Arrangement comprising a vehicle body, a fixed roof or a partially removable roof module

Abstract

Arrangement (10) comprising a structure (1) of a body (2) of a vehicle (3), the structure (1) comprising in the upper part (11) stretchers (112, 113) connected to each other by crosspieces (114, 115), in particular front and rear crosspieces connected respectively to a windshield (4) or a rear window (5), the structure (1) delimiting a single opening (116) intended to be closed by a fixed roof or by a partially removable roof module comprising a support on which at least one removable panel are reversibly assembled, in particular two removable panels (14), the roof (12) and / or the roof module (13) being entirely or partly made of a composite material such as a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Arrangement comprising a vehicle body, a fixed roof or a partially removable roof module

[0001] The invention relates to the field of vehicles, in particular automobiles. It relates to an arrangement comprising a structure of a vehicle body, the structure comprising, in the upper part, stretchers connected to each other by cross members, in particular front and rear cross members connected respectively to a windshield or a rear window. The invention also relates to a vehicle having such an arrangement.

[0002] Vehicles are known which have a body structure with high rigidity due to the assembly of parts made of aluminium. The use of this material provides lightness, and therefore a high power / weight ratio, which can give such vehicles a sporting vocation.

[0003] The rigidity of the body opens up the possibility of transforming the typology of the vehicle without having to modify the structural elements. It then becomes possible to transform a vehicle with a reinforced structure into a vehicle with an opening roof, but in order not to degrade the power / weight ratio, it is necessary to find an opening roof which satisfies the requirement of lightness specific to the very genesis of such a vehicle.

[0004] However, known sunroof solutions today use complex technologies which also have the disadvantage of multiplying the parts necessary for their operation, which tends to considerably increase the weight of the "sunroof" function. This function results in the addition of mass which requires a modification of the body structure. There are therefore body structures for vehicles with fixed roofs and body structures for vehicles with sunroofs, each having to meet increasingly demanding and restrictive standards in terms of design. It was therefore found that a lightweight body structure with a known sunroof penalizes the power / weight ratio. As a second observation, it appears that a transformation of a vehicle designed with a fixed roof into a vehicle with a sunroof requires structural adaptations to make the body structure compliant with current standards.

[0005] Such a situation becomes unacceptable in this sense.

[0006] The invention aims to provide a solution to this drawback by proposing an arrangement which makes it possible to keep the body structure of a vehicle without adding an additional structural part in order to transform a vehicle with a fixed roof into a vehicle with an opening roof.

[0007] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a structure of a body of a vehicle, the structure comprising in the upper part stretchers connected to each other by crosspieces, in particular front and rear crosspieces connected respectively to a windshield or a rear window. The arrangement which is the subject of the invention is remarkable in that it comprises a fixed roof or a partially removable roof module such that the structure delimiting a single opening is intended to be closed by a fixed roof or a partially removable roof module, the roof module comprising a support on which at least one removable panel is reversibly assembled, in particular two removable panels, the roof and / or the roof module being wholly or partly made of composite material, in particular a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers.

[0008] The arrangement which is the subject of the invention may comprise the following characteristics, taken separately or in combination with each other: - it includes at least one continuous gluing track extending along the stretchers and crosspieces; - the continuous gluing track comprises four adjoining portions, such that two front and rear transverse portions are connected to each other by left and right lateral portions, in particular by their respective ends, so as to form a gluing ring; - it comprises at least one secondary gluing track extending only along at least one of the front and rear crosspieces, in particular a secondary gluing track extending parallel to the front and rear portions; - the vehicle body is identical regardless of the type of roof chosen from the fixed roof or the partially removable roof module; - the partially removable roof module comprises a support having an opening bordered by a peripheral gutter, the support being made by molding a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers; - the partially removable roof module comprises a left side panel and a right side panel, each of the panels comprises a peripheral edge which cooperates in part with a gutter of the support, in particular by complementarity of shape, and interior longitudinal edges of the panels cooperate by complementarity of shape with each other when the left side panel is attached by superposition on the support and on the interior longitudinal edge of the right side panel; - the removable panels respectively comprise an inner wall produced by molding a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers, each inner wall comprises a gripping means, in particular a handle located near an outer lateral edge of the removable panel and formed by molding the inner wall; - the roof module comprises at least one sealing means, in particular at least one extra-panel sealing gasket housed in the gutter and / or a secondary intra-panel sealing gasket fixed to the inner longitudinal edge of one of the removable panels; - the support comprises a first seal arranged on a bottom wall of the gutter and a second seal arranged on an outer wall of the gutter, each of the seals being of the type of a sealing ring; - the sealing ring of the first seal extends in a plane parallel to that in which the sealing ring of the second seal extends, the first seal being vertically spaced from the second seal such that the first seal bears against the inner wall of the removable panel, while the second seal bears against an outer skin of the removable panel when the roof module is in a closed state; - the inner longitudinal edge of the right removable panel comprises an approximately rectilinear rebate on which the secondary sealing gasket is fitted, which is in particular of the type of a tubular sealing strand fixed to the inner wall. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular of the two-seater saloon type, comprising an arrangement having the aforementioned characteristics.

[0009] The vehicle may include a single interior headliner suitable for a fixed roof or a partially removable roof module, the interior headliner including an opening making the fixed roof visible from inside the vehicle.

[0010] The attached drawings represent, by way of example, an embodiment of a door frame according to the invention. [Fig.l] represents a three-quarter front view of a vehicle in perspective, according to the arrangement of the invention; [Fig.2] represents the vehicle of [Fig.l] with a fixed roof; [Fig.3] shows the vehicle of [Fig.l] with a partially removable roof module; [Fig.4] shows the roof module of [Fig.3] with interior trim, in perspective view; [Fig. 5] represents, in an exploded perspective view, the fixed elements of the roof module, according to the invention; [Fig.6] represents, according to a sectional view AA of [Fig.3], means for fixing and locking a left lateral part of a roof module, according to the arrangement of the invention; [Fig.7] shows the removable panels of the roof module of the invention, in an exploded perspective view; [Fig.8] represents, according to a sectional view AA of [Fig.3], means for fixing and locking a central part of a roof module, according to the arrangement of the invention.

[0011] Reference will be made to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ, in which the X axis designates the rear-front longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, the Y axis designates the transverse direction of the vehicle and is oriented from the left to the right of the vehicle, left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle, the Z axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented from the bottom to the top, the vehicle resting on horizontal ground.

[0012] The terms "upper" and "lower" are defined with reference to the Z axis. The terms "front" and "rear" are defined with reference to the X axis.

[0013] The invention proposes an arrangement 10 comprising a structure 1 of a body 2 of a vehicle 3, the structure 1 comprising in the upper part 11 stretchers 112, 113 connected to each other by crosspieces 114, 115, in particular front and rear crosspieces connected respectively to a windshield 4 or a rear window 5, the structure 1 delimiting a single opening 116 intended to be closed by a fixed roof 12, in particular a roof made of composite material, or by a partially removable roof module 13.

[0014] [Fig.l] represents a vehicle 3 seen from above in three-quarter front view. The vehicle is of the 2-seater type; for this purpose, it comprises two seats 40. The body 2 of the vehicle delimits a passenger compartment, on which are assembled side openings, but also a windshield 4 in the front part, a window 5 in the rear part. The top part 11 of the roof comprises a single opening 116 whose lateral edges are delimited by lateral stretchers 112 and 113 extending substantially along the X axis, and whose transverse edges are delimited by front crosspieces 114 and 115 extending substantially along the Y axis. The body 2 is made by an assembly of aluminum parts connected together by a riveting gluing process. The front and rear cross members as well as the side stretchers respectively comprise faces facing the outside of the vehicle on which a fixed roof 12 visible in [Fig.2] or a partially removable roof module 13 visible in [Fig. 3] is attached from above and glued. To do this, the body 2 comprises a gluing track 6 which is preferably continuous, in the sense that it comprises contiguous portions, more precisely front 61 and rear 62 transverse portions as well as left 63 and right 64 lateral portions which extend respectively along the front cross member 114, the rear cross member 115, the left lateral stretcher 112, and the right lateral stretcher 113. The glue portions 61, 62, 63, 64 are joined to each other by their ends so that they form a continuous gluing track in the form of a gluing ring. The glue portions are arranged succes- . sively one after the other.

[0015] They can be deposited by a single operation, in particular a robotic operation. The body 2 can comprise a secondary gluing track 7 which extends in the immediate vicinity of the rear edge of the front crossmember 114. The body 2 can comprise a secondary gluing track 7 which extends in the immediate vicinity of the front edge of the rear crossmember 115. Due to its location, the secondary gluing track 7 has the function of reducing the noise which can be conveyed by the front crossmember 114 or rear crossmember 115.

[0016] In [Fig.2] is shown the vehicle 3 of [Fig.l] comprising a fixed roof 12 closing the opening 116 of the body 2.

[0017] In [Fig. 3] is shown the vehicle 3 of [Fig. 1] comprising a partially removable roof module 13. The term “partially removable” means a roof which is hybrid in the sense that it comprises a part fixed to the body by gluing and at least one movable part which is capable of being reversibly mounted on the fixed part.

[0018] In [Fig. 4] is shown, according to an exploded schematic view, the roof module 13 which comprises a support 131 delimiting an opening 136 intended to be closed by two removable panels 141 and 142. The support 131 comprises a gutter 133 extending at the periphery of the opening 136. Each removable panel 141 or 142 comprises a peripheral edge 15 which is intended to cooperate with the gutter 133, in particular by its external lateral edges 152, once assembled. The peripheral edge 15 of a removable panel 14 comprises an inner longitudinal edge 151 such that the inner longitudinal edges 151 of the left 141 and right 142 removable panels are arranged against each other, with the assembly clearance close, once the opening 136 is closed by its then adjacent panels 141 and 142.The mounting of the removable panels 141 and 142 on the support 131 is designed in such a way that the panels are arranged substantially flush on the support 131 so that there is line continuity, without breakage.

[0019] In [Fig. 6], the gutter 133 is shown in cross-section such that the inner wall 1334 is inclined relative to the bottom wall 1331 at a substantially identical inclination but at an opposite angle relative to the outer wall 1332 of the gutter 133, such that the gutter has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. The bottom wall 1331 is connected to the panel 14 by means of a locking device 20 comprising a body 21 fixed to the panel 14, a lever 22 pivotably hinged to the body 21, a hooking blade 23 linked to the lever 22, in particular pivotably, and a hook 24 fixed to the gutter 133, the hooking blade 23 being intended to engage on the hook 24 when the locking device 20 is in the locked state. When lever 22 is lowered, the device locking member 20 is in the released state, so that the panel 14 can be removed from the support 131.

[0020] In [Fig. 4] is shown the interior roof trim 30 which comprises an opening 36. This interior trim 30 is used regardless of the type of vehicle, namely the vehicle 3 with the fixed roof 12 or with the roof module 13. In the configuration of the vehicle 3 with a fixed roof 12, the interior trim 30 allows the interior face of the roof to appear from the passenger compartment. The fixing of the trim 30 is traditional, in particular by its assembly method

[0021] The bonding of the fixed roof 12 or the roof module 13 can be reversible. This offers the possibility of transforming a vehicle equipped with a fixed roof 12 into a vehicle equipped with a roof module 13. The reverse also remains possible with the arrangement which is the subject of the invention.

[0022] In [Fig. 5], the support 131 and the sealing means 18 are shown schematically in exploded view. In [Fig. 5], fixing means 19 composed of lateral inserts 1911 and central inserts 1912 fixed on single 195 or double 196 fixing plates are preferably identical, except for their location on the support 131. The gutter 133 comprises folded edges 1333 shaped according to the geometries of the fixing plates 195, 196. Such folded edges 1333 extend along the transverse axes Y1 and Y2 located respectively at the front and rear of the opening 136. Two folded edges 1333 are in particular spaced from each other, and used to accommodate a double fixing plate 196. Whatever the type of fixing plate it receives, the folded edges 1333 are identical to each other.

[0023] The sealing means 18 comprises a removable extra panel 14 sealing gasket 181 which is arranged in the gutter 133, as shown in [Fig. 6]. The sealing gasket 181 is arranged on a bottom wall 1331 of the gutter 133. It is intended to bear against an inner wall 16 of the removable panel 14.

[0024] The sealing means 18 may also comprise a second removable extra-panel 14 seal 183 which is arranged in the gutter 133, as is made visible in [Fig. 6]. In this case, the seal arranged on the bottom wall is referred to as the first seal 181, the second seal 183 extends in a plane parallel to that of the first seal 181, being fixed to an outer wall 1332 of the gutter 133. The first and second seals 181 and 183 are sealing rings lying in planes substantially of axis XY. Due to the location of the extra-panel 14 seals 181 and 183, the sealing ring formed by the second seal 183 is of greater dimension than the sealing ring formed by the first seal 181. The second seal sealing 183 is located near the top part of the gutter 133, such that it is able to come to bear against an outer skin 21 of the removable panel 14.

[0025] The seal 18 comprising the first and second seals 181 and 183 extra removable panel 14 forms a double sealing barrier so that each of the seals can be made of reduced size compared to a solution comprising only a single seal. The first and second seals 181 and 183 respectively comprise a deformable hollow tube, a part of which is flat for its assembly by gluing on the gutter 133.

[0026] The gutter 133 comprises a water evacuation means 200. This may be a pipette connected to a base, and an opening of a shape complementary to the pipette. The opening is arranged vertically between the first and second seals 181 and 183, preferably close to the bottom wall 1331 of the gutter in order to collect any water that may stagnate there. The pipette is intended to receive a flexible pipe in order to evacuate the water out of the gutter 133.

[0027] [Fig. 7] schematically represents an exploded view of the removable panels 14 next to each other. Each of the removable panels 14 comprises an inner wall 16, an acoustic foam 25, a tape-type adhesive 26, and an outer skin 21, assembled by stacking in this order. Each panel 14 comprises interface zones 199 intended to each receive a complementary fixing plate 193, in particular of the male fixing plate type having a finger 194 intended for its connection with a fixing plate 1911 or 1912, then of the female type, of the support 131.

[0028] The inner longitudinal edges 151 of the left 141 and right 142 panels are of different conformations in that the right removable panel comprises a longitudinal rebate 1421 which is visible in [Fig. 8]. The longitudinal rebate 1421 defines one end of the inner longitudinal edge 151 of the right panel 142 on which is fixed a sealing gasket 182 intra removable panels 14 in that it is intended to directly ensure sealing between the panels 14, at a substantially median portion of axis X of the opening 136 of the support 131. The sealing gasket 182 is a substantially rectilinear sealing strand, which comprises a deformable hollow tube.

[0029] In the closing configuration of the opening 136, the removable left panel 141 is arranged partially overlapping the removable right panel 142, by their respective inner longitudinal edge. The inner longitudinal edge 151 of the right panel 142 is substantially of S-shaped section, while the inner longitudinal edge 151 of the left panel 141 is substantially of I-shaped section inclined substantially horizontally, along the Y axis.

[0030] The outer skin 21 of the removable panels 141, 142 has a cross-section substantially in the shape of an inverted U so that the outer skin 21 fits over the inner wall 16. Due to the peripheral end edge of the skin 21, the inner wall 16 is included inside the skin 21, except for the inner longitudinal edge 151 of the right panel 142 which extends in transverse projection.

[0031] Each panel 14 is easily maneuverable so that it is possible for the user to manually remove each of the removable panels 14.

[0032] Furthermore, taking into account the geometry of the panels 14, the intra-panel sealing means, the closing of the roof opening 136 by the positioning of the panels is done in a predetermined order, namely firstly the right panel 142 to be positioned to the right of the passenger seat, then the left panel 141 to be positioned to the right of the driver's seat and partially superimposing the right panel previously positioned.

[0033] The arrangement of the invention more generally allows ease in the transformation of the vehicle so that it is made possible to transform a vehicle having a fixed roof 12 into a convertible vehicle having a partially removable roof module 13. The owner of a vehicle with a fixed roof 12 can have a roof module 13 installed in after-sales service. The removal of the glued fixed roof 12 is made possible by the very nature of the glue which does not require any destructive act of the roof and / or the body structure on which the glued roof rests.

Claims

Claims

1. Arrangement (10) comprising a structure (1) of a body (2) of a vehicle (3), the structure (1) comprising in the upper part (11) stretchers (112, 113) connected to each other by crosspieces (114, 115), in particular front and rear crosspieces connected respectively to a windshield (4) or a rear window (5), comprises a partially removable roof module (13) such that the structure (1) delimiting a single opening (116) is intended to be closed by a partially removable roof module (13), the roof module (13) comprising a support on which two removable panels (141, 142) are reversibly assembled, the roof module (13) being wholly or partly made of composite material, in particular a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers, characterized in that the partially removable roof module (13) comprises a support (131) comprising an opening (136) bordered by a peripheral gutter (133).

2. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one continuous gluing track (6) extending along the stretchers (112, 113) and the crosspieces (114, 115).

3. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the continuous gluing track (6) comprises four adjoining portions (61, 62, 63, 64), such that two transverse front (61) and rear (62) portions are connected to each other by left (63) and right (64) lateral portions, in particular by their respective ends, so as to form a gluing ring.

4. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one secondary gluing track (7) extending only along at least one of the front (114) and rear (115) crosspieces, in particular a secondary gluing track extending parallel to the front (61) and rear (62) portions.

5. Arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support is produced by molding a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers.

6. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the partially removable roof module (13) comprises a left side panel (141) and a right side panel (142), each of the panels (14) comprises a peripheral edge (15) which cooperates in part with a gutter (133) of the support (131), in particular by com- complementarity of shape, and in that inner longitudinal edges (151) of the panels (14) cooperate by complementarity of shape with each other when the left side panel (141) is attached by superposition on the support (131) and on the inner longitudinal edge (151) of the right side panel (142).

7. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the removable panels (14) respectively comprise an inner wall (16) produced by molding a material based on epoxy and carbon fibers, each inner wall (16) comprises a gripping means (17), in particular a handle (171) located near an outer lateral edge (152) of the removable panel (14) and formed by molding the inner wall.

8. Arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roof module (13) comprises at least one sealing means (18), in particular at least one sealing joint (181, 183) extra panel (14) housed in the gutter and / or a secondary sealing joint (182) intra panel (14) fixed on the inner longitudinal edge (151) of one of the removable panels (14).

9. Vehicle (3), in particular of the two-seater saloon type, comprising an arrangement (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the same interior roof trim (30) suitable for a fixed roof (12) or a partially removable roof module (13), the interior trim (30) comprising an opening (36) making the fixed roof (12) visible from inside the vehicle.

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