FRONT PART OF A VEHICLE ADAPTED TO REDUCE THE STRESS SUFFERED BY A PEDESTRIAN IN THE EVENT OF A LOW-SPEED COLLISION WITH A PEDESTRIAN

Abstract

The invention relates to a front portion of a vehicle comprising a front structure (2) covered by a front face, the front face comprising a bumper skin surmounted by a grille, the front structure (2) comprising a beam (21) positioned essentially behind the bumper skin and an intermediate cross member (22) positioned behind the grille, such that the intermediate cross member (22) has at least one curved, arc-shaped form, the apex of the arc being either oriented towards the top of said front face or towards the beam (21). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: FRONT PART OF A VEHICLE ADAPTED TO REDUCE THE STRESS EXPERIENCED BY A PEDESTRIAN IN THE EVENT OF A LOW-SPEED COLLISION WITH A PEDESTRIAN

[0001] The present invention relates to a front part of a vehicle which includes a front structure covered by a front face, the front face includes a bumper skin which is surmounted by a grille, the front structure including a beam positioned essentially behind the bumper skin and an intermediate cross member positioned behind the grille, the front part of the vehicle being adapted to limit the stresses suffered by a pedestrian in the event of a collision with the front of the vehicle at low speed.

[0002] It is known to have deformable areas at the front of a vehicle to limit the stresses suffered by a pedestrian in the event of a collision with the front of the vehicle at low speed, but in the case of a vehicle which has a large grille, a reinforcing crossmember must be installed to maintain the rigidity of the front despite this large opening, but such a reinforcing crossmember represents a risk of injury in the event of a collision of a pedestrian with the front of the vehicle and this even at low speed.

[0003] The device according to the invention makes it possible to remedy this drawback.

[0004] It comprises, in fact, according to the invention, a front part of a vehicle, which includes a front structure covered by a front face, the front face comprising a bumper skin which is surmounted by a grille, the front structure comprising a beam positioned essentially behind the bumper skin and an intermediate cross member positioned behind the grille, such that the intermediate cross member has at least one curved shape in the form of an arc of a circle, the apex of the arc of the circle being either oriented towards the top of said front face or oriented towards the beam.

[0005] According to a first feature of the invention, the intermediate crossbar is positioned behind the upper half of the grille.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment, the apex of the arc of the intermediate cross member is oriented towards the beam.

[0007] According to a second feature of the invention, the intermediate cross member has a blade-like profile, with a small vertical thickness and, along the normal direction of movement of the vehicle, a depth greater than said thickness, preferably the depth of the intermediate cross member being at least four times greater than its thickness.

[0008] According to a third feature of the invention, the front structure comprises two uprights positioned under the two sides of the grille, the intermediate cross member being fixed between said two uprights and being adapted to tilt backwards by 90 degrees upon impact on said intermediate cross member.

[0009] According to a fourth feature of the invention, the beam has a deformable zone, said deformable zone being preferably positioned behind the license plate and has cells oriented from the beam towards the license plate.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a vehicle which includes such a front part having at least one of the preceding characteristics.

[0011] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0012] [Fig-1] represents a partial view of a front part of a vehicle.

[0013] [Fig.2] represents a detailed view of an elastic stop.

[0014] [Fig.3] represents a partial view of a front structure of the front part of the vehicle.

[0015] [Fig.4] represents a partial view of the interior of a grille of the front part of the vehicle.

[0016] With reference to these drawings, a front part 1 of a vehicle comprises a front structure 2 covered by a front face 3.

[0017] The front face 3 includes a bumper skin 31 and a grille 32.

[0018] The front structure 2 comprises a beam 21 which extends essentially under the skin bumper 31, an intermediate cross member 22 which extends below the grille 32 and an upper cross member 23 which extends essentially below the top of the grille 32.

[0019] The front structure 2 also includes two uprights 24 behind both sides of the grille 32.

[0020] Along the perimeter of the grille 32 are positioned elastic stops 4 which are fixed on the beam 21, along the two uprights 24 and the upper cross member 23.

[0021] The grille 32 is mounted floating in the front face 3, so that the elastic stops 4 allow the grille 32 to recoil during a very low speed impact on the grille 32.

[0022] Such a grille 32 has a large dimension, in particular a large height which is at least equal to half the height of the front face 3 and a finish which can increase the price of such a grille, making the stops elastic bands 4 by allowing a recoil of the grille 32, protects it during a very low speed impact.

[0023] As particularly visible in [Fig.2], the elastic stop 4 comprises a first part 41 which forms a central core generally made of plastic and a second part 42 formed by a spring positioned around the first part 41.

[0024] A third part 43 of the elastic stops extends the first part 41 by forming a shoulder to form a bearing surface at a first end of the spring 42.

[0025] The third part 43 is adapted to fit into supports 25 secured along the beam 21, the two uprights 24 and the upper cross member 23 of the front structure 2.

[0026] The grille 32 has supports 33 for fixing a fourth part 44 of the elastic stops 4, the fourth part 44 being detachable to be positioned first in the supports 33 before being clipped to the free end of the first part 41 of one of the elastic stops 4.

[0027] The fourth part 44 of the elastic stops 4 has a central opening in which the free end of the first part 41 of one of the elastic stops 4 is clipped, said first part 41 being able to slide along the central opening of the fourth part 44, the peripheral part of the fourth part 44 of the elastic stop 4 forming a bearing surface for the spring 42.

[0028] A plastic film can be overmolded around the spring 42 and the third part 43 of the elastic stops 4 to prevent the spring 42 from falling out before final assembly; the plastic film can also be easily colored to prevent the elastic stops 4 from being visible through the grille 32.

[0029] Depending on the area of ​​the edge of the grille 32, the density of elastic stops 4 can vary according to local retaining constraints, in particular at the junction with the front headlights 7 where two elastic stops 4 are installed side by side.

[0030] In the embodiment shown, the grille 32 is held by twelve elastic pads 4, allowing good distribution of stresses in case of very low speed impact so as not to damage the grille 32.

[0031] The front structure 2 also includes, in the central part of the beam 21, a deformable zone 5 which is covered by a license plate 8.

[0032] The deformable zone 5 has cells which extend from the beam 21 towards the license plate 8.

[0033] The front structure 2 finally includes, hidden by the upper half of the grille 32, the intermediate cross member 22 which makes it possible to reinforce the front structure 2 while having the ability to deform easily in the event of a front impact with a pedestrian.

[0034] To do this, the intermediate cross member 22 has a curved shape, with the apex of the arc oriented towards the top of the front structure 2, the two ends being connected to each of the two uprights 24.

[0035] The intermediate cross member 22 has a blade profile, with a low vertical thickness and, following the normal direction of movement of the vehicle, a depth at least four times greater than said low thickness.

[0036] The grille 32, mounted on the front structure 2 by means of the elastic stops 4, can move backward during a very low speed impact.

[0037] During a low-speed impact, for example a pedestrian-type impact, the license plate 8 can deform due to the deformable zone 5 which serves as its support, limiting the stresses on the lower legs of the pedestrian and the intermediate cross member 22 tilts 90 degrees and ends up with the depth of the blade profile facing the pedestrian during the impact.

[0038] During the impact, intermediate cross member 22 presents the depth of the blade profile which is facing the pedestrian which, combined with the low thickness, allows the intermediate cross member 22 to easily deform and limit the stresses on the upper legs of the pedestrian.

Claims

Demands

1. Front part (1) of a vehicle, comprising a front structure (2) covered by a front face (3), the front face (3) comprising a bumper skin which is surmounted by a grille (32), the front structure (2) comprising a beam (21) positioned essentially behind the bumper skin and an intermediate cross member (22) positioned behind the grille (32), characterized in that the intermediate cross member (22) has at least one curved shape the apex of which is either oriented towards the top of said front face (3) or oriented towards the beam (21), the intermediate cross member (22) having a blade profile, with a small vertical thickness and, along the normal direction of travel of the vehicle, a depth greater than said thickness, the depth of the intermediate cross member (22) being at least four times greater than its thickness,characterized in that the front structure (2) comprises two uprights (24) positioned under the two sides of the grille (32), the intermediate cross member (22) being fixed between said two uprights (24) and being adapted to tilt backwards by 90 degrees upon impact on said intermediate cross member (22).

2. Front part (1) of a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate cross member (22) is positioned behind the upper half of the grille (32).

3. Front part (1) of a vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the apex of the arc of the intermediate cross member (22) is oriented towards the beam (21).

4. Front part (1) of a vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beam (21) has a deformable zone (5).

5. Front part (1) of a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the deformable area (5) is positioned behind the registration plate (8).

6. Front part (1) of a vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the deformable area (5) has cavities oriented from the beam (21) towards the registration plate (8).

7. Vehicle comprising a front part (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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