Lateral structure of a motor vehicle body and motor vehicle comprising such a lateral structure
The addition of a longitudinal reinforcement extension to the center pillar in electric vehicles addresses the structural weaknesses in side impacts by preventing folds and plasticization, enhancing safety and structural integrity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023000211
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-01-09
AI Technical Summary
In electric vehicles, the increased mass leads to different impact behavior during a side collision, causing folds and potential ruptures in the lateral structure, particularly at the junction of the center and bay pillars, posing safety risks.
A longitudinal reinforcement extension is added to the center pillar, extending the upper longitudinal portion and creating an overlap zone with the bay pillar to counter-support the bay upright, preventing folds and plasticization, thus enhancing structural integrity.
The reinforcement effectively prevents folds and reduces plasticization risks by 90%, ensuring better force transmission and structural integrity during side impacts.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Lateral structure of a motor vehicle body and motor vehicle comprising such a lateral structure Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of passive safety of the motor vehicle to provide protection in the event of a side impact.
[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a lateral structure of a motor vehicle body and to a motor vehicle comprising such a lateral structure. Prior art
[0003] A motor vehicle body comprises a set of sheet metal structural elements providing stiffness to the motor vehicle, assembled together and forming the frame of the motor vehicle.
[0004] The vehicle body includes, among these sheet metal elements, a left side structure and a right side structure.
[0005] Each lateral structure comprises a set of upper and lower horizontal elements, extending substantially longitudinally relative to the body, and a set of vertical elements, extending substantially vertically relative to the body.
[0006] The upper horizontal elements comprise, from the front to the rear of the body, a bay pillar and a roof arch, and the lower horizontal elements comprise a side member defining a portion of the perimeter of the body underbody.
[0007] The vertical elements comprise, from the front to the rear of the body, a front foot, a middle foot, connecting the side member to both the bay upright and the roof arch, and a rear foot.
[0008] The middle pillar comprises a vertical portion and a longitudinal portion extending in front and behind the vertical portion and covering a part of the bay upright, the bay upright and the middle pillar being assembled together by welding.
[0009] Among the plurality of tests used for the approval of motor vehicles, a so-called "pole" impact, also called "side impact" is carried out, in particular in order to reveal performance criteria relating to the protection of occupants.
[0010] This test consists of projecting the motor vehicle at a speed of approximately 30 km / h laterally against a rigid post, so that the vehicle defines an angle of approximately 75° relative to the post.
[0011] In the event of a side impact, the post becomes embedded in the motor vehicle at driver's side front door level. The horizontal and vertical elements of the lateral structure are the main stressed elements. In particular, the two main stress paths are formed by the side member and the window pillar.
[0012] When the motor vehicle is electrically powered, a traction battery, powering the electric motor of the motor vehicle, is fitted to the motor vehicle. The mass of an electrically powered motor vehicle is greater than that of thermal vehicles.
[0013] During a pole impact, it has been noted that the behavior of the electric motor vehicle differs from that of a thermal vehicle, in particular due to its greater mass.
[0014] In particular, the formation of a fold at the time of impact at the level of the bay window upright was noted.
[0015] This formation of folds causes strong plasticization at the level of the front longitudinal portion of the center pillar, which can cause a rupture of the lateral structure of the body at the level of the junction zone between the center pillar and the bay pillar.
[0016] This rupture can lead, during the impact, to a significant risk of intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle due to the sinking of the lateral structure.
[0017] This scenario goes against the safety issues in the automotive sector. Statement of the invention
[0018] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to do so relates to a lateral structure of a motor vehicle body, comprising at least one horizontal element comprising a bay pillar and at least one vertical element comprising a center pillar fixed to said bay pillar, said center pillar comprising a vertical portion and a longitudinal upper portion, said lateral structure being remarkable in that said center pillar comprises a longitudinal reinforcement extension extending said longitudinal upper portion and defining an overlap zone of said bay pillar.
[0019] Thus, by providing a lateral structure whose central pillar comprises a longitudinal reinforcement extension which extends the upper longitudinal portion towards the front of the body and which defines an area of overlap of the bay upright, the longitudinal reinforcement extension defines, compared to the prior art, an excess thickness of material at the level of the portion of the bay upright which is subject to the formation of a fold during the unfolding of the post impact.
[0020] In this way, a counter-support of the middle leg is generated against the bay window upright at the level of the portion of the bay window upright which is subject to the formation of a fold during unwinding. post impact bearing, which counters the rotation of the upper longitudinal portion of the middle leg and better transmits forces during the occurrence of a post impact.
[0021] This avoids the formation of a fold at the level of the bay pillar during the unfolding of the post impact, as is the case in the prior art, which advantageously makes it possible to prevent the plasticization of the center pillar and to limit the risks of rupture of the lateral structure of the body at the level of the junction zone between the center pillar and the bay pillar.
[0022] According to optional characteristics of the lateral body structure according to the invention: - said longitudinal reinforcement extension is constituted by an extension of material of said longitudinal upper portion; - said longitudinal reinforcement extension comprises a base substantially merged with a lateral end of said longitudinal upper portion of said middle foot and a distal end; - said longitudinal reinforcement extension has a length of between approximately 30 millimeters and approximately 50 millimeters, said length being defined by the distance between said base and said distal end; - said longitudinal reinforcement extension is welded to said bay upright only at the level of said base; - said longitudinal reinforcement extension is constituted by an anti-roll ear comprising two beveled portions; - said beveled portions of said anti-roll ear define, with said base, a substantially triangular geometric shape; - said bay upright is reinforced by a bay reinforcement piece, said lateral structure being characterized in that it comprises an overlap zone formed by said bay upright, by said longitudinal reinforcement extension and by said bay reinforcement piece.
[0023] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a body, remarkable in that said body comprises at least one lateral structure according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings
[0024] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:
[0025] [Fig-1] is a side view of a motor vehicle body according to the invention.
[0026] [Fig.2] is an enlargement of zone II of the body of [Fig.l], in iso- metric.
[0027] [Fig.3] is a side view of the junction area between the bay upright and the middle foot of the body according to the invention. Description of the embodiments
[0028] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions are designated by the same reference.
[0029] By convention, we will adopt, without limitation, longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations indicated by the direct trihedron (L, V, T) designating the longitudinal, vertical and transverse axes of the vehicle.
[0030] In the following, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “lower” and “upper” are understood to refer to the vehicle.
[0031] Reference is made to [Fig.l] showing a motor vehicle body 1 according to the invention, seen from the side from the left of the motor vehicle.
[0032] The body 1 comprises a set of sheet metal elements, assembled together and forming the frame of the motor vehicle.
[0033] Among these sheet metal elements, structures, notably left and right side structures, equip the body 1.
[0034] A left lateral structure 3 is visible in [Fig.l]. The body 1 has a longitudinal median plane of symmetry. Thus, the description given for the left lateral structure 3 applies by analogy to a right lateral structure of the body 1.
[0035] The left lateral structure 3 comprises a set of upper 5 and lower 7 horizontal elements, extending substantially longitudinally relative to the body, and a set of vertical elements 9, extending substantially vertically relative to the body 1.
[0036] The upper horizontal elements 5 comprise, from the front to the rear of the body 1, a bay upright 11 and a roof arch 13.
[0037] The lower horizontal elements 7 comprise a side member 15 defining part of the perimeter of the base of the body 1.
[0038] The vertical elements 9 comprise, from the front to the rear of the body 1, a front foot 17, a middle foot 19, connecting the side member 15 to both the bay upright 11 and the roof arch 13, and a rear foot 21.
[0039] Reference is made to [Fig.2] showing an enlargement of zone II of [Fig.l], in isometric view.
[0040] The bay upright 11 is reinforced by a bay reinforcement piece 20, having a general “half-T” shape and following a portion of the curve defined by the bay upright 11, up to a roof arch 22.
[0041] The middle foot 19 comprises a vertical portion 23 relative to the body 1 and a upper longitudinal portion 25 relative to the body 1.
[0042] The longitudinal upper portion 25 extends from an upper end 27 of the vertical portion 23, perpendicular to the vertical portion 23, so that the middle foot 19 has a substantially “T” shape.
[0043] The middle pillar 19 comprises, according to the invention, a longitudinal reinforcement extension 29, extending the upper longitudinal portion 25 towards the front of the body 1 and defining a zone of overlap of the bay upright IL.
[0044] Thus, the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 defines, compared to the prior art, an excess thickness of material at the level of the portion of the bay upright 11 which is subject to the formation of a fold during the unfolding of the post impact.
[0045] By the configuration of the present invention, the lateral structure 3 of the body 1 comprises, at the level of the portion of the bay upright 11 which is subject to the formation of a fold during the unfolding of the post impact, an overlapping zone of three sheets formed by the bay upright 11, by the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 and by the bay reinforcement piece 20, unlike the prior art where, in the zone subject to the formation of a fold during the unfolding of the post impact, the lateral structure of the body only comprises an overlap of two sheets formed by the bay upright and by the bay reinforcement piece.
[0046] In this way, a counter-support of the middle leg 19 is generated against the bay upright 11 at the level of the portion of the bay upright 11 which is subject to the formation of a fold during the unfolding of the post impact, which makes it possible to counter the rotation of the upper longitudinal portion 25 of the middle leg 19, and therefore to better transmit the forces during the unfolding of a post impact.
[0047] This prevents a fold from forming at the bay upright 11 during the post impact, as is the case in the prior art, which advantageously prevents the center pillar 19 from plasticizing and limits the risks of rupture of the lateral structure 3 of the body 1 at the junction zone between the center pillar 19 and the bay upright 11.
[0048] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 is constituted by an extension of material which extends the upper longitudinal portion 25 towards the front of the body 1 compared to the embodiments of the prior art.
[0049] As shown in [Fig.3] showing the junction zone between the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 and the bay upright 11 in side view, the length L of the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 is between approximately 30 millimeters and approximately 50 millimeters, for example 45 millimeters.
[0050] The length L is defined by the distance between a base 31 substantially merged with a lateral end 33 of the longitudinal upper portion 25 of the middle leg 19 and a distal end 35 of the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29.
[0051] Advantageously, the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 of the middle leg 19 is only welded to the bay upright 11 at its base 31, which makes it possible to avoid the need to make welding points between the distal end 35 and the bay upright 11.
[0052] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 is constituted by an anti-roll lug, also called an anti-plasticization lug.
[0053] The longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 comprises two beveled portions 37, 39 defining, with the base 31 of the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29, a substantially triangular geometric shape.
[0054] The fact that the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 has a substantially triangular geometric shape makes it possible to limit the mass compared to an embodiment where the longitudinal reinforcement extension 29 would have a rectangular geometric shape.
[0055] Thanks to the present invention, the maximum plasticization recorded in the junction zone between the center pillar 19 and the bay upright 11 is now 5% whereas, in the prior art, the plasticizations recorded are of the order of 15%. Taking into account the fact that the material of the body 1 has a limit before rupture equal to 6%, any risk of plasticization in said junction zone is eliminated thanks to the present invention.
[0056] Thanks to the present invention, the behavior of the body is thus better controlled at the junction zone between the center pillar 19 and the bay upright 11.
[0057] As goes without saying, the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this lateral structure of a motor vehicle body and of this motor vehicle comprising such a lateral structure, described above solely as illustrative examples, but on the contrary it embraces all the variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.
Claims
Claims
1. Lateral structure (3) of a motor vehicle body (1), comprising at least one horizontal element comprising a bay upright (11) and at least one vertical element comprising a center pillar (19) fixed to said bay upright (11), said center pillar (19) comprising a vertical portion (23) and a longitudinal upper portion (25), said lateral structure (3) being characterized in that said center pillar (19) comprises a longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) extending said longitudinal upper portion (25) and defining an overlap zone of said bay upright (11).
2. Lateral structure (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) is constituted by an extension of material of said longitudinal upper portion (25).
3. Lateral structure (3) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) comprises a base (31) substantially merged with a lateral end (33) of said longitudinal upper portion (25) of said middle foot (19) and a distal end (35).
4. Lateral structure (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that said longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) has a length (L) of between approximately 30 millimeters and approximately 50 millimeters, said length (L) being defined by the distance between said base (31) and said distal end (35).
5. Lateral structure (3) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) is welded to said bay upright (11) only at the level of said base (31).
6. Lateral structure (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) is constituted by an anti-roll lug comprising two beveled portions (37, 39).
7. Lateral structure (3) according to claim 6 combined with one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said beveled portions (37, 39) of said anti-roll ear define, with said base (31), a substantially triangular geometric shape.
8. Lateral structure (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said bay upright (11) is reinforced by a bay reinforcement piece (20), said lateral structure (3) being characterized in that that it comprises an overlapping zone formed by said bay upright (11), by said longitudinal reinforcement extension (29) and by said bay reinforcement piece (20).
9. Motor vehicle comprising a body (1), characterized in that said body (1) comprises at least one lateral structure (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.