Vehicle underbody protection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for protecting the underbody (2) of a motor vehicle (3), the device (1) comprising at least one plate (4) designed to be fixed under the vehicle (3) to protect its underbody (2) and to cover at least partially at least one axle beam (5) of the vehicle (3), the protective device (1) further comprising at least one opening formed in the plate (4), each opening having a perimeter dimensioned to allow the passage through the opening of a support for a transport stand of the motor vehicle (3) on an assembly line, each opening being formed in the plate (4) to be positioned opposite a lifting point located on an axle beam (5) when the device (1) is fixed to the underbody (2). (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle underbody protection device

[0001] The technical field relates to protective devices for the underbody of a vehicle enabling the lifting of the vehicle onto an assembly line, as well as motor vehicles having at least one such protective device fixed to the vehicle.

[0002] When developing a new vehicle family, car manufacturers must adapt the family to the specific characteristics of each market. Thus, in certain regions, car manufacturers must add underbody protectors to protect the underbody from splashes of water, mud, and / or gravel. Ideally, these protectors should prevent splashes of water and mud from reaching certain sensitive areas of the underbody, particularly in the area of ​​the front or rear axle. Therefore, the axle crossmembers are at least partially covered by the underbody protectors.

[0003] In this context, car manufacturers are particularly concerned with minimizing the production costs of the different versions in order to offer their customers vehicles at reasonable prices. However, certain specific adaptations can complicate the assembly processes. For example, during assembly, vehicles are transported on the production line using a transport support with supports that rest against the rails for lifting. Furthermore, the addition of protective covers over the rails makes the use of the transport supports impossible, creating an incompatibility between the vehicle version and the manufacturing processes. This incompatibility can prove particularly costly if the processes have to be adapted.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a solution enabling the implementation of existing processes for a family of vehicles, in order to produce a vehicle with an underbody protector.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a protective device for protecting a vehicle underbody while being compatible with existing manufacturing processes, in particular with movement using existing transport supports.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a device for protecting the underbody of a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least one plate designed to be fixed under the vehicle to protect its underbody and to cover at least part of at least one axle beam of the vehicle, the protection device further comprising at least one opening provided in the plate, each having a perimeter dimensioned to allow passage through the opening of a support of a transport support of the motor vehicle on an assembly line, each opening being provided on the plate to be positioned opposite a lifting point located on an axle beam, when the device is fixed to the underbody.

[0007] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one protection device according to the invention fixed to its underbody, each light of each device being arranged opposite a crossmember of the vehicle, to allow passage through each light of a support for transporting the vehicle.

[0008] Thus, the protective device according to the invention makes it possible to protect part of the underbody while allowing the use of a transport support to move the vehicle along the production line. Indeed, each opening allows access to the supports of the transport support on a railway sleeper, while the plate provides protection for the underbody. The protective device therefore makes it possible to produce a specific version of a vehicle while implementing the manufacturing processes applicable to the other variants of the vehicle family.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the protection device, each perimeter is provided with a plurality of screw holes for screwing in a fixing screw for a cover designed to block the light.

[0010] According to one possibility, each perimeter forms a boss.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the protection device, each light has a substantially rectangular outline.

[0012] According to one possibility, the plate is formed from a stamped sheet metal.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the device further comprises at least one cover, each designed to be fixed around the perimeter of a light and each sized to block the light when fixed around the perimeter of the light. Thus, once it is no longer necessary to move the vehicle using the transport support, the lights are blocked to improve the sealing of the protective device.

[0014] Advantageously, each hood has a flange designed to support the perimeter of a light.

[0015] Advantageously, the flange has a plurality of lugs, each with a screw hole to allow the cover to be screwed onto the perimeter.

[0016] According to one possibility, each hood has a central part forming a boss, the flange surrounding the central part.

[0017] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a top view of a protective device according to the invention with a transport support whose supports are inserted into the lights of the device;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a view from below of the vehicle according to the invention equipped with the device of [Fig.1], each light being covered by a hood;

[0020] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a cross-sectional view along axis AA of [Fig.2];

[0021] In these figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements.

[0022] A protective device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to protect a vehicle underbody 2 of a motor vehicle 3 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig.2],

[0023] The device 1 comprises at least one plate 4 designed to be fixed under the vehicle 3 to protect its underbody 2 and to cover at least part of at least one axle beam 5 of the vehicle 3, visible in [Fig. 2]. The device 1 is, for example, formed from a stamped sheet metal. The plate 4 has, for example, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 6.

[0024] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the protective device 1 further comprises two openings 7 provided in the plate 4, each having a perimeter 8 dimensioned to allow passage through the opening 7 of a support 9 of a transport support 10, illustrated in [Fig. 1] and also called a transport support, of the motor vehicle 3 on an assembly line.

[0025] Each opening 7 is provided on the plate 4 to be positioned opposite a lifting point located on a railway sleeper 5, when the device 1 is fixed to the base 2. A lifting point is understood to be an area of ​​the railway sleeper 5 with sufficient strength to withstand lifting by bearing on that area. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], each opening 7 has a substantially rectangular outline 11. The dimensions of each opening 7 range from a few centimeters to 30 cm. For example, each opening 7 has dimensions of approximately 20 cm. For example, the openings 7 have the same dimensions.

[0026] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, each perimeter 8 forms a boss. Advantageously, the boss is concave, that is to say, oriented towards the base 2.

[0027] Plate 4 is, for example, designed to be screwed onto the underbody 2 of the vehicle 3. Plate 4 has screwing studs 12 for this purpose.

[0028] When it is no longer necessary to lift the vehicle 3, the device 1 includes covers 13, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, which are assembled on the plate 4 to To block the openings 7. Each cover 13 is made, for example, by stamping. The device 1 advantageously has as many covers 13 as it has openings 7. Thus, the device 1 has two covers 13, each designed to be fixed to the rim 8 of an opening 7 and is sized to block the opening 7 when fixed to the rim 8 of the opening 7. To this end, each cover 13 has a flange 14 designed to bear against the rim 8 of the corresponding opening 7. To allow for fixing, the flange 14 and the rim 8 have complementary shapes, such as flat surfaces.

[0029] Advantageously, the flange 14 of each cover 13 has a plurality of lugs 15, each having a screw hole 16 to allow the cover 13 to be screwed onto the perimeter 8. In the example illustrated in the figures, each flange 14 has four lugs 15. Thus, each lug 15 makes it possible to reduce the dimensions and mass of each cover 13.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.3], each hood 13 has a central part 17 forming a boss, the flange 14 surrounding the central part 17. Advantageously, the boss of the central part 17 is convex, i.e. oriented towards the ground, when the hood 13 is mounted on the vehicle 3.

[0031] In the example illustrated in the figures, the plate 4 has, on its periphery 8, a plurality of screw holes 18 for screwing a fixing screw 19, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], of a cover 13 designed to block the light 7. Advantageously, the boss of the central part 17 is such that the heads of the fixing screws 19 are recessed by a distance D from a surface 20 of the cover 13 closest to the ground, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. The distance D is chosen to keep the fixing screws 19 protected from friction with the ground when the vehicle 3 is moving.

[0032] Finally, in order to minimize the mass of the vehicle 3 according to the invention, the plate 4 and each hood 13 are advantageously made of aluminum.

[0033] Thus, the protective device 1 protects part of the underbody 2 while allowing the use of a transport support to move the vehicle along the production line. Indeed, each opening 7 provides access to the supports 9 of the support 10 on a train crossmember 5, while the plate 4 protects the underbody 2. The protective device 1 therefore makes it possible to produce a specific version of the vehicle 3 while implementing the manufacturing processes applicable to other variants of the vehicle 3 family.

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the protection device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Device (1) for protecting the underbody (2) of a motor vehicle (3), the device (1) comprising at least one plate (4) designed to be fixed under the vehicle (3) to protect its underbody (2) and to cover at least part of at least one axle crossmember (5) of the vehicle (3), the protective device (1) further comprising at least one opening (7) provided in the plate (4), each having a perimeter (8) dimensioned to allow passage through the opening (7) of a support (9) of a support (10) for transporting the motor vehicle (3) on an assembly line, each opening (7) being provided on the plate (4) to be positioned opposite a lifting point located on an axle crossmember (5), when the device (1) is fixed to the underbody (2).

2. Protective device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each perimeter (8) is provided with a plurality of screw holes (18) for screwing a fixing screw (19) of a cover (13) designed to block the light (7).

3. Protective device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each perimeter (8) forms a boss.

4. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each light (7) has a substantially rectangular contour (11).

5. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plate (4) is formed of a stamped sheet.

6. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises at least one cover (13), each designed to be fixed to the periphery (8) of a light (7) and each sized to close the light (7) when fixed to the periphery (8) of the light (7).

7. Protective device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that each cover (13) has a flange (14) designed to support the perimeter (8) of a light (7).

8. Protective device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the flange (14) has a plurality of lugs (15) each having a screw hole (16) to allow the cover (13) to be screwed onto the perimeter (8).

9. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that each hood (13) has a central part (17) forming a boss, the flange (14) surrounding the central part (17).

10. Motor vehicle (3) having at least one protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, fixed to its underbody (2), each opening (7) of each device (1) being arranged opposite a cross member (5) of the vehicle (3) axle, to allow passage through each opening (7) of a support (9) of the vehicle (3) transport support (10).

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