Reinforced structure of a motor vehicle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle structure (1) having a floor (2) extending between an upper face (3) and a lower face (4) and comprising a first cross member (5) extending over the upper face (3) in a transverse direction of the structure (1), the first cross member (5) forming a profile (6) having a rear rebate (7), bearing on the upper face (3), between the first cross member (5) and a rear end, along the longitudinal axis, the structure (1) comprising at least one reinforcing element (8) attached to the structure (1) and fixed to the lower face (4), at the rear rebate (7) and, on the other hand, to a stiffening element (9) disposed between the front end and the rebate (7) along the longitudinal axis, each reinforcing element (8) being designed to resist deformation of the first cross member (5) in the event of a frontal impact. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Reinforced structure of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The technical field relates to motor vehicle structures comprising reinforcement, as well as motor vehicles equipped with such a structure.

[0002] In the area of ​​road safety, car manufacturers must consider numerous concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles. For example, car manufacturers must ensure the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision. To guarantee passenger safety, vehicles are subjected to various standardized procedures simulating impacts against a rigid obstacle.

[0003] Standard procedures are, for example, described by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is responsible for road safety and vehicle regulation.

[0004] The behavior of motor vehicles in these situations is regulated and tested and the requirements in terms of results in these tests are ever more numerous, more difficult to satisfy and require car manufacturers to constantly innovate.

[0005] Moreover, the recent development of electric vehicles imposes new constraints, such as, for example, the addition of longitudinal reinforcements and the need to protect the motor batteries from deformations and impacts.

[0006] In this context, and more generally, many vehicles have a crossmember attached to the vehicle floor. It is important to protect such a crossmember from deformation in the event of a frontal impact. However, this deformation is all the more likely when the vehicle has longitudinal reinforcements extending from the front of the vehicle to this crossmember. Experience shows, in fact, that the longitudinal reinforcements transmit some of the energy of a frontal impact to the crossmember, which then undergoes a torsional force that deforms the vehicle floor. When the vehicle is an electric vehicle, the deformation of the floor is likely to affect a battery pack located beneath the floor.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a solution to protect a crossmember from torsional deformation during a front impact.

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure which, in the event of a frontal impact, limits torsional deformation of a crossmember attached to the floor.

[0009] To this end, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle structure featuring a floor extending between an upper face and an lower face, the structure comprising a first cross member extending over the upper face of the floor and along a transverse direction of the vehicle structure, the first cross member forming a profile having at least one rear rebate, at least partly supported on the upper face of the floor, between the first cross member and a rear end of the structure, along a longitudinal axis of the structure, the structure further comprising at least one reinforcement element attached to the structure and fixed, on the one hand, to the lower face of the floor, at least partly at the rear rebate and, on the other hand, to a stiffening element of the structure disposed between the front end of the structure and the rebate along the longitudinal axis of the structure,Each reinforcing element is designed to resist deformation of the first crossmember in the event of a frontal impact on the structure.

[0010] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a structure according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, the vehicle structure according to the invention has a first crossmember protected from torsional deformation in the event of a frontal impact. Indeed, the impact energy transmitted to the first crossmember exerts stress on the rear flange attached to the floor. The reinforcing element, located on the underside of the floor and aligned with the flange, counteracts the deformation of the floor caused by the rear flange. In fact, the reinforcing element transmits the stresses to the stiffening element, thus resisting the deformation of the first crossmember and the floor to which the first crossmember is attached. Therefore, in the event of a frontal impact, the reinforcing element counteracts the floor deformation normally caused by the rear flange and prevents, if necessary, impacting a motor battery.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the structure comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcement extending over the upper face of the floor between the front end and the first cross member, each reinforcement element being arranged in line with a longitudinal reinforcement.

[0013] According to one possibility, the stiffening element is a second cross member extending over the underside of the floor.

[0014] Advantageously, the second cross member is designed to allow the attachment of a motorization battery.

[0015] In one embodiment, the reinforcement element is formed from a stamped sheet metal in the shape of an L-shape.

[0016] Advantageously, the stamped sheet metal has at least one rib to reinforce the stamped sheet metal.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the vehicle structure, the reinforcement element is attached to the structure by welding.

[0018] Advantageously, the first cross member is a seat cross member.

[0019] According to one possibility, the vehicle is electrically powered.

[0020] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a structure of vehicle according to the invention.

[0022] A motor vehicle structure 1 according to the invention, partially illustrated in the figure, is intended to equip a vehicle according to the invention. Advantageously, the vehicle according to the invention is an electrically powered vehicle.

[0023] The structure 1 has a floor 2 extending between two opposite faces, an upper face 3 and a lower face 4. The upper face 3 is intended to face the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The structure 1 extends longitudinally between a front end (not shown), forming part of the area commonly referred to as the front of the vehicle, and a rear end (not shown), located in the area commonly referred to as the rear of the vehicle.

[0024] The structure 1 comprises a first cross member 5 extending over the upper face 3 of the floor 2, along a transverse direction of the vehicle structure 1. The first cross member 5 forms a profile 6 having at least one rear rebate 7. The rear rebate 7 is at least partially supported by the upper face 3 of the floor 2. The rear rebate 7 is, for example, welded to the floor 2. The rear rebate 7 is located between the first cross member 5 and the rear end of the structure 1, along a longitudinal axis of the structure 1.

[0025] In the example illustrated in [Fig.1], the first crossbeam 5 is a seat crossbeam.

[0026] The structure 1 further comprises at least one reinforcing element 8 attached to the structure 1 and fixed, on the one hand, to the lower face 4 of the floor 2, at least partially at the rear rebate 7 and, on the other hand, to a stiffening element 9 of the structure 1 arranged between the front end of the structure 1 and the rebate 7 along the longitudinal axis of the structure 1. The stiffening element 9 is typically a part contributing to the structural resistance of the structure 1. By being fixed at least partially at the rebate 7, there is thus an area of ​​the floor 2 having at least three sheet metal thicknesses comprising the rebate 7, the floor 2 and the reinforcing element 8.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the reinforcing element 8 is attached to the structure 1 by welding.

[0028] Each reinforcement element 8 is designed to oppose the deformation of the first cross member 5 in the event of a front impact suffered by the structure 1.

[0029] In the example illustrated in the figure, the stiffening element 9 is a second A cross member 10 extends along the underside 4 of the floor 2. The second cross member 10 forms a U-shaped profile extended by two flanges 11 bearing against the underside 4. This second cross member 10 has significant dimensions, including thickness, to provide it with substantial rigidity in order to minimize deformation in the event of a frontal impact on the structure 1. The second cross member 10 is, for example, welded to lateral parts 12 of the structure 1, such as stringers. Advantageously, the second cross member 10 is designed to allow the attachment of a tray 13 designed to house a motor battery, not shown.

[0030] As illustrated in the figure, the structure 1 includes at least one longitudinal reinforcement 14, partially shown, extending along the longitudinal axis on the upper face 3 of the floor 2 between the front end and the first cross member 5. During a frontal impact on the structure 1, each longitudinal reinforcement 14 transmits a portion of the impact energy to the first cross member 5. Advantageously, each reinforcement element 8 is arranged in line with a longitudinal reinforcement 14.

[0031] As illustrated in the figure, the reinforcing element 8 is formed from a stamped sheet 15 in the shape of an L-shape. Thus, the reinforcing element 8 has two parts 16a, 16b forming a substantially right angle. One part 16a of the reinforcing element 8 is fixed to support the second cross member 10 and the other part 16b is fixed to support the floor 2, at the rebate 7.

[0032] Advantageously, the stamped sheet 15 has at least one rib 17, in this case two ribs 17, allowing it to be reinforced.

[0033] Thus, the structure 1 has a first cross member 5 protected from torsional deformation in the event of a frontal impact. Indeed, the impact energy transmitted to the first cross member 5, particularly by the longitudinal reinforcements 14, imposes forces on the rear rebate 7 fixed to the floor 2. The reinforcing element 8, located on the underside 4 of the floor 2 and aligned with the rebate 7, resists the deformation of the floor 2 by the rear rebate 7. In fact, at the rebate 7, at least three layers of sheet metal are welded together: the rebate 7, the floor 2, and part 16b of the reinforcing element 8. The reinforcing element 8 therefore transmits the forces to the second cross member 10 while resisting the deformation of the first cross member 5 and the floor 2.

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the motor vehicle structure described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle structure (1) having a floor (2) extending between an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), the structure (1) comprising a first cross member (5) extending over the upper face (3) of the floor (2) and along a transverse direction of the vehicle structure (1), the first cross member (5) forming a profile (6) having at least one rear rebate (7), at least partially bearing on the upper face (3) of the floor (2), between the first cross member (5) and a rear end of the structure (1), along a longitudinal axis of the structure (1), the structure (1) further comprising at least one reinforcing element (8) attached to the structure (1) and fixed, on the one hand, to the lower face (4) of the floor (1), at least partially aligned with the rear rebate (7) and, on the other hand,on a stiffening element (9) of the structure (1) disposed between the front end of the structure (1) and the rebate (7) along the longitudinal axis of the structure (1), each reinforcing element (8) being designed to oppose the deformation of the first cross member (5) in the event of a frontal impact suffered by the structure (1).

2. Vehicle structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcement (14) extending over the upper face (3) of the floor (2) between the front end and the first cross member (5), each reinforcement element (8) being arranged in line with a longitudinal reinforcement (14).

3. Vehicle structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stiffening element (9) is a second cross member (10) extending over the underside (4) of the floor (2).

4. Vehicle structure (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the second cross member (10) is designed to allow the attachment of a motorization battery.

5. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reinforcement element (8) is formed of a stamped sheet (15) in the shape of a right angle.

6. Vehicle structure (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the stamped sheet metal (15) has at least one rib (17) allowing the stamped sheet metal (15) to be reinforced.

7. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the reinforcing element (8) is attached to the structure

8. (1) by welding. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, ca

9. characterized in that the first cross member (5) is a seat cross member. Motor vehicle having a structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is electrically powered.

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