STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO ACCORDING TO ORGAN DEVIATION IN CASE OF FRONT IMPACT, FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A structural assembly (ES) equips a vehicle and comprises a subframe (BEV) having a rear portion (PRB) to which at least one support piece (PS) is fixedly attached, designed to partially support a component (O), and a crossmember (TT) to which this rear portion (PRB) is fixedly attached via at least one fastener (EF) that breaks when subjected to a first force exceeding a predefined threshold. The crossmember (TT) comprises a front face (FV) having a portion (P1) inclined towards the rear, and the support piece (PS) comprises a rear face (FR) positioned opposite this front face (FV) and inclined towards the rear so as to translate against the latter (FV) when the component (O) is translated towards the crossmember (TT) under the action of a second force exceeding the threshold and directed towards the crossmember (TT). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO THE DEVIATION OF A COMPONENT IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising a cradle to which at least one vehicle member is fixed near a cross member. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a front part in which is installed a cradle having a rear part to which is fixedly secured at least one support part capable of partially supporting a component. For example, the latter may be part of a powertrain (or GMP). In this case, it may be, for example, an electric motor to which a reducer is possibly secured.

[0003] Sometimes, the rear part of the cradle is fixedly secured to a crossmember via at least one fastening element, such as a bolt. In this case, the cradle, the crossmember and each fastening element constitute a structural assembly within a vehicle. For example, this crossmember can be used for at least partial anchoring of an apron participating in the separation between the front compartment (or engine) and the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0004] When the vehicle suffers an impact at the front end of its front part (so-called "frontal" impact, including when it occurs in a direction which is not parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle), it happens that the member, fixed to the rear part of the cradle, undergoes a significant force which causes it to translate towards the rear of the vehicle (and therefore towards the bulkhead). There is then intrusion of the member into the bulkhead and therefore intrusion of the latter into the passenger compartment, which can prove dangerous for at least one front passenger. It may even happen that the entire structural assembly translates with the member towards the rear of the vehicle when the fixings resist, which can prove even more dangerous.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] For this purpose, it proposes in particular a structural assembly suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising:

[0007] - a cradle having a rear part to which at least one is fixedly secured support piece suitable for partially supporting an organ, and

[0008] - a crosspiece to which the rear part of the cradle is fixedly secured via least one fixing element.

[0009] This structural assembly is characterized by the fact that:

[0010] - its crosspiece comprises a front face comprising a part inclined towards the rear,

[0011] - each fixing element is breakable when it undergoes a first higher force to a predefined threshold, and

[0012] - the support part comprises a rear face placed opposite the front face of the crosspiece and inclined backwards so as to translate against the latter when the member is translated towards the crosspiece under the action of a second force which is greater than the threshold and directed towards the crosspiece.

[0013] Thanks to the invention, the member and the rear part of the cradle are deflected along the crossmember and then possibly under the latter, which makes it possible to significantly limit the damage caused in the area comprising this crossmember and just after this area (and therefore in the passenger compartment of the vehicle).

[0014] The structural assembly according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0015] - the part of the front face of the cross member can be inclined backwards according to a first predefined angle, and the rear face of the support piece can be tilted backwards at a second predefined angle which is substantially identical to this first angle;

[0016] - in the presence of the first option, the first angle can be between 30° and 50° ;

[0017] - the (each) support part can be coupled to the member via a member of suspension;

[0018] - each fastening element may be a bolt having a resistance to a force of shear which is equal to the threshold;

[0019] - it can include two stretchers, right and left, to which are attached fixedly two opposite ends of the crosspiece.

[0020] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising a front part comprising at least one member and a structural assembly of the type presented above and at least partially supporting this member.

[0021] For example, the organ may be part of a powertrain (or GMP). In this case, the organ may, for example, be an electric motor. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), and the appended drawings, in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a longitudinal plane and vertical, part of an exemplary embodiment of a structural assembly according to the invention, suitable for equipping a vehicle, and before a frontal impact, and

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a longitudinal plane and vertical, the part of the structural assembly of [Fig.l] during a frontal impact. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] The invention aims in particular to propose a structural assembly ES intended to equip a vehicle and adapted to the deflection of a member O, secured to the rear part PRB of its cradle BEV, in the event of a frontal impact suffered by this vehicle.

[0026] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle is of the automobile type. This is for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It in fact concerns any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising a front part in which a structural assembly must be installed, the cradle of which must at least participate in the support and fixing of at least one member.

[0027] Furthermore, in the foregoing and the following, the concepts of "front" and "rear" are defined in relation to the front end of the front part of the vehicle. Consequently, the front face of an element is oriented towards this front end, while the rear face of this element is oriented towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle and opposite the front face.

[0028] In Figures 1 and 2, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of this vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of this vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X and transverse directions Y.

[0029] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate part of an exemplary embodiment of a structural assembly ES according to the invention, respectively before and during a frontal impact.

[0030] It is recalled that here the term "frontal impact" means an impact suffered by a vehicle at the front end of its front part, including when the direction of the impact (or shock) is not parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.

[0031] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a structural assembly ES, according to the invention, comprises at least one cradle BEV, one cross member TT and at least one fixing element EF.

[0032] The BEV cradle has a rear part PRB to which at least one support part PS is fixedly secured and is capable of partially supporting a member O. By For example, this organ O may be part of a powertrain (or GMP) of the vehicle. In this case, it may be, for example and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, an electric motor to which a reducer is possibly attached.

[0033] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the (each) support part PS can be coupled to the member O via a suspension element ELS. The latter (ELS) can, for example, comprise a rigid rod (or bar) comprising two opposite ends connected to two damping parts (for example of the “silent block” type, and made of natural or synthetic rubber), secured respectively to the member O and to the support part PS.

[0034] The rear part PRB of the BEV cradle is fixedly secured to the cross member TT via at least one fixing element EF which is separable when it is subjected to a first force fl greater than a predefined threshold si (i.e. fl > si).

[0035] For example, each fastening element EF may be arranged in the form of a bolt having a resistance to a shear force which is equal to the threshold si. It will be noted that this resistance may result from the section of the bolt and / or the material from which the bolt is made, or from a weakening zone defined locally in the bolt, for example at the interface between the lower face of the cross member TT and the upper face of the rear part PRB of the cradle BEV.

[0036] Also for example, the cross member TT can comprise two opposite ends which are fixedly secured and respectively to two stretchers BR, right and left, installed in the front part of the vehicle and possibly forming part of the structural assembly ES, which then constitutes what the person skilled in the art frequently calls the front block. Also for example, this cross member TT can be used for the at least partial anchoring of an apron participating in the separation between the front compartment (or engine) and the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0037] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the cross member TT comprises a front face FV comprising a part PI which is inclined towards the rear (this means that it (PI) comprises an upper part intended to be placed further forward than its lower part and at a level higher than that of the latter). In addition, the support part PS comprises a rear face FR which is placed opposite the front face FV of the part PI and inclined towards the rear (this means that it (FV) comprises an upper part intended to be placed further forward than its lower part and at a level higher than that of the latter).

[0038] This rear face FR being inclined towards the rear (like the front face FV in front of which it is placed), it can therefore translate (downwards) against this front face FV (arrow F2 of [Fig.2]) when the member O is translated towards the crosspiece TT under the action of a second force (arrow Fl of [Fig.2]) which is greater than the threshold si and directed towards the cross member TT. It will be understood that this second force is that which is undergone by the member O when the vehicle undergoes a frontal impact sufficiently significant to cause the member O to move back and to break each fixing element EF (thus separating the rear part PRB (of the BEV cradle) from the cross member TT).

[0039] This downward translation induces a deviation of the member O and of the rear part PRB of the BEV cradle along the crossmember TT and then possibly under the latter (TT), which makes it possible to significantly limit the damage caused in the area comprising this crossmember TT and just after this area (and therefore in the passenger compartment). It will be understood that this limits (or even avoids) significant deformation (or tearing) of the bulkhead which is secured to the crossmember TT, and therefore contributes to passively protecting the front passengers located in the passenger compartment near this bulkhead.

[0040] It will be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, that the part PI of the front face FV of the cross member TT can be inclined rearwardly at a first predefined angle, and the rear face FR of the support piece PS can be inclined rearwardly at a second predefined angle which is substantially identical to the first angle. Here, “substantially” means being equal to plus or minus 5°. But in a variant not illustrated, the first and second angles could be notably different. For example, they could differ by 10° or 20°. The important thing is that the rear face FR can translate without difficulty against the front face FV during a significant frontal impact.

[0041] For example, the first angle may be between 30° and 50°. As an illustrative example, this first angle may be equal to 40°. But other first angle values ​​may be used.

Claims

Claims

1. Structural assembly (ES) suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a cradle (BEV) having a rear part (PRB) to which is fixedly secured at least one support part (PS) suitable for partially supporting a member (0), and a cross member (TT) to which is fixedly secured said rear part (PRB) via at least one fixing element (EF), characterized in that i) said cross member (TT) comprises a front face (FV) comprising a part (PI) inclined towards the rear, ii) each fixing element (EF) is breakable when it undergoes a first force greater than a predefined threshold, and iii) said support part (PS) comprises a rear face (FR) placed opposite said front face (FV) and inclined towards the rear so as to translate against the latter (FV) when said member (0) is translated towards said cross member (TT) under the action of a second force greater than said threshold and directed towards said cross member (TT).

2. Structural assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said part (PI) of the front face (FV) of the cross member (TT) is inclined backwards at a first predefined angle, and said rear face (FR) of the support part (PS) is inclined backwards at a second predefined angle which is substantially identical to said first angle.

3. Structural assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said first angle is between 30° and 50°.

4. Structural assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said support part (PS) is coupled to said member (0) via a suspension element (ELS).

5. Structural assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each fixing element (EF) is a bolt having a resistance to a shear force equal to said threshold.

6. Structural assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two stretchers (BR), right and left, to which two opposite ends of said crosspiece (TT) are fixedly secured.

7. Vehicle comprising a front part comprising at least one member (0), characterized in that said front part further comprises a structural assembly (ES) according to one of claims 1 to 6, at least partially supporting said member (0).

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that said member (0) is part of a powertrain.

9.

10. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that said member (O) is an electric motor machine (MME). Vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

Images