Vehicle body comprising a seat indexing device fixed to a cross member, and vehicle comprising such a body.

Abstract

[Vehicle body (1) comprising a floor (2) and a seat cross member (3) on the floor (2), the seat cross member (3) comprising an upper wall (30) arranged at a distance from the floor (2) along a vertical axis (Z) to the vehicle, and at least one side wall connecting the upper wall (30) to the floor (2), the vehicle (1) further comprising an indexing device (4) comprising an indexing interface (41) intended to cooperate with an indexing pilot of a seat, remarkable in that the indexing device (4) extends cantilevered above the floor (2) from the seat cross member (3), the indexing interface (41) being on the part of the indexing device (4) cantilevered. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle body comprising a seat indexing device fixed to a cross member, and vehicle comprising such a body.

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle body comprising a device for indexing a seat fixed to a seat crossmember allowing a seat to be positioned, as well as a vehicle comprising such a body.

[0002] The front seats of a vehicle generally have slides by which they are fixed to the body of the vehicle, the slides allowing adjustment of the seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The front seats are generally fixed, via the rails, to front seat crosspieces arranged on the floor of the vehicle, the crosspieces extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. To allow rapid and precise positioning of the seat on the crosspieces, it is known to install an indexing pin on one of the rails of the seat which cooperates with an indexing hole arranged on the seat crosspiece on which the rail is fixed.

[0003] For example, document CN113119810 describes a vehicle comprising a crossmember fixed to a floor, and comprising an indexing hole arranged near a seat fixing hole, these two holes being on the upper face of the crossmember opposite the floor. The indexing hole is arranged in alignment with the fixing hole along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the rail also extending in this longitudinal direction. A rail fixing screw passes through the fixing hole to fix the rail to the crossmember, and the rail comprises an indexing pin cooperating with the indexing hole.

[0004] The disadvantage of such a solution is that the width of the seat crossmember, that is to say its dimension along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, must be large enough to accommodate both the fixing hole and the indexing hole aligned along the longitudinal axis. This width of the crossmember cannot therefore be reduced beyond a minimum dimension in order to keep both the fixing hole and the indexing hole aligned in the longitudinal axis, these holes having to be spaced apart from each other by a minimum distance, in particular to allow the installation of the seat fixing means such as a nut fixed to the seat crossmember opposite the fixing hole.In addition, since the seat crossmember must be as straight as possible to reduce the risk of deformation in the event of a side impact, bulges cannot be made in the longitudinal direction on one of these vertical faces in order to locally increase its width to allow the installation of fixing holes and indexing holes aligned on its upper face.

[0005] However, it may be necessary to reduce the width of the seat crosspiece, for example for assembly constraints such as allowing the welding of the seat crossmember with the floor and a seat crossmember arranged on the opposite side of the floor, or to reduce the space taken up by the seat crossmember in the volume located under the seat fixed on said crossmember, while retaining a crossmember with a rectilinear shape to allow transfer of forces without collapsing in the event of a side impact.

[0006] The objective of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks. In particular, one of the aims of the invention is to propose a vehicle comprising a seat crossmember and an indexing means for a seat, allowing a small width of the crossmember.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a vehicle body comprising a floor and a seat crossmember on the floor, the seat crossmember comprising an upper wall arranged at a distance from the floor along an axis vertical to the vehicle, and at least one side wall connecting the upper wall to the floor, the vehicle further comprising an indexing device comprising an indexing interface intended to cooperate with an indexing pilot of a seat, remarkable in that the indexing device extends cantilevered above the floor from the seat crossmember, the indexing interface being on the part of the indexing device cantilevered.

[0008] Thus advantageously, the indexing interface being arranged outside the upper wall, cantilevered above the floor, the seat crossmember can have a reduced width so that it is not possible to create an indexing interface directly on its upper wall, while maintaining cooperation between the indexing interface and positioned so as to cooperate with the indexing pilot of a seat fixed to the seat crossmember. This arrangement also makes it possible to use a seat which comprises an indexing pilot whose position is not dependent on the width of the crossmember.Thus, it is possible to use the same seat equipped with an indexing driver on a vehicle body so that said driver cooperates with an indexing interface arranged on a seat crossmember when said crossmember is wide enough to include such an indexing interface on its upper wall, and to use this same seat on a vehicle body whose crossmember is too narrow to include an indexing interface on the seat crossmember but while retaining the indexing capacity of the seat on the body thanks to the indexing interface cantilevered relative to the seat crossmember.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper wall of the crosspiece comprises a fixing means for a seat, comprising a fixing opening capable of allowing the passage of a fixing screw, the indexing device comprises a passage opening positioned opposite the fixing opening.

[0010] Thus advantageously, the indexing device is positioned relative to the seat fixing means, the passage opening being arranged opposite the opening of fixing, allowing precise indexing of the seat in relation to the fixing means.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, the indexing device comprises a metal plate attached to the seat cross member, the plate having a portion cantilevered from the seat cross member and above the floor. The indexing interface is disposed on the cantilevered portion.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, the indexing device is a flat plate fixed to the upper wall, preferably the plate is a steel plate with a thickness greater than or equal to 2.5 mm.

[0013] Thus advantageously, the indexing device is produced in a simple manner while being rigid. The use of a flat plate also makes it possible to reduce the number of operations for producing the indexing device to a simple cutting of a shape in a flat metal plate.

[0014] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the plate of the indexing device is trapezoidal in shape with a large side on the upper wall of the seat crosspiece and a small side on the cantilevered portion. In another variant, the plate is triangular in shape, one of the sides of which is on the upper wall of the seat crosspiece and the apex opposite said side is on the cantilevered portion.

[0015] Thus advantageously, the indexing device comprises a long side allowing to have a large useful surface for fixing the indexing device on the crosspiece, allowing good stability of the fixing on the crosspiece, and to have only the necessary amount of material at the level of the small side located on the cantilevered part, this cantilevered part comprising the indexing interface. The angles of the triangular shape or the trapezoidal shape are preferably rounded.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, the indexing device is welded to the upper wall of the seat crosspiece by welding points arranged on either side of the passage opening.

[0017] Thus advantageously, the indexing device is fixed in a stable manner around the fixing means.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, the indexing interface is an indexing hole adapted to receive a seat indexing pilot in the form of an indexing pin.

[0019] Thus advantageously, the indexing interface is produced in a simple manner by simply making a hole.

[0020] In another embodiment of the invention, the vehicle body comprises a lower cross member extending transversely on the other side of the floor relative to the seat cross member, at least partly opposite said seat cross member.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall of the seat crosspiece comprises a first edge falling against the floor, and the crosspiece in lower comprises a lower side wall with a second flanged edge resting against the floor. The first flanged edge is opposite the second flanged edge, and the seat cross member and the lower cross member are fixed to the floor by welding the second flanged edge and the first flanged edge to the floor by sandwiching said floor. Preferably, the welding is a spot welding joining the first flanged edge, the floor and the second flanged edge together at at least one same welding point.

[0022] Thus advantageously, the vehicle body is stiffened thanks to the cooperation between the seat crossmember, the floor and the lower crossmember, in particular by fixing these three parts together, while retaining the possibility of having a seat indexing device despite a position and a width of the seat crossmember imposed by the position of the lower crossmember.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a body as described above, the vehicle comprising a seat fixed to the seat crossmember, the seat comprising an indexing pilot cooperating with the indexing interface.

[0024] In a particular embodiment of this invention, the indexing interface is an indexing hole, and the indexing driver includes an indexing pin projecting from a rail of the seat, the indexing pin inserting into the indexing hole when the seat is secured to the body.

[0025] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0026] [Fig.l] represents a vehicle body according to the invention at floor level comprising a seat crosspiece and an indexing device for a seat.

[0027] [Fig. 2] represents a sectional view along a vertical and longitudinal plane of the body of the vehicle equipped with a seat, the sectional plane passing at the level of a fixing of the seat to the seat crossmember and the indexing device.

[0028] [Fig.3] represents a lower structure of a seat before its attachment to the body of the vehicle.

[0029] [Fig.4] represents a top view of the crosspiece of [Fig.l] at the level of the indexing device.

[0030] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0031] The X axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis the transverse direction and the Z axis the vertical direction. The forward, backward, up, down directions are taken in the vehicle's frame of reference.

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a part of a body 1 of a vehicle according to the invention which comprises a floor 2 and a seat crossmember 3. The crossmember 3 is arranged on the floor 2, for example fixed to the floor 2. The seat crossmember 3 comprises an upper wall 30 arranged at a distance from the floor 2 along a vertical axis Z to the vehicle, and at least one side wall 31 connecting the upper wall 30 to the floor 2. The floor 2 extends substantially in a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis X and transverse Y to the vehicle, or with a small angle relative to this plane, for example less than 20 degrees. An indexing device 4 comprising an indexing interface 41 which is intended to cooperate with an indexing pilot 61 of a seat, extends cantilevered above the floor 2 from the seat crossmember 3. The indexing interface 41 is on the cantilevered part of the indexing device 4. In the representation of figures 1 and 2, the crossmember 3 comprises two side walls, a front side wall 32 and a rear side wall 31, connected to each other by the upper wall 30.In other words, the indexing device 4 extends beyond the crossmember 3, opposite the front wall 32 so that the overhanging portion is not opposite the upper wall 30. Thus, if the front side wall 32 is located towards the front of the vehicle relative to the rear side wall 31, the indexing device 41 extends in a cantilever towards the rear of the vehicle from the seat crossmember 3. Alternatively, the indexing device 4 extends in a cantilever towards the front of the vehicle from the crossmember 3, i.e. with the overhang on the side of the front side wall 31.

[0033] To allow the fixing of a seat, the upper wall 30 comprises a means 33, 34 for fixing a seat. The fixing means 33, 34 comprises a fixing opening 33 capable of allowing the passage of a fixing screw 62 allowing the fixing of the seat to the seat crosspiece 3. For example, the fixing means comprises a nut 34 welded to the crosspiece 3, against the upper wall 30 of said crosspiece 3 in the volume created between the front 31, rear 32 side walls and the upper wall 30, opposite the fixing opening 33, that is to say with the threaded hole of the nut 34 aligned with the fixing opening 33, the screw 62 being screwed into the nut 34. The indexing device 4 further comprises a passage opening 42 positioned opposite the fixing opening 33.In other words, the indexing device 4 extends over the upper wall 30, opposite the fixing means 33, 34, with the passage opening 42 opposite the fixing opening 33 in order to allow the screw 62 to pass through the indexing device 4 to be screwed onto the nut 34.

[0034] In the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 4, the indexing device 4 is formed by a metal plate fixed to the seat crosspiece 3 and comprising a part cantilevered from the seat crosspiece 3, above the floor 2. In these embodiments, the indexing device 4 is a flat plate fixed to the upper wall 30. For example, the plate is a metal plate, such as steel, with a thickness greater than or equal to 2.5 mm.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 4, the plate of the indexing device 4 is trapezoidal in shape with a large side 43 arranged on the upper wall 30 of the seat crossmember 3 and a small side 44 on the cantilevered part of the plate. The large side and the small side of the trapezoid extend parallel to the crossmember 3, in other words along the transverse axis Y of the vehicle. In a variant not shown, the plate forming the indexing device 4 is triangular in shape with one side on the upper wall 30 of the seat crossmember 3, extending parallel to the crossmember 3, in other words along the transverse axis Y of the vehicle, and the apex opposite said side is on the cantilevered part of the indexing device 4.

[0036] In [Fig.4], the indexing device 4, formed of a metal plate, is fixed to the upper wall 30 of the seat crosspiece 3 by weld points 45. The weld points 45 are arranged on either side of the passage opening 42.

[0037] The indexing interface 41 illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 4 is an indexing hole 41 capable of receiving a seat indexing pin 61, the indexing pin 41 forming the indexing pilot of the seat 6.

[0038] In the embodiment variant shown in [Fig.2], the vehicle body 1 comprises a lower cross member 7 extending transversely, on the other side of the floor 2 relative to the seat cross member 3, at least in part of said seat cross member 3. The rear side wall 31 of the seat cross member 3 comprises a first flanged edge 310 bearing against the floor 2. The lower cross member 7 comprises a lower side wall 71 which comprises a second flanged edge 710 bearing against the floor 2. The seat cross member 3 is arranged inside the vehicle, and the first flanged edge 310 therefore bears against the face of the floor 2 oriented towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle, called the inner face, and the lower cross member 7 is against the face of the floor 2 opposite the face arranged inside the vehicle, called the outer face of the floor 2. The second flanged edge 710 bears against the face exterior of floor 2.The first flanged edge 310 is opposite the second flanged edge 710, against the inner face of the floor 2, and the seat cross member 3 and the lower cross member 7 are fixed to the floor 2 by welding the second flanged edge 710 and the first flanged edge 310 to the floor 2, sandwiching said floor 2. For example, the welding is a spot welding assembling the first flanged edge 310, the floor 2 and the second flanged edge 710 together at at least one same welding point. For this, the welding is carried out for example by a welding clamp pinching the first flanged edge 310, the floor 2 and the second flanged edge 710 together.

[0039] In the embodiment of [Fig.2], the rear side wall 31 of the cross member 3 has a first rear flanged edge 310 and the front side wall 32 has a first front flanged edge 320. The lower cross member 7 has a side wall in front lower 72 and a rear lower side wall 71. The front lower side wall 72 has a second front flanged edge 720 and the rear lower side wall 71 has a second rear flanged edge 710. The width of the lower cross member 7 is smaller than the width of the seat cross member 3, the width being the dimension of said cross members 3 and 7 along the longitudinal axis X. The first rear flanged edge 310 is substantially opposite the second rear flanged edge 710 located on the other side of the floor 2, the rear side wall 31 being opposite the rear lower side wall 71.The lower crosspiece 7 being of a width less than the seat crosspiece 3, the second front fallen edge 720 bears against the outer face of the floor 2 between the first front fallen edge 320 and the second rear fallen edge 310 along the longitudinal axis X, the first front fallen edge 320 and rear 310 being against the inner face of the floor 2.

[0040] Alternatively, the width of the lower crosspiece 7 may be substantially identical to the width of the seat crosspiece 3, so that the second front 720 and rear 710 fallen edges are respectively arranged opposite the first front 320 and rear 310 fallen edges.

[0041] The floor 2 extends between two longitudinal side members 5 oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. The side members 5 are located on either side of the floor 2. The seat cross member 3 extends transversely to the vehicle from one side member 5 to the other, as illustrated in [Fig.l]. The seat cross member 3 is for example a front seat cross member 3, receiving two front seats. In a variant not shown, the body of the vehicle comprises, in addition to the two longitudinal side members, a central tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, separating the floor into two half-floors which each extend respectively from said central tunnel to one of the longitudinal side members. That is to say that the two half-floors are arranged respectively on one side and the other of the central tunnel.In this variant, the vehicle body comprises, for example, two seat crossmembers each extending respectively above each of the half-floors, from one of the side members to the central tunnel, an indexing device being fixed to each of these seat crossmembers.

[0042] Such a body 1 is used to produce a vehicle, with a seat 6 fixed to the seat crossmember 3 by the fixing means 33, 34, the seat 6 comprising the indexing pilot 61 cooperating with the indexing interface 4L. When installing the seat 6 in the vehicle, the seat 6 is brought onto the crossmember 3, and moved until the indexing pilot 61 cooperates with the indexing interface 41 so as to position the seat 6 in a precise position relative to the crossmember 3 and to the fixing means 33, 34, ensuring insertion of the fixing screw 62 into the nut 34.

[0043] In [Fig.2] and 3, the indexing interface 41 is an indexing hole 41, and the pilot indexing pin 61 is an indexing pin 61 projecting from a rail 63 of the seat 6, the indexing pin 61 inserting into the indexing hole 41 when the seat 6 is fixed to the body 1.

[0044] The seat 6 comprises other attachments to the body 1. For example, the seat comprises two sliding rails 63, allowing adjustment of the position of said seat in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, each of the rails 63 comprising a hole near each of these ends allowing the passage of a fixing screw screwing onto a nut fixed to the body 1.

[0045] In the variant illustrated in [Fig.2], once the seat 6 is fixed to the body of the vehicle, at least one of the rails 63 rests near one of its ends on the crossmember 3 via the plate forming the indexing device 4. That is to say that the plate of the indexing device 4 is between the rail 63 and the crossmember 3, the fixing screw 62 passing through the hole at the end of the rail 63, the passage opening 42 and the fixing opening 33 to screw into the nut 34.

[0046] In a variant not shown, the indexing device 4 is a fixed metal plate in the shape of a square, i.e. comprising two walls forming an angle between them, one of the walls being fixed on a side wall of the crosspiece 3 and the other wall being cantilevered relative to the crosspiece 3, above the floor 2, i.e. extending in the opposite direction to the crosspiece 3, and with an indexing interface on the cantilevered wall.

[0047] In another alternative embodiment, as shown in [Fig.l], the cross member 3 extends from one side member 5 to the other. It comprises in its middle part a raised zone, that is to say higher vertically than the rest of the cross member 3, comprising on this raised zone two indexing devices 4, for example two plates 4 as shown in [Fig.l], each indexing device being dedicated to a different seat. The cross member 3 comprises on this raised zone two fixing means, each dedicated to one of the seats, the two seats being arranged side by side transversely to the vehicle.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiments of the figures, the seat crossmember 3 is arranged under the front seats of a vehicle. Alternatively, the seat crossmember 3 may be arranged under rear seats, row two or row three of a vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle body (1) comprising a floor (2) and a seat cross member (3) on the floor (2), the seat cross member (3) comprising an upper wall (30) arranged at a distance from the floor (2) along a vertical axis (Z) to the vehicle, and at least one side wall (31, 32) connecting the upper wall (30) to the floor (2), the vehicle (1) further comprising an indexing device (4) comprising an indexing interface (41) intended to cooperate with an indexing pilot (61) of a seat (6), characterized in that the indexing device (4) extends cantilevered above the floor (2) from the seat cross member (3), the indexing interface (41) being on the part of the indexing device (4) cantilevered.

2. Vehicle body (1) according to the preceding claim, the upper wall (30) of which comprises a fixing means (33, 34) for a seat, comprising a fixing opening (33) capable of allowing the passage of a fixing screw, the indexing device (4) comprises a passage opening (42) positioned opposite the fixing opening (33).

3. Vehicle body (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the indexing device (4) of which comprises a metal plate fixed to the seat cross member (3), the plate comprising a portion cantilevered from the seat cross member (3), the indexing interface (41) being arranged on the cantilevered portion.

4. Vehicle body (1) according to the preceding claim, the indexing device (4) is a flat plate fixed to the upper wall (30), preferably the plate is a steel plate with a thickness greater than or equal to 2.5 mm.

5. Vehicle body (1) according to the preceding claim, the plate of the indexing device (4) of which is trapezoidal in shape with a large side (43) on the upper wall (30) of the seat cross member (3) and a small side (44) on the overhanging part, or is triangular in shape with one side on the upper wall (30) of the seat cross member (3) and the apex opposite said side on the overhanging part of the indexing device (4).

6. Vehicle body (1) according to one of the preceding claims combined with claim 2, the indexing device (4) of which is welded to the upper wall (30) of the seat cross member (3) by points welding (45) arranged on either side of the passage opening (42).

7. Vehicle body (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a lower cross member (7) extending transversely, on the other side of the floor (2) relative to the seat cross member (3), at least partly opposite said seat cross member (3).

8. Vehicle body (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the side wall (31, 32) of the seat cross member (3) comprises a first flanged edge (310) bearing against the floor (2), the lower cross member (7) comprises a lower side wall (71) with a second flanged edge (710) bearing against the floor (2), the first flanged edge (310) being opposite the second flanged edge (710), and the seat cross member (3) and the lower cross member (7) being fixed to the floor (2) by welding the second flanged edge (710) and the first flanged edge (310) to the floor (2) by sandwiching said floor (2), preferably the welding being a spot welding assembling the first flanged edge (310), the floor (2) and the second flanged edge (710) together at at least one same welding point.

9. Vehicle comprising a body (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the vehicle comprising a seat (6) fixed to the seat cross member (3), the seat (6) comprising an indexing pilot (61) cooperating with the indexing interface (41).

10. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, the indexing interface (41) of which is an indexing hole (41), and the indexing pilot (61) comprises an indexing pin projecting from a rail (63) of the seat (6), the indexing pin inserting into the indexing hole (41) when the seat (6) is fixed to the body (1).

Images