DEFLECTOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A DEFLECTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a deflector (7) intended to be fixed under the underbody of a motor vehicle, between a wheel arch and a lateral structural element of said vehicle, characterized in that said deflector (7) comprises two parts: – a first part (8) configured to be fixed under the underbody;– a second part (9) configured to extend in the mounted position between the wheel arch and the lateral structural element; said second part (9) being configured to take at least two distinct positions: – a first position, called the “deployed position”, where the second part (9) of said deflector (7) fills the space located between the lateral element and the wheel arch (1); – a second position, called the “folded position”, where the second part (9) folds against the first part (8) of said deflector. Abstract figure: [Fig. 3]

Description

Title of the invention: DEFLECTOR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A DEFLECTOR

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles comprising an underbody structure under which at least one fairing element is mounted. The present invention relates more particularly to a fairing element, such as a deflector, fixed under the front or central part of the body of a motor vehicle.

[0002] A motor vehicle commonly comprises an underbody structure under which components and equipment are fixed. Fairing elements are also fixed on or in the underbody structure, under the body of the vehicle, to cover said equipment and components.

[0003] 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.

[0004] 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 so as to channel the air flowing under the body in order, for example, to improve the coefficient of penetration in the air of the vehicle.

[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] [Fig.l] illustrates a very schematic, partial and side view of a motor vehicle V on which are only illustrated, for reasons of readability: - a wheel arch 1 which includes a mudguard 1a; - a lateral structural element 3, such as a lateral deflector, for example to hide a traction battery of the vehicle; - a lower part of the vehicle body 5, such as the lower part of the door base.

[0007] It can thus be seen that at the junction of the mudguard 1a, the side deflector 3 and the lower part of the door pillar 5, there is a discontinuity forming an opening H. This opening H alters the general aesthetic appearance of the motor vehicle and thus causes a defect in “perceived quality” for the users or purchasers of the vehicle V. However, this opening H also presents a practical interest, because it is an area, also referred to as a “jack support area”, through which there is access to a structural element, such as a side member, of the vehicle V on which a lifting tool can rest to lift said vehicle V.

[0008] It is thus possible to lift the vehicle V, during maintenance and / or repair operations, by means of a lifting bridge or a jack by resting on said side member, this via the opening H, but also during the manufacture of the vehicle V, said vehicle V being lifted by means of a swing which rests on said side member via the opening H.

[0009] It is therefore necessary to find a solution that improves the perceived quality while preserving the functional aspect of said area, whether for maintenance or vehicle manufacturing operations.

[0010] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of deflector intended to be fixed under the underbody of a motor vehicle, between a wheel arch and a lateral structural element of said vehicle, characterized in that said deflector comprises two parts: - a first part configured to be fixed under the underbody; - a second part configured to extend in the mounted position between the wheel arch and the lateral structural element; said second part being configured to take at least two distinct positions: - a first position, called the “deployed position”, where the second part of said deflector fills the space between the lateral structural element and the wheel arch; - a second position, called the “folded position”, where the second part folds against the first part of said deflector.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic, said deflector is made of two plastic materials. Advantageously, the deflector is made of two different plastic materials, for example by overmolding, such as a rigid plastic material, for example polypropylene reinforced with minerals, and a flexible plastic material, for example a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0012] According to another possible characteristic, the first part of the deflector is made of a plastic material having a hardness of at least 75 Shore A, and the The second part of the deflector is made of a plastic material with a hardness of at most 45 Shore A.

[0013] According to another possible characteristic, the second part of said deflector is configured to deform and move from a deployed position to a folded position under the effect of mechanical stress. The second part advantageously has a certain flexibility allowing it to deform under the effect of mechanical stress to move from a deployed position to a folded position, a jack or the lifting pad of a lifting bridge being able to thus rest on the structural element, such as a spar, on which said deflector is fixed.

[0014] According to another possible characteristic, the second part of said deflector has, in the deployed position, ends configured to have a shape cooperation respectively with an element of the wheel arch and the lateral structural element. Advantageously, the ends of the second part of the deflector are configured to cooperate with the adjacent elements of said second part when the latter is in the deployed position, in order to guarantee an impression of continuity between the different elements, and thus improve the perceived quality for the user of the vehicle.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, the first part of said deflector comprises two distinct types of fixing members to allow said deflector to be fixed to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle. Having two separate types of fasteners ensures that the deflector is properly secured and positioned under the vehicle body. In addition, the different types of fasteners act as a keying element when mounting the deflector on the vehicle. Fasteners include staples, clips, welded studs, etc.

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, at least one of said fixing members is configured to cooperate with a cataphoresis hole in a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle. Advantageously, one of the fixing members for fixing the first part of the deflector to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle, for example to a side member, is configured to cooperate with a cataphoresis hole, thus using pre-existing openings in the structural element, and thus avoiding the provision of additional openings in said structural element. Said fixing member which cooperates with a cataphoresis hole is for example a staple or a non-removable deformable clip.

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, said first part of said deflector comprises at least three fixing members. Advantageously, the first part of the deflector is fixed to a structural element of the underbody by three separate points, in order to guarantee its position and its fixing despite external constraints, shocks, vibrations, etc.

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, in the mounted position, the first part of the deflector extends in a substantially horizontal plane. In order to guarantee the usual functions of a deflector (aerodynamics, protection, etc.), the first part advantageously extends, in the mounted position, in a substantially horizontal plane (i.e. in a plane substantially parallel to the rolling plane of the vehicle).

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, in the mounted position, the second part of the deflector extends, in the deployed position, in a substantially vertical plane, and extends, in the folded position, in a substantially horizontal plane. Advantageously, when the deflector is fixed to the underbody of the vehicle, the second part extends substantially in a vertical plane, thus filling or filling the space located between the wheel arch and the lateral structural element, while in the folded position, the second part extends substantially in a horizontal plane opposite the first part of said deflector. The second part can also come to bear on the first part under the effect of a lifting tool, such as a jack, a lifting pad of a lifting bridge, a swing support, etc.

[0020] The invention also relates to an assembly for a motor vehicle, said assembly comprising a deflector, as well as a wheel arch mudguard and / or a lateral structural element, characterized in that said deflector is a deflector as defined above, at least one of the ends of the second part of the deflector being configured to cooperate mechanically with a groove provided in the mudguard and / or in the lateral structural element. Advantageously, the second part of the deflector is blocked, in the deployed position, at least partially by one of the parts adjacent to said deflector, in order to prevent said second part from moving from a deployed position to a folded position under the effect of air flow and / or vibrations, for example when the vehicle is moving.

[0021] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a deflector as defined above.

[0022] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, 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 side view of a vehicle of the prior art; - [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic, partial and side view of a vehicle equipped with a deflector according to the invention; - [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic and perspective view from above of the deflector of [[Fig.2]]; - [Fig.4] is a schematic and perspective view from below of the deflector of [Fig.3].

[0023] 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".

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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°.

[0026] [[Fig.2]] illustrates a schematic, partial and side view of a vehicle V, for example a thermal, hybrid or electric vehicle, equipped with a deflector 7 according to the invention. More particularly, said vehicle V thus comprises an assembly E comprising: - a wheel arch 1 which includes a mudguard 1a; - a lateral structural element 3, such as a lateral deflector, for example to hide a traction battery of the vehicle V; - a lower part of the vehicle body 5, such as the lower part of the door base; - a deflector 7 according to the invention positioned at the junction of the wheel arch 1, advantageously of the mudguard 1a, of the lateral structural element 3 and of the lower body part 5.

[0027] The deflector 7 is thus configured to be fixed under the underbody of the vehicle V, for example on a structural element of the underbody (not visible), such as a side member, a stretcher, a cross member, etc., or any structure making it possible to serve as a support point for a lifting tool to lift the vehicle V. Said deflector 7 is further configured to extend between the mudguard 1a and the lateral structural element 3, so as to fill or to fill the space between these elements.

[0028] [Fig.3] and [Fig.4] illustrate, for their part, schematic and perspective views respectively from above and from below of the deflector 7, said deflector 7 comprising: - a first part 8 configured to be fixed under the underbody, for example to a structural element of said underbody (for example a side member); - a second part 9 configured to extend in the mounted position between the wheel arch 1, advantageously the mudguard 1a, and the lateral structural element 3.

[0029] Furthermore, said second part 9 is configured to take at least two distinct positions: - a first position, called the “deployed position”, where the second part 9 of said deflector 7 fills the space located between the lateral element 3 and the wheel arch 1, and advantageously the mudguard 1a; - a second position, called the “folded position”, where the second part 9 folds against the first part 8 of said deflector 7.

[0030] Said deflector 7 is advantageously made of bi-material plastic, the first part 8 and the second part 9 being made of different (and distinct) plastic materials, such as a rigid plastic material, for example polypropylene reinforced with minerals, and a flexible plastic material, for example a thermoplastic elastomer. The second part 9 is for example overmolded onto the first part 8 of said deflector 7.

[0031] Furthermore, the first part 8 of the deflector 7 is for example made of a plastic material having a hardness of at least 75 Shore A, while the second part 9 of the deflector 7 is made of a plastic material having a hardness of at most 45 Shore A.

[0032] The first and second parts 8 and 9 of the deflector 7 each have a substantially planar shape, the first part 8 being configured to extend, in the mounted position, in a substantially horizontal plane (or XY plane).

[0033] In addition, the first part 8 of said deflector 7 comprises fixing members 11 and 13 configured to secure said first part 8 to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle (not visible).

[0034] Furthermore, the fixing members 11 and 13 are for example of at least two distinct types, in order to act as a keying element when mounting the deflector 7 on the base structure element.

[0035] The fixing members 11 and 13 are, for example, staples, clips, welded studs, etc. The fixing members are thus advantageously of a first type 11 configured to cooperate mechanically with a screw or a welded stud on the underbody structural element, for example a clip, and of a second type 13 configured to cooperate mechanically with a pre-existing opening in the structural element, for example the cataphoresis holes of a side member. The fixing member of the second type 13 is, for example, a staple or a non-removable deformable clip.

[0036] It will be noted that, whatever the type of fixing member 11 or 13 making it possible to fix the first part 8 of the deflector 7 to the underbody structural element, the fixing members are advantageously configured to allow manual fixing (by an operator) of the deflector 7 under the body of the vehicle V. Furthermore, advantageously, said first part 8 of the deflector 7 comprises at least three fixing members 11 and / or 13.

[0037] The second part 9 of the deflector 7, for its part, is configured to deform and move from a deployed position to a folded position under the effect of a mechanical stress. In the presently described embodiment of the invention, the second part 9 has sufficient flexibility to deform under the effect of a mechanical stress (traction, compression, bending, etc.), stress for example exerted by a lifting tool (such as a jack or the lifting pad of a lifting bridge), when the latter comes into contact with the second part 9, when it is a question of reaching the first part 8, and by extension the structural element on which to rest to lift the vehicle V.

[0038] Furthermore, the second part 9 of said deflector 7 comprises two opposite ends 9a and 9b which, in the mounted and deployed position, are configured to have a form cooperation respectively with the mudguard 1a and / or the lateral structure element 3. In addition, the second part 9 thus extends, in the mounted and deployed position, substantially in a vertical plane (or XZ plane).

[0039] While in the assembled and folded position, said second part 9 extends in a substantially horizontal plane (or XY plane), therefore opposite the first part 8, for example in planes substantially parallel to each other. Said second part 9 advantageously comes into contact with the first part 8 under the effect of a lifting tool.

[0040] Furthermore, the end 9a of the second part 9 is advantageously configured to cooperate mechanically with a groove (not visible) arranged in the mudguard 1a, the end 9a is for example blocked in the groove of the mudguard 1a so as to prevent the passage from a deployed position to a folded position without the application of a predetermined force on said second part 9.

[0041] In a variant embodiment of the invention not shown, the other end 9b of the second part 9 is advantageously configured to cooperate mechanically with a groove provided in the lateral structural element 3. The end 9b of the second part 9 is thus advantageously blocked in the groove of said lateral structural element 3 so as to prevent the passage from a deployed position to a folded position without the application of a predetermined force on said second part 9.

[0042] It will be noted that the lateral structural element 3 and / or the mudguard 1a of the assembly E can thus comprise a groove configured to cooperate mechanically with one or both ends 9a and 9b of the second part 9 of the deflector 7, and block said second part 9 in the deployed position.

[0043] In another variant embodiment of the invention, not shown, the deflector 7 is made of a single plastic material, the first and second parts 8 and 9 of the deflector 7 being connected to each other by a hinge allowing the movement of the second part relative to the first part, therefore the passage from a deployed position to a folded position (and vice versa) of said second part.

[0044] Said hinge connecting said parts of the deflector is for example produced by the mechanical cooperation of each of said parts with an axis or by a reduction in the thickness of the connecting zone between said parts (the deflector can then be monobloc or unitary).

Claims

Claims

1. Deflector (7) intended to be fixed under the underbody of a motor vehicle (V), between a wheel arch (1) and a lateral structural element (3) of said vehicle (V), characterized in that said deflector (7) comprises two parts: - a first part (8) configured to be fixed under the underbody; - a second part (9) configured to extend in the mounted position between the wheel arch (1) and the lateral structural element (3); said second part (9) being configured to take at least two distinct positions: - a first position, called the "deployed position", where the second part (9) of said deflector (7) fills the space located between the lateral structural element (3) and the wheel arch (1); - a second position, called the "folded position", where the second part (9) folds against the first part (8) of said deflector.

2. Deflector (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said deflector (7) is made of bi-plastic material.

3. Deflector (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (8) of the deflector (7) is made of a plastic material having a hardness of at least 75 Shore A, and the second part (9) of the deflector (7) is made of a plastic material having a hardness of at most 45 Shore A.

4. Deflector (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second part (9) of said deflector (7) is configured to deform and move from a deployed position to a folded position under the effect of mechanical stress.

5. Deflector (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second part (9) of said deflector (7) has, in the deployed position, ends (9a, 9b) configured to have a form cooperation respectively with an element of the wheel arch (1) and the lateral structural element (3).

6. Deflector (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (8) of said deflector (7) comprises two distinct types of fixing members (11, 13) to allow the fixing of said deflector (7) to a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle.

7. Deflector (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of said fixing members (13) is configured to cooperate with a cataphoresis hole in a structural element of the underbody of the vehicle.

8. Deflector (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the mounted position, the second part (9) of the deflector (7) extends, in the deployed position, in a substantially vertical plane, and extends, in the folded position, in a substantially horizontal plane.

9. Assembly (E) for a motor vehicle, said assembly (E) comprising a deflector, as well as a mudguard (la) for the wheel arch (1) and / or a lateral structural element (3), characterized in that said deflector is a deflector (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one of the ends (9a, 9b) of the second part (9) of the deflector (7) being configured to cooperate mechanically with a groove provided in the mudguard (la) and / or in the lateral structural element (3).

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

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