Arrangement of at least one swing door for a motor vehicle and method of mounting such an arrangement on a motor vehicle.

Abstract

Arrangement of a door for a vehicle and method of mounting such an arrangement. Arrangement of a hinged door (12) on a body (14) of a vehicle (10) using a first (15) and a second hinge (16) each comprising a first knuckle configured to connect the hinge (15, 16) to the door (12) using a first fixing element (17); and a second knuckle configured to connect the hinge (15, 16) to the body (14) using a second fixing element (18), the first fixing element (17) being inaccessible from the outside when the swing door (12) is mounted on the body (14) and closed, the arrangement being characterized in that the door (12) comprises a passage opening (19) to allow the second fixing element (18) to pass through when mounting the arrangement of the door (12) in the closed configuration on the body (14) of the motor vehicle. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Arrangement of at least one swing door for a motor vehicle and method of mounting such an arrangement on a motor vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement of at least one hinged door intended to be mounted in a closed configuration on a body of a motor vehicle, in particular at the rear of said vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an arrangement, as well as a method for mounting such an arrangement of at least one hinged door on a body of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Most motor vehicles include hinged doors which, when open, allow access to the interior of the passenger compartment of said motor vehicles. These hinged doors are generally located on the lateral sides of the motor vehicles. Some motor vehicles also have at least one hinged door arranged at a rear face of said vehicles. In the open configuration, the at least one hinged door arranged at the rear face allows access to a loading area inside the motor vehicle in question.

[0003] Generally speaking, there are two types of finish between an opening and a body for this type of swing door arranged at the rear face of a motor vehicle: a first type of finish commonly called "recessed" and a second type of finish commonly called "autoclave". The choice of one or the other finish affects the overall design of the rear of the vehicle in question. Each of the two types of finish has advantages and disadvantages.

[0004] In the case of the first type of finish called "recessed", the mounting of the arrangement of at least one hinged door on the body of the vehicle is facilitated, in particular when it is an arrangement comprising two hinged doors. In this case, it is in fact possible to position the two doors, which each have a substantially planar geometry, in a closed configuration on the same support before mounting them simultaneously on the body of the motor vehicle being constructed using said support. This mounting method, in addition to being quick to carry out, makes it possible to obtain reduced clearances and flushness for the hinged doors. In addition, this mounting method makes it possible to guarantee the repeatability of the assembly steps and thus to obtain almost identical assemblies from one vehicle to another.In other words, an arrangement of at least one door with a "recessed" type finish between an opening and a box makes it possible to guarantee the accuracy of the clearances and flushness at the level of said swing door while providing a time of. reduced assembly during vehicle manufacturing.

[0005] However, the fixing elements which allow the hinges to be fixed on at least one swing door remain visible and therefore accessible from the outside. It is then necessary to cover them with an additional part, in particular a plastic part such as a rear light, a rear bumper, or even a trim part to hide them.

[0006] The second type of arrangement of at least one hinged door with a so-called "autoclave" finish is distinguished from the first type of arrangement by its more refined design, in particular when the arrangement comprises two hinged doors with such a finish. Indeed, the edges of the autoclave hinged doors are folded back on the lateral sides of the motor vehicle and the hinge fixing screws are not accessible from the outside. However, the assembly method used to assemble such an arrangement of at least one hinged door with a so-called "autoclave" finish is more laborious. Indeed, during the manufacture of the motor vehicle, these doors must be mounted individually and in an open configuration on the body in white of the motor vehicle. It is then necessary to close the doors to be able to check their adjustment and to reopen them to be able to correct the clearances if necessary.The installation of this second type of arrangement of at least one door with a so-called "autoclave" finish is therefore tedious and time-consuming, but it makes it possible to make the screws holding the hinges of at least one swing door inaccessible when said doors are closed, which further secures the vehicle against potential infringements.

[0007] The aim of the invention is to propose an arrangement of at least one autoclave swing door in closed configuration on a body of a motor vehicle which makes it possible to combine the advantages of the two types of finish while minimizing the disadvantages encountered.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an arrangement of at least one hinged door in closed configuration on a body of a motor vehicle, in particular at the rear of said vehicle, the hinged door being intended to be movable in rotation relative to the body around a pivot axis specific to said door using a first hinge and a second hinge, the first hinge and the second hinge each comprising a first knuckle configured to connect the hinge to the hinged door using at least one first fixing element;and a second knuckle configured to connect the hinge to the body of the motor vehicle using at least one second fixing element, the first fixing element being inaccessible from the outside when the swing door is mounted on the body and closed, the arrangement being characterized in that the swing door further comprises a passage opening to allow the second fixing element to pass through; first hinge when mounting the door arrangement in closed configuration on the body of the motor vehicle.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the swing door comprises a second passage opening to allow the second fixing element of the second hinge to pass through when mounting the arrangement of the door in the closed configuration on the body of the motor vehicle.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the arrangement comprises two hinged doors, said doors being intended to be mounted simultaneously and in closed configuration on the body of the motor vehicle, in particular at the rear of said vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the passage opening in the swing door is made in an exterior panel of said door and / or in a box of said door.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the passage opening in the swing door is configured to arrange therein a shutter intended to mask said passage opening.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the shutter comprises an aerodynamic fin.

[0014] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an arrangement of at least one swing door.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for mounting an arrangement of at least one hinged door on a body of a motor vehicle, in particular at the rear of said vehicle, the hinged door being intended to be mounted in the closed configuration on the body of the vehicle, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

[0016] - the first knuckles of the first and second hinges are fixed to the door swing using their first fixing elements; - the arrangement of the at least one swing door in closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement of the at least one swing door in the closed configuration is positioned using the support on the body of the motor vehicle which is to be equipped with said arrangement; - the second fixing element of the first hinge is inserted through the passage opening in the swing door; - the second knuckle of the first hinge is fixed to the body using the second fixing element inserted through the passage opening in the closed swing door; - the support is detached from at least one door and removed from the body, - at least one door is open; - the second knuckle of the second hinge is fixed to the body of the motor vehicle using the second fixing element; - a shutter is placed in the passage opening so as to mask said opening in the swing door of the arrangement.

[0017] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:

[0018] [Fig.1A] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a rear portion of a motor vehicle with two “autoclave” type hinged doors in the closed configuration.

[0019] [Fig. 1B] is another view of the rear portion of the motor vehicle of [Fig. 1A],

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a first embodiment of an arrangement of a swing door.

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a second embodiment of an arrangement of a swing door.

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a third embodiment of an arrangement of a swing door.

[0023] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a first step in a method of mounting a swing door on a motor vehicle body.

[0024] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a second step of the same assembly process.

[0025] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates a third step of the same assembly process.

[0026] In Figures 1A and 1B, a rear portion of a motor vehicle 10 is illustrated. This vehicle 10 comprises two hinged doors 12 of the “autoclave” type arranged at the rear of the vehicle 10. By “autoclaves”, it is meant here that the hinged doors 12 have a curved lateral edge 11 so as to cover a portion of the lateral faces 13 of the vehicle 10. In Figures 1A and 1B, the two hinged doors 12 are shown in the closed configuration, so as to obstruct access to the interior of the passenger compartment of said motor vehicle 10.

[0027] A trihedron with three axes X, Y, Z is illustrated in [Fig.lA]. In this document, the X axis designates the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 10. When moving forward and in a straight line, the vehicle 10 progresses from the rear to the front, in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The X axis is oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle 10, that is to say in the direction of reverse travel. The Y axis designates the transverse axis of the vehicle 10. The Y axis is oriented from left to right, left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle 10. The Z axis designates the axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. It is considered that the vehicle 10 is resting on horizontal ground. The Z axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y and Z axes form an orthogonal reference frame. This same benchmark, defined by reference to a vehicle 10, will also be used to describe an arrangement of two swing doors 12, even considered outside the vehicle 10, since it is intended for mounting in a specific orientation in the vehicle 10.

[0028] At least one hinged door 12 is mounted to be able to rotate relative to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 about a pivot axis P specific to said door 12. The pivot axis P is substantially parallel to the vertical axis Z. In the particular case where the arrangement comprises two hinged doors 12, each hinged door 12 can pivot about a pivot axis P specific to it, between a closed position and an open position. Each hinged door 12 is able to pivot in a specific opening direction and a specific closing direction. The opening and closing directions of the two hinged doors 12 are opposite each other.

[0029] At least one swing door 12 can pivot about its pivot axis P using a first hinge 15 and a second hinge 16. The first hinge 15 and the second hinge 16 are arranged one above the other along an axis parallel to the vertical Z axis, so as to form the same pivot axis P for the swing door 12 in question. In this description, the first hinge 15 is the upper hinge, arranged above the second hinge 16, which is then the lower hinge. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the motor vehicle 10 thus comprises an arrangement of two swing doors 12 and four hinges 15, 16 in total: two first hinges 15 and two second hinges 16.

[0030] The first hinge 15 comprises a first knuckle 151, commonly called a “movable knuckle”. This first knuckle 151 is configured to connect the hinge 15 to the swing door 12 in question using at least one first fixing element 17. The first hinge 15 each also comprises a second knuckle 152, commonly called a “fixed knuckle”. The second knuckle 152 is configured to connect the hinge 15 to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 using at least one second fixing element 18. The first fixing element 17 and the second fixing element 18 are, for example, screws.

[0031] The second hinge 16 comprises a first knuckle (not shown), commonly called a “movable knuckle”. This first knuckle is configured to connect the hinge 16 to the swing door 12 in question using at least one first fixing element 17. The second hinge 16 also comprises a second knuckle (not shown) commonly called a “fixed knuckle”. The second knuckle is configured to connect the hinge 16 to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 using at least one second fixing element 18. The first fixing element 17 and the second fixing element 18 are, for example, screws.

[0032] A hinge 15, 16 may comprise several fixing elements 17, 18. A hinge 15, 16 may for example comprise two or three fixing elements 17, 18, or even more. It is thus possible to imagine a hinge 15, 16 which comprises one or two first fixing elements 17 configured to connect said hinge 15, 16 to the swing door 12 considered. This same hinge 15, 16 may comprise one or two second fixing elements 18 configured to connect said hinge 15, 16 to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0033] Since at least one hinged door 12 of the arrangement considered here is of the “autoclave” type, the first fixing element 17 is inaccessible from the outside when at least one hinged door 12 is mounted on the body 14 and closed. More precisely, the first knuckle(s) 151 of the first hinge(s) 15 mask the first fixing element(s) 17 when said hinge(s) 15 are mounted on the hinged door(s) 12. This is the case for all of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0034] In order to be able to mount the assembly of the hinged door 12 in the closed configuration and with the hinges 15, 16 on the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10, the hinged door 12 further comprises a passage opening 19 to allow the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 to pass through when mounting the arrangement of at least one hinged door 12 on the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0035] Indeed, in the case where the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 is a screw to be screwed into a nut, as in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7, the passage opening 19 in the at least one hinged door 12 is necessary to be able to pass a tool 20 such as a screwdriver therein without weakening or degrading the perceived quality of the at least one hinged door 12.

[0036] According to a specific embodiment, the passage opening 19 in the swing door 12 is made in an exterior panel of said door 12, so as to allow a tool 20 such as a screwdriver to pass through in order to be able to position and fix the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 during assembly.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally; one passage opening 19 in the hinged door 12 is made in a box of said hinged door 12. This makes the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 less easily accessible from the outside.

[0038] Such a passage opening 19 is not necessarily necessary for the second hinge 16. Indeed, according to a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the second fixing element(s) 18 of the second hinge(s) 16 can be positioned and fixed while one or more rear lights 21 are not yet mounted on the rear face of the motor vehicle 10 in question. Thus, the space(s) intended to accommodate the rear lights 21 are left vacant at the time of mounting the arrangement of at least one swing door 12 with the first and second hinges 15, 16, and these vacant spaces make it possible to position and fix the second fixing element(s) 18 of the second hinge(s) 16 on the rear face of the motor vehicle 10 in question without having to resort to a passage opening 19 as for the first hinge(s) 15.

[0039] However, it is entirely possible to imagine an embodiment of the arrangement of at least one hinged door 12 in which the hinged door(s) 12 each comprise a first passage opening 19 to allow the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 to pass through, and a second passage opening to allow the second fixing element 18 of the second hinge 16 to pass through when mounting the arrangement of at least one hinged door 12 on the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10. This alternative embodiment is not illustrated in the figures.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the passage opening 19 in a swing door 12 is configured to arrange therein a shutter 22 intended to mask the passage opening 19, as illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0041] The shutter 22 is for example a plastic part which comprises an element 23 for positioning and / or maintaining position, such as one or more clips configured to be arranged on the edges of the passage opening 19 of the swing door 12 in question.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], the shutter 22 may comprise an aerodynamic fin 24. In this specific embodiment, the shutter 22 not only makes it possible to mask the passage opening 19 in order to cover the fixing element 17, 18 housed inside said passage opening 19, the aerodynamic fin 24 of the shutter 22 also makes it possible to contribute to the aerodynamics of the motor vehicle 10 equipped with such an arrangement of at least one swing door 12.

[0043] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 4], the shutter 22 may comprise a reflector 25. In this specific embodiment, the shutter 22 with a reflector 25 not only makes it possible to mask the passage opening 19 in order to cover the fixing element 17, 18 housed inside said passage opening 19, the reflector 25 of the shutter 22 also makes it possible to contribute to a lighting function of the motor vehicle 10 equipped with such an arrangement of at least one swing door 12.

[0044] The arrangement of at least one swing door 12 described above is intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle 10, and more particularly on a body 14 in white of a motor vehicle 10, according to a mounting method described in the remainder of this description.

[0045] Thus, a method of mounting an arrangement of at least one swing door 12 comprises the following steps:

[0046] - the first knuckles of the first and second hinges 15, 16 are fixed on the swing door 12 using their first fixing elements 17; - the arrangement of the at least one swing door 12 in closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement of the at least one hinged door 12 in the closed configuration is positioned using the support on the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 which is to be equipped with said arrangement, as illustrated in [Fig.5]; - the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 is inserted through the passage opening 19 in the swing door 12, as illustrated in [Fig.6]; - the second knuckle 152 of the first hinge 15 is fixed to the body 14 using the second fixing element 18 inserted through the passage opening 19 in the closed swing door 12; - the support is detached from at least one door 12 and removed from the body, - at least one swing door 12 is open; - the second knuckle of the second hinge 16 is fixed to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 using the second fixing element 18; - a shutter 22 is placed in the passage opening 19 so as to mask said opening 19 in the swing door 12 of the arrangement.

[0047] In the particular case where the arrangement concerns two swing doors 12, the assembly method is very similar to that described previously. It includes in particular the following steps: - the first knuckles of the first and second hinges 15, 16 are fixed to the swing doors 12 using the first fixing elements 17; - the arrangement comprising the two hinged doors 12 in closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement comprising the two hinged doors 12 in closed configuration is positioned using the support on a body 14 of a motor vehicle 10 which is to be equipped with said arrangement; - the second fixing elements 18 of the first hinges 15 are inserted through the passage openings 19 in the two swing doors 12; - the second knuckles 152 of the first hinges 15 are fixed to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 using the second fixing elements 18 inserted through the passage openings 19 in the swing doors 12;

[0048] - the support is separated from the two hinged doors 12 and removed from the body; - the two swing doors 12 are open; - the second knuckles of the second hinges 16 are fixed to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 using the second fastening elements 18; - shutters 22 are put in place so as to mask the passage openings 19 in each of the two swing doors 12 of the arrangement.

Claims

Claims

1. Arrangement of at least one hinged door (12) in closed configuration on a body (14) of a motor vehicle (10), in particular at the rear of said vehicle (10), the hinged door (12) being intended to be movable in rotation relative to the body (14) around a pivot axis (P) specific to said door (12) using a first hinge (15) and a second hinge (16), the first hinge (15) and the second hinge (16) each comprising a first shank configured to connect the hinge (15, 16) to the hinged door (12) using at least one first fixing element (17);and a second knuckle configured to connect the hinge (15, 16) to the body of the (14) motor vehicle (10) using at least one second fixing element (18), the first fixing element (17) being inaccessible from the outside when the swing door (12) is mounted on the body (14) and closed, the arrangement being characterized in that the swing door (12) further comprises a passage opening (19) to allow the second fixing element (18) of the first hinge (15) to pass when mounting the arrangement of the door (12) in the closed configuration on the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10).;

2. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hinged door (12) comprises a second passage opening to allow the second fixing element (18) of the second hinge (16) to pass through when mounting the arrangement of the door (12) in the closed configuration on the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10).

3. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two hinged doors (12), said doors (12) being intended to be mounted simultaneously and in closed configuration on the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10), in particular at the rear of said vehicle (10).

4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passage opening (19) in the swing door (12) is made in an outer panel of said door (12) and / or in a box of said door (12).

5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passage opening (19) in the swing door (12) is configured to arrange therein a shutter (22) intended to mask said passage opening (19).

6. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shutter (22) comprises an aerodynamic fin (24).

7. Arrangement according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the shutter (22) comprises a reflector (25).

8. Motor vehicle (10), characterized in that it is equipped with an arrangement of at least one hinged door (12) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Method for mounting an arrangement of at least one hinged door (12) according to one of claims 1 to 7 on a body (14) of a motor vehicle (10), in particular at the rear of said vehicle (10), the hinged door (12) being intended to be mounted in the closed configuration on the body (14) of the vehicle (10), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - the first knuckles of the first and second hinges (15, 16) are fixed on the hinged door (12) using their first fixing elements (17); - the arrangement of the at least one hinged door (12) in the closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement of the at least one hinged door (12) in the closed configuration is positioned using the support on the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10) which is to be equipped with said arrangement;- the second fastening element (18) of the first hinge (15) is inserted through the passage opening (19) in the hinged door (12); - the second shank (152) of the first hinge (15) is fixed to the body (14) by means of the second fastening element (18) inserted through the passage opening (19) in the closed hinged door (12); - the support is detached from the at least one door (12) and removed from the body, - the at least one hinged door (12) is opened; - the second shank of the second hinge (16) is fixed to the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10) by means of the second fastening element (18); - a shutter (22) is placed in the passage opening (19) so as to mask said opening (19) in the hinged door (12) of the arrangement.;

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