Motor vehicle comprising an actuator capable of moving a wing of the vehicle in the event of a low-speed frontal collision

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising an actuator capable of moving a wing of the vehicle in the event of a low-speed frontal collision. The motor vehicle (2) comprises a wing (6) interposed between a bumper (4) and a door (8) and at least one actuator (10) positioned opposite the wing (6). The actuator (10) is controlled by a control unit (12) and the control unit is configured to move the actuator (10) from a rest position to a working position. Advantageously, the actuator (10) moves at least a portion of the wing (6) towards the outside of the motor vehicle (2) when it is in the working position. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising an actuator capable of moving a wing of the vehicle in the event of a low-speed frontal collision Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the automobile industry and, more particularly, to a device for preserving the integrity of a door when a motor vehicle suffers a frontal impact at low speed. Technological background

[0002] In the automotive industry, "shock repairability" refers to a test consisting of subjecting a motor vehicle to a frontal impact against a wall at a low speed of around 16 km / h. Following the collision, the damage suffered by the motor vehicle is examined.

[0003] The objective of this test is to determine to what extent the motor vehicle can be repaired, minimizing the costs and time of repairs.

[0004] During this test, it was found that a frontal impact, even at low speed, is capable of producing a chain deformation effect on the bodywork elements located at the front of a motor vehicle.

[0005] More specifically, when a motor vehicle collides head-on with an obstacle, even at low speed, the impact causes a sudden backward movement of the front bumper which impacts the front fenders. This impact causes deformation of the front fenders as well as a backward movement of said fenders. In turn, the front fenders strike and damage the front doors of the motor vehicle.

[0006] A low-speed frontal impact is thus capable of deforming the front doors of a motor vehicle. However, front doors are bodywork elements that are both bulky and complex, and the repair costs for these can be particularly expensive.

[0007] The invention aims to limit the costs associated with the repair of a motor vehicle, after having suffered a repairable impact, by proposing a solution making it possible to preserve the integrity of the doors of the motor vehicle during said impact. Subject of the invention

[0008] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising a wing, interposed between a bumper and a door of the motor vehicle.

[0009] For example, the wing may be interposed between a front bumper and a front door of the motor vehicle or between a rear bumper and a rear door of the motor vehicle.

[0010] The invention is remarkable in that the motor vehicle comprises at least one actuator positioned opposite the wing. At least one actuator is controlled by a control unit. The control unit is configured to move the actuator from a rest position to a working position. The actuator moves at least a portion of the wing, towards the outside of the motor vehicle, when it is in the working position.

[0011] In other words, the invention proposes the use of an actuator to modify the position of the wing, between the bumper and the door. More precisely, when the actuator moves from its rest position to its working position, at least a portion of the wing is moved towards the outside of the motor vehicle.

[0012] Preferably, the actuator moves the wing in a direction transverse to the motor vehicle.

[0013] Thus, advantageously, the actuator makes it possible to modify the alignment of the wing, between the bumper and the door of the motor vehicle, when it passes from a rest position to a working position. The actuator is configured so that in the working position, the wing is no longer likely to hit the door adjacent to the wing, when the bumper impacts the wing following a low-speed impact, of the repairable impact type.

[0014] The actuator makes it possible, for example, to preserve the integrity of a front door of a motor vehicle, when the front bumper of said vehicle suffers a frontal impact at low speed.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, an actuator can be positioned opposite each wing, so as to preserve the integrity of the doors located at the front of the motor vehicle in the event of a frontal impact.

[0016] The invention described above can also be implemented at the level of a rear wing of a motor vehicle, so as to preserve the integrity of a rear door of said vehicle, when the rear bumper suffers a rear impact. An actuator can be positioned opposite each rear wing, so as to preserve the integrity of the two rear doors during an impact suffered by the rear bumper.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment, an actuator can be arranged opposite each wing of the motor vehicle, so as to preserve the integrity of the doors of the motor vehicle in the event of a front or rear impact, at low speed.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one actuator is positioned near the bumper, so as to cause the wing of the bumper to protrude when said actuator is in the working position. In other words, the actuator can be configured to fold a portion of the wing, located near the bumper, so that the bumper cannot come into contact with the wing in the event of movement of the bumper towards said wing.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one actuator is positioned near the door, so as to cause the wing of the door to protrude when said actuator is in the working position. In other words, the actuator can be configured to fold a portion of the wing, located near the door, so that the wing cannot come into contact with the adjacent door in the event of movement of said wing.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the actuator is a pyrotechnic actuator. According to the invention, a pyrotechnic actuator uses a rapid and controlled chemical reaction, generally based on pyrotechnic materials, to produce a mechanical force or sudden movement. Thus, advantageously, during a frontal collision suffered by the motor vehicle, the pyrotechnic actuator can act sufficiently quickly on the wing, in order to prevent the wing from propagating the shock of the collision to the adjacent door.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the control unit is connected to a shock detection device and the control unit is configured to move the actuator into the working position as soon as the shock detection device detects a shock.

[0022] Preferably, the impact detection device is capable of detecting an impact at a low speed. By "low speed" is meant a speed of less than 40 km / h, or less than 20 km / h, preferably of the order of 15 km / h.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the impact detection device comprises at least one pressure sensor. Preferably, at least one pressure sensor is positioned between the front bumper and the front fender of the motor vehicle.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the impact detection device comprises at least one accelerometer. Preferably, the accelerometer is configured to detect a sudden deceleration, corresponding to a frontal impact at a low speed suffered by the motor vehicle.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the impact detection device comprises at least one collision detection system. By way of non-limiting example, the collision detection system may comprise a digital camera, positioned so as to be able to film the front of the car in real time, and the digital camera is coupled to a real-time image analysis device, configured to anticipate a frontal collision. Description of the figures

[0026] The invention will be better understood upon reading the description below, presenting the state of the art and a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, illustrated by the following figures:

[0027] [Fig.l] illustrates a schematic and partial view of a motor vehicle in the state of the technique, comprising a front bumper, a left front door and a front wing interposed between the bumper and the left front door of the vehicle;

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates the motor vehicle shown in [Fig.l], after a frontal impact at low speed;

[0029] [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic and partial view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising an actuator in the rest position, positioned opposite a left front wing of the vehicle and controlled by a control unit connected to an impact detection device, the impact detection device is interposed between the front bumper of the motor vehicle and said wing;

[0030] [Fig.4] illustrates the motor vehicle shown in [Fig.3], after a frontal impact at low speed and when the actuator is in the working position. Detailed description of the invention

[0031] As a reminder, the invention proposes a solution to limit the costs associated with the repair of a motor vehicle, after having suffered a low-speed frontal impact of the repairable impact type, while preserving the integrity of the doors of the motor vehicle during said impact.

[0032] [Fig.l] partially and schematically represents a motor vehicle 2 according to the state of the art. More precisely, the reference 4 designates a front bumper of the motor vehicle of which only the left side is represented. The reference 6 designates a left front wing of the motor vehicle and the reference 8 a left front door of said vehicle. The front wing 6 is interposed between the front bumper 4 and the front door 8 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0033] As illustrated by [Fig.2], in the event of a low-speed frontal collision, the front bumper 4 is displaced towards the rear of the motor vehicle. The front bumper then collides with the front fender 6. The front fender in turn moves towards the rear of the motor vehicle and thus hits the front door 8. The front door is then damaged by the front fender 6 which has propagated the shock suffered by the front bumper to the front door 8.

[0034] The invention aims to remedy this problem by proposing the use of an actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. More precisely, the actuator 10 is a pyrotechnic actuator, capable of suddenly moving from a rest position, visible in [Fig. 3], to a working position visible in [Fig. 4]. The actuator is positioned in the motor vehicle, so as to face the front wing 6 and to be close to the front bumper 4.

[0035] In the rest position, the actuator is preferably set back from the front wing 6, as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0036] The actuator 10 is controlled by a control unit 12 which is connected to a impact detection device 14. According to the present example, the impact detection device is positioned between the front bumper 4 and the front fender 6 of the motor vehicle. The impact detection device is configured to detect a sudden movement of the front bumper 4 towards the rear of the motor vehicle, in particular when the front bumper undergoes a frontal impact at low speed. By way of non-limiting example, the impact detection device 14 may be a pressure sensor or an accelerometer.

[0037] The control unit 12 is configured to command the actuator 10 to suddenly move from its rest position visible in [Fig. 3] to its working position visible in [Fig. 4] so as to bend a portion of the front wing 6 so that said portion is no longer aligned with the front bumper 4 when the front bumper moves towards the rear of the motor vehicle.

[0038] Thus, advantageously, when the motor vehicle suffers a frontal collision at low speed, the shock of the collision is no longer transmitted to the front wing by the front bumper and, as a result, the front wing is no longer likely to hit the front door of the motor vehicle.

[0039] The invention thus makes it possible to prevent the front door of a motor vehicle from being struck when the motor vehicle suffers a frontal impact at low speed.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a wing (6) interposed between a bumper (4) and a door (8) of the motor vehicle (2), characterized in that the motor vehicle (2) comprises at least one actuator (10) positioned opposite the wing (6), and in that at least one actuator (10) is controlled by a control unit (12), and in that the control unit (12) is configured to move the actuator (10) from a rest position to a working position, and in that the actuator (10) moves at least a portion of the wing (6) towards the outside of the motor vehicle (2) when it is in the working position.

2. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one actuator (10) is positioned close to the bumper (4), so as to cause the wing (6) to protrude from the bumper when said actuator (10) is in the working position.

3. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one actuator (10) is positioned close to the door (8), so as to cause the wing (6) of the door (8) to protrude when said actuator (10) is in the working position.

4. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuator (10) is a pyrotechnic actuator (10).

5. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit (12) is connected to an impact detection device (14), and in that the control unit (12) is configured to move the actuator (10) into the working position as soon as the impact detection device (14) detects an impact.

6. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the impact detection device (14) is capable of detecting an impact at a low speed.

7. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the impact detection device (14) comprises at least one pressure sensor.

8. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one pressure sensor is positioned between the bumper (4) and the wing (6).

9. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the impact detection device (14) comprises at least one accelerometer.

10. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the impact detection device (14) comprises at least one collision detection system.

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