REINFORCEMENT PIECE FOR DISTRIBUTING A FORCE SUBJECTED TO A MOTOR VEHICLE SIDE MEMBERS DURING A FRONT IMPACT

Abstract

A reinforcing part (PR) is fitted to a motor vehicle comprising a floor fixedly secured to side members (LV) and cross members (TV) installed respectively in longitudinal and transverse directions. This reinforcing part (PR) is installed substantially in a plane inclined relative to a horizontal plane defined by the longitudinal and transverse directions, having upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges fixedly secured and respectively to the side members (LV) and floor (PV) and an inclined rear edge (BRI) joining the upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges and in contact, at an angle, with the cross member (TV), in order to distribute in the floor (PV) and cross member (TV) a force undergone by the side members (LV) when the vehicle undergoes an impact from the front. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: REINFORCEMENT PIECE FOR DISTRIBUTING A FORCE SUFFERED BY A MOTOR VEHICLE SIDE MEMBERS DURING A FRONT IMPACT Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles, and more specifically to the stability of the structure of such vehicles in the event of a front impact. State of the art

[0002] Many motor vehicles comprise a structure comprising a floor fixedly secured to side members, right and left, and to at least one cross member (or two half-cross members, right and left).

[0003] When such vehicles are subjected to a front impact with a small overlap, on their left or right side, their left or right side member is subjected to a force having longitudinal and transverse components. As a result, the side member concerned transmits a majority of the force to the floor, which can generate significant shearing and a risk of tearing of the floor, and therefore can prove dangerous for the safety of passengers as well as for the safety of any rechargeable battery installed under the floor. It should be noted that the smaller the front impact is with a small overlap (typically less than 25%), the greater the risk of shearing and tearing of the floor can be, because the more the transverse component of the force undergone by the side member is predominant compared to the longitudinal component of this force.

[0004] To reduce the risk of shearing and tearing, it would be possible to increase the thickness of the entire floor or to install a large steel plate on the floor extending between the right and left side members. However, this would significantly increase the mass of the vehicle and therefore its driving energy consumption, but also the cost of the vehicle.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] For this purpose, it proposes in particular a reinforcement part intended to equip a motor vehicle comprising a floor fixedly secured to side members and cross members installed respectively in longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle.

[0007] This reinforcement piece is characterized by the fact that it is suitable for being installed substantially in a plane inclined relative to a horizontal plane defined by the longitudinal and transverse directions, having upper and lower longitudinal edges lower fixedly secured and respectively to the side member and floor and an inclined rear edge joining the upper and lower longitudinal edges and in contact, at an angle, with the cross member, in order to distribute in the floor and cross member a force undergone by the side member when the vehicle suffers an impact from the front.

[0008] Thanks to this distribution, it is possible to reduce the risk of shearing and tearing of the floor, and therefore to reinforce the passive safety of the vehicle with respect to, at least, its passengers, including in the presence of a small overlap, without significantly increasing the mass of the vehicle, and therefore avoiding significantly increasing its consumption of driving energy and its cost.

[0009] The reinforcement part according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0010] - it may comprise a central part extended by the longitudinal edges upper and lower, the inclined rear edge, and an inclined front edge joining the upper and lower longitudinal edges. In this case, its upper longitudinal edge may be folded back relative to its central part;

[0011] - in the presence of the first option, the folding of the upper longitudinal edge can be defined so that the latter is parallel to an internal face of the spar;

[0012] - it may comprise a central part extended by the longitudinal edges upper and lower, the inclined rear edge, and an inclined front edge joining the upper and lower longitudinal edges. In this case, its lower longitudinal edge may be folded back relative to its central part;

[0013] - in the presence of the last option, the folding of the lower longitudinal edge can be defined so that the latter is inclined relative to the floor;

[0014] - it may comprise a central part, on the one hand, extended by the edges upper and lower longitudinal edges, the inclined rear edge, and an inclined front edge joining the upper and lower longitudinal edges, and, on the other hand, provided with at least two stiffening ribs;

[0015] - it can be made of steel;

[0016] - it may have a thickness which is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

[0017] The invention also proposes a motor vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a floor fixedly secured to side members, right and left, installed respectively in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and to at least one cross member installed in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and, on the other hand, two reinforcement pieces, right and left, of the type presented above, and fixedly secured to the floor and respectively to the right and left side members.

[0018] For example, each reinforcement piece can be fixedly secured to the floor and to one of the side members by welding. Brief description of the figures

[0019] 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:

[0020] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the right side, a part of a vehicle structure comprising an exemplary embodiment of a reinforcement part according to the invention fixedly secured to the floor and to the left side member,

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from above, a sub- left part of the structural part of [Fig.l] comprising the reinforcement piece, and

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, the reinforcing part of the Figures 1 and 2. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] The invention aims in particular to propose a reinforcement part PR intended to equip a structure SV of a motor vehicle comprising a floor PV fixedly secured to side members LV, right and left, and to at least one cross member TV, and allowing a distribution in these floor PV and cross member TV of the force which is undergone by one of the side members LV when the vehicle undergoes an impact from the front.

[0024] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the reinforcement part PR is intended to be part of the structure of a motor vehicle of the car type. But the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It in fact relates to any motor vehicle comprising a structure comprising a floor fixedly secured to side members, right and left, and to at least one cross member.

[0025] In Figures 1 to 3, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, 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 X and transverse Y directions.

[0026] In the foregoing and the following, the concept of "front" is defined in relation to the front end of the vehicle, and the concept of "rear" is defined in relation to the rear end of the vehicle (opposite the front end). Consequently, the front part of an element is (intended to be) oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, while the rear part of this element is (intended to be) oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.

[0027] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates part of an example of an SV structure of a vehicle (automobile) comprising a PV floor fixedly secured to LV side members, right and left, and at least one TV cross member, and a PR reinforcement piece according to the invention. This fixed connection can be done, for example, by welding and / or screwing (or bolting).

[0028] Each LV side member is installed along the longitudinal direction X, and each TV cross member is installed along the transverse direction Y.

[0029] It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.l], the structure SV comprises two times two half-crossmembers TV, each half-crossmember TV extending between a longitudinal central tunnel TCL and one of the right and left side members LV. It will be understood that the two half-crossmembers TV located at the same longitudinal level of the floor PL together constitute a crossmember. But in a variant not illustrated, the structure SV could comprise at least one TV crossmember extending between the right and left side members LV.

[0030] It will also be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.l], only a single reinforcement piece PR (left) appears in the left part of the structure SV, but the latter (SV) comprises another reinforcement piece PR (right) in its right part.

[0031] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, a reinforcement piece PR, according to the invention, is suitable for being installed substantially in a plane inclined relative to a horizontal plane XY defined by the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions, and comprises a central part PC extended by upper longitudinal edges BLS and lower BLI, and inclined rear edges BRI and inclined front edges B VI joining these upper longitudinal edges BLS and lower BLI.

[0032] The word “substantially” here means that the greater part of the reinforcement piece PR (and in particular its central part PC) is installed in a plane which is inclined relative to the horizontal plane XY. For example, this inclination may be between 10° and 50°. By way of example, this inclination may be equal to approximately 30°.

[0033] The upper longitudinal edges BLS and lower BLI are fixedly secured respectively to the relevant longitudinal member LV and to the floor PV, and the inclined rear edge BRI is in contact, at an angle, with the cross member TV.

[0034] This arrangement advantageously makes it possible to distribute in the PV floor and the relevant TV crossmember (or half-crossmember) a force undergone by the LV side member when the vehicle is subjected to an impact from the front. This distribution advantageously makes it possible to reduce the risk of shearing and tearing of the PV floor, and therefore to reinforce the passive safety of the vehicle with respect to its passengers as well as possibly a rechargeable battery installed under the PV floor, including in the presence of a small overlap (typically less than 25%).

[0035] It will be noted that the reinforcement piece PR acts where the need for reinforcement is greatest during a front impact (with low overlap), and depending on the general direction of the force undergone by the LV side member. Therefore, its dimensions are small, and therefore its mass does not significantly increase that of the vehicle, which avoids significantly increasing its driving energy consumption and its cost.

[0036] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, only a first part of the inclined rear edge BRI may be in contact with the (half-)crossmember TV concerned, the second complementary part (not in contact) making an acute angle with this first part in order to join the upper longitudinal edge BLS. This second part is then, preferably, substantially parallel to the lower longitudinal edge BLI. This makes it possible to promote the transmission to the (half-)crossmember TV concerned of a part of the force transmitted to the reinforcement piece PR by the spar LV concerned.

[0037] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the upper longitudinal edge BLS can be folded back relative to the central part PC of the reinforcement piece PR. In this case, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the folding back of the upper longitudinal edge BLS can be defined so that the latter (BLS) is parallel to the internal face FI of the spar LV. This makes it possible to optimize the transmission to the reinforcement piece PR (via its upper longitudinal edge BLS) of the force undergone by the spar LV concerned.

[0038] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the lower longitudinal edge BLI can be folded back relative to the central part PC of the reinforcement piece PR. In this case, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the folding back of the lower longitudinal edge BLI can be defined so that the latter (BLI) is inclined relative to the floor PV at an angle which is different from the angle of inclination of the plane in which the central part PC is installed. For example, this inclination can be between 20° and 60°. By way of example, this inclination can be equal to approximately 40°. This makes it possible to optimize the transmission to the floor PV (via the lower longitudinal edge BLI) of part of the force transmitted to the reinforcement piece PR by the spar LV concerned.

[0039] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the central part PC of the reinforcement piece PR can be provided with at least two stiffening ribs NR. This makes it possible to significantly increase the rigidity of the reinforcement piece PR, and thus to promote the transmission to the floor PV and to the (half-)crossmember TV concerned of the force transmitted to the reinforcement piece PR by the side member LV concerned.

[0040] It will also be noted that the reinforcement piece PR can be fixedly secured by welding to the floor PV and to the internal face FI of the side member LV concerned.

[0041] It will also be noted that the reinforcement part PR can, for example, be made of steel. But other resistant materials can be used.

[0042] It will also be noted that each PR reinforcement piece may, for example, have a thickness greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. For example, this thickness may be between 1.8 mm and 2.5 mm.

Claims

Claims

1. Reinforcing part (PR) suitable for equipping a motor vehicle comprising a floor (PV) fixedly secured to side members (LV) and crossmember (TV) installed respectively in longitudinal and transverse directions of said vehicle, characterized in that it is suitable for being installed substantially in an inclined plane relative to a horizontal plane defined by said longitudinal and transverse directions, having upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges fixedly secured and respectively to said side members (LV) and floor (PV) and an inclined rear edge (BRI) joining said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges and in contact, at an angle, with said crossmember (TV), in order to distribute in said floor (PV) and crossmember (TV) a force undergone by said side members (LV) when said vehicle undergoes an impact from the front.

2. Reinforcing piece according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a central part (PC) extended by said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges, said inclined rear edge (BRI), and an inclined front edge (BVI) joining said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges, and in that said upper longitudinal edge (BLS) is folded back relative to said central part (PC).

3. Reinforcing piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the folding of said upper longitudinal edge (BLS) is defined so that the latter (BLS) is parallel to an internal face (FI) of said spar (LV).

4. Reinforcing piece according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a central part (PC) extended by said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges, said inclined rear edge (BRI), and an inclined front edge (BVI) joining said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges, and in that said lower longitudinal edge (BLI) is folded back relative to said central part (PC).

5. Reinforcing piece according to claim 4, characterized in that the folding of said lower longitudinal edge (BLI) is defined so that the latter (BLI) is inclined relative to said floor (PV).

6. Reinforcing piece according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a central part (PC) i) extended by said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges, said inclined rear edge (BRI), and an inclined front edge (BVI) joining said upper (BLS) and lower (BLI) longitudinal edges, and ii) provided with at least two stiffening ribs (NR).

7. Reinforcing piece according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is made of steel.

8. Reinforcing piece according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a thickness greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a floor fixedly secured to side members (LV), right and left, installed respectively in a longitudinal direction of said vehicle, and to at least one cross member (TV) installed in a transverse direction of said vehicle, characterized in that it further comprises two reinforcement pieces (PR), right and left, according to one of the preceding claims, fixedly secured to said floor (PV) and respectively to said side members (LV) right and left.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that each reinforcing piece (PR) is fixedly secured to said floor (PV) and to one of said side members (LV) by welding.

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