Automotive floor arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor arrangement (1) for an electrified motor vehicle, the floor arrangement (1) comprising an upper floor (12) which serves as a cover for a housing containing an electric traction battery module for the electrified motor vehicle. The upper floor (12) is supported by side rails (11) and transverse cross members (14). At a front edge, the upper floor (12) rests on the front cross member (14) via flanges (13) extending between a peripheral rim (121) of the upper floor (12) and an internal rebate of the side rails (11).To allow the placement and retention of a sealing gasket (15) under the peripheral edge (121) of the upper floor (12), the inner rebate of the side stringers (11) has a boss (111) extending forward of the corresponding flange (13), the boss (111) being predominantly oriented along the vertical axis (Z). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Floor arrangement for motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of structural elements for motor vehicles, and in particular those located under the passenger compartment. More specifically, the invention relates to a floor arrangement for a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the prior art, floor arrangements extending under the passenger compartment and supporting seats for the vehicle's occupants are known. Such floor arrangements thus define a substantially flat surface extending longitudinally from front to rear and transversely between two side members of the vehicle. Naturally, such a floor is optionally supported by one or more side members.

[0003] In the more particular field of electrified motor vehicles, that is to say of the type of those using an electric motor - exclusively or in addition to a thermal engine - to operate a traction chain of the motor vehicle, the use of the floor of the motor vehicle as a cover for a box housing an electric battery module, and in particular the different cells of the high voltage electric battery used for the traction of the motor vehicle is known.

[0004] In such arrangements, it is necessary that the floor enclosing the housing that contains the battery module seal the said housing airtight, for reasons of electrical safety. For this purpose, spraying a sealant onto a bearing surface of the floor is known, so that the sealant is compressed between the floor and said bearing surface.

[0005] The drawback of these arrangements lies in the fact that the sealing gasket cannot fill a gap greater than a few millimeters between the floor and the bearing surface. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to guarantee that the floor is sufficiently close to the bearing surface, unless mechanical tolerances are imposed that would be incompatible with the automotive industry. Furthermore, leaks are sometimes observed in certain interface areas between the floor and its bearing surface, particularly at the front of the floor.

[0006] The present invention aims to propose a new floor arrangement in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to further advantages.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to improve the sealing of the housing containing the battery module when it is closed by the floor of the motor vehicle.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to offer an economical and easy-to-implement solution.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a floor arrangement for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement comprising:

[0010] - two lateral longitudinal members extending along a longitudinal axis, each side member being located along a lateral edge of the motor vehicle, the side members being connected to each other by a front cross member and a rear cross member;

[0011] - a battery module extending between the two side rails, the module of battery being supported by a battery tray which is attached to the two side rails;

[0012] - an upper floor extending between the two lateral stringers, the floor upper forming a closing cover for the battery module, the upper floor having a peripheral rim resting against the side rails and against the cross members;

[0013] - a sealing gasket placed between the peripheral edge of the upper floor and the side rails and / or cross members.

[0014] According to the invention, each side member has a boss which extends outward from an internal rebate of the side member and against which boss the sealing joint rests.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a vertical axis are defined with respect to the motor vehicle on which the floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between one lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood as a direction extending from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inside, and outside refer to such a transverse axis. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis is understood as being taken along a direction extending from front to back or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis.The adjectives front, front, and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. Finally, the vertical axis is understood as being taken along an axis extending from the wheels of the motor vehicle towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper, refer to this vertical axis.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the side member forms a prismatic span extending relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, at each lateral edge of said motor vehicle. The side members form structural elements of the motor vehicle to which other parts of the motor vehicle are attached. The side members thus provide the rigidity necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle, during driving sequences, but also in the event of an accident in order to transmit the forces resulting from said impact towards absorption devices or towards the running gear of the motor vehicle, for example. The side members are generally made of steel profiles, giving the body structure its robustness.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, the crossmember is a beam—straight or curved—that extends primarily along the transverse axis. The crossmember is rigidly fixed at its lateral ends to the side members of the vehicle's body structure. The crossmember thus forms a bracing device for the side members. The vehicle's body structure comprises one or more crossmembers connecting the side members, the crossmembers being distributed along the longitudinal axis. Each crossmember thus provides the rigidity necessary for the vehicle's operation during driving sequences, and also transmits the mechanical forces resulting from an impact to each side member and to the vehicle's body structure. Each crossmember is generally made of a steel profile, giving the body structure its robustness.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the upper floor extends beneath the passenger compartment and allows for the subsequent attachment of seats for the occupants of the motor vehicle. The upper floor defines a substantially flat surface that extends longitudinally from front to rear and transversely between two side members of the motor vehicle. Relative to the vertical axis, above the upper floor is the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and below the upper floor are transmission components in the case of an internal combustion engine vehicle or a battery module in the case of a hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0019] In the context of the present invention, the upper floor, more particularly a rear floor, is located under the rear passenger seats of the motor vehicle. The rear floor forms a structural element for the passenger compartment and to which, in particular, the seats of the motor vehicle are attached. The rear floor extends directly behind the front floor, relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0020] In the context of the present invention, the motor vehicle is more particularly of the type of an electrified motor vehicle, which may be of the type of a An electric vehicle is either powered exclusively by an electric motor supplied by a traction battery, or a hybrid vehicle is one that combines an electric motor supplied by a traction battery with another propulsion system, such as an internal combustion engine, to propel the vehicle. Hybrid vehicles are further divided into plug-in hybrids, where the traction battery can be recharged by connecting to an external power source, and non-plug-in hybrids, which are not equipped for such recharging of the traction battery from an external electrical grid.

[0021] Generally, the drivetrain of such an electrified motor vehicle is rotated by an electric machine, electrically powered by a traction battery, in order to generate a motor torque used to propel the motor vehicle. Complementarily or alternatively, the electric machine is configured to recover mechanical energy from the drivetrain and convert it into electrical energy, thereby producing a braking torque on said drivetrain and enabling the recharging of the traction battery.

[0022] In the context of the present invention, the battery module houses electrical storage cells for a traction battery of the motor vehicle. The traction battery is a high-voltage electric battery capable of generating a direct current voltage of at least 300V, for example, 400V or 800V. Generally, the traction battery is configured to supply electrical energy to an electric machine that generates torque on the motor vehicle's drivetrain.

[0023] Thus, according to the invention, each of the side rails has a particular shape—the boss—which facilitates the installation of the sealing gasket between the upper floor on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the side rails and the front crossmember. The boss is located near a bearing surface between the upper floor—taken at its peripheral edge—and the side rail or the front crossmember. Each boss projects out from the corresponding side rail. The boss is preferably formed from the same material as the side rail from which it is created, for example, by stamping. Thus, the invention, according to its first aspect, solves the technical problem in that the bosses make it possible to create a space more suitable for installing the sealing gasket, in particular by reducing the gap observed between the upper floor and the side rail at the front of the upper floor.

[0024] The floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the following improvements, the characteristics techniques comprising these improvements can be used alone or in combination:

[0025] - the sealing joint extends along the entire peripheral contour of the floor upper, and in particular its peripheral edge. Thus, the seal is delimited by a closed contour adapted to the shape and dimensions of the side rails and cross members. In one embodiment, the seal is a flat type. The seal is made of a material containing rubber and / or an elastomer, for example. In another embodiment, the seal is a sprayed type;

[0026] - the upper floor has two flanges extending from the edge peripheral and towards the front crossmember, each flange resting against the front crossmember, each flange extending from one of the side rails towards a front edge of the upper floor. Each flange is located at a front edge of the upper floor. Each flange fills a gap between the upper floor and the front crossmember. In effect, the flanges are connected, on one side, to the upper floor and, on the other side, to the front crossmember;

[0027] - the boss is located in front of the corresponding flange. In this way, the The boss allows the sealing gasket to be contained between the boss and the flange. This advantageous configuration thus reduces the free space between the flange, the front crossmember, and the side member. Consequently, the introduction of the sealing gasket allows the housing containing the battery module to be sealed airtight and prevents the presence of residual holes at this point;

[0028] - the boss forms a rib which extends in a straight line from the rebate internal to the side member and oriented along the vertical axis. In particular, the boss extends from an upper face of the side member and to the front cross member of the floor arrangement;

[0029] - the boss is located at a distance from the corresponding flange of less than 3 mm, the distance being measured along the longitudinal axis. More specifically, along the longitudinal axis, the boss is located at a distance from the flange of less than 2.5 mm, or even less than 2 mm, so that the sealing gasket more easily fills this distance;

[0030] - the sealing gasket extends between the boss and the corresponding flange. In In particular, the sealing gasket is supported both against the boss and against the flange.

[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising a floor arrangement conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any one of its improvements.

[0032] As mentioned previously, the motor vehicle is more specifically of the electrified motor vehicle type. Furthermore, the battery module is housed under The upper floor, within the floor arrangement housing, and closed by the upper floor. The upper floor is preferably of the type of a rear floor that extends under the rear seats of the motor vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0033] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features set out here.

[0034] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0035] [Fig-1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an example embodiment of the floor arrangement conforming to the first aspect of the invention;

[0036] [Fig.2] illustrates a detailed view of the floor arrangement shown in [Fig. 1] at the level of the area surrounded by dotted lines;

[0037] [Fig.3] illustrates a three-dimensional view of the lateral spar of the arrangement of floor illustrated in [Fig.1] and incorporating the boss according to the invention.

[0038] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0039] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0040] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0041] In the FIGURES described below, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the floor arrangement 1 according to the invention is intended to be mounted.

[0042] More specifically, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction between one side of the motor vehicle and the opposite side of the same motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction extending from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of the same motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior, and exterior refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0043] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as if taken along a direction extending from front to rear or rear to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives front, front, and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0044] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood as being taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper, refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0045] With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the invention addresses a floor arrangement 1 for an electrified motor vehicle, the floor arrangement 1 comprising:

[0046] - two lateral longitudinal members 11 which extend along a longitudinal axis X, each lateral longitudinal member 11 being located along a lateral edge of the motor vehicle, the lateral longitudinal members 11 being connected to each other by a front cross member 14 and a rear cross member 14;

[0047] - a battery module extending between the two side rails 11, the module of battery being supported by a battery tray which is integral with the two lateral longitudinal members H;

[0048] - an upper floor 12 extending between the two lateral stringers 11, the upper floor 12 forming a closing cover for the battery module, the upper floor 12 having a peripheral rim 121 bearing against the side rails 11 and against the cross members 14;

[0049] - a sealing gasket 15 placed between the peripheral edge 121 of the floor upper 12 and the side rails 11 and / or the cross members 14.

[0050] The upper floor 12 thus allows for the closure of a housing containing the battery module. This ingenious configuration makes it possible to perform two technical functions with a single part: the closure of the battery housing and the shaping of the rear passenger compartment floor. Indeed, in this type of electrified motor vehicle, the electric traction battery is housed under the passenger compartment floor, that is to say, under the upper floor 12 of the floor arrangement 1.

[0051] In order to close the housing in a watertight manner, a sealing gasket 15 extends along the entire peripheral perimeter of the upper floor 12, and in particular along the entire peripheral edge 121 of the upper floor 12. This sealing gasket 15 thus extends between the upper floor 12 and the lateral stringers 11 or between the upper floor 12 and the cross members 14.

[0052] Now, at the level of a front part of the floor arrangement 1, the upper floor 12 is well above the front cross member 14, so that there is a non-zero gap between the peripheral edge 121 of the upper floor 12 taken at the level of its front edge 122 and the front cross member 14. Of course, we know the use of flanges 13 located at the front edge 122 of the upper floor 12 and which extend, on either side of a median longitudinal axis X, between the peripheral edge 121 of the upper floor 12 and the front cross member 14.

[0053] Furthermore, relative to the longitudinal axis X, the flanges 13 bear against the corresponding lateral longitudinal member 11. This advantageous configuration thus makes it possible to properly close the battery module housing and to ensure that the sealing gasket 15 is sandwiched between each flange 13 and the front crossmember 14, at the level of the front edge 122.

[0054] As can be seen in [Fig. 2], the sealing gasket 15 describes, near the front edge 122 of the upper floor 12 and at the interface between the side member 11 and the corresponding flange 13, a curve to "descend" along the inner rebate 113 of the side member 11 – the one against which the flange 13 rests. In other words, at the lateral edges of the floor arrangement 1, the sealing gasket 15 is sandwiched between the peripheral edge 121 of the upper floor 12 and the upper rebate 112 of the side member 11. Near the flange 13, the sealing gasket 15 should be oriented downwards and run along the inner rebate 113 to the front cross member 14.

[0055] In order to improve the grip and retention of the sealing gasket 15 between the front edge 122 of the flange 13 and the inner rebate 113 of the side member 11, the invention cleverly provides that each side member 11 has a boss 111 which projects from said inner rebate 113 of the side member 11 and against which the sealing gasket 15 bears. This advantageous configuration is particularly visible in [Fig. 2].

[0056] As seen in [Fig. 3], the boss 111 forms a groove that extends vertically along the vertical axis Z. The boss 111 is preferably straight. A cross-section of the boss 111, taken along a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis Z, is U-shaped or V-shaped or crenellated, for example. The boss 111 thus forms a protrusion that extends outward from the inner rebate 113 of the lateral stringer 11 and that provides a bearing and / or retention surface for the sealing gasket 15 at this level.

[0057] To this end, the boss 111 is located slightly forward of the flange 13 and the front edge 122 of the upper floor 12, relative to the longitudinal axis X. More precisely, the distance separating the boss 111 from the flange 13 and / or the front edge 122 of the upper floor 12 is less than 3 mm, preferably less than 2.5 mm. This advantageous configuration ensures optimal grip of the sealing gasket 15 in this area.

[0058] The boss 111 is formed from material before the side member 11, and in particular with the internal rebate 113 of the side member 11. For example, the boss 111 is obtained by stamping or pressing.

[0059] In summary, the invention relates to a floor arrangement 1 for an electrified motor vehicle, the floor arrangement 1 comprising an upper floor 12 which serves as a cover for a housing containing an electric traction battery module for the electrified motor vehicle. The upper floor 12 is supported by side rails 11 and transverse cross members 14. At a front edge 122, the upper floor 12 rests on the front cross member 14 via flanges 13 extending between a peripheral rim 121 of the upper floor 12 and an internal rebate 113 of the side rails 11.In order to allow the placement and retention of a sealing joint 15 under the peripheral rim 121 of the upper floor 12, the inner rebate 113 of the side stringers 11 has a boss 111 which extends in front of the corresponding flange 13, the boss 111 being predominantly oriented along the vertical axis Z. .

[0060] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Specifically, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Demands

1. Floor arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement (1) comprising: - two side rails (11) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), each side rail (11) being located along a lateral edge of the motor vehicle, the side rails (11) being connected to each other by a front cross member (14) and a rear cross member (14); - a battery module extending between the two side rails (11), the battery module being supported by a battery tray which is integral with the two side rails (11); - an upper floor (12) extending between the two side rails (11), the upper floor (12) forming a closing cover for the battery module, the upper floor (12) comprising a peripheral rim (121) bearing against the side rails (11) and against the cross members (14);- a sealing joint (15) placed between the peripheral edge (121) of the upper floor (12) and the side stringers (11) and / or the cross members (14); characterized in that each side stringer (11) has a boss (111) which extends outward from an internal rebate (113) of the side stringer (11) and against which boss (111) the sealing joint (15) rests.

2. Floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the sealing joint (15) extends along the entire peripheral contour of the upper floor (12), and in particular its peripheral edge (121).

3. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper floor (12) comprises two flanges (13) extending from the peripheral rim (121) and towards the front cross member (14), each flange (13) being supported against the front cross member (14), each flange (13) extending from one of the side stringers (11) and towards a front edge (122) of the upper floor (12).

4. Floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the boss (111) is located in front of the corresponding flange (13).

5. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the boss (111) is located at a distance from the corresponding flange (13) of less than 3 mm, the distance being measured along the longitudinal axis (X).

6. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the sealing joint (15) extends between the boss (111) and the corresponding flange (13).

7. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the sealing joint (15) is supported both against the boss (111) and against the flange (13).

8. Floor arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the boss (111) forms a rib which extends in a straight line from the inner rebate (113) of the side member (11) and is oriented along the vertical axis (Z).

9. Floor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the boss (111) extends from an upper face of the side member (11) to the front cross member (14) of the floor arrangement (1).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a floor arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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