Structural insert for attaching a pavilion bow and a rear leg.

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural insert (1) for assembling at least two structural parts of a motor vehicle body, the structural insert (1) comprising a plate (7) extending between a first (8) and a second (9) face, the first face (8) being designed to be positioned against one of the structural parts, the insert (1) having tangling means (10) projecting from the first face (8), the tangling means (10) being designed to be inserted, by deformation, into at least one orifice formed in the structural part against the first face (8) and to prevent their withdrawal from the orifice when the structural part is brought against the first face (8), the insert (1) being made of an expansive material designed to swell under heat treatment at a predetermined temperature. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Structural insert for fixing a roof arch and a rear pillar.

[0001] The technical field relates to structural inserts making it possible to form an assembly between two structural parts of a vehicle body, the assemblies thus produced using such inserts, the vehicle bodies comprising at least one such assembly as well as motor vehicles having such a body.

[0002] Car manufacturers are particularly attentive to offering their customers comfortable vehicles for their passengers. Among the essential comfort criteria is obviously the management of noise generated by the movement of the vehicle. In addition to the aerodynamic noise caused by the air flows around the vehicle in motion, there are also noises caused by the vibrations and deformations of the various structural elements of the vehicle structure during its movement. All of these noises and vibrations are immediately felt physically by a customer who tries out a new car. Thus, the acoustic and vibration characteristics are among those which most influence the customer's judgment on his perception of the quality of the vehicle he is trying out. Comfort linked to the quality of these acoustic and vibration characteristics constitutes the first criterion for choosing between two equivalent models.It is therefore important for car manufacturers to improve the acoustic characteristics of their vehicles as much as possible.

[0003] Furthermore, automobile manufacturers must take into account multiple concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles in terms of road safety. Thus, automobile manufacturers must ensure the safety of vehicle passengers in the event of a collision. In this context, the strength of the junctions of the various structural elements is essential. For example, the junction between a roof arch and a rear pillar is essential to allow adequate behavior during a side impact suffered by the vehicle. Experience has shown that a side impact is likely to cause a break in continuity in the force path consisting, among other things, of the roof arch and the rear pillar. This break in continuity is then likely to generate a zone of weakness which causes a deformation of a support of an airbag module, rendering it inoperative.

[0004] Unfortunately, the known junctions allow, in most cases, vibratory movements between the structural elements which are the source of untimely noise.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution making it possible to ensure a solid assembly of structural parts and capable of maintaining the continuity of a force path passing through the structural parts engaged in the assembly, while preventing vibratory movements between the assembled structural parts.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide an insert for producing assemblies capable of maintaining the continuity of a force path passing through the structural parts engaged in the assembly, while preventing vibratory movements between the assembled structural parts.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a structural insert for assembling at least two structural parts of a motor vehicle body, the structural insert comprising a plate, extending between a first and a second face, the first face being designed to be positioned in abutment with one of the structural parts, the insert having harpooning means projecting from the first face, the harpooning means being designed to be introduced by deforming into at least one orifice provided in the structural part in abutment with the first face and to prevent their removal from the orifice when the structural part is brought into abutment with the first face, the insert being made of an expansive material designed to swell under the effect of a heat treatment at a predetermined temperature.

[0008] The invention also relates to an assembly of structural parts of a motor vehicle body, comprising at least two structural parts of a motor vehicle body and at least one structural insert according to the invention, at least one of the structural parts bearing against the first face of an insert and the harpooning means being introduced into at least one orifice of the at least one of the structural parts.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle body comprising at least one assembly according to the invention, one of the structural parts being a roof arch and / or a rear body pillar.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a body according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, an insert according to the invention makes it possible to form an assembly according to the invention of structural parts. The insertion of the harpooning means into one or more orifices provided in one of the structural parts makes it possible to secure the insert and said structural part. The swelling of the expansive material makes it possible to firmly secure the insert to the structural part(s) harpooned by the harpooning means, preventing relative movements of the insert and the structural parts. Thus, the insert according to the invention makes it possible to produce a solid assembly capable of maintaining, in the event of an impact, the continuity of a force path passing through the structural parts engaged in the assembly, while preventing vibratory movements between the assembled structural parts. The insert according to the invention thus makes it possible to improve the safety and acoustic comfort of the passengers of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second face of the plate is designed to adhere to a structural part in contact with it under the effect of the heat treatment. Thus, the two structural parts are capable of being secured to the insert in an assembly according to the invention.

[0013] According to one possibility, the expansive material is designed to swell under the effect of a heat treatment corresponding to a cataphoresis treatment of the structural parts.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the harpooning means form at least one harpoon-forming pin.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the harpooning means of an insert of the assembly are introduced into at least one orifice of each of the structural parts.

[0016] In another embodiment of the assembly, one of the structural parts is positioned in support of the second face of the insert.

[0017] According to one possibility of the assembly, the insert has been subjected to a heat treatment.

[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.l], represents a detailed view of a structural insert according to the invention implemented to produce an assembly according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a first embodiment of an assembly according to the invention comprising a roof arch and a rear foot;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a schematic sectional view of the assembly of the [Fig.2], before the insert undergoes heat treatment;

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a schematic sectional view of the assembly of the [Fig.2], the insert having undergone heat treatment;

[0023] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents a schematic sectional view of a second mode of producing an assembly according to the invention, the insert having undergone heat treatment.

[0024] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0025] A structural insert 1 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig.l], is intended to allow an assembly 2a, 2b according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 2 to 5.

[0026] The assembly 2a, 2b comprises, in addition to at least one insert 1, at least two structural parts 3a, 3b of a motor vehicle body 4, partially illustrated in [Fig. 2]. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, one 3a of the structural parts 3a, 3b is a roof arch 5, the other 3b being a rear pillar 6 of the body 4. In order to allow the assembly 2a, 2b, the roof arch 5 is modified which extends so as to allow an overlap of the rear pillar 6.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], the structural insert 1 comprises a plate 7, extending between a first 8 and a second 9 faces. The first face 8 is designed to be positioned in support of one 3a of the structural parts 3a, 3b, as illustrated in the figures. The plate 7 forms, for example, a lattice.

[0028] The insert 1 further has harpooning means 10 projecting from the first face 8, the harpooning means 10 being designed to be introduced by deforming into at least one orifice 11 provided in the structural part 3a in abutment with the first face 8 and to prevent their removal from the orifice 11, when the structural part 3a is brought into abutment with the first face 8. For example, the harpooning means 10 form two pins 12 forming a harpoon. For this purpose, each pin 12 has a rod 13 extended by a deformable head 14 having a diameter greater than the rod 13. In order to allow the pin 12 to be inserted into the orifice 11, the rod 13 has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the orifice 11. In order to allow the deformable head 14 to pass through the orifice 11, the diameter of the orifice 11 is at least equal to the diameter of the sum of the rod 13 and twice the thickness of the deformable head 14.

[0029] Remarkably, the insert 1 according to the invention is made of expansive material designed to swell under the effect of a heat treatment at a predetermined temperature. It should be understood that the swelling of the expansive material is different from the usual expansion of materials under the effect of heat, the gain in volume during expansion being very clearly greater than the gain in volume caused by the expansion. For example, the gain in volume of the expansive material during the heat treatment is of the order of at least 5%, preferably at least 10%. The expansive material is, advantageously, designed to swell under the effect of a heat treatment corresponding to a cataphoresis treatment of the structural parts 3a, 3b.

[0030] In order to produce the assembly 2a, 2b according to the invention, the structural parts 3a, 3b are provided with at least one orifice 11, in this case two orifices 11. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, in the assembly 2a, 2b according to the invention, at least one 3a of the structural parts 3a, 3b is supported on the first face 8 of an insert 1 and the harpooning means 10, in this case the pins 12, are introduced into at least one orifice 11 of the at least one 3a of the structural parts 3a, 3b.

[0031] In the first embodiment of the assembly 2a, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the other 3b of the structural parts 3a, 3b is positioned in support of the second face 9 of the plate 7 of the structural insert 1. Thus, the insert 1 is sandwiched between the structural parts 3a, 3b.

[0032] Advantageously, the second face 9 of the plate 7 is designed to adhere to at least one structural part 3b in contact with it under the effect of the heat treatment. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the expansive material is also capable of adhering to the structural part 3a in contact with the first face 8. Thus, by subjecting the structural insert 1 to the heat treatment, each pin 12 of the harpooning means 10 swells and completely fills the volume of each orifice 11, to reinforce the fixing of the insert 1 on the structural part 3a. In addition, during the heat treatment, the second face 9 in contact with the structural part 3b adheres to the structural part 3b to form an assembly 2a. Similarly, during the heat treatment the first face 8 adheres to the structural part 3a.The swelling of the material forming the insert 1 and its adhesion to the structural part 3b makes it possible to avoid relative movements of the structural parts 3a, 3b and of the insert 1 in the assembly 2a.

[0033] In the second embodiment of the assembly 2b, illustrated in [Fig. 5], the structural parts 3a, 3b are positioned in abutment against each other. The pins 12 are introduced into the orifices 11 of each structural part 3a, 3b. The pins 12 are dimensioned so that the removal of the pins 12 is prevented when the two structural parts 3a, 3b are brought into abutment against each other and against the first face 8. In this case, the rods 13 have a length slightly greater than the cumulative thickness of the two structural parts 3a, 3b, so that each deformable head 14 is in abutment against the structural part 3b. In order to consolidate the assembly 2b, the latter is subjected to a heat treatment in order to cause the swelling of the expansive material of the insert 1. In the assembly 2b, the two structural parts 3a, 3b are sandwiched between the deformable heads 14 and the plate 7.

[0034] Thus, the insert 1 according to the invention makes it possible to produce assemblies 2a, 2b between two structural parts 3a, 3b capable of maintaining, in the event of an impact, the continuity of a force path passing through the structural parts 3a, 3b engaged in the assembly 2a, 2b, while preventing vibratory movements between the assembled structural parts 3a, 3b. In this case, the insert 1 makes it possible to produce an assembly 2a, 2b connecting the roof arch 5 to the rear pillar 6 in a solid manner and to eliminate a potential source of noise.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the structural insert or assembly described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle body (4) comprising - a roof arch (5) and a rear pillar (6), - an assembly (2a, 2b) of structural parts of said motor vehicle body, comprising at least two structural parts (3a, 3b) and at least one structural insert (1) for the assembly (2a, 2b) of at least two of the structural parts (3a, 3b), the structural insert (1) comprising a plate (7) extending between a first (8) and a second (9) face, the first face (8) being positioned in support of one (3a) of the structural parts (3a, 3b), the insert (1) having harpooning means (10) projecting from the first face (8), the harpooning means (10) being designed to be introduced by deforming in at least one orifice (11) provided in the structural part (3a) in abutment with the first face (8) and to prevent their removal from the orifice (11) when the structural part (3a) is brought into abutment with the first face (8),the insert (1) being made of expansive material designed to swell under the effect of a heat treatment at a predetermined temperature, characterized in that the roof arch (5) extends so as to cover said rear foot (6), and the structural parts assembled by the insert (2) are the roof arch (5) and the rear foot (6),

2. Vehicle body (4) according to claim 1, the second face (9) of the plate (7) of which is designed to adhere to a structural part (3b) in contact with it under the effect of the heat treatment.

3. Vehicle body (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the expansive material is designed to swell under the effect of a heat treatment corresponding to a cataphoresis treatment of the structural parts (3a, 3b).

4. Vehicle body (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the harpooning means (10) form at least one pin (12) forming a harpoon.

5. Vehicle body (4) according to one of the preceding claims, the harpooning means (10) of an insert (1) are introduced into at least one orifice (11) of each of the structural parts (3a, 3b).

6. 8 Vehicle body (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, one (3b) of the structural parts (3a, 3b) of which is positioned in support of the second face (9) of the insert (1).

7. Vehicle body (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (1) has been subjected to heat treatment.

8. Motor vehicle having a body according to one of the preceding claims.

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