanks to the invention, it is also possible to lighten the silhouettes of electric vehicles by doing away with the presence of traditional reinforcement elements and by using a multifunctional part ensuring both, in the upper part, the support of the electromotor group and, in the lower part, the strength with the lower track materialized by the extension of the cradle.

[0023] Furthermore, the invention provides a gain in compactness and significant savings by reducing the number of fixing interfaces.

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the attached and detailed drawings below.

[0025] [Fig. 1] is a side view of a traditional front end of an electric vehicle.

[0026] [Fig.2] is a side view of an electric vehicle front unit provided with a mode preferred embodiment of the stabilization device of the invention.

[0027] [Fig.3] is a partial perspective view of the front block of [Fig.2] provided with a first variant embodiment of the stabilization device of the invention.

[0028] [Fig.4] is a 3 / 4 perspective view of the stabilization device of [Fig.3].

[0029] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the front of the stabilizing device of the [Fig.3].

[0030] [Fig.6] is a partial perspective view of the front block of [Fig.2] provided with a second variant embodiment of the stabilization device of the invention.

[0031] [Fig.7] is a 3 / 4 perspective view of the stabilization device of [Fig.6].

[0032] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of the rear of the stabilizing device of the [Fig.6].

[0033] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in the description and in the figures.

[0034] Naturally, the embodiments of the device of the invention illustrated by the figures presented above and described below are given only as non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided that different embodiments can be proposed and combined to propose others.

[0035] The invention relates to the field of passive safety of electrically powered vehicles. The invention also applies to the field of sheet metal work with a view to designing new electric vehicle platforms.

[0036] More specifically, the invention relates to an improvement of the traditional front block which consists of adding, locally, a stabilization device intended to increase the overall stiffness in order to improve the protection of the vehicle in the event of a frontal impact at high speed.

[0037] The front block of electric vehicles, such as that shown from the side in [Fig.l] (the front of the vehicle being on the left side of the figures), integrates the electromotor group 3 installed in a very forward position, an upper support element 2 of the electromotive group and the front extension 4 of a lower cradle. The support element 2 is here formed of a collar.

[0038] During a frontal impact with an obstacle, the vehicle remains in line and the obstacle then becomes embedded in the front part of the vehicle, deforming the lower cradle 4 which does not have sufficient stiffness, as illustrated in [Fig. 1].

[0039] In order to improve the protection of the vehicle, it is necessary to stabilize the extension 4 of the cradle. For this purpose and as generally illustrated by [Fig.2], the invention consists of adding a strut 1 forming a pillar and ensuring the connection, in the upper part, with the support element 2 of the electromotive group 3 and, in the lower part, with the extension 4 of the cradle.

[0040] In a first variant illustrated by figures 3, 4 and 5, the strut 1 is made in a single piece with the upper element 2 for supporting the electromotive group 3. The lower end 1b of the strut 1 is here embedded in the upper wall 4a of the extension 4 of the cradle. This embedding is preferably achieved by providing weld beads or, alternatively, by making a screwed assembly.

[0041] Thanks to its embedding in the lower part and the absence of complex connecting elements, the device of the invention resists well to the forces whose directions are shown by arrows in [Fig.3].

[0042] In this variant, the strut 1 is preferably made in casting with a light alloy (such as T5 aluminum) and has a rectilinear profile with a widened lower part. Its height is approximately 310 mm, its average width 45 mm and its thickness 40 mm.

[0043] In a second variant illustrated by figures 6, 7 and 8, the strut 1 is connected to the upper support element 2 of the electromotive group 3 and to the extension 4 of the lower cradle via pivots, respectively, upper 11 and lower 12. The support element 2 of the electromotive group here comprises a lower tab 2a on which the upper pivot 11 of the strut 1 is mounted.

[0044] As illustrated in [Fig.8], the strut 1 has flattened upper ends 1a and lower ends 1b. The upper end 1a is inserted into a slot 20 formed in the tab 2a of the support element 2.

[0045] The pivots 11, 12 are preferably made up of rods (not shown) engaged without tightening through orifices 10 provided in the ends 1a, 1b of the leg 1. These rods are screwed, for the upper pivot 11, into threaded bores provided in the lug 2a of the support element 2 and, for the lower pivot 12, into the upper wall 4a of the cradle extension 4. This method of connection allows the leg 1 to pivot freely around the axes embodied by the rods.

[0046] Thanks to its pivot connections 11, 12 in the upper and lower parts and in the absence of fixing elements, the device of the invention resists well to the forces whose directions are shown by arrows in [Fig.6].

[0047] In this variant, the strut 1 may be made of a material (for example T5 aluminum or steel) possibly different from that of the support element 2 of the electromotive group 3 (made of T5 aluminum). This strut here has a profile curved laterally towards the outside, as illustrated by [Fig.8].

Claims

Claims

1. Device for stabilizing the front unit of electric vehicles in the event of a frontal impact, said front unit incorporating an upper element (2) for supporting an electromotor group (3) and the extension (4) of a lower cradle, the device further comprising a strut (1) ensuring the connection, in the upper part, with the support element (2) of the electromotor group (3) and, in the lower part, with the extension (4) of the cradle, characterized in that the upper (1a) and lower (1b) ends of said strut (1) are connected, respectively, to the upper element (2) for supporting the electromotor group (3) and to the extension (4) of the lower cradle via upper (11) and lower (12) pivots.

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said support element (2) of the electromotive group (3) comprises a lower leg (2a) on which the upper pivot (11) of the strut (1) is mounted.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strut (1) has a profile curved laterally towards the outside and flattened ends (1a, 1b).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivots (11, 12) comprise rods engaged without tightening through orifices (10) provided in the ends (la, 1b) of the strut (1) and screwed, for the upper pivot (11), into the support element (2) and, for the lower pivot (12), into the extension (4) of the cradle.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strut (1) is made with a light alloy such as T5 aluminum.

6. Electrically powered motor vehicle comprising a front unit stabilization device according to one of the preceding claims.

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