Wheel arch including a cut-out line

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel arch comprising a cutout line for a motor vehicle. The wheel arch (2) is sized to allow a wheel to be present in said arch when the wheel is held to the chassis of a motor vehicle by means of a rear axle with a deformable crossmember. Remarkably, the wheel arch (2) has a cutout line (10) indicating a portion of the wheel arch (2) to be cut out, so that said arch is sized to allow a wheel to be present in said arch when the wheel is held to the chassis of a motor vehicle by means of a multi-link rear axle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Wheel arch comprising a cutting line Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of the automotive industry. The present invention relates more particularly to a wheel arch for a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0002] In the automotive field, rear axles with deformable crossmembers are appreciated for their ability to absorb shocks. By absorbing some of the irregularities of the road, rear axles with deformable crossmembers therefore make it possible to reduce vibrations in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and therefore significantly improve passenger comfort.

[0003] According to another advantage, the rear axles with deformable crossmember allow a more efficient distribution of loads on the chassis of the motor vehicle, which contributes to better stability of the vehicle, in particular when the motor vehicle brakes or takes a turn.

[0004] Deformable crossmember rear axles are also relatively easy to manufacture, making them a commonly used option in the automotive industry.

[0005] However, multi-link rear axles offer additional technical advantages. Thanks to their more sophisticated configuration, they allow for better management of suspension movements, thus providing increased handling and superior cornering stability.

[0006] In addition, multi-link rear axles offer greater flexibility in suspension adjustment, allowing the vehicle's behavior to be more precisely adapted to the desired driving style. Multi-link rear axles are therefore increasingly popular with drivers as a way of improving the performance of their motor vehicle.

[0007] Nevertheless, replacing a rear axle with a deformable cross member with a multi-link rear axle requires complex and costly adaptations to the chassis of the motor vehicle. Indeed, due to their different design, the arms of the multi-link rear axles are closer to the chassis than the arms of the rear axles with a deformable cross member. It is then necessary to adapt the geometry of the side members at the wheel arch, so that the arms of the multi-link rear axle do not hit the side members. This difference in height between these two types of rear axle also implies the use of wheel arches specific to each type of rear axle. This therefore generates additional adaptation costs.

[0008] The invention aims to reduce these adaptation costs, by proposing a solution allowing the use of wheel arches, originally adapted for rear axles with deformable crossmembers, with multi-link rear axles. Subject of the invention

[0009] For this purpose, the invention proposes a wheel arch for a motor vehicle, the wheel arch being of dimensions adapted to allow the presence of a wheel in said arch, when the wheel is held to the chassis of a motor vehicle by means of a rear axle with a deformable cross member.

[0010] The invention is remarkable in that the wheel arch comprises a cutting line, indicating a part of the wheel arch to be cut, so that said arch is of dimensions adapted to allow the presence of a wheel in said arch, when the wheel is held to the chassis of a motor vehicle by means of a multi-link rear axle.

[0011] Thus, advantageously, the invention proposes a wheel arch intended to be used in cooperation with a rear axle with a deformable cross member, comprising a cutting line, indicating to an operator which part(s) of the wheel arch must be removed, so that said wheel arch can subsequently be used in cooperation with a multi-link rear axle.

[0012] In this way, the same wheel arch can be used with a rear axle with a deformable cross member and a multi-link rear axle. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the adaptation costs for switching from a rear axle with a deformable cross member to a multi-link rear axle.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the wheel arch comprises a wheel arch connection, and the cutting line extends at least partly over the passage connection.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the cutting line is continuous over the wheel arch as well as the passage connection.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the cutting line extends at least in part, parallel or substantially parallel to the roadway, when said wheel arch is mounted on a motor vehicle.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the invention, the wheel arch comprises a large side, intended to be opposite the roadway, when said wheel arch is mounted on a motor vehicle, and the cutting line is located at least in part, at a distance from the large side which is between 5 cm and 40 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 20 cm. In other words, the large side is the side of the wheel arch closest to the roadway, when said wheel arch is mounted on a vehicle au- car.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the cutting line extends parallel or substantially parallel to the long side.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the invention, the cutting line is materialized by a groove or an ink marking.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the wheel arch is made from a synthetic polymer.

[0020] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a wheel arch as described above.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method for cutting a wheel arch as described above, implementing a step of cutting a portion of the arch, along the cutting line, so as to reduce the height of the wheel arch, so that it can accommodate a wheel held to the chassis of a motor vehicle, by means of a multi-link rear axle. The term "height" means a dimension of the wheel arch measured in a direction normal or substantially normal to the long side of the wheel arch. Description of figures

[0023] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0024] [Fig.l] illustrates a perspective view of a non-limiting embodiment of a wheel arch according to the invention, comprising a cutting line;

[0025] [Fig.2] illustrates a perspective view of the wheel arch shown in [Fig.l], after cutting out a portion of said arch, along the cutting line. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] As a reminder, the invention proposes a solution allowing the use of a wheel arch, originally adapted to be used by a rear axle with a deformable cross member, with a multi-link rear axle.

[0027] [Fig.l] illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a wheel arch 2 according to the invention, for a motor vehicle. The wheel arch 2 consists of a main part 4, substantially planar, and a wheel arch 2 connection 6 extending the main part. The wheel arch connection 2 forms an angle with the main part 4, the value of which is between 80° and 110°.

[0028] The wheel arch has a large side 8 intended to be opposite the roadway, when said arch is mounted on a motor vehicle. In other words, the large side 8 is intended to be the edge closest to the roadway.

[0029] Remarkably, the wheel arch 2 according to the invention comprises a cutting line 10. The cutting line 10 may be continuous or discontinuous, as illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The cutting line may be materialized by an ink marking, or by one or more grooves formed in a wall of the wheel arch 2.

[0030] Preferably, the cutting line is continuous and materialized by a groove locally weakening the wheel arch, in order to facilitate the cutting of said arch along the cutting line.

[0031] As illustrated by [Fig.l], the cutting line 10 is parallel or substantially parallel to the long side 8 at the main part 4 of the wheel arch.

[0032] According to the present example, the cutting line 10 is located at a distance from the long side which is between 5 cm and 40 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 20 cm.

[0033] At the level of the connection 6 of the wheel arch, the cutting line goes towards the large side 8, so as to form a rounding.

[0034] As mentioned previously, the cutting line 10 is intended to allow an operator to easily and quickly remove the quantity of material necessary for the wheel arch 2, in order to reduce the height of said arch. The height of the wheel arch is measured in a direction normal or substantially normal to the long side 8.

[0035] The invention also relates to a method of cutting the wheel arch 2, illustrated by [Fig.l], along the cutting line 10. The cutting can be carried out by any means adapted to the nature of the wheel arch as well as to the thickness of its walls.

[0036] By way of non-limiting examples, the cutting of the wheel arch can be carried out using a sharp blade, a circular saw, a pressure jet or other similar means.

[0037] [Fig. 2] illustrates the wheel arch 2 after carrying out the cutting process. Advantageously, the removed portion of the wheel arch bordered by the cutting line 10 makes it possible to reduce the height of the wheel arch significantly so that said wheel arch can now be used with a multi-link rear axle.

[0038] Thus, the invention proposes an economical and simple solution to implement for using the same wheel arch with a rear axle with a deformable cross member and a multi-link rear axle.

Claims

Claims

1. Wheel arch (2) for a motor vehicle, the wheel arch (2) being of dimensions adapted to allow the presence of a wheel in said arch when the wheel is held to the chassis of a motor vehicle by means of a rear axle with a deformable cross member, characterized in that the wheel arch (2) comprises a cutting line (10) indicating a part of the wheel arch (2) to be cut so that said arch is of dimensions adapted to allow the presence of a wheel in said arch when the wheel is held to the chassis of a motor vehicle by means of a multi-link rear axle.

2. Wheel arch (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wheel arch (2) comprises a wheel arch connection (6), and in that the cutting line (10) extends at least partly over the passage connection (6).

3. Wheel arch (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cutting line (10) is continuous on the wheel arch (2) and the passage connection (6).

4. Wheel arch (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cutting line (10) extends at least in part, parallel or substantially parallel to the roadway, when said wheel arch (2) is mounted on a motor vehicle.

5. Wheel arch (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wheel arch (2) has a large side (8), intended to face the roadway, when said arch is mounted on a motor vehicle, and in that the cutting line (10) is located at least in part, at a distance from the large side (8) which is between 5 cm and 40 cm.

6. Wheel arch (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cutting line (10) extends parallel or substantially parallel to the long side (8).

7. Wheel arch (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cutting line (10) is materialized by a groove.

8. Wheel arch (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wheel arch (2) is made from a synthetic polymer.

9. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a passage of wheel (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Method for cutting a wheel arch (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a part of the wheel arch (2) is cut along the cutting line (10), so as to reduce the height of the wheel arch (2) so that it can accommodate a wheel held to the chassis of a motor vehicle, by means of a multi-link rear axle.

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