MOTOR VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A STRUCTURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure (1) of a body part for a motor vehicle, said structure (1) comprising: – at least two side members (30), each of the side members (30) having an elongated shape and comprising one end, called the first end (30a), configured to be connected to a vehicle bumper beam; – at least one angle return element (32) fixed to each of said side members (30); characterized in that stamped shapes (35) are arranged in said at least one angle return element (32). Abstract figure: [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A BODY STRUCTURE STRUCTURE

[0001] The present invention relates to the structure of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to motor vehicle body structures comprising side members. The present invention relates, among other things, to the management of the deformation of said side members of said body structure during an impact.

[0002] Indeed, the structure of the rear or front part of the body of a motor vehicle generally comprises several hollow metal beams such as side members, side members, cross members, etc.

[0003] When a motor vehicle suffers a significant impact, whether frontal or rear, the end parts of the side members, also referred to as "stretchers", which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, are deformed.

[0004] It is preferable, in order to dissipate a significant part of the impact energy, that this deformation takes the form of longitudinal compression, or bunching, of the side members, in which successive accordion-like folds are formed in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the side members.

[0005] It is however common for a side member to bend away from its longitudinal axis upon impact, a fold forming a vertical axis of rotation between two portions of the side member. This bend causes a "verticalization" (or upward deformation, or deformation towards the floor of the vehicle) of a portion of the side member and stops its compression in line.

[0006] This mechanical behavior has the effect of limiting the absorption efficiency of the side member when the vehicle is subjected to a rear or frontal impact. Furthermore, the deformation of the side member can be so significant that it can prevent the rear or front doors of the vehicle from opening.

[0007] Furthermore, the deformation, in the case of verticalization, absorbs a much smaller quantity of energy (relative to the impact). The protection of the rest of the vehicle, and in particular of the passenger compartment in which the passengers are, is then reduced.

[0008] To stabilize the beam bundling in the event of an impact, the shape and size of these beams are generally chosen to give them significant inertia and increase their transverse stiffness. However, these beams with reinforced inertia generally have a greater mass and take up more space than non-reinforced beams.

[0009] Oversizing the side members also results in an increase in production costs and an increase in the weight of the vehicle, thus causing an increase in the vehicle's fuel consumption, and making it more difficult to install the various components of the vehicle around the stretchers.

[0010] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of body part structure for a motor vehicle, said structure comprising: - at least two side members, each of the side members having an elongated shape and comprising one end, called the first end, configured to be connected to a vehicle bumper beam; - at least one angle return element fixed to each of said side members; characterized in that stamped shapes are provided in said at least one angle return element.

[0011] The presence of stamped shapes at the level of the angle return element of the spar makes it possible to modify the mechanical behavior (such as the stiffness or the inertia) of the spar during an impact, and to limit, on the one hand, the risk of deformation of the spar during small impacts (for example for speeds below 10 km / h), and on the other hand, the verticalization of said spars during impacts at high speeds (for example for speeds above 50 km / h).

[0012] It will be noted that an angle transmission element may be a structure intrinsic to the side member or be an additional part fixed to the side member to ensure that the force generated by an impact, rear or front, is applied, at most, along the longitudinal axis of the side member (which is itself oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle), this in order to promote the longitudinal compression of said side member during an impact (and therefore promote the absorption and dissipation of the energy of an impact).

[0013] It will also be noted that the body part structure according to the invention can be applied to any type of vehicle, thermal, hybrid or electric, thus contributing to the establishment of an identical, or at least similar, platform during the production of a vehicle and its different engine versions, despite the different safety constraints linked to the specific elements of each engine (weight distribution, size of the traction battery, charger, fuel tank, etc.).

[0014] According to a possible characteristic, said stamped shapes are arranged substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of each of said side members. The stamped shapes are advantageously aligned along the longitudinal axis of the side member, in order to modify the inertia and the mechanical properties of the side member advantageously along its longitudinal direction.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, said stamped shapes are substantially cylindrical shapes. Advantageously, said stamped shapes have a substantially cylindrical or stud shape, in order to distribute as evenly as possible the stresses undergone by the angle return element (and therefore by the side member) during an impact, and thus limit the risks of said side members becoming vertical.

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, in the mounted position of said structure in a motor vehicle, said stamped shapes are arranged on the face of the angle transmission element positioned opposite the rolling plane.

[0017] Advantageously, in the mounted position of the structure on or in a motor vehicle, the angle return element has a face oriented towards the outside (and the bottom) of the vehicle (and therefore of the side member), a face which is therefore located opposite the rolling plane of the vehicle. This arrangement of the stamped shapes makes it possible in particular to optimize the management of the mechanical stresses undergone by the side member during an impact, and thus to limit the risks of verticalization of said side member.

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, said stamped shapes are arranged on a face of the angle return element which is inclined relative to the main extension plane of the side member (or, in the mounted position, relative to a horizontal plane). Advantageously, said inclined face has an angle of between 10° and 25° relative to the main extension plane of the spar on which said angle return element is fixed.

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, said stamped shapes are configured to extend towards the inside or the outside of said at least one angle return element. Depending on the weight of the vehicle, the characteristics of the side member, etc., the stamped shapes can be arranged to extend towards the inside of the element of the angle transmission, or conversely towards the outside of said element, these then projecting relative to the face where said stamped shapes are arranged.

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, the stamped shape closest to the first end is oriented towards the inside of said at least one angle return element. The fact that the stamped shape closest to the first end is oriented inwards makes it possible to reinforce the inertia of the spar and to limit the risk of it deforming during a low-speed impact, while reducing the risk of the spar becoming vertical during more significant impacts.

[0021] According to another possible characteristic, said stamped shapes have a longitudinal extension of at least 15 mm. Note that by longitudinal extension we mean the dimension of the shape stamped which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the spar. The longitudinal extension of said stamped shapes is at least 15 mm, and preferably at least 20 mm, to modify the mechanical behavior of the spar during an impact, and thus reduce the risks of said spar becoming vertical.

[0022] According to another possible characteristic, said stamped shapes are spaced at least 10 mm apart from each other. Advantageously, the stamped shapes have a minimum spacing of at least 10 mm, and preferably at least 15 mm, in order to optimize the effect of said stamped shapes on the mechanical behavior of the spar. It will be noted that minimum spacing means the two closest points (or edges) of two consecutive stamped shapes.

[0023] According to another possible characteristic, said side members and / or said angle return elements are made of steel. Advantageously, said side members and / or said angle return elements are made of sheet steel, for example FP60 steel or DP780 steel.

[0024] According to another possible characteristic, said stamped shapes are distinct from one another. Having distinct stamped shapes allows for better control of the mechanical behavior of the spar during an impact, but also to limit interference between stamped shapes, interference which can alter the expected mechanical behavior of the spar during an impact.

[0025] According to another possible characteristic, at least one of said stamped shapes comprises a fixing opening. Advantageously, at least one stamped shape has a fixing opening configured to accommodate a fixing means, such as a screw, nut, rivet, etc., to connect said spar (or said angle return element) to a third-party mechanical part, a beam, a chute, etc.

[0026] According to another possible characteristic, each of said side members has two opposite longitudinal ends, each of said ends being configured to be fixed to separate structural elements of the vehicle. The first end is configured to be fixed to the bumper beam, for example rear or front, while the second end is configured to be fixed to a structural element of the vehicle, for example to the underbody. It should also be noted that certain side members serve, for example, as a framework for the rear part of the vehicle, and are fixed to the rear panel (i.e. a sheet metal between the ends of the side members), to the trunk floor, to the wheel arch and in particular to a cross member between the seat floor and the trunk floor.

[0027] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example a thermal vehicle, electric or hybrid, comprising a body part structure, rear or front, comprising all or part of the characteristics stated above.

[0028] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] illustrates a partial schematic side view of a body structure side member according to the invention; - [Fig.2] illustrates a partial, enlarged and perspective schematic view of the spar of [Fig.l]; - [[Fig.3]] is a partial schematic view of the body structure according to the invention.

[0029] In the following description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the terms "consist of". Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "front", "rear", "longitudinal" and "transverse" will be understood in relation to the general orientation of the motor vehicle, whether it is thermal, hybrid or electric.

[0030] The term "lower" will designate a greater proximity to the ground than "upper" along the vertical axis. Furthermore, it will be noted that in the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0031] In addition, an orthogonal reference frame XYZ is defined with respect to the vehicle, namely: - an X axis, defining a longitudinal and horizontal direction of the vehicle, - a Y axis, defining a transverse and horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, orthogonal to the horizontal XY plane, the Z axis with the X axis defining a vertical XZ plane.

[0032] In the present application, it will be noted that "substantially parallel" means a direction deviating by at most 20°, or even by at most 10° or by at most 5° from a parallel direction. It will also be noted that "substantially orthogonal" means a direction deviating by at most 20°, or even by at most 10° or by at most 5° from an angle of a value of 90°.

[0033] [Fig.l] thus illustrates a schematic side view, more particularly in an XZ plane or vertical plane, of a side member 30 of a body part structure 1 (very partially shown) according to the invention intended to equip a thermal, electric or hybrid vehicle. It will be noted that the exemplary embodiment described below relates to a rear body part structure, but can also be applied mutatis mutandis to a front body part structure of a motor vehicle.

[0034] More particularly, said structure 1 of the rear part of the body according to the invention generally comprises at least two side members 30 connected to each other by means of one or more cross members (not shown).

[0035] Each of the side members 30 has an elongated shape and two opposite longitudinal ends, one of the ends 30a, called the first end, is configured to be connected to a beam of the rear bumper of the vehicle (not shown), while the other end (not visible), called the second end, is configured to be fixed to another structural element of the vehicle, such as the underbody.

[0036] It will be noted that each of the side members 30 can be fixed to other structural elements of the vehicle, as long as these are distinct and contribute to the mechanical strength of said rear body part structure during a rear impact.

[0037] In the mounted position in a vehicle, the side members 30 of the structure 1 of the rear body part extend substantially along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (and mainly in an XY plane in the mounted position). The cross member(s) which connect said at least two side members 30 to each other, for their part, extend transversely to said side members 30 (or in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or of the side members, or Y axis).

[0038] The side members 30 are generally hollow metal beams and comprise, near their respective first ends 30a, an angle return element 32.

[0039] Said angle transmission element 32 is generally an intrinsic structure or an additional part fixed, for example by welding or splicing, to the side member 30 to ensure that the force generated by a rear impact is applied as best as possible along the longitudinal axis of the side member 30, that is to say that the force of the impact is applied substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side member 30 (and thus maximize the energy absorbed by the longitudinal compression of the side member during an impact).

[0040] It will also be noted that said side members 30 and / or said angle return elements 32 are made of steel, such as sheet steel, for example FP60 steel or DP780 steel.

[0041] The side members 30 generally have four faces which can be defined, when the side member 30 is in the mounted position, as two vertical faces, called respectively the outer face and the inner face, and two horizontal faces, called respectively the upper face and the lower face.

[0042] Thus, when the side member 30 is in the mounted position, the first face 30b is advantageously a vertical face, that is to say substantially included in a plane XZ, advantageously oriented towards the outside of the vehicle (or even a so-called “external” face, as opposed to the face arranged towards the inside of the vehicle).

[0043] Furthermore, still when the side member 30 is in the mounted position, the second face 30c is a horizontal face, that is to say substantially included in an XY plane, and is advantageously a lower face, that is to say located as close as possible to the ground (as opposed to an upper face, located above and which is for example intended to support a floor of the vehicle).

[0044] The angle return element 32 is thus fixed on the lower face 30c and has a substantially pyramidal shape. The pyramidal base of said angle return element 32 is located on the first end 30a, or even at least partially merged with said end 30a, while said pyramid extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spar 30, the apex of the element 32 being in contact with the lower face 30c of the spar (for example fixed to said face 30c).

[0045] Said angle return element 32 thus has at least three distinct free faces which can be defined, when the side member 30 is in the mounted position, as two vertical faces, respectively called the outer face 32a and the inner face (not visible), and a lower face 32b, that is to say the face closest to the ground (or the rolling plane) in the mounted position.

[0046] Said angle return element 32 comprises stamped shapes 35 which are arranged on the lower face 32b of said angle return element 32. The lower face 32b of the angle return element 32 is, for its part, preferably inclined relative to the main extension plane of the side member 30 (or, in the mounted position, relative to a horizontal plane).

[0047] Said inclined face 32b has for example an angle of inclination of between 10° and 25° relative to the main extension plane of the spar 30 on which said angle return element 32 is fixed (it will be noted that the part of the lower face 32b furthest from the spar 30 is located at the level of the first end 30a).

[0048] It will be noted that “stamped shape” means that the metal sheet of the angle transmission element 32 has been deformed or shaped, for example by means of a die and a punch, locally to define a three-dimensional shape therein.

[0049] Said stamped shapes 35 of the angle transmission element 32 are advantageously substantially aligned, and preferably substantially aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spar 30 (or to the X axis in the mounted position).

[0050] Advantageously, said stamped shapes 35 are substantially cylindrical or stud-shaped, which extend outwardly or inwardly from the angle return element 32. Thus, the stamped shape 35 which “extends outwardly” is a shape which protrudes (or projects) from the lower face 32b of the angle return element 32 and extends, when the side member 30 is in the mounted position, in the direction of the rolling plane or the ground (i.e. away from the side member 30 and downwardly in the mounted position).

[0051] In addition, the cylindrical shape of said stamped shapes 35 has a surface 35a acting as a section, as well as a lateral surface connecting the two opposite longitudinal ends of said cylindrical shape. The section of the cylindrical shape is preferably circular, elliptical or polygonal (for example hexagonal, octagonal, etc.).

[0052] In addition, the stamped shapes 35 may be arranged to extend towards the inside of the element of the angle transmission 32. Thus, advantageously, the stamped shape 35 closest to the first end 30a is oriented towards the inside of said at least one angle transmission element 32.

[0053] Furthermore, said stamped shapes 35 have a longitudinal extension of at least 15 mm, and preferably at least 20 mm. It will be noted that by longitudinal extension, we mean the dimension of the stamped shape 35 which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the spar 30 (or, in the mounted position, substantially parallel to the axis X).

[0054] Said stamped shapes 35 are for example spaced at least 10 mm apart from each other, and preferably at least 15 mm. Said stamped shapes 35 are therefore distinct from each other.

[0055] Furthermore, at least one of said stamped shapes 35 comprises a fixing opening 35a, for example arranged on the surface of said shape 35 defining its section. Said fixing opening 35a of the stamped shape 35 is thus configured to accommodate a fixing means, such as a screw, nut, rivet, etc., to connect said spar (or said angle return element) to a third mechanical part, a beam, a chute, etc.

Claims

Claims

1. Structure (1) of a body part for a motor vehicle, said structure (1) comprising: - at least two side members (30), each of the side members (30) having an elongated shape and comprising one end, called the first end (30a), configured to be connected to a vehicle bumper beam - at least one angle return element (32) fixed to each of said side members (30); characterized in that stamped shapes (35) are arranged in said at least one angle return element (32).

2. Structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said stamped shapes (35) are arranged substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of each of said side members (30).

3. Structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stamped shapes (35) are substantially cylindrical in shape.

4. Structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the mounted position of said structure (1), said stamped shapes (35) are arranged on the face of the angle transmission element (35) positioned opposite the rolling plane.

5. Structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stamped shapes (35) are configured to extend towards the inside or the outside of said at least one angle return element (35).

6. Structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the stamped shape (35) closest to the first end (30a) is oriented towards the inside of said at least one angle return element (32).

7. Structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stamped shapes (35) have a longitudinal extension of at least 15 mm.

8. Structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stamped shapes (35) are spaced at least 10 mm apart from each other.

9. Structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stamped shapes (35) are distinct

10. from each other. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a body part structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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