VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR GUIDING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a sliding door (2) guide device (1) for a vehicle, in particular a car, comprising an axial guide means (3) consisting of at least one first substantially straight rail (31) along which a carriage (32) is able to slide, and an angular guide means (4) consisting of a second rail (41), in particular having a curved end (42) comprising a portion inclined relative to the first rail (31), and a connecting arm (43) to the door. The guide device is characterized by the first rail (31) extending in a plane (Pxy), in particular substantially horizontal, in which the second rail (41) moves such that the connecting arm (43) linking the door to the guide device extends only under each of the first and second rails (31, 41). (See Figure 2 for abbreviated form.)

Description

Title of the invention: GUIDING DEVICE FOR A SLIDING VEHICLE DOOR Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide device for a sliding door on a vehicle body, in particular an automobile, comprising an axial guide means and an angular guide means enabling the movement of the door from a closed position in which the door closes an opening by being substantially flush with the surrounding parts of the vehicle body and an open position in which the door is pushed outwards and moved towards the rear or front of the vehicle substantially away from the opening. State of the art

[0002] Conventionally, in such sliding door movements, the front part of the door is guided by a guide rail with a curved end pointing inwards towards the vehicle's interior. The door is connected to the guide rail by a sliding carriage attached to the front of the door to guide the door into alignment with the bodywork when closing and to push the door outwards when opening. However, such a device, with a curved rail extending into the passenger compartment, has the disadvantage of requiring significant lateral clearance, at least equal to the lateral movement of the sliding door, which creates an unsightly bulge in the passenger compartment area opposite the rail.FR2779996-Alun is a known sliding door guide system that offers a large sliding side door clearance and a reduced lateral footprint, allowing for discreet integration of the guide system and making it simple and economical to implement. This system comprises an arm mounted pivoting on the door and sliding at two distinct points along a first and second guide rail, respectively. These rails have different trajectories to ensure the arm pivots in such a way as to move the door away from the body when open and to reduce the arm's lateral footprint when closed.It was noted, however, that the stacked design of the first and second guide rails forces the pivoting arm to move vertically between them. Due to space constraints, these rails are close together, which tends to limit the vertical adjustment range of the door by requiring the connecting arm to move relative to the rails. This is true even though the transverse dimensions have been reduced compared to a conventional solution. However, with monorails, a geometry was noted that was difficult to integrate onto the body due to the placement of the first and second rails one above the other. An improvement solution is therefore necessary due to the aforementioned drawbacks. Presentation of the invention

[0003] The present invention therefore aims to provide a sliding door guide device which offers a large sliding side door travel and requires a small footprint, both transversely and vertically, in order to allow discreet integration of the guide device, while being simple and economical to produce.

[0004] The invention relates to a sliding door guide device for a vehicle, in particular a car, comprising an axial guide means consisting of at least one substantially straight rail along which a carriage is able to slide, and an angular guide means consisting of a second rail, in particular with a curved end, having a portion inclined relative to the first rail, and a connecting arm to the door. The guide device is characterized in particular by the fact that the first rail extends in a plane, in particular a substantially horizontal plane, in which the second rail moves such that the connecting arm linking the door to the guide device extends only under each of the first and second rails.

[0005] According to other features and advantages of the invention, the guiding device comprises the following characteristics taken separately or in combination with each other: - the first and second rails each include a straight section, in particular a rear section, and in that they are joined to each other, in particular by welding, at the level of their rear section; - it comprises a rail module including the first and second rails, the module being able to be manufactured by sheet metal bending operations made from steel, in particular stainless steel, - it includes a rail module comprising the first and second rails, the module being able to be manufactured by an extrusion operation of an alloy, in particular aluminium; - the rail module includes rear sections of rails with a substantially straight profile; - each of the first and second rails has a profile substantially in an inverted U, and in that one of the parallel branches of one of the first and second rails is directly connected to one of the parallel branches of the other of the first and second rails; - said axial guidance means comprises a carriage mounted to slide along the first rail by means of a pair of rollers connected to a plate extending under each of the first and second rails, the plate comprising in particular a portion eccentric on which is positioned a rotational link in relation to said angular guidance means; - said angular guidance means includes a roller connected to the connecting arm and mounted to slide along the second rail such that the movement of the roller along the inclined portion of the second rail causes a rotation of the connecting arm around the carriage, in particular around a first axis of rotation; - the connecting arm of said angular guidance means comprises parallel branches, one end of the arm being connected to said axial guidance means via a first coaxial rotation shaft of said first axis of rotation and an opposite end of the arm being connected to the door via a plate linked to a second coaxial rotation shaft of a second axis of rotation and fixed to the door, in particular by screwing, each of the first and second rotation shafts passing perpendicularly through said parallel branches; - the opposite end of the connecting arm includes a portion with a cross-section substantially in the shape of a U; - the plate, the connecting arm and the carriage extend respectively in parallel planes, notably substantially horizontal, under each of the guide rails; - each of the rollers is mounted on a rod, and in that the height of the rollers is less than the height of the parallel branches of the first and second rails, so that the gap, in particular vertical, separating the plate and / or the connecting arm and / or the carriage from the first rail and / or the second rail can be variable in order to allow adjustment of the door in relation to a side opening of the case.

[0006] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a sliding door, in particular a side door, a body side delimiting an opening capable of being closed by the door, which is characterized in that it includes the guide device as previously described. Presentation of the figures

[0007] The objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a method of reference with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is a three-quarter front perspective view of a sliding door guide device according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is an enlargement of the guidance device of [Fig.1] detailing the constituent elements of the device when the door is in the closed position; - [Fig.3] is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the device in [Fig.2]. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been represented. To make the drawings easier to read, the same elements carry the same references from one figure to another.

[0009] The description of the figures is carried out taking into account an orthonormal frame of axes X, Y and Z associated with a vehicle on which the device of the invention is intended to be mounted to make possible the movement of a door, where the X axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis from the front to the rear of a vehicle, the Y axis corresponds to a transverse axis from the left side to the right side of the vehicle, and the Z axis corresponds to a vertical axis going from the bottom to the top of the vehicle.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a guide device 1 for the front part of a sliding door 2, the device being in the closed position of the door. This device comprises an axial guide means 3 adjacent to an angular guide means 4, arranged on the lower part of the frame of an opening. Said axial guide means 3 comprises a first guide rail 31, on which slides a roller carriage 32 with rollers 33 which is attached to the door 2 by a connecting arm 43 mounted for rotation on one side on the carriage of said axial guide means 3, and on the other side on a plate 5 dedicated to attaching the door to said guide device 1.

[0011] The angular guide means 4 comprises a second rail 41, a front portion of which consists of an inclined section 42, which may be straight, curved, or even of the double-curvature type. The angular guide means 4 is adapted to the closing kinematics of the door.

[0012] The constituent elements of the guide device 1 are shown in detail in [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 3], from two different viewpoints. The first and second guide rails 31, 41 comprise rear portions 310, 410 which are joined together. The rear portions 310 and 410 are parallel to each other and have a substantially straight profile, which allows for integration onto the body at the level of the door frame defining the side opening of the body to be closed. Each rear portion 310, 410 preferably has an inverted U-shaped cross-section, so that each rail has parallel branches, in particular an inner branch parallel to an outer branch.The said axial 3 and angular 4 guidance means comprise at least one roller 33, 44 which is rotationally assembled around a rod 6 which may be cylindrical with an axis parallel to the parallel branches of each of the first and second guide rails 31, 4L. The fixing of the first and second rails 31, 41 to each other may be ensured by the assembly of one of the parallel branches of one of the first and second rails 31, 41 to one of the parallel branches of the other of the first and second rails 31, 41, in particular by the assembly of an inner branch of the axial guide rail 31 with an outer branch of the angular guide rail 4L.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the fixing of the first and second rails 31, 41 can be ensured by the use of a fixing means welded to the bottom walls of the first and second rails 31, 41, each bottom wall connecting the parallel branches of either of the first and second rails 31, 41.

[0014] Given the transverse movement function of the sliding door, the rollers 33 and 44 bear only against the inner faces of the parallel rail arms. Each roller 33, 44 is designed to pivot about a rod 6 approximately along axis Z when the guide device 1 is positioned on the vehicle body.

[0015] The first rail 31 is connected to two rollers 33 arranged inside the first rail. The rod 6 has an upper portion at which the roller 33 is positioned. The opposite end is attached via a plate 34. The plate 34, which includes the rollers 33 and the rods 6, defines a carriage 32 for longitudinal sliding. The plate 34 includes an eccentric portion 340 that is connected to the angular guide means 4. This connection is achieved by a first rotating shaft coaxial with a first axis of rotation RI, which allows the connecting arm 43 to pivot about an axis Z on the carriage 32.

[0016] The second rail 41 is related to a roller 44 disposed inside the second rail. The rod 6 includes a summit portion at which the roller 44 is positioned. The opposite end of the rod 6 is assembled through the connecting arm 43.

[0017] The connecting arm 43 comprises two parallel branches 430 which are intended to improve the rigidity of the rotational assembly with respectively the carriage 32 and the plate 5.

[0018] As shown in [Fig. 2], the rotational connection about a second axis of rotation R2 of the connecting arm 43 on the plate 5 can thus be achieved via a second rotating shaft, cylindrical in cross-section, coaxial with the second axis of rotation R2, passing through the parallel arms 430 of the connecting arm 43. The rotational connection R2 can be achieved via a ring forming a bearing and surrounding the second shaft, while being positioned between the parallel arms 430. The ring can be made by overmolding the plate 5, at the level of a through-hole coaxial with the ring. The second shaft can be positioned and then crimped onto the connecting arm 43 after the plate 5 has been placed inside one end of the connecting arm 43. The first and second axes of rotation RI and R2 are substantially parallel to the Z axis.

[0019] As shown in [Fig. 3], the rod 6 of the roller 44 passes completely through each of the parallel arms 430. The rotational connection RI of the connecting arm 43 on the carriage 32 can thus be achieved via a cylindrical shaft passing through the parallel arms 430 of the connecting arm 43. The rotational connection RI can be achieved via a ring forming a bearing and surrounding the cylindrical shaft, while being positioned between the parallel arms 430. The ring can be made by overmolding the plate 34 of the carriage 32, at a through opening coaxial with the ring. The cylindrical shaft The indrique can be positioned and then crimped onto the connecting arm 43 after the plate 34 has been placed inside one end of the connecting arm 43 opposite to that of the rotating link RI.

[0020] The connecting arm 43 can be made by bending a steel plate. It comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-section inclined such that the parallel arms extend along a Y-axis and the lateral wall, in particular an inner lateral wall, connecting the parallel arms extends in a plane substantially along the Z-axis. The parallel arms 430 of the connecting arm 43 can each extend substantially parallel to the bottom portions of the first and second rails 31, 4L

[0021] The design of the connecting arm 43 with a substantially U-shaped cross-section allows the assembly to be compacted because the movement of the connecting arm 43 around the carriage 32 or the plate 5 can be achieved by placing them in whole or in part inside the connecting arm 43, at least between the parallel branches 430. The connecting arm 43 has a longitudinal profile substantially in J shape with a straight portion of U-shaped cross-section and an inclined portion being devoid of the lateral wall connecting parallel branches 430.

[0022] The door 2 is attached to a bracket which is mounted on the plate 5 and assembled by screwing. In [Fig. 2], the door 2 is in the closed position, and the plate 5 extends partially inside the connecting arm 43. In the closed position of the door 2, the plate 5 is positioned longitudinally along the extension of the plate 34 of the carriage 32, i.e., along the X-axis. Due to the rotational joint R2 linking the connecting arm 43 to the plate 5, the plate 5 can assume a position approximately at 90° with respect to the connecting arm 43. In the open position of the door 2, the plate 5 is positioned transversely along the extension of the plate 34 of the carriage 32, i.e., along the Y-axis, or even in lateral contact. This improves the compactness of the guiding device, the plate 5 being able to be attached laterally to the carriage 32.

[0023] The angular guidance means 4 for the connecting arm 43 comprises the second rail 41, an inclined portion 42 of which, defining the front end of the second rail 41, is transversely distant from the free front end of the first rail 31. The inclined portion 42 thus forms a constant or variable angle with the first rail in the direction of the interior of the vehicle's passenger compartment. The inclined portion 42 may be straight or curved while extending in a plane Pxy. The presence of this angle allows the connecting arm 43 to rotate around the pivot point RI such that when the roller 44 is in the inclined portion 42, the connecting arm pivots as the transverse distance along the Y axis between the first and second rails 31, 41 is greater. The first and second rails 31,41 are made separately and by folding sheet steel, in particular from stainless steel.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the first and second rails 31, 41 are made of plastic, in particular by injection molding. The first and second rails could be made directly by molding a plastic material into an element intended to be attached to the side of the vehicle body, in particular a step, which would facilitate its integration.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the first and second rails 31, 41 belong to a rail module which can be produced by extruding an alloy, in particular aluminium, in particular by means of an extrusion nozzle with an evolving profile to create the straight and curved portions.

[0026] The first and second rails 31, 41 then form a rail module made in one piece, which facilitates its assembly on the vehicle.

[0027] The guide device 1 is of compact design, at least along at least one vertical component. It allows the rear of the door 2 to be positioned close to an edge of the vehicle body while bringing the front of the door 2 flush with the vehicle body when closing and moving the door 2 away from the body when opening.

[0028] Due to its compact nature, such a guiding device can be positioned at the upper or lower level of the side opening of the body, so that the means involved in the lateral movement of the sliding door 2 can be more easily integrated into a vehicle, which improves the useful volume of the latter, particularly in terms of habitability.

[0029] Such a guide device 2 makes it possible to obtain a reduced transverse and vertical footprint, independent of the lateral offset required to open the door. Indeed, in the door guide device according to the invention, the transverse offset of the door is a function of the inclination portion of the second rail and not of the advancement of the guide rail inside the passenger compartment. This device makes it possible to obtain a large lateral movement of the door but with a small transverse offset of the second rail due to the angle formed between the inclination portion of the second rail and the first rail. The movement of the door 2 is obtained by rotating the connecting arm 43 of the door to the articulation device 1, around a double rotational joint RI and R2, respectively around the carriage 32 and the plate 5.

[0030] This small transverse and vertical footprint of the guidance device allows for a shallow and shallow cavity for receiving the first and second guide rails, making it less visible from inside the passenger compartment, or less intrusive in the vehicle floor, which is a particularly desirable advantage in the case of an electric vehicle in which a battery module is positioned under the floor. The device's compact size also allows for a robust front support that provides good impact resistance. This impact resistance can be further enhanced by using a deep door frame, made possible by the significant lateral movement provided by the guide device according to the invention.

[0031] The guidance device according to the invention also has the advantage of allowing the trajectory of the door to be easily changed by modifying only the trajectory of the inclined portion 42 of the second guide rail 41.

[0032] Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example. By way of example, according to an alternative embodiment, such a guiding device could also incorporate a load-bearing roller, in particular in mechanical connection with the carriage so that part of the weight of the sliding door can be distributed at the level of the first rail, which would then be of a suitable design, for example by using a greater thickness of material. On the contrary, the invention includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these are carried out in accordance with its spirit.

Claims

Demands

1. A sliding door (2) guide device (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an axial guide means (3) consisting of at least one first substantially straight rail (31) along which a carriage (32) is able to slide, and an angular guide means (4) consisting of a second rail (41), in particular having a curved end (42), comprising a portion inclined relative to the first rail (31), and a connecting arm (43) to the door, characterized in that the first rail (31) extends in a plane (Pxy), in particular substantially horizontal, in which the second rail (41) moves such that the connecting arm (43) linking the door to the guide device extends only under each of the first and second rails (31, 41),and in that the connecting arm (43) comprises two parallel branches (430) improving the rigidity of the rotational assembly with respectively the carriage (32) and a plate (5) dedicated to attaching the door to the guide device (1), and in that the movement of the connecting arm (43) around the carriage (32) or the plate (5) is achieved by their placement, in whole or in part, inside the connecting arm (43), at least between the parallel branches (430).

2. A guidance device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second rails (31,41) each comprise a straight portion, in particular a rear portion (310, 410), and in that they are assembled to each other, in particular by welding, at the level of their rear portion (310, 410).

3. A guidance device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a rail module including the first and second rails (31, 41), the module being manufactured by a sheet steel bending operation, in particular stainless steel, in such a way that the module has a rear portion of rails (310, 410) of substantially straight profile.

4. A guidance device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the first and second rails (31, 41) has a substantially inverted U-shaped profile, and in that one of the parallel branches of one of the first and second rails is directly connected to one of the parallel branches of the other of the first and second rails.

5. A guiding device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said axial guiding means (3) comprises a carriage (32) mounted to slide along the first rail via a pair of rollers (33) connected to a plate (34) extends under each of the first and second rails (31, 41), the plate including in particular an eccentric portion (340) on which is positioned a rotation link (RI) in relation to said angular guidance means (4).

6. A guidance device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said angular guidance means (4) comprises a roller (44) connected to the connecting arm (43) and mounted to slide along the second rail (41) such that the movement of the roller (44) along the inclined portion (42) of the second rail (41) causes a rotation of the connecting arm (43) around the carriage (32), in particular around a first axis of rotation (RI).

7. A guiding device (1) according to the preceding claim in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the connecting arm (43) of said angular guiding means (4) comprises parallel branches (430) to each other, that one end of the arm is connected to said axial guiding means (3) via a first rotation shaft coaxial with said first axis of rotation (RI) and that an opposite end of the arm is connected to the door (2) via the plate (5) linked to a second rotation shaft coaxial with a second axis of rotation (R2) and fixed to the door, in particular by screwing, each of the first and second rotation shafts passing perpendicularly through said parallel branches (430).

8. Guiding device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the opposite end of the connecting arm (43) comprises a portion with a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

9. A guiding device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (5), the connecting arm (43) and the carriage (32) extend respectively in parallel planes (Pxy) to each other, in particular substantially horizontal, under each of the guide rails (31, 41).

10. A guiding device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each of the rollers (33, 44) is mounted on a rod (6), and in that the height of the rollers is less than the height of the parallel arms of the first and second rails, so that the gap, in particular the vertical gap, separating the plate (5) and / or the connecting arm (43) and / or the carriage (32) from the first rail (31) and / or the second rail (41) can be varied in order to allow a adjusting the door relative to a side opening of the case.

11. Vehicle comprising a sliding door, in particular a side door, a body side delimiting an opening capable of being closed by the door, characterized in that it comprises a guiding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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