.VAN TYPE MOTOR VEHICLE BOX.

Abstract

The invention relates to a van-type motor vehicle body (10), comprising: - at least one rear hinged door (12) folding along one side (18) of said body (10), - at least one sliding side door (20), capable of extending parallel to said side (18) of the body (10), characterized in that: - each rear (12) or side (20) opening is equipped with a means (46, 48) for detecting the absence of the associated rear (12) or side (20) door, capable of detecting the opening of said door (12, 20), - the body (10) is equipped with means (52, 54) for limiting the opening travel of each door (12, 20), - each means (52, 54) for limiting the travel of a door (12, 20) is activated in response to the detection of the opening of the other door (20, 12) by said detection means (48, 46) of absence of the other door (20, 12). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 5.

Description

Title of the invention: VAN TYPE MOTOR VEHICLE BODY. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a van-type motor vehicle body. Technical background

[0002] Van-type vehicle bodies are widely used in commercial vehicles. They generally include at least one hinged door, more commonly two, intended to close off or allow access to a rear opening of said body. In some cases, they also include at least one sliding side door intended to close off or allow access to a side opening in one side of said body.

[0003] In the absence of a sliding side door, the rear door(s) can be opened at an angle of up to 270 degrees, whereby they are folded back on the side of the body to fully clear access to the rear side opening while minimizing the transverse bulk of the vehicle.

[0004] The situation is different when the body has a sliding side door which is capable of extending in the open position to a position in which it could interfere with a rear door folded down on the side of the body.

[0005] Conventionally, in this type of configuration, the rear doors cannot be opened to an angle of up to 270 degrees, because they are fitted with a stop limiting their opening to an angle of less than 270 degrees, for example an angle close to 235 degrees or less, precisely to avoid this interference.

[0006] This solution avoids any collision between the rear and side doors, but is nevertheless not satisfactory. Indeed, in this case, the vehicle's transverse dimensions are greater than if the rear door(s) were folded back 270 degrees against the side of the body, parallel to it.

[0007] This is a disadvantage when several vehicles are parked side by side in the same loading space. The lateral clearance that must be provided for each vehicle reduces the number of vehicles that can be lined up in that same space.

[0008] There is therefore a real need for a van-type motor vehicle body configuration allowing the rear door(s) to be opened at the same time as a side door, without risk of interference, and vice versa, while offering the possibility of reducing the transverse bulk of the vehicle's swing door in the open position. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention satisfies this need by proposing a van-type motor vehicle body configuration comprising means for limiting the travel of a rear or side door in response to the opening of the other door.

[0010] To this end, the invention proposes a van-type motor vehicle body, comprising:

[0011] - at least one rear hinged door, movable between a closed position and a rear opening of said crate and an open position folded down along one side of said crate,

[0012] - at least one sliding side door, movable between a closed position of a lateral opening in the case and an open position in which it extends parallel to said side of the case,

[0013] characterized in that:

[0014] - each rear / side opening is equipped with a means for detecting the absence of the associated rear / side door, capable of detecting the opening of said door,

[0015] - the case is equipped with means for limiting the opening stroke of each door,

[0016] - each means of limiting the travel of a door is activated in response to the detection of the opening of the other door by said means of detecting the absence of the other door.

[0017] According to various additional features of the invention, which may be taken together or separately and which constitute so many embodiments of the invention:

[0018] - each means of detecting the absence of its rear / side door is a sensor positioned on a post of the associated rear / side opening,

[0019] - the means for limiting the opening stroke of the sliding door is a stop retractable stop which is disposed on the side of the case in front of an extreme position of a free edge of the hinged door in its open position folded back on said side, said retractable stop being able to protrude from said side to oppose the sliding of said side door beyond said position,

[0020] - the stop slides perpendicularly to the side of the case,

[0021] - the means for limiting the opening stroke of the swing door is configured to limit the opening of said swing door to a specific angle strictly less than 270 degrees,

[0022] - the determined angle is configured to allow passage of the sliding door in fully open position without interference with the swing door,

[0023] - the case includes a hinged door handle, comprising a blade of which a The first end is hinged on an internal face of the hinged door, and the second end, shaped like a hook, is capable of selectively cooperating with a complementary hook carried by the rear opening frame.

[0024] - said means for limiting the opening stroke of the swing door is configured to prevent the detachment of said hooks from said tie rod and said upright,

[0025] - the means for limiting the opening stroke of the swing door comprises a retractable finger, attached to the rear opening upright, which is designed to form a stop for the second end of the blade in order to prevent the hooks from being detached.

[0026] - the retractable finger is a finger that slides vertically,

[0027] - the means for limiting the opening stroke of the swing door and the means The rear door absence detection sensors are mounted on the same plate, fixed to the rear opening pillar.

[0028] - the rear and side door absence detection sensors, the finger retractable and retractable stop are electrically powered and connected to at least one control unit. Brief description of the figures

[0029] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent in the course of the detailed explanatory description that follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, among which:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a van-type vehicle;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of a vehicle according to the state of the art analogous to that of [Fig.1] having a hinged door and a closed sliding door;

[0032] The [Fig.3] is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of the vehicle of the [Fig.2] having a hinged door partially open at 90 degrees and an open sliding door;

[0033] The [Fig.4] is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of the vehicle of the [Fig.2] having a hinged door open at 235 degrees and a sliding door open;

[0034] Fig. 5 is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of a vehicle according to the invention analogous to that of Fig. 1 having a closed hinged door and a closed sliding door;

[0035] The [Fig.6] is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of the vehicle of the [Fig.5] having a closed hinged door and an open sliding door;

[0036] The [Fig.7] is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of the vehicle of the [Fig.5] having a hinged door partially open at 90 degrees and an open sliding door;

[0037] The [Fig.8] is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of the vehicle of the [Fig.5] having a hinged door open at 270 degrees and a sliding door closed;

[0038] Fig. 9 is a schematic half-view in cross-section by plane 2-2 of the vehicle of Fig. 5 having a hinged door open to 270 degrees and a sliding door partially open. Detailed description of the invention

[0039] In the description that follows, identical reference numerals designate identical parts or parts having similar functions.

[0040]

[0041] Figure 1 shows a van-type motor vehicle comprising a body 10 adapted for this purpose. The body 10 and its components will be described with reference to the directions of the trihedral axis "X", "Y", "Z", where "X" designates the longitudinal, transverse direction, "Y" designates the transverse direction and "Z" designates the vertical direction.

[0042] In a known manner, the box 10 has at least one rear hinged door 12, here two hinged doors 12, which are movable between a closed position of a rear opening 14 of the box 10, represented for example in [Fig.2], and an open position folded down along sides 16, 18 of said box 10. In the present case, the two hinged doors 12 are able to close or allow access to the same common rear opening 14, but it will be understood that this arrangement is not limiting of the invention.

[0043] The box 10 has a side opening 22 on its side 18. It has at least one sliding side door 20, which is movable between a closed position of the side opening 22 of the box 10, as shown in [Fig. 2], and an open position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, in which it extends parallel to the side 18 of the box. The door is mounted to slide on a rail 24.

[0044] Conventionally, as can be seen in figures 2 to 4, the rear door 12 can be opened in different configurations.

[0045] In a first configuration which has been represented in [Fig.2], the swing door 12 is closed.

[0046] In a second configuration shown in [Fig. 3], the hinged door 12 is open to a maximum of 90 degrees. Its opening angle is limited by a tie rod 26 which connects it to a post 28 bordering laterally the opening 14. The tie rod 26 essentially comprises a blade 30, the first end of which 32 is articulated on an inner face 34 of the hinged door, the second end 36 of which is shaped like a hook. This second hooked end 36 is able to cooperate selectively with a complementary hook 38 carried by the jamb 28 of the rear opening. The second hooked end 36 can be detached from the hook 38 to allow the hinged door 12 to open at a greater angle, as shown in [Fig. 4]. The hinged door 12 is articulated for this purpose with respect to the jamb 28 by means of a double hinge 42.

[0047] In a third configuration which has been shown in [Fig.4], the rear swing door(s) can be opened at an angle greater than 90 degrees.

[0048] However, they cannot be completely folded down on the side 18 and opened to an angle of up to 270 degrees because they are fitted with a stop 44 limiting their opening to an angle less than 270 degrees, for example 235 degrees, to avoid any interference with the sliding door 20 when it is in its fully open position, as shown in [Fig.4].

[0049] This solution thus avoids any collision between the rear door 12 and the side door 20, but is nevertheless not satisfactory. Indeed, in this case, the transverse dimensions of the vehicle are greater than if the rear door(s) were folded down at 270 degrees, that is to say, parallel to the side 18 of the body.

[0050] This is particularly problematic when several vehicles are parked side by side in the same loading space, as this necessitates increasing the space between two vehicles to allow the rear swing doors to pass through. This is especially inconvenient when the vehicle must be parked so that its rear opening is against a loading dock.

[0051] The invention remedies this problem by preventing the simultaneous opening of the rear hinged door 12 and the side sliding door 20, and thus preventing them from interfering with each other.

[0052] For this purpose, as illustrated in figures 5 to 9, the body 10 is characterized, firstly, in that each opening, i.e. the rear opening 14 and the side opening 20, is equipped with a respective means 46, 48 for detecting the absence of the rear door 12 and the associated side door 20, capable of detecting the opening of this door 14, 20. The term "opening" means that the door in question is no longer in its closed position, it can therefore be totally open or only partially open.

[0053] Each absence detection means 46, 48 is for example a physical sensor such as a normally open switch, or an optical sensor.

[0054] More specifically, the means 46 for detecting the absence of the rear door 12 is a sensor disposed on the pillar 28 of the associated rear opening 12. Similarly, the The average 48 for detecting the absence of the side door 20 is a sensor placed on a post 50 of the associated side opening 22.

[0055] Secondly, the body 10 is equipped with means 52, 54 for limiting the stroke of the opening of each door 12, 20. The opening of the rear door 12 can be limited in its stroke by a stroke limiting means 52 and the opening of the side door 20 can be limited in its stroke by a stroke limiting means 54.

[0056] Thirdly, each travel limiting means 52, 54 of a door 12, 20 is activated in response to the detection of the opening of the other door 20, 12 by the absence detection means 48, 46 of the other door 20, 12.

[0057] In summary, each door travel limitation mechanism is triggered by the opening of the other door. Therefore, there is no risk of interference between doors 12 and 20, since each door's opening is limited to prevent interference with the other.

[0058] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the side door 20 is a manual sliding door. In this context, the means 54 for limiting the stroke of the opening of the sliding door is a retractable stop which is disposed on the side 18 of the casing 10 in front of an extreme position P of a free edge 56 of the hinged door 12 in its open position folded back on the side 18, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0059] The retractable stop is able to protrude from side 18 to oppose the sliding of the side door 20 beyond position P, as shown in [Fig.9].

[0060] In the figures the stop 54 is suitable to directly receive the side door 20 against the stop but it will be understood that it could be housed in the rail 24 and receive against the stop a guide roller for the door 20.

[0061] Several embodiments of this stop can be envisaged. For example, the stop 54 can be sliding perpendicularly to the side 18 of the case 10, by being made in the form of a bolt 60 that can protrude from a cylinder body 62 fixed to the side 18.

[0062] It goes without saying that other embodiments can be envisaged, such as a stop made in the form of a latch pivoting around the Z axis in the X, Y plane. In the particular case where the side door 20 would be an electrically motorized door, the means 54 for limiting the stroke of the opening of the sliding door could be an electronic means for controlling a motor of the door, which would limit its opening according to a determined stroke.

[0063] With regard to the swing door 12, the means for limiting the stroke 52 of the opening of the swing door 12 is preferably configured to limit the opening of the swing door at a determined angle strictly less than 270 degrees, said determined angle being configured to allow passage of the sliding door 20 in the fully open position without interference with the swing door 12.

[0064] The invention advantageously takes advantage of the presence of the existing swing door pull 26 to limit the opening stroke of the door 12. Advantageously, the means 52 for limiting the opening stroke of the swing door is configured to prevent the hooks 36, 38 of the pull 26 and of the post 28 from disengaging.

[0065] Several technical solutions can be envisaged without limiting the invention. However, preferably, since the hooks 36, 38 must be separated from each other to be released, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means 52 for limiting the stroke of the swing door opening comprises a retractable finger 64, integral with the stile 28 of the rear opening 14, which is adapted to form a stop for the second end 36 shaped as a hook of the blade 30 in order to prevent the disengagement of said hooks 36, 38. When the stroke limiting means 52 is activated, the finger 64 is flush with the second end 36 and prevents it from moving away from the hook 38, making their separation impossible. Therefore, the tie rod 30 remains interposed between the upright 28 and the door 12, which cannot open more than 90 degrees, as shown in [Fig.7]. The sliding door 20 can then be opened to its fully open position.

[0066] Preferably, the retractable finger 64 is a finger sliding vertically along the Z direction, motorized for example by an electric actuator.

[0067] For the sake of compactness, without limiting the invention, the means for limiting the stroke 52 of the swing door opening 46 and the means for detecting the absence of the rear door can be carried by the same plate 66, fixed to the post 28 of the rear opening 14.

[0068] Alternatively (not shown), the travel limiting means 52 could limit the travel of the swing door 12 to an angle close to 235 degrees, allowing the swing door 12 to open to more than 90 degrees while still allowing the sliding door 20 to extend under the swing door 12. In this respect, the travel limiting means 52 would substantially correspond to the characteristics of the stop 44 according to the prior art, except that it would not be permanent like the stop 44. It could be a retractable stop carried by the door 12, or any other means limiting the opening travel of the door 12. However, this configuration would prove to be just as cumbersome transversely in the Y direction as the prior art design, and is therefore not preferred.

[0069] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensors 46, 48 for detecting the absence of the rear door 12 and side door 20, the retractable finger 64 and the stop Retractable 54s are preferably electric. They are connected to at least one control unit (not shown) which can be a module integrated in the conventional way into a vehicle's control box.

[0070] The invention allows for simple and efficient management of the opening of doors 12, 20 of a van-type vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. A van-type motor vehicle body (10), comprising: - at least one rear hinged door (12), movable between a closed position of a rear opening (14) of said body (10) and an open position folded down along one side (18) of said body (10), - at least one sliding side door (20), movable between a closed position of a side opening (22) of the body (10) and an open position in which it extends parallel to said side (18) of the body (10), characterized in that: - each rear (12) or side (20) opening is equipped with a means (46, 48) for detecting the absence of the associated rear (12) or side (20) door, capable of detecting the opening of said door (12, 20), - the body (10) is equipped with means (52, 54) for limiting the opening stroke of each door (12, 20), - each means (52, 54) of limiting the travel of a door (12,20) is activated in response to the detection of the opening of the other door (20, 12) by said detection means (48, 46) of the absence of the other door (20, 12).

2. Carcass (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each means (46, 48) for detecting the absence of its rear door (12) or side door (20) is a sensor disposed on an upright (28, 50) of the associated rear (14) or side (20) opening.

3. A box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (54) for limiting the stroke of the opening of the sliding door is a retractable stop which is disposed on the side (18) of the box (10) in front of an extreme position (P) of a free edge (56) of the hinged door (12) in its open position folded back on said side (18), said retractable stop (54) being able to protrude from said side (18) to oppose the sliding of said side door (20) beyond said position (P).

4. Box (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the stop (54) is sliding perpendicular to the side (18) of the box (10).

5. Box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the means (52) for limiting the stroke of the opening of the hinged door (12) is configured to limit the opening of said hinged door (12) to a determined angle strictly less than 270 degrees, said determined angle being configured to allow passage of the sliding door (20) in the fully open position without interference with the hinged door (12).

6. A box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a hinged door tie (26), having a blade (30) a first end (32) of which is articulated on an internal face (34) of the hinged door (12) and a second end (36) shaped as a hook is able to cooperate selectively with a complementary hook (38) carried by the upright (28) of the rear opening (14), and in that said means (52) for limiting the stroke of the opening of the hinged door (12) is configured to prevent the disengagement of said hooks (36, 38) from said tie (26) and said upright (28).

7. Box (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means (52) for limiting the stroke of the opening of the swing door (12) comprises a retractable finger (64), integral with the upright (28) of the rear opening (14) which is able to form a stop for the second end (36) of the blade (30) in order to prevent the detachment of said hooks (36, 38).

8. Box (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the retractable finger (64) is a vertically sliding finger.

9. Box (10) according to one of claims 7 or 8 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the means (52) for limiting the stroke of the opening of the swing door and the means (46) for detecting the absence of the rear door are carried by the same plate (66), fixed to the upright (28) of the rear opening (14).

10. Car body according to claims 2, 4 and 8 taken in combination, characterized in that the absence detection sensors (46, 48) of the rear (12) and side (20) doors, the retractable finger (64) and the retractable stop (54) are electric and connected to at least one control unit.

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