AUTOMOBILE WITH REINFORCED HOLD ELECTRIC CHARGING CONNECTOR SUPPORT AND REDUCED INSTALLATION OPERATIONS

Abstract

A motor vehicle (V) comprises a rear wing liner (RFL) having an upper part (PS) fixedly attached to front (PV) and rear (PR) parts, and a support piece (PSD) fixed to this rear wing liner (RFL) and comprising, on the one hand, a main part (PP1) having a central opening (OC) delimited by a closed perimeter and designed to be traversed by an electrical charging connector intended to be fixedly attached to the main part (PP1), and, on the other hand, a peripheral part (PP2) extending from the main part (PP1) and fixedly attached by welding to the upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts in predefined areas allowing the application of sealing gaskets at interfaces between the upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts and the upper (PS) and front (PV) parts. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE WITH REINFORCED HOLD ELECTRIC CHARGING CONNECTOR SUPPORT AND REDUCED INSTALLATION OPERATIONS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles comprising a rear wing lining to which a support piece for an electric charging connector is fixedly attached. State of the art

[0002] Some motor vehicles include an electric charging connector which, when temporarily coupled to an external power source via a charging cable, allows their rechargeable battery to be recharged, which is generally responsible for providing electrical power to at least one electric motive machine of their powertrain (or PMT).

[0003] In some of the vehicles (automobiles) described above, the electric charging connector is supported by, and fixedly attached by screws to, a support piece. Generally, this support piece is fixedly attached by screws to a rear fender liner, and therefore its installation requires numerous screwing operations and necessitates that the support piece have a relatively significant thickness, which contributes to increasing the weight of the vehicle.

[0004] Furthermore, the support piece generally has a C-shaped design to facilitate the passage of the gooseneck of the charging housing, which includes the electrical charging connector, and to allow sufficient space for a robot arm to apply soft sealing beads to the interfaces between the upper part of the rear wing liner and the front and rear sections of the same rear wing liner between the bodywork and painting operations. However, this C-shaped design significantly reduces the strength of the support piece under stress, which facilitates its deformation during the connection / disconnection of the charging cables to the electrical charging connector it supports. In addition, this C-shaped design prevents the front and rear edges of the support piece from being secured to the front and rear sections of the rear wing liner, respectively, which also reduces its strength under stress (or rigidity).

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

[0006] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a motor vehicle comprising a rear wing lining having an upper part fixedly attached to front and rear parts, and a support piece attached to this rear wing lining.

[0007] This motor vehicle is characterized in that its support part comprises:

[0008] - a main part which is provided with a central opening delimited by a enclosed perimeter suitable for the passage of an electrical charging connector intended to be permanently attached to this main part, and

[0009] - a peripheral part extending from this main part and fixedly attached by welding to the upper and rear parts of the rear wing lining in predefined areas allowing the application of sealing gaskets at interfaces between the upper and rear parts and the upper and front parts.

[0010] Thus, the number of operations required to install the support part is significantly reduced, and possibly the thickness of the latter, which makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs and the weight of the vehicle, while improving the resistance under stress (or stiffness) of the support part.

[0011] The motor vehicle according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - the peripheral part of the support piece can be fixedly attached by welding to the upper part of the rear wing lining in three predefined areas, one of which is located near the interface between the upper and rear parts of the rear wing lining, and to the rear part of the rear wing lining in a predefined area located near the interface between these upper and rear parts;

[0013] - in the presence of the first option, the peripheral part of the support piece may include two upper extensions and a rear extension folded outwards from the motor vehicle and fixedly attached by welding respectively to the upper and rear parts of the rear wing lining in the predefined areas;

[0014] - also in the presence of the first option, the peripheral part of the part of support can be fixedly attached by welding to the upper and rear parts in a common predefined area located at the interface between the upper and rear parts of the rear wing lining;

[0015] - in the presence of the last two sub-options, the rear extension of the part peripheral support piece can be fixedly attached by welding to the upper and rear parts of the rear wing lining in the common predefined area;

[0016] - in the presence of the last sub-option or the last sub-sub-option, the part The peripheral part of the support piece can be securely attached by triple welding thickness at the upper and rear parts of the rear wing lining in the common predefined area;

[0017] - the peripheral part of the support piece may include a sub-part lower folded outwards from the motor vehicle so as to allow fixed attachment of at least one sub-part folded inwards from the motor vehicle and forming part of an external rear wing part intended to be fixedly attached to the upper, front and rear parts of the rear wing lining;

[0018] - in the presence of the last option, the lower sub-part of the peripheral part the support piece may include a lower extension folded down towards the motor vehicle and provided with a cutout suitable for attaching a fender trim to the outer part of the rear fender. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view of the right side, a portion of a right rear wing of an example of a vehicle according to the invention, before the installation of a wheel trim and an electric charging connector,

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, the right rear wing part of [Fig.1], before the attachment of its outer part to its rear wing lining,

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, the right rear wing of [Fig.1], before its outer part is joined to its rear wing lining, and

[0023] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from above, the joining of the folded sub-part of the external part of the rear wing of the [Fig.1] to the folded lower sub-part of the support piece. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] The invention aims in particular to provide a motor vehicle V comprising a rear wing AR equipped with a PDS support piece intended to support an electric charging connector and with reinforced hold and reduced installation operations.

[0025] In what follows, the motor vehicle V is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be a car with four side doors. But the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle automobile including a rear wing to be fitted with a support piece intended to support an electric charging connector.

[0026] In figures 1 to 4, direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (automobile) V, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and direction Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y.

[0027] In the preceding and following, the terms "front" and "rear" are defined in relation to the front end of the vehicle V. Therefore, the front part of an element is located closer to the front end of the vehicle V than the rear part of that same element.

[0028] Figure [1] schematically illustrates part of a right rear wing of an example of a vehicle (automobile) V according to the invention, before the installation of a possible trim piece on its external part PE and an electric charging connector.

[0029] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, a rear wing AR of a vehicle V according to the invention includes in particular a rear wing liner DAR, a support piece PDS fixedly attached to the rear wing liner DAR, and an external part PE fixedly attached to the rear wing liner DAR and to the support piece PDS.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the rear wing lining DAR comprises an upper part PS which is fixedly attached to front parts PV and rear parts PR, for example by welding.

[0031] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, the support piece PDS comprises a main part PP1 which is extended by a peripheral part PP2.

[0032] Also, as illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, the main part PP1 is provided with a central opening OC, which is delimited by a closed perimeter, and which is designed to accommodate an electrical charging connector (not shown). It should be noted that this electrical charging connector may, for example, be part of a charging housing intended to be permanently attached to the main part PP1, for example by screwing. This electrical charging connector is connected to a rechargeable battery of the vehicle V, which is, for example, responsible for supplying electrical power to at least one electric drive unit of the powertrain (or PDU) of this vehicle V. Furthermore, this electrical charging connector allows, when temporarily connected to an external power source via a charging cable, the rechargeable battery to be recharged.

[0033] The peripheral part PP2 is fixedly joined by welding to the upper PS and rear PR parts of the rear wing lining DAR in predefined areas (here ZI to Z3) which allow the installation of sealing gaskets, for example by a robot, at interfaces II and 12 between these upper PS and rear PR parts and the upper PS and front PV parts of the rear wing lining DAR.

[0034] Thanks to this welding of the PDS support piece to the DAR rear wing lining, the number of operations required, for example by a robot, to install this PDS support piece is significantly reduced. This not only reduces the manufacturing costs of the vehicle V but also reduces the thickness of the PDS support piece, thus reducing the weight and even more so the price of the vehicle V. In addition, the overall "closed" shape of the PDS support piece improves its resistance under stress (or stiffness), and therefore reduces the probability of it deforming during the connection / disconnection of the charging cables to the electrical charging connector it supports.Furthermore, this generally closed shape significantly facilitates the attachment of the PDS support piece to the DAR rear wing lining (and more specifically here of its upper BS and rear BR edges respectively to the upper PS and rear PR parts), which further improves its resistance under stress.

[0035] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1 to 4, the front edge BV of the support piece PDS is not attached to the front part PV of the rear wing liner DAR, in order to leave sufficient space for a robot arm to deposit, between the body-in-white and painting operations, a soft sealing bead at the interface 12 between the upper part PS of the rear wing liner DAR and this front part PV. However, it could be envisaged that the front edge BV of the support piece PDS be attached to this front part PV.

[0036] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.3], the peripheral part PP2 of the support piece PDS can be fixedly joined by welding, on the one hand, to the upper part PS of the rear wing lining DAR in three predefined areas (here Z1 to Z3), one of which (here Z3) is located near the interface II between the upper PS and rear PR parts, and, on the other hand, to the rear PR part in a predefined area (here Z3) which is located near this interface II.

[0037] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 3], the predefined zone Z3 is located at interface II between the upper PS and rear PR parts, and is therefore common to the welding of the upper BS and rear BR edges of the support piece PDS to the upper PS and rear PR parts of the rear wing liner DAR, respectively. However, this welding connection could be made by two predefined zones slightly spaced apart but both located near interface II between these upper PS and rear PR parts.

[0038] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in [Fig. 3], the peripheral portion PP2 of the PDS support piece may comprise two upper extensions ES and a rear extension ER, all of which are folded outwards from the vehicle V (and thus in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y). These two upper extensions ES are defined from the upper edge BS of the PDS support piece, and this rear extension ER is defined from the rear edge BR of the PDS support piece. In this case, the two upper extensions ES and the rear extension ER are fixedly welded respectively to the upper PS and rear PR portions of the rear fender liner DAR in the predefined areas (here Z1, Z2, and Z3).

[0039] It should be noted that the number of upper extensions ES dedicated to welding the upper edge BS of the support part PDS to the upper part PS can take any value greater than or equal to one. Similarly, the number of rear extensions ER dedicated to welding the rear edge BR of the support part PDS to the rear part PR can take any value greater than or equal to one.

[0040] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.3], the rear extension ER of the peripheral part PP2 of the support piece PDS can be fixedly welded to the upper PS and rear PR parts of the rear wing lining DAR in the common predefined area Z3. But this is not mandatory.

[0041] It should be noted that the rear extension ER of the peripheral part PP2 of the support piece PDS can be fixedly joined by triple-thickness welding to the upper PS and rear PR parts of the rear wing liner DAR in the common predefined area Z3. It will be understood that the triple thickness results from the local overlap of the support piece PDS and the upper PS and rear PR parts of the rear wing liner DAR.

[0042] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 to 4, the peripheral part PP2 of the support piece PDS may include a lower sub-part SPI which is folded outwards from the vehicle V (and therefore in a direction that is substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y). This lower sub-part SPI is defined here from the lower edge BI of the support piece PDS. This folding of the lower sub-part SPI is intended to allow the fixed attachment of at least one other sub-part SPR which is folded inwards from the vehicle V (and therefore in a direction that is substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y) and which forms part of the outer part PE of the rear wing AR, which is intended to be fixedly attached to the upper part PS, front part PV and rear part PR of The rear wing liner (DAR). This fixed attachment can be achieved by welding, for example. However, it could also be achieved by screwing. It should be noted that this external PE section is the part of the rear wing (AR) visible from outside the vehicle (V) and is specifically designed to conceal the rear wing liner (DAR) to which it is permanently attached. Furthermore, each sub-section (SPR) is defined here at a portion of the external PE section that is rounded to delineate the lower part of the wheel arch (see Figures 1 and 4).

[0043] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in [Fig. 4], the outer PE part may include two mounting tabs which respectively define two SPR sub-parts. It should be noted that the number of SPR sub-parts dedicated to welding the outer PE part to the lower SPI sub-part of the PDS support piece may take any value greater than or equal to one.

[0044] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 to 4, the lower sub-part SPI of the support piece PDS may include a lower extension El which is folded downwards towards the vehicle V (and therefore towards the surface on which the latter rests (V)) and which is provided with a cutout DF adapted for attaching a fender trim piece (not shown) to the outer part PE of the rear fender AR. It will be understood that this lower extension El of the lower sub-part SPI is substantially parallel to the aforementioned rounded portion of the outer part PE, which can receive on its outer face a fender trim piece with a fastening means passing through it and can therefore be partially housed in the cutout DF of the lower extension El.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle (V) comprising a rear wing liner (DAR) having an upper part (PS) fixedly attached to front (PV) and rear (PR) parts, and a support piece (PDS) fixedly attached to said rear wing liner (DAR), characterized in that said support piece (PDS) comprises i) a main part (PP1) having a central opening (OC) delimited by a closed perimeter and suitable for being traversed by an electrical charging connector intended to be fixedly attached to said main part (PP1), and ii) a peripheral part (PP2) extending said main part (PP1) and fixedly attached by welding to said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts in predefined areas allowing the application of sealing gaskets at interfaces (II, 12) between said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts and said upper (PS) and front (PV) parts.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said peripheral part (PP2) is fixedly welded to said upper part (PS) in three predefined areas, one of which is located near said interface (II) between said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts, and to said rear (PR) part in a predefined area located near said interface (II) between said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that said peripheral part (PP2) comprises two upper extensions (ES) and a rear extension (ER) folded outwards from said motor vehicle (V) and fixedly joined by welding respectively to said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts in said predefined areas.

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said peripheral part (PP2) is fixedly joined by welding to said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts in a common predefined area and located at said interface (II) between said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts.

5. Motor vehicle according to the combination of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said rear extension (ER) of the peripheral part (PP2) is fixedly attached by welding to said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts in said common predefined area.

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said peripheral part (PP2) is fixedly joined by triple-thickness welding to said upper (PS) and rear (PR) parts in said common predefined area.

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said peripheral part (PP2) comprises a lower sub-part (SPI) folded outwards from said motor vehicle (V) so as to permit a fixed attachment of at least one sub-part (SPR) folded inwards from said motor vehicle (V) and forming part of an external rear wing part (PE) intended to be fixedly attached to said upper (PS), front (PV) and rear (PR) parts.

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that said lower sub-part (SPI) comprises a lower extension (El) folded downwards said motor vehicle (V) and provided with a cutout adapted for fixing a wing trim on said external rear wing part (PE).

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