A connection device specifically designed to equip a land vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device (1) for a vehicle underbody, comprising a side member (3) and a front frame member, comprising a rear portion (21) extending down to said side member (3), said device comprising: a first part (4) fixedly attached to said rear end of the rear portion (21) of the front frame member and said side member (3), said first part (4) comprising a lower wall and a side wall (44) defining an internal recess with said lower wall, a second part (5) installed on the lower wall of the first part (4), a third part (6) installed between the first part (4) and said second part (5). The invention consists in that said third part (6) is configured to close the internal recess between the end of the rear portion (21) of the front frame member and the inner side face (31) of the side member (3). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Connecting device suitable for equipping a land vehicle

[0001] The invention relates to land vehicles, and more specifically to structures that are part of such vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Certain land vehicles, generally of the motor vehicle type, include a structure comprising a subframe including two right and left longitudinal members, and, in the front part, two right and left crossmembers which participate in particular in the support of the powertrain (or powertrain) generally with complementary elements such as two right and left upper arms, placed above them, and right and left cradle extensions, placed below them.

[0003] The term "front" is defined in this text with respect to the front end of the vehicle, and the term "rear" is defined with respect to the rear end of the vehicle (opposite the front end) in the direction of travel of the vehicle. Therefore, the front part of an element is configured to be oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, while the rear part of that element is configured to be oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.

[0004] Some of the front frame members include a rear section that extends down towards the underbody to a point that is offset both transversely and longitudinally from the side member on the corresponding side. When the vehicle has an all-electric or hybrid (internal combustion and electric) powertrain, it includes a main (or traction) battery that supplies electrical power to at least one electric drive unit of the powertrain and is generally installed in the underbody. It is important to protect this main battery when the front end of one of the front frame members sustains an impact that is at least partially frontal. This is because some of the force absorbed by this front frame member is transmitted to the main battery, which can damage it and cause a chemical leak and / or a short circuit that could lead to overheating, even a fire, and / or electrocution of a user.

[0005] In order to solve this problem, document FR-A-3132691 proposed an interconnection device for equipping a land vehicle comprising a structure including a subframe comprising a longitudinal member, and a front stretcher comprising a rear portion descending towards this subframe to a point which is offset transversely and longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal member, this interconnection device being intended to connect the end of the rear portion of the stretcher front to the side member, and arranged so as to transmit to the side member part of a force absorbed by the front frame in the event of a shock suffered by a front end of the latter.

[0006] Thus, part of the force absorbed by a front strut is diverted to the side member on the corresponding side, allowing the underbody to contribute to resisting the forces and maintaining a good level of passive safety. Such an interconnection device is therefore configured to connect the end of the rear portion of the front strut to an inner lateral face at the front of the side member.

[0007] Such an interconnection or linking device comprises a first part having front and rear ends intended to be fixedly attached respectively to the end of the rear part of the front stretcher and to a lateral face at the front of the longeron, this first part comprising, on the one hand, a lower wall called the bottom wall, having a curved edge and, on the other hand, a lateral wall extending along the curved edge, extending upwards from the lower wall, ending with a first upper edge which defines a hollow shape for the part, with the lower wall.

[0008] It also includes a second part fixedly installed on the lower wall, arranged to subdivide the internal housing formed by the hollow shape of the first part into first and second sub-parts, and finally, it includes a third part fixedly installed in the first sub-part by being suspended on the first upper edge of the first part and a second upper edge of the second part. These three parts form an interconnection device in the form of a box, this box remaining open on the side of the attachment of the connecting device to the longeron.

[0009] This interconnection device diverts part of the force absorbed by a front frame rail to the corresponding side member, allowing the underbody to contribute to withstanding the forces and maintaining a good level of passive safety, even when the vehicle is traveling at high speed. Thus, the side member that allows the underbody to absorb side impacts can also absorb frontal impacts. Consequently, when the underbody includes a main (or traction) battery, this significantly reduces the damage that can be caused to this main battery during a frontal impact, since it then only absorbs a very small portion of the force.

[0010] However, it is noted that there is always a strong deformation at the junction with the inner face of the side member during a frontal impact.

[0011] In order to overcome this drawback, the invention aims to provide a linking device with which this deformation is reduced, or even eliminated.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a linkage device for a land vehicle comprising a structure having a subframe, including a side member, and a front frame, including a rear part descending towards said subframe to a point offset transversely and longitudinally with respect to said side member, said device being intended to connect a rear end of said rear part to an inner lateral face of said side member, and arranged so as to transmit to said side member a part of a force absorbed by said front frame member in the event of an impact suffered by a front end of said frame member, said device comprising: a first part including front and rear ends intended to be fixedly attached respectively to said rear end of the rear part of the front frame member and to said side member,said first piece comprising a lower wall and a side wall extending from an edge of said lower wall, terminated by a top edge and defining an internal housing with said lower wall, a second piece fixedly installed on the lower wall of the first piece, comprising a side wall extending from the lower wall of the first piece on the same side of the lower wall as the side wall of the first piece, to close the internal housing, said side wall of the second piece being terminated by a top edge, a third piece fixedly installed between the top edge of the first piece and the top edge of said second piece,characterized in that said third piece is configured to extend between the upper edges of the first piece and the second piece and to close the internal housing between the end of the rear part of the front stretcher and the inner lateral face of the longeron.

[0013] Advantageously, the three parts thus form a connecting device which is in the form of a closed box whose rigidity reduces its deformability and promotes a significant transmission of the forces related to the impact.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the third piece has a wall configured to form a lower wall whose lateral edges are respectively provided with a lateral wall, the lower wall and the lateral walls of the third piece being configured to house said third piece between the lateral walls and such that said lateral walls of the third piece extend respectively in support for one against the lateral wall of the first piece and for the other against the lateral wall of the second piece and are fixedly joined against said lateral walls and of the first and second pieces.

[0015] Preferably, each side wall extends substantially orthogonally to said lower wall of the third piece.

[0016] Preferably, said side walls of the third piece are fixedly joined against said side walls of the first and second pieces by welding points.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the third part comprises fastening tabs configured to attach to the upper edges of the first and second parts, folded at 90°, which preferably include flats or holes for at least partially housing said corresponding fastening tabs. Preferably, these fastening tabs project from the ends of the side walls of the third part.

[0018] Preferably, at least one of the said first, second and third parts is made of a metallic material.

[0019] The invention also proposes a land vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, comprising a structure including: - a base comprising two longitudinal members, right and left, - two front right and left side members, each comprising a rear section extending down towards this subframe to a point that is offset transversely and longitudinally relative to the corresponding side member, and - two linking devices according to the invention and respectively linking the rear part of the right front stretcher to the right side member and the rear part of the left front stretcher to the left side member.

[0020] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear upon reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the figures represent:

[0021] [Fig-1] a view from below, of an example of the construction of a base with a a connecting device according to the invention, linking a longitudinal member and a front frame of a land vehicle,

[0022] [Fig.2] a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a linking device according to the invention, connecting a longitudinal member and a front crossmember according to the base of the [Fig.1],

[0023] [Fig.3] a top view of the end of a connecting device at its attachment to the side member,

[0024] [Fig.4] a top view of the third part of the connecting device according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.5] a cross-sectional view of the linking device according to section AA of [Fig.3].

[0026] The invention aims to provide a linking device 1 intended to be part of a land vehicle structure in order to allow force transmission during an at least partially frontal impact.

[0027] In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the structure is intended to be part of a motor vehicle, such as a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle and may relate to any motor vehicle.

[0028] By way of non-limiting example, the land vehicle comprises a powertrain (or PWM) including at least one electric motor providing at least part of its propulsion and supplied with electrical energy by a main (or traction) battery installed in its underbody. Consequently, the PWM is of the all-electric or hybrid (thermal and electric) type. However, the invention also relates to land vehicles with a purely thermal PWM, provided that their underbody does not include central underfloor frame members connected to their front frame members.

[0029] In the figures, the X direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is parallel to the lateral sides and corresponds to the axis of advance of the vehicle, the Y direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0030] Each front stretcher 2 comprises a front part 20, generally substantially straight and extended rearward by a rear part 21 which descends toward the underbody S to a place which is offset at least transversely and longitudinally with respect to the side member 3 on the corresponding side.

[0031] The front part of the structure also generally includes two upper arms, right and left, positioned above the front spars 2, right and left, and cradle extensions, positioned below the front spars 2, right and left. These front spars 2, upper arms, and cradle extensions work together, in particular, to support the powertrain.

[0032] The structure of the land vehicle also includes two connecting devices 1, right and left (only the left one is shown in Figures 1 and 2), each intended to connect the rear end of the rear portion 21 of a front frame 2 to the side member 3 on the corresponding side. The right connecting device 1 interconnects the rear portion 21 of the right front frame 2 to the right side member 3, and the left connecting device 1 interconnects the rear portion 21 of the left front frame 2 to the left side member 3.

[0033] Each linkage device 1 is arranged so as to transmit to the relevant longitudinal member 3 a portion of the force which is absorbed by the relevant front stretcher 2 in the event of an impact suffered by the front end 20 of said stretcher 2.

[0034] Thanks to this connection, it is possible to divert part of the force absorbed by the front frame member 2 towards the side member 3 on the corresponding side, which allows the underbody S to participate in the efforts to maintain a good level of passive safety, including when the vehicle is travelling at high speed.

[0035] Thus, the longitudinal member 3, initially designed to allow the underbody to absorb side impacts, also allows it to absorb frontal impacts.

[0036] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in the figures, each connecting device 1 can be intended to fix the rear end of the rear part 21 of the front stretcher 2 concerned to an inner side face 31 of the longitudinal member 3 concerned.

[0037] Also, for example, and as illustrated in [Fig.2], each connecting device 1 comprises a first part 4 including a front end 41 intended to be fixedly attached to the rear end of the rear part 21 of the front stretcher 2 on the corresponding side, and a rear end 42 intended to be fixedly attached to the inner lateral face 31 of the longitudinal member 3.

[0038] Each first piece 4 is, for example, made of a metallic material, preferably very resistant so that it is able to transmit to the longitudinal member 3 to which its rear end 42 is fixedly attached, a part of the force which is absorbed by the front frame 2 to which its front end 41 is fixedly attached.

[0039] By way of example, each first part 4 can be made of steel. Thus, this steel can be of type HD380LA.

[0040] Each first piece 4 can have a thickness between 2.5 mm and 3 mm, this thickness being able to be equal to 2.8 mm, for example.

[0041] Preferably, each first piece 4 is suitable for being fixedly joined by welding to the rear part 21 of the front stretcher 2 concerned and to the inner side face 31 of the longitudinal member 3 concerned.

[0042] The lower wall (43) of the part (4) has a curved edge, from which extends the side wall (44) terminated by an upper edge (45), which is preferably folded at 90°. Thus, each first part 4 has a lower wall 43, configured to form the lower or bottom wall of the connecting device 1, which has a curved edge, and which has, along this edge, a side wall 44 extending substantially orthogonally to the lower wall 43. This side wall 44 terminates by a first upper edge 45, which is preferably folded, for example at 90°, in order to increase resistance to stress. In this case, the wall 43 forms the lower, or bottom, wall of the connecting device, and the side wall 44 forms a side wall of said device 1, together partially defining an internal recess 46 of said part 4 and therefore of said device 1.

[0043] This first part 4 is associated with a second part 5 as illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 5.

[0044] In this case, the second part 5 is fixedly installed on the lower wall 43, and extends from the lower wall 43 on the same side as the side wall 44 of the first part 4, so as to close the internal housing 46 as illustrated non-limitingly in figures 2, 3 and 5. The lower wall 43 of part 4 may extend beyond part 5.

[0045] Each second part 5 preferably comprises a wall 51 having a curved shape, although with a general curvature that may differ from that of the side wall 44 of the associated first part 4. This wall 51 has a lower edge 52 folded at 90°, allowing it to be fixed to the lower wall 43 of the first part 4, and an upper edge 53 that is preferably folded, for example at 90°, to increase resistance to stress. Each second part 5 can be permanently joined to the associated first part 4 by welding. This welding is carried out, for example, at least on the lower wall 43 by the folded lower edge 52.

[0046] Each second piece 5 can, for example, be made of a metallic material, preferably very resistant so that it is able to participate in the transmission of the stress received to the longitudinal member 3 to which the first associated piece 4 is fixedly attached.

[0047] Each second part 5 can be made of steel. Thus, this steel can be of type CP800.

[0048] Also, for example, each second piece 5 can have a thickness between 2.2 mm and 2.8 mm, this thickness being equal to 2.4 mm, for example.

[0049] The connecting device 1 includes a third part 6 as illustrated, but not limited to, in the figures.

[0050] In this case, each third piece 6 is installed by being suspended on the folded upper edge 45 of the first piece 4 and the folded upper edge 53 of the second piece 5 to close the internal housing 46 of the first piece 4. By connecting the first upper edge 45 and the second upper edge 53 via a third piece 6, the rigidity of each connecting device 1 is significantly reinforced in its upper part and therefore its ability to transmit to the relevant side member 3 part of the force which is absorbed by the relevant front frame 2 in the event of an impact suffered by the front end of said front frame 2.

[0051] In order to allow support of each third piece 6 on the first 45 and second 53 upper edges concerned, each third piece 6 can, for example, be provided with fixing tabs 64.

[0052] Part 6 has a wall forming a lower wall 61, the lateral edges of which are respectively provided with a lateral wall extending preferably orthogonally to said lower wall 6. The shape of part 6 allows it to fit between the lateral walls 51 and 44 of the first and second parts, so that its lateral walls extend, for one 62, against the lateral wall 44 of the first part 4, and for the other 63, against the lateral wall 51 of the second part 5. 6 including fixing tabs 64 for fixing to the upper edges 45 and 53 which preferably include flats or holes intended to accommodate at least partially said corresponding fixing tabs 64.

[0053] The third piece 6 thus extends with its side walls 62, 63 along the side walls of the pieces 4 and 5 between the rear end of the rear part of the front stretcher 2 and the longitudinal member 3. For example, each third piece 6 can be fixedly secured against the side walls 42 and 51 of the first and second pieces 4, 5 for example by spot welds (see [Fig.3]).

[0054] Thus, the wall 62 of the third part 6 extends along the side wall 44 of the first part 4 to its attachment end on the longeron 3, which makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the connecting device 1 at the point of attachment on the inner face 31 of the longeron 3 and thus ensure better contact of the connecting device 1 with said longeron 3. In particular, the weld point(s) added between the end of the side wall 62 of the third part 6 and the first part 4 allows a passage of force along the axis of the impact, which leads to a better distribution of forces in the area without impacting the already converged area.

[0055] Thus, this relieves unacceptable plastic deformations at the level of the stretcher without impacting the already converged area.

[0056] The deformations suffered by a connecting device 1 according to the invention during an impact are very small, which attests to the fact that the connecting device 1 has transmitted almost entirely to the relevant side member 3 the force of the impact which was transmitted to it by the relevant front frame member 2.

[0057] Each third piece 6 can, for example, be made of a metallic material, preferably very resistant so that it is able to participate in the transmission of the stress received to the longitudinal member LS to which the first associated piece 4 is fixedly attached.

[0058] By way of example, each third part 6 can be made of steel. Thus, this steel can be of type CP800.

[0059] Also, for example, each third piece 6 can have a thickness between 2.2 mm and 2.8 mm. For example, this thickness can be equal to 2.4 mm.

[0060] It should also be noted that the particular conformation of each of the first 4, second 5 and third 6 parts can result from stamping and / or bending.

Claims

Demands

1. A connecting device (1) for a land vehicle comprising a structure having a subframe (S), including a side member (3), and a front frame (2), including a rear portion (21) extending down towards said subframe to a location offset transversely and longitudinally with respect to said side member (3), said device being intended to connect a rear end of said rear portion (21) to an inner lateral face of said side member (3), and arranged to transmit to said side member (3) a portion of a force absorbed by said front frame (2) in the event of an impact sustained by a front end of said frame (2), said device comprising: a first part (4) including front ends (41) and rear ends (42) intended to be fixedly connected respectively to said rear end of the rear portion (21) of the front frame (2) and to said side member (3),said first part (4) comprising a lower wall (43) and a side wall (44) extending from an edge of said lower wall (43), terminated by an upper edge (45) and defining an internal housing (46) with said lower wall (43), a second part (5) fixedly installed on the lower wall (43) of the first part (4), comprising a side wall (51) extending from the lower wall (43) of the first part (4) on the same side of the lower wall as the side wall (44) of the first part (4), to close the internal housing (46), said side wall (51) of the second part (5) being terminated by an upper edge (53), a third part (6) fixedly installed between the upper edge (45) of the first part (4) and the upper edge (53) of said second part (5),characterized in that said third part (6) is configured to extend between the upper edges of the first part (4) and the second part (5) and to close the internal housing (46) between the end of the rear part (21) of the front stretcher (2) and the inner lateral face of the longeron (3).

2. A connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third part (6) has a wall configured to form a lower wall (61) whose lateral edges are provided respectively of a side wall (62, 63), the lower wall (61) and the side walls (62, 63) of the third piece (6) being configured to house said third piece (6) between the side walls (51) and (44) so ​​that said side walls (62, 63) of the third piece (6) extend respectively in support for one (62) against the side wall (42) of the first piece (4) and for the other (63) against the side wall (51) of the second piece (5) and are fixedly joined against said side walls (42) and (51) of the first and second pieces (4, 5).

3. Connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that each side wall (62, 63) extends substantially orthogonally to said lower wall (61) of the third piece (6).

4. Connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that said side walls (62, 63) of the third piece (6) are fixedly joined against said side walls (42) and (51) of the first and second pieces (4, 5) by weld points.

5. A connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the part (6) comprises fixing tabs (64) projecting from the end of its side walls (62, 63) configured to fix to the upper edges (45) and (53) of the first and second parts (4, 5) folded at 90°, which preferably comprise flats or holes intended to at least partially accommodate said corresponding fixing tabs (64).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lower wall (43) of the part (4) has a curved edge, from which extends the side wall (44) terminated by an upper edge (45), which is preferably folded at 90°.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side wall (51) of the second part (5) has a curved shape, this wall (51) having a lower edge (52) folded at 90°, allowing its attachment to the lower wall (43) of the first part (4) and an upper edge (53) which is preferably folded at 90°.

8. A connecting device according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the third part (6) comprises fixing tabs (64) configured to fix to the upper edges (45) and (53) of the first and second parts (4, 5), folded at 90°, which preferably comprise flats or holes intended to at least partially accommodate said corresponding fixing tabs (64).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one of said first (4), second (5) and third (6) parts is made of a metallic material.

10. Land vehicle, possibly of the motor vehicle type, comprising a structure including: - a subframe comprising two side members (3) right and left, - two front frame members (2) right and left and each comprising a rear portion descending towards this subframe to a place which is offset transversely and longitudinally with respect to the corresponding side member (3), and - two connecting devices (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and respectively connecting the rear portion of the right front frame member (2) to the right side member (3) and the rear portion of the left front frame member (2) to the left side member (3).

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