Fastening part for attaching a tow bar crossmember to a vehicle's side member

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening element (1) for mounting in a side member (3) positioned at the rear of a vehicle (2) to attach a rear axle to the side member (3). The fastening element comprises a central portion (5) having a first opening (7) for receiving a first fastening element for attaching an axle bracket (30) to the side member, and a first lateral flange (9) extending from the central portion and running along a first lateral wall (11) of the side member. The fastening element comprises a second lateral flange (12) extending from the central portion and running along a second lateral wall (14) of the side member. The second lateral flange includes fastening means for attaching a mounting arm (17) of a coupling crossmember (18) to the second lateral flange and to the second lateral wall of the side member. Abstract figure: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Fastening piece for attaching a tow bar crossmember to a vehicle side member

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle coupling crossmembers and more particularly to a fixing piece mounted in a rear side member of a vehicle for fixing a rear axle of the vehicle to the side member and to a vehicle comprising such a fixing piece.

[0002] The coupling crossmember is conventionally fixed to the rear of a vehicle structure and includes two fixing arms, each positioned at one of the two ends of the coupling crossmember.

[0003] Each fixing arm is housed in a side member of the vehicle structure and fixed to a side wall of the side member by a screw / nut system.

[0004] A tow hook can be attached to the coupling crossmember for towing a trailer or caravan, for example.

[0005] The coupling crossmember is subjected to significant forces during towing.

[0006] However, the thickness of the rear side member does not allow it to withstand these significant forces.

[0007] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a rear axle fixing piece that improves the mechanical strength of the coupling crossmember to the side member.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates, in its broadest sense, to a fastening element intended to be mounted in a side member positioned at the rear of a vehicle structure for attaching a rear axle assembly to the side member. The fastening element comprises a central portion intended to run along a lower longitudinal wall of the side member and which has a first opening for receiving a first fastening element for attaching an axle assembly to the side member. The fastening element includes a first lateral flange extending from a first side of the central portion so as to project beyond the central portion. The first lateral flange is intended to run along a first lateral wall of the side member connected to the lower longitudinal wall.

[0009] According to the invention, the fastening piece comprises a second lateral rim extending from a second side of the central portion, parallel to the first lateral rim. The second lateral rim is intended to run along a second lateral wall of the side member connected to the lower longitudinal wall and includes fastening means for attaching a vehicle coupling crossmember to the second lateral rim and to the second lateral wall of the side member.

[0010] The invention thus makes it possible to increase the sheet metal thickness at the point where the coupling crossmember is fixed in order to improve its mechanical strength.

[0011] According to one variant, the fastening piece includes a cross-section having a general U-shape.

[0012] This shape optimizes the mechanical strength and solidity of the fastening part.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the central part comprises a first part and a second part connected together by an intermediate part so as to form a recess on the central part. The first opening is positioned on the first part.

[0014] This recess allows enough space on the second lateral edge to allow the attachment of an arm of the coupling crossmember.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the second lateral rim comprises a front portion running along the first part of the central portion and a rear portion running along the second part of the central portion. The rear portion has a greater height than the front portion.

[0016] This greater height on the rear portion also allows enough space on the second lateral edge to allow the attachment of the coupling crossmember arm.

[0017] According to another variant, the fastening means include a second orifice formed in the rear portion of the second lateral rim and intended to receive a second fastening element.

[0018] The second orifice provides a simple means of attachment in cooperation with a screw / nut system.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the first part of the central portion comprises a first edge. The second part of the central portion comprises a second edge parallel and opposite to the first edge. The intermediate portion extends transversely from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge, being inclined with respect to the first and second edges.

[0020] This allows enough width to be left on the rear portion of the second lateral edge to allow the attachment of the coupling cross member arm.

[0021] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one side member positioned at the rear of a vehicle structure, a rear axle and at least one fastening piece as defined above for attaching a coupling crossmember to the side member.

[0022] According to one variant, the first lateral edge of the fixing piece is welded to the first lateral wall of the longitudinal member.

[0023] According to another variant, the second lateral edge of the fastening piece is welded to the second lateral wall of the longitudinal member.

[0024] This improves the mechanical strength of the rear axle and the coupling crossmember.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the coupling crossmember mounting arm includes a first mounting hole positioned at one end of the mounting arm. A second nut is fixed opposite the first mounting hole. The second fastener is inserted into a second mounting hole formed in the second side wall of the side member, the second hole in the mounting bracket, the first mounting hole of the mounting arm, and screwed into the second nut to secure the mounting arm to the second side wall of the side member and to the second side edge of the mounting bracket.

[0026] This provides a simple way to improve the mechanical strength of the coupling crossmember.

[0027] The following are non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0028] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a perspective view of the underside of a structure of a vehicle including a coupling crossmember;

[0029] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a perspective view from the top of the structure showing a fastener mounted in a structural member;

[0030] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a detailed perspective view of the part of fixation.

[0031] The terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "front" and "rear" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel.

[0032] Similarly, the terms "lower" and "upper" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the term "lower" indicates a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the term "upper".

[0033] In the following description, elements having an identical structure and / or analogous functions will be designated by the same reference.

[0034] Fig. 1 illustrates the underside of a vehicle 2 comprising a structure 8 having two longitudinal members 3 positioned at the rear of the structure 8.

[0035] The two longitudinal members 3 extend along a longitudinal direction X. The two longitudinal members 3 are parallel and positioned on each side of the structure 8 of the vehicle 2.

[0036] The vehicle 2 includes a coupling cross member 18 extending along a transverse direction Y, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

[0037] The vehicle 2 includes two metal fixing pieces 1, each mounted in one of the respective side members 3, as illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0038] The coupling cross member 18 comprises two opposite ends 27, 28. The coupling cross member 18 comprises a fixing arm 17 positioned at each end 27, 28, i.e. two fixing arms 17.

[0039] Each fixing arm 17 is connected to a cross bar 29 and extends inside the longitudinal member 3 along the longitudinal direction X.

[0040] The vehicle 2 includes a rear axle 4, which is a multi-link axle in the example of [Fig. 1]. The rear axle 4 includes two axle mountings 30, only one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The axle mounting 30 has a cylindrical shape and includes a mounting hole 31 passing axially through the axle mounting 30.

[0041] Each fastening piece 1 comprises a central part 5 running along a lower longitudinal wall 6 of the longitudinal member 3 which extends along the longitudinal direction X. The fastening piece 1 also extends along the longitudinal direction X.

[0042] The fixing piece 1 has a first orifice 7 receiving a first fixing element (not shown) for fixing the landing gear fixing 30 to the side member 3.

[0043] A cylindrical spacer 33 comprising a channel is disposed between the lower longitudinal wall 6 of the longeron 3 and the fixing piece 1 so as to form a space between the fixing piece 1 and the lower longitudinal wall 6. The lower longitudinal wall 6 is positioned between the landing gear fixing 30 and the spacer 33.

[0044] To fix the landing gear bracket 30 to the side member 3, a screw is inserted into the fixing hole 31 of the landing gear bracket 30, into the channel of the spacer 33 and screwed into a first nut 34 separated from the spacer 33 by the fixing piece 1.

[0045] The fixing piece 1 is positioned opposite one end 36 of a transverse structural bar 35 extending along the transverse direction Y.

[0046] The fastening piece 1 includes a first lateral rim 9 extending from a first side 10 of the central part 5 so as to protrude from the central part 5.

[0047] Preferably, the first lateral rim 9 is perpendicular to the central part 5.

[0048] The first lateral edge 9 runs along a first lateral wall 11 of the longitudinal member 3 which is connected perpendicularly to the lower longitudinal wall 6.

[0049] According to the invention, the fixing piece 1 extends to a second lateral wall 14 of the longitudinal member 3 connected perpendicularly to the lower longitudinal wall 6.

[0050] The fastening piece 1 includes a second lateral rim 12 extending from a second side 13 of the central part 5, parallel to the first lateral rim 9.

[0051] Preferably, the second lateral rim 12 is perpendicular to the central part 5. The fastening piece 1 comprises a cross-section, along the transverse direction Y, having a general U-shaped form.

[0052] The second lateral edge 12 runs along the second lateral wall 14 of the longitudinal member 3 and includes fastening means 15, as illustrated in [Fig.3], for fixing the second side rim 12 and the second side wall 14 of the side member 3 to one of the fastening arms 17 of the coupling cross member 18 of the vehicle 2.

[0053] According to one variant, the first lateral edge 9 of the fastener 1 is welded to the first lateral wall 11 of the longitudinal member 3 and the second lateral edge 12 of the fastener 1 is welded to the second lateral wall 14 of the longitudinal member 3.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the central part 5 is formed of a first part 22 and a second part 23 connected together by an intermediate part 24 so as to form a step or a recess. The first opening 7 is positioned on the first part 22. The second opening 15 is positioned above the second part 23.

[0055] The first part 22 and the second part 23 are parallel but not coincident, that is to say offset along a vertical direction Z, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y. The lower longitudinal wall 6 is closer to the second part 23 than to the first part 22.

[0056] The second lateral rim 12 comprises a front portion 37 running along the first part 22 of the central part 5 and a rear portion 21 running along the second part 23 of the central part 5. The rear portion 21 has a height h2 greater than the height hl of the front portion 37, from the central part 5.

[0057] Similarly, the first lateral edge 9 of the fastening piece 1 comprises a front portion 38 running along the first part 22 of the central part 5 and a rear portion 39 running along the second part 23 of the central part 5. The rear portion 39 has a height h2 greater than the height hl of the front portion 38.

[0058] Preferably, the fastening means 15 include a second hole 15 formed in the rear portion 21 of the second lateral rim 12. The second hole 15 is intended to receive a second fastening element 16 for fixing the coupling cross member 18 to the longitudinal member 3.

[0059] The fixing arm 17 of the coupling cross member 18 includes a first fixing hole positioned at the end 19 of the fixing arm 17.

[0060] A second nut 20 is fixed by welding to the end 19 of the fixing arm 17. The second nut 20 is positioned opposite the first fixing hole, the second hole 15 of the fixing piece 1 and a second fixing hole 32 formed in the second side wall 14 of the longitudinal member 3.

[0061] The second fastening element 16 is, for example, a screw inserted into the second fastening hole 32, the second hole 15 of the fastening piece 1, the first fastening hole of the fastening arm 17, and then screwed into the second nut 20 to fix the fastening arm 17 to the second side wall 14 of the longitudinal member 3 and to the second side edge 12 of the fastening piece 1. The second side edge 12 of the fastening piece 1 is positioned between the fastening arm 17 and the second wall lateral 14 of the longitudinal member 3.

[0062] According to one variant, the first part 22 comprises a first edge 25 and the second part 23 comprises a second edge 26 parallel and opposite to the first edge 25.

[0063] The intermediate part 24 extends transversely from the first lateral rim 9 to the second lateral rim 12, being inclined with respect to the first and second rims 25, 26.

[0064] In this way, the rear portion 21 of the second lateral rim 12 is wider than the rear portion 39 of the first lateral rim 9. This provides enough space to fix the fixing arm 17 of the coupling cross member 18 to the rear portion 21.

[0065] The vehicle 2 comprises two side members 3 as explained previously. Each side member 3 comprises a fastening part 1 as described previously.

Claims

Claims

1. Fastening part (1) intended to be mounted in a side member (3) positioned at the rear of a structure (8) of a vehicle (2) for fixing a rear axle (4) of the vehicle (2) to the side member (3), the fastening part (1) comprising a central part (5) intended to run along a lower longitudinal wall (6) of the side member (3) and comprising a first orifice (7) intended to receive a first fastening element for fixing a train fastening (30) to the side member (3), the fastening part (1) comprising a first lateral edge (9) extending from a first side (10) of the central part (5) so as to project relative to the central part (5), the first lateral edge (9) being intended to run along a first lateral wall (11) of the side member (3) connected to the lower longitudinal wall (6), characterized in that it comprises a second lateral edge (12) extending from a second side (13) of the central part (5),parallel to the first lateral edge (9), the second lateral edge (12) being intended to run along a second lateral wall (14) of the side member (3) connected to the lower longitudinal wall (6), the second lateral edge (12) comprising fixing means (15) intended to fix a fixing arm (17) of a coupling cross member (18) of the vehicle (2) to the second lateral edge (12) and to the second lateral wall (14) of the side member (3).,

2. Fastening piece (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cross section having a general U shape.

3. Fastening part (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the central part (5) comprises a first part (22) and a second part (23) connected together by an intermediate part (24) so as to form a recess on the central part (5), the first orifice (7) being positioned on the first part (22).

4. Fastening part (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the second lateral edge (12) comprises a front portion (37) running along the first part (22) of the central part (5) and a rear portion (21) running along the second part (23) of the central part (5), the rear portion (21) having a height h2 greater than the height hl of the front portion (37).

5. Fastening part (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening means (15) comprise a second orifice (15) formed in the rear portion (21) of the second lateral edge (12) and intended to receive a second fixing element (16).

6. Fastening part (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the first part (22) of the central part (5) comprises a first edge (25), the second part (23) of the central part (5) comprising a second edge (26) parallel and opposite to the first edge (25), the intermediate part (24) extending transversely from the first lateral edge (9) to the second lateral edge (12) while being inclined relative to the first and second edges (25, 26).

7. Vehicle (2) comprising at least one side member (3) positioned at the rear of a structure (8) of the vehicle (2) and a rear axle (4), characterized in that it comprises at least one fixing part (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Vehicle (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first lateral edge (9) of the fixing part (1) is welded to the first lateral wall (11) of the side member (3).

9. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the second lateral edge (12) of the fixing part (1) is welded to the second lateral wall (14) of the side member (3).

10. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, the fixing part (1) of which comprises at least the characteristics as defined according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing arm (17) of the coupling cross member (18) comprises a first fixing hole positioned at one end (19) of the fixing arm (17), a second nut (20) being fixed opposite the first fixing hole, the second fixing element (16) being inserted into a second fixing hole (32) formed in the second side wall (14) of the longitudinal member (3), the second hole (15) of the fixing part (1), the first fixing hole of the fixing arm (17) and screwed into the second nut (20) to fix the fixing arm (17) to the second side wall (14) of the longitudinal member (3) and to the second lateral edge (12) of the fixing part (1).