Anti-submarine device made of plastic material

Abstract

Anti-submarine device made of plastic material. Arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a subframe (2) intended to extend under a set of seats of the vehicle, and an anti-submarine device (6), separate from the subframe, made of plastic material, and fixed to the subframe, the anti-submarine device being intended to prevent forward sliding of said set of seats and to absorb at least part of the impact energy in the event of a collision with the vehicle. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Anti-submarine device made of plastic material. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a chassis and an anti-submarining device. The invention also relates to such an arrangement and a set of seats, the anti-submarining device being arranged to prevent forward sliding of the passengers seated in the event of a collision with the vehicle. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising such an arrangement and / or such an anti-submarining device. Prior art

[0002] Motor vehicles include a set of seats designed to accommodate passengers. To ensure passenger safety, the seats are equipped with a seat belt, generally comprising a first strand extending transversely at the waist and a second strand extending diagonally across the torso. In the event of a collision with the vehicle, particularly a frontal collision, the phenomenon of submarining occurs when the passenger's pelvis slides under the first strand of the seat belt, which can lead to serious abdominal injuries. To prevent this phenomenon, most seats are equipped with an anti-submarining device that holds the seats in place, prevents them from sagging or crushing in the event of a collision, and thus prevents the passenger's pelvis from sliding under the seat belt.

[0003] Anti-submarine devices known in the prior art include a metal crossmember or sheet metal plate attached to the vehicle's underbody. These devices are heavy and bulky. Furthermore, the presence of such a device can complicate vehicle manufacturing and / or maintenance operations. Presentation of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is to propose an arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a base and an anti-submarining device remedying the above disadvantages and improving the arrangements known in the prior art.

[0005] More specifically, a first object of the invention is an arrangement equipped with a particularly lightweight, simple to manufacture, and compact anti-submarine device. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to an arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a base intended to extend under a set of seats of the vehicle, and an anti-submarining device, separate from the underbody, made of plastic material, and fixed to the underbody, the anti-submarining device being intended to prevent forward sliding of said seat assembly and to absorb at least part of the energy of an impact in the event of a collision with the vehicle.

[0007] The anti-submarine device can be formed by a monolithic molded part, in particular made of polypropylene, preferably made of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene.

[0008] The anti-submarine device may include a base through which it is fixed to the substructure and a hollow bump, the bump extending upwards from the base.

[0009] Said bump may include an opening for accessing an interior volume of said bump, and a closure element removably attached to said bump.

[0010] The anti-submarine device may include a main wall, generally profiled along a transverse axis of the vehicle, the main wall comprising: - a first portion extending generally horizontally, - a second portion extending generally vertically, - a third portion extending generally horizontally, - a fourth portion extending generally vertically, - a fifth portion extending generally horizontally, the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion and the fifth portion being five adjacent portions, the first portion and the fifth portion each being fixed to the underside of the vehicle, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion belonging to said hump.

[0011] The anti-submarine device may include a main wall and a set of ribs extending parallel to a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis of the vehicle, the ribs extending from an underside of the main wall.

[0012] The anti-submarine device may comprise exactly three ribs intended to extend under each seat of said seat assembly. The main wall may have a thickness of between 2 mm and 3 mm inclusive. The anti-submarine device may be made of polypropylene with 40% by weight of glass fibers.

[0013] The anti-submarining device may further include at least one hook intended to cooperate with a padding element of said seat assembly of the vehicle to fix said seat assembly to the anti-submarining device.

[0014] The arrangement may include a set of seats, and at least one electrical or electronic component intended to be connected to a traction battery of the vehicle, the anti-submarining device being arranged so as to prevent forward sliding of said seat assembly, said seat assembly being fixed to the anti-submarining device, at least one electrical or electronic component being positioned in an internal volume of the anti-submarining device.

[0015] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement as defined above. Presentation of the figures

[0016] These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, among which:

[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an arrangement of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of an anti-submarine device. according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the anti-submarine device of Figure 2. Detailed description

[0020] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an arrangement 1 for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 1 comprises a subframe 2, that is, a lower part of the vehicle body. The subframe 2 extends under a set of seats in the vehicle, in particular under a set of rear seats. The subframe 2 may extend over the entire length and width of the vehicle. The subframe 2 preferably comprises a left side member 3G and a right side member 3D. The side members extend parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. The subframe 2 also comprises cross members 4 extending between the two side members 3G and 3D. The cross members 4 extend parallel to a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. Finally, the subframe 2 also comprises a floor 5.In this particular case, the floor 5 extends horizontally between the two longitudinal members 3G and 3D along the transverse axis and between a front bulkhead and a rear bumper crossmember along the longitudinal axis. The floor 5 isolates the ground on which the vehicle rests from the vehicle's passenger compartment. The underbody 2 is formed by an assembly of metal components, preferably welded together and preferably treated against corrosion. The floor 5 can be made from a sheet of metal cut and bent into a desired shape.

[0021] In this document, the X-axis designates the longitudinal axis of a vehicle. When moving forward in a straight line, the vehicle progresses from rear to front in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The X-axis is oriented from front to rear. of the vehicle, that is, in the direction of reverse. The Y-axis designates the transverse axis of the vehicle. The Y-axis is oriented from left to right, left and right being defined from the perspective of a driver of the vehicle. The Z-axis designates the axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis. The vehicle is assumed to be resting on a horizontal surface. The Z-axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y, and Z axes form an orthogonal coordinate system.

[0022] The arrangement 1 also includes an anti-submarining device 6, separate from the underbody 2. The anti-submarining device 6 is a safety device associated with a set of seats in the motor vehicle. "Set of seats" includes, for example, a bench seat on which several passengers can sit, for example, two or three passengers. It also includes one or more individual seats on which only one passenger can sit. The anti-submarining device 6 is designed to keep passengers securely seated in the seats by preventing them from sliding under their seat belts in the event of a collision with the vehicle. In particular, the anti-submarining device 6 prevents a seat cushion from sagging and sliding forward during a collision. Furthermore, the anti-submarining device 6 is designed to deform in order to absorb some of the kinetic energy of the passengers seated in the seats in the event of a collision.The energy absorbed by the deformation of the anti-submarining device 6 reduces the amount of energy transmitted to the passengers, and therefore reduces the severity of an accident. The anti-submarining device 6 extends substantially below a front edge of the seat cushion. A portion of the floor 5 extends behind the anti-submarining device 6, at a lower height than the device itself, and is designed to receive a central and a rear portion of the seat cushion. In an unshown embodiment of the invention, the anti-submarining device 6 could also be extended to the rear of the passenger seat, particularly in the case of an added, screwed-on bump to facilitate access to components located underneath.

[0023] The anti-submarine device 6 is a separate component of the underbody 2 and attached to the underbody 2. In particular, the anti-submarine device 6 is removably attached to the underbody 2, specifically to the floor 5 of the underbody. The anti-submarine device 6 can be attached, in particular, by means of fixing screws cooperating with threaded openings formed in the underbody. The removable attachment of the anti-submarine device 6 facilitates any necessary vehicle maintenance operations.

[0024] Furthermore, the anti-submarine device 6 is made of plastic. This offers several advantages: it is lighter than a metal component of the same dimensions. The anti-submarine device 6 is also simpler to manufacture than a metal component of the same dimensions. Indeed, given that Regarding the location of the anti-submarine device, a metal anti-submarine device would require corrosion protection identical to that applied to the submersible. Such corrosion protection would involve relatively complex logistical processes at the manufacturing site. Since plastic materials are non-corrosive, the anti-submarine device 6 requires no special treatment. Finally, a plastic anti-submarine device 6 surprisingly offers high resistance and a high capacity to dissipate the energy of an impact.

[0025] Advantageously, the anti-submarine device 6 is formed by a monolithic plastic part. That is to say, a single piece with continuous material between all its parts. The anti-submarine device 6 can, in particular, be molded in a mold. The anti-submarine device 6 can, in particular, be produced by a process of injecting molten plastic into an injection mold.

[0026] Advantageously, the anti-submarine device 6 is made of polypropylene, preferably reinforced with glass fibers. For example, the anti-submarine device 6 can be made of polypropylene with 40% glass fiber by mass. Such a material is particularly suitable for withstanding and dissipating the energy of an impact. Moreover, such a material is also easily recyclable.

[0027] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate in more detail an embodiment of the anti-submarine device 6. The anti-submarine device 6 mainly comprises a base 7 by means of which it is fixed to the substructure 2, and a hollow bump 8 extending upwards from the base 7. The base 7 may extend substantially horizontally against the floor 5 of the substructure 2. The base 7 may include a set of holes 9 cooperating with fixing screws to fix the anti-submarine device 6 to the substructure 2. In this case, the base comprises five holes distributed along a front edge of the base 7 and five holes distributed along a rear edge of the base 7. Alternatively, this number could be different.

[0028] As can be clearly seen in [Fig. 3], the bump 8 is hollow. That is to say, the anti-submarine device 6 has an internal volume of 10 liters. The internal volume 10 is delimited by the bump 8 on one side and by the floor 5 on the other. Alternatively, the floor 5 could have an opening under the anti-submarine device 6, and the anti-submarine device 6 could then close this opening.

[0029] The interior volume 10 can be advantageously used to house vehicle components, for example, electrical cables, a low-voltage battery, or a charging device for the vehicle's traction battery. Thanks to the invention, not only the volume of the hump is utilized, but also the entire volume located between the upper part of the floor 5 and the front floor on which the feet rest. The volume located under the seats (seat or bench) is exploited to the fullest. The invention can therefore be advantageously applied to a so-called "electric" or "hybrid" vehicle comprising a traction battery and electrical or electronic components cooperating with such a traction battery. The plastic material of the anti-submarine device 6 also provides electrical insulation between the passenger seats and this equipment, making the vehicle safer. The invention also allows for adapting a vehicle architecture to make it compatible with the integration of a traction battery by providing additional space for electrical or electronic components cooperating with such a traction battery.

[0030] As can be seen in [Fig. 1], the bump 8 of the anti-submarining device 6 may advantageously include an opening for accessing the interior compartment 10. This opening can be closed by a removable closure element 11. This allows easy access to the vehicle components located in the interior compartment 10. The interior compartment 10 could also be made accessible, at least partially, to the vehicle's passengers to provide additional storage space. In this case, the closure element is attached to the bump 8 by a simple fastening means, requiring no tools for its operation, for example, by a fastening clip.

[0031] The anti-submarining device comprises a main wall 12, generally profiled along the transverse axis Y. The anti-submarining device 6 thus extends over the entire width of the vehicle 1 of the underbody 2. The main wall may, in particular, have a thickness of between 2 mm and 3 mm inclusive. This provides a good compromise between rigidity and the ability to deform in order to absorb the energy of an impact.

[0032] The main wall 12 comprises a first portion 12.1 extending generally horizontally, a second portion 12.2 extending generally vertically, a third portion 12.3 extending generally horizontally, a fourth portion 12.4 extending generally vertically, and a fifth portion 12.5 extending generally horizontally. "Generally vertically" is understood, for example, as an orientation forming an angle between 0 and 20° with the vertical axis Z. Similarly, "generally horizontally" is understood, for example, as an orientation forming an angle between 0 and 20° with the longitudinal axis X. The first portion 12.1, the second portion 12.2, the third portion 12.3, the fourth portion 12.4, and the fifth portion 12.1 are five adjacent, i.e., contiguous, portions.When the main wall 12 is observed in cross-section in a longitudinal and transverse plane, the cross-section thus generally presents the shape of a "Q".

[0033] The first portion 12.1 and the fifth portion 12.5 form the base 7 and are each fixed to the vehicle's underbody 2. In particular, they each include holes 9 cooperating with fixing screws. The first portion 12.1 and the The fifth section 12.5 can conform to the shape of the floor 5 against which they are fixed, potentially forming a watertight assembly. The second section 12.2, the third section 12.3, and the fourth section 12.4 belong to the hump 8.

[0034] The anti-submarining device 6 further comprises at least one hook, in this case two hooks 13.1, 13.2, intended to cooperate with a padding element of the vehicle's seat assembly. The hooks 13.1, 13.2 are therefore intended to secure the seat assembly to the anti-submarining device. The hooks 13.1, 13.2 project forward from the second portion 12.2 of the wall 12. Advantageously, the anti-submarining device 6 can be attached to the seats before being attached to the subframe 2. Alternatively, the seat foam can be molded directly onto the anti-submarining hump 6 by the seat supplier, depending on the attachment method adopted. The assembly comprising the anti-submarining device 6 and the seats can then be attached to the subframe 2 in a single assembly operation.

[0035] The third portion 12.3 and / or the fourth portion 12.4 may optionally include a raised central section, particularly if the anti-submarine device 6 cooperates with a set of three seats, the central seat being raised relative to the two side seats. Furthermore, the anti-submarine device 6 also includes side walls 14G, 14D enclosing the interior volume 10 on the sides.

[0036] With reference to [Fig. 3], it is also observed that the anti-submarine device 6 comprises a set of ribs 15 extending parallel to a longitudinal and vertical axis of the vehicle. The ribs extend from an underside of the main wall, specifically from an underside of the second portion 12.2, the third portion 12.3, and the fourth portion 12.4. The ribs are distributed within the concavity of the anti-submarine device, along the transverse direction Y of the vehicle. Each rib 15 thus has a substantial U-shape. The thickness of the ribs is advantageously of the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the main wall 12, i.e., between 2 mm and 3 mm inclusive. Three ribs under each seat provide the best compromise between the rigidity of the anti-submarine device 6 and its ability to deform to absorb the energy of an impact.In this particular case, the anti-submarine device 6 is intended to cooperate with three seats and therefore comprises nine ribs 15.

[0037] Finally, thanks to the invention, an arrangement is available comprising a substructure equipped with a lighter anti-submarine device compared to known prior art arrangements. The anti-submarine device nevertheless protects the vehicle's passengers just as effectively and potentially provides additional space for vehicle equipment.

Claims

Demands

1. An arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a subframe (2) intended to extend under a set of seats of the vehicle, and an anti-submarining device (6), separate from the subframe, made of plastic material, and fixed to the subframe, the anti-submarining device being intended to prevent forward sliding of said set of seats and to absorb at least part of the energy of an impact in the event of a collision with the vehicle.

2. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the anti-submarine device (6) is formed by a molded monolithic piece, in particular of polypropylene, preferably of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene.

3. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-submarine device (6) comprises a base (7) through which it is fixed to the substructure (2) and a hollow bump (8) extending upwards from the base (7).

4. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said bump (8) includes an opening for accessing an internal volume (10) of said bump, and a closure element (11) removably fixed to said bump.

5. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the anti-submarine device comprises a main wall (12), globally profiled along a transverse axis (Y) of the vehicle, the main wall comprising: - a first portion (12.1) extending globally horizontally, - a second portion (12.2) extending globally vertically, - a third portion (12.3) extending globally horizontally, - a fourth portion (12.4) extending globally vertically, - a fifth portion (12.5) extending globally horizontally, the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion and the fifth portion being five adjacent portions, the first portion and the fifth portion each being fixed to the underbody (2) of the vehicle, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion belonging to the said hump (8).

6. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-submarine device (6) comprises a main wall (12) and a set of ribs (15) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) and a vertical axis (Z) of the vehicle, the ribs extending from an underside face of the main wall.

7. Arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that: - the anti-submarine device (6) comprises exactly three ribs (15) intended to extend under each seat of said seat assembly, and / or - the main wall (12) comprises a thickness of between 2mm and 3mm inclusive, and / or - the anti-submarine device (6) is made of polypropylene with 40% by weight of glass fibers.

8. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-submarining device further comprises at least one hook (13.1, 13.2) intended to cooperate with a padding element of said vehicle seat assembly to fix said seat assembly to the anti-submarining device.

9. Arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a set of seats, and at least one electrical or electronic component intended to be connected to a traction battery of the vehicle, the anti-submarining device (6) being arranged so as to prevent forward sliding of said set of seats, said set of seats being fixed to the anti-submarining device, the at least one electrical or electronic component being positioned in an internal volume (10) of the anti-submarining device.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement according to one of the preceding claims.