VEHICLE STRUCTURE CONTAINING A REINFORCEMENT PIECE FOR A DOOR OPENING

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle structure (1) comprising a door opening (11) which is delimited downwards by a side member (2) and towards the front of the vehicle by a pillar (3). Extending at least along the pillar (3) and the side member (2) is a connecting piece (4) comprising at least two parts, a fastening part and a support part. The fastening part is attached alternately to the side member (2) and to the pillar (3), and the support part (41) projects from the fastening part. A reinforcing piece (5) is fixed to the connecting piece (4) within the door opening (11). For the abbreviated figure: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A DOOR OPENING REINFORCEMENT PIECE

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure which includes a reinforced door opening.

[0002] It also relates to a vehicle structure which includes a door opening which is delimited downwards by a longitudinal member and towards the front of the vehicle by a pillar, at least along the pillar and the longitudinal member extends a connecting piece which includes at least two parts, a fixing part and a support part, the fixing part being attached alternately to the longitudinal member and to the pillar and the support part extending in projection from the fixing part, into the door opening.

[0003] It is known to have such a structure which includes a door opening which is delimited downwards by a longitudinal member and towards the front of the vehicle by a pillar, which under the force of a front impact closes in the area of ​​curvature, in the lower part, at the junction with the longitudinal member.

[0004] This movement, called closing, creates a strong deformation on the side member with the risk of tearing of the various sheets that make up the front part of the door opening of the vehicle structure.

[0005] The device according to the invention makes it possible to remedy this drawback.

[0006] It comprises, in fact, according to the invention, a vehicle structure which includes a door opening which is delimited downwards by a longitudinal member and forwards by a pillar, at least along the pillar and the longitudinal member extends a connecting piece which comprises at least two parts, a fixing part and a support part, the fixing part being attached alternately to the longitudinal member and to the pillar and the support part extending in projection from the fixing part, in the door opening, such that, along the longitudinal member and the support part of the connecting piece, a reinforcing piece is fixed.

[0007] According to a first feature of the invention, the reinforcement piece is positioned along the front half of the door opening.

[0008] According to a second feature of the invention, the free edge of the support part of the connecting piece is adapted to form a support for a door seal, the reinforcing piece having an L-shape, a first part of the reinforcing piece which is fixed on the side rail, a second part of the reinforcing piece being fixed along the free edge of the support part of the connecting piece.

[0009] According to a third feature of the invention, the reinforcing piece has a stiffening stamping imprint at the angle of the L-shape.

[0010] According to a fourth feature of the invention, the free edge of the support part of the connecting piece has a recess adapted so that the second part of the reinforcing piece is positioned in said recess.

[0011] According to a fifth feature of the invention, the second part of the reinforcement piece has two fixing tabs, each fixing tab being positioned in a stamping formed along the free edge of the support part of the connecting piece.

[0012] According to a sixth feature of the invention, the reinforcement piece is fixed to the longeron and to the connecting piece by weld points.

[0013] According to a seventh feature of the invention, the reinforcing piece is formed from a high yield strength steel.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a vehicle which includes a structure which has at least one of the preceding characteristics.

[0015] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0016] [Fig-1] represents a partial, perspective view of a vehicle structure the location of a front door opening.

[0017] [Fig.2] represents a close-up view of the vehicle structure at the level of the front part of the door opening where a reinforcing piece according to the invention is particularly visible.

[0018] [Fig.3] represents a view of the reinforcing piece according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0019] [Fig.4] represents a view of the reinforcing piece according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a portion of the structure 1 of a vehicle which comprises a door opening 11 which is delimited downwards by a longitudinal member 2 and towards the front of the vehicle by a pillar 3.

[0021] Along the longitudinal member 2 and the pillar 3, there extends a connecting piece 4 which extends around the entire perimeter of the door opening 11 in different parts welded together.

[0022] The free end at the edge of the connecting piece 4 is adapted to form a support for a sealing gasket, forming a rebate 4L

[0023] Such a sealing gasket is adapted to be supported against one of the vehicle doors.

[0024] The assembly consisting of the pillar 3 and a part of the connecting piece 4 which is positioned along the pillar 3, forms a front foot.

[0025] Fig. 2 represents a close-up view of the vehicle structure 1 at the front foot of the door opening 11.

[0026] Along the front part of the longitudinal member 2, at the base of the front foot, a reinforcing piece 5 is fixedly positioned.

[0027] The reinforcing piece 5 has an L-shape, with a first part 51 which is fixed to the longitudinal member 2 and a second part 52 which extends vertically to the free edge of the rebate 41; the free end of the second part 52 being fixed along the free edge of the rebate 4L

[0028] The reinforcing piece 5 has a stiffening stamping imprint 53 at the angle of the L-shaped form.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the free end of the second part 52 can have several shapes depending on the shape of the rebate 41 on which it is fixed.

[0030] On [Fig.3], the free end of the second part 52 is solid with two welding attachment points 54 which are positioned on the upper edge of the free end of the second part 52.

[0031] On [Fig.4], the free end of the second part 52 extends in the form of two fixing tabs 55 with two fixing points by welding 56 which are positioned on the upper edge of the free end of the two fixing tabs 55.

[0032] As with the free end of the second part 52, the first part 51 is fixed by weld points on the spar 2.

[0033] Such a reinforcing piece 5 makes it possible to control the lateral deformation of the rebate 41 during a frontal impact, reinforcing the rigidity of the load path which passes through the pillar 3 and extends to the longitudinal member 2

[0034] The reinforcing piece 5 is formed from a high yield strength steel.

[0035] The reinforcing piece 5 is fixed to the longitudinal member 2 and along the rebate 41 by means of weld points.

[0036] To facilitate the positioning of the door seal along the rebate 41, the rebate 41 has thinned parts at the connection point of the second part 52 of the reinforcement piece 5.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle structure (1) comprising a door opening (11) which is delimited downwards by a longitudinal member (2) and towards the front of the vehicle by a pillar (3), at least along the pillar (3) and the longitudinal member (2) extends a connecting piece (4) which comprises at least two parts, a fixing part and a support part, the fixing part being attached alternately to the longitudinal member (2) and to the pillar (3) and the support part (41) extending projecting from the fixing part, in the door opening (11), characterized in that, along the longitudinal member (2) and the support part (41) of the connecting piece (4), a reinforcing piece (5) is fixed.

2. Vehicle structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement piece (5) is positioned along the front half of the door opening (11).

3. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement piece (5) has a stiffening stamping imprint (53) at the angle of the L-shape.

4. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free edge of the support part (41) of the connecting piece (4) is adapted to form a support for a door seal, the reinforcement piece (5) having an L-shape, a first part (51) of the reinforcement piece (5) being fixed on the side member (2), a second part (52) of the reinforcement piece (5) being fixed along the free edge of the support part (41) of the connecting piece (4).

5. Vehicle structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the free edge of the support part (41) of the connecting piece (4) has a recess adapted so that the second part (52) of the reinforcement piece (5) is positioned in said recess.

6. Vehicle structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second part (52) of the reinforcement piece (5) has two fixing tabs, each fixing tab being positioned in a stamping formed along the free edge of the support part (41) of the connecting piece (4).

7. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement piece (5) is fixed to the side member (2) and to the connecting piece (4) by weld points.

8. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcing piece (5) is formed in a high yield strength steel.

9. Vehicle comprising a structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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