Motorized sliding opening of a vehicle.

Abstract

Title of the invention: Motorized sliding opening of a vehicle. The present invention relates to a motorized sliding opening (2) intended to equip a vehicle, the motorized sliding opening (2) comprising an outer panel (6), an inner panel (8), at least one drive motor configured to allow the motorized opening and / or closing of the motorized sliding opening (2) and a protective tray (10) in which at least one power cable (4) is arranged, the power cable (4) being configured to allow the supply of electrical energy to the at least one drive motor, the protective tray (10) being separate from the inner panel (8) and secured to said inner panel (8). (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Motorized sliding opening of a vehicle.

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motorized openings for vehicles. The present invention relates more particularly to the architecture of such openings making it possible to electrically connect either an electrical power source to a drive motor arranged in the opening or a locking / unlocking control device to a drive motor arranged on the body of the vehicle.

[0002] Certain motor vehicles include a sliding opening, such an opening being able to be arranged on one side only, on each side or at the rear of a vehicle body.

[0003] These openings are configured to slide in a first direction so as to generate an opening of the opening and in a second direction so as to cause a closing of the opening. The movement of the opening in one direction or the other can be controlled in a motorized manner by the user by remotely activating one or more motors driving the opening according to said movement.

[0004] At least the motor(s) involved in moving the opening require to be supplied with electricity from an electrical energy storage means arranged in the vehicle. For this purpose, said motor(s) are connected to the electrical energy storage means by an electrical power supply cable.

[0005] This power cable must be able to accompany the movement of the opening relative to the vehicle. In order to protect it, it is known to arrange said power cable directly in a housing made in an interior panel of the opening.

[0006] Indeed, this housing is conventionally produced by stamping the interior panel, which results in significant space consumption.

[0007] The present invention falls within this context and proposes to overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art and in particular to propose an architecture of a motorized opening making it possible to protect a power cable while minimizing the size of the opening to protect said power cable.

[0008] Thus, the present invention relates to a motorized sliding opening intended to equip a vehicle, the motorized sliding opening comprising an exterior panel, an interior panel, at least part of a drive means configured to allow the opening and / or closing of the motorized sliding opening, said drive means comprising in particular a motorization making the sliding opening motorized and at least one power cable arranged in the volume of the motorized sliding opening, the at least one power cable being configured to allow the supply of electrical energy to at least one drive motor included in the motorized sliding opening and / or an electrical control of the drive means comprising at least one drive motor arranged on the body of the vehicle on which the motorized sliding opening is intended to be mounted to slide, the interior panel comprising a cutout in which a protective tray is housed, the protective tray forming a receiving housing in which the at least one power cable is arranged, the protective tray being separate from the interior panel and secured to said interior panel.

[0009] The motorized sliding opening is a door of a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, capable of moving along a guide rail, made on the vehicle or on the motorized sliding opening, to allow or prohibit access to the vehicle. The motorized sliding opening may be a side door or even a rear door of a utility vehicle since the opening and / or closing of the motorized sliding opening is carried out by sliding movement along a guide means.

[0010] The drive means comprises at least one drive motor for motorizing the opening and / or closing of the motorized sliding opening. The power cable makes it possible to directly activate the at least one drive motor or an electrical control of said drive motor to allow the movement of the motorized sliding opening.

[0011] The motorized sliding opening is formed of at least one outer panel and one inner panel. The outer panel forms the bodywork element of the vehicle in direct contact with the environment outside the vehicle. This outer bodywork panel has a structure allowing the motorized sliding opening to withstand external impacts and attacks. The inner panel forms the vehicle element for the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0012] The volume of the motorized sliding opening is defined between the outer panel and the inner panel. It is understood that the power cable is arranged in the volume of the motorized sliding opening so that when the motorized sliding opening is in a closed position, the power cable is housed in the motorized sliding opening between the outer panel and the inner panel.

[0013] The cutout of the inner panel is made so that the latter has dimensions complementary to those of the protective tray to accommodate the protective tray in said cutout while minimizing the space between the protective tray and the inner panel. Thus the cutout of the inner panel is adjusted to allow the latter to receive the protective tray with the walls defining the protective tray which are as close as possible to the edges of the inner panel delimiting the cutout.

[0014] The protective tray is secured to the interior panel and is intended to house a power cable for electrically connecting the motorized sliding opening. This power cable is capable of accompanying the motorized sliding opening during movement of the motorized sliding opening between an open position and a closed position. The power cable accompanies, during the movement of the motorized sliding opening between its open position and its closed position, the movement of the motorized sliding opening while remaining at least partly housed in the protective tray. As the motorized sliding opening moves, the power cable is able to exit the protective tray to accompany the movement of the motorized sliding opening. It is understood that at least a portion of the power cable is continuously connected to an element of the motorized sliding opening.

[0015] The protective tray forms a housing, said housing being arranged in a thickness, or volume, of the motorized sliding opening defined between the outer panel and the inner panel. The outer panel and the inner panel, with at least one of the panels having a non-planar shape, are secured to each other in particular on their periphery to generate a sealed space inside the opening between the outer panel and the inner panel. It is understood that the thickness of the motorized sliding opening, within which the protective tray is positioned, is formed from the thickness of the outer panel, the thickness of the inner panel and the space between the inner panel and the outer panel.

[0016] According to a characteristic of the invention, the housing is arranged in the volume of the motorized sliding opening defined between the exterior panel and the interior panel.

[0017] According to a characteristic of the invention, the housing is delimited at least in part by a bottom wall and by a side wall, the side wall and the bottom wall forming a first angle with each other of between 90° and 120°. Such an angle between the side wall, or lateral wall, and the bottom wall makes it possible to limit the size of the protective tray within the motorized sliding opening. Indeed, by forming the walls of the housing by a protective tray added in an opening formed by cutting the interior panel, rather than directly by stamping the interior panel, it is possible to get as close as possible to a right-angled construction, which limits the angle between the bottom wall and the side wall and which makes it possible to limit the space taken up by the protective tray in the motorized sliding opening.

[0018] According to a characteristic of the invention, the housing of the protective tray is delimited by a peripheral edge of the protective tray, the peripheral edge being secured to the inner panel. The peripheral edge extends perpendicularly the side wall at an end opposite to that connected to the bottom wall and it extends this side wall towards the outside of the protective tray.

[0019] According to a characteristic of the invention, the housing has a shape which matches the shape of the power cable. To limit the size of the protective tray in the motorized sliding opening, the housing has dimensions allowing it to fit the shape of the power cable.

[0020] According to a characteristic of the invention, the power cable is entirely housed in the housing formed by the protective tray.

[0021] According to a characteristic of the invention, the peripheral edge is in contact with the interior panel by a flat support.

[0022] It is understood that the peripheral edge extends in a plane parallel to the plane in which the portion of the inner panel in contact with the peripheral edge is inscribed.

[0023] According to a characteristic of the invention, the protective tray is secured to the outer panel at a portion of the protective tray distinct from the peripheral edge.

[0024] According to a characteristic of the invention, the portion of the protective tray at which the protective tray is secured to the outer panel is arranged opposite the housing. This portion of the protective tray makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the motorized sliding opening by generating a connection point between the outer panel and the inner panel via the protective tray. More specifically, this portion of the protective tray forms the bottom wall of the protective tray.

[0025] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a motorized sliding opening conforming to at least some of the characteristics, the motor vehicle comprising a guide rail in which the motorized sliding opening is able to move between an open position and a closed position, the protective tray of the motorized sliding opening being arranged directly opposite the guide rail. The arrangement of the motorized sliding opening opposite the guide rail can be carried out opposite a sill, that is to say opposite a protective element of the underbody of the vehicle. Such an arrangement of the protective tray at the level of the guide rail makes it possible to ensure better protection of the power cable, in particular in the event of an impact coming from outside the vehicle.

[0026] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] schematically represents a general view of a motorized sliding opening according to an embodiment of the invention intended to equip a motor vehicle;

[0028] [Fig.2] schematically represents a general view of a protective tank of the motorized sliding opening visible in [Fig.l], the protective tray being intended to house an electrical power supply cable for one or more electric motors of the motorized sliding opening;

[0029] [Fig.3] schematically represents a local sectional view of the motorized sliding opening visible in [Fig.l] at the level of the protective tray visible in [Fig.2];

[0030] [Fig.4] schematically represents a sectional view of the sliding opening powered by a cutting plane extending longitudinally and transversely when it is connected to a motor vehicle and is in a closed position;

[0031] [Fig.5] schematically represents a sectional view of the motorized sliding opening by a sectional plane extending longitudinally and transversely when the latter is connected to the motor vehicle and is in an open position.

[0032] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art.

[0033] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0034] In the detailed description which follows, the terms “longitudinal”, “transverse” and “vertical” refer to the orientation of the motorized sliding opening according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction of advance of a vehicle equipped with the motorized sliding opening, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a reference L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A transverse direction corresponds to a direction perpendicular, in a plane parallel to the road on which the vehicle is traveling, to the direction of advance of the vehicle equipped with the motorized sliding opening, this transverse direction being parallel to a transverse axis T of the reference L, V, T and this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.Finally, a vertical direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference frame L, V, T, this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the transverse axis T.

[0035] [Fig.l] illustrates a motorized sliding opening 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The motorized sliding opening 2 is intended to equip a vehicle, and more particularly a motor vehicle. This motorized sliding opening 2 forms, in the embodiment shown, a side door of a motor vehicle.

[0036] The motorized sliding opening 2 is mounted to slide relative to the vehicle so as to be able to move on the one hand, in a first direction to reach a position opening allowing, for example, a user to enter or exit the vehicle and on the other hand, in a second direction to reach a closing position preventing, for example, a user from entering or exiting the vehicle. It is understood that the first direction and the second direction are in the same direction.

[0037] The movement of the motorized sliding opening 2 is allowed, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example of the invention, by rollers secured to the motorized sliding opening 2 circulating in at least one guide rail produced on the motor vehicle. It is understood that the rollers are linked to the motorized sliding opening 2 and cooperate with the at least one guide rail to keep the motorized sliding opening 2 secured to the motor vehicle.

[0038] Of course, any other means allowing the motorized sliding opening 2 to slide between an open position and a closed position as described previously can be used.

[0039] According to the invention, the movement of the motorized sliding opening 2 is controlled by means of at least one drive motor configured to move the motorized sliding opening 2 relative to the vehicle between the open position and the closed position. The movement of the motorized sliding opening 2 by the at least one drive motor can be carried out, as illustrative and non-limiting examples of the invention, by controlling the movement of at least one roller in the guide rail or by the movement of a toothed wheel secured either to the motorized sliding opening 2, in a rack secured to the motor vehicle, or to the body of the vehicle, in a rack secured to the motorized sliding opening.

[0040] The at least one drive motor is an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from an energy storage means. The electrical energy storage means is arranged in the motor vehicle and is connected to the at least one drive motor by a power cable 4, visible in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 5. The electrical energy storage means may for example be batteries of the motor vehicle.

[0041] The motorized sliding opening 2 comprises an outer panel 6 forming the part of the motorized sliding opening 2 intended to be in contact with the environment outside the motor vehicle and an inner panel 8 secured to the outer panel 6 and forming the part of the motorized sliding opening 2 intended to be in contact with the environment inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0042] Furthermore, the motorized sliding opening 2 comprises a protective tray 10 in which the power cable 4 is arranged. The protective tray 10 is secured to the interior panel 8 and forms a housing 11 arranged in a volume, or a thickness, of the motorized sliding opening 2 delimited between the exterior panel 6 and the interior panel 8. It should be noted that the power cable 4 is, as will be described in more detail in the description which follows, capable of moving in the protective tray 10 so as to accompany the motorized sliding opening 2 during its movement between its open position and its closed position. To house the protective tray 10, the interior panel 8 comprises a cutout forming an opening with the dimensions of the protective tray 10. This cutout forms an empty portion within the interior panel 8 allowing the protective tray 10 to be inserted into the volume of the motorized sliding opening 2.

[0043] It is remarkable in the embodiment shown in [Fig.l] that the motorized sliding opening 2 comprises a boss 12 arranged against the exterior panel 6. This boss 12 and the protective tray 10 are arranged opposite each other so that the boss 12 helps to protect the protective tray 10, for example from an impact external to the vehicle and which could damage the protective tray 10.

[0044] [Fig.2] very schematically represents the protective tank 10 in which the power cable 4 is housed. More specifically, the protective tray 10 extends in a main longitudinal elongation direction between a first end 14 and a second end 16. The housing 11 extends within the protective tray 10 between the first end 14 and the second end 16 parallel to the main longitudinal elongation direction of the protective tray 10.

[0045] The protective tray 10 comprises a peripheral edge 18 which extends over the entire periphery of the protective tray 10, radially delimiting the opening of the housing 11. The peripheral edge 18 extends, in the embodiment shown, in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction. This peripheral edge 18 is secured to the inner panel 8 as will be described in more detail in connection with [Fig. 3] and makes it possible to ensure sealing between the protective tray 10 and the inner panel 8.

[0046] Furthermore, the power cable 4 is secured to the protective tray 10 at the second end 16 and movable relative to the protective tray 10 at the first end 14 as will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. The power cable 4 is connected to a fixing point 20 secured to the vehicle. At this fixing point 20 the power cable 4 can reach the electrical energy storage means, if necessary by passing through the bodywork of the vehicle.

[0047] [Fig. 3] represents a sectional view of the motorized sliding opening 2 by a plane cutting extending transversely and vertically, that is, parallel to the T and V axes.

[0048] The housing 11 of the protective tank 10 is delimited in particular by a bottom wall 22 of the protective tank 10 which extends opposite the opening of the housing 11 and opposite the internal face of the external panel 6, that is to say the face of the panel exterior facing the interior panel 8, and by a side wall 24 joining the bottom wall 22 to the peripheral edge 18.

[0049] The bottom wall 22 extends in a plane substantially parallel to a plane in which a portion of the outer panel 6 directly located opposite the bottom wall 22 extends. The side wall 24 extends from a proximal transverse end of the outer panel 6 in contact with the bottom wall 22 to a distal transverse end of the outer panel 6 in contact with the peripheral edge 18.

[0050] Furthermore, the side wall 24 forms a first angle 26 with the bottom wall 22 of between 90° and 120°. Preferably, this first angle 26 is less than 100°. Such a first angle 26 makes it possible to limit the size of the protective tray 10 by allowing the side wall 24 to match the shape of the power cable 4 to limit the space taken up by the housing 11 on the motorized sliding opening 2. Of course, “match” should be understood to mean that the side wall 24 is as close as possible to the power cable 4 without limiting the movement of said power cable 4 in the housing 11.

[0051] The side wall 24 forms a second angle 28 with the peripheral edge 18 which, in the embodiment shown, is equal to the first angle 26. Indeed, in the embodiment shown, the peripheral edge 18 extends in a plane parallel to the plane in which the bottom wall 22 extends. More specifically, the second angle 28 formed between the side wall 24 and the peripheral edge 18 is between 90° and 120°. Preferably, this second angle 28 is less than 100°.

[0052] It is understood from the description of the protective tray 10 above that the protective tray 10 is an added part of the inner panel 8, that is to say that the protective tray 10 and the inner panel 8 are two separately formed parts. The angle values ​​previously mentioned are obtained because the protective tray 10 is separate from the inner panel 8 which makes it possible to form said angle values.

[0053] Furthermore, it is remarkable in [Fig. 3] that the bottom wall 22 is secured to the outer panel 6 by a securing member 30 interposed between the bottom wall 22 and the outer panel 6. This securing member 30 helps to stiffen the motorized sliding opening 2 at the level of the protective tray 10. More precisely, in the embodiment shown, the securing member 30 is formed by mastic ensuring a connection point directly with the protective tray 10 which makes it possible to improve the rigidity of the motorized sliding opening 2 by creating a connection point between the outer panel 6 and the inner panel 8 via the securing member 30 and the protective tray 10.

[0054] In fact, the protective tray 10 is, as mentioned previously, secured to the inner panel 8 at the peripheral edge 18. As visible in [Fig. 3], the peripheral edge 18 extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the portion of the interior panel 8 located near the peripheral edge 18. Such a characteristic makes it possible to achieve a connection, in particular by clipping, between the interior panel 8 and the peripheral edge 18 forming a flat support. Such a flat support makes it possible in particular, as an illustrative and non-limiting example of the invention, to position a trim panel against the interior panel 8 and the peripheral edge.

[0055] [Fig. 3] also makes it possible to highlight a section of the power cable 4. The power cable 4 is formed from a cable-carrying chain and comprises a succession of articulated links 32 and at least one electric cable 34. This configuration of the power cable 4 allows it to accompany the movement of the motorized sliding opening 2.

[0056] Figures 4 and 5 represent a sectional view of the motorized sliding opening 2 along a sectional plane extending longitudinally and transversely, that is to say parallel to the axes L and T.

[0057] More specifically, [Fig. 4] represents the motorized sliding opening 2 linked to a motor vehicle 36 when the motorized sliding opening 2 is in its closed position. In the closed position of the motorized sliding opening 2, the latter is held in said closed position by a locking system provided on the motorized sliding opening 2 and cooperating with a complementary device produced on the motor vehicle 36. [Fig. 5] represents the motorized sliding opening 2 linked to said motor vehicle 36 when the motorized sliding opening 2 is in its open position.

[0058] As can be seen by a cross-examination between Figures 4 and 5, the power cable 4 is connected to the motorized sliding opening 2 at the second end 16 of the protective tray 10. When the motorized sliding opening 2 is moved, the power cable 4 is able to follow said movement of the motorized sliding opening 2. Indeed, as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, when the motorized sliding opening 2 moves from its closed position to its open position, the power cable 4 folds back on itself so that a portion of the power cable 4 at the second end 16 of the protective tray 10 remains secured to the motorized sliding opening 2 while the remainder of the power cable 4 is able to exit the housing 11 to allow the motorized sliding opening 2 to move.

[0059] Of course, it is understood that when the motorized sliding opening 2 moves from its open position to its closed position, the power cable 4 is housed in the housing 11.

[0060] Thus the present invention achieves the goal it set for itself by proposing an architecture of a motorized opening making it possible to protect a power cable while minimizing the size of the motorized sliding opening by means of a tray of protection within which a housing allows a power cable to be housed by conforming to the shape of the power cable to minimize the space in said housing.

[0061] The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically effective combination of such means.

Claims

Claims

1. Motorized sliding opening (2) intended to equip a vehicle (36), the motorized sliding opening (2) comprising an outer panel (6), an inner panel (8), at least a part of a drive means configured to allow the opening and / or closing of the motorized sliding opening (2), said drive means comprising in particular a motorization making the motorized sliding opening (2) and at least one power cable (4) arranged in the volume of the motorized sliding opening (2), the at least one power cable (4) being configured to allow the supply of electrical energy to at least one drive motor included in the motorized sliding opening (2) and / or to an electrical control of the drive means comprising at least one drive motor arranged on the body of the vehicle on which the motorized sliding opening (2) is intended to be slidably mounted,the inner panel (8) comprising a cutout in which a protective tray (10) is housed, the protective tray (10) forms a receiving housing (11) in which the at least one power cable (4) is arranged, the protective tray (10) being separate from the inner panel (8) and secured to said inner panel (8).,

2. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the housing (11) is arranged in the volume of the motorized sliding opening (2) defined between the exterior panel (6) and the interior panel (8).

3. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the housing (11) is delimited at least in part by a bottom wall (22) and by a side wall (24), the side wall (24) and the bottom wall (22) forming a first angle (26) with each other of between 90° and 120°.

4. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, in which the housing (11) of the protective tray (10) is delimited by a peripheral edge (18) of the protective tray (10), the peripheral edge (18) being secured to the interior panel (8).

5. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (11) has a shape which matches the shape of the power cable (4).

6. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to any one of the claims- preceding indications, in which the power cable (4) is entirely housed in the housing (11) formed by the protective tray (10).

7. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to claim 4, in which the peripheral edge (18) is in contact with the interior panel (8) by a flat support.

8. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to claim 7, in which the housing (11) is delimited by the peripheral edge (18).

9. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to any one of claims 4 and 8, in which the protective tray (10) is secured to the outer panel (6) at a portion of the protective tray (10) distinct from the peripheral edge (18).

10. Motorized sliding opening (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the portion of the protective tray (10) at which the protective tray (10) is secured to the exterior panel (6) is arranged opposite the housing (11).

11. Motor vehicle (36) comprising a motorized sliding opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, the motor vehicle (36) comprising a guide rail in which the motorized sliding opening (2) is able to move between an open position and a closed position, the protective tray (10) of the motorized sliding opening (2) being arranged directly opposite the guide rail.

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