Headlight guidance system relative to a vehicle body during a frontal impact on said vehicle

Abstract

Title of the invention: Headlight guidance system relative to a vehicle body during a frontal impact of said vehicle. The present invention relates to a headlight guidance system 1 relative to a vehicle body in the event of a frontal impact of said vehicle, as well as a vehicle equipped with such a system. This guidance system 1 comprises a first zone 2 by which the guidance system 1 is connected to the body and at least a second zone 5 intended to guide the headlight in its movement during the impact, said second zone 5 comprising a ramp 6 configured to guide the headlight upwards, characterized in that the guidance system 1 comprises at least one element 12 configured to limit the movement of the headlight in a direction transverse to a principal extension direction 11 of the ramp 6. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: System for guiding a headlight relative to the body of a vehicle during a frontal impact on said vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of front ends of motor vehicles.

[0002] A vehicle typically includes a front bumper, a grille, a hood, and two front fenders positioned on either side of the hood. To ensure visibility, the vehicle also includes two headlights designed to illuminate the road ahead. Each headlight comprises a front lens, generally transparent, through which the light rays emitted by a light source are projected forward. The headlight also includes a housing, generally located at the rear, which serves to secure the headlight to the vehicle.

[0003] The design of the front end mentioned above must take into account a number of regulations. One of them requires that the front doors of the vehicle be opened in the event of a so-called "minor" front impact.

[0004] To meet this requirement, document FR3061882A1 discloses a motor vehicle comprising at least one front headlight unit having a rear face facing the rear of the vehicle, the headlight unit or at least one of the headlight units being mounted on a support comprising a raised edge, the edge of which is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle opposite the rear face of said headlight unit. This edge forms a guide ramp oriented from bottom to top and towards the rear of the vehicle so as to guide said front headlight unit upwards during displacement of the latter following a frontal impact of the vehicle.

[0005] However, it has been observed that the concept described above does not fully meet the constraints imposed by the regulations. Indeed, there are situations where the movement of the optical unit generates mechanical stresses on adjacent parts which, in turn, hinder or prevent the opening of the front opening. This is particularly the case when the fender is retracted or deformed and ends up positioned behind a front edge of the opening, thus preventing its opening movement.

[0006] The invention falls within this context and resolves, at least partially, the drawback of the prior art cited above.

[0007] Thus, the invention essentially relates to a system for guiding a projector relative to the body of a vehicle in the event of a front-end collision. vehicle, the guidance system comprising a first zone by which the guidance system is connected to the body and at least a second zone intended to guide the projector in its movement during the impact, said second zone comprising a ramp configured to guide the projector upwards, characterized in that the guidance system comprises at least one element configured to limit a movement of the projector in a direction transverse to a main extension direction of the ramp.

[0008] The component is thus configured to guide the projector transversely in its longitudinal movement during the impact. The projector therefore remains on a vertical trajectory generated by the ramp, without deviating transversely to the left or right of this required trajectory, since the component prevents this deviation. Such an arrangement has the effect of preventing the projector from generating a force against a wing or wingtip, which limits the movement of the latter and ensures that there is little or no mechanical interference between the wing and the door at the level of the front edge of the body.

[0009] The main extension direction of the ramp corresponds to the direction of advance of the vehicle.

[0010] According to a first example, the guidance system is an autonomous part intended to be attached to the vehicle body, in particular by welding points.

[0011] Alternatively, the guidance system can be part of a body element, for example by being one piece or made of the same material as the wing cheek.

[0012] According to an optional feature, the device configured to limit the transverse displacement of the projector comprises at least one support face extending in a plane intersecting a plane in which the ramp extends. The support face forms a stop against which the projector, in particular the projector housing, rests and is guided transversely. The support face thus blocks the projector during its movement so as to prevent any transverse deviation of the latter, and consequently any mechanical stress on the surrounding elements.

[0013] The device configured to limit the transverse displacement of the projector may comprise a single support face, so that the deviation of the projector is prevented in a single direction, transversely.

[0014] According to another optional feature, the device configured to limit the transverse displacement of the projector comprises two support faces arranged transversely on either side of the ramp. During the impact, the projector thus follows a kind of rail that prevents it from deviating to the left of the vertical axis and to the right of this same vertical axis.

[0015] According to yet another optional feature, the ramp and the support face have a cross-section at least in the shape of an "L". An angle formed between the two arms of this "L" can be between 60° and 90°.

[0016] According to an optional feature, the ramp comprises at least a first flat sector, an elbow, and a second flat sector, the elbow being located between the two flat sectors. The first flat sector has an upward trajectory, and it is the pressure against this first flat sector that causes the projector to rise in the event of a slight impact.

[0017] The guidance system according to the invention may incorporate optional additional functions.

[0018] Thus, the projector guidance system may include an opening configured to allow the passage of a projector mounting device to the housing. In one example, this opening is through-hole and is formed through the first zone of the guidance system. This opening is a passage through which a reversible mounting device can pass to secure the projector to the housing.

[0019] According to another optional feature, the guidance system may include a receiving area configured to receive a stop for a vehicle hood. This receiving area is, for example, provided within the first area mentioned above. The receiving area is, for example, a hole in which a buffer forming a hood stop is engaged.

[0020] According to another optional feature, the guide system may include a hole configured to receive the support strut for a vehicle hood. Such a hole may receive the foot of the strut or its free end, depending on the mounting direction of such a strut. The strut supports the hood when it is in the open position.

[0021] According to another optional feature, the opening and the receiving area and / or the hole extend in the same plane. In such a case, the opening and the receiving area and / or the hole are provided in the first constitutive area of ​​the guiding system according to the invention.

[0022] According to yet another optional feature, the plane in which the opening and / or the receiving area and / or the hole extends is parallel to a plane in which at least part of the ramp extends. Indeed, the first area, through which the opening, the receiving area and / or the hole are formed, lies in a plane parallel to a plane in which the second sector of the ramp is inscribed.

[0023] It is noted that the first zone of the guidance system has a U-shaped cross-section.

[0024] The invention also covers a vehicle comprising at least one body, a projector attached to the body and a projector guidance system relative to the body in case of impact to the front of said vehicle, the guidance system conforming to any of the characteristics described in this document.

[0025] Advantageously, the projector includes a counterform designed to cooperate with the ramp configured to guide the projector upwards and with the element that limits the projector's lateral displacement in the event of a frontal impact on the vehicle. In other words, the projector is innovative in that it includes a cavity which, in the event of a frontal impact on the vehicle, receives the second zone of the guidance system, thus preventing any lateral deviation of the projector while causing it to deflect upwards.

[0026] According to an optional aspect, the counterform comprises at least a first side intended to slide on the ramp and a second side intended to slide on the support face during the impact to the front of the vehicle. The first side causes the projector to move from bottom to top during the impact, while the second side imposes the projector's transverse trajectory by blocking its transverse movement during the impact.

[0027] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description on the one hand, and several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of the guidance system according to the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of a particular area of ​​the guidance system according to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the guidance system according to the invention in a variant where it is attached to the body of a vehicle;

[0031] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the rear of a vehicle projector automobile which cooperates with the guidance system illustrated in figures 1 to 3 according to the invention;

[0032] [Fig.5] is a perspective enlargement of an area of ​​interest from the rear of the projector shown in [Fig.4].

[0033] 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 features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0034] Figures 1 to 3 are accompanied by a direct orthonormal coordinate system which defines a longitudinal direction L, a transverse direction T and a vertical direction V.

[0035] In the explanations below, it is stated that the projector moves from bottom to top, from front to back, and that the aim is to limit its transverse displacement. This upward displacement is parallel to the vertical direction V, the backward displacement is parallel to the longitudinal direction L, and the transverse displacement that the invention limits is parallel to the transverse direction T of the coordinate system described above.

[0036] The invention is useful with regard to front-end collisions of the vehicle classified as "minor," that is to say, collisions that are limited to a deformation of the front bumper and a displacement of the headlight(s), without, however, deforming the body structure, in particular the front frame rail(s), the body structure, or a front fender. Furthermore, a so-called "minor" collision must limit the vehicle's repair costs, which is why the deformation of the front bumper must not cause the headlight to be displaced against a component directly adjacent to it, such as a housing containing electrical components, like fuses and / or relays, for example.

[0037] Figures 1 and 3 show in perspective a guidance system 1 according to the invention. The main function of such a guidance system 1 is to control the trajectory of a vehicle's headlight when the vehicle undergoes a frontal impact. The guidance system 1 and the headlight come into contact with each other, and the guidance system 1 according to the invention deflects the trajectory of the headlight so as to ensure that the headlight follows an upward vertical path.

[0038] The guidance system 1 according to the invention comprises a first zone 2 for mechanically connecting the guidance system 1 to a wing panel 3, i.e., a side reinforcement of the canopy to which the wing is attached. Such a connection may be the result of one or more weld points 4 made between the guidance system 1 and the wing panel 3, as shown in [Fig. 3]. In such a case, the guidance system 1 is a folded metal sheet attached to the vehicle body.

[0039] Alternatively, such a guide system 1 can be made of material with the wing cheek 3 and in such a case, the wing cheek 3 and the guide system 1 are in one piece.

[0040] In this particular case, the first zone 2 has a U-shaped cross-section, being connected to the wing panel 3 by a weld point 4 located at each end of the U. A reinforcing groove 18 is formed on at least two adjacent arms of this U-shape. Of course, such a shape for this cross-section is not limiting, and any other shape is conceivable, as long as it allows the guidance system 1 according to the invention to be connected to the vehicle body.

[0041] The guidance system 1 visible in Figures 1 and 3 includes a second zone, referenced as 5. This second zone is the part of the guidance system 1 against which the projector rests and slides during its movement during the impact. This second zone 5 comprises at least two walls extending in intersecting planes. One free end of the second zone 5 is the front of the guidance system 1, while the first zone 2 is at the rear of the guidance system 1.

[0042] One of these walls is a ramp 6 which forces the projector to move upwards during the impact. This ramp 6 thus extends from bottom to top and from front to back of the guidance system 1, along a main extension direction 11, the latter being parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the reference frame.

[0043] This ramp 6 comprises at least three sectors joined one after the other, in particular a first flat sector 7, a bend 8, and a second flat sector 9. The bend 8 connects the first flat sector 7 with the second flat sector 9. An angular value of the bend 8 determines the vertical distance traveled by the projector during the impact. Indeed, the projector first comes into contact with the first flat sector 7, the inclination of which is determined by the angular value of the bend 8, and then it moves vertically while resting against the first flat sector 7. The projector's ascent is complete once it has reached the second flat sector 9.

[0044] Optionally, the ramp 6 includes at least one stiffening rib 10 which extends transversely substantially through the center of the ramp 6 and longitudinally from the first planar sector 7 to the second planar sector 9, passing through the elbow 8.

[0045] According to the invention, the guidance system 1 comprises at least one member 12 whose role is to limit a movement of the projector in a direction transverse to the main extension direction 11 of the ramp 6. In other words, the member 12 blocks a movement of the projector during its movement and prevents it from deviating to the right and / or left of the main extension direction 11 of the ramp 6.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the component 12 takes the form of a bearing face 13 forming part of a second wall of the second zone 5. This bearing face 13 lies in a plane that intersects the plane in which the first sector 7 and / or the second sector 9 are located. During the impact, the projector comes into contact with the bearing face 13, which prevents any transverse movement from left to right. This prevents the projector from deforming the fender and, consequently, the fender from mechanically interfering with the opening, since the projector's movement remains from bottom to top during the impact.

[0047] In the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the member 12 forms an angle with the ramp 6, but it is understood that such a member 12 can be disposed at any point in the system of guidance 1, as long as this component limits a transverse movement of the projector in case of impact.

[0048] The component 12 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises two support faces 13 and 14. The first support face 13 is that described above. A second support face 14 is arranged opposite the first support face 13, with respect to the first planar sector 7 constituting the ramp 6. In other words, the first support face 13 and the second support face 14 each extend in a plane intersecting the ramp 6. When the first support face 13 blocks the movement of the projector from right to left, the second support face 14 blocks the movement of the same projector from left to right of the guidance system 1. This is an improvement that guarantees upward movement of the projector and prevents any transverse movement of the same projector.

[0049] Whether the guide system 1 comprises a single support face 13 or a first support face 13 and a second support face 14, the support face(s) 13, 14 form an "L" shape with the ramp 6. This shape is visible in [Fig. 2], which shows a cross-section of the second zone 5 of the guide system 1 along a section plane AA illustrated in [Fig. 1]. An angle formed between the first support face 13 and the ramp 6, or an angle formed between the second support face 14 and the ramp 6, is between 90° and 140°. Such an angle favors the vertical movement of the projector from bottom to top.

[0050] In addition to its role in guiding the projector, the guide system 1 can perform other functions. According to one embodiment, the guide system 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 includes at least one opening 15 configured to allow the passage of a device for attaching the projector to the body. Such an opening 15 is provided in the first zone 2 of the guide system, in the immediate vicinity of a weld point 4 that connects the guide system 1 to the fender rib 3. Such an opening 15 allows the passage of a fixing screw that secures the projector to the fender rib 3.

[0051] Among these additional functions, the guidance system 1 includes a receiving area 16 configured to receive a stop for a vehicle hood. Such a receiving area 16 takes the form of a hole formed in the first area 2 of the guidance system 1, within a wall adjacent to a fixing area of ​​the guidance system 1. This receiving area 16 is shaped to receive a buffer, the height of which can be adjusted, and against which the hood rests when it is in the closed position.

[0052] The guide system 1 further includes a hole 17 whose function is to cooperate with a support strut for the vehicle's hood. According to one example, the hole 17 can receive a stud on which this support strut is hinged. Alternatively, this hole 17 can be adapted to receive a free end of this support strut when it is hinged to the hood. This hole 17 is provided in the first zone 2 of the guide system 1, in the vicinity of the receiving zone 16.

[0053] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate more particularly the projector 20, which is adapted to cooperate with the guidance system 1 as described above. Figures 4 and 5 show a rear view of this projector 20 and a housing 21 that forms a frame by means of which the projector 20 is fixed to the vehicle body.

[0054] This housing 21 includes at least one mounting tab 22 which overlaps the first zone 2 of the guide system 1, in particular by being positioned above the opening 15 of the guide system 1. A fixing screw thus passes through the mounting tab 22, the opening 15 and takes hold in a fixing device attached to the wing cheek 3.

[0055] The housing 21 also includes a counterform 23 which cooperates with the ramp 6 configured to guide the projector 20 upwards and with the member 12 which limits the lateral displacement of this same projector 20 in the event of a frontal impact on the vehicle. This counterform 23 defines a cavity within which the second zone 5 of the guidance system 1 extends at the moment of the frontal impact. The counterform 23 forces the projector to rise vertically, bearing against the ramp 6, such asr being controlled laterally by contact between the counterform 23 and the member 12, so that the projector does not deviate to the right and / or left during its vertical movement.

[0056] The counterform 23 includes at least a first side 24 which is adapted to slide on the ramp 6 and thus cause the projector 20 to move from bottom to top. The counterform 23 also includes a second side 25 which takes the form of a flat rib which projects from a rear face of the housing 21. This second side 25 is adapted to come into contact with the member 12 and slide against it, during the movement of the projector occurring at the moment of the impact.

[0057] The first flank 24 and the second flank 25 delimit the cavity in which the second zone 5 of the guidance device 1 is placed, in case of shock.

[0058] The counterform 23 may include a third side 26 which also delimits the cavity. This third side 26 is formed by a wall element of the housing 21.

[0059] The second flank 25 and the third flank 26 are separated by the first flank 24, and consequently by the cavity, and each lies within a general extension plane. It should be noted that these two extension planes are intersecting, with the angle formed between them being between 15° and 35°. This arrangement ensures that at least the second flank 25 and / or the third flank 26 comes into contact with the second zone 5 of the guiding device, so as to guarantee the limitation of the displacement of the projector 20 in the transverse direction to the main extension direction 11 of the ramp 6.

[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.

[0061] The invention, as described above, achieves its intended purpose and ensures the upward movement of a headlight lens while guiding it laterally to prevent lateral deviation. This limits certain mechanical stresses imposed on the fender or fender lip, ultimately guaranteeing the absence of mechanical interference between the rear edge of the fender and the front edge of the opening. Variations not described here could be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that, in accordance with the invention, they include at least one ramp that causes vertical movement of the headlight and a wall that prevents lateral movement of said headlight.

Claims

Demands

1. A guidance system (1) for a spotlight (20) relative to a vehicle body in the event of a front-end collision of said vehicle, the guidance system (1) comprising a first zone (2) by which the guidance system (1) is connected to the body and at least a second zone (5) intended to guide the spotlight (20) in its movement during the collision, said second zone (5) comprising a ramp (6) configured to guide the spotlight (20) upwards, characterized in that the guidance system (1) comprises at least one element (12) configured to limit the movement of the spotlight (20) in a direction transverse to a principal extension direction (11) of the ramp (6).

2. A guiding system (1) for a projector (20) according to claim 1, wherein the member (12) configured to limit the transverse displacement of the projector (20) comprises at least one support face (13) which extends in a plane intersecting a plane in which the ramp (6) extends.

3. A guidance system (1) for a projector (20) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the member (12) configured to limit the transverse displacement of the projector (20) comprises two support faces (13, 14) arranged transversely on either side of the ramp (6).

4. A guidance system (1) for a projector (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ramp (6) comprises at least a first planar sector (7), a bend (8) and a second planar sector (9), the bend (8) being disposed between the two planar sectors (7, 9).

5. A guiding system (1) for a projector (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one opening (15) configured to allow passage of a device for fixing the projector (20) to the casing.

6. A guiding system (1) for a projector (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a receiving area (16) configured to receive a stop for a hood of the vehicle.

7. A guiding system (1) for a projector (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a hole (17) configured to receive the support bracket of a vehicle hood.

8. Vehicle comprising at least one body, a projector (20) attached to the body and a guidance system (1) for the projector (20) relative to the body in case of a front impact on said vehicle, the guidance system (1) conforming to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the projector (20) includes a counterform (23) intended to cooperate with the ramp (6) configured to guide the projector (20) upwards and with the member (12) which limits the transverse displacement of the projector (20) in the event of a collision to the front of said vehicle.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9 in combination with claim 2 or 3, wherein the counterform (23) comprises at least a first flank (24) intended to slide on the ramp (6) and a second flank (25) intended to slide on the support face (13), in case of a front impact on said vehicle.

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