MOTOR VEHICLE BOX AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SUCH A BOX

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle body (1) comprising a subframe structure (1a), characterized in that said body (1) comprises: – a deflector (3) which is fixed under the subframe structure (1a) and which comprises a first fixing interface (21) and a second fixing interface (23); – a deflector support (7) which is fixed to the subframe structure (1) and which comprises two distinct fixing interfaces (13, 15) in mechanical cooperation with said deflector (3); said support (7) comprising, on the one hand, a first complementary interface (13) cooperating mechanically with the first interface (21) of said deflector (3), and on the other hand, a second complementary interface (15) cooperating mechanically with the second interface (23) of said deflector (3), the mechanical cooperation between the second interface (23) of the deflector (3) and the second interface (25) of the support (7) being a pivot-type connection.Abbreviated figure: [Fig. 5].

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE BOX AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A BOX

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles comprising a subframe structure under which at least one fairing element is mounted.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a body comprising at least one fairing element, such as a deflector, fixed under the rear part of the body of a motor vehicle, as well as a method of mounting such a deflector under the body of the vehicle.

[0003] A motor vehicle commonly comprises a subframe structure under which components and equipment are mounted, the subframe structure forming at least part of the vehicle body. Fairing elements are also mounted on or within the subframe structure, under the vehicle body, to cover said equipment and components.

[0004] The fairing elements have several possible functions. They provide protection for equipment mounted under the body, in particular against splashes of water and / or gravel, but also potentially against impacts with objects placed on the road.

[0005] Fairing elements generally have aerodynamic shapes, thereby improving the stability of the moving vehicle and / or reducing its drag. Finally, they can also be configured to channel the air flowing under the body in order, for example, to improve the vehicle's drag coefficient; such fairing elements are also referred to as aerodynamic deflectors.

[0006] Furthermore, a fairing element is a substantially flat part comprising a lower face facing the road and an upper face in contact with the vehicle body. The fairing element is typically attached under the body by fasteners, for example, screw-nut systems. To ensure both the attachment and the aerodynamic function of the fairing element, the fasteners are generally mounted in recesses (or shafts) formed in the underside of the fairing element.

[0007] One problem encountered concerns the mounting of the deflector under the body of the motor vehicle. Indeed, the deflector is generally a bodywork element, essentially in the form of a plate, bulky and heavy, making its handling rather difficult for a human operator.

[0008] Furthermore, during the installation of such an underbody deflector, the deflector is brought up from the bottom of the body towards the underside of the body. The deflector is then installed by several operators, supported by brackets fitted to the body, to which the deflector is subsequently attached.

[0009] This assembly operation involves a strain on human operators which it is desirable to limit, and / or the use of an automated system or a lifting device to bring the deflector into the mounting position on the body.

[0010] Furthermore, these deflectors may fall from the vehicle during assembly and / or before being attached to said vehicle, particularly due to sudden movements during travel along the assembly line. These falling deflectors may then lead to a risk of disruption to the assembly line and / or a safety risk for the operator in charge of assembly.

[0011] One object of the invention is thus to propose methods of mounting the deflector on the crate by a human operator, which facilitate the positioning and / or holding in position of the deflector on the crate prior to its fixing.

[0012] Another objective of the invention is to propose such mounting methods that can be implemented at lower costs, in the context of notoriously fierce economic competition in the automotive sector. In particular, it aims to offer such mounting methods while avoiding unduly complicating the arrangement of the deflector and / or the body components that receive it, and / or avoiding the use of a manipulator or lifting device to install the deflector on the body.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide such mounting methods that can be implemented by at least one operator while limiting the physical effort required. In particular, it aims to provide assistance to the operator when positioning the deflector for mounting on the body and / or when attaching it to the body.

[0014] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of motor vehicle body comprising a substructure, characterized in that said body comprises: - a deflector which is fixed under the substructure and which comprises a first fixing interface and a second fixing interface; - a deflector support which is fixed to the substructure and which comprises two distinct fixing interfaces in mechanical cooperation with said deflector; said support comprising, on the one hand, a first complementary interface cooperating mechanically with the first fixing interface of said deflector, and on the other hand, a second complementary interface cooperating mechanically with the second interface of said deflector, the mechanical cooperation between the second interface of the deflector attachment and the second interface of the support being a pivot type connection.

[0015] The box according to the invention makes it possible to overcome at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages, in particular to facilitate the mounting of the deflector on the box by fixing the deflector to said support via the second interfaces, then pivoting the deflector against the box before fixing it, first to the support via the first interfaces, then to said box (at the level of its base structure).

[0016] Thus, the invention provides a solution for facilitating the attachment of the vehicle's underbody deflector, while ensuring adequate support for the deflector throughout the vehicle's lifespan. The invention also has the advantage of being a simple, economical, and robust solution.

[0017] According to one possible feature, the mechanical cooperation between the first deflector fixing interface and the first support interface is a fixed type connection. Advantageously, once the deflector is fixed to the support via the first interfaces, there is then isostaticity of the deflector with respect to the other elements of the body, the pivot joint formed by the cooperation of the fixing elements of the second interfaces being then locked in its final mounting position.

[0018] According to one possible feature, the deflector support is a separate part of the vehicle body and the deflector. Advantageously, the said support is an added part and designed according to the constraints of the vehicle's size and / or the weight of the deflector, thus allowing the process of mounting the support and the deflector on the said body to be optimized.

[0019] According to another possible feature, the first interfaces of the deflector and the support include complementary fixing members and in that the second interfaces of the deflector and the support each include at least two complementary fixing members whose cooperation forms an axis of rotation.

[0020] The additional fastening elements of the first interfaces advantageously comprise a screw-nut system. The additional fastening elements of the second interfaces, for their part, form an axis of rotation to generate a pivot-type connection. Advantageously, said axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle body.

[0021] According to another possible feature, the fixing members of the second interface of the deflector are arranged on one of the edges of said deflector. The fastening elements of the second interface of the deflector are advantageously arranged on one of the edges or one of the ends (for example, longitudinal) of the deflector, in order to facilitate the attachment of the deflector to said support, and subsequently its rotation until the deflector comes into contact with the substructure (to be fixed there).

[0022] According to another possible feature, the fastening elements of the second interfaces of the deflector and the support include hooks and perforated appendages. The cooperation of hooks and perforated appendages is a simple and robust way of forming a pivot-type connection, while allowing play, by translation, between these elements to facilitate the attachment of the deflector to said support and / or to the vehicle body.

[0023] According to another possible feature, the fastening members of the second interfaces of the deflector and / or the support include a stop configured to prevent the separation of said complementary fastening members of said second interfaces. The stop is advantageously the end of the hook acting as a fixing element, this stop limiting the displacement by translation during the pivoting of the deflector and preventing, among other things, the detachment of said deflector during its attachment to the support.

[0024] According to another possible feature, said deflector support includes a third fixing interface for fixing said support to the substructure of said body. Advantageously, the support is attached to the vehicle body, for example to a floor crossmember, by means of a dedicated fixing interface.

[0025] According to another possible feature, said deflector is made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, etc.

[0026] According to another possible feature, said deflector has substantially the shape of a plate.

[0027] According to another possible feature, said deflector has an elongated shape.

[0028] According to another possible feature, said deflector has a first face, The first two faces are the main opposite faces of the deflector: the inner face and the outer face.

[0029] In the mounted position, the inner face of the deflector is intended to be oriented towards the vehicle (towards the body) and is not visible to the user, while the outer face is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and is therefore the face visible to the user of the deflector.

[0030] The invention also relates to a deflector for a motor vehicle body, characterized in that said deflector is configured to be mounted on a vehicle body as defined above.

[0031] The invention further relates to a method of mounting a deflector under a motor vehicle body comprising a subframe structure and a deflector support fixed to the subframe structure, said deflector comprising a first fixing interface and a second fixing interface, said support comprising a first complementary interface cooperating mechanically with the first fixing interface of said deflector and a second complementary interface cooperating mechanically with the second interface of said deflector to form a pivot-type connection, said method comprising at least the following steps: - fixing the deflector, in a vertical position, to the deflector support by means of the mechanical cooperation of said second fixing interfaces - pivoting of the deflector from a vertical position to a horizontal position by means of the cooperation of said second fixing interfaces of the deflector and the support; - fixing the deflector to the support by means of the first interfaces of said deflector and support; - fixing the deflector to the said box.

[0032] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example a hybrid, electric or thermal vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a body as defined above.

[0033] 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 very schematic, partial, and underside view of a vehicle body according to the invention; - Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic, perspective, three-quarter view of a deflector support according to the invention; - [Fig.3] is a schematic, enlarged and partial view of the box of [Fig.1] to which the support of [[Fig.2]] is attached; - Fig. 4 is a schematic and perspective view of the deflector of Fig. 1 alone; - Fig. 5 is a schematic, enlarged, partial and perspective view of the body of Fig. 3 on which the deflector of Fig. 4 is fixed to the deflector support; - Fig. 6 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a mounting method according to the invention of the deflector of Fig. 4 on the body of Fig. 3.

[0034] 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".

[0035] 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°.

[0036] Fig. 1 thus illustrates a schematic and perspective view from below of a body 1 of a motor vehicle, regardless of the vehicle, hybrid, electric or thermal.

[0037] Said body 1 thus comprises a base structure la to which is fixed a first deflector 3 and a second deflector 5, respectively called rear deflector and front deflector, said deflectors 3 and 5 being fixed under the base structure la (and therefore by extension under the body).

[0038] It will be noted that the substructure corresponds to the set of elements of the body 1 defining the lower part of the body 1, that is to say the lower face of the body 1, face oriented towards the ground, as well as the lower lateral part of said body 1 (that is to say generally the lower parts of the body, such as the floor, and the parts and / or lateral faces of the body, such as the longitudinal members).

[0039] The crate 1 also includes a deflector support 7, more particularly visible in [Fig.2], [Fig.3] and [Fig.5], the deflector 3 being fixed to the substructure la and to the deflector support 7, while the deflector support 7 is fixed to the substructure la of the crate 1.

[0040] Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate schematic and perspective views respectively of the deflector support 7 alone and of the support 7 in the mounted position on the base structure of the body 1.

[0041] The deflector support 7 is advantageously a metal part, for example made of steel, aluminum, etc., preferably manufactured by bending and / or stamping. Furthermore, said support 7 is a separate part from the vehicle body 1 and the deflector 3.

[0042] The deflector support 7 comprises a main body 9 having at least two fixing tabs 11. The support 7 thus has substantially a U shape, the central part of the U being advantageously fixed to the substructure la.

[0043] The deflector support 7 further comprises three separate fixing interfaces 13, 15 and 17: - two fixing interfaces 13 and 15, referred to as first and second interfaces, configured to cooperate mechanically with said deflector 3; - a fixing interface 17, referred to as the third interface, configured to fix said support 7 to the body 1 of the vehicle, for example to the underbody structure of the vehicle or to a structural element of the vehicle.

[0044] Said first and second interfaces 13 and 15 each comprise fastening members 13a and 15a configured to cooperate with complementary fastening members arranged on the deflector 3 (more particularly visible in [Fig.2] and [Fig.3]).

[0045] Said fixing members 13a and 15a respectively of the first and second interfaces 13 and 15 of the support 7 are arranged on the fixing tabs 11, advantageously at the free ends of said tabs 11.

[0046] As more particularly illustrated in [Fig.3], said third fastening interface 17 of the support 7 comprises one or more brackets 19, or plates, which are fixed to said vehicle body 1 and said main body 9 of the support 7, these brackets 19 acting as a means of connection between the body 1 and the support 7. Said third fastening interface 17 further comprises fastening elements 17a, such as through holes, located on the support 7.

[0047] Said plates 19 are thus fixed, for example by screwing and / or by welding, on a substantially horizontal face of the body 1 of the vehicle, for example by welding on an element of the underbody structure la (advantageously a rigid element), such as a floor cross member of said vehicle.

[0048] Each of the plates 19 further includes a fastening member 19a, such as a welded screw, which is configured to fit into the through hole 17a (or cooperate with a complementary fastening member) provided in the main body 9 of said support 7, nuts (not visible) screwing onto said welded screws 19a until they are in contact with the main body 9 of said support 7 to thus secure said support 7 to said vehicle body 1.

[0049] Thus, the deflector support 7 is fixed by: - a fixing of bridges 19 to the substructure there, advantageously at the level of a floor crossbeam; - then by a translational movement from the bottom to the top of the support 7 to insert the welded screws 19a of the bridges 19 into the through holes 17a of the main body 9 of the support 7, before securing the support 7 to said bridges 19 by means of nuts.

[0050] Fig. 4 illustrates, for its part, a schematic and perspective side view of the deflector 3 alone, deflector 3 intended to be fixed under the rear part of the subframe structure la of the body 1 of the motor vehicle.

[0051] Said deflector 3 has a first face 3a (visible in [Fig. 5]), referred to as the inner face, and a second face 3b, referred to as the outer face. The first and second faces 3a and 3b are the opposite principal faces of said deflector 3.

[0052] Thus, in the mounted position, the inner face 3a of the deflector 3 is intended to be oriented towards the body 1 and is not visible to the user, while the outer face 3b is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the vehicle (or towards the ground) and is therefore the visible face of the deflector 3.

[0053] The rear deflector 3 generally has an elongated shape, for example substantially a plate shape, and is intended to extend, for example between a battery pack and a rear bumper of the vehicle in the case of a hybrid vehicle. The deflector 1 thus extends, in the mounted position, in a substantially horizontal plane.

[0054] Furthermore, said deflector 3 is a single piece or unit, that is to say, the deflector 3 is made of a single piece. Moreover, said deflector 3 is generally made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, polyamide, or polyethylene, by injection molding or molding.

[0055] In addition, said deflector 3 also comprises at least three distinct attachment interfaces: - a first fixing interface 21 configured to cooperate mechanically with the first fixing interface 13 of said support 7; - a second interface 23 configured to cooperate mechanically with the second interface 15 for fixing said support 7; - a third 25 fixing interface configured to cooperate mechanically with the base structure of the case 1.

[0056] The third fixing interface 25 includes fixing shafts 25a or alveoli, which are through cavities arranged in the deflector 3, and advantageously in its central part.

[0057] The inlet opening of said fixing barrels 25a is provided on the external face 3b of the deflector 3, said barrels 25a, of substantially cylindrical or conical shape, extending away from the main extension plane of said deflector 3, in the direction of the crate 1 (when the deflector is in the mounted position on said crate).

[0058] The said fixing shafts 25a are therefore set back from the external face 3b of said deflector 3. The third fixing interface 25 allows said deflector 3 to be fixed to the substructure la of said body 1, for example by means of fixing elements, such as screws, nuts, rivets, etc., inserted through the shafts 25a, and of additional fixing elements provided under the vehicle body 1, such as threaded holes.

[0059] The first interface 21 of the deflector 3 includes fastening elements, such as fastening barrels 21a, configured to cooperate mechanically with complementary fastening elements 13a, such as welded screws, of the first interface 13 of the support 7.

[0060] The mechanical cooperation of the fastening elements 13a and 21a of the first interfaces 13 and 21 of the support 7 and the deflector 3 thus forms a fixed connection in the mounted position. The fastening elements 13a and 21a of the first interfaces 13 and 21 are advantageously joined together by welding, and / or by means of a nut, a screw, etc.

[0061] The second interface 23 of the deflector 3 includes at least two fastening members 23a, such as perforated appendages, configured to cooperate mechanically with two complementary fastening members 15a, such as hooks of the second interface 15 of the support 7. It will be noted that the fastening members 15a of the second interface 15 are advantageously located at a distance from each other.

[0062] The mechanical cooperation of the fixing members 15a and 23a of the second interfaces 15 and 23 of the support 7 and the deflector 3 thus forms in the mounted position a pivot type connection.

[0063] It should be noted that the fastening members 15a and 23a are configured so that their mechanical cooperation forms an axis of rotation, an axis of rotation which advantageously extends substantially horizontally. Said axis of rotation formed by the fastening members 15a and 23a is thus, in the mounted position, substantially parallel to the horizontal transverse axis of the vehicle body 1 (or of the vehicle).

[0064] The fixing members 23a, here the perforated appendages, of the second interface 23 of the deflector 3 are advantageously arranged on one of the edges of said deflector 3 (or one of its ends).

[0065] Furthermore, the fastening members 15a of the second interface 15 of the support 7 include a stop configured to prevent the separation of said complementary fastening members 15a and 23a from said second interfaces 15 and 23 of the support 7 and the deflector 3 when they are in mechanical cooperation.

[0066] It will be noted that the fixing members 15a and 23a of the second interfaces 15 and 23 of the support 7 of the deflector 3 include hooks and perforated appendages which can be located indifferently on the deflector 3 and / or the support 7.

[0067] Fig. 5 illustrates, for its part, a schematic, enlarged and partial view of the box 1 on which the support 7 is fixed, the deflector 3 being fixed to the support 7 by the mechanical cooperation of the said respective second interfaces 23 and 15.

[0068] Thus, the cooperation of the hooks 15a and the perforated appendages 23a forms a pivot-type connection, while allowing play, by translation substantially along a horizontal axis (axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body or vehicle), between these elements 15a and 23a.

[0069] However, the free end of the hook 15a acts as a stop, so the deflector 3 can be pivoted while allowing movement of the perforated appendage 23a, but in avoiding the separation of said fixing elements 15a and 23a (from each other), and therefore the detachment of said deflector 3 from support 7.

[0070] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method 100 according to the invention for mounting the deflector 3 under the body 1 of a motor vehicle to which the support 7 is attached.

[0071] Said process comprising at least the following steps: - fixing SI of the deflector 3, in vertical position, to the deflector support 7 by means of the mechanical cooperation of said second fixing interfaces 15 and 23, respectively of the support 7 and of the deflector 3; - pivoting S2 of the deflector 3 from a vertical position to a horizontal position by means of the mechanical cooperation of said second fixing interfaces 23 and 15 of the deflector 3 and the support 7, pivoting carried out by the axis of rotation formed by the complementary fixing members 15a and 23a; - fixing S3 of the deflector 3 to the support 7 by means of the first interfaces of said deflector and support, more particularly by the mechanical cooperation of the fixing members 13a and 21a of said first interfaces 13 and 21; - fixing S4 of the deflector 3 to said box 1 via the third fixing interface of the deflector 3.

[0072] Thus, when the deflector 3 is fixed, or secured, to said support 7 by means of the first interfaces 13 and 21, by a fixed type connection, the mechanical cooperation of said second interfaces 15 and 23 is then fixed and participates in the support and the correct positioning of the deflector 3 before it is fixed to the substructure by means of the third fixing interface 25 of the deflector 3.

[0073] Indeed, once the deflector 3 is fixed to the support 7 via the first interfaces 13 and 21, there is then isostaticity of the deflector 3 with respect to the other elements of the body 1, the pivot joint formed by the cooperation of the fixing members 15a and 23a of the second interfaces 15 and 23 being then locked in its final mounting position.

[0074] It should be noted that the additional fixing elements of the first interfaces 21 and 13 of the deflector 3 and the support 7 can advantageously be a screw-nut system and be arranged or fitted indifferently on the deflector and / or the support 7.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle body (1) comprising a subframe structure (la), characterized in that said body (1) comprises: - a deflector (3) which is fixed under the subframe structure (la) and which comprises a first fixing interface (21) and a second fixing interface (23); - a deflector support (7) which is fixed to the subframe structure (1) and which comprises two separate fixing interfaces (13, 15) in mechanical cooperation with said deflector (3); said support (7) comprising, on the one hand, a first complementary interface (13) cooperating mechanically with the first fixing interface (21) of said deflector (3), and on the other hand, a second complementary interface (15) cooperating mechanically with the second interface (23) of said deflector (3), the mechanical cooperation between the second fixing interface (23) of the deflector (3) and the second interface (25) of the support (7) being a pivot type connection.

2. Box (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mechanical cooperation between the first fixing interface (21) of the deflector (3) and the first interface (13) of the support (7) is a fixed type connection.

3. A box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first interfaces (21, 13) of the deflector (3) and the support (7) comprise complementary fastening members (21a, 13a) and in that the second interfaces (23, 15) of the deflector (3) and the support (7) each comprise at least two complementary fastening members (23a, 15a) whose cooperation forms an axis of rotation.

4. Box (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing members (23a) of the second interface (23) of the deflector (3) are arranged on one of the edges of said deflector (3).

5. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening members (23a, 15a) of the second interfaces (23, 15) of the deflector (3) and the support (7) comprise hooks and perforated appendages.

6. Casing (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the fixing members (15a) of the second interfaces (15) of the deflector (3) and / or the support (7) include a stop configured to prevent the separation of said additional fixing members (15a, 23a) from said second interfaces (15, 23).

7. Carcass (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said deflector support (7) comprises a third fixing interface (17) for fixing said support (7) to the substructure (la) of said carcass (1).

8. Deflector (3) for motor vehicle body, characterized in that said deflector (3) is configured to be mounted on a body (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Method (100) of mounting a deflector (3) under a body (1) of a motor vehicle comprising a subframe structure (la) and a deflector support (7) fixed to the subframe structure (la), said deflector (3) comprising a first fixing interface (21) and a second fixing interface (23), said support (7) comprising a first complementary interface (13) cooperating mechanically with the first fixing interface (21) of said deflector (3) and a second complementary interface (23) cooperating mechanically with the second interface (15) of said deflector (3) to form a pivot-type connection, said method (100) comprising at least the following steps: - fixing (SI) of the deflector (3), in a vertical position, to the deflector support (7) by means of the mechanical cooperation of said second fixing interfaces (15, 23);- pivoting (S2) of the deflector from a vertical position to a horizontal position by means of the cooperation of said second fixing interfaces (23, 15) of the deflector (3) and the support (7); - fixing (S3) of the deflector (3) to the support (7) by means of the first interfaces (21, 13) of said deflector (3) and support (7); - fixing (S4) of the deflector (3) to said box (1).

10. Motor vehicle (V), characterized in that it comprises a body (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images