Anti-vibration apron for a vehicle with a windshield

Abstract

A bulkhead (TV) is fitted to a vehicle comprising a windshield crossmember (TB) receiving on a front face (FV) a lower transverse edge (BTI) of a windshield (PB). This bulkhead (TV) includes an upper part (PST) positioned opposite a rear face (FR) of the windshield crossmember (TB), opposite the front face (FV), and including an upper transverse edge (BTS) shaped to define a transverse stiffening rib (NT). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Anti-vibration apron for a vehicle with a windshield Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising a cross member called a "windshield bay" receiving the lower transverse edge of the windshield, and more specifically to the fight against vibrations. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, generally automobiles, include a crossmember known as a "windshield cowl" because it is designed to receive the lower transverse edge of a windshield on its front face for a watertight seal. It should be noted that the windshield cowl is a part (usually made of metal) designed to prevent liquid from entering the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0003] This windshield bay crossmember is therefore installed between the lower transverse edge of the windshield and the upper part of the bulkhead, which is located at the interface between the passenger compartment and the front compartment (access to which is controlled by the front hood and which generally includes at least part of the powertrain). The upper part of the bulkhead is thus positioned opposite the rear face of the windshield bay crossmember, and generally welded to this rear face.

[0004] The windshield cowl crossmember is a rigid component that helps minimize the transmission of vibrations and road noise, and therefore contributes to the vehicle's acoustic and vibration performance. Since this minimization is insufficient, some vehicles also include a stiffening crossmember installed opposite the rear face of the upper part of the bulkhead, on the passenger compartment side. This stiffening crossmember is generally a hollow, bulky component. Consequently, when its bulk is inconvenient in the passenger compartment, it is necessary to move the stiffening crossmember forward, which in turn requires moving the bulkhead forward and thus reduces the volume of the front compartment. Furthermore, this stiffening crossmember is generally made of sheet metal, and therefore has a relatively significant weight, which is detrimental in terms of engine power consumption.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] In particular, it proposes for this purpose an apron, on the one hand, suitable for equipping a vehicle comprising a windshield bay crossmember receiving on a front face a lower transverse edge of a windshield, and, on the other hand, comprising a part upper intended to be placed opposite a rear face of this windshield bay crossmember, opposite this front face.

[0007] This deck is characterized by the fact that its upper part includes an upper transverse edge which is shaped to define a transverse stiffening rib.

[0008] Thanks to the invention, the transverse stiffening rib allows the upper part of the apron to participate in minimizing the transmission of vibrations and rolling noise, instead of the aforementioned prior art stiffening cross member, which not only frees up space on the passenger side, but also avoids requiring the apron to be offset forward and reduces the weight of the vehicle.

[0009] The apron according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0010] - the upper transverse edge of its upper part can be shaped by folding and / or stamping;

[0011] - in a first embodiment, the transverse stiffening rib can to extend over a central part of a transverse extension of the upper transverse edge of its upper part;

[0012] - in a second embodiment, the transverse stiffening rib can extend over almost the entire transverse extension of the upper transverse edge of its upper part;

[0013] - the transverse stiffening rib can be arranged so as to project forwards and upwards on the vehicle.

[0014] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, comprising, on the one hand, a windshield bay crossmember receiving on a front face a lower transverse edge of a windshield, and, on the other hand, an apron of the type presented above and having its upper part placed opposite a rear face of the windshield bay crossmember, opposite this front face.

[0015] For example, the rear face of the windshield bay crossmember can be welded to the upper part of the apron.

[0016] Also, for example, the windshield bay crossmember may have a generally L-shaped cross-section. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig. 1] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a front view from the passenger compartment side, an example of a vehicle windshield associated with a windshield bay crossmember and an example of an embodiment of an apron according to the invention, and

[0019] [Fig.2] illustrates schematically and functionally, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, part of the windshield, windshield bay crossmember and apron of the [Fig. 1]. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] The invention aims in particular to provide a TV apron intended to be part of a vehicle comprising a PB windscreen, in order to participate in the fight against vibrations in association with a TB windscreen bay crossmember receiving this PB windscreen.

[0021] In what follows, the vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. This is, for example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising a windshield, a windshield frame crossmember, and a bulkhead located at the interface between a passenger compartment and a front compartment, access to which is controlled by a front hood.

[0022] In figures 1 and 2 the direction X is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0023] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate at least partially an example of a windscreen PB intended to equip a vehicle and associated with a windscreen bay crossmember TB and an example of an embodiment of a TV apron according to the invention.

[0024] The TV apron is intended to be installed at the interface between the vehicle's passenger compartment and the front compartment of the vehicle, access to which is controlled by the front CV hood and which generally includes at least part of the powertrain (or GMP).

[0025] The windscreen bay crossmember TB is intended to be fixedly attached to the vehicle structure, for example by screwing and / or welding, by being installed along the transverse direction Y of the vehicle.

[0026] For example, this TB windshield bay crossmember can be made of metal.

[0027] Furthermore, and as illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, this The windshield bay crossmember TB is designed to receive, on its front face FV, the lower transverse edge BTI of a windshield PB on its sealing face for a watertight bond. This seal is intended to prevent liquid from seeping into the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0028] More specifically, and as illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, the windscreen bay crossmember TB is intended to be installed between the lower transverse edge BTI of the windscreen PB (which it receives from the side of its front face FV) and the upper part PST of the TV apron which is intended to be placed opposite its rear face FR (opposite to its front face FV and intended to be oriented towards the passenger compartment).

[0029] Also as illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, the upper part PST of the TV deck includes an upper transverse edge BTS which is shaped to define a transverse stiffening rib NT.

[0030] This NT transverse stiffening rib now allows the upper part PST of the TV bulkhead to contribute to minimizing the transmission of vibrations and road noise, and thus to contribute to the vehicle's acoustic and vibration performance. This advantageously eliminates the need for the prior art stiffening crossmember, mentioned in the introduction, which was previously installed opposite the rear face of the upper part PST of the TB bulkhead, on the passenger compartment side. Consequently, the invention frees up space on the passenger compartment side and avoids requiring the TB bulkhead to be offset forward (thus preventing a reduction in the volume of the front compartment). Furthermore, the invention reduces the vehicle's weight, and therefore its engine power consumption.

[0031] It should be noted that the upper transverse edge BTS of the upper part PST of the TV apron can be shaped by folding and / or stamping to define the transverse stiffening rib NT. In other words, it (BTS) can be shaped either only by folding, or only by stamping, or even by folding and stamping.

[0032] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the NT stiffening transverse rib can extend over a central part of the upper transverse edge BTS of the upper part PST of the TV deck.

[0033] However, in an unillustrated variant, the transverse stiffening rib NT could extend over almost the entire transverse extent of the upper transverse edge BTS of the upper part PST of the TV deck (here along the transverse direction Y). It will be understood that this means that it (NT) then extends over this entire transverse extent minus a few millimeters on the right and a few millimeters on the left.

[0034] The transverse extension of the NT stiffening transverse rib can be a function of local space constraints and / or the desired increase in stiffness of the TV deck.

[0035] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in [Fig. 2], the transverse stiffening rib NT can be arranged to project towards the front of the vehicle (here along the longitudinal direction X) and upwards (here along the vertical direction Z) of the vehicle. In this case, it (NT) has a generally L-shaped cross-section. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the transverse stiffening rib NT can be arranged to project towards the rear of the vehicle (here along the longitudinal direction X) and upwards (here along the vertical direction Z) of the vehicle. In this case, it (NT) also has a generally L-shaped cross-section.

[0036] It should be noted that the portion of the NT stiffening transverse rib that projects upwards could result from a fold defining an ascending sub-part and a descending sub-part, giving it a double thickness. This effectively further reinforces the rigidity of the upper transverse edge BTS of the upper part PST of the TV apron.

[0037] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 2], the windshield bay crossmember TB may have a generally L-shaped cross-section. This facilitates the installation and bonding of the windshield PB to its front face FV. But the windshield bay crossmember TB could, for example, have a generally U-shaped cross-section, preferably asymmetrical (the rising front portion having a vertical extension shorter than the rising rear portion (interposed between the windshield PB and the upper part PST of the TV bulkhead).

[0038] It should also be noted that the rear face FR of the windshield bay crossmember TB can be welded to the upper part PST of the TV bulkhead. However, they could be joined by gluing or screwing.

Claims

Demands

1. Apron (TV) for a vehicle comprising a windshield bay crossmember (TB) receiving on a front face (FV) a lower transverse edge (BTI) of a windshield (PB), said apron (TV) comprising an upper part (PST) intended to be placed opposite a rear face (FR) of said windshield bay crossmember (TB), opposite said front face (FV), characterized in that said upper part (PST) comprises an upper transverse edge (BTS) shaped so as to define a transverse stiffening rib (NT).

2. Apron according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper transverse edge (BTS) is formed by folding and / or stamping.

3. Apron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said transverse stiffening rib (NT) extends over a central part of a transverse extension of said upper transverse edge (BTS).

4. Apron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said transverse stiffening rib (NT) extends over almost the entire transverse extension of said upper transverse edge (BTS).

5. Apron according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said transverse stiffening rib (NT) is arranged so as to project forward and upward on said vehicle.

6. Vehicle comprising a windscreen bay crossmember (TB) receiving on a front face (FV) a lower transverse edge (BTI) of a windscreen (PB), characterized in that it further comprises an apron (TV) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, with its upper part (PST) placed opposite a rear face (FR) of said windscreen bay crossmember (TB), opposite said front face (FV).

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said rear face (FR) of the windshield bay crossmember (TB) is welded to said upper part (PST) of the apron (TV).

8. Vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said windshield bay crossmember (WB) has a generally L-shaped crossmember.

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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