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

Abstract

Layout of a door for a vehicle and method of mounting such a layout. Layout 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 hinge pin configured to link the hinge (15, 16) to the door (12) using a first fastening element (17); and a second hinge configured to connect the hinge (15, 16) to the body (14) by means of a second fastening element (18), the first fastening element (17) being inaccessible from the outside when the hinged door (12) is mounted on the body (14) and closed, the arrangement being characterized in that the door (12) includes a passage opening (19) to allow the second fastening element (18) to pass through when the door (12) is mounted in the closed configuration on the body (14) of the motor vehicle. Figure for the abbreviation: 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 the body of a motor vehicle, particularly 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 the body of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Most motor vehicles include hinged doors which, when open, provide access to the interior of the passenger compartment. These hinged doors are generally located on the sides of the vehicles. Some motor vehicles also have at least one hinged door located on the rear of the vehicle. When open, this at least one hinged door located on the rear provides access to a cargo area inside the vehicle.

[0003] Generally speaking, there are two types of finish for this type of hinged door, located on the rear of a motor vehicle, that differ between a hinged and a boxed section: 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. Each type of finish has its advantages and disadvantages.

[0004] In the case of the first type of finish, known as "recessed," mounting the assembly of at least one hinged door onto the vehicle body is facilitated, particularly when it involves an assembly with two hinged doors. In this case, it is possible to position the two doors, each with a substantially flat geometry, in their closed position on the same support before mounting them simultaneously onto the body of the vehicle under construction using said support. This mounting method, in addition to being quick to perform, allows for reduced gaps and flushness for the hinged doors. Furthermore, this mounting method ensures the repeatability of the assembly steps and thus results in virtually identical assemblies from one vehicle to another.In other words, an arrangement of at least one door with a "recessed" type finish between a leaf and a frame ensures the accuracy of the clearances and flushness at the level of said hinged door while offering a time of. reduced assembly during vehicle manufacturing.

[0005] However, the fasteners that allow the hinges to be attached to 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 a trim piece to conceal them.

[0006] The second type of arrangement of at least one hinged door with an "autoclave" finish differs from the first type of arrangement in its more streamlined design, particularly when the arrangement includes two hinged doors with such a finish. Indeed, the edges of the autoclave-finished hinged doors are folded down onto the sides of the vehicle, and the hinge fixing screws are not accessible from the outside. However, the assembly process used to mount such an arrangement of at least one hinged door with an "autoclave" finish is more laborious. During the manufacturing of the vehicle, these doors must be mounted individually and in an open configuration on the body-in-white of the vehicle. It is then necessary to close the doors to check their fit and to reopen them to adjust any gaps if necessary.Installing this second type of arrangement, with at least one door and an "autoclave" finish, is therefore tedious and time-consuming, but it makes the screws holding the hinges of at least one swing door inaccessible when said door is closed, thus further securing the vehicle against potential break-ins.

[0007] The object 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 mobile in rotation relative to the body around a pivot axis proper to said door by means of a first hinge and a second hinge, the first hinge and the second hinge each comprising a first hinge pin configured to link the hinge to the hinged door by means of at least one first fixing element;and a second hinge configured to link the hinge to the body of the motor vehicle using at least one second fastening element, the first fastening 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 includes a passage opening to allow the second fastening element of the; first hinge during the assembly of the door arrangement in closed configuration on the body of the motor vehicle.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the swing door includes a second passage opening to allow the second fixing element of the second hinge to pass through when mounting the door arrangement 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 outer 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 accommodate a shutter intended to conceal said passage opening.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the shutter includes 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 of mounting an arrangement of at least one hinged door on the body of a motor vehicle, particularly at the rear of said vehicle, the hinged door being intended to be mounted in a closed configuration on the body of the vehicle, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

[0016] - the first hinges of the first and second hinges are fixed to the door swinging using their first fixing elements; - the arrangement of at least one hinged door in closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement of at least one hinged door in 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 opening in the swing door; - the second hinge of the first hinge is fixed to the case 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 crate, - at least one door is open; - the second hinge pin of the second hinge is fixed to the body of the motor vehicle using the second fixing element; - a shutter is placed in the opening to mask said opening in the hinged door of the arrangement.

[0017] These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, among which:

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

[0019] Fig. IB is another view of the rear portion of the motor vehicle of Fig. IA,

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

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

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

[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] Figures IA and IB illustrate a rear portion of a motor vehicle 10. This vehicle 10 includes two hinged doors 12 of the "autoclave" type arranged at the rear of the vehicle 10. By "autoclaves," it is understood here that the hinged doors 12 have a curved lateral edge 11 so as to cover a part of the lateral faces 13 of the vehicle 10. In Figures IA and IB, 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. 1A]. In this document, the X-axis denotes the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 10. When moving forward in a straight line, the vehicle 10 progresses from rear to 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, in the direction of reverse. The Y-axis denotes the transverse axis of the vehicle 10. The Y-axis is oriented from left to right, left and right being defined according to the viewpoint of a driver of the vehicle 10. The Z-axis denotes the axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis. The vehicle 10 is considered to be resting on a horizontal surface. The Z-axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y, and Z axes form an orthogonal coordinate system. This same coordinate system, defined with reference to a vehicle 10, will also be used to describe an arrangement of two hinged doors 12, even when considered outside the vehicle 10, since it is intended for mounting in a specific orientation within the vehicle 10.

[0028] At least one hinged door 12 is mounted 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 its own pivot axis P, between a closed position and an open position. Each hinged door 12 is capable of pivoting in a specific opening and closing direction. The opening and closing directions of the two hinged doors 12 are opposite to each other.

[0029] At least one hinged door 12 can pivot about its pivot axis P by means of 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 hinged 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 Figures IA and IB, the motor vehicle 10 thus comprises an arrangement of two hinged doors 12 and a total of four hinges 15, 16: two first hinges 15 and two second hinges 16.

[0030] The first hinge 15 includes a first hinge pin 151, commonly referred to as the "movable hinge pin". This first hinge pin 151 is configured to connect the hinge 15 to the swing door 12 in question by means of at least one first fastener 17. Each first hinge 15 also includes a second hinge pin 152, commonly referred to as the "fixed hinge pin". The second hinge pin 152 is configured to connect the hinge 15 to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 by means of at least one second fastener 18. The first fastener 17 and the second fastener 18 are, for example, screws.

[0031] The second hinge 16 includes a first hinge pin (not shown), commonly referred to as the "movable hinge pin". This first hinge pin is configured to connect the hinge 16 to the swing door 12 under consideration by means of at least one first fastener 17. The second hinge 16 also includes a second hinge pin (not shown), commonly referred to as the "fixed hinge pin". The second hinge pin is configured to connect the hinge 16 to the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10 by means of at least one second fastener 18. The first fastener 17 and the second fastener 18 are, for example, screws.

[0032] A hinge 15, 16 may include several fastening elements 17, 18. A Hinge 15, 16 may, for example, include two or three fastening elements 17, 18, or even more. It is thus possible to imagine a hinge 15, 16 that includes one or two initial fastening elements 17 configured to connect said hinge 15, 16 to the swing door 12 in question. This same hinge 15, 16 may include one or two secondary fastening 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 fastener 17 is inaccessible from the outside when at least one hinged door 12 is mounted on the housing 14 and closed. More precisely, the first hinge pin(s) 151 of the first hinge(s) 15 conceal the first fastener(s) 17 when said hinge(s) 15 are mounted on the hinged door(s) 12. This is the case for all embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.

[0034] In order to be able to mount the assembly of the hinged door 12 in closed configuration and with the hinges 15, 16 on the body 14 of the motor vehicle 10, the hinged door 12 further includes 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 figures 2 to 7, the opening 19 in the at least one hinged door 12 is necessary to allow a tool 20 such as a screwdriver to pass through 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 hinged door 12 is made in an outer panel of said door 12, so as to allow passage of a tool 20 such as a screwdriver in order to position and fix the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 during assembly.

[0037] Alternatively or in addition, one opening 19 in the hinged door 12 is made in a housing 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 required 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 hinged door 12 with the first and second hinges 15, 16, and these empty spaces allow the second fixing element(s) 18 of the second hinge(s) 16 to be positioned and fixed on the rear face of the motor vehicle 10 considered without having to use a passage opening 19 as for the first hinge(s) 15.

[0039] However, it is quite possible to imagine an embodiment of the arrangement of at least one hinged door 12 in which the hinged door(s) 12 each include a first opening 19 to allow the second fixing element 18 of the first hinge 15 to pass through, and a second 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 hinged door 12 is configured to accommodate a shutter 22 intended to conceal the passage opening 19, as illustrated in [Fig.2].

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

[0042] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.3], the shutter 22 may include 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 hinged door 12.

[0043] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4], the shutter 22 may include 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 hinged door 12.

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

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

[0046] - the first hinges of the first and second hinges 15, 16 are fixed on the hinged door 12 using their first fixing elements 17; - the arrangement of at least one 12-hinged door in closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement of at least one hinged door 12 in 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 swinging door 12, as illustrated in [Fig.6]; - the second hinge 152 of the first hinge 15 is fixed to the case 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 case, - at least one 12-way swing door is open; - the second pin 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 hinged door 12 of the arrangement.

[0047] In the specific case where the arrangement involves two 12-leaf swing doors, the assembly process is very similar to that described above. It includes, in particular, the following steps: - the first hinges of the first and second hinges 15, 16 are fixed on the swing doors 12 using the first fixing elements 17; - the arrangement including the two 12-leaf swing doors 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 swinging doors 12; - the second hinges 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 swinging doors 12;

[0048] - the support is detached from the two 12 hinged doors and removed from the case; - both swing doors 12 are open; - the second hinges of the second hinges 16 are fixed to the case 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

Demands

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) about a pivot axis (P) proper to said door (12) by means of a first hinge (15) and a second hinge (16), the first hinge (15) and the second hinge (16) each comprising a first pin configured to link the hinge (15, 16) to the hinged door (12) by means of at least one first fastening element (17);and a second hinge configured to link the hinge (15, 16) to the body of the (14) motor vehicle (10) by means of at least one second fastening element (18), the first fastening 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 includes a passage opening (19) to allow the second fastening element (18) of the first hinge (15) to pass through 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) includes 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. An arrangement according to any 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 a closed configuration on the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10), in particular at the rear of said vehicle (10).

4. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passage opening (19) in the hinged 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 any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passage opening (19) in the hinged door (12) is configured to accommodate a shutter (22) intended to conceal 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 any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the shutter (22) comprises a catadioptric lens (25).

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

9. A method for mounting an arrangement of at least one hinged door (12) according to any 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 hinges of the first and second hinges (15, 16) are fixed to the hinged door (12) using their first fixing elements (17); - the arrangement of at least one hinged door (12) in the closed configuration is arranged on a support; - the arrangement of 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 fitted with said arrangement;- the second fixing element (18) of the first hinge (15) is inserted through the passage opening (19) in the hinged door (12); - the second pin (152) of the first hinge (15) is fixed to the body (14) by means of the second fixing element (18) inserted through the passage opening (19) in the closed hinged door (12); - the support is detached from at least one door (12) and removed from the body; - at least one hinged door (12) is opened; - the second pin of the second hinge (16) is fixed to the body (14) of the motor vehicle (10) by means of the second fixing element (18); - a shutter (22) is placed in the passage opening (19) so as to conceal said opening (19) in the hinged door (12) of the assembly.

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