EXTENDABLE SECTION STRUCTURE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A structure (SV) is part of a motor vehicle and comprises at least one pair of inner (PLI) and outer (PLE) side members that contribute, on one side (CL) of the vehicle, to the delimitation of a roof. Each of the inner (PLI) and outer (PLE) side members includes at least one corrugation (OM) that locally defines a reserve of material to allow for their elongation when the side (CL) is subjected to a pole-type impact. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: EXTENDABLE SECTION STRUCTURE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles comprising a structure having at least one pair of internal and external lateral parts participating on one of their lateral sides in the delimitation of a roof. State of the art

[0002] Certain motor vehicles include a structure comprising two pairs of internal and external lateral parts, right and left, which participate on their lateral (or longitudinal) sides, right and left, in the delimitation of a roof (or pavilion).

[0003] When this type of vehicle (automobile) is subjected to a pole-type impact on one of its lateral sides, its structure may be subject to significant deformation, particularly at the level of the pair of internal and external lateral parts concerned.

[0004] It is recalled that a pole-type shock is a shock resulting from a collision with an object having a shape similar to a pole, and therefore having a significant height (or vertical extension) (typically greater than 1.5 m) and a small width (or longitudinal extension) (typically less than 0.5 m).

[0005] In fact, the internal and external side pieces in question tend to wrap around the post and thus penetrate the passenger compartment, which can be dangerous for the passenger located next to the deformation. To limit this penetration (or intrusion), the internal and external side pieces of each pair are generally made of very strong materials that do not have a significant elongation capacity. Consequently, when the deformation of a pair is significant, it can cause it to break. Furthermore, since each pair defines a hollow body, it includes a significant number of weld points for its strength. However, when the deformation of a pair is significant, the weld points are subjected to considerable stresses in the presence of very strong materials, and can therefore fail.

[0006] It is certainly possible to use less rigid steels with a greater elongation potential. However, for this solution to be truly effective, it is necessary to significantly increase the thicknesses of the internal and external side members. Such an increase leads to an increase in the mass of the structure and therefore of the vehicle, and consequently to increases in engine power consumption and vehicle cost.

[0007] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0008] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a structure suitable for being part of a motor vehicle and comprising at least one pair of internal and external lateral parts participating, on a lateral side of the vehicle, in the delimitation of a roof.

[0009] This structure is characterized by the fact that each of the internal and external lateral pieces of a pair includes at least one undulation defining locally a reserve of material capable of allowing their elongation when the lateral side undergoes a post-type shock.

[0010] Thus, the internal and external lateral pieces now have an additional elongation capacity which is added to the intrinsic elongation capacity offered by the material in which they are made, which allows them to elongate over a greater distance compared to what the internal and external lateral pieces of a prior art structure could do.

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

[0012] - when the outer side piece covers the inner side piece according to a first direction intended to be parallel to a vertical direction of the vehicle, each undulation of the outer side piece can be concave and each undulation of the inner side piece can be convex;

[0013] - in the presence of the first option, the external side piece may comprise two concave undulations framing a convex undulation of the inner lateral piece.

[0014] - also in the presence of the first option, each undulation can have a extension along the first direction at least equal to 8 mm;

[0015] - each undulation can extend along a second direction intended to be parallel to a transverse direction of the vehicle;

[0016] - each corrugation can be obtained by stamping;

[0017] - each undulation can have internal angles between 110° and 160°;

[0018] - the internal and external side pieces can participate in the delimitation of a part of the roof which is located between a front upright and a central support on the side side;

[0019] - it may comprise two pairs of internal and external side pieces, right and left, suitable for participating respectively, on two lateral sides, right and left, of the vehicle, in the delimitation of the roof.

[0020] The invention also proposes a motor vehicle comprising a structure of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0021] 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:

[0022] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in an external perspective view, a small upper part of an example embodiment of a vehicle structure according to the invention,

[0023] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a front view of the inner (or internal) side, a small upper part of the vehicle structure of [Fig.1],

[0024] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal plane and vertical, the small upper portion of the vehicle structure in Figures 1 and 2 before a pole-type side impact, and

[0025] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal plane and vertical, the small upper part of the vehicle structure in Figures 1 and 2 after a pole-type side impact. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] The invention aims in particular to provide an SV structure intended to be part of a motor vehicle, and comprising (upper) portions that can lengthen when the latter suffers a pole-type impact on one side.

[0027] In what follows, the motor vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It relates in fact to any motor vehicle comprising two pairs of internal and external lateral parts, right and left, which participate on their lateral (or longitudinal) sides, right and left, in the delimitation of a roof (or roof panel).

[0028] In figures 1 to 4, direction X is a direction intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral sides CL (or longitudinal) comprising the side doors, direction Y is a direction intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and direction Z is a direction intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0029] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate at least partially a small upper part of an example of an embodiment of an SV structure of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, a structure SV, according to the invention, comprises at least one pair of internal side pieces PLI and external side pieces PLE which are intended to participate together, on a lateral (or longitudinal) side CL of the vehicle, in defining the roof. It should be noted that the structure SV usually comprises two pairs of internal side pieces PLI and external side pieces PLE, right and left, which are adapted to participate respectively, on two lateral sides CL, right and left, of the vehicle, in defining the roof. Each pair therefore ultimately extends following a (third) direction which is parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.

[0031] It will also be noted that the SV structure also includes at least one TV cross member (extending in the end along a (second) direction which is parallel to the transverse direction Y of the vehicle), and joining the two pairs together.

[0032] It should also be noted that the internal lateral parts PLI and external PLE of a pair together preferably define a hollow body, and are therefore joined together by welding (spots and / or weld beads) for holding.

[0033] As illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially, in Figures 1 to 4, each of the internal lateral pieces PLI and external lateral pieces PLE of a pair includes at least one undulation OM which locally defines a reserve of material to allow their elongation when the lateral side CL of which they are a part undergoes a pole-type shock.

[0034] It will be understood that, thanks to the material reserve provided by each OM undulation, the internal PLI and external PLE lateral members now have an additional elongation capacity, supplementing the intrinsic elongation capacity of the material from which they are made. In other words, the internal PLI and external PLE lateral members of a pair located on the lateral side CL subjected to a post-type impact can now elongate over a greater distance than the internal and external lateral members of a prior art structure (i.e., one without OM undulations) could. Consequently, when the deformation of a pair is significant, its probability of failure is considerably reduced, and its weld points and / or seams also have a considerably reduced probability of failure because they are subjected to less stress.Furthermore, the presence of OM corrugations advantageously avoids significantly increasing the mass of the SV structure and therefore the vehicle, as it eliminates the need for less rigid steels with greater elongation potential and increased thicknesses.

[0035] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, Figure 1, the inner side members PLI and outer side members PLE of a pair can contribute to defining a portion of the roof located between the A-pillar and the center pillar PC of the SV structure on a lateral side CL. It should be noted that the A-pillar is usually the structural element to which the side of the windshield is attached and which extends from the engine compartment to the beginning of the roof, presenting in its upper part a curved shape extended by a pair of inner side members PLI and outer side members PLE. However, the inner side members PLI and outer side members PLE of a pair could contribute to defining a portion of the roof located between the center pillar PC and the rear pillar of the SV structure on a lateral side CL.

[0036] It should be noted that an OM undulation can take the form of a bump (convex) or a half-bump, or a hollow (concave) or a half-hollow.

[0037] In the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 to 4, all the aforementioned scenarios can be observed. Indeed, when the outer side piece PLE overlaps the inner side piece PLI in a (first) direction intended to be parallel to the vertical direction Z of the vehicle, each corrugation OM of the outer side piece PLE can be concave and each corrugation OM of the inner side piece PLI can be convex. This avoids increasing the vertical dimensions of (each) pair. However, it is possible to consider that all the corrugations OM could be exclusively concave or exclusively convex.

[0038] Also, for example, and as illustrated in part and without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, the outer side piece PLE may include two concave undulations OM that frame a convex undulation OM of the inner side piece PLI. The result of the elongation of the example pair of inner side pieces PLI and outer side pieces PLE illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is shown in [Fig. 4] (the scales are the same). It can be seen that the elongation of the pair is significant and prevents its intrusion into the passenger compartment.

[0039] Also, for example, each undulation OM can have an extension along the first direction (Z) that is at least 8 mm, and preferably greater than or equal to 10 mm. It will be understood that the greater the extension of the undulations OM along the first direction (Z), the greater the material reserve and therefore the greater the elongation capacity.

[0040] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 1 to 4, each OM undulation can extend along the second direction, which is intended to be parallel to the transverse Y direction of the vehicle. This facilitates the elongation of a pair. However, in an alternative embodiment, each OM undulation could extend along a direction having non-zero components along the second (Y) and third (X) directions.

[0041] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, figures 1 to 3, each corrugation OM can be obtained by stamping. However, in an alternative embodiment, each corrugation OM could be defined directly during the molding of its internal lateral part PLI or external lateral part PLE.

[0042] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, each undulation OM may have internal angles which are between 110° and 160°, and preferably between 115° and 155°. Such obtuse angles make it possible to facilitate the elongation mechanism of a pair.

Claims

Demands

1. Structure (SV) suitable for being part of a motor vehicle and comprising at least one pair of internal (PLI) and external (PLE) side pieces participating, on a side (CL) of said vehicle, in the delimitation of a roof, characterized in that each of said internal (PLI) and external (PLE) side pieces comprises at least one corrugation (OM) locally defining a reserve of material suitable for allowing their elongation when said side (CL) is subjected to a pole-type impact.

2. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that when said outer side piece (PLE) covers said inner side piece (PLI) in a first direction intended to be parallel to a vertical direction of said vehicle, each corrugation (OM) of said outer side piece (PLE) is concave and each corrugation (OM) of said inner side piece (PLI) is convex.

3. Structure according to claim 2, characterized in that said external side piece (PLE) comprises two concave undulations (OM) framing a convex undulation (OM) of said internal side piece (PLI).

4. Structure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each undulation (OM) has an extension along said first direction of at least 8 mm.

5. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each undulation (OM) extends along a second direction intended to be parallel to a transverse direction of said vehicle.

6. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each corrugation (OM) is obtained by stamping.

7. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each undulation (OM) has internal angles between 110° and 160°.

8. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said internal (PLI) and external (PLE) side pieces participate in the delimitation of a part of said roof located between a front post and a central support (PC) of said side (CL).

9. A structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of internal (PLI) and external (PLE) lateral parts, right and left, participating respectively, on two

10. side sides (CL), right and left, of said vehicle, to the delimitation of said roof. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a structure (SV) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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