Automotive vehicle floor sealing flange.

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor flange (1) designed to equip a motor vehicle structure in order to close an opening between a floor and a platform of the structure, the flange (1) comprising a first part (8), designed to extend over a part of a face of the floor and to ensure the fixing of the flange (1) with the floor, the flange (1) comprising a second part (10) designed to be fixed in abutment on the platform, the flange (1) comprising a third part (11), extending between the first (8) and second (10) parts, designed to close the opening, the first part (8) being shaped to form a continuous sealed zone (12), preventing the passage of water between the floor and the flange (1), when the first part (8) is fixed to the floor, the sealed zone (12) being designed to extend over a part of the perimeter of the opening. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle floor sealing flange.

[0001] The technical field relates to floor plates designed to provide a seal between a floor and a vehicle structure platform, motor vehicle structures comprising at least one such plate and motor vehicles having such a structure.

[0002] Electric vehicles are experiencing growing interest from customers, while their ranges are constantly being improved by car manufacturers. To achieve this, the industrial players involved have invested heavily in the development of new technologies to offer ever more efficient batteries, i.e. batteries offering increased charging speeds, constantly increasing capacities and high energy densities.

[0003] Along with improving technologies, car manufacturers are also focusing on the available dimensions for the battery(ies) installed on the vehicle. In this context, the traction battery of motor vehicles is frequently fixed under the floor of the vehicle.

[0004] Conventionally, the floor is fixed to a platform, including in particular the side members, to form the body of the vehicle. However, in order to accommodate as large a battery as possible, automobile manufacturers regularly use a particular floor forming a cover intended to cover a battery tray accommodating the battery. Such a floor forms part of a housing in which the batteries are arranged and is formed of a relatively flat surface extended by side walls extending under the flat surface. Thus, due to its particular shape, such a floor is not in contact with the platform in certain areas, in particular at the rear, and causes openings between the floor and the platform.

[0005] In order to ensure the sealing of the passenger compartment, it is important to create a seal around the entire perimeter of the floor. However, the presence of openings makes it impossible to create a seal around its openings and sealing the passenger compartment is, in the current state, impossible without sealing the openings. In some cases, the openings are then sealed with an expanding material. Such a situation is not ideal for guaranteeing perfect sealing over time.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution for closing the openings generated by the particular shape of a floor serving as a cover for a battery tray.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a flange for closing an opening between the floor and the platform to ensure the watertightness of the structure.

[0008] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a floor flange designed to equip a motor vehicle structure in order to close an opening between a floor and a platform of the structure on which the floor is fixed, the flange comprising a first part, designed to extend over at least a part of a face of the floor and to ensure the fixing of the flange with the floor, the flange comprising a second part designed to be fixed in abutment on the platform, the flange comprising a third part, extending between the first and second parts, designed to close the opening, the first part being shaped to form a continuous sealed zone, preventing the passage of water between the floor and the flange, when the first part is fixed to the floor, the sealed zone being designed to extend over at least a part of the perimeter of the opening.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle structure comprising a motor vehicle platform and a floor fixed to the platform, the structure comprising at least one opening between the floor and the structure, the structure comprising at least one flange according to the invention, each fixed to the floor and to the platform by its first and second part respectively, each third part closing an opening.

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

[0011] Thus, the flange according to the invention makes it possible to close the opening thanks to its third part. The first part makes it possible to guarantee watertightness thanks to the watertight zone formed by the first part fixed to the floor. Thus, during the assembly of a vehicle according to the invention, the floor is modified by the addition of symmetrical flanges, each fixed by their first part to the floor, then the floor thus modified is fixed on the platform. The watertight zone is easy to create by interposing, for example, a bead of sealing gasket on the first part before its assembly on the floor. Thus, the flange according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a motor vehicle structure in which each opening is closed. On this structure a sealing gasket can be deposited to guarantee the sealing of the passenger compartment.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first part forms a flange comprising a groove extending along the sealed area and designed to accommodate a sealing gasket bead.

[0013] Advantageously, the groove comprises a sealing bead.

[0014] According to one possibility of the flange, the second part forms a rim designed to extend over the platform and to delimit the part of the perimeter of the opening extending along the platform.

[0015] According to one possibility, the third part is substantially orthogonal to the first and / or second parts.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the flange, the first and second parts protrude from the third part.

[0017] According to one possibility of the structure, a sealing bead is deposited on the contour of the third part in contact with the platform and / or on the contour of the second part in contact with the platform in order to ensure sealing between the platform and respectively the third part and the second part.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the structure, the floor is shaped to form a cover for a motorization battery tray.

[0019] According to one possibility of the structure, each flange is fixed to the floor and to the platform by a plurality of welding points.

[0020] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a partial perspective view of a floor flange according to the invention;

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a vehicle structure automobile implementing the floor flange of [Fig.l];

[0023] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0024] A floor flange 1 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 1], is designed to equip a motor vehicle structure 2, partially illustrated in [Fig. 2], in order to close an opening 3 between a floor 4 and a platform 5, illustrated in [Fig. 2], of the structure 2 on which the floor 4 is fixed. In particular, the floor 4 is shaped to form a cover for a motorization battery tray, not illustrated in the figures.

[0025] In the structure 2 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig.2], the floor 4 and the platform 5 form at least two openings 3 arranged, for example, in the rear part of the floor 4, due to the fact that the floor 4 forms a cover with a substantially flat upper surface 6 extended by a side 7, intended to extend vertically on the vehicle, to form a housing for a motorization battery, not illustrated.

[0026] The flange 1 comprises a first part 8, designed to extend over at least part of a face 9 of the floor 4, in this case the face 9 arranged opposite of the battery tray in the motor vehicle. The flange 1 also comprises a second part 10 designed to be fixed in support on the platform 5. The flange 1 finally comprises a third part 11, extending between the first 8 and second 10 parts, designed to close the opening 3.

[0027] The first part 8 is also designed to ensure the fixing of the flange 1 with the floor 4. The first part 8 is shaped to form a continuous sealed zone 12, preventing the passage of water between the floor 4 and the flange 1, when the first part 8 is fixed to the floor 4. The sealed zone 12 is designed to extend over at least part of the periphery 13 of the opening 3.

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the first part 8 forms a flange 14 having a groove 15 extending along the sealed area 12 and designed to receive a sealing bead 16. As illustrated in [Fig.l], the groove 15 has a sealing bead 16 deposited before the first part 8 is fixed to the floor 4. The first part 8 is fixed to the floor 4, for example, by spot welds. In [Fig.2], the sealing bead 16 is shown transparently through the floor 4.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the second part 10 forms a rim 17 designed to extend over the platform 5 and to delimit the part of the perimeter 13 of the opening 3 extending along the platform 5. In the structure 2 according to the invention, the second part 10 is fixed to the platform 5 by a plurality of welding points.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the first 8 and second 10 parts protrude from the third part 11.

[0031] Finally, in the example illustrated in the figures, the third part 11 is substantially orthogonal to the first 8 and / or second 10 parts. In the structure 2, the third part 11 forms a wall 18 covering the opening 3 and bearing on the platform 5. In the example illustrated in [Fig.2], at least one edge 19 of the third part 11, connecting the first 8 and second 10 parts, bears on the platform 5 and at least partly covers the periphery 13 of the opening 3. In the example illustrated in the figures, the wall 18 has a curved and substantially triangular shape.

[0032] The flange 1 is, for example, formed by stamping a sheet metal.

[0033] In the structure 2, a sealing bead, not illustrated, is deposited on the contour of the third part 11 in contact with the platform 5 and on the contour of the second part 10 in contact with the platform 5, in order to ensure a seal between the platform 5 and respectively the third part 11 and the second part 10. The sealing bead is produced after the operation of fitting the structure 2, that is to say when each flange 1 is fixed to the floor 4 and to the platform 5, and before the operation of painting the structure 2.

[0034] Thus, the flange 1 according to the invention makes it possible to close the opening 3 thanks to its third part 11. The first part 8 makes it possible to guarantee watertightness thanks to the sealed zone 12 formed by the first part 8 fixed to the floor 4. The sealed zone 12 is easy to create by interposing, for example, a seal bead 16 on the first part 8 before its assembly on the floor 4. Thus, the flange 1 makes it possible to obtain a motor vehicle structure 2 in which each opening 3 is closed. On such a structure 2 a seal can be deposited to guarantee the sealing of the passenger compartment.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the floor flange described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Floor flange (1) designed to equip a motor vehicle structure (2) in order to close an opening (3) between a floor (4) and a platform (5) of the structure (2) on which the floor (4) is fixed, the flange (1) comprising a first part (8), designed to extend over at least a part of a face (9) of the floor (4) and to ensure the fixing of the flange (1) with the floor (4), the flange (1) comprising a second part (10) designed to be fixed in abutment on the platform (5), the flange (1) comprising a third part (11), extending between the first (8) and second (10) parts, designed to close the opening (3), the first part (8) being shaped to form a continuous sealed zone (12), preventing the passage of water between the floor (4) and the flange (1), when the first part (8) is fixed to the floor (4),the sealed area (12) being designed to extend over at least part of the periphery (13) of the opening (3).,

2. Flange (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (8) forms a flange (14) comprising a groove (15) extending along the sealed zone (12) and designed to accommodate a sealing bead (16).

3. Flange (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove (15) comprises a sealing bead (16).

4. Flange (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second part (10) forms a rim (17) designed to extend over the platform (5) and to delimit the part of the periphery (13) of the opening (3) extending along the platform (5).

5. Flange (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first (8) and second (10) parts project from the third part (11).

6. Motor vehicle structure (2) comprising a motor vehicle platform (5) and a floor (4) fixed on the platform (5), the structure (2) comprising at least one opening (3) between the floor (4) and the platform (5), the structure (2) comprising at least one flange (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, each fixed to the floor (4) and to the platform (5) by its first (8) and second (10) part respectively, each third part (11) closing an opening (3).

7. Structure (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that a sealing bead is deposited on the contour of the third part (11) in contact with the platform (5) and / or on the contour of the second part (10) in contact with the platform (5) in order to ensure a seal between the platform (5) and respectively the third part (11) and the second part (10).

8. Structure (2) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the floor (4) is shaped to form a cover for a motorization battery tray.

9. Structure (2) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that each flange (1) is fixed to the floor (4) and to the platform (5) by a plurality of welding points.

10. Motor vehicle having a structure (2) according to one of claims 6 to 9.

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