DEVICE FOR FIXING A MOTOR VEHICLE CRADLE AND CORRESPONDING SIDE MEMBERS

Abstract

Device (1) for fixing a cradle (2) to a side member (3) of a motor vehicle. It comprises a spacer (6), at least one first reinforcement (7) comprising means for fixing to the side member (3) and to the spacer and capable of transferring forces along a first axis (Z) and at least one second reinforcement (8) comprising means for fixing to the side member (3) and capable of transferring forces along two axes (X, Y) perpendicular to each other and to the first axis. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR FIXING A MOTOR VEHICLE CRADLE AND CORRESPONDING SIDE MEMBERS Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of fixing between a cradle and a side member for a motor vehicle, and in particular the fixing of the front cradle on a rebate of the front side member of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Today, the attachment of the front cradle of a motor vehicle is generally centered on a section of the front side member which is particularly rigid, and which allows for easy integration of additional reinforcement.

[0003] However, in some cases, this architecture is not possible due to spatial constraints. Indeed, for certain vehicles, a volume must be freed up for the passage of the anti-roll bar and the wheel casing, which requires an offset of the cradle towards the center of the vehicle.

[0004] Thus, the offset cradle attachment is located at the rebate of the spar. However, the rebate of the spar is a relatively rigid area, cantilevered relative to the spar, which makes it difficult to implement an attachment at this location. Description of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned problems and, in particular, to free up volume for the anti-roll bar and the wheel casing of the vehicle, while compensating for the structural weakness linked to the rebate of the side member.

[0006] The invention therefore relates to a device for fixing a cradle to a side member of a motor vehicle. The fixing device comprises a spacer, at least one first reinforcement comprising means for fixing to the side member and to the spacer and capable of transferring forces along a first axis and at least one second reinforcement comprising means for fixing to the side member and capable of transferring forces along two axes perpendicular to each other and to the first axis.

[0007] Advantageously, the spacer is a threaded sleeve.

[0008] Optionally, the spacer is fixed to the first reinforcement by cords of welding.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the first reinforcement is a vertical wall of complementary shape to the spacer.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the second reinforcement constitutes a support face for the cradle.

[0011] Advantageously, the fixing device comprises a third reinforcement intended to be installed inside the spar by connecting the walls of said spar to the first reinforcement.

[0012] Optionally, the reinforcements are fixed to the spar by welding points.

[0013] The invention also relates to a side member for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one rebate and one closing element capable of enclosing a fixing device as defined above. Said rebate and said closing element of the side member have a shape complementary to that of the fixing device.

[0014] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a side member as defined above and a cradle fixed to the side member by means of a fixing device as defined above, located between a rebate of the side member and a closing element of the side member. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0016] - [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a device for fixing a cradle to a side member of a motor vehicle;

[0017] - [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a spacer fixed on a first reinforcement of the fixing device;

[0018] - [Fig.3] is a schematic view of a second reinforcement of the fixing device;

[0019] - [Fig.4] is a schematic view of three reinforcements of the fixing device assembled; and

[0020] - [Fig.5] is a schematic view of the groove of the spar which is shaped complementary to the spacer. Detailed description

[0021] In [Fig.l], a part of a motor vehicle is shown comprising a device 1 for fixing a front right cradle 2 to a front right side member 3. The motor vehicle is inscribed in an orthogonal reference frame X, Y, Z, the X axis designating the front-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis designating the transverse direction oriented towards the right of the vehicle according to a driving situation, and the Z axis designating the vertical direction, oriented towards the top of the vehicle.

[0022] The spar 3 comprises at least one rebate 4 and a closing element 5. In the embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the spar 3 comprises a lower rebate 4 and a closing element 5 on its left side.

[0023] The cradle 2 is fixed under the side member 3 by means of the fixing device 1 which is inserted between the lower rebate 4 and the closing element 5 of the side member 3.

[0024] The fixing device 1 comprises a spacer 6, at least one first reinforcement 7 which comprises means for fixing to the spar 3 and to the spacer 6 and which is capable of transferring forces along a first axis, in the vertical direction Z, and at least one second reinforcement 8 which comprises means for fixing to the spar 3 and which is capable of transferring forces along two axes X, Y perpendicular to each other and to the first axis Z, namely the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the fixing device 1 also comprises a third reinforcement 9.

[0025] [Fig. 2] illustrates the spacer 6 fixed to the first reinforcement 7 of the fixing device 1. In this embodiment, the spacer 6 is a threaded sleeve and it is fixed to the first reinforcement 7 by weld beads 10. It is also possible to envisage a nut as a spacer 6.

[0026] The first reinforcement 7 is a vertical wall extending in a plane along the two axes X, Z. It comprises a central part of a shape complementary to the spacer 6 intended to accommodate said spacer 6, and a flat periphery which constitutes a means of fixing to the spar 3 and to the other reinforcements 8, 9.

[0027] [Fig. 3] represents the second reinforcement 8 of the fixing device 1. The second reinforcement 8 is located under the spar 3 and comprises a curved central part, a periphery which constitutes a means of fixing to the spar 3 and to the first reinforcement 7, and a flat support surface of the cradle 2 extending in a plane along the two axes X, Y. The curved central part of the second reinforcement 8 forms the junction between the support surface of the cradle and the wall of the rebate 4 of the spar 3. The second reinforcement 8 is fixed to the spar 3 and to the first reinforcement 7 by weld points 11 made on its periphery.

[0028] [Fig.4] illustrates the integration of the third reinforcement 9 into the fixing device 1, the three reinforcements 7, 8, 9 being fixed to each other by weld points 11. The third reinforcement 9 is intended to be implanted inside the spar 3, fixed to the walls of the spar 3 by means of weld points 11. The third reinforcement 9 makes it possible, among other things, to connect the walls of said spar 3 to the first reinforcement 7, and thus to consolidate the fixing device 1. The third reinforcement 9 is a vertical wall extending in a plane along the two axes Y, Z. The first reinforcement 7 and the third reinforcement 9 are connected to each other by weld points 11.

[0029] Weld points 11 are made on the flat periphery of the first reinforcement 7, making it possible to fix its upper part and a portion of its lower part to the spar 3, and the other portion of its lower part to the second reinforcement 8.

[0030] [Fig.5] illustrates the assembly comprising the spacer 6 fixed on the first reinforcement 7, inserted between the rebate 4 and the closing element 5 of the spar 3. The rebate 4 and the closing element 5 of the spar 3 have a shape complementary to that of the fixing device 1 in order to grip it perfectly. The curved central part of the second reinforcement 8 is therefore of complementary shape to the groove 4 of the side member 3.

[0031] The invention applies to all cases of fixing a cradle 2 to a side member 3, and also applies to a case where the groove 4 of the side member 3 is positioned towards the outside of the vehicle, that is to say on the left side of a left side member 3, and on the right side of a right side member 3.

[0032] The fixing device 1 inserted between a rebate 4 of the side member 3 and a closing element 5 of the side member 3 and comprising reinforcements 7, 8, 9, thus makes it possible to compensate for the structural weakness of the rebate 4 of the side member 3 while freeing up volume for the anti-roll bar and the wheel casing of the vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for fixing a cradle (2) on a side member (3) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a spacer (6), at least one first reinforcement (7) comprising means for fixing to the side member (3) and to the spacer and capable of transferring forces along a first axis (Z) and at least one second reinforcement (8) comprising means for fixing to the side member (3) and capable of transferring forces along two axes (X, Y) perpendicular to each other and to the first axis.

2. A fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spacer (6) is a threaded sleeve.

3. Fastening device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the spacer (6) is fixed to the first reinforcement (7) by welding beads (10).

4. Fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the first reinforcement (7) is a vertical wall of complementary shape to the spacer (6).

5. Fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the second reinforcement (8) constitutes a bearing face for the cradle (2).

6. Fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises a third reinforcement (9) intended to be implanted inside the spar (3) by connecting the walls of said spar (3) to the first reinforcement (7).

7. Fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reinforcements (7, 8, 9) are fixed to the spar (3) by welding points (11).

8. Side member (3) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one rebate (4) and a closing element (5) capable of enclosing a fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said rebate (4) and said closing element (5) of the side member (3) have a shape complementary to that of the fixing device (1).

9. Motor vehicle comprising a side member (3) according to claim 8 and a cradle (2) fixed to the side member (3) by means of a fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 located between a rebate (4) of the side member (3) and a closing element (5) of the side member (3).

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