VEHICLE FLOOR WITH A CATAPHOREASIS BATH DRAIN AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A FLOOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle floor, characterized in that it comprises, on at least a portion of the floor (1), at least one recessed or indented area (7) relative to a principal plane (P) of the portion (1) of the floor, and in that said recessed area (7) is connected to a cavity (9) formed under the portion of the floor (1), said cavity (9) being open to the outside. The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with such a floor. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE FLOOR WITH A CATAPHOREASIS BATH DRAIN AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A FLOOR

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle floor with a cataphoresis bath drain and to a vehicle equipped with such a floor.

[0002] Here the term vehicle means a car, a van, a truck, a public transport vehicle, a piece of public works or agricultural machinery, the vehicle being motorized, by at least one thermal or electric motor.

[0003] On a vehicle, the metal body parts are protected from corrosion by a surface treatment consisting of electrochemically depositing an epoxy resin onto the parts. This is achieved through an operation called cataphoresis, which involves immersing the parts in a bath of epoxy resin. An electric current is applied to the bath, with the parts acting as cathodes. This process makes it possible to quickly obtain a homogeneous and uniform thickness of protective resin over all the parts, including in hard-to-reach areas.

[0004] When the part, which may be more or less complex and often large, is removed from the cataphoresis bath, it is necessary to drain all of the cataphoresis solution or bath from the part. To do this, it is known to provide drainage holes at various points on the part to prevent any liquid retention once the part is removed from the bath. It is then necessary to seal these holes to ensure the floor is watertight, which generates additional manufacturing costs. Furthermore, it is important that such holes do not compromise the application of a sealant bead between the parts. Indeed, no leakage or rise of liquids or gases into the passenger compartment should be possible in a finished vehicle. A floor panel for an electric vehicle, configured to ensure complete sealing of the vehicle body once the batteries are in place, is known from WO-A-2023 227 836.The applicant of this application has also developed a marking solution for the vehicle floor that serves as a positioning indicator for a bead of sealant. Existing solutions do not optimize the removal of the cataphoresis bath once the part is removed from the bath. The invention aims to provide a solution that facilitates the removal of the cataphoresis bath from a part after treatment, without additional manufacturing costs and without affecting the floor's watertightness.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle floor, characterized in that it comprises, on at least a part of the floor, at least one recessed area or recessed relative to a principal plane of the floor portion and in that said recessed area is related to a cavity formed under the floor portion, said cavity being open to the outside.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, a means of draining the cataphoresis bath is defined while avoiding any stagnation on the floor, without additional parts and without modification of the initial dimensions and weight of the floor.

[0007] According to advantageous, but not mandatory, aspects of the invention, such a vehicle floor may comprise one or more of the following features:

[0008] The recessed or embossed area is provided on one of the free edges of the part of the floor.

[0009] Several recessed or embossed areas are provided on one of the free edges of the part of the floor.

[0010] At least one recessed or embossed area is related to the cavity formed under the part of the floor by a free edge of the recessed or embossed area.

[0011] At least one recessed or embossed area is related to the cavity formed under the part of the floor by at least one opening formed in the recessed or embossed area.

[0012] The part of the floor having the recessed or embossed area partially overlaps another part of the floor.

[0013] The cavity is provided between the two overlapping parts of the floor.

[0014] The recessed or embossed area is positioned above the cavity and of such dimensions that the space between the parts of the floor is globally constant between the two parts over the entire length of the overlap area.

[0015] The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with a floor conforming to any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of part of a vehicle floor according to an embodiment of the invention and,

[0018] [Fig.2] is a larger scale view of detail II in [Fig. 1].

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a vehicle floor 1. In this example, this portion is the front part of the floor 1 relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Alternatively, it is the rear part of the floor. A side member 2, here the right side member in the direction of travel of the vehicle, is partially shown. The side member 2 borders part 1 on one of its sides. In addition to a partially shown Y-shaped reinforcement 3 located above part 1, a rear portion of the floor 4 is also present, partially visible in Figures 1 and 2. Parts 1 and 4 together, at least partially, define the vehicle floor. that there may be at least one additional central floor section. Sections 1 and 4 are connected to each other by one of their edges 5, respectively 6, across the entire width of sections 1 and 4. Here, edge 5 of section 1 overlaps edge 6 of section 4. The overlap of edge 5 over edge 6 is more or less significant, even variable, depending on the width of the vehicle floor. In another embodiment, it is the rear section 4 that partially overlaps the front section 1. In all cases, the overlap of edges 5 and 6 ensures a watertight connection between sections 1 and 4 of the floor, preventing the presence of a gap between the constituent parts of the floor through which a liquid or gas could potentially rise into the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0020] As is particularly visible in [Fig. 2], the free edge 5 of section 1 includes at least one recessed or embossed area 7.Hereafter, the terms embossed or recessed area will be used interchangeably. Here, only one embossed area 7 is illustrated. Alternatively, there are several, of identical or different shapes and / or dimensions. Similarly, when the rear part 4 overlaps the front part 1, the recessed or embossed area 7 is formed on the free edge 6 of part 4. In all cases, all the embossed areas 7 are recessed relative to a principal plane P of a face 8 of the floor part 1 oriented towards the interior of the vehicle. Thus, each embossed area 7 protrudes towards the ground, therefore towards the exterior of the vehicle. Each embossed area 7 includes an opening or, more generally, a means of communication with a cavity 9 located under part 1, therefore, a cavity 9 opposite the face 10, called the exterior face, of part 1, which is opposite face 8. Here, the means of communication between the embossed area 7 and the cavity 9 is formed by the free edge 11 of the embossed area 7.Alternatively, there is at least one through-hole provided in the stamped part 7, in addition to the free edge 11, as a means of communication with the cavity 9. In all cases, the cavity 9 communicates with the outside, allowing any liquid present on the face 8 of part 1 to flow first onto the stamped part 7 and then be evacuated, according to arrow F, to the outside via the cavity 9, solely by gravity. This ensures complete evacuation of the cataphoresis bath, with no residue remaining on the vehicle floor. Such a stamped part 7 is obtained by means known per se, for example, using a stamping press.

[0021] It should also be noted that the presence of a stamped section 7, particularly when positioned in a corner of part 1 of the floor as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, allows part 1, at the level of cavity 9, to be brought closer to part 4 of the vehicle floor located beneath part 1. The presence of the stamped section 7 reduces the space between parts 1 and 4 at the level of cavity 9, which allows for the continuous application of a bead of sealant with minimal gap between the parts. Indeed, the dimensions of the recessed or stamped area 7 are such that the space between parts 1 and 4 of the floor is generally constant along its entire length. The overlap zone between parts 1 and 4 ensures continuous and even support of part 1 on part 4, and therefore support for the sealant bead, thus optimizing the seal between parts 1 and 4 of the floor. The application of the sealant bead can advantageously be automated, prior to the overlap of parts 1 and 4.

[0022] Thanks to the invention, the evacuation of the cataphoresis bath from the floor is ensured without additional parts, without additional cost and without modification of the geometric and structural characteristics of the floor, and the sealing between the constituent parts of the vehicle floor is improved.

[0023] Furthermore, bringing parts 1 and 4 closer together reduces the amount of sealant needed to create the sealing bead. In addition, rapid removal of the cataphoresis bath from the vehicle helps preserve its initial quality by limiting contamination.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle floor, characterized in that it comprises, on at least a part of the floor (1), at least one recessed or indented area (7) relative to a principal plane (P) of the part (1) of the floor and in that said recessed area (7) is related to a cavity (9) formed under the part of the floor (1), said cavity (9) being open to the outside.

2. Floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow or embossed area (7) is provided on one (5) of the free edges of the part of the floor (1).

3. Floor according to claim 2, characterized in that several hollow or embossed areas (7) are provided on one (5) of the free edges of the part of the floor (1).

4. Floor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one hollow or embossed area (7) is related to the cavity (9) formed under the part of the floor (1) by a free edge (11) of the hollow or embossed area (7).

5. Floor according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one recessed or embossed area (7) is related to the cavity (9) formed under the part of the floor (1) by at least one opening formed in the recessed or embossed area (7).

6. Floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the part of the floor (1) provided with the hollow or embossed area (7) partially overlaps another part of the floor (4).

7. Floor according to claim 6, characterized in that the cavity (9) is provided between the two overlapping parts of the floor (1,4).

8. Floor according to claim 7, characterized in that the hollow or embossed area (7) is positioned above the cavity (9) and of dimensions such that the space between the parts of the floor (1, 4) is globally constant between the two parts (1,4) over the entire length of the overlap area.

9. Vehicle equipped with a floor conforming to any one of the preceding claims.

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