FLOOR FOR THE UNDERFLOOR STRUCTURE OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND VEHICLES COMPRISING SUCH A FLOOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor (1) for the underbody structure of a motor vehicle, said floor (1) comprising at least one platform (3), as well as one or more cross members (5, 7) reinforcing said at least one platform (3), characterized in that at least one of said cross members (7) comprises several openings (9) configured to cooperate with a lifting tool. [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: FLOOR FOR THE UNDERBODIES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND VEHICLES COMPRISING SUCH A FLOOR

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of motor vehicles, and more particularly to floors integrated into the underbody structures of motor vehicles.

[0002] Indeed, a motor vehicle commonly includes a subframe structure on which are fixed various components, rocker panel members, side members, beams, cross members, etc. which define the body structure of the vehicle.

[0003] The underpinning structure of a vehicle includes in particular a floor which defines for example the floor area of ​​a passenger compartment of the vehicle, a floor on which are mounted, among other things, driver and passenger seats.

[0004] Thus, during the manufacture of underbody structures of a motor vehicle, the floors are prepared with underfloor crossbeams before being stored and brought to a body-in-white line (i.e. a line where the various elements are assembled and fixed to form an underbody structure and subsequently the body structure of the vehicle).

[0005] Unfortunately, a motor vehicle floor is bulky and heavy. Moreover, stacking such floors is impractical due to the space they occupy, but also because of the difficulty of handling such objects by operators using suitable lifting equipment.

[0006] It is therefore necessary to find a solution for storing and handling the floors, before and during the manufacture of a substructure, without increasing the mass of said floors, or their manufacturing costs.

[0007] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of floor for the underbody structure of a motor vehicle, said floor comprising at least one platform, as well as one or more cross members reinforcing said at least one platform, characterized in that at least one of said cross members comprises several openings configured to cooperate with a lifting tool.

[0008] The floor according to the invention allows for easier handling with a suitable lifting tool and for storing said floor, for example, on a rack, all in a simple manner, without increasing the weight of the floor or the manufacturing cost of said floors. Furthermore, the provision of openings on A crossbeam for handling the floor prevents weakening the floor structure (especially the platform part) or deformation during handling.

[0009] According to one possible feature, said at least one platform has two opposing principal faces: - a first face, called the internal face, configured to be oriented, in the mounted position, towards a substructure; - a second face, called the external face, configured to be oriented, in the mounted position, towards the outside; said at least one crossbar having several openings being fixed against the second face of said platform.

[0010] Advantageously, the crossbeam comprising openings through which the floor is handled is a crossbeam located under the floor (and under the platform), called a "subfloor crossbeam", which has a thickness greater than the thickness of the platform (in particular the panels or plates forming said platform), and thus ensures the rigidity of said floor.

[0011] According to another possible feature, said floor has two opposite longitudinal ends and two opposite transverse ends, said at least one crossbeam extending substantially from one transverse end to the other of said floor.

[0012] According to another possible characteristic, said at least one cross member is a profile, for example metallic.

[0013] According to another possible feature, said at least one cross member comprises a wall having a thickness of at least 1.5 mm, and preferably at least 1.8 mm. Advantageously, the thickness of the wall forming said cross member has a minimum thickness allowing the floor to be handled without causing deformation or alteration of the cross member and / or the platform of said floor.

[0014] According to another possible feature, said at least one cross member is hollow and thus includes an internal abutment surface, said openings being located opposite said internal abutment surface. The said cross member advantageously includes an internal stop surface against which a portion of the lifting tool, for example a lifting end, comes to rest and allows the correct positioning of said lifting tool and an adequate distribution of mechanical stresses on said floor during its handling.

[0015] According to another possible feature, the internal surface of the stop is configured to cooperate mechanically with a lifting tool according to a plane / plane type connection. When the lifting tool is inserted into the openings of said cross member, a portion of the lifting tool, such as an end of a hook or rod, is advantageously supported against the internal surface of the stop, in order to optimize the mechanical stresses between said lifting tool and the cross member of said floor.

[0016] According to another possible feature, said openings are arranged on said at least one cross member symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis of symmetry of said cross member. The fact that the openings are distributed symmetrically with respect to the center or the transverse axis of symmetry of said crossbeam allows for a more homogeneous distribution of the stresses experienced by the floor during its handling.

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, said openings have a diameter of at least 18 mm, preferably of at least 20 mm, and preferably a diameter less than 35 mm. The size of the openings is advantageously a compromise between the mechanical constraints on the lifting tool and the floor, but also the preservation of the structural integrity of said floor (here more particularly of the crossbeam).

[0018] According to another possible feature, said floor comprises several crossbeams arranged one after the other, said at least one crossbeam comprising openings being the crossbeam located at one end of the arrangement of said crossbeams. Advantageously, the crossbeam including the handling openings is one of the crossbeams closest to an edge of said floor, thus facilitating the handling of the floor by a lifting tool.

[0019] According to another possible feature, said at least one cross member has an elongated shape, with at least one opening being provided on the first third with respect to the center (for example of symmetry) of said cross member. The openings allowing handling are advantageously arranged near the center (of symmetry) of the crossbeam (and / or its transverse axis of symmetry), more particularly on either side of its center, to optimize the distribution of stresses when handling said floor by a lifting tool.

[0020] The invention also relates to a subframe structure for a motor vehicle, characterized in that said subframe structure comprises a floor as defined above.

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

[0022] The invention further relates to a method for handling a floor for a vehicle underbody structure using a lifting tool, the lifting tool comprising lifting ends, characterized in that said floor is a floor as defined above, said method comprising a step of inserting less one lifting end in each of the openings of said at least one crossbeam for handling said floor.

[0023] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic, partial and perspective view from above of a floor according to the invention for a motor vehicle underbody structure; - Fig. 2 is a schematic, partial and enlarged view of the floor of Fig. 1; - [Fig.3] is a schematic, enlarged, partial and cross-sectional view of the floor of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.4] is a schematic, partially enlarged and perspective view of the floor of [Fig.1] in mechanical cooperation with a lifting tool.

[0024] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of". Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "front", "rear", "longitudinal" and "transverse" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the motor vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

[0025] In this application, it should be noted that "substantially parallel" means a direction deviating by no more than 20°, or even by no more than 10° or 5°, from a parallel direction. It should also be noted that "substantially orthogonal" means a direction deviating by no more than 20°, or even by no more than 10° or 5°, from an angle of 90°.

[0026] The term "lower" will denote a greater proximity to the ground than "upper" along the vertical axis. Furthermore, it should be noted that in the various figures, the same reference numerals designate identical or similar elements.

[0027] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic, perspective, and bottom view of a floor 1 for a motor vehicle underbody structure. Said floor 1 comprises a platform 3, for example defined by one or more panels (or plates), as well as one or more cross members 5 for reinforcing or stiffening said platform 3.

[0028] It should be noted that the platform 3 and the crossbeams are advantageously made of metal, such as steel, an aluminum alloy, etc. In addition, said crossbeams 5 have a substantially elongated shape and are, for example, profiles or beams, but preferably hollow or having an open profile.

[0029] Said floor 1 also has two opposite longitudinal ends and two opposite transverse ends, said crossbeams 5 extending substantially from one transverse end to the other of said floor (and for example of platform 3). Thus, the cross members 5 are arranged one after the other, in the mounted position in a vehicle, substantially along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0030] Said platform 3 of floor 1 has two main opposite faces: - a first face (not visible), called internal face, configured to be oriented, in mounted position, towards a substructure (or towards the vehicle); - a second face 3a, called the external face, configured to be oriented, in the mounted position, towards the outside (of the vehicle or the substructure).

[0031] Said crossbeams 5 are fixed, for example by welding, to said platform 3 on the side of the first face 3a and are arranged one after the other, for example from one longitudinal end to the other of said floor 1. Thus, in the mounted position in a vehicle, each of the crossbeams 5 extends substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle, while the crossbeams are arranged (and fixed) for example at regular intervals with respect to the platform 3 along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0032] Figure 2 is a schematic, partial, and enlarged view of floor 1 on which is more particularly visible that said floor 1 includes at least one cross member 7 comprising openings 9 configured to cooperate with a lifting tool, for example a lifting tool comprising lifting ends (such as hooks or rods).

[0033] It will be noted that the cross member 7 comprising openings 9 is advantageously a cross member located at one of the ends of the arrangement of said cross members 5. Advantageously, the cross member 7 is thus one of the cross members closest to an edge of said floor 1.

[0034] Fig. 3 is, for its part, a schematic, enlarged, partial, and cross-sectional view of the floor 1, and more particularly of an opening 9 into which is inserted a portion of a lifting tool 13, such as lifting ends 15.

[0035] Whereas [Fig.4] is a schematic, partially enlarged and perspective view of the floor 1 in mechanical cooperation with a lifting tool 13, a lifting end 15 being inserted into each of the openings 9 of the cross member 7.

[0036] The cross member 7 thus includes a wall defining at least in part said cross member 7, a wall in which said openings 9 are provided, as well as an internal stop surface 11 (formed by the internal face of said wall), said openings 9 being located opposite said internal stop surface 11.

[0037] Thus, when the lifting tool 15 is mechanically cooperating with said cross member 7 (through the openings 9), the internal stop surface 11 is advantageously configured to cooperate mechanically with the ends 15 of the lifting tool 13, for example the ends of a hook or a rod, according to a plane / plane type connection.

[0038] Furthermore, said wall of the cross member 7 advantageously has a thickness of at least 1.5 mm, and preferably of at least 1.8 mm. Said openings 9, for their part, advantageously have a diameter of at least 18 mm, preferably of at least 20 mm, and preferably a diameter less than 35 mm.

[0039] Furthermore, said openings 9 are advantageously arranged (or constructed) on said at least one cross member 7 symmetrically with respect to the transverse axis of symmetry of said cross member 7 (or with respect to the center of said cross member 7). Advantageously, said openings 9 are constructed on the first third (along the longitudinal axis of the cross member 7) with respect to the center of said cross member 7.

[0040] The invention also relates to a method of handling a floor 1 by the lifting tool 13. Said method comprising a step of inserting the lifting end 15 into each of the openings 9 of said cross member 7 to carry out the handling of said floor 1.

Claims

Demands

1. Floor (1) for motor vehicle underbody structure, said floor (1) comprising at least one platform (3), as well as one or more cross members (5, 7) for reinforcing said at least one platform (3), characterized in that at least one of said cross members (7) comprises several openings (9) configured to cooperate with a lifting tool.

2. Floor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one platform (3) has two main opposite faces: - a first face, referred to as the internal face, configured to be oriented, in the mounted position, towards a substructure; - a second face (3a), referred to as the external face, configured to be oriented, in the mounted position, towards the outside; said at least one cross member (7) having several openings (9) being fixed against the second face (3a) of said platform (3).

3. Floor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one cross member (7) is hollow and thus comprises an internal abutment surface (11), said openings (9) being located opposite said internal abutment surface (11).

4. Floor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the internal stop surface (11) is configured to cooperate mechanically with a lifting tool according to a plane / plane type connection.

5. Floor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said openings are arranged on said at least one cross member (7) symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis of symmetry of said cross member.

6. Floor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said floor (1) comprises several crossbeams (5, 7) arranged one after the other, said at least one crossbeam (7) comprising openings (7) being the crossbeam disposed at one end of the arrangement of said crossbeams (5, 7).

7. Floor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one cross member (7) has a elongated shape, at least one opening (9) being provided on the first third in relation to the centre of said crossbeam (7).

8. Method of handling a floor for a vehicle underbody structure by a lifting tool (13), the lifting tool (13) comprising lifting ends (15), characterized in that said floor is a floor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising a step of inserting at least one lifting end (15) into each of the openings (9) of said at least one cross member (7) of said floor (1) for handling said floor (1).

9. Underbody structure for motor vehicle, characterized in that said structure comprises a floor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a subframe structure according to the preceding claim.

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