Aluminum opening and vehicle equipped with such an opening.

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening (1) of a vehicle (2), in particular of the type of a rear side door, comprising a structural element (3) made of aluminum, this structural element comprising a box (31) and a reinforcement (32) assembled to each other by an assembly means (4) disposed at at least two distinct and adjacent junction lines (5; 6) of the structural element (3), the junction lines (5; 6) being separated from each other by at least one curved edge (7) of the structural element (3), in particular a curved edge substantially at a right angle. Figure for the abstract: 3

Description

Title of the invention: Aluminum opening and vehicle equipped with such an opening. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of openings for a motor vehicle. It relates more particularly to an aluminum opening, as well as to a vehicle equipped with such an opening. The method of manufacturing such an opening is also part of the invention. State of the prior art

[0002] The use of an aluminum alloy for the manufacture of vehicle components allows the production of structural parts that are lighter than the same design using a steel part. However, the use of a stamping process for an aluminum plate has a manufacturing limitation due to the very fact of the use of an aluminum alloy. Compared with steel, the stamping depth of a door box is reduced for an aluminum alloy box. This has a direct impact on the mechanical strength to be ensured by the box.

[0003] It is known to create a structural element in two parts: one main part forming the heart of the box, the other additional, added in partial superposition in order to create a reinforcement part. The architecture of such an opening thus consists of adding at the level of a lateral edge of the box, the reinforcement piece so that the latter extends over almost the entire height of the box. Such a reinforcement piece is linked to the side of the vehicle body by means of a center pillar, in the case of an opening of the rear door type.

[0004] It is known that the assembly of the box with the reinforcement is carried out by an overlap zone which has a substantially longitudinal profile when the opening is closed. This has the disadvantage of offsetting by the same amount the zone of the opening carrying the sealing element intended to come into contact against the side of the body. Given the need to maintain contact with the B-pillar, the latter is then adapted to the geometry of the opening, in particular the location of the sealing element. A disadvantage has been noted that the B-pillar is larger, which tends to reduce the size of the door opening by the same amount. Accessibility is thus reduced, which is not acceptable for compact saloon-type vehicles.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to propose an opening design which overcomes the above drawbacks, with a view to improving on-board accessibility known from the prior art. Presentation of the invention

[0006] The aim of the invention is to provide an opening, in particular of the type of a rear side door of a vehicle, having a structural element made from an assembly of stamped aluminum plates.

[0007] According to the invention, a particular design architecture and an optimized arrangement of the plate assembly means make it possible to overcome the constraints linked to the manufacturing by stamping of aluminum plates for the manufacturing of the structural element of the opening.

[0008] The second object of the invention is to increase the dimension of the part of the opening intended to come into a doorway delimited by a side of the body, which further promotes accessibility on board the vehicle equipped with such an opening.

[0009] The third object of the invention is to reduce the geometry of the center pillar as a consequence of the aforementioned increase in the portion of the opening. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention relates to an opening, in particular of the type of a rear side door of a vehicle, comprising a structural element, according to which the structural element is made of aluminum and comprises a box and a reinforcement assembled to each other by an assembly means arranged at the level of at least two distinct and adjacent junction lines of the structural element, the junction lines being separated from each other by at least one curved edge of the structural element, in particular an edge curved substantially at a right angle.

[0011] According to the invention, the opening may comprise the following characteristics taken separately or in combination with each other: - the junction lines extend in vertical planes, in particular in planes that are substantially perpendicular to each other; - the junction lines are defined by a superposition of the box and the reinforcement; - the reinforcement comprises a front end edge connected to a rear end edge via a connecting portion, and one of the joining lines of the box to the reinforcement extends along an end edge of the box, in particular a front end transverse edge, and along the connecting portion of the reinforcement; - the other of the junction lines of the box to the reinforcement extends along a bottom wall of the box, the bottom wall being extended by the front end transverse edge, and along the rear end edge of the reinforcement; - the connecting portion of the reinforcement has a cross-section substantially in the shape of an arc of a circle, approximately a section of a quarter of a circle; - said assembly means is a glue and / or a self-piercing rivet; - the rear end edge and the connecting portion of the reinforcement are supported against the box, in particular respectively against the bottom wall and the front end transverse edge of the box; - a free edge of the front end of the box is spaced from the front end edge of the reinforcement, in particular by a gap of between 1 and 4 mm, preferably 3 mm + / -10%.

[0012] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular of the automobile type, which comprises an opening as previously characterized, so that in the closed position of the opening, the assembly means of one of the joining lines is of longitudinal section, and the assembly means of the other of the joining lines is of transverse section.

[0013] The vehicle may include: - a hinge device connecting the opening to one side of the body, in particular a center pillar; and / or - at least one sealing means arranged between the front end transverse edge of the box and the side of the body, in particular the center pillar; and / or - at least one appearance element, such as an interior door trim, fixed to the back wall of the box; and / or - a second sealing means arranged on a rebate on the body side delimiting a part of a door opening, said second sealing means bearing against the aspect element of the opening in the closed position. Presentation of figures

[0014] The attached drawings represent, by way of example, in a non-limiting manner, an embodiment of an opening according to the invention. [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of the exterior of a vehicle of the automobile type equipped with an opening according to the invention; [Fig.2] represents, in a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle, the architecture of a rear door of the vehicle of [Fig.l]; [Fig.3] represents, according to a section AA of [Fig.l], an enlargement of a front and rear door docking area and a center pillar; [Fig.4] represents an enlargement of zone B of the door of [Fig.3]. Detailed description

[0015] In this document, the X axis designates the longitudinal axis of a vehicle 2. When moving forward and in a straight line, the vehicle moves from the rear to the front in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The X axis is oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, i.e. in the direction of reverse travel. The Y axis designates the transverse axis of the vehicle. The Y axis is oriented from left to right, with left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle. The Z axis denotes the axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. The vehicle is considered to be resting on horizontal ground. The Z axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y and Z axes form an orthogonal reference frame.

[0016] The vehicle 2 of [Fig. 1] is shown in a configuration of closed doors 100, 200. A front door 100 is rotatably mounted about a front pillar by means of hinges, a rear door is rotatably mounted about a middle pillar 8 visible in [Fig. 3], by means of a hinge. The front door 100 is locked in the closed state to the middle pillar 8 by a locking device. The rear door 200 is locked in the closed state to a rear pillar by a locking device. The front, middle 8 and rear pillars delimit a body side of the vehicle 2.

[0017] Subsequently, the left side of the vehicle will be detailed, knowing that the characteristics will be identical for the right side of the vehicle. Apart from the differences in symmetry, the left and right rear doors of the 200 are identical. For the sake of clarity, only the left rear door of the 200 will now be described.

[0018] The left rear door 200 is visible in [Fig. 2] as it is without its equipment, including for example a window regulator, an interior door opening control, sealing elements, a loudspeaker or an interior door trim. The rear door 200 is shown here in a state similar to a factory fitting operation.

[0019] The rear door 200 comprises a structural element 3 which is composed of a box 31 and a reinforcement 32.

[0020] The box 31 comprises a bottom wall 312 visible in [Fig.4] which is intended in particular to receive the aforementioned equipment. The reinforcement 32 is intended for the fixing of an articulation device, in particular an articulation hinge assembly 9 rotatingly connecting the rear door 200 to the middle pillar 8, as can be seen in [Fig.3]. The structural element 3 is assembled to an outer skin 201 of the bodywork, in particular by crimping at the level of the door rebate. The outer skin is preferably crimped onto both the box rabbet 31 and the reinforcing rabbet 32. For example, the body skin is crimped onto the front portion of the reinforcing rabbet 32 ​​as well as onto the upper, lower and rear edges of the box rabbet 31.

[0021] The rear door 200 is made of aluminum in the sense that at least one of the box 31, the reinforcement 32 and the outer skin 201 is made of aluminum. Preferably, the box 31 and the reinforcement 32 are made of aluminum. Their assembly is carried out according to an overlap along junction lines 5 and 6. As seen in [Fig.2], the connecting lines 5 and 6 are approximately parallel to each other. The connecting lines 5 and 6 extend substantially in a plane with the vertical axis Z. The junction lines 5 and 6 are connected to each other by a curved edge 7 of the structural element 3.

[0022] In [Fig. 3], the arrangement of the front door 100 relative to the rear door 200 is highlighted, as are the means 9 for articulating the rear door on the body side by means of the articulation device 9. The joining lines 5 and 6 are distinct and adjacent to the structural element 3. They are separated from each other by at least one curved edge 7, in particular a curved edge substantially of section substantially in the shape of an arc of a circle, such that the joining lines 5 and 6 extend relative to each other in particular substantially at a right angle. One of the joining lines 5, 6 extends substantially in an X-axis plane, while the other of the joining lines 5, 6 extends in a Y-axis plane. The joining lines 5 and 6 extend in planes intersecting each other.

[0023] The structural element 3 is shaped in such a way that the box 31 and the reinforcement 32 are only in abutment against each other along the junction lines 5 and 6. The curved edge 7 of the structural element 3 is shaped in such a way that a space is created between the box 31 and the reinforcement 32 in order to avoid an assembly stress which would influence the mechanical strength of the assembly of the box with the reinforcement.

[0024] The box 31 and the reinforcement 32 are connected to each other by means of an assembly means 4 which will now be described. The assembly means 4 extends along the junction lines 5, 6 which delimit the portions of the box and the reinforcement which are superimposed relative to each other. Due to this superposition, the contact of the portions makes assembly by gluing suitable for the junction line 5 which extends in a plane of axis X. The glue 41 used at the junction line 5 is suitable for working in compression.

[0025] Due to the docking means used in the factory for the box and the reinforcement allowing them to be superimposed, the structural element 3 comprises a bonding line which evolves linearly along the junction line 5 of the X axis plane. The glue 41 used at the junction line 5 is capable of working in compression.

[0026] The structural element 3 comprises a riveting line which runs linearly along the junction line 6 of the Y axis plane. The box 31 is assembled to the reinforcement 32 by means of self-piercing rivets arranged at the junction line 6. Preferably, the rivets 42 are arranged equidistantly relative to each other.

[0027] According to an alternative embodiment, the riveting line can be supplemented by a continuous bonding line along the junction line 6 of the Y axis plane. This aims to increase the mechanical strength of the assembly of the box 31 and the reinforcement. In this case, the glue 41' used at the junction line 6 is capable of withstanding a significant shear force due to the Y axis sliding docking of the box relative to the reinforcement.

[0028] According to the method of manufacturing the structural element 3, the operation of gluing at least one of the junction lines 5 and 6 is carried out prior to the riveting operation. According to this variant embodiment, the typology of the glues used is different depending on whether it is a glue intended for the junction line 5, or a glue intended for the other junction line 6.

[0029] [Fig.4] is an enlargement of zone B of [Fig.3] allowing the front part of the left rear door 200 to be viewed in more detail according to an XY axis section. The reinforcement 32 comprises a front end edge 321 connected to a rear end edge 323 via a connecting portion 322, such that one of the joining lines 5, 6 of the box 31 to the reinforcement 32 extends along an end edge of the box, in particular a front end transverse edge 311, and along the connecting portion 322 of the reinforcement 32. After assembling the box 31 and the reinforcement 32 together, the curved connecting portion 322 is spaced from the box 31. The other of the joining lines 5, 6 of the box 31 to the reinforcement 32 extends along a bottom wall 312 of the box, the bottom wall being extended by the front end transverse edge 311. This other joining line 5, 6 extends along the rear end edge 323 of the reinforcement 32.

[0030] The free end edge 313 of the front end of the box 31 has a substantially S-shaped profile, with a spacing feature relative to the adjacent reinforcement 32. Such spacing prevents the reinforcement 31 from coming to bear against this free front end edge 313, only the joining portions 5 and 6 being allocated to a plane support of the box and the reinforcement. The connecting portion 322 of the reinforcement 32 has a cross-section substantially in an arc of a circle, approximately a section of a quarter of a circle. The transverse end edge 311 is connected to the bottom wall 312 by a curved edge 314 such that the radius of curvature of the connecting portion 322 is greater than that of the curved edge 314 of the box 31, which creates a localized spacing.

[0031] The articulation hinge 9 is fixed on one side to the middle leg 8, on the other to the structural element 3, here exclusively at the level of the reinforcement 32.

[0032] Due to a Y-axis plane joining line, the side flank of the element structuring 3 is in X close to the front end rebate of the opening. Due to this forward approach, the geometry of the center pillar 8 is adapted such that it has a reduced X-shaped footprint.

[0033] The location of the sealing devices 10 and 11 between the rear door 200 and the center pillar 8 is also highlighted in [Fig.4]. A first tubular type seal 10 is located at a portion of axis Y of the door side. The first seal 10 is fixed to the front end edge 321 of the reinforcement 32 and the front end transverse edge 311 of the box 31. It ensures a first level of sealing between the door and the center pillar 8. A second seal 11 is fixed on the side of the body, more precisely on the rebate of the middle pillar 8. This seal is intended to come into contact with an interior face of an interior door trim 20 which is integral with the box 31.

[0034] The first seal 10 is located at the junction of the free front end 313 and transverse front end 311 edges of the box 31. The interior door trim 20 masks the X-axis junction line 5.

[0035] The Y-axis junction line is located between the first seal 10 and the interior trim 20.

[0036] Because one of the assembly means 4 of the box 31 to the reinforcement 32 extends along the Y axis, the dimension along the X axis of the structural element 3 is increased, compared to what it would have been if all of the assembly means extended along the X axis only. This has a direct impact on the design of the center pillar 8, the latter having to be defined according to the geometry of the rear door 200 in order to guarantee a predefined gap between the body side and the rear door 200. Such a gap, between 1 and 4 mm, preferably 3 mm + / - 10%, is essential to make the operation of the sealing device which connects the body side to the closed rear door operational.

[0037] Thus, the design of the rear door according to the invention allows better accessibility on board the vehicle, which is a significant parameter, particularly in the manufacture of compact vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Opening (1), in particular of the type of a rear side door of a vehicle (2), comprising a structural element (3), characterized in that the structural element is made of aluminum, and in that the structural element comprises a box (31) and a reinforcement (32) assembled to each other by an assembly means (4) arranged at at least two distinct and adjacent junction lines (5; 6) of the structural element (3), the junction lines (5; 6) being separated from each other by at least one curved edge (7) of the structural element (3), in particular an edge curved substantially at a right angle, the reinforcement (32) being intended for the fixing of an articulation device (9), such as an articulation hinge fixed exclusively at the reinforcement (32).

2. Opening (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the junction lines (5; 6) extend in vertical planes, in particular in planes substantially perpendicular to each other.

3. Opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the junction lines (5; 6) are defined by a superposition of the box (31) and the reinforcement (32).

4. Opening according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement (32) comprises a front end edge (321) connected to a rear end edge (323) via a connecting portion (322), and in that one of the joining lines (5; 6) of the box (31) to the reinforcement (32) extends along an end edge of the box, in particular a front end transverse edge (311), and along the connecting portion (322) of the reinforcement (32).

5. Opening (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the other of the junction lines (5; 6) of the box (31) to the reinforcement (32) extends along a bottom wall (312) of the box, the bottom wall being extended by the front end transverse edge (311), and along the rear end edge (323) of the reinforcement (32).

6. Opening (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the connecting portion (322) of the reinforcement (32) has a cross section substantially in an arc of a circle, approximately a section of a quarter of a circle.

7. Opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said assembly means (4) is an adhesive (41) and / or a self-piercing rivet (42).

8. Opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear end edge (323) and the connecting portion (322) of the reinforcement (32) bear against the box (31), in particular respectively against the bottom wall (312) and the front end transverse edge (311) of the box.

9. Opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a free front end edge (313) of the box (31) is spaced from the front end edge (321) of the reinforcement (32), in particular by a gap of between 1 and 4 mm, preferably 3 mm + / -10%.

10. Vehicle (2), in particular of the automobile type, characterized in that it comprises an opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, and in that in the closed position of the opening, the assembly means (4) of one of the junction lines (5; 6) is of longitudinal section (X), the assembly means of the other of the junction lines (5; 6) is of transverse section (Y).

11. Vehicle (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an articulation device (9) connecting the opening (1) to a side of the body, in particular a center pillar (8).

12. Vehicle (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one sealing means (10) arranged between the front end transverse edge (311) of the box and the body side, in particular the center pillar (8).

13. Vehicle (2) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises at least one appearance element (20), such as an interior door trim, fixed to the bottom wall (312) of the box (31), and a second sealing means (11) arranged on a rebate on the body side delimiting a part of a door opening, said second sealing means bearing against the appearance element (20) of the opening (1) in the closed position.

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