Motor vehicle coupling system equipped with restraint means in case of impact and with a small longitudinal footprint

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle coupling system comprising: - two interface members (110) each provided with a plate (111) and a spacer (113); and- a coupling cross member (120) comprising a metal bar (121) extending between two lateral fixing flanges (122) each comprising an attachment fin (124) attached by screwing onto an attachment wall (114) of the spacer of a respective interface member; each said flange being further provided with retaining means (126) capable of cooperating, in the event of breakage of the screws ensuring its fixing, with this spacer to retain the corresponding lateral end of said cross member along at least one vertical axis; the attachment wall of the spacer of each said interface member extending along a transverse vertical plane parallel to that of its plate so that the screwing of the attachment fin of the corresponding flange onto this attachment wall is carried out along a longitudinal axis.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle coupling system provided with means for retaining in the event of impact and with small longitudinal bulk Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to coupling systems fitted to motor vehicles, particularly at the rear thereof, and enabling the latter to tow and transport loads such as trailers or platforms.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to such a coupling system provided with means of retention in the event of impact. Prior art

[0003] Such a coupling system for a motor vehicle conventionally comprises: - two interface members each provided with a plate intended to be fixed to the body structure of said vehicle and a spacer extending in projection with respect to the rear face of said plate; and - a coupling crosspiece comprising a metal bar extending transversely between two lateral fixing flanges and generally provided in its middle part with a support yoke capable of receiving a removable attachment element.

[0004] Each said lateral fixing flange comprises an attachment fin intended to be attached by screwing onto the attachment wall of the spacer of a respective interface member so as to enable the corresponding end of this coupling crossmember to be secured to said body structure of the vehicle.

[0005] When a rear impact with partial lateral overlap occurs, it may happen that the shear forces exerted on the screws ensuring the fixing of the lateral fixing flange located on the side opposite the impact are sufficiently great to cause these screws to break and the corresponding end of the coupling crossmember to become detached from the body structure of the vehicle.

[0006] This results in the loss of a stress path and the concentration of stresses on one side of the vehicle body structure.

[0007] In order to overcome this problem, document DE 10 2013 021 380 A1 discloses such a coupling system in which each lateral fixing flange of the coupling crossmember is provided with a hook gripping, in the mounted configuration of this coupling system, a portion of the spacer of a corresponding interface member.

[0008] This hook is capable of cooperating, in the event of breakage following an impact of the screws ensuring the fixing of this flange on this interface member, with this spacer to ensure the retaining the corresponding lateral end of said coupling crossmember along at least one vertical axis so that part of the impact forces are transmitted to the corresponding lateral side of the body structure.

[0009] This coupling system unfortunately has a relatively large footprint along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, making it impossible to implement it on most motor vehicles.

[0010] Furthermore, in the event of breakage following an impact of the screws ensuring the fixing of a flange on an interface member, only part of the forces is transmitted to the corresponding lateral side of the body structure. Statement of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to improve the situation.

[0012] For this purpose, it proposes a motor vehicle coupling system comprising: - two interface members each provided with a plate intended to be fixed to the body structure of said vehicle and a spacer extending in projection with respect to the rear face of said plate; and - a coupling crossmember comprising a metal bar extending transversely between two lateral fixing flanges each comprising an attachment fin intended to be attached by screwing onto an attachment wall of the spacer of a respective interface member so as to enable the corresponding end of this coupling crossmember to be secured to said body structure; each said lateral fixing flange being further provided with retaining means capable of cooperating, in the event of breakage following an impact of the screws ensuring the fixing of this flange on the corresponding interface member, with this spacer to ensure the retention of the corresponding lateral end of said coupling crossmember along at least one vertical axis; characterized in that the attachment wall of the spacer of each said interface member extends along a transverse vertical plane parallel to that of the plate of this interface member, so that the screwing of the attachment fin of the corresponding flange onto this attachment wall is carried out along a longitudinal axis.

[0013] Such an arrangement of the interface members of the coupling system according to the invention thus makes it possible to optimize the longitudinal size of the coupling system according to the invention.

[0014] According to preferred characteristics of said coupling system according to the invention: - that the attachment wall of the spacer of each said interface member is offset longitudinally with respect to the plate of this interface member by a predetermined spacing of between 15 and 40 millimeters; - said predetermined spacing is between 20 and 30 millimeters; - the attachment wall of the spacer of each said interface member comprises an internal section having female screwing means as well as an external section projecting transversely from the central portion of this internal section; - said retaining means of each said lateral fixing flange comprise two hooks extending, in the mounted configuration of this coupling system, respectively above and below the external section of the attachment wall of the spacer of a corresponding interface member, each respectively enclosing an upper and lower portion of the internal section of this attachment wall, said hooks being capable of cooperating, in the event of breakage following an impact of the screws ensuring the fixing of this flange on this interface member, with this attachment wall to ensure the maintenance of the corresponding lateral end of said coupling crossmember along the longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes; - the two said hooks of each lateral fixing flange are connected respectively to the external edge of the upper and lower portions of the attachment fin of this flange and project in front of the latter; - each hook of a lateral fixing flange comprises a front distal branch extending along a transverse vertical plane parallel to and opposite the front face of the attachment fin of this flange, as well as a proximal connecting branch extending along a longitudinal vertical plane between the external edge of this attachment fin and that of this distal branch; - the two said hooks of each lateral fixing flange each enclose, in the mounted configuration of this coupling system, a respective portion of the internal section of the attachment wall of the spacer of a corresponding interface member, while the external section of this attachment wall transversely crosses the space separating the proximal connecting branches of these two hooks; - the female screwing means, arranged on the internal section of the attachment wall of the spacer of each said interface member, comprise two circular orifices aligned vertically and associated with screwing nuts each welded to the front face of this internal section on the periphery of a corresponding orifice; and / or - the attachment fin of each said lateral attachment flange is provided with two transversely oriented oblong holes, said holes being intended to overlap with the female screwing means arranged on the internal section of the attachment wall of the spacer of a said corresponding interface member, so as to allow the attachment by screwing of this lateral attachment flange onto this interface member. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] represents the rear end of the body structure of a motor vehicle on which a coupling system according to the invention is mounted; - [Fig.2] is a perspective view from another angle of a lateral mounting area of ​​the coupling system according to the invention on the rear end of the body structure, the coupling cross member being absent in order to facilitate reading; - [Fig.3] represents a view similar to [Fig.2] but in which the coupling crossmember is present; and - [Fig.4] is a top view of a side portion of the body structure of [Fig.l] on which the coupling system according to the invention is mounted. Description of the embodiments

[0016] [Fig.l] represents the rear end of the body structure 2 of a motor vehicle on which a coupling system 100 according to the invention is mounted.

[0017] By convention, we define with respect to this vehicle, an orthogonal reference frame XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular two by two, namely: - an X axis, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction, - a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, and - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

[0018] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the reference frame defined above, the terms "Longitudinal" or "longitudinally" will refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, "Transverse" or "Transversely" will refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and "Vertical" or "Vertical" will refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0019] According to such an orientation, the terms "lower" and "lower" will indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms "upper" or "high". The term "front" will indicate a positioning oriented towards the front of a vehicle in the horizontal direction and the term "rear" will indicate a positioning oriented towards the rear of a vehicle in the same horizontal direction.

[0020] Furthermore, the term "substantially" will be used to indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially horizontal" will indicate that a deviation of the order of 15° from a strictly horizontal orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0021] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the coupling system 100 comprises two interface members 110 intended to be fixed by screwing to the rear part of the body structure 2 of the vehicle, in this case to the rear ends of two side members 3 of this body structure 2.

[0022] The coupling system 100 also comprises a coupling crossmember 120 comprising a metal tubular bar 121 extending in a transverse direction between two lateral fixing flanges 122 making it possible to secure the ends of this crossmember 120 to the interface members 110 by screwing.

[0023] This tubular metal bar 121 is provided in its middle part with a support yoke 121A capable of receiving a removable attachment element not shown.

[0024] With reference to [Fig. 2], each of these interface members 110 comprises a metal plate 111 of generally rectangular shape and extending along a transverse vertical plane. This plate 111 is provided with four circular orifices 112 arranged near its four corners and intended to allow the fixing by screwing of this plate 111 on the rear body panel 4 of the vehicle and on a respective plate 5 arranged at the rear end of a corresponding side member 3 of the body structure 2 (these elements being visible by transparency through this body panel 4).

[0025] Each interface member 110 also comprises a spacer 113 extending in projection with respect to the rear face of the plate 111 to which it is fixed by welding.

[0026] Advantageously obtained by cutting and folding from a sheet metal plate, this spacer 113 comprises an attachment wall 114 extending along a transverse vertical plane parallel to that of the plate 111, as well as two internal 115 and external 116 returns extending towards the rear from the two lateral edges of this attachment wall 114.

[0027] Passing through a vertical slot 111A formed in the plate 111 while being fixed to the latter by a weld bead made around the periphery of this slot 111A, the longitudinally elongated internal return 115 is provided to, when this interface member 110 is put in place and as illustrated by [Fig.4], pass through the bodywork panel 4 and the plate 5 of the side member 3 and then be fixed by screwing against the inner face of the inner wall of this side member 3 so as to improve the absorption of forces by the latter in the event of a rear impact.

[0028] The external return 116 is not a through-hole, its front edge being fixedly attached by welding against the rear face of the plate 111.

[0029] Offset longitudinally by a predetermined distance e from the plate 111 (see [Fig.4]), the attachment wall 114 has a substantially horizontally oriented T shape.

[0030] With reference to [Fig.2], this attachment wall 114 comprises an internal section 114A having female screwing means, as well as an external section 114B of lesser height projecting transversely from the central portion of this internal section 114A.

[0031] These female screwing means comprise two circular orifices 117 aligned vertically and associated with two screwing nuts (not visible in the figures) each welded to the front face of this internal section 114A on the periphery of a corresponding orifice 117.

[0032] With reference to [Fig. 3], each of the lateral fixing flanges 122 comprises a closing wall 123 extending along a substantially vertical longitudinal plane and fixedly attached, preferably by welding, to a corresponding hollow end of the metal tubular bar 121 so as to ensure the closing of this end.

[0033] Advantageously obtained by cutting and folding from a sheet metal plate, each lateral fixing flange 122 also comprises an attachment fin 124 extending at right angles along a transverse vertical plane from the front edge of the closing wall 123 and intended to be attached by screwing onto the attachment wall 114 of the spacer 113 of a respective interface member 110, so as to enable the corresponding end of the coupling crossmember 120 to be secured to the body structure 2 of the vehicle.

[0034] This attachment fin 124 is provided with two oblong holes 125 oriented transversely and intended to come to overlap with the female screwing means 117 of a corresponding interface member 110, so as to allow the fixing by screwing of the flange 122 on this interface member 110 (each screw, previously introduced through a respective hole 125 and orifice 117 superimposed, being screwed onto a corresponding nut of the interface member 110).

[0035] Still with reference to [Fig. 3], each lateral fixing flange 122 further comprises retaining means constituted in this case by two hooks 126 with an L-shaped profile connected respectively to the external edge of the upper and lower portions of the attachment fin 124 and projecting at the front of the latter.

[0036] Each hook 126 comprises a front distal branch 126A extending along a transverse vertical plane parallel to and opposite the front face of the attachment fin 124, as well as a proximal connecting branch 126B extending along a longitudinal vertical plane between the external edge of this attachment fin 124 and that of this distal branch 126A.

[0037] The coupling system 1 is mounted by first securing the fixing flanges 122 of the coupling cross member 120 to the interface members 110, so as to preserve a certain transverse clearance between these elements thanks to the oblong holes 125.

[0038] The interface members 110 must then be fixed to the plates 5 of the side members 3 by screwing, before completing the assembly process by tightening the fixing screws securing the flanges 122 to these interface members 110.

[0039] In the mounted configuration of the attachment system 100 and as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two hooks 126 each grip a respective portion of the internal section 114A of the attachment wall 114 of the spacer 113 of an interface member 110, while the external section 114B of this attachment wall 114 transversely crosses the space separating the proximal connection branches 126B of these two hooks 126.

[0040] When the vehicle experiences a high-speed rear impact with partial lateral overlap, the shear forces exerted on the lateral end of the coupling crossmember 120 not directly impacted by this impact can cause the fixing screws between one of the fixing flanges 122 and the corresponding interface member 110 to break.

[0041] In such a case, the presence of the two hooks 126 makes it possible to ensure the retention of this lateral end of the coupling crossmember 120 so as to allow a better distribution of the forces on the two lateral side members of the vehicle and a better dissipation of the energy of this impact.

[0042] The retention along a transverse axis in a first direction is ensured by the cooperation in abutment between the proximal branches 126 B of the hooks 126 of a first fixing flange 120 against the external edge of the internal section 114A of the attachment wall 114 of the corresponding spacer 113, while the retention along a transverse axis in a second direction is ensured by the cooperation in abutment of the proximal branches 126 B of the hooks 126 of a second fixing flange 120 against the external edge of the internal section 114A of the attachment wall 114 of the corresponding spacer 113.

[0043] The retention along a longitudinal axis oriented towards the front is ensured by the abutting cooperation of the attachment fin 124 of the flange 120 against the internal section 114A of the attachment wall 114 of the spacer 113, while the retention along a longitudinal axis oriented towards the rear is ensured by the abutting cooperation of the front distal branches 126A of the hooks 126 against this same internal section 114A of the attachment wall 114.

[0044] The retention along a vertical axis oriented upwards is ensured by the cooperation in abutment of the proximal branch 126 B of the upper hook 126 of the flange 120 against the external section 114B of the attachment wall 114 of the spacer 113, while the retention along a vertical axis oriented downwards is ensured by the cooperation in stop of the proximal branch 126 B of the lower hook 126 of the flange 120 against this same external section 114B of the attachment wall 114.

[0045] It will be noted that the particular arrangement of the interface members 110 and the lateral fixing flanges 122 of the coupling crossmember 120 makes it possible to optimize the longitudinal size of the coupling system 1 according to the invention in comparison with the prior art.

[0046] In order to limit this bulk while allowing the lateral fixing flanges 122 to be screwed onto the interface members 110, the longitudinal spacing between the plate 111 and the attachment wall 114 of the spacer 113 of each interface member 110 will advantageously be between 15 and 40 millimeters and preferably between 20 and 30 millimeters.

[0047] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the retaining means present on each lateral fixing flange may differ and comprise, for example, a single hook such as 126.

[0048] Finally, it is recalled that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but also encompasses all variant embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Claims A motor vehicle coupling system (100) comprising: - two interface members (110) each provided with a plate (111) intended to be fixed to the body structure (2) of said vehicle and a spacer (113) extending projecting from the rear face of said plate (111); and - a coupling crossmember (120) comprising a metal bar (121) extending transversely between two lateral fixing flanges (122) each comprising an attachment fin (124) intended to be attached by screwing to an attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of a respective interface member (110) so as to allow the corresponding end of this coupling crossmember (120) to be secured to said body structure (2); each said lateral fixing flange (122) being further provided with retaining means (126) capable of cooperating, in the event of breakage following an impact of the screws ensuring the fixing of this flange (122) on the corresponding interface member (110), with this spacer (113) to ensure the retention of the corresponding lateral end of said coupling crossmember (120) along at least one vertical axis; the attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of each said interface member (110) extends along a transverse vertical plane parallel to that of the plate (111) of this interface member (110) so that the screwing of the attachment fin (124) of the corresponding flange (122) onto this attachment wall (114) is carried out along a longitudinal axis and comprises an internal section (114A) having female screwing means (117) as well as an external section (114B) projecting transversely from the central portion of this internal section (114A), characterized in that said retaining means of each said lateral fixing flange (122) comprise two hooks (126) extending, in the mounted configuration of this coupling system,respectively above and below the external section (114B) of the attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of a corresponding interface member (110) each respectively enclosing an upper and lower portion of the internal section (114A) of this attachment wall (114), said hooks (126) being capable of cooperating, in the event of breakage following an impact of the screws ensuring the fixing of this flange (122) on this interface member (110), with this attachment wall, (114) to ensure the maintenance of the corresponding lateral end of said coupling cross member (120) along the longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes.

2. Coupling system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of each said interface member (110) is offset longitudinally with respect to the plate (111) of this interface member (110) by a predetermined spacing (e) of between 15 and 40 millimeters.

3. Coupling system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said predetermined spacing (e) is between 20 and 30 millimeters.

4. Coupling system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two said hooks (126) of each lateral fixing flange (122) are connected respectively to the external edge of the upper and lower portions of the attachment fin (124) of this flange (122) and project in front of the latter.

5. A hitch system (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that each hook (126) of a lateral fixing flange (122) comprises a front distal branch (126A) extending along a transverse vertical plane parallel to and opposite the front face of the attachment fin (124) of this flange (122), as well as a proximal connecting branch (126B) extending along a longitudinal vertical plane between the external edge of this attachment fin (124) and that of this distal branch (126A).

6. Coupling system (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the two said hooks (126) of each lateral fixing flange (122) each enclose, in the mounted configuration of this coupling system, a respective portion of the internal section (114A) of the attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of a corresponding interface member (110), while the external section (114B) of this attachment wall (114) transversely crosses the space separating the proximal connecting branches (126B) of these two hooks (126).

7. Coupling system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the female screwing means, arranged on the internal section (114A) of the attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of each said interface member (110), comprise two circular orifices (117) aligned vertically and associated with screw nuts each welded to the front face of this internal section (114A) around the perimeter of a corresponding orifice (117).

8. Coupling system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment fin (124) of each said lateral fixing flange (122) is provided with two oblong holes (125) oriented transversely, said holes (125) being intended to overlap with the female screwing means (117) arranged on the internal section (114A) of the attachment wall (114) of the spacer (113) of a said corresponding interface member (110), so as to allow the fixing by screwing of this lateral fixing flange (122) on this interface member (110).

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