REAR STRUCTURE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE UNDERBODY AND DEFLECTOR FOR SUCH A STRUCTURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear underbody structure (1) of a motor vehicle (V), said structure (1) comprising a deflector (3), as well as at least one wheel arch (5), characterized in that said deflector (3) comprises:– a main part (13) fixed to at least one structural element of the underbody (1) of the vehicle;– a wall configured (15) to evacuate a flow of water and / or air through the wheel arch (5). Abstract figure: [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: REAR STRUCTURE OF THE UNDERBODY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND DEFLECTOR FOR SUCH A STRUCTURE

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles comprising a rear underbody structure configured to evacuate water drained into the vehicle as it moves towards the exterior of the vehicle.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a rear underbody structure comprising a fairing element, such as a deflector, which is fixed under the rear part of the vehicle body and which is configured to evacuate water entering the vehicle during its movement.

[0003] As a reminder, a motor vehicle commonly comprises a rear underbody structure under which components and equipment are fixed and which comprises rear wheel arches equipped with mud flaps. Fairing elements are also fixed on or in the underbody structure, under the body of the vehicle, to cover said equipment and components.

[0004] The fairing elements have several possible functions. They provide protection for equipment mounted under the body, in particular against splashes of water and / or gravel, but also potentially against impacts with objects placed on the road. The fairing elements generally have aerodynamic shapes, thus improving the stability of the vehicle in motion and / or reducing its drag. Finally, they can also be configured to channel the air flowing under the body in order, for example, to improve the vehicle's drag coefficient.

[0005] Furthermore, a fairing element is a substantially planar part comprising a lower face facing the road and an upper face in contact with the body of the vehicle. The fairing element is typically fixed under the body by fixing parts, for example screw-nut systems. To ensure the fixing and the aerodynamic function of the fairing element, the fixing parts are generally mounted in cells (or barrels) formed in the lower face of the fairing element.

[0006] In the case of a rear structure of a thermal vehicle, said structure thus comprises, among other things, arranged along the longitudinal axis from the front to the rear of the vehicle: - a rear suspension train; - an exhaust silencer; - a deflector, called a “rear deflector”, fixed under the underbody of the vehicle; - a rear bumper. It should be noted that in the case of an electric vehicle, there is no exhaust silencer, but a traction battery is positioned in front of the rear suspension train (i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle from front to rear).

[0007] Said rear structure also has a space delimited by the rear deflector, the mudguard and the floor of the vehicle in which a flow of water and / or air can circulate and accumulate, in particular when the vehicle is fording. The flow of air and / or water enters through the front of the vehicle and propagates in spaces forming paths extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle from the front to the rear of the vehicle, this along each of the wheel arches (therefore on each side of said structure).

[0008] Furthermore, when the vehicle fords, the water level rises in these lanes parallel to the wheel arches, and causes an increase in the pressure in said wheel arches and the respective adjacent lane. This excess pressure in the rear structure can, among other things, cause stretching or detachment (or even tearing off) of the mudguard of the wheel arch, as well as the deflector, and sometimes by extension of the rear bumper.

[0009] It is therefore important that the vehicle (and more particularly its rear structure) is configured to evacuate excess water and prevent excess pressure from damaging one or more elements of said rear structure of the vehicle.

[0010] Generally, the wheel arch mudguard is configured to expel or evacuate water that might infiltrate the rear structure of the vehicle, by guiding excess water outward at the wheel arches, generally after them, and under the underbody of the vehicle.

[0011] However, current vehicles can have various engines (thermal, hybrid or electric), but also depending on the engine, different types of rear suspension trains, such as a deformable cross member train or a multi-link train. In the case of the multi-link train, the train includes an anti-roll bar which extends along the transverse axis of the vehicle (from one wheel arch to the other) and which requires the arrangement of an opening in the mudguard in order to position said bar.

[0012] This results in the need to have mudguards adapted according to the engine and / or the type of rear suspension of the vehicle, leading to diversity in the mudguards of the vehicle, which complicates the manufacture of the mudguards and their logistical management (stock, transport, etc.), consequently increasing the manufacturing cost of the vehicle.

[0013] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of rear structure for the underbody of a motor vehicle, said structure comprising a deflector, as well as at least one wheel arch, characterized in that said deflector comprises: - a main part fixed to at least one structural element of the vehicle underbody; - a wall configured to evacuate a flow of water and / or air towards the wheel arch.

[0014] The rear structure according to the invention thus makes it possible to have a single type of mudguard, regardless of the engine of the vehicle and / or the type of rear suspension of the vehicle, the mudguard having, for example, an opening suitable for allowing the presence of an anti-roll bar of a multi-link suspension, while allowing the evacuation of a flow of water and / or air in the direction of the wheel arch, then to the outside and to the rear of the vehicle, by means of a wall forming a scoop arranged on said rear deflector.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, the wheel arch comprises a mudguard, the mudguard and the wall of the deflector being configured to block the passage of a flow of air and / or water moving along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, the mudguard comprises at least one wall in which an opening is arranged, said wall of the deflector extending at least partly into said opening of the wall of the mudguard. Said mudguard thus comprises an opening arranged in one of its walls to allow the positioning of an anti-roll bar of a multi-link rear axle. In addition, said wall of the deflector can be fixed to said mudguard, for example by means of a fixing member, such as a screw, a nut, a staple, a clip, etc.

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, said wall of the deflector is configured to deflect a flow of water and / or air coming from the front of the vehicle through the wheel arch. When the vehicle is moving, and for example when crossing a ford, a flow of water will circulate from the front to the rear of the vehicle between the deflector and a rear floor of the vehicle until it meets the wall of the deflector and is diverted towards the wheel arch to finally be evacuated towards the outside of the vehicle, for example at the rear part of the wheel (between the wheel and the mudguard surrounding said wheel).

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, said deflector comprises an additional fixing wall configured to be fixed to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle. Advantageously, the deflector is fixed at its main part and said additional wall to one or more structural elements of the underbody of the vehicle, for example by means of fixing members, such as screws, nuts, studs, clips, staples, etc. Said additional wall is for example fixed to the rear floor of the vehicle.

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, the wheel arch comprises a mudguard, the mudguard and / or the wall of the deflector being configured to close a communication channel, in which said flow of water and / or air circulates, extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Advantageously, the system according to the invention prevents the accumulation of water in the rear part of the vehicle, and therefore a suppression which can damage one or more elements of said structure, such as the mudguard, the rear deflector, the bumper, etc.

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, said wall of the deflector has a rounded shape. The wall advantageously has a rounded shape allowing the flow of water and / or air to be guided more efficiently outside the vehicle, while reducing pressure losses.

[0021] According to another possible characteristic, the wall of the deflector has a concavity according to the direction of movement of air and / or water. Advantageously, the concavity of the wall is configured to face the flow of water and / or air coming from the front of the motor vehicle, thereby improving the evacuation of said flow by said wall through the wheel arch.

[0022] According to another possible characteristic, in the mounted position, said wall of the deflector extends in a substantially vertical plane.

[0023] According to another possible characteristic, in the mounted position, the main part of the deflector extends in a substantially horizontal plane.

[0024] According to another possible characteristic, said structure comprises a rear floor of a motor vehicle, said wall of the deflector extending between the main part of the deflector, said rear floor and the wheel arch. Advantageously, said wall closes the space delimited by the main part of the deflector, said rear floor and the wheel arch so as to best collect the flow of water and / or air coming from the front of the vehicle and to evacuate it outside the vehicle.

[0025] The invention also relates to a deflector for a rear structure of a motor vehicle underbody, characterized in that said deflector is configured to be mounted in a rear structure of a motor vehicle underbody as defined above.

[0026] According to another possible characteristic, said deflector is made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, etc.

[0027] According to another possible characteristic, the main part of said deflector has substantially the shape of a plate.

[0028] According to another possible characteristic, said main part of said deflector has an elongated shape. Said deflector advantageously extends substantially along the transverse axis of the vehicle, from one wheel arch to the other.

[0029] According to a possible characteristic, said deflector is a single-piece (or unitary). Advantageously, the deflector is a single piece, in order, among other things, to reduce its manufacturing cost, improve its mechanical strength, as well as to facilitate the mounting of said deflector under a motor vehicle body.

[0030] According to another possible characteristic, said main part of said deflector has a first face, called the internal or upper face, and a second face, called the external or lower face. The first and second faces are the opposite main faces of said deflector. In the mounted position, the internal face of the deflector is intended to be oriented towards the vehicle (towards the body) and is not visible to the user, while the external face is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and is therefore the face visible to the user of the deflector.

[0031] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a rear motor vehicle underbody structure as defined above.

[0032] 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 very schematic, partial and bottom view of a rear structure of a motor vehicle underbody according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is another schematic and partial view of the rear structure of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic, partial and bottom view of a deflector of the rear structure of [Fig.l].

[0033] 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".

[0034] In addition, an orthogonal reference frame XYZ is defined in relation 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.

[0035] 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°.

[0036] [Fig.l] thus illustrates a very schematic, partial and bottom view of a rear underbody structure 1 according to the invention intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle V, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0037] Said rear structure 1 of the underbody of a motor vehicle thus comprises: - a deflector 3, called a "rear deflector", fixed under the underbody of the vehicle, for example to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle, such as a side member, a side member, a stretcher, a rear floor, etc.; - at least one wheel arch 5 comprising a mudguard 7.

[0038] It will be noted that only one wheel arch 5, here the right wheel arch, of the rear structure 1 is illustrated in [Fig.l] and [Fig.2], but said structure 1 comprises two wheel arches 5 (and an associated mudguard 7) on each side of said structure 1.

[0039] Furthermore, said deflector 3 is generally located between a bumper 9 and an exhaust silencer 11 along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (or X axis), below a rear floor of the vehicle, and between the wheel arches 5 (therefore the deflector 3 extends along the transverse axis or Y axis of the vehicle).

[0040] The arrangement of the elements of the rear structure 1, among others the wheel arch 5, the mudguard 7, the rear floor and the deflector 3 define at least in part a communication path extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle V on each side of the rear structure 1, communication path by which a flow of water and / or air moves from the front of the vehicle towards the rear when the latter is moving and / or when there is a ford crossing of said vehicle V.

[0041] [Fig. 3] illustrates a schematic, partial and bottom view of a deflector 3 which comprises: - a main part 13 fixed to at least one structural element of the underbody of the vehicle, such as a side member, stretcher, side member, etc.; - a wall 15 forming a scoop configured to evacuate a flow of water and / or air towards the wheel arch 5 (and for example through it).

[0042] It will be noted that [Fig. 3] only represents one of the ends of the deflector 3, but the deflector 3 has two ends which are symmetrical with respect to each other (mirror-type symmetry), each of the ends of the deflector 3 comprising a wall 15 configured to evacuate a flow of water and / or air towards their respective wheel passage 5.

[0043] The wall 15 of the deflector 3 is thus configured to close the communication channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and adjacent to the wheel arch 5 and thus divert said flow towards the wheel arch 5, and evacuate it towards the outside of the vehicle, for example at the level of the rear part of the wheel (between the wheel and the mudguard 7 surrounding said wheel).

[0044] Said deflector 3 is advantageously made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, etc., and / or is monobloc (or unitary).

[0045] The main part 13 of said deflector 3 has, for its part, substantially an elongated shape, for example substantially a plate shape, said main part 13 extending transversely (along the Y axis) from one wheel arch 5 to the other of said structure 1.

[0046] In addition, said main part 13 of said deflector 3 has a first face, called the internal or upper face, and a second face, called the external or lower face. The first and second faces are the opposite main faces of the main part 13 of the deflector 3. Thus, in the mounted position, the internal face of the main part 13 is intended to be oriented towards the vehicle V (towards the body), while the external face is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the vehicle V.

[0047] Furthermore, in the mounted position, the main part 13 of the deflector 3 extends in a substantially horizontal plane (or XY plane), while said wall 15 of the deflector 3 extends in a substantially vertical plane (or YZ plane).

[0048] Said wall 15 projects from the main part 13 (more particularly from its internal face) of the deflector 3, the wall 15 and the main part 13 of the deflector 3 being situated substantially in planes orthogonal to each other.

[0049] Advantageously, said deflector 3 comprises an additional fixing wall 17 configured to be fixed to the rear floor of the vehicle V and / or to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle (for example to a side member supporting the rear floor).

[0050] The wall 15 is therefore connected (or connected) by its opposite ends respectively to the main part 13 and to the additional wall 17 of the deflector 3.

[0051] Said additional wall 17 extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the main part of the deflector 3 extends. Thus, in the mounted position, the additional wall 17 extends in a substantially horizontal plane (or XY plane). It will be noted that in profile, the main part 13, the wall 15 and the additional wall 17 of the deflector 3 have a substantially “stair-step” shape.

[0052] Advantageously, the deflector 3 is fixed at its main part 13 and said additional wall 17 to one or more structural elements of the underbody of the vehicle, for example by means of fixing members, such as screws, nuts, studs, clips, staples, etc.

[0053] Said additional wall 17 comprises for example an opening 17a configured to be positioned opposite a complementary opening of a base structure element, a fixing member being inserted into these openings to secure the deflector 3, here the additional wall 17, to a base structure element (such as the rear floor).

[0054] The wall 15 of the deflector 3 therefore extends between the main part 13 of the deflector 3, said rear floor and the mudguard 7 of the wheel arch 5. In addition, said wall 15 closes the space delimited by the main part 13 of the deflector, said rear floor and the wheel arch 5 (and therefore closes the communication path of said flow), this in such a way as to best collect the flow of water and / or air coming from the front of the vehicle to evacuate it outside the vehicle.

[0055] Said wall 15 of the deflector 3 advantageously has a rounded shape, the concavity of which is oriented towards the front of the vehicle V, therefore configured to face a flow of water and / or air coming from the front of the vehicle when the latter is in motion (for example when crossing a ford). The direction of flow of the flow of water and / or air is therefore substantially orthogonal to the main extension plane of the scoop-forming wall 15.

[0056] Furthermore, advantageously, the mudguard 7 has an opening configured to allow the presence of an anti-roll bar of a multi-link suspension train, said wall 15 forming a scoop extending at least partly into the opening of said mudguard 7, thus allowing the evacuation of a flow of water and / or air through the wheel arch 5.

[0057] It will be noted that the mudguard 7 is for example made of a flexible elastomeric material based on polypropylene or based on polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. Said mudguard 7 comprises for example walls of substantially semi-cylindrical shape which surround a wheel of the rear wheel arch 5. The opening which makes it possible to position an anti-roll bar is for example arranged in one of said semi-cylindrical walls, said anti-roll bar extending for example at least partially opposite the wall 15 of the deflector 3.

[0058] In a variant embodiment of the invention not shown, the wall forming a scoop is straight and extends in a substantially vertical plane and in an inclined manner relative to the direction of flow of the water and / or air flow, the wall may for example have a triangular shape with one of the inclined faces allowing the flow of water and / or air to be directed towards the wheel arch.

[0059] In a variant embodiment of the invention not shown, said wall of the deflector is fixed to said mudguard (advantageously at the level of the semi-cylindrical wall), for example by means of a fixing member, such as a screw, a nut, a staple, a clip, etc.

Claims

Claims

1. Rear structure of the underbody (1) of a motor vehicle, said structure (1) comprising a deflector (3), as well as at least one wheel arch (5), characterized in that said deflector (3) comprises: - a main part (13) fixed to at least one structural element of the underbody (1) of the vehicle; - a wall configured (15) to evacuate a flow of water and / or air towards the wheel arch (5).

2. Rear underbody structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wheel arch (5) comprises a mudguard (7), the mudguard (7) and the wall (15) of the deflector (3) being configured to block the passage of a flow of air and / or water moving along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

3. Rear underbody structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mudguard (7) comprises at least one wall in which an opening is provided, said wall (15) of the deflector extending at least partly into said opening of the wall of the mudguard (7).

4. Rear underbody structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall (15) of the deflector has a rounded shape.

5. Rear base structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wall (15) of the deflector (3) has a concavity in the direction of movement of the air and / or water flow.

6. Rear underbody structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the mounted position, said wall (15) of the deflector (3) extends in a substantially vertical plane.

7. Rear underbody structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the mounted position, the main part (13) of the deflector (3) extends in a substantially horizontal plane.

8. Rear underbody structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said structure (1) comprises a rear floor of a motor vehicle, said wall (15) of the deflector extending between the main part (13) of the deflector, said rear floor and the wheel arch (5).

9. Deflector (3) for a rear underbody structure of a motor vehicle, characterized in that said deflector (3) is configured to be mounted in a rear underbody structure (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle (V), characterized in that said vehicle comprises a rear underbody structure (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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