Vehicle incorporating recycled plastic parts
By integrating sensors, microchips, and reactive agents, vehicle parts made from recycled plastic adapt to environmental conditions, addressing degradation issues and maintaining appearance and durability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023014327
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-12-15
AI Technical Summary
Vehicle parts made from post-consumer recycled plastic are prone to degradation due to repeated impacts, affecting their appearance and surface finish, especially in areas subjected to frequent contact.
Integration of sensors, electronic microchips, electro-reactive chemical agents, and self-healing microcapsules in vehicle parts made from recycled plastic, which react to environmental conditions to modify the surface state and prevent degradation.
The surface condition of vehicle parts adapts automatically to weather conditions, maintaining appearance and preventing wear, ensuring longevity and visual integrity.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Vehicle incorporating recycled plastic parts
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle parts made from PCR (Post-Consumer Recycling) type recycled plastic and more particularly to the field of vehicles incorporating functional and visible parts made from recycled plastic.
[0002] Currently, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint associated with the production of plastic parts, the industry has developed the manufacture of plastic parts from post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. These parts are produced from recycled plastics derived from previous plastic parts used for other purposes and in a different environment. With this type of recycling, the production of new parts does not require the production of new plastic materials.
[0003] This recycling technique has also been applied to the manufacture of certain car and truck parts in order to provide the automotive industry with carbon savings in the production of new vehicle models. Thus, in vehicle production, at least some of the parts intended to be installed and mounted inside these vehicles are made from a recycled material of the PCR type. However, parts made from this type of recycled material and installed inside motor vehicles are susceptible to greater degradation depending on their specific positions within the vehicle. Indeed, placed in areas likely to be subjected to repeated shocks or impacts, these recycled material parts are prone to damage, potentially affecting the vehicle's appearance.Thus, as an illustrative example, when getting into a vehicle, a user may be forced to lean, at least temporarily, against recycled material components that are part of the vehicle's interior trim. These components are positioned near the floor, between two front, middle, or rear feet that frame a vehicle door. Repeated contact of shoes against these components in such locations naturally leads to a degradation of the surface finish of the recycled material and its premature wear. The visual appearance of the vehicle's interior trim is then degraded.
[0004] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a solution that allows the benefits of using manufactured parts to be retained. in a recycled PCR-type material while limiting or preventing degradation over time of the surface condition of such parts and its visual appearance despite exposure to repeated micro-shocks.
[0005] The invention thus relates to a vehicle comprising a central computing unit and at least one functional part made of a recycled PCR-type plastic material, characterized in that the vehicle comprises: - at least one sensor configured to transmit at least one measurement value related to a meteorological parameter to a central computing unit, - at least one electronic microchip inserted into the recycled material of the functional part, - electro-reactive chemical agents placed near a surface thickness of the functional part and having an activated form capable of modifying the state of the surface thickness of the functional part, these electro-reactive chemical agents being configured to be activated by a signal emitted by at least one electronic microchip,
[0006] and in that the central computing unit is configured to transmit to the electronic microchip an electronic signal for the activation of electro-reactive chemical agents placed near the surface thickness of the functional part.
[0007] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the electronic signal is a Wifi signal.
[0008] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, at least one sensor is selected from a list comprising at least one rain sensor, one humidity sensor, one thermometer and one light sensor.
[0009] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the electro-reactive chemical agents are selected from a list including at least dicumyl peroxide (DCP), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE) and triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC).
[0010] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the recycled material of the functional part is a polyolefin matrix.
[0011] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, in the absence of activation of the electro-reactive chemical agents, the surface condition of the surface thickness of the functional part has a grainy state, this surface condition becoming porous when the electro-reactive chemical agents are activated.
[0012] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the electronic microchip is connected to the electro-reactive chemical agents by means of electronic microcircuits.
[0013] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, at least one electronic microchip is placed inside the recycled material and / or part of the matrix of the functional part using an In-Mold Electronic type injection technology.
[0014] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the vehicle also includes one or more chemical self-healing microcapsules integrated into the surface thickness of the functional part.
[0015] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the self-repairing microcapsules are arranged in the thickness of the functional part less than 30 pm from the outer surface at the level of the surface thickness of the functional part.
[0016] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
[0017] [Fig.1] is a schematic representation in perspective view of an example of a lower front foot cover, made from a recycled PCR-type material,
[0018] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation according to a perspective view of a example of the front area of a vehicle showing the location of the trim of the [Fig.1],
[0019] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation according to a cross-sectional view of an example dressing of the [Fig.l].
[0020] It should be noted that, in the present document, the direct orthonormal XYZ frame taken as a reference comprises a front-to-rear longitudinal X axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, a transverse Y axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and a vertical Z axis directed upwards.
[0021] It should also be noted that, in the present document, the term "functional part" refers to a part 1 installed in a vehicle 5 to perform a specifically determined technical function and not for decorative or purely aesthetic purposes. Preferably, within the scope of the invention, this functional part 1 is a visible or apparent part, that is, one that can be directly seen by the occupants of the vehicle 5.
[0022] It should also be noted that, in this document, the term "surface thickness" refers to the portion of material of the functional part 1 that forms at least part of the outer surface of that functional part 1. This portion of material of the functional part 1, forming the surface thickness 7, thus corresponds to a portion of the material of the functional part 1 in contact with and extending deep into the outer surface. This surface thickness 7 corresponds to a portion of the material of the functional part 1 corresponding to a few tens of microns in thickness, or at most 50 |am, and which is flush with and bears at least part of the outer surface of the functional part 1.
[0023] The invention relates to a vehicle 5 comprising a central computing unit and at least one functional part 1 made of a recycled PCR (Post-Consumer Recycling) type plastic material, characterized in that the vehicle 5 comprises: - at least one sensor configured to transmit at least one measurement value related to a meteorological parameter to a central computing unit, - at least one electronic microchip 8 inserted into the recycled material of the functional part 1, - electro-reactive chemical agents 9 placed near a surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1 and having an activated form capable of modifying the state of the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1, these electro-reactive chemical agents 9 being configured to be activated by a signal emitted by at least one electronic microchip 8,
[0024] and in that the central computing unit is configured to transmit to the electronic microchip 8 an electronic signal for the activation of the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 placed near the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1.
[0025] Thus, the vehicle according to the invention has at least one functional part 1 is made from a recycled PCR-type material and its surface condition 7 changes automatically and instantaneously to adapt to new weather conditions. Given its visible position inside the vehicle 5, it is necessary that this functional part 1, and more specifically its appearance, not show excessive degradation. Thus, in the event of repeated impacts, such as multiple foot strikes likely to alter the external appearance of the functional part 1, its visible position allows the occupants of the vehicle 5 to easily observe the degradation of its external surface. Within the scope of the invention, the functional part 1, or at least a specific portion of its surface at a surface thickness 7, is capable of being modified according to weather conditions.In this way, the external appearance of this functional part 1 is changed. Thus, the surface appearance of the functional part 1 is able to change according to weather conditions, i.e., according to a humid and rainy environment or a hot and dry one, etc. In the vehicle 5 of the invention, the sensors make it possible to measure, or even identify, one or more of the meteorological parameters conditioning the modification of the external appearance of . functional part 1, such as the humidity and / or temperature of the environment of functional part 1 or of vehicle 5.
[0026] By way of example of an embodiment of the invention, the integration of at least one electronic microchip 8 into the recycled plastic material is carried out by an overmolding technique.
[0027] In the context of the invention, the change of state of an external surface at a surface thickness 7 of a functional part 1 of a vehicle 5 according to the invention is based on a process which comprises the following main steps:
[0028] a step of continuous transmission of sensor measurements to the central computing unit,
[0029] a possible identification by the central computing unit of a change in weather conditions,
[0030] a step of transmitting by the central computing unit an electronic signal to an electronic microchip 8 inserted in the recycled material of the functional part 1,
[0031] a step of activating the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 by said microchip 8 so that these chemical agents modify the state of the surface thickness 7 and the outer surface of the functional part 1.
[0032] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention, the electronic signal is a Wi-Fi signal. Such a signal allows information to be transmitted remotely to the electronic microchip 8, which can then be activated. Thanks to this type of signal enabling remote data transmission, the central unit can be integrated into a portion of the vehicle 5 different from that which incorporates the functional part 1. Furthermore, implementing Wi-Fi transmission between the central unit and the electronic microchip 8 makes it possible, on the one hand, to overcome any potential space constraints that would be imposed by positioning a central unit near the functional part 1 and, on the other hand, to eliminate the constraints related to a wired connection between the central unit and the functional part 1, and therefore to the positioning of such cabling inside the vehicle 5.
[0033] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention that can be combined with either of the variants detailed above, at least one sensor is selected from a list comprising at least one rain sensor, one humidity sensor, one thermometer, and one light sensor. This list of sensors that can be considered within the scope of the invention is also capable of incorporating any sensor suitable for integration into the vehicle 5 and enabling the determination of one or more parameters relating to the meteorological conditions of the environment of the vehicle 5. According to a preferred embodiment, the vehicle 5 incorporates several sensors configured to identify or measure different and complementary meteorological parameters.
[0034] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention that can be combined with either of the variants detailed above, the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 are selected from a list comprising at least dicumyl peroxide (DCP), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE), and triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC). According to a particular variant of this example of the invention, the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 may also be a mixture of at least two chemical agents 9 from this list, provided that these agents are chemically compatible.It should be noted that other electro-reactive chemical agents 9 may be considered provided that these agents are suitable for being positioned at or near the surface thickness 7 and / or the outer surface of the functional part 1 of vehicle 5 and have identical, or even similar or equivalent, properties to those of the listed electro-reactive chemical agents 9.
[0035] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention that can be combined with either of the variants detailed above, the recycled material of the functional part 1 comprises a polyolefin matrix 6. It should be noted that other materials with properties identical, or even similar or equivalent, to those of a polyolefin matrix 6 may be considered or used for the production of a functional part 1 for a vehicle 5 according to the invention.
[0036] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention that can be combined with either of the variants detailed above, in the absence of activation of the electro-reactive chemical agents 9, the surface of the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1 has a grainy state, this surface becoming porous upon activation of the electro-reactive chemical agents 9. Also, upon identification of predefined weather conditions by the central unit, an activation signal is transmitted by the central unit to the electronic microchip 8 for the activation of the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 positioned on the surface 7 of the functional part 1. The activation of the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 causes these agents to react with the structure of the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1 so as to modify its surface appearance.According to a preferred activation mode, the identification by the central unit in association with at least one sensor of weather conditions characteristic of a rainy, or even humid, environment, an activation signal is transmitted by the central unit and results in a modification of the grainy appearance of the surface of the functional part 1, at the level of the surface thickness 7, to obtain a porous appearance.
[0037] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention that can be combined with either of the variants detailed above, the electronic microchip 8 is connected to the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 by means of electronic microcircuits 81. By way of construction example, such electronic microcircuits 81 are distributed within the recycled material of the functional part 1 and are not visible at the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1.
[0038] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention that can be combined with either of the variants detailed above, at least one electronic microchip 8 is placed inside the recycled material and / or a portion of the matrix 6 of the functional part 1 using an In-Mold Electronic injection technology. This injection technology is of a known type. However, other technologies that have identical, or even similar or equivalent, properties to those of the In-Mold Electronic technology may also be considered.
[0039] According to an example relating to a variant of the invention capable of being combined with either of the variants detailed above, the vehicle 5 according to the invention also comprises one or more chemical self-healing microcapsules 10 integrated into the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1. These self-healing microcapsules 10 incorporate at least one chemical agent intended to be continuously and permanently diffused by the microcapsules 10. This at least one chemical agent is selected to be capable of reacting with the recycled material at the level of the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1. This reaction between at least one of the electro-reactive chemical agents 9 and the recycled material of the surface thickness 7 involves at least one polymerization process of the surface thickness 7 and the outer surface of the functional part 1.Furthermore, the continuous diffusion of at least one chemical agent enables continuous and permanent polymerization at the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1. The surface of the functional part 1 and the surface thickness 7 thus maintain a relatively stable structural uniformity, preventing or even delaying the onset of wear on the outer surface of the surface thickness 7. This continuous polymerization at the surface thickness 7, maintaining apparent structural uniformity, is not triggered or activated by any deliberate action, direct or indirect, by a user of the vehicle 5 or by a control signal issued by a central unit of the vehicle 5.
[0040] According to an example relating to a specific variant of the variant of the invention detailed above, the self-repairing microcapsules 10 are arranged in The thickness of functional part 1 is within 30 µm of the outer surface at the level of surface thickness 7 of functional part 1. Such positioning of self-healing microcapsules 10 within the material thus allows for targeted diffusion at the level of surface thickness 7 of functional part 1 and therefore ensures that the intended polymerization reaction effectively achieves continuous repair of surface thickness 7 of its outer surface, thereby maintaining and preserving its structural uniformity. The diffusion of at least one chemical agent by the self-healing microcapsules 10 near the target portion of functional part 1 thus enables effective targeting of the continuous restoration of surface thickness 7 of its outer surface of functional part 1.
[0041] According to an example of an embodiment of a functional part 1 intended to be integrated into a vehicle 5 according to the invention, this functional part 1 is capable of corresponding to a lower front left foot panel 4 such as that illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The functional part 1 which provides such a lower panel then comprises, on the one hand, a straight portion 11 which has a flat and elongated structural configuration and, on the other hand, a curved portion 12 of shorter length than the straight portion 11, this curved portion 12 being arranged to extend the straight portion 11 of the lower panel.
[0042] As illustrated by [Fig. 2], this functional part 1 of the lower trim is mounted inside the vehicle 5. This mounting is carried out such that:
[0043] The straight part 2 of the functional part 1 is positioned horizontally in support against a floor of the vehicle 5 next to the driver's seat and in an orientation substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 5. This straight part 2 of the functional part is thus superimposed on the surface of the floor of the vehicle.
[0044] The curved part 3 of the functional part 1 is positioned at the front end of the straight part 2, so as to be in contact with the front foot 4 of the vehicle 5 located near the driver's seat.
[0045] During its installation on the driver's seat, the user of the vehicle 5 is then likely to repeatedly make impacts with his feet against the straight part 2 of the functional part 1, causing a natural degradation of the surface condition of this functional part 1.
[0046] With reference to the elements detailed in [Fig. 3], in a vehicle 5 according to the invention, the functional part 1 made of recycled material integrated into the vehicle 5 is made so as to include:
[0047] a matrix 6 made from recycled PCR-type material, this matrix 6 being likely to correspond to a polyolefin matrix 6,
[0048] at least one surface thickness 7 made from recycled material of the functional part 1 and located at an external surface of the functional part 1, i.e. located in continuity with or in contact with the matrix 6, between the matrix 6 and the external surface of the functional part 1.
[0049] As part of implementing a process for stabilizing the surface thickness 7 and its outer surface so that the functional part 1 maintains surface uniformity over time and the appearance of any signs of wear is avoided or limited, the functional part 1 made of recycled material integrated into the vehicle 5 also includes:
[0050] at least one integrated electronic microchip 8, inside the matrix 6, within the thickness of the recycled material of the functional part 1,
[0051] electro-reactive chemical agents 9 arranged in the matrix 6, these chemical agents 9 being likely to correspond to dicumyl peroxide (DCP), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE) and triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC)
[0052] one or more chemical self-healing microcapsules 10 disposed in the surface thickness 7 of the functional part 1 less than 30 pm from the outer surface of the functional part 1.
[0053] According to a preferred arrangement, these microcapsules 10 are arranged outside the matrix 6 in the surface thickness 7, between the matrix 6 and the outer surface of the functional part 1.
[0054] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
Claims
Demands
1. A vehicle (5) comprising a central computing unit and at least one functional part (1) made of a post-consumer recycled (PCR) type plastic material, characterized in that the vehicle (5) comprises: - at least one sensor configured to transmit to a central computing unit at least one measurement value related to a meteorological parameter, - at least one electronic microchip (8) inserted into the recycled material of the functional part (1), - electro-reactive chemical agents (9) placed near a surface thickness (7) of the functional part (1) and having an activated form capable of modifying the state of the surface thickness (7) of the functional part (1), these electro-reactive chemical agents (9) being configured to be activated by a signal emitted by the at least one electronic microchip (8),and in that the central computing unit is configured to transmit to the electronic microchip (8) an electronic signal for activating the electro-reactive chemical agents (9) placed near the surface thickness (7) of the functional part (1).
2. Vehicle (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic signal is a Wifi signal.
3. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one sensor is selected from a list comprising at least one rain sensor, one humidity sensor, one thermometer and one light sensor.
4. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electro-reactive chemical agents (9) are selected from a list comprising at least dicumyl peroxide (DCP), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE) and triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC).
5. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recycled material of the functional part (1) comprises a polyolefin matrix (6).
6. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in the absence of activation of chemical agents (9) electro-reactive, the surface condition of the surface thickness (7) of the functional part (1) has a grainy condition, this surface condition becoming porous when the electro-reactive chemical agents are activated.
7. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic microchip (8) is connected to the electro-reactive chemical agents (9) by means of electronic microcircuits (81).
8. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one electronic microchip (8) is placed inside the recycled material and / or part of the matrix (6) of the functional part (1) using In-Mold Electronic injection technology.
9. Vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the vehicle (5) also comprises one or more chemical self-healing microcapsules (10) integrated into the surface thickness (7) of the functional part (1).
10. Vehicle (5) according to claim 9, characterized in that the self-repairing microcapsules (10) are arranged in the thickness of the functional part (1) less than 30 pm from the outer surface at the level of the surface thickness (7) of the functional part (1).