Automotive floor arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement (1) comprising a front floor portion – referred to as the front floor (11) – located under the front seats of the motor vehicle, a rear floor portion – referred to as the rear floor (12) – located behind the front floor (11), the rear portion comprising a heel board (12A) and a lining (12B) for the heel board (12A), and a floor reinforcement (13) fixed integrally to the front floor (11), the heel board (12A), and the lining (12B) for the heel board (12A), the floor reinforcement (13) forming a patch affixed to and fixed to the front floor (11) and the rear floor (12) in order to balance the rigidity of the rear floor (12) with that of the front floor (11). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Floor arrangement for a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of structural elements of motor vehicles, and in particular those making it possible to limit the damage caused by side impacts on such motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a floor arrangement for a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the state of the art, side impact tests are known which simulate the impact of a motor vehicle against a post against one of the side wings of the motor vehicle. In particular, the invention aims in particular to enhance the performance of a motor vehicle - in particular of the type of an electric motor vehicle of the rechargeable hybrid type - having a short wheelbase of the order of 2735 mm, that is to say less than 3000 mm.

[0003] The invention thus aims to control the transmission of forces between a front floor located at the level of the row 1 seats of the motor vehicle and a rear floor so as to smooth out a shock wave resulting from the impact against the post.

[0004] Indeed, in such electrified motor vehicles, the battery tray is fixed to the front floor. The arrangements made on the front floor to receive the battery tray are such that its rigidity is greatly increased. Conversely, the rear floor does not undergo such modifications and, by contrast, has less rigidity. This very significant difference in stiffness between the front floor and the rear floor thus leads to poor performance in the side post test.

[0005] Thus, during a 75° pole impact for which the impact is located between two seat crossmembers located under the driver's seat, a shearing of the rear floor of the motor vehicle is observed, resulting from the difference in stiffness between the front floor and the rear floor. This shearing leads to the opening of the front floor, destroying the results and performance of the row 1 side pole impact test.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a novel floor arrangement in order to address at least largely the above problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to reinforce the rigidity of the rear floor in order to improve the performance of the motor vehicle during a pole impact test.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to propose such a modification at lower cost.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is not to increase the weight carried on board too much. the motor vehicle.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved. with a floor arrangement for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement comprising:

[0011] - a front part of the floor - called the front floor - located under the front seats of the motor vehicle;

[0012] - a rear floor part - called the rear floor - located behind the floor front, the rear section having a heel board and a heel board lining.

[0013] According to the invention, the floor arrangement comprises a floor reinforcement fixed integrally to the front floor, to the heel board and to the heel board lining.

[0014] In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood as a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inboard and outboard refer to such a transverse axis. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis extends as being taken along a direction which extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis.The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. Finally, the vertical axis is understood to be taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis and to the longitudinal axis. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the front floor is located under the driver's seat of the motor vehicle. The front floor forms a structural element for the passenger compartment and on which the seats of the motor vehicle are fixed in particular.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the heel board forms a part of the rear floor. The heel board is located behind the front floor, relative to the longitudinal axis. The heel board connects a seating floor of the row 2 seats of the motor vehicle to the front floor. The heel board is substantially vertical and extends over the entire width of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The heel board is fixed by its lateral edges to the side rails of the motor vehicle, to the front floor and to the seating floor.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, the heel board liner forms a reinforcing element of the heel board. The liner extends at least partially over and against the heel board.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the floor reinforcement is an additional part provided by the invention in a particularly advantageous manner. The floor reinforcement is superimposed on the front floor and the rear floor in order to strengthen their connection and to allow a better transmission of forces between the front floor and the rear floor. The floor reinforcement thus takes the form of a patch applied to the heel board and which connects both the heel board lining and the front floor. Thus, the invention consists of the addition of a single additional part - the floor reinforcement - which allows a homogeneous transmission of forces from the front floor to the heel board of the rear floor in order to avoid any risk of shearing between said front floor and said rear floor, thus eliminating the risk of weld point breakage and / or tearing and / or opening of the front floor.

[0019] Thus, the floor reinforcement thus applied between the front floor and the rear floor makes it possible to reinforce the weld line which connects the front floor by transmitting part of the forces resulting from the lateral impact directly onto the heel board as well as onto the heel board lining, thus reducing the movements along the vertical axis in the area due to the shock wave.

[0020] The invention thus solves the technical problem by improving the performance in the pole test, while proposing a lightweight and economical solution.

[0021] The arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0022] - the floor reinforcement has a general conformation in the shape of a “Y”, said reinforcement floor comprising a central branch, one longitudinal end of which is securely fixed to the front floor, a first lateral branch securely fixed to the heel board, and a second lateral branch securely fixed to the heel board and one longitudinal end of which is securely fixed to the heel board lining. This general conformation makes it possible to chain the mechanical stresses appearing during a lateral impact in the floor of the motor vehicle, and in particular between the front floor and the rear floor;

[0023] - the floor reinforcement is formed from a metal plate, preferably in steel. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to provide sufficient rigidity without excessively increasing the mass of the motor vehicle;

[0024] - the floor reinforcement comprises reinforcing ribs. This configuration advantageous allows to reinforce the rigidity of the floor reinforcement;

[0025] - the central branch of the floor reinforcement has a fixing lug welded to the front floor. A length of overlap of the mounting bracket with the floor front is between 15 mm and 30 mm. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to establish a connection between the floor reinforcement and the front floor sufficient to transmit the forces expected in the event of a side impact;

[0026] - a thickness of the floor reinforcement is less than or equal to 10 mm;

[0027] - the first lateral branch of the floor reinforcement is welded to the heel board by several welding points. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to establish a connection between the floor reinforcement and the heel board sufficient for the transmission of the forces expected in the event of a side impact;

[0028] - the second lateral branch of the floor reinforcement is welded to the heel board by several welding points. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to establish a connection between the floor reinforcement and the heel board sufficient for the transmission of the forces expected in the event of a side impact;

[0029] - the second lateral branch of the floor reinforcement comprises a strap of welded attachment to the heel board liner. An overlap length of the attachment strap with the heel board is between 15 mm and 30 mm. This advantageous configuration allows for a connection between the floor reinforcement and the heel board liner sufficient to transmit the expected forces in the event of a side impact;

[0030] - preferably, the first lateral branch of the floor reinforcement is welded to the heel board by several welding points, the second lateral branch of the floor reinforcement is welded both to the heel board by several welding points, and to the heel board lining by means of a fixing strap welded to said heel board lining;

[0031] - a width of the floor reinforcement, taken between two opposite side edges is between 25% and 60% of half the width of the motor vehicle taken between a side member and a median plane of said motor vehicle. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to sufficiently reinforce the front floor and the rear floor, with regard to the forces generated during a side impact and in order to allow optimal transmission of said forces between the front floor and the rear floor;

[0032] - a length of the floor reinforcement, taken between two opposite longitudinal edges is between 50% and 80% of a distance between a vertical plane of the heel board and a vertical plane of a rear cross member of a front seat of the motor vehicle. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to sufficiently reinforce the front floor and the rear floor, with regard to the forces generated during a side impact and in order to allow optimal transmission of said forces between the front floor and the rear floor;

[0033] - the floor arrangement comprises a first floor reinforcement located at a first lateral side of said floor arrangement, and a second floor reinforcement located on a second lateral side of said floor arrangement, opposite said first lateral side.

[0034] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising a floor arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements. In particular, the arrangement comprises two floor reinforcements, located on each side of the floor of the motor vehicle, close to each side member.

[0035] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0036] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0037] [Fig. 1] illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

[0038] [Fig.2] illustrates a diagram illustrating the transmission in the arrangement illustrated in the [Fig.l] of the forces resulting from a lateral impact.

[0039] Of course, 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 prior art.

[0040] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0041] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0042] With reference to [Fig.l], the invention relates to a floor arrangement 1 for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement 1 comprising:

[0043] - a front floor part - called front floor 11 - located under front seats of the motor vehicle;

[0044] - a rear floor part - called rear floor 12 - located behind the front floor 11, the rear portion comprising a heel board 12A and a heel board 12A lining 12B;

[0045] - a floor reinforcement 13 fixed securely to the front floor 11, to the board 12A heel and 12B lining of 12A heel board.

[0046] The floor reinforcement 13 thus forms a patch affixed against the heel board 12A for the most part, but also extending over the lining 12B of the heel board 12A on the one hand, and over the front floor 11 on the other hand, so as to implement fixing points on each of these parts of the floor arrangement 1 according to the invention. The floor reinforcement 13 is thus superimposed on the front floor 11 and the rear floor 12 in order to reinforce their connection and to allow better transmission of forces between the front floor 11 and the rear floor 12, as will be described later with reference to [Fig.2].The floor reinforcement 13 allows better transmission of forces from the front floor 11 to the heel board 12A of the rear floor 12 in order to avoid any risk of shearing between said front floor 11 and said rear floor 12, thus eliminating the risk of breakage of the weld point 14 and / or tearing and / or opening of the front floor IL.

[0047] The floor reinforcement 13 is formed from a metal plate, preferably made of steel in order to provide sufficient rigidity without excessively increasing the mass of the motor vehicle. The floor reinforcement 13 is preferably stamped in order to perfectly adapt to the shape of the front floor 11 and the rear floor 12.

[0048] In particular, the floor reinforcement 13 has a general “Y” shaped conformation. The floor reinforcement 13 comprises:

[0049] - a central branch 130 of which one longitudinal end is fixed integrally to the front floor 11 by means of a fixing lug 1301 welded to the front floor 11. An overlap length of the fixing lug 1301 with the front floor 11 is between 15 mm and 30 mm;

[0050] - a first lateral branch 131 fixed integrally to the heel board 12A at through several welding points 14 distributed around the periphery of the first lateral branch 131, and

[0051] - a second lateral branch 132 fixedly attached to the heel board 12A and a longitudinal end of which is fixedly attached to the lining 12B of the heel board 12A. The second lateral branch 132 of the floor reinforcement 13 is welded to the heel board 12A by several welding points 14 distributed around the periphery of the second lateral branch 132. In addition, the second lateral branch 132 of the floor reinforcement 13 comprises a fixing strap 1321 welded to the lining 12B of the heel board 12A. An overlap length of the fixing strap 1321 with the heel board 12A is between 15 mm and 30 mm.

[0052] In order to allow sufficient reinforcement between the front floor 11 and the rear floor 12, dimensions of the floor reinforcement 13 must be adjusted according to the dimensions of the motor vehicle in order to allow sufficient overlap on the heel board 12A, on the lining 12B of the heel board 12A and on the front floor 11. For this purpose, a width of the floor reinforcement 13, taken between two opposite lateral edges, is between 25% and 60% of a half-width of the motor vehicle taken between a lateral side member 16 and a median plane of said motor vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, a length of the floor reinforcement 13, taken between two opposite longitudinal edges, is between 50% and 80% of a distance between a vertical plane of the heel board 12A and a vertical plane of a rear cross member 15 of a front seat of the motor vehicle. Finally, a thickness of the floor reinforcement 13 is less than 10 mm so as not to weigh down the motor vehicle too much.

[0053] With reference to [Fig. 2], the interest of the invention is illustrated during a lateral impact 3 imposed by a post 2, such as for example occurring during a test called “impact 3 post 2 at 75°”. In such a test, a post 2 is embedded against a lateral edge of the motor vehicle, against one of the lateral side members 16. In [Fig. 2], the forces transmitted in the floor arrangement 1 are represented by arrows.

[0054] Upon impact, the lateral spar 16 is significantly deformed, mainly by bending and shearing. The stresses generated by this deformation are then transmitted into the front floor 11 and then into the rear floor 12 via the floor reinforcement 13. The particularly suitable shape of the floor reinforcement 13 makes it possible to distribute these stresses throughout the rear floor 12 and to avoid tearing of the latter, as was the case previously, at an interface between the front floor 11 and the rear floor 12.

[0055] The floor reinforcement 13 is thus advantageously placed at a reinforcement zone located at the interface between the front floor 11 and the rear floor 12, close to a lateral side member 16 and a cross member 15 connecting two opposite lateral side members 16 of the motor vehicle.

[0056] Conversely, the floor reinforcement 13 makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the heel board 12A and to better conduct the mechanical stresses resulting from the lateral impact 3 through the heel board 12A towards the front floor 11 - via the fixing lug 1301 - and towards the lining 12B of the heel board 12A, via the fixing strap 1321.

[0057] Of course, a motor vehicle equipped with the invention advantageously comprises a first floor reinforcement 13 located on a first lateral side of said floor arrangement 1 and associated with a first lateral side member 16, and a second floor reinforcement 13 located on a second lateral side of said floor arrangement 1, opposite said first lateral side, and associated with a second lateral side member 16.

[0058] In summary, the invention relates to a floor arrangement 1 for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement 1 comprising:

[0059] - a front floor part - called front floor 11 - located under front seats of the motor vehicle;

[0060] - a rear floor part - called rear floor 12 - located behind the front floor 11, the rear portion comprising a heel board 12A and a heel board 12A lining 12B;

[0061] - a floor reinforcement 13 fixed securely to the front floor 11, to the board heel 12A and to the lining 12B of heel board 12A, the floor reinforcement 13 forming a patch pressed against and fixed to the front floor 11 and to the rear floor 12 in order to balance a rigidity of the rear floor 12 with respect to that of the front floor 11.

[0062] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Floor arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement (1) comprising: - a front floor portion - called the front floor (11) - located under front seats of the motor vehicle; - a rear floor portion - called the rear floor (12) - located behind the front floor (11), the rear portion comprising a heel board (12A) and a heel board (12A) lining (12B); characterized in that the floor arrangement (1) comprises a floor reinforcement (13) fixed integrally to the front floor (11), to the heel board (12A) and to the heel board (12A) lining (12B).

2. Floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the floor reinforcement (13) has a general conformation in the shape of a "Y", said floor reinforcement (13) comprising: - a central branch (130) of which one longitudinal end is fixed integrally to the front floor (11); - a first lateral branch (131) fixed integrally to the heel board (12A); - a second lateral branch (132) fixed integrally to the heel board (12A) and of which one longitudinal end is fixed integrally to the lining (12B) of the heel board (12A).

3. Floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the central branch (130) of the floor reinforcement (13) comprises a fixing lug (1301) welded to the front floor (11).

4. Floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein an overlap length of the fixing lug (1301) with the front floor (11) is between 15 mm and 30 mm.

5. A floor arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first side branch (131) of the floor reinforcement (13) is welded to the heel board (12A) by a plurality of weld points (14), the second side branch (132) of the floor reinforcement (13) is welded both to the heel board (12A) by a plurality of weld points (14), and to the heel board (12A) lining (12B) by means of a fixing strap (1321) welded to said heel board (12A) lining (12B).

6. A floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein an overlapping length of the fixing strap (1321) with the heel board (12A) is between 15 mm and 30 mm.

7. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a width of the floor reinforcement (13), taken between two opposite lateral edges is between 25% and 60% of a half-width of the motor vehicle taken between a lateral side member (16) and a median plane of said motor vehicle.

8. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a length of the floor reinforcement (13), taken between two opposite longitudinal edges is between 50% and 80% of a distance between a vertical plane of the heel board (12A) and a vertical plane of a rear cross member (15) of a front seat of the motor vehicle.

9. A floor arrangement (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein a thickness of the floor reinforcement (13) is less than or equal to 10 mm.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a floor arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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