MODULAR AUTOMOBILE CHASSIS

Abstract

This motor vehicle chassis (10) comprises a central floor (12), a front section (14) attached to one end of the central floor (12), and a rear section (16) attached to the other end of the central floor (12). The central floor (12) has four corner members (18) that are constant regardless of the type of vehicle to be built. The four corner members (18) are made of aluminum and are connected by two orthogonal pairs of aluminum profiles (20, 22) whose length varies depending on the type of vehicle to be built. The front section (14) has a pair of front side members (24) and at least one front cross member (26) orthogonal to them, and the rear section (16) has a pair of rear side members (25) and at least one rear cross member (27) orthogonal to them. The lengths of the front and rear side members (24, 25) and of the front and rear cross members (26, 27) vary depending on the type of vehicle to be built. Figure for the summary: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: MODULAR AUTOMOBILE CHASSIS

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular chassis for a motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention belongs to the field of motor vehicle chassis and is found in apply to all means of rolling transport.

[0003] Currently, a wide variety of platforms or chassis, having different architectures and dimensions, is needed to produce different types of motor vehicles, having different powertrains and different ground connections.

[0004] In order to reduce costs, it is known to provide a modular platform, comprising elements common to several types of vehicles and thus allowing several types of vehicles to be built from the same platform.

[0005] However, the components of current platforms are often made of stamped sheet metal in materials with a high mass. Furthermore, the shape of many components of current platforms differs depending on the type of vehicle to be manufactured, which maintains a high level of diversity and therefore high manufacturing costs.

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0007] To this end, the present invention proposes a motor vehicle chassis, comprising a central floor, a front part fixed to a first end of the central floor and a rear part fixed to a second end of the central floor, remarkable in that: the central floor comprises four corner elements that remain constant regardless of the type of vehicle to be produced; the four corner elements are made of aluminium, include two front corner elements and two rear corner elements and are connected, on the one hand, by a pair of longitudinal aluminium profiles each connecting a front corner element and the rear corner element opposite it and on the other hand, by a pair of front and rear transverse aluminium profiles, the front transverse profile connecting the front corner elements and the rear transverse profile connecting the rear corner elements, the length of the longitudinal and transverse profiles varying according to the type of vehicle to be made; The front section comprises a pair of front longitudinal members connecting the front section to the central floor and at least one front crossmember extending orthogonally between the front longitudinal members and the rear section comprises a pair of rear longitudinal members and at least a rear crossmember extending orthogonally between the rear side members, the length of the front and rear side members and of the front and rear crossmembers varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced.

[0008] Thus, not only does the modular nature of the chassis according to the present invention allow this chassis to be used to produce various types of vehicles, with only simple modifications to its dimensions, but also, the use of invariant corner elements significantly reduces the diversity and therefore the manufacturing costs and lead times. Furthermore, the use of aluminum corner elements and aluminum profiles makes it possible to lighten the vehicles. The same chassis therefore makes it possible to produce lighter vehicles more quickly, with different powertrains, different suspension systems, and different aesthetics, all while being less expensive.

[0009] In a particular embodiment, the four corner elements are blocks produced from aluminum casting.

[0010] This offers a good compromise between robustness and lightness and provides optimal longevity for these parts.

[0011] In a particular embodiment, the pair of longitudinal profiles and the pair of transverse profiles are produced from an aluminum extrusion die.

[0012] This makes it easy to produce these parts in different dimensions, depending on the type of vehicle to be made.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the pair of longitudinal profiles is a pair of flaps, the front transverse profile is fixed to the pair of flaps between the front corner elements and the rear transverse profile is fixed to the pair of flaps between the rear corner elements.

[0014] This configuration facilitates the assembly of the vehicle.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the pair of flaps is provided with a network of internal reinforcing ribs.

[0016] This rib network is easily adaptable according to the desired rigidity of the case.

[0017] In a particular embodiment, the pair of flaps is fitted into cavities provided on the four corner elements.

[0018] This assembly is particularly simple to make and of good quality.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the pair of flaps is further fixed to the corner elements by glue and by at least one rivet.

[0020] This further increases the reliability of the assembly by eliminating any possible play between the flaps and the corner elements.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, the front part and the rear part are fixed to the central floor by screwing and / or bolting.

[0022] The assembly of the central floor and the front and rear parts is thus particularly simple to carry out and reinforces the modular character of the chassis.

[0023] For the same purpose as indicated above, the present invention also proposes a motor vehicle, remarkable in that it comprises a chassis as briefly described above.

[0024] For the same purpose as indicated above, the present invention also proposes a range of at least two types of motor vehicles, each comprising a chassis as described succinctly above, notable in that the front and rear corner elements are invariant between the two types of vehicles, while at least one pair of profiles chosen from either the longitudinal profiles or the front and rear transverse profiles has a different length for each of the two types of vehicles.

[0025] The advantages and special characteristics of the vehicle and range being identical to those of the chassis, they are not repeated here. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of particular embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of a reference frame classically used in automotive design;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, the front of the vehicle being shown on the left of the figure, in a particular embodiment;

[0029] [Fig.3] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a drip edge included in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0030] [Fig.4A] is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the fixing between a drip edge and a rear corner element in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0031] [Fig.4B] is a schematic perspective view showing the fixing between a drip edge and a rear corner element in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0032] [Fig.5] is a schematic view showing the fixing between a front longitudinal member and a front corner element in a motor vehicle chassis according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0033] [Fig.6] is a schematic view showing the attachment between the rear part and the central floor in a motor vehicle chassis conforming to the present invention, in a particular embodiment. Description of method(s) of implementation

[0034] Figure 1 shows a direct orthonormal coordinate system XYZ classically used in automotive design and will be used in this description. The X-axis represents the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear. The Y-axis represents the lateral direction and is oriented to the right of the vehicle. The Z-axis represents the vertical direction and is oriented upwards.

[0035] This reference mark is present on [Fig.2], which shows a chassis 10 of a motor vehicle according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment.

[0036] The chassis 10 comprises a central floor 12, a front part 14 fixed to a first end of the central floor 12 and a rear part 16 fixed to a second end of the central floor 12.

[0037] By way of non-limiting example, the front part 14 and the rear part 16 can be fixed to the central floor 12 by screwing and / or bolting.

[0038] According to the present invention, the central floor 12 comprises four corner elements 18, which are invariant, that is to say of the same dimensions, of the same shape and made of the same material, regardless of the type of vehicle to be made from the chassis 10.

[0039] The four corner elements 18 comprise two front corner elements 180 symmetrical with respect to the XZ plane and two rear corner elements 182 symmetrical with respect to the XZ plane.

[0040] The four corner elements 18 are made of aluminum and are typically formed from blocks produced by an aluminum casting process. As is standard practice in casting, this process determines the curves and angles of connection of the external surfaces of the four corner elements.

[0041] The four corner elements 18 are connected by a pair of longitudinal profiles 20 extending in the front-to-back longitudinal direction X, also called side rails, and by a pair of transverse profiles 22 front and rear extending in the left-to-right transverse direction Y. The term "profile" means that these parts have a constant cross-section.

[0042] Each profile of the pair of longitudinal profiles 20 connects a front corner element 180 and the rear corner element 182 which faces it.

[0043] The front cross profile 22 connects the two front corner elements 180 and the rear cross profile 22 connects the two rear corner elements 182.

[0044] In addition, the profiles 20 and 22 are made of aluminum, for example extruded aluminum, that is to say that the profiles 20 and 22 can be produced from an aluminum extrusion die.

[0045] The lengths of the profiles 20 and 22 vary from one type of vehicle to another. within the same range of vehicles, following the direction of arrows Fx and FY.

[0046] The pair of longitudinal profiles 20 is, for example, a pair of drip edges. In this embodiment, each drip edge 20 connects a front corner element 180 and the rear corner element 182 opposite it.

[0047] In this embodiment, the pair of transverse profiles 22 is orthogonal to the pair of drip edges 20. The front transverse profile 22 is fixed to the pair of drip edges 20 between the two front corner elements 180 and the rear transverse profile 22 is fixed to the pair of drip edges 20 between the two rear corner elements 182.

[0048] The front part 14 comprises a pair of front longitudinal members 24 extending in the front-rear longitudinal direction X and at least one front cross member 26 extending between the two front longitudinal members 24 along the left-right transverse direction Y. Interface pieces provide the connection between the front longitudinal members 24 and the front corner elements 180.

[0049] The rear part 16 comprises a pair of rear longitudinal members 25 extending in the front-rear longitudinal direction X and at least one rear cross member 27 extending between the two rear longitudinal members 25 along the left-right transverse direction Y. Interface pieces provide the connection between the rear longitudinal members 25 and the rear corner elements 182.

[0050] The lengths of the front and rear longitudinal members 24, 25 and of the front and rear cross members 26, 27 are variable from one type of vehicle to another, within the same range of vehicles, according to the direction of the arrows FxaV and FYav for the front part 14 and according to the direction of the arrows FxaR and FYAR for the rear part 16.

[0051] The central floor 12 is delimited at the front by a panel 28 arranged between the front corner elements 180. The lower part of the panel 28 is formed by the front transverse profile 22. The panel 28 forms a partition separating the passenger compartment from the front compartment of the vehicle.

[0052] Furthermore, the central floor 12 includes a central longitudinal tunnel TC which extends along the front-to-back longitudinal direction X over the entire length of the central floor 12. Cross members under seats TS extend along the left-to-right transverse direction Y and connect the central tunnel TC on each of its sides to the longitudinal profiles or side rails or side skirts 20.

[0053] The interface pieces for fixing the front longitudinal members 24 to the front corner elements 180 and the interface pieces for fixing the rear longitudinal members 25 to the rear corner elements 182 are described below in connection with figures 5 and 6, in particular embodiments.

[0054] Figure 5 shows the attachment between a front side member 24 and a front corner member 180, in a particular embodiment. By way of example, Figure 5 represents the left front side member 24 and the left front corner member 180. The attachment between the The right front longitudinal member 24 and the right front corner member 180 are similar, given that the left and right front corner members 180 and the left and right front longitudinal members 24 are symmetrical with respect to the front-rear longitudinal direction X.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.5], a front interface piece 50 has a first surface 51 fixed to the front longitudinal member 24, for example by one or more rivets 510 and a second surface 52 fixed to the front interface element 180 by one or more screws 520.

[0056] Figure 6 shows the attachment between the rear section 16 and the central floor 12, and more particularly the attachment between a rear side member 25 and a rear corner member 182, in a specific embodiment. By way of example, Figure 6 shows the left rear side member 25 and the left rear corner member 182. The attachment between the right rear side member 25 and the right rear corner member 182 is similar, since the left and right rear corner members 182 and the left and right rear side members 25 are symmetrical with respect to the front-to-rear longitudinal direction X.

[0057] As shown in [Fig.6], a first rear interface piece 60 connects, via one or more rivets 600, the longitudinal profile 20, the rear transverse profile 22 and the rear corner element 182. Furthermore, a second rear interface piece 62 connects, via one or more screws 620, the rear longitudinal member 25, the rear transverse profile 22 and the rear corner element 182.

[0058] As shown in the cross-sectional view of [Fig.3], optionally, the inside of each longitudinal profile or lateral stringer or drip edge 20, also called the drip edge web, can be provided with a network of ribs 30. The internal ribs 30 contribute to the reinforcement of the drip edges 20.

[0059] The web of the front and rear transverse profiles 22 and / or the front and rear longitudinal members 24, 25 and / or the front and rear cross members 26, 27 can also be equipped with a network of reinforcing ribs.

[0060] In a particular embodiment, the flaps 20 of the pair of flaps are fitted at each of their ends into cavities provided on the four corner elements 18. The pair of flaps 20 can further be fixed to the corner elements 18 by glue and by one or more rivets.

[0061] Figures 4A and 4B show, by way of example, the attachment between a drip edge 20 and a rear corner element 182. The method of attachment between a drip edge 20 and a front corner element 180 is similar. Thus, as shown in the cross-sectional view of [Fig. 4A] and the perspective view of [Fig. 4B], in a particular embodiment, the rear end of each drip edge of the pair of drip edges 20 is fitted into a cavity provided in the rear corner element 182, which receives this end. The shape of the walls of the cavity and the shape of the cross-section of the drip edge 20 that is fitted into it are fitted are complementary.

[0062] In the particular embodiment of Figures 4A and 4B, the rear end of each flap of the pair of flaps 20 is further fixed to the rear corner element 182 which receives this rear end by glue (the glued parts are indicated on [Fig.4A] by reference C) and by at least one rivet 40.

[0063] Thanks to the adjustable dimensions of the mud flaps 20, the front and rear transverse profiles 22, the front and rear longitudinal members 24, 25 and the front and rear cross members 26, 27, different types of vehicles, with different engines, different ground connections and different aesthetics, can be produced from the chassis 10 according to the invention, without modifying the corner elements 18, the chassis 10 being further lightened thanks to the corner elements 18 and the longitudinal and transverse profiles 20, 22 all made of aluminium.

[0064] Thus, the invention proposes a range of at least two types of motor vehicles according to the invention, each comprising a chassis 10 as described above, and in this range, the front corner elements 180 and the rear corner elements 182 are invariant between the various types of vehicles, while at least one pair of profiles chosen from either the longitudinal profiles 20 or the front and rear transverse profiles 22 has a different length for each of the various types of vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Chassis (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising a central floor (12), a front part (14) fixed to a first end of the central floor (12) and a rear part (16) fixed to a second end of the central floor (12), characterized in that: the central floor (12) comprises four corner elements (18) which are invariant regardless of the type of vehicle to be produced;the four corner elements (18) are made of aluminum, comprise two front corner elements (180) and two rear corner elements (182) and are connected, on the one hand, by a pair of longitudinal profiles (20) made of aluminum each connecting a front corner element (180) and the rear corner element (182) facing it and on the other hand, by a pair of front and rear transverse profiles (22) made of aluminum, the front transverse profile (22) connecting the front corner elements (180) and the rear transverse profile (22) connecting the rear corner elements (182), the length of the longitudinal profiles (20) and the transverse profiles (22) varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced;the front part (14) comprises a pair of front side members (24) connecting the front part (14) to the central floor (12) and at least one front cross member (26) extending orthogonally between the front side members (24) and the rear part (16) comprises a pair of rear side members (25) and at least one rear cross member (27) extending orthogonally between the rear side members (25), the length of the front and rear side members (24, 25) and of the front and rear cross members (26, 27) varying according to the type of vehicle to be produced.;

2. Chassis (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the four corner elements (18) are blocks from an aluminum casting.

3. Frame (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pair of longitudinal profiles (20) and the pair of transverse profiles (22) come from an aluminum extrusion die.

4. A chassis (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the pair of longitudinal profiles (20) is a pair of sills (20), the front transverse profile (22) is fixed to the pair of sills (20) between the front corner members (180) and the rear transverse profile (22) is fixed to the pair of sills (20) between the rear corner members (182).

5. Chassis (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the pair of flaps (20) is provided with a network of internal ribs (30) for reinforcing necessarily.

6. Frame (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pair of flaps (20) is fitted into cavities provided on the four corner elements (18).

7. Frame (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the pair of flaps (20) is further fixed to the corner elements (18) by glue (C) and by at least one rivet (40).

8. Chassis (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front part (14) and the rear part (16) are fixed to the central floor (12) by screwing and / or bolting.

9. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a chassis (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Range of at least two types of motor vehicles each comprising a chassis (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front and rear corner elements (180, 182) are invariant between the two types of vehicles, while at least one pair of profiles chosen from either the longitudinal profiles (20) or the front and rear transverse profiles (22), has a different length for each of the two types of vehicles.

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