ASSEMBLY FOR FRONT STRUCTURE OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for a front structure of a motor vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising: – a hollow sheet metal body and a lining (5) fixed to said hollow body, said hollow body and said lining (5) being shaped to form a force path of a motor vehicle; – a support part (9) for a vehicle hood hinge fixed to said lining (5); characterized in that said support part (9) comprises a first part configured (9a) to fix a hood hinge thereto and a second part (9b) transversely covering at least a third of said lining (5), and preferably at least half of said lining (5). Abstract figure: [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: ASSEMBLY FOR FRONT STRUCTURE OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A SET

[0001] The present invention relates generally to assemblies for the structure of a motor vehicle, and more particularly relates to an assembly for the front structure of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an assembly.

[0002] Indeed, in terms of road safety, automobile manufacturers must take into account multiple concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles in order, on the one hand, to ensure the safety of vehicle passengers in the event of a collision or that of other most vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, and, on the other hand, to control the costs of repairing vehicles when they undergo urban impacts, called "repairable impacts" suffered at low speeds of the order of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour.

[0003] For impacts at higher speeds, of the order of 50 km / h or more, vehicles are forced to deform to absorb at least part of the energy released during the impact, in order to best protect the passengers. The deformation behavior of a motor vehicle, under the effect of an impact, is particularly optimized by automobile manufacturers who absolutely seek to prevent the deformations undergone by the vehicle from impacting the passenger compartment and its occupants.

[0004] Furthermore, the majority of modern vehicles have a passive protection design based on three load paths: a first load path consisting of the side member or stretcher line, a second load path, also called the lower load path, consisting of cradle extensions, as well as a third load path which comprises an external hollow body and a lining which closes said external hollow body.

[0005] It will be noted that this type of structure, a hollow body closed by a lining, is found at the front pillar of motor vehicles, therefore on each of the lateral sides of a motor vehicle. The third force path, that is to say the hollow body closed by a wing lining, is generally attached to a front pillar by one of its ends. It will be noted that the other end of the third force path is, for its part, connected to a bumper beam and / or to a stretcher line via the wheel arch. In addition, several support parts for a hood are fixed to this assembly, as well as constituent elements of the front wing of the vehicle.

[0006] In the case of a high-speed front impact against an obstacle, such as a vehicle, a rigid wall, a deformable barrier, etc., the third force path is intended to transmit forces and dissipate the energy of the impact. However, the third path may have areas of weakness linked to its design, its assembly, or even due to manufacturing constraints, thus putting its proper functioning at fault.

[0007] These weak areas cause, for example, a problem of early deformation of the rear area of ​​the third force path, therefore of the hollow body and the lining, in particular near the junction between said third force path and the front foot of the vehicle.

[0008] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of assembly for the front structure of a motor vehicle, said assembly comprising: - a hollow sheet metal body and a lining fixed to said hollow body, said hollow body and said lining being shaped to form a motor vehicle stress path; - a support part for a vehicle hood hinge fixed to said lining; characterized in that said support piece comprises a first part configured to fix a hood hinge thereto and a second part transversely covering at least one third of said lining, and preferably at least half of said lining.

[0009] It will be noted that the hollow body and said lining each have an elongated shape, the opposite longitudinal ends of the elements of the force path being configured to be connected respectively to a front foot of a motor vehicle and to a bumper beam (and / or to a stretcher line via the front part of the wheel arch).

[0010] Advantageously, a part located in the immediate vicinity of the weak zone of the stress path, here the support part for the vehicle hood articulation, is used to cover and reinforce, at least partially, the weak zone of the stress path. The use of an existing part, already having another function, makes it possible to avoid increasing the thickness of the hollow body and the lining, and therefore to avoid an increase in the weight of the load path, while making it possible to improve the mechanical rigidity of the load path and limit its excessively rapid crushing, while limiting the load undergone by the front foot, during an impact.

[0011] Advantageously, the assembly according to the invention makes it possible in particular to offer an improved safety performance (for hollow bodies and linings with identical external dimensions and iso-structure) while having hollow bodies and linings which can be used both for a front structure of electric, hybrid or thermal vehicles. This also has the advantage of improving the mechanical properties of the front structure of the vehicle with respect to frontal impacts, while optimizing the overall mass of the vehicles and / or reducing the manufacturing cost of the vehicles, whether these vehicles are thermal, electric or hybrid.

[0012] Furthermore, the assembly according to the invention allows greater standardization of the structural elements of the vehicle, these being able to contribute to the establishment of an identical (or relatively similar) platform during the production of an electric, hybrid or thermal vehicle, despite the different safety constraints linked to the specific elements of each engine (weight distribution, size of the traction battery, charger, fuel tank, etc.)

[0013] According to a possible characteristic, the hollow body and the lining forming the force path have an end configured to be fixed to a front leg of a motor vehicle, said support part being located as close as possible to the junction between the lining and the front leg, preferably at a distance less than 30 mm from the junction, and even more preferably less than 15 mm.

[0014] The term "the support part is fixed as close as possible" means that the support part is arranged just before and / or sufficiently close to the junction between said lining and a front foot of the vehicle, in order to at least partially cover the weak zone of the lining, and to ensure that the mechanical behavior of the force path is safe for the passengers of the vehicle during an impact.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, said support piece extends from the transverse end to the other of said lining. Transverse means the direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said lining. This configuration allows the support part to best cover the weak zone of said lining (and therefore the stress path).

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, said hollow body is a wing reinforcement and said lining is a wing lining.

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, the support part is only in contact with said lining. Advantageously, the support part is only fixed on the lining, thus improving its fixing, and the mechanical behavior of the vehicle's load path, also simplifying the integration of the support part into said assembly.

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, the support part has a thickness of at least 1 mm, and preferably at least 1.5 mm.

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, the support piece is configured to have a shape cooperation with the area of ​​the lining where said support piece is fixed. It is advantageous to optimize the contact and fixing surface, and for example the welding zone, between the support part and the lining, so that the assembly of these elements behaves like a unitary element, particularly in terms of mechanical behavior (during an impact).

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, the support part is in one piece. The fact that the support part is a single-piece or unitary body reduces the production costs of said part, facilitates its manufacture, as well as its attachment to said lining.

[0021] According to another possible characteristic, the support piece is fixed by welding to said lining. Welding, for example by means of spot welds and / or weld beads, the reinforcement piece to the said lining is a quick and economical method, while allowing good mechanical strength of the assembly.

[0022] According to another possible characteristic, the support part is made of steel having a high elastic limit, for example a steel having an elastic limit greater than 300 MPa and a tensile strength greater than 400 MPa. The support part is advantageously made of sheet steel with a high elastic limit, for example by bending or stamping, in order to guarantee good mechanical properties and limit the manufacturing costs of said support part.

[0023] According to another possible characteristic, the support part has flat areas. The flat areas make it easier to fix, for example by welding, the support piece to the said lining, by providing the largest possible contact areas.

[0024] According to another possible characteristic, the support part comprises stiffening ribs. The presence of stiffening ribs makes it possible to improve the mechanical resistance of said support part, and therefore of the stress path.

[0025] According to another possible characteristic, the thickness of said support piece has a thickness greater than or equal to the thickness of the lining on which the support piece is fixed, and / or the material constituting the support piece has a mechanical resistance greater than the material constituting the lining on which the support piece is fixed.

[0026] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an assembly for the front structure of a motor vehicle as defined above.

[0027] According to a possible characteristic, said vehicle comprises two assemblies such that defined above, one for each of the front lateral sides of said vehicle.

[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 schematic, partial, and perspective side view of an assembly according to the invention for the front structure of a vehicle; - [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic, partial and perspective view of the whole of [Fig.l],

[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, partial, perspective side view of an assembly 1 for a front structure according to the invention intended to equip a motor vehicle (not shown).

[0034] Said assembly 1 thus comprises: - a hollow body 3 made of sheet metal and a lining 5 fixed to said hollow body 3, said hollow body 3 and said lining 5 being shaped to form a force path 7 of a motor vehicle; - a support part 9 for vehicle hood articulation fixed on said lining 5.

[0035] It will be noted that the assembly 1 illustrated in [Fig.l] is more particularly intended to equip the left lateral side of a vehicle, but that the vehicle may comprise an assembly 1 according to the invention for each of its front lateral sides. The assembly 1 described herein thus applies mutatis mutandis to the right side of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, in the embodiment of the invention described herein, said hollow body 3 is a wing reinforcement and said lining 5 is a wing lining.

[0036] Said hollow body 3 is advantageously a metal profile (and therefore substantially a hollow metal beam), for example made of steel, while said lining 3 is generally a metal profile which extends at least partially (and longitudinally) in the hollow body 3 and which is fixed to said hollow body 3 by closing at least partially one of its faces (for example the face facing the interior of the vehicle).

[0037] [Fig.2], for its part, is a schematic, partial, perspective side view of the assembly 1, figure in which the hollow body 3 is not shown, in order to make the lining 5 and the support piece 9 more visible.

[0038] Thus, the hollow body 3 and said lining 5 each have an elongated shape and together form opposite longitudinal ends 7a and 7b, called first 7a and second 7b ends, for the force path 7. Thus, the first end 7a is configured to be connected to a bumper beam (not shown), such as a front bumper beam, and / or to a stretcher line via the front part of the wheel arch, while the second end 7b is configured to be fixed to a front pillar 11 of a motor vehicle.

[0039] The second end 7b of the force path 7 can be likened to a junction zone between the force path 7 and the front foot 11, therefore between, on the one hand, the hollow body 3 and the lining 5 and, on the other hand, the front foot 11. In the mounted position of the assembly 1, the hollow body 3 and said lining 5 each have a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (or axis X).

[0040] Furthermore, said support part 9 comprises a first part 9a configured to fix thereto a hood hinge (not shown) of a motor vehicle and a second part 9b transversely covering at least a third of said lining 5, and preferably at least half of said lining 5 (i.e. the extension dimension of the second part 9b relative to the extension or transverse dimension of said lining 5).

[0041] The first part 9a extends, in the mounted position, in a substantially horizontal plane (or XY plane) and has, for example, openings allowing the fixing of a hood articulation by means of screws, rods, bolts, rivets, etc. While, in the mounted position of the assembly 1, the second part 9b of the support piece 9 extends substantially in a vertical plane (or in a plane substantially parallel to the plane XZ).

[0042] Furthermore, in the mounted position, the first part 9a of the support piece 9 is located at the upper transverse edge of the lining 5, while the second part 9b extends from the first part 9a (or the upper transverse edge of the lining 5) towards the lower transverse edge of the lining 5.

[0043] The support piece 9 is located as close as possible to the junction 7b between the lining 5 and the front foot 11, preferably at a distance less than 30 cm from the junction, and even more preferably less than 15 cm.

[0044] By "the support piece is fixed as close as possible" is meant the fact that the support piece 9 is arranged on the lining 5, before and / or sufficiently close to the junction 7b between said lining 5 and the front foot 11 of the vehicle, this in order to at least partially cover the weak zone of the lining 5.

[0045] The support part 9 is for example a single piece (or unitary) and / or is made of steel having a high elastic limit, such as DP780 steel or FP60 steel. The steel of the support part 9 is for example a steel having an elastic limit greater than 300 MPa and a tensile strength greater than 400 MPa.

[0046] The support part 9 is advantageously made of steel sheet having a high elastic limit, for example by folding or stamping. The steel sheet of the support part 9 has for example a thickness of at least 1 mm, and preferably at least 1.5 mm.

[0047] Furthermore, the support piece 9 is configured to have a shape cooperation with the area of ​​the lining 5 where said support piece 9 is fixed. The support piece 9 further advantageously comprises flat areas which act as fixing areas between the support piece 9 and the lining 5.

[0048] The support piece 9 is advantageously fixed by welding to said lining 5, by means of welding points and / or welding bead(s), for example at the level of said flat zones of said support piece 9. Furthermore, advantageously, the support piece 9 is only in contact with said lining 5, that is to say that the support piece 9 is only fixed on the lining 5.

[0049] In a variant embodiment of the invention not shown, said support part 9 comprises stiffening ribs. Advantageously, in the mounted position, the stiffening ribs extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lining 5 (and therefore substantially parallel to the axis X, an axis which corresponds to the direction of compression of the force path 7 during an impact).

[0050] In another variant embodiment not shown, said support piece 9 extends from the transverse end to the other of said lining 5 (therefore from the upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the lining). Transverse is understood to mean the direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said lining 5. This configuration allows the support piece 9 to best cover the weak area of ​​said lining 5.

[0051] In another variant embodiment not shown, the thickness of the support piece 9 has a thickness greater than the thickness of the lining 5 on which the support piece 9 is fixed, and / or the constituent material, such as steel, of the support piece 9 has a mechanical resistance greater than the constituent material, such as steel, of the lining 5 on which the support piece 9 is fixed.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly (1) for a front structure of a motor vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising: - a hollow body (3) made of sheet metal and a lining (5) fixed to said hollow body (3), said hollow body (3) and said lining (5) being shaped to form a force path (7) of a motor vehicle; - a support part (9) for a vehicle hood hinge fixed to said lining (5); characterized in that said support part (9) comprises a first configured part (9a) for fixing a hood hinge thereto and a second part (9b) transversely covering at least a third of said lining (5), and preferably at least half of said lining (5).

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hollow body (3) and the lining (5) forming the force path (7) have an end (7b) configured to be fixed to a front foot (11) of a motor vehicle, said support part (9) being located as close as possible to the junction between the lining (5) and the front foot (11).

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support piece (9) extends from the transverse end to the other of said lining (5).

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hollow body (3) is a wing reinforcement and said lining (5) is a wing lining.

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support piece (9) is only in contact with said lining (5).

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support piece (9) has a thickness of at least 1 mm.

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support piece (9) is configured to have a shape cooperation with the area of ​​the lining (5) where said reinforcing piece (9) is fixed.

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (9) is in one piece.

9. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (9) comprises stiffening ribs.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an assembly (1) for a motor vehicle front structure according to any one of the preceding claims.

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