SIDE DOOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE FEATURING SUCH A DOOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a side door (21) of a motor vehicle, said door (21) comprising: - a door lining (3) which has a bottom (11), a rim (15), and a side panel (13) connecting the bottom (11) to the rim (15); - a lock (7) configured to control the opening and / or closing of the door (21); - a lock reinforcement (29) fixed to said lining (3) and located between the lining (3) and the lock (7), the lock (7) and the reinforcement (29) extending along the lining (3); - a stiffener (25) extending transversely with respect to said lining (3) and one of whose ends (25a) extends opposite the lock (7); characterized in that said end (25a) of the stiffener (25) is fixed to the rim (15), and along an axis substantially parallel to the principal extension plane of said side (13). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE SIDE DOOR AND VEHICLE FEATURING SUCH A DOOR

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, and more particularly to the side doors of motor vehicles which include a stiffener which contributes in particular to the rigidity of said door.

[0002] Currently, numerous protocols, developed by independent organizations, exist for evaluating vehicle resistance to various impacts, including side impacts. These protocols are applied to vehicles before they are put into service and determine the risks to passengers or pedestrians during these impacts. In particular, these protocols study the overall behavior of the vehicle's side door (including its resistance) during an impact.

[0003] Indeed, during a side impact, there may be denting of an outer door panel, thereby applying force to a door lock which may cause the door to open. This consequence is unacceptable with regard to the protocols, standards, and regulations relating to said side doors.

[0004] Thus, [Fig.1] illustrates a schematic, side view, in an XZ or vertical plane, of a prior art side door 1, more particularly here a left rear door of a motor vehicle, the outer wall of which has not been shown in order to allow visualization of the elements of interest of said door and also for reasons of readability.

[0005] Said door 1 therefore generally comprises an outer wall and a lining 3 forming a box, as well as a stiffener 5 positioned in the box, i.e., between the lining 3 and the outer wall. Said door 1 also comprises a lock 7, as well as a lock reinforcement 9 which is fixed to said lining 3. The lock 7 is, for its part, generally fixed by screwing to the lining 3 through said lock reinforcement 9, said reinforcement 9 thus being sandwiched between the lock 9 and the door lining 3.

[0006] More particularly, the lining 3 comprises a bottom 11, a side panel 13 and a rim 15 (on which is in particular fixed the outer wall not shown of the door 1), said side panel 13 connecting the bottom 11 to the rim 15.

[0007] Furthermore, at least a portion of the stiffener 5 extends opposite the lock 7 and the reinforcement 9. While the stiffener 5 is fixed, for example by welding, to the lining 3, in particular by means of one of the ends 5a of the stiffener 5 which is fixed to said side 13, along an axis normal to the surface of said side 13, that is to say, when the Vehicle door 1 is in the mounted position, along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (or the X axis as defined below).

[0008] Figures 2 and 3, referenced respectively as [Fig.2] and [Fig.3], are enlarged views, in vertical planes orthogonal to each other (respectively in a YZ plane and in an XZ plane) of the gate 1 of [Fig.1], on which the end 5a of the stiffener 5 has substantially an L-shaped terminal form and is fixed by welding to the inner face 13a of the side 13.

[0009] Furthermore, said lock 7 and reinforcement 9 extend into the box (therefore along the lining 3), that is to say in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom 11 of the lining 3, and also along the side 13. The end 5a of the stiffener 5 therefore comes to rest against the lateral side 13 (in particular the inner face of said side) along an axis orthogonal to the main extension plane of said side 13 (that is to say along an X axis), and opposite the lock 7 and the reinforcement 9.

[0010] It should also be noted that said lock 7 includes a (non-visible) door opening control mechanism for the door 1, as well as a cable connected to said door opening control mechanism. This cable of the opening control mechanism includes, more specifically, a cable exit elbow 7a which extends between the lock 7 and the end 5a of the stiffener 5.

[0011] Thus, when the door is forced open, this causes a deformation of the outer wall of the door 1, which can then come into contact with the lock reinforcement 9. Unfortunately, despite the reinforcement 9, this force can cause the exit elbow 7a to come into contact with one of the elements of the door 1 (walls, lining, stiffener, etc.) and therefore trigger the door opening control mechanism, resulting in an unintended opening of the door, endangering the vehicle's occupants.

[0012] The lock reinforcement helps to limit the risk of the door opening during a side impact, but does not completely solve one of the problems underlying the present invention, which is to prevent the door from opening in the event of a significant side impact in accordance with the applicable regulations.

[0013] The present invention thus aims to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new side door for a motor vehicle, said door comprising at least: - a door lining which includes a bottom, a rim, and a side panel connecting the bottom to the rim; - a lock configured to control the opening and / or closing of the door; - a lock reinforcement fixed to said lining and located between the lining and the lock, the lock and the reinforcement extending along the door lining; - a stiffener which extends transversely in relation to said lining and of which at least one of its ends extends opposite the lock and the reinforcement, and is fixed to said lining; characterized in that said end of the stiffener is fixed, on the one hand, to the edge of the lining, and, on the other hand, along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said side.

[0014] Fixing the end of the stiffener along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said side panel, or along an axis substantially orthogonal to the bottom of the door lining (or more particularly to its main extension plane or that of the edge), prevents the end of the stiffener from coming directly into contact with the lock, and therefore with a cable exit bend of said lock. The space thus freed up at the side panel and the lock limits the risk of the cable exit bend coming into contact with a third element (such as the stiffener), and therefore reduces the risk of the door opening during a severe lateral impact.

[0015] Furthermore, this solution has the advantage of being quick and easy to apply to existing motor vehicle side doors, and of being inexpensive to implement. This solution also avoids increasing the door's mass and allows the existing components of a motor vehicle side door to be retained.

[0016] According to one possible feature, said end of the stiffener, fixed on the edge (therefore located opposite the door lock), has a substantially straight terminal shape. The straight shape of the stiffener end which is fixed in the lock area facilitates the welding operation and its speed on a production line.

[0017] According to another possible feature, said lock includes an exit cable elbow which extends transversely along the side and in the direction of the edge of the door lining (i.e. away from the bottom of the door lining and towards the end of the stiffener, or for example opposite the lock reinforcement).

[0018] The cable outlet elbow extends, in particular, along the main extension plane of the side panel. It should be noted that the cable outlet elbow of the lock is thus located between a lock body and an outer wall of the door. This cable outlet elbow of the lock is, for example, made of a semi-rigid material, such as a plastic.

[0019] According to another possible feature, the lock reinforcement has, in cross-section, an extension extending to the closest point to the edge of the door lining. This extended lock reinforcement reduces the risk of debris coming into contact with the lock during a side impact. It should be noted that "as close as possible" means that the lock reinforcement can extend unimpeded to the edge of the door lining, provided, of course, that this does not compromise the mechanical properties of the door lining.

[0020] According to another possible feature, the lock reinforcement has, in cross-section, substantially a quadrilateral shape, said quadrilateral having an extension which extends towards the end of the stiffener (and which also extends opposite the cable exit elbow of the lock). Thanks to the way the end of the stiffener is fixed, it is possible to ensure that the lock reinforcement includes an extension which has a greater spatial extension at the critical point where the exit cable elbow of the lock is located, further limiting the risk of an element of the door coming into contact with the exit cable elbow, particularly following a lateral impact on the door.

[0021] According to another possible feature, in the main extension plane of the flank, the distance between the bend of the output cable and the end of the stiffener is greater than 15 mm, and preferably greater than 17 mm.

[0022] According to another possible feature, said lock reinforcement has, in cross-section (or in the principal extension plane of the side), a lateral spatial extension greater than 85% of the lateral spatial extension of said side, and preferably greater than 95% of the lateral spatial extension of said side. It should be noted that the lateral extension of the side is understood to be the portion of the side that extends along the thickness of the door (i.e., as defined below, substantially along an axis Y when the door is in the mounted position).

[0023] According to another possible feature, said end of the stiffener is fixed along an axis normal to the surface of the rim (or along an axis normal to the main extension plane of the rim). Note that the term "normal axis" refers to the line normal to a surface at a point, which is a line perpendicular to the tangent plane at that point (any direction vector of this line is generally called the normal vector to the surface at that point). Thus, when the door is in the raised position, the end of the stiffener is fixed along a horizontal transverse axis (or Y-axis as defined below).

[0024] According to another possible feature, said stiffener end is fixed by welding, advantageously by electric welding. It is advantageous to fix the stiffener by welding, as it is a quick, economical and efficient method to mechanically secure this element to the other parts of the side door.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a side door of a motor vehicle, said door comprising: - at least one door lining which includes a bottom, a rim, and a side panel connecting the bottom to the rim; - a lock configured to control the opening and / or closing of the door; - a lock reinforcement fixed to said lining and located between the lining and the lock, the lock and the reinforcement extending along the door lining; - a stiffener which extends transversely along said lining and one of whose ends extends opposite the lock and the reinforcement and is fixed to said lining; characterized in that said end of the stiffener is fixed to the edge of the door lining along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said side.

[0026] According to another possible feature, during the manufacture of a door, said end of the stiffener is fixed by welding, for example by electric welding.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one side door having one or more of the characteristics stated above.

[0028] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic, partial, side view representation of a side door from earlier art; - [Fig.2] is a schematic, side, and enlarged view of part of the door of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.3] is a schematic and enlarged view of part of the door of [Fig.1]; - Figure 4 illustrates a schematic, partial, side view of a door side of motor vehicle according to the invention; - [Fig.5] is a schematic and enlarged view of part of the door of [Fig.4]; - Fig. 6 is a schematic, front, and enlarged view of part of the door of the [Fig.4],

[0029] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of". Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "front", "rear", "longitudinal" and "transverse" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the motor vehicle, whether it is hybrid, electric or internal combustion.

[0030] The term "interior" or "internal" will refer to the fact that an element is oriented towards the vehicle (and more particularly towards "the inside" of the vehicle), while "exterior" or "external" will refer to the fact that an element is turned outwards or oriented away from the vehicle.

[0031] Furthermore, an orthogonal XYZ frame of reference is defined with respect to the vehicle, namely: - an X axis, defining a longitudinal and horizontal direction of the vehicle, - a Y axis, defining a transverse and horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, orthogonal to the horizontal XY plane, the Z axis with the X axis defining a vertical XZ plane.

[0032] Furthermore, it should be noted that in the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0033] Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic, side and partial view, in an XZ or vertical plane, of a side door 21 according to the invention, more particularly here a left rear door of a motor vehicle, the outer wall of which has not been shown to allow visualization of the elements of interest of said door and also for reasons of readability.

[0034] Said door 21 therefore comprises an outer wall and a lining 3 forming a box, as well as a stiffener 25 positioned in the box, therefore between the lining 3 and the outer wall.

[0035] Said door 21 also includes a lock 7, as well as a lock reinforcement 29 to which said lock 7 is fixed, at least partially. The lock 7 is configured in particular to control the opening and / or closing of the door 21. More specifically, the lock reinforcement 29 is fixed, for example by welding, to the lining 3. While the lock 3 is, for example by screwing, fixed to the lining 3, such that the reinforcement 29 is sandwiched between the lock 7 and the lining 3.

[0036] It should be noted that the lock reinforcement 29 is a structural component with a mechanical resistance greater than that of the lock 7 and is designed to protect the lock 7 during a lateral impact. The reinforcement 29 is, in particular, a component that deflects certain elements of the door 21 that deform under the effect of an impact and that could come into contact with the lock 7.

[0037] The lining 3 comprises a base 11, a side member 13, and a rim 15, i.e., a peripheral contour, to which the outer wall is attached. Said side member 13 thus connects the base 11 to the rim 15. It should be noted that the base 11, the side member 13, and the rim 15 of said lining 3 are advantageously composed of one or more walls, walls advantageously made of steel and / or aluminum.

[0038] Thus, when mounted in a vehicle, the base 11 and the rim 15 of the lining 3 extend substantially in an XZ or vertical plane (or along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle). The base 11 and the rim 15 therefore extend in substantially parallel planes. While the lateral side 13 extends in a YZ plane (or along the width of the vehicle, or Y axis), the side 11 is therefore substantially orthogonal to the base 11, as well as to the rim 15.

[0039] The stiffened element 25, for its part, acts as a reinforcement and is generally an element of elongated shape. The stiffener 25, for example, is made of steel, specifically steel with a yield strength between 150 MPa and 600 MPa. The stiffener 25's primary function is to reinforce the strength and mechanical resistance of door 21.

[0040] As is particularly visible in [Fig.4] and [Fig.5], the stiffener 25 extends transversely with respect to the height of the door 21, that is to say, in the mounted position, transversely with respect to the Z axis (or along an X axis or the longitudinal axis of the vehicle).

[0041] The stiffener 25 has at least two opposite longitudinal ends, and in the embodiment described herein, three ends 25a, 25b and 25c. Each of the ends 25a, 25b, 25c of the stiffener 25 is fixed, for example by welding, advantageously electric, to the lining 3 of the door 21.

[0042] More specifically, one end 25a, referred to as the first end, of the stiffener 25 is fixed to the flange 15, in particular along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said flange (or an axis normal to the main extension plane of said flange 15). Thus, when the vehicle door 21 is in the mounted position, the first end 25a is fixed to the flange 15 along the Y-axis (or a horizontal axis transverse to the vehicle). Furthermore, the first end 25a of the stiffener 25 has a straight shape.

[0043] As is particularly visible in [Fig.6], at least part of the stiffener 25 extends in relation to the lock 7 and the reinforcement 29, in particular the part of the stiffener 25 ending with the first end 25a.

[0044] Said lock 7 further includes a control mechanism for opening (not visible) the door 21, as well as a cable connected to said door opening control mechanism, here partially represented by an elbow 7a of output cable.

[0045] Thus, the cable outlet elbow 7a extends between the lock 7 and the end 25a of the stiffener 25 (opposite the main extension plane of the lateral side 13). The cable outlet elbow 7a extends more specifically transversely along the lateral side 13 towards said end 25a of the stiffener 25 (therefore also opposite the lock reinforcement 29).

[0046] Said lock 7 and reinforcement 29 extend into the casing, and therefore at least partly along the lining 3 (and in particular along the side 13). Furthermore, end 25a The stiffener 25 comes into contact with the lining 3, more specifically the edge 15, along an axis orthogonal to the bottom 11 (or along a Y-axis, when the door 21 is in the raised position). Thus, in the main extension plane of the side 13, the distance between the elbow 7a of the output cable and the end 25a of the stiffener 25 is greater than 15 mm, and preferably greater than 17 mm.

[0047] The lock reinforcement 29 has, in cross-section (i.e., at the level of the inner face 13a of the base 13), more particularly in the main extension plane of the side 13, a substantially quadrilateral shape. This quadrilateral of the reinforcement 29 thus includes an extension 29a which extends towards the end 25a of the stiffener 25 (and which also extends opposite the cable exit elbow of the lock). The reinforcement 29 thus extends to the edge 15 of the lining 3 (without encountering any obstacle), and therefore preferably as close as possible to the outer wall of the door 21 (and to the edge 15).

[0048] More particularly, said lock reinforcement 29 has, in cross-section (in the main extension plane of the side, for example at the level of the plane comprising the inner face 13a of the side 13), a lateral spatial extension greater than 85% of the lateral spatial extension of said side 13, and preferably greater than 95% of the lateral spatial extension of said side 13. It will be noted that the lateral spatial extension of the side 13 is understood to be the part of the side 13 which extends along the thickness of the door 21, that is to say substantially along an axis Y when the door 21 is in the mounted position.

[0049] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a side door 21 of a motor vehicle as described above, in which the end 25a of the stiffener 25 is fixed, for example by electric welding, to the edge 15 of the lining 3 of the door 21 along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said side 13.

[0050] In an embodiment of the invention not shown, the end 25a of the stiffener 25 comprises one or more ribs, extending for example along the longitudinal axis of said stiffener 25. These ribs make it possible in particular to improve the mechanical properties of said stiffener 25 at the level of the fixing zone of said stiffener 25, a zone which is all the more critical in the event of a lateral impact.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor vehicle side door (21), said door (21) comprising at least: - a door lining (3) which has a bottom (11), a rim (15), and a side panel (13) connecting the bottom (11) to the rim (15); - a lock (7) configured to control the opening and / or closing of the door (21); - a lock reinforcement (29) fixed to said lining (3) and located between the lining (3) and the lock (7), the lock (7) and the reinforcement (29) extending along the door lining (3); - a stiffener (25) which extends transversely with respect to said lining (3) and at least one of whose ends (25a) extends opposite the lock (7) and the reinforcement (29), and is fixed to said lining (3);characterized in that said end (25a) of the stiffener (25) is fixed, on the one hand, to the edge (15) of the lining (3), and, on the other hand, along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said side (13), and in that the lock reinforcement (29) has, in cross-section, an extension (29a) extending to the closest point to the edge (15) of the door lining (3);

2. Door (21) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said end (25a) of the stiffener (25), fixed on the rim (15), has a substantially straight terminal shape.

3. Door (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lock (7) comprises an exit cable elbow (7a) which extends transversely along the lateral side (13) and towards the edge (15) of the door lining (3) (21).

4. Door (21) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in the main extension plane of the side (13), the distance between the bend (7a) of the output cable and the end (25a) of the stiffener (25) is greater than 15 mm.

5. Door (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lock reinforcement (29) has, in cross-section, a lateral spatial extension greater than 85% of the lateral spatial extension of said side (13).

6. Door (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end (25a) of the stiffener (25) is fixed along an axis normal to the surface of the rim (15).

7. Door (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end (25a) of stiffener (25) is fixed by welding.

8. A method for manufacturing a side door (21) of a motor vehicle, said door (21) comprising: - at least one door lining (3) which has a bottom (11), a rim (15), and a side panel (13) connecting the bottom (11) to the rim (15); - a lock (7) configured to control the opening and / or closing of the door (21); - a lock reinforcement (29) fixed to said lining (3) and located between the lining (3) and the lock (7), the lock (7) and the reinforcement (29) extending along the door lining (3); - a stiffener (25) which extends transversely along said lining (3) and one end (25a) of which extends opposite the lock (7) and the reinforcement (29) and is fixed to said lining (3); characterized in that the end (25a) of the stiffener (25) is fixed to the edge (15) of the door lining (3) along an axis substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said side (13).

9. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one side door (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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