Motor vehicle comprising a body element with a sealing device

Abstract

A motor vehicle (10) comprising: a body (11) with a mounting surface having a mounting hole; an external part (14) comprising a structural partition; a connecting rod passing through the mounting hole so as to join the external part (14) and the body along a mounting direction; and a sealing device cooperating hermetically with the mounting surface (12) around the mounting hole. The sealing device comprises a sealing relief forming a stop along the mounting direction that surrounds the connecting rod so as to form a seal between the body and the external part (14) around the mounting hole; the sealing relief and the structural partition being made of material. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a body element with a sealing device.

[0001] The invention relates to the sealing of a vehicle body fastener. The present invention relates to motor vehicles comprising an external part mounted on a vehicle body element.

[0002] A motor vehicle commonly includes so-called external parts which are attached to the outside of the vehicle on one or more body elements. These external parts may be, for example, a trim piece for a rear wing, for a rocker panel, for a quarter panel, or even a bumper element, such as a bumper skin or a bumper skin support.

[0003] External parts are generally mounted by tightening with screw-nut systems and positioned by indexing pins. The body components include mounting holes for receiving the indexing pins or fixing screws. For the passage of fixing screws, the external parts also include mounting eyelets arranged opposite the mounting holes in the vehicle body component.

[0004] The presence of mounting holes in the body parts poses a problem of sealing the vehicle, against water but also against dust, particularly when these openings communicate with the trunk of the vehicle.

[0005] In certain vehicles, to ensure water and dust tightness at openings in body components, an adhesive foam element is arranged between the body component and the external part. This foam element must be mounted on the external part or on the body component before vehicle assembly.

[0006] Adding a foam element is a costly solution, imposing a considerable logistical burden and requiring an additional verification step by an operator during vehicle assembly. We seek to improve this situation.

[0007] Document FR 2717753, which describes a motor vehicle comprising a support plate for a bumper skin, is known in this regard. The support plate is formed by molded plastic elements comprising a base fixed to a part of the vehicle body by screws, and a connecting piece. The base of the support plate includes a washer forming a sealing gasket positioned around an indexing finger engaged in an opening in the body.

[0008] The sealing gasket ensures the sealing of the vehicle but poses the same problems in terms of control operation and logistical costs as plastic foam parts.

[0009] FR2975355 is also known, which discloses a motor vehicle comprising a bumper skin retainer for mounting a bumper skin onto the vehicle body. The bumper skin retainer comprises a retainer unit with a fixing hook for mounting the bumper skin so as to be correctly housed in a predetermined position on the body, and a rotating pin element for fixing the retainer unit to the body.

[0010] The retaining unit comprises mounting tabs engaged in an insertion hole in the case and separated by a gap forming an opening. The pin element is inserted into the opening between the mounting tabs and rotated a quarter turn to secure the retaining unit to the case by clamping.

[0011] The retaining unit includes angled, flexible tab sections that surround the insertion hole to ensure a tight seal. Since vibrations of the body and bumper skin can deform the retaining unit, the latter also includes protruding contact surfaces to ensure stable contact with the body.

[0012] This solution is interesting but complex. The seal is ensured by angled, flexible tabs that do not allow for excessive tightening. The seal can be lost in the event of significant vehicle vibrations.

[0013] The invention aims to improve the solutions of the state of the art, and in particular to propose a motor vehicle comprising a body, and an external part mounted on the body by simple and robust means of fixing which ensure the sealing of the vehicle at the level of openings in the body.

[0014] To this end and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: a body with a mounting surface having a mounting hole; an external part comprising a structural partition; an assembly rod passing through the mounting hole so as to assemble the external part and the body in an assembly direction; and a sealing device cooperating in a hermetic manner with the mounting surface around the mounting hole.

[0015] The motor vehicle is remarkable in that the sealing device includes a sealing relief forming a stop along the direction of assembly which surrounds the assembly rod so as to form a seal between the body and the external part around the mounting hole; the sealing relief and the structural partition being made of the same material.

[0016] As will be understood from the definition just given, the invention proposes using sealing reliefs formed from the same material as the structural partition of the external part. The seal between the external part and the vehicle body is ensured without requiring the addition of an extra part. The sealing relief can be obtained by molding at the same time as the external part. It has a simple manufacturing process. Furthermore, this solution allows for screw tightening of the external part, ensuring a robust seal against water and dust, and contact resistant to vehicle vibrations.

[0017] In embodiments, the external part includes a first reinforcing ring around the mounting orifice; the sealing relief being formed on said first reinforcing ring.

[0018] In embodiments, the outer part includes a second reinforcing ring around the mounting hole and inside the first reinforcing ring, the assembly rod includes a head with a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the second reinforcing ring.

[0019] Preferably, the vehicle includes a gap between the mounting surface and the first reinforcing ring.

[0020] In embodiments, the external part includes a fixing boss which is formed on the structural partition; the sealing relief being formed on the fixing boss.

[0021] Advantageously, the external part is a plastic part formed by molding, the vehicle body being metallic, and the external part is a bumper skin or a bumper skin support. The external part and the sealing relief are then easy to manufacture using a well-established process.

[0022] In embodiments, the external part includes a mounting eyelet coaxial with the mounting hole, the assembly rod including clamping means with a clamping direction along the mounting direction, the clamping means being configured so as to compress the sealing relief between the casing and the structural partition along the clamping direction.

[0023] Advantageously, the assembly rod and the sealing relief are made of material.

[0024] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an external part for a motor vehicle according to the first aspect, the external part comprising a structural partition; an assembly rod or a mounting eyelet having a mounting direction and intended to be fixed to a body of the motor vehicle; and a sealing device around the assembly rod or the mounting eyelet.

[0025] The external part is remarkable in that the sealing device includes a sealing relief with a ridge projecting along the direction of assembly, and which forms a stop surrounding the assembly rod or the mounting eyelet; the sealing relief and the structural partition being made of material.

[0026] In embodiments, the sealing relief comprises a profile which forms a triangle with a free vertex opposite the structural partition.

[0027] Preferably, the head of the assembly rod includes a bearing surface against the external part, said bearing surface comprising a diameter equivalent to the diameter of the head.

[0028] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear upon reading the following description, given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings on which:

[0029] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a side view of a motor vehicle according to a mode of realization of the invention;

[0030] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a rear view of a bumper skin isolated from the rest of the motor vehicle;

[0031] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a detail of the bumper skin of [Fig.2] according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a bumper skin support isolated from the rest of the motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0033] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view of a detail of an external part showing a fixing opening isolated from the rest of the motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view of a detail of an external part showing a fixing opening in the motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0035] In the remainder of this description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle to which it refers. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of".

[0036] Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "high" and "low" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "low" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than respectively the terms "higher" and "high".

[0037] The terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "front" and "rear" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel, unless otherwise indicated.

[0038] A motor vehicle 10 as shown in [Fig. 1] comprises a body 11 with metal elements, such as sheet steel. These include a mounting surface 12 facing outwards from the vehicle, onto which one or more external parts can be fixed.

[0039] External parts may include, for example, a trim piece for rear wings, for a rocker panel, for a quarter panel, etc. External parts may also include bumper elements, such as a bumper skin 14, of which a An example is shown in Figures 2 and 3, or a bumper skin support 16, an example of which is shown in [Fig. 4].

[0040] The external part (14, 16) is preferably a part made of plastic that can be obtained by molding. For example, the external part can be a monolithic part made of composite materials, or of thermoplastic polymer, selected from polypropylene (PP), expanded polypropylene (EPP), polyethylene (PE), polyphthalamide (PPA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyetherimide (PEI), polyarylamide (PAA), polyamide (PA), or mixtures thereof.

[0041] The external part (14, 16) includes a structural partition 20, which can be arranged opposite the mounting surface 12 of the body element. The structural partition 20 is preferably complementary to the mounting surface 12; for example, the structural partition and the mounting surface can locally form parallel flat surfaces.

[0042] The mounting surface 12 of the body element has at least one mounting hole 18 shown in [Fig. 6], for mounting the external part. The mounting hole 18 can be formed by a circular through hole of suitable dimensions, for example to allow the passage of a screw 34 and its tightening by a nut, not shown.

[0043] The vehicle 10 further includes an assembly rod passing through the mounting hole so as to assemble the external part (14,16) and the body in an assembly direction, represented by an arrow M in figures 5 and 6.

[0044] The external part (14, 16) includes a sealing device cooperating in a hermetic manner with the mounting surface 12 around the mounting hole 18. The sealing device preferably ensures water and dust tightness.

[0045] The sealing device includes a sealing relief 26 forming a stop along the direction of assembly which surrounds the assembly rod so as to form a seal between the casing 11 and the external part (14,16) around the mounting hole 18.

[0046] The sealing relief 26 and the structural partition 20 are made of material. The sealing relief 26 forms a ridge projecting along the mounting direction, such as a sealing bead or rib. The sealing relief 26 then forms a protrusion in the structural partition 20 of the external part, arranged between the mounting surface 12 and the structural partition 20.

[0047] The number of mounting points for the external part depends on its dimensions. For example, the bumper skin 14 shown in [Fig. 2] is a rear bumper skin. It can be attached to body elements, on the one hand at a central part 30 along the transverse direction of the vehicle, and on the other hand by means of of a bumper support 16, as shown in [Fig.4], at the level of two lateral parts 32.

[0048] As shown in [Fig. 3], the structural partition 20 of the outer part may include an indexing pin 22 forming the assembly rod or a mounting eyelet 24, coaxial with the mounting hole 18. For example, the assembly rod and the sealing relief may be made of the same material. The indexing pin 22 is dimensioned to fit securely into the mounting hole 18.

[0049] The external part (14, 16) may include a mounting boss 40 formed on the structural partition. The mounting boss 40 may then include a flat surface arranged opposite the mounting surface 12 of the body element 11 as in [Fig. 6]. The indexing pin 22 and the mounting eyelet 24 may be arranged on a respective mounting boss 40. The sealing relief 26 may then be formed on the mounting boss 40.

[0050] If the structural partition includes a mounting eyelet, the assembly rod may include clamping means with a clamping direction following the mounting direction M. The clamping means are configured so as to compress the sealing relief 26 between the casing and the structural partition along the mounting direction.

[0051] In [Fig.6], the external part is mounted on the mounting surface 12 by tightening with a screw 34 passing through the mounting eyelet 24 and the mounting hole 18 formed in the fixing boss 40. The sealing relief 26 is pressed against the mounting surface 12. The screw can, for example, be tightened with a torque of 3 to 8 N / m.

[0052] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the outer part (14, 16) may include a first reinforcing ring 36 around the mounting hole 18. The sealing relief 26 may then be formed on said first reinforcing ring 36. For example, the sealing relief 26 may be arranged between the first reinforcing ring 36 and the mounting surface 12.

[0053] In this case, there is a gap, represented by the reference a on the [Fig.6], between the mounting surface 12 and the first reinforcing ring 36, the sealing relief 26 acting as a spacer.

[0054] As shown in figures 5 and 6, the outer part (14,16) may also include a second reinforcing ring 38 around the mounting hole inside the first reinforcing ring 36. The assembly rod, such as the screw 34, may include a head with a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the second reinforcing ring 38.

[0055] The reinforcing ring comprising the sealing relief 26 preferably comprises a thickness along the mounting direction M, greater than the other reinforcing ring. In some embodiments, the first reinforcing ring and the second reinforcing ring have the same thickness along the direction of assembly.

[0056] The structural partition 20 can be flat, opposite a flat mounting surface to facilitate assembly. The sealing relief 26 preferably extends parallel to the mounting direction M.

[0057] The height of the uncrushed sealing relief, that is to say its maximum extension distance from the structural partition of the external part, may be a few millimeters. For example, the sealing relief has a height of approximately 0.5 to 3 mm.

[0058] For example the sealing relief can be formed by a rib of any shape or for example an annular rib 26 as shown in figures 3 to 6.

[0059] According to variants not shown, the outer part includes a plurality of concentric sealing reliefs so as to reinforce the sealing of the connection, and to form a more stable contact between the outer part and the case element.

[0060] In some embodiments, the sealing relief surrounds an indexing pin or a mounting eyelet, but a sealing relief can also surround several indexing pins and / or mounting eyelets, and provide a seal for an area of ​​the mounting surface comprising several mounting holes. In this case, it is preferable that the mounting surface, as well as the structural partition of the external part facing the mounting surface, be flat.

[0061] As shown in [Fig.5], the sealing relief 26 may include a flared profile along a plane perpendicular to the structural partition 20 of the external part, narrowing from the structural partition 20. The free end of the flared profile, furthest from the structural partition of the external part, is then more fragile than the end connected to the structural partition.

[0062] The flared shape of the sealing relief 26 may include any flared shape such as a triangle, a trapezoid or any shape showing a narrowing away from the structural partition of the external part.

[0063] The sealing relief 26 may include a profile, along a plane perpendicular to the structural partition 20 of the external part (14, 16), which forms a triangle with a free vertex opposite the structural partition.

[0064] The sealing relief may include a wall 28 perpendicular to the mounting surface 12 of the housing as shown in [Fig. 5]. The wall 28 perpendicular to the mounting surface is preferably the wall opposite the wall that is oriented towards the mounting hole 18.

[0065] In [Fig. 5], the external part 14 is isolated from the vehicle, and the sealing relief 26 is not crushed. During assembly, the external part is pushed against the mounting surface 12 of the body element, and the sealing relief 26 is crushed against the surface assembly 12 deforms to reach the configuration shown in [Fig. 6]. The deformation of the sealing relief 26 can be plastic or elastic.

[0066] In Figures 5 and 6, the sealing relief 26 extends along the mounting direction M, i.e. that even when crushed as shown in [Fig.6], the profile of the sealing relief along a plane perpendicular to the structural partition 20 of the external part includes at least one continuous line of material along the mounting direction which extends from the mounting surface to the structural partition.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle (10) comprising: a body (11) with a mounting surface (12) having a mounting hole (18); an external part (14, 16) comprising a structural partition (20); an assembly rod (22, 34) passing through the mounting hole so as to assemble the external part (14, 16) and the body (11) in an assembly direction (M); and a sealing device cooperating hermetically with the mounting surface (12) around the mounting hole (18); characterized in that the sealing device comprises a sealing relief (26) forming a stop in the assembly direction (M) which surrounds the assembly rod (22, 34) so ​​as to form a seal between the body (11) and the external part (14, 16) around the mounting hole (18);the sealing relief (26) and the structural partition (20) being made of material, the external part (14,16) comprising a first reinforcing ring (36) around the mounting hole (18); the sealing relief (26) being formed on said first reinforcing ring (36), characterized in that the external part (14,16) comprises a second reinforcing ring (38) around the mounting hole (18) and inside the first reinforcing ring (36), the assembly rod (34) comprising a head with a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the second reinforcing ring (38).

2. Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a gap (a) between the mounting surface (12) and the first reinforcing ring (36).

3. Motor vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the external part (14,16) includes a fixing boss (40) which is formed on the structural partition (20); the sealing relief (26) being formed on the fixing boss (40).

4. Motor vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the external part (14,16) is a part made of plastic material formed by molding, the body (11) of the vehicle being metallic, and in that the external part is a bumper skin (14) or a bumper skin support (16).

5. Motor vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the external part (14, 16) comprises a mounting eyelet (24) coaxial with the mounting hole (18), the rod assembly (34) comprising clamping means with a clamping direction following the assembly direction (M), the clamping means being configured so as to compress the sealing relief (26) between the casing (11) and the structural partition (20) following the clamping direction.

6. Motor vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the assembly rod (22) and the sealing relief (26) are made of material.

7. External part for motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the external part (14, 16) comprising a structural partition (20); an assembly rod (22) or a mounting eyelet (24) having a mounting direction (M) and intended to be fixed to a body of the motor vehicle (10); and a sealing device around the assembly rod (22) or the mounting eyelet (24); characterized in that the sealing device comprises a sealing relief (26) with a ridge projecting along the mounting direction (M), and which forms a stop surrounding the assembly rod or the mounting eyelet; the sealing relief and the structural partition being made of material.

8. External part (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the sealing relief (26) comprises a profile which forms a triangle with a free apex opposite the structural partition (20).

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