SIDE MEMBERS WITH REINFORCEMENT DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A side member (LV) is installed parallel to a longitudinal side (CL) of a floor (PV) of a substructure (SV) of a motor vehicle, and comprises a longitudinal main wall (PP) to which is secured a reinforcing device (DR) comprising: - lower (EI) and upper (ES) assemblies respectively of first (C1) and second (C2) partitions installed perpendicular to the main wall (PP), these first (C1) or second (C2) partitions comprising a step (DC) on one side oriented towards the main wall (PP), - longitudinal lower (EQI) and upper (EQS) brackets, to which the lower (EI) and upper (ES) assemblies are fixedly secured, and fixedly secured to the main wall (PP), and - a longitudinal stiffener (RL) comprising a first wall (PR1) housed in the steps (DC) and extended by a second wall (PR2) fixedly secured to the lower bracket (EQI) or superior (EQS). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: SIDE RAIL WITH REINFORCEMENT DEVICE, FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles comprising a base comprising a floor having two opposite longitudinal sides, and more precisely the side members which frame these two opposite longitudinal sides. State of the art

[0002] Certain motor vehicles include a base forming part of their structure and comprising a floor having right and left longitudinal sides and two side members, right and left, installed respectively parallel to these right and left longitudinal sides.

[0003] In order for the passengers of the vehicles (automobiles) presented above to be protected when the latter undergo a lateral impact on one of their right and left longitudinal sides, their side members can be equipped with a reinforcing device. Here, the term "lateral impact" means an impact in a direction having a non-zero transverse component.

[0004] This reinforcement device is intended to at least partially absorb the energy of the lateral impact, and may comprise for this purpose, on the one hand, lower and upper assemblies respectively of first and second partitions installed perpendicular to the main wall (substantially vertical) of its spar, and, on the other hand, lower and upper longitudinal brackets, to which are fixedly secured (for example by welding) and respectively the lower and upper assemblies, and fixedly secured (for example by welding) to the main wall of the spar. It will be noted that the first and second partitions may be arranged in crenellations.

[0005] The reinforcement devices described above improve the situation, but they do not provide complete satisfaction due to the fact that the connection of the first and second partitions with the lower and upper brackets is not very significant, and therefore the energy absorption may prove insufficient. As a result, in the event of a side impact suffered by a side member, the latter may be significantly deformed, which may cause damage to the floor and therefore also to the equipment installed at least partly on the latter, which is potentially dangerous for the passengers of the vehicle.

[0006] It will be noted that when the vehicle has a powertrain (or GMP) of the all-electric or hybrid (thermal and electric) type, it includes a rechargeable battery assembly (or “pack”) which can be installed between its side rails, under its floor, and must also be protected in the event of a side impact. However, if a side member is significantly deformed, the rechargeable battery assembly may be damaged, which can cause a leak and / or a fire.

[0007] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation to increase the passive protection of passengers, as well as of a possible rechargeable battery assembly, in the event of a side impact. Presentation of the invention

[0008] It proposes in particular for this purpose a side member, on the one hand, suitable for being installed parallel to a longitudinal side of a floor of a base of a motor vehicle, and, on the other hand, comprising a longitudinal main wall and to which is secured a reinforcement device comprising:

[0009] - lower and upper sets of first and second respectively partitions installed perpendicular to the main wall, and

[0010] - longitudinal lower and upper brackets, to which are secured fixedly and respectively the lower and upper assemblies, and fixedly secured to the main wall.

[0011] This spar is characterized by the fact:

[0012] - that the first or second partitions comprise a step on one side facing the main wall, and

[0013] - that its reinforcement device further comprises a longitudinal stiffener and comprising a first wall housed in the recesses and extended by a second wall fixedly secured to the lower or upper bracket.

[0014] Thanks to this stiffener, the first and second partitions have a much better connection with the lower and upper brackets, which allows them to perform their function of absorbing the energy of a lateral impact suffered by their vehicle.

[0015] The spar according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0016] - the detachments can be defined in the vicinity of an interface between the first and second partitions;

[0017] - in the presence of the first option, the first wall of the stiffener can be so fixedly lidarized to the first and second partitions at the level of the recesses;

[0018] - the recesses can be defined in the first partitions on the side which is oriented towards the main wall, and the second wall can be fixedly secured to the lower bracket;

[0019] - the stiffener may have a section, in a plane perpendicular to the wall main, generally L-shaped;

[0020] - the first partitions can be arranged in crenellations, and the second partitions can also be arranged in slots;

[0021] - the second partitions can be supported by the first partitions;

[0022] - it may comprise a longitudinal lower wall, extending substantially to 90° the main wall, and on which the lower assembly is fixedly installed.

[0023] The invention also provides a motor vehicle comprising a base comprising a floor having right and left longitudinal sides and two side members, right and left, of the type presented above and installed respectively parallel to the right and left longitudinal sides.

[0024] For example, this motor vehicle may also include a rechargeable battery assembly installed under the floor between the right and left side members. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0026] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, a part of an example of a motor vehicle underbody comprising an example of an embodiment of a side member according to the invention,

[0027] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a transverse and vertical plane at the level of the right side member, a straight part of the base of [Fig.l], and

[0028] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, a part of the reinforcement device of the right side member of figures 1 and 2. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] The invention aims in particular to propose a side member LV intended to form part of a subframe SV of a motor vehicle and comprising a reinforcement device DR with a high capacity for absorbing the energy of a lateral impact.

[0030] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the motor vehicle is a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It in fact concerns any motor vehicle comprising a structure comprising a floor (incorporating possible crossmember(s)) framed by two side members.

[0031] In Figures 1 to 3, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (automobile), which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X and transverse directions Y.

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate part of an example of a substructure SV of a vehicle (automobile), comprising an example of an embodiment of a side member LV according to the invention. Although this only appears partially in Figures 1 and 2 (only for the right side), the substructure SV comprises in particular a floor PV having right and left longitudinal sides CL, and two side members LV, right and left, installed respectively parallel to the right and left longitudinal sides CL.

[0033] It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.2] the vehicle also comprises a set (or "pack") of rechargeable battery EB installed under the floor PV between the right and left side members LV. But this is not obligatory, because the invention also applies when the vehicle is without a rechargeable battery set EB.

[0034] The rechargeable battery assembly EB comprises a battery tray BB housing a rechargeable battery BR (preferably with its control electronics), and fixedly secured (by screwing) to the floor PV (for example at a peripheral rebate of the latter (PV)). It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 2] the floor PV provides a protective cover function for the battery tray BB, the rechargeable battery BR and any control electronics. But the rechargeable battery assembly EB could comprise a dedicated protective cover.

[0035] For example, the rechargeable battery BR may comprise at least one cellular module comprising at least two electrical energy storage cells. Here, the term “electrical energy storage cell” means a rechargeable and possibly electrochemical cell (for example of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) or Ni-Mh or Ni-Cd type).

[0036] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, a spar LV, according to the invention, comprises at least one longitudinal main wall PP (i.e. extending in the longitudinal direction X) and to which a reinforcement device DR is secured. Here, the main wall PP is mainly installed in a substantially longitudinal and vertical plane XZ.

[0037] This reinforcement device DR comprises a lower set El of first partitions Cl, an upper set ES of second partitions C2, a lower bracket EQI, an upper bracket EQS, and a stiffener RL.

[0038] The first partitions C1 of the lower assembly E1 are installed perpendicular to the main wall PP. The second partitions C1 of the upper assembly ES are also installed perpendicular to the main wall PP. As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the first C1 or second C2 partitions comprise a step DC on one side which is oriented towards the main wall PP. For example, each DC step can be obtained by a cut made in the thickness of a first partition Cl, over a chosen length (here following the transverse direction Y).

[0039] The lower bracket EQI is longitudinal (which means that it extends in the longitudinal direction X, preferably over a large part of the longitudinal extension of the main wall PP of the spar LV). It has, for example, a transverse section (here in a plane YZ) in the general shape of an L. In addition, the lower bracket EQI is fixedly secured to the main wall PP, for example by welding (but this could be by screwing or riveting).

[0040] The upper bracket EQS is also longitudinal (which means that it extends in the longitudinal direction X, preferably over a large part of the longitudinal extension of the main wall PP of the spar LV). It has, for example, a transverse section (here in a plane YZ) in the general shape of an inverted L. In addition, the upper bracket EQS is fixedly secured to the main wall PP, for example by welding (but this could be by screwing or riveting).

[0041] The lower assembly El is fixedly secured to the lower bracket EQI, for example by welding (but this could be by screwing or riveting). The upper assembly ES is fixedly secured to the upper bracket EQS, for example by welding (but this could be by screwing or riveting).

[0042] The stiffener RL is longitudinal (which means that it extends in the longitudinal direction X, preferably at least over almost the entire longitudinal extension of the lower brackets EQI and upper brackets EQS). In addition, this stiffener RL comprises a first wall PR1 which is housed in the recesses DC, and which is extended by a second wall PR2 fixedly secured to the lower bracket EQI or the upper bracket EQS.

[0043] The height (along the vertical direction Z) of each DC step is therefore slightly greater than the thickness (along the vertical direction Z) of the first PRL wall.

[0044] Thanks to this stiffener RL which penetrates into the first Cl and second C2 partitions while being fixedly secured to the lower bracket EQI or the upper bracket EQS, the first Cl and second C2 partitions of the lower assemblies El and upper ES have a much better connection with the lower bracket EQI and upper bracket EQS. This allows the first Cl and second C2 partitions to perform their function of absorbing the energy of a lateral impact suffered by their vehicle. The passive protection of the passengers, as well as of the possible rechargeable battery assembly EB is therefore increased in the event of a lateral impact.

[0045] For example, the first partitions C1, the second partitions C2, the lower bracket EQI, the upper bracket EQS, and the stiffener RL can be made of steel or aluminum.

[0046] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the DC offsets can be defined in the vicinity of the interface between the first C1 and second C2 partitions. This in fact makes it possible to optimize the link between the first C1 and second C2 partitions and the lower EQI and upper EQS brackets, and therefore to promote the damping of the energy of a lateral impact by the first C1 and second C2 partitions. But the DC offsets could be defined at a vertical level different from the level of the aforementioned interface.

[0047] It will be noted that in the presence of the previous option, it is advantageous for the first wall PR1 of the stiffener RL to be fixedly secured to the first Cl and second C2 partitions at the DC recesses, for example by welding (but this could be by screwing or riveting). This in fact allows all the first Cl and second C2 partitions to be connected to each other in addition to being connected to the lower bracket EQI and upper bracket EQS.

[0048] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the DC recesses can be defined in the first partitions C1 on the side which is oriented towards the main wall PP, and the second wall PR2 can be fixedly secured to the lower bracket EQI. But in a first variant embodiment not illustrated, the DC recesses could be defined in the first partitions C1 on the side which is oriented towards the main wall PP, and the second wall PR2 could be fixedly secured to the upper bracket EQS. In a second variant embodiment not illustrated, the DC recesses could be defined in the second partitions C2 on the side which is oriented towards the main wall PP, and the second wall PR2 could be fixedly secured to the upper bracket EQS.

[0049] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 3, the stiffener RL can have a section, in a plane (here YZ) perpendicular to the main wall PP, in the general shape of an L (possibly inverted). This type of section offers very good resistance in the event of a lateral impact.

[0050] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 3, the first partitions C1 can be arranged in crenellations, and the second partitions C2 can also be arranged in crenellations. But other arrangements can be envisaged, and in particular in accordion or triangles, for example.

[0051] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the second partitions C2 can be supported by the first partitions CL. This is particularly advantageous when the first C1 and second C2 partitions are arranged in crenellations, because the superimposed support surfaces are large and make it possible to increase the energy absorption capacity while facilitating welding.

[0052] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the spar LV may comprise a longitudinal lower wall PI (which means that it extends in the longitudinal direction X), extending substantially at 90° the main wall PP, and on which the lower assembly E1 is fixedly installed. The word "substantially" here means equal to 90° plus or minus five degrees. This makes it possible not only to support the reinforcement device DR, but also to fix the substantially horizontal part of the lower bracket EQI on this lower wall PI, for example by welding (but this could be by screwing or riveting), and thus to further reinforce the anchoring of the reinforcement device DR to allow the first C1 and second C2 partitions to absorb the energy effectively.

Claims

Claims

1. Side member (LV) suitable for being installed parallel to a longitudinal side (CL) of a floor (PV) of a base (SV) of a motor vehicle, said side member (LV) comprising a longitudinal main wall (PP) and to which is secured a reinforcing device (DR) comprising i) lower (El) and upper (ES) assemblies respectively of first (Cl) and second (C2) partitions installed perpendicular to said main wall (PP), and ii) lower (EQI) and upper (EQS) longitudinal brackets, to which are fixedly secured and respectively said lower (El) and upper (ES) assemblies, and fixedly secured to said main wall (PP), characterized in that said first (Cl) or second (C2) partitions comprise a step (DC) on a side oriented towards said main wall (PP),and in that said reinforcement device (DR) further comprises a longitudinal stiffener (RL) and comprising a first wall (PR1) housed in said recesses (DC) and extended by a second wall (PR2) fixedly secured to said lower (EQI) or upper (EQS) bracket.,

2. A spar according to claim 1, characterized in that said recesses (DC) are defined in the vicinity of an interface between said first (Cl) and second (C2) partitions.

3. Longeron according to claim 2, characterized in that said first wall (PR1) of the stiffener (RL) is fixedly secured to said first (Cl) and second (C2) partitions at the level of said recesses (DC).

4. Longeron according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said recesses (DC) are defined in said first partitions (Cl) on said side oriented towards said main wall (PP), and said second wall (PR2) is fixedly secured to said lower bracket (EQI).

5. Longeron according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said stiffener (RL) has a section, in a plane perpendicular to said main wall (PP), in the general shape of an L.

6. Longeron according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first partitions (Cl) are arranged in crenellations, and said second partitions (C2) are arranged in crenellations.

7. Longeron according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second partitions (C2) are supported by said first partitions (Cl).

8. Longeron according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinal lower wall (PI), extending substantially at 90° said main wall (PP), and on which said lower assembly (El) is fixedly installed.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a base (SV) comprising a floor (PV) having right and left longitudinal sides (CL), characterized in that said base (SV) further comprises two side members (LV), right and left, according to one of the preceding claims, installed respectively parallel to said right and left longitudinal sides (CL).

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a rechargeable battery assembly (EB) installed under said floor (PV) between said right and left side members (LV).

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