MOTOR VEHICLE WITH POWERTRAIN SHOCK PROTECTION

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1000) comprising a load-bearing structure having in its front part a subframe (100) and an anti-roll bar (200), this subframe (100) supporting a powertrain (300) comprising an engine (400) and a transmission (500), positioned in front of a passenger compartment (600) accommodating the occupants of the motor vehicle (1000), the motor vehicle (1000) comprising safety features to protect the occupants of the motor vehicle (1000) in the event of a frontal collision, which safety features are arranged to absorb part of the energy of a frontal collision and to limit the recoil of the powertrain (300) towards the passenger compartment (600), and comprise at least one powertrain restraint component (1), fixed to the engine casing of the engine (400) and / or to the transmission casing of the transmission (500), and arranged to, in the event of recoil of the powertrain powertrain (300), take support on the anti-roll bar (200). Figure from the summary: [Fig.1]

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE WITH IMPACT PROTECTION OF THE POWERTRAIN

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a supporting structure comprising in its front part a cradle and an anti-roll bar, the cradle carrying a powertrain comprising an engine and a gearbox, positioned in front of a passenger compartment arranged to accommodate the users of said motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising safety means for protecting the users of said motor vehicle in the event of a frontal impact.

[0002] The invention relates to the field of passive safety of a motor vehicle, and more particularly the protection of the occupants of such a vehicle in the event of an impact, in particular a frontal impact.

[0003] In the event of a frontal impact, the entire area of ​​the vehicle in front of the bulkhead (side rails, front axle, engine, and adjacent components) is used to absorb the energy and protect the vehicle occupants.

[0004] The engine is a large and almost non-deformable block. The rest of the vehicle must therefore be designed to limit its recoil, because the engine then impacts the bulkhead, causing deformation of the passenger compartment, which risks injuring the occupants if this deformation is too significant.

[0005] However, the recoil of the powertrain is necessary to absorb the energy mainly through the body and the train. A compromise must therefore be found to fulfill these opposing missions. The rupture or deformation of the engine mountings is one of the ways to absorb part of the impact energy, excessive recoil being compensated by the addition of an impactor and counter-impactor to limit its amplitude.

[0006] Chassis are known which include shock-absorbing means capable of deforming irreversibly under the effect of a collision. However, such chassis generally then undergo irreversible deformations, and the repair of the vehicle requires the removal of the bodywork, the repair or even replacement of the chassis, and the reassembly of the bodywork.

[0007] Document FR3122147B1 describes a counter-impactor fixed to the front edge of the platform of a vehicle, in particular welded to the cradle, behind an impactor attached to the powertrain. When the powertrain moves backward, the impactor presses on the counter-impactor, causing it to deform. This impactor has an upper part which protrudes above the platform, and, in the event of significant deformation, it rests on the anti-roll bar.

[0008] Document FR2982829B1 describes a protection device for a motor installed at the front. It includes a first element that keeps the engine attached to the engine cradle in the event of a frontal collision. It includes an impactor fixed to the engine, to protect the engine against the impact of the drive shaft in the event of a frontal collision, by resting on the drive shaft in the event of recoil due to a frontal collision. These two elements are connected in a single piece and the impactor is positioned above the first element. However, this device is not designed to hinder the recoil of the powertrain or the gearbox.

[0009] Any manufacturer concerned about the safety of the users of its vehicles takes into account the strongest inertias of the vehicles in a given range; thus the sizing to cope with a frontal collision is done on the basis of the heaviest vehicle in the range, with all the options, which logically leads to oversizing, in particular of the counter-impactor, for the lighter versions.

[0010] The mass difference can reach 150 kg between extreme vehicles of the same range, and the installation of an impactor / counter-impactor pair does not always prove necessary on lighter versions.

[0011] However, to limit the diversity of the front axle, the counter-impactor, which is generally a component welded to the front axle cradle, is fitted to all vehicles in the same range, including those that do not need it, which obviously results in additional cost, as well as an unnecessary addition of mass on certain versions.

[0012] The objective of the present invention is to develop a solution making it possible to avoid the use of the impactor / counter-impactor pair, by replacing it with a new component, capable of retaining the engine in its recoil stroke, by means of the anti-roll bar, in the event of a frontal impact.

[0013] This is to limit the recoil of the powertrain, and therefore to reduce intrusions into the bulkhead, in order to protect the vehicle's occupants.

[0014] The powertrain retaining component is preferably adaptable to any existing vehicle, and in particular, this component is hook-shaped, and is fixed to the engine or to the gearbox by means of the screws holding the engine casing and the gearbox casing together. This powertrain retaining component can, thus, be fixed to the engine casing, and / or to the gearbox casing.

[0015] The anti-roll bar is always a rigid component, highly dimensioned and calculated to ensure the vehicle's road holding. The hook-shaped retaining component is arranged to cooperate with a substantially cylindrical section of this roll bar.

[0016] To achieve this objective, the invention thus proposes a motor vehicle comprising a supporting structure comprising in its front part a cradle and an anti-roll bar, the cradle carrying a powertrain comprising an engine and a gearbox, positioned in front of a passenger compartment arranged to accommodate the users. of said motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising safety means to protect the users of said motor vehicle in the event of a frontal impact.

[0017] According to the invention, the safety means are arranged to absorb part of the energy of a frontal impact and to limit the recoil of said powertrain towards the passenger compartment, and comprise at least one component for retaining the powertrain, fixed to the engine casing of said engine and / or to the gearbox casing of the gearbox, and arranged to, in the event of recoil of said powertrain, bear on the anti-roll bar.

[0018] Thanks to the invention, the safety means ensure that any element stops during a frontal impact, making it possible to safeguard the passenger compartment and its occupants.

[0019] Advantageously, the at least one retaining component is a hook.

[0020] Its production is thus easy and economical.

[0021] Advantageously, the at least one retaining component is a forged hook.

[0022] This execution guarantees excellent resistance.

[0023] Advantageously, the at least one retaining component is a molded hook.

[0024] This gives a good compromise between resistance and production cost.

[0025] Advantageously, the retaining component is hook-shaped, and is arranged to cooperate with a substantially cylindrical section of the tilt bar.

[0026] Thus the support between the retaining component and the tilt bar is made over a fairly large developed surface, and the forces are distributed over this surface.

[0027] Advantageously, the retaining component is hook-shaped, and comprises a latch arranged to cooperate with the tilt bar.

[0028] Thus the retaining component can, after a collision and its coming into contact with the cant bar, remain integral with this cant bar.

[0029] Advantageously, the retaining component is offset from the longitudinal median axis of the vehicle, on the same side as a steering column that the motor vehicle has.

[0030] The small size of the retaining component according to the invention allows it to be placed in this area generally occupied by numerous vehicle components, unlike prior art devices which are too bulky for such an arrangement.

[0031] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle according to the invention, the front of which is represented by a hollow arrow; this vehicle comprises, in front of the passenger compartment occupied by the users, a cradle carrying a powertrain comprising an engine and a gearbox, and an anti-roll bar, and safety means for protecting users during a frontal collision which comprise a powertrain retaining component, here in the form of a hook capable of coming to bear on the anti-roll bar during a frontal collision; - [Fig.2] illustrates schematically and in perspective view from back to front (denoted by a hollow arrow), the front portion of the vehicle of [Fig.l], with the cradle, the powertrain, the anti-roll bar, and the powertrain retaining component; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a sequence in three successive images, A, B, C, according to the prior art, with the recoil of the powertrain shown diagrammatically by a solid arrow. From the normal road position A, the unit comes, during a frontal collision, into contact with the anti-roll bar in contact position B, and exceeds it in position C, risking damage to the passenger compartment; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a similar way to [Fig.3], a sequence in three similar successive images, A, B, C, according to the invention, with the recoil of the powertrain shown diagrammatically by a solid arrow. From the normal road position A, the unit comes, during a frontal collision, into contact with the anti-roll bar in contact position B, and blocks on this anti-roll bar in position C, preventing the unit from hitting the passenger compartment - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in front view from the rear of the vehicle, the powertrain, according to the prior art in the left image, in comparison with the right image according to the invention comprising the retaining component in the form of a hook firmly fixed to the housings of the powertrain.

[0032] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 1000 according to the invention, comprising anti-shock protection for the powertrain, and more particularly a device for attaching the powertrain to the anti-roll bar during a frontal impact.

[0033] The invention consists of using the anti-roll bar 200 as a counter-impactor during an impact, in particular during a frontal impact.

[0034] This motor vehicle 1000 comprises a supporting structure comprising in its front part a cradle 100 and an anti-roll bar towards 200. The cradle 100 carries a powertrain 300 comprising an engine 400 and a gearbox 500, positioned in front of a passenger compartment 600 arranged to accommodate the users of this vehicle 1000.

[0035] This motor vehicle 1000 includes safety means for protecting users in the event of a frontal impact. According to the invention, these safety means are arranged to absorb part of the energy of a frontal impact and to limit the recoil of the powertrain 300 towards the passenger compartment 600. These safety means comprise at least one retaining component 1 of the powertrain, fixed to the engine casing 40 of the engine 400 and / or to the gearbox casing 50 of the gearbox 500, and which is arranged to, in the event of the powertrain 300 moving backwards, bear on the anti-roll bar 200, and prevent the powertrain 300 from entering the passenger compartment 600. The retaining component 1 is more particularly in the shape of a hook.

[0036] The impactor is in particular fixed to the gearbox 500, in particular to the gearbox casing 50 by bolts 5, and comes to bear on the anti-roll bar 200 to retain the force coming from the powertrain 300 during a collision, in particular a frontal collision.

[0037] [Fig.5] illustrates a particular, very rigid embodiment, where the retaining component 1 is fixed both to the gearbox 500, in particular to the gearbox casing 50, and to the engine 400, in particular to the engine casing 40, by bolts 5 enclosing the fixing lugs of the gearbox casing 50 and of the engine casing 40.

[0038] In a variant not illustrated, the retaining component 1 is a hook provided with a spring latch to grip the anti-roll bar 200 and remain attached to it.

[0039] More particularly, the retaining component is hook-shaped, and is arranged to cooperate with a substantially cylindrical section of the tilt bar 200.

[0040] More particularly, the retaining component is a forged or cast component.

[0041] More particularly, the retaining component is offset from the median axis lon horizontal of the vehicle, on the same side as the steering column; in fact, the recoil of the powertrain on the opposite side is at least partially controlled by a conventional anti-torque rod. The small size of the retaining component allows its arrangement in this area, in which little space is available.

[0042] In short, the invention makes it possible to ensure the safety of the occupants of a vehicle, at the cost of easy adaptation of the assembly of the front part of the vehicle, and with great ease of adaptation to a range of cars, depending on the vehicles, in comparison with the prior art consisting of a welded counter-impactor.

[0043] The number of components is minimized, as is the overall mass of the vehicle, and the modification is only applied to vehicles requiring the retention of the powertrain.

[0044] The powertrain retaining component is advantageously designed to absorb most of the energy of an impact, and to deform or even break, while preserving the integrity of the engine casing and the gearbox casing, and limiting modification of the front bulkhead. The safety of the vehicle occupants is perfectly ensured.

[0045] In the absence of the invention, the powertrain is not retained, and moves backwards strongly in the event of a frontal impact, which causes significant deformation of the bulkhead and poses a risk to the occupants. With the retaining component according to the invention, the engine is retained, thus limiting the risks.

[0046] The retaining component according to the invention can be adapted to the needs of vehicles in the same range; due to its simplicity of manufacture and installation, it is no longer necessary to systematically install the safety component relating to the heaviest model in the range.

[0047] The easy assembly and disassembly, by screws, of the powertrain retaining component allows its exchange at low cost, and a rapid return to service of the vehicle after inspection of the front apron and the anti-roll bar, their possible repair, and the re-geometry of the assembly. Its fixing by screws or bolts allows this repair, unlike certain welded solutions of the prior art.

[0048] In a particular variant, the screws for fixing the retaining component of the powertrain to the engine casing or to the gearbox casing are themselves calculated to deform or break beyond a predetermined force, thus absorbing a portion of the energy of an impact.

[0049] The behavior of the vehicle in the event of a frontal collision is thus significantly improved.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (1000) comprising a supporting structure comprising in its front part a cradle (100) and an anti-roll bar (200), said cradle (100) carrying a powertrain (300) comprising an engine (400) and a gearbox (500), positioned in front of a passenger compartment (600) arranged to accommodate the users of said motor vehicle (1000), said motor vehicle (1000) comprising safety means for protecting said users of said motor vehicle (1000) during a frontal impact, characterized in that said safety means are arranged to absorb part of the energy of a frontal impact and to limit the recoil of said powertrain (300) towards said passenger compartment (600), and comprise at least one retaining component (1) of the powertrain, fixed on the engine casing (40) of said engine (400) and / or on the gearbox casing (50) of said box (500), and arranged so that, in the event of said powertrain (300) moving backwards,rest on said anti-roll bar (200).,

2. Motor vehicle (1000) according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one retaining component (1) is a hook.

3. Motor vehicle (1000) according to claim 2 characterized in that said at least one retaining component (1) is a forged hook.

4. Motor vehicle (1000) according to claim 2 characterized in that said at least one retaining component (1) is a molded hook.

5. Motor vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said retaining component (1) is hook-shaped, and is arranged to cooperate with a substantially cylindrical section of said tilt bar (200).

6. Motor vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said retaining component (1) is hook-shaped, and comprises a latch arranged to cooperate with said tilt bar (200).

7. Motor vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said retaining component (1) is offset from the longitudinal median axis of the vehicle, on the same side as a steering column that said motor vehicle (1000) comprises.

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