Tubular structure system for vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a tubular structure system for a vehicle comprising two lateral tubes and at least one transverse tube (21). Each transverse tube (21) is held in position at each lateral tube by a junction. This junction has a non-through hole in the lateral tube (20). The transverse tube (21) has a first through hole. The junction has a screw passing through the first through hole and the non-through hole. The system is notable in that it includes a plate (22) having a U-shaped cross-section defining a bottom and two edges. This bottom is positioned between the lateral tube (20) and the transverse tube (21). The plate (22) covers the lateral tube (20). The edges are positioned on the lateral tube (20). The bottom has a second through hole configured for the passage of this screw. (See Fig. 1 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Tubular structure system for vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a tubular structure system for vehicles. It is particularly applicable in the field of automotive design and manufacturing. Previous technique

[0002] Quadricycle-type vehicles or those requiring no driver's license are subject to specific regulations that may lead manufacturers to use tubular structures. That is, structures made of assembled metal tubes. This design ensures good mechanical strength while maintaining a low weight, essential for these light vehicles. This type of structure can also be applied to other types of vehicles.

[0003] Tubular frames must comply with strict safety standards. This includes impact and deformation resistance tests to ensure that the vehicle provides adequate protection to occupants in the event of an accident. Good mechanical strength at the tube joints is therefore essential.

[0004] Some prior art documents also propose a system with an assembly of a tubular structure. For example, publication document EP3003827 describes a vehicle with a tubular structure where the tubes are joined together by an interface using screws.

[0005] However, this publication document has a drawback. When assembling the tubes with screws, there is a potential generation of dispersion which can lead to deformation of the tubes or an undesired positioning of one or more tubes.

[0006] The tightening force of the screws may not be distributed uniformly across the entire interface between the tubes if they are improperly assembled, which can create areas of stress concentration. During tightening, one or more tubes may end up in an undesired position, affecting the rigidity and strength of the assembly. Presentation of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks with a completely innovative approach.

[0008] More specifically, the invention aims to provide an improved tubular structure system for repeatability for the realization of a vehicle.

[0009] One objective of the invention is to provide such a system, which can be easily adapted to existing systems.

[0010] These objectives, as well as others that will appear subsequently, are achieved by means of a tubular structure system for a vehicle comprising two lateral tubes and at least one transverse tube, each transverse tube being held in position at each lateral tube at a junction, said junction having a non-through hole on the lateral tube and said transverse tube having a first through hole, said junction being configured for holding the transverse tube on the lateral tubes, said junction further comprising a screw passing through the first through hole of the transverse tube and the non-through hole of the lateral tube, notable in that the system comprises a plate having a U-shaped cross-section defining a bottom and two edges, said bottom being positioned between the lateral tube and the transverse tube, the plate capping the lateral tube, said edges being positioned on the lateral tube,The base of the "U" shape has a second through hole configured for the passage of the screw.

[0011] The use of a plate between the lateral and transverse tubes, held together by screw connections, ensures increased stability and rigidity of the vehicle structure. This configuration minimizes unwanted movement between the tubes during assembly, thus reinforcing structural integrity.

[0012] Thanks to these arrangements, the plate will allow the tubular structure system to no longer have the tube overlapping the flange of the nut positioned in the lateral tube. The hole through the transverse tube remains unchanged to maintain the support of the screw washer.

[0013] The U-shaped configuration of the plate makes access to the screws and joints simple.

[0014] The natural control of the width between the tubes by direct dimension via the transverse tube, the operator only has to position the transverse bar, slide it to find the alignment of the holes and screw.

[0015] The invention is advantageously implemented according to the embodiments and variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or according to any technically operative combination.

[0016] In one embodiment, the bottom of the "U" shape is welded to the transverse tube.

[0017] Welding the base of the "U" shaped plate to the transverse tube ensures an even more robust and stable attachment. This reinforces and facilitates assembly.

[0018] In one embodiment, the bottom of the "U" shape is welded to the side tube.

[0019] Thanks to these arrangements, the plate is embedded with at least one of the tubes, preventing potential movement of the tubular structure during assembly.

[0020] In one embodiment, the plate has at least one boss positioned on each edge of the plate.

[0021] Thanks to these arrangements, if there are two bosses per side, the bosses allow point contact at 4 points (2 per side), thus facilitating sliding along the main tube to find the centering of the holes for screwing, and this without effort. These bosses also have a focusing mechanism.

[0022] In one embodiment, the lateral tube has a parallelepiped section.

[0023] In one embodiment, the transverse tube has a parallelepiped section.

[0024] In one embodiment, the side tube has at least one retaining hole; said retaining hole is proximal to the non-through hole.

[0025] In one embodiment, the plate includes at least one hook, said hook indexes into said retaining hole.

[0026] Thanks to these arrangements, the plate with the hook will allow for a natural pre-support of the transverse tubes.

[0027] In one embodiment, the diameter of the second through hole is 1% to 10% greater than the diameter of the first through hole and the non-through hole of the side tube.

[0028] Thanks to these arrangements, the second through hole will reduce dispersion and avoid the risks of an element of the assembly being in contact with the flange of the nut.

[0029] In one embodiment, the lateral tube and the first through hole on the transverse tube are aligned coaxially.

[0030] Thanks to these arrangements, the screw will be able to fit more easily and will allow all the elements of the system to be stressed. Brief description of the figures

[0031] Other advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given for explanatory purposes only and not as a limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Fig. 1 represents a tubular structure system for a vehicle in front view;

[0033] Fig. 2 represents the assembly of the system with an exploded view;

[0034] Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the system;

[0035] The [Fig.4] represents a variant of the tubular structure system;

[0036] Fig. 5 represents another variant of the tubular structure system. Description of the implementation methods

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a tubular structure system for a vehicle in front view.

[0038] This figure shows the following elements: a plate 22, two lateral tubes, and a transverse tube 21.

[0039] The transverse tube 21 has a parallelepiped cross-section.

[0040] The lateral tubes have a parallelepiped cross-section.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the transverse tube 21 is held between each lateral tube 20 at a junction.

[0042] The junction has a non-through hole on the lateral tubes and a first through hole on the transverse tube 21. The junction is configured for retaining the transverse tube 21 on the lateral tubes.

[0043] According to an example produced, the joint includes a screw.

[0044] This screw passes through the first through hole and the non-through hole. This allows the joint to be tightened with a screw that comes with a nut positioned in one of the side tubes.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the plate 22 has a "U" shape.

[0046] The "U" shape forms a base with two edges.

[0047] The base of the plate 22 has a second through hole.

[0048] The two edges are positioned on the lateral tube 20. The plate 22 caps the lateral tube 20.

[0049] The screw will pass through each hole to end its course in the non-through hole of the lateral tube 20.

[0050] The plate 22 is welded to the transverse tube 21.

[0051] The weld 23 of the plate 22 is made on the bottom.

[0052] According to one variant, the plate 22 is welded to the side tube 20.

[0053] According to another variant, the plate 22 has a weld 23 with the transverse tube 21 and with the lateral tube 20.

[0054] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0055] Fig. 2 shows the system assembly with an exploded view.

[0056] The plate 22 has at least one boss 27 positioned on each edge.

[0057] These bosses 27 make it easier to slide along the main tube to find the centering of the holes to allow screwing.

[0058] The screw 31 passes through the first through hole 24 before going towards the non-through hole 26.

[0059] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the system.

[0060] This figure represents the final assembly of the system with a screw 31.

[0061] The screw 31 is accompanied by a washer allowing support on the transverse tube 21.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the nut 30 is located in the lateral tube 20 below the non-through hole 26.

[0063] The nut 30 has a thread allowing the screw 31 to pass through the non-through hole 26 of the lateral tube 20.

[0064] According to one variant, the nut 30 is crimped or welded to the side tube 20.

[0065] The second through hole 25, the non-through hole 26 and the first through hole 24 are coaxial.

[0066] According to an example produced, the second through hole 25 has a diameter 5% to 10% greater than the diameter of the first through hole 24 and the non-through hole 26. This avoids the risk of the plate 22 bearing on the nut 30.

[0067] Fig. 4 shows a variant of the tubular structure system.

[0068] This variant shows a plate 22 having a hook 29, and the lateral tube 20 having a retaining hole 28.

[0069] The retaining hole 28 is positioned on the same face of the non-through hole 26.

[0070] According to an example made, the hook 29 of the plate 22 is indexed in the retaining hole 28. This allows the pre-retaining of the lateral tube 20.

[0071] The assembly is held together via the hook 29 and the weld of the plate 22 with the cross tube 21. And the system is fixed by the screw 31 and the nut 30.

[0072] Fig. 5 shows another variant of the tubular structure system.

[0073] This other variant adds to the system two rectangular holes and two hooks 29 having the same technical characteristics as that of the previous figure.

[0074] The two hooks 29 each index into a retaining hole 28 of the lateral tube 20.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the two hooks 29 are positioned on the edges of the plate 22.

[0076] It is emphasized that all features, as they are apparent to a person skilled in the art from the present description, drawings and attached features, even if in practice they have only been described in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, can be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless. List of reference signs

[0077] [Tables 1] References Designations 20 Lateral tube 21 Transverse tube 22 Plate 23 Weld 24 First through hole 25 Second through hole 26 Blind hole 27 Boss 28 Retaining hole 29 Hook 30 Nut 31 Screw

Claims

Demands

1. A tubular structure system for a vehicle comprising two lateral tubes and at least one transverse tube (21), each transverse tube (21) being held in position at each lateral tube by a junction, said junction having a non-through hole (26) on the lateral tube (20) and said transverse tube (21) having a first through hole (24), said junction being configured for holding the transverse tube (21) on the lateral tubes, said junction further comprising a screw (31) passing through the first through hole (24) of the transverse tube (21) and the non-through hole (26) of the lateral tube (20), characterized in that the system comprises a plate (22) having a U-shaped cross-section defining a bottom and two edges, said bottom being positioned between the lateral tube (20) and the transverse tube (21), the plate (22) capping the lateral tube (20), said edges being positioned on the lateral tube (20),The base of the "U" shape has a second through hole (25) configured for the passage of said screw (31).

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the "U" shape is welded with the transverse tube (21).

3. System according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the bottom of the "U" shape is welded with the side tube (20).

4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plate (22) has at least one boss (27) positioned on each edge of the plate (22).

5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lateral tube (20) has a parallelepiped section.

6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transverse tube (21) has a parallelepiped cross-section.

7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lateral tube (20) has at least one retaining hole (28); said retaining hole (28) is proximal to the non-through hole (26).

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the plate (22) has at least one hook (29), said hook (29) indexes into said retaining hole (28).

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the diameter of the second through hole (25) is 1% to 10% larger than diameter of the first through hole (24) and of the non-through hole (26) of the lateral tube (20).

10. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lateral tube (20) and the first through hole (24) on the transverse tube (21) are coaxially aligned.

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