VEHICLE STRUCTURE PROMOTING LATERAL SLIDING OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A LOW-OVERLAP FRONT IMPACT

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle structure 1 promoting lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low-overlap frontal impact, the vehicle structure 1 comprising: two front frame members 2, 3 on which are fixed a first and a second engine mount 4, 5 as well as a front wheel arch 7, 8; two wheel arch reinforcements 9, 11, each wheel arch reinforcement 9, 11 being integral with a front frame member 2, 3 and a wheel arch 7, 8; a first spacer 13 disposed between the first engine mount 4 and a portion of a wheel arch 7; and a second spacer 15 disposed between the second engine mount 5 and a portion of the other wheel arch 8. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE STRUCTURE PROMOTING LATERAL SLIDING OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE LOW-OVERLAP FRONT IMPACT

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure that promotes lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low-overlap frontal impact. The invention thus relates to the technical field of deformation of the front structure of vehicles in the event of a low-overlap frontal impact.

[0002] In order to ensure the conformity of vehicles to the various safety regulations, numerous tests and trials are put in place.

[0003] For example, it is known to perform a frontal overlap test, also called a small overlap test (also referred to as “Small Overlap Frontal Crashworthiness Evaluation” in English). According to this test, the vehicle collides head-on with a barrier approximately 1.5 m high, said barrier covering 25% of the vehicle's width from one side of the vehicle.

[0004] A low-overlap frontal overlap test primarily affects the outer edges of the vehicle, and the impact forces are directed straight towards one of the front wheels, the suspension system, and the firewall. As a result, it is not uncommon for one of the wheels to be pushed rearward into the passenger compartment, particularly into the legroom, which constitutes a highly damaging intrusion likely to cause serious leg and foot injuries to the driver and / or front passenger.

[0005] Ideally, the vehicle structure should deform to cause a transverse movement of the vehicle so that the passenger compartment is not struck by the test barrier.

[0006] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], a vehicle structure 100 comprising two side members 101, engine mounts 102, and an internal combustion engine 103 attached to the engine mounts 102 is known from document DE-B3-102014013913. This vehicle structure 100 further comprises two spacers 104, each being disposed between a side member 101 and an engine mount 102. The spacers allow the forces from the side member 101 to the internal combustion engine 103 to be transmitted as quickly as possible during a low-overlap frontal impact. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the inset of one of the front wheels into the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0007] The invention aims to improve this solution, by proposing a vehicle structure that promotes lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low overlap frontal collision.

[0008] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a vehicle structure promoting lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low-overlap frontal collision, the vehicle structure comprising: • A longitudinal right front frame to which a first engine mount and a right front wheel arch are attached, • A longitudinal left front frame to which a second engine mount and a left front wheel arch are attached, • An engine attached to the aforementioned first and second engine mounts, the said vehicle structure being remarkable in that it comprises: • A first wheel arch reinforcement attached to one front end of the right front frame and the right front wheel arch; • A second wheel arch reinforcement attached to one front end of the left front frame and the left front wheel arch; • A first spacer positioned between the first engine mount and part of the right front wheel arch; and • A second spacer positioned between the second engine mount and part of the left front wheel arch.

[0009] Thanks to the invention, and more particularly to the presence of the first and second wheel arch reinforcement elements and the first and second spacers, in a low-overlap frontal impact, the forces will be absorbed almost instantaneously by the first and second wheel arch reinforcement elements. Indeed, the first and second spacers limit the deformation of the wheel arches by directing the impact forces towards the engine mounts. These forces are then absorbed almost instantaneously by the first and second wheel arch reinforcement elements. This arrangement is advantageous because it greatly promotes lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low-overlap frontal impact.More specifically, in the event of a frontal collision, one of the wheel arch reinforcements will slide along the wall, which helps to limit the crushing of the corresponding frame during a front impact and therefore to mitigate the impact of the low overlap frontal impact on the side of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0010] In addition to the characteristics just mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the vehicle structure according to this aspect of the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0011] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the part of the right front wheel arch is formed by a boss and the part of the left front wheel arch is formed by a boss.

[0012] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, in a plane parallel to the ground on which the vehicle structure 1 is arranged, • The first wheel arch reinforcement forms an angle of between 30 and 70 degrees with the right front frame rail; • The second wheel arch reinforcement forms an angle of between 30 and 70 degrees with the front left frame rail.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first spacer is clipped onto the first motor support and the second spacer is clipped onto the second motor support.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, • Each of the first and second engine mounts includes: • A first face perpendicular to a plane parallel to the ground on which the vehicle structure rests, the first face having a first clipping means and being arranged opposite a second face of the first or second spacer, the second face being perpendicular to said plane; • A positioning housing for the first or second spacers provided vertically in an upper face of the first or second motor support; • Each of the first and second spacers includes: • At an upper end a positioning element having a shape complementary to the positioning housing, said positioning element being positioned in said positioning housing; • The second face of the first or second spacer comprising a second clipping means cooperating by clipping with the first clipping means.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, each of the first or second spacers is formed by a polymer or composite plastic.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, each of the first or second spacers includes reinforcing ribs.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the engine is an internal combustion engine or an electric motor.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a vehicle structure according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention.

[0019] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] [Fig.1] illustrates a front view of a vehicle structure according to the prior art.

[0021] [Fig.2] illustrates a top view of a vehicle structure from a non- limiting of the invention.

[0022] [Fig.3] shows a cross-sectional view of an engine mount on which is mounted a spacer according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0023] [Fig.4] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a motor mount from a non- limiting of the invention.

[0024] [Fig. 5] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a spacer from a non- limiting of the invention.

[0025] [Fig.6] shows a three-dimensional view of the spacer illustrated in [Fig.5], which spacer is clipped onto the motor support illustrated in [Fig.4]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Fig. 1 was described in the preamble to the description to illustrate a prior art.

[0027] The other figures are presented as an illustration and in no way limit the invention.

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic top view of a vehicle structure 1 according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. This vehicle structure 1 promotes lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low-overlap frontal impact.

[0030] According to this aspect of the invention, the vehicle structure 1 comprises a longitudinal right front stretcher 2 and a longitudinal left front stretcher 3.

[0031] A first engine support 4 is fixed on the right front frame 2 and a second engine support 5 is fixed on the left front frame 3.

[0032] An internal combustion engine 6 is fixed between the first and second engine supports 4, 5.

[0033] In addition, a right front wheel arch 7 is integral with the right front frame 2 and a left front wheel arch 8 is integral with the left front frame 3.

[0034] The vehicle structure 1 also includes a first wheel arch reinforcement 9 attached to a front end 10 of the right front frame 2 and the right front wheel arch 7.

[0035] In addition, the vehicle structure 1 includes a second wheel arch reinforcement 11 attached to a front end 12 of the left front frame 3 and the left front wheel arch 8.

[0036] During a frontal impact with a small overlap, the first or second wheel arch reinforcement 9,11 coming into contact has the effect of generating a transverse shift of the vehicle, in other words a sliding to the right or to the left of the vehicle.

[0037] However, without any other element, the forces generated by the impact will deform the right front wheel arch 7 or the left front wheel arch 8 entering into collision.

[0038] To limit this phenomenon, and more specifically to ensure that the right front wheel arch 7 or the left front wheel arch 8 entering into a collision deforms as little as possible, and to ensure that the forces generated by the impact are absorbed primarily by the first or second wheel arch reinforcement 9, 11 entering into a collision, the vehicle structure 1 comprises: • A first spacer 13 positioned between the first engine mount 4 and a boss 14 of the right front wheel arch 7, and • A second spacer 15 positioned between the second engine support 5 and a boss 16 of the left front wheel arch 8.

[0039] Thus, thanks to the first and second spacers 13, 15, in a frontal impact with a small overlap, the forces will be transmitted to the first and second spacers 13, 15 and to the first or second wheel arch reinforcement 9, 11 that comes into contact. The right front wheel arch 7 or the left front wheel arch 8 that comes into contact will therefore deform very little, thus generating a lateral slide of the vehicle.

[0040] According to a non-limiting embodiment, in a plane PI parallel to the ground on which the vehicle structure 1 rests, • The first wheel arch reinforcement 9 forms an angle with the right front stretcher 2 between 30 and 70 degrees; • The second wheel arch reinforcement 11 forms an angle with the front left side member 3 between 30 and 70 degrees.

[0041] These angles a between the wheel arch reinforcements 9, 11 and the front shafts 2, 3 allow optimal sliding of the vehicle.

[0042] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first spacer 13 is clipped onto the first motor support 4 and the second spacer 15 is also clipped onto the second motor support 5.

[0043] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, each of the first and second spacers 13, 15 is formed from a polymer or composite plastic. A polymer or composite plastic is lightweight so that the weight of the vehicle is not affected.

[0044] In addition, in order to reinforce the first and second spacers 13, 15, the latter may include reinforcing ribs.

[0045] According to the non-limiting aspect of the invention illustrated in [Fig.3], the first engine support 4 has a first face 17 perpendicular to the plane PI parallel to the ground on which the vehicle structure 1 is placed.

[0046] The first face 17 is arranged opposite a second face 18 of the first spacer 13, the second face 18 being perpendicular to the plane PL. The first face 17 has a first clipping means 19 of the first spacer 13.

[0047] The first spacer 13 has a second clipping means 20 arranged to cooperate by clipping with the first clipping means 19 that is included in the first motor support 4.

[0048] It is understood that, according to different embodiments not illustrated, the first and second clipping means 19, 20 may be different.

[0049] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], a positioning recess 21 for the first spacer 13 is provided vertically in an upper face 22 of the first motor support 4. In other words, the positioning recess 21 is provided along an axis perpendicular to the plane PL

[0050] As illustrated in [Fig.5], at an upper end 23, the first spacer 13 has a positioning element 24 having a complementary shape to the positioning housing 21.

[0051] It is understood that according to other embodiments not illustrated, the positioning housing 21 and the positioning element 24 may have different shapes from those illustrated.

[0052] Fig. 6 shows the first spacer 13 cooperating by clipping with the first motor support 4.

[0053] Thus, the first and second spacers 13, 15 can be assembled to the vehicle structure 1 after the engine 6 is secured to the first and second engine supports 4, 5. Indeed, during assembly, the first spacer 13 is slid vertically from top to bottom along the first face 17 of the first engine support 4 until it clips onto the first engine support 4 and the second spacer 15 is slid vertically from top to bottom along the first face 17 of the second engine support 5 until it clips onto the second engine support 5.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle structure (1) promoting lateral sliding of the vehicle in the event of a low overlap frontal impact, said vehicle structure (1) comprising: - A longitudinal right front frame (2) on which a first engine mount (4) and a right front wheel arch (7) are fixed; - A longitudinal left front frame (3) on which a second engine mount (5) and a left front wheel arch (8) are fixed; - An engine (6) integral with said first and second engine mounts (4, 5), said vehicle structure (1) being characterized in that it comprises: - A first wheel arch reinforcement (9) integral with a front end (10) of the right front frame (2) and said right front wheel arch (7); - A second wheel arch reinforcement (11) integral with a front end (12) of the left front frame (3) and said left front wheel arch (8);- A first spacer (13) disposed between said first engine mount (4) and a part (14) of said right front wheel arch (7); and - A second spacer (15) disposed between said second engine mount (5) and a part (16) of said left front wheel arch (8).

2. Vehicle structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that part (14) of the right front wheel arch (7) is formed by a boss and part (16) of the left front wheel arch (8) is formed by a boss.

3. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a plane (PI) parallel to the ground on which the vehicle structure (1) rests, - The first wheel arch reinforcement (9) forms with the right front frame rail (2) an angle (a) between 30 and 70 degrees;

4.

5. - The second wheel arch reinforcement (11) forms with the front left stretcher (3) an angle (a) between 30 and 70 degrees. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first spacer (13) is clipped onto the first engine mount (4) and the second spacer (15) is clipped onto the second engine mount (5). Vehicle structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that: - Each of the first and second engine mounts (4, 5) comprises: • A first face (17) perpendicular to a plane (PI) parallel to the ground on which the vehicle structure (1) rests, said first face (17) having a first clipping means (19) and being arranged opposite a second face (18) of the first or second spacers (13, 15), said second face (18) being perpendicular to said plane (PI); and • A positioning housing (21) for the first or second spacers (13, 15) provided vertically in an upper face (22) of said first or second motor support (4, 5); - Each of the first and second spacers (13, 15) comprising: • At an upper end (23) a positioning element (24) having a complementary shape to said positioning housing (21), said positioning element (24) being positioned in said positioning housing (21); • Said second face (18) of said first or second spacers (13, 15) comprising a second clipping means (20) cooperating by clipping with said first clipping means (19).

6. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the first or second spacer (13, 15) is formed by a polymer or composite plastic.

7. Vehicle structure (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of the first or second strut (13, 15) has reinforcing ribs.

8. Vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engine (6) is an internal combustion engine or an electric motor.

9. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a vehicle structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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