Motor vehicle equipped with a wired power steering system and easy post-styling electrical connection

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a set of rocker panels including a lower level mechanism (200) for wired power steering comprising a rack (210) and two motorized power steering modules each equipped with one or more electrical connection bases (235, 236); - a body structure (100) intended to be brought into position by a capping operation carried out by a substantially vertical sliding movement oriented from top to bottom on said rocker panel set, said body structure including a front apron (110) separating the engine compartment of said vehicle from its passenger compartment; characterized in that the electrical connection bases of one of said motorized power steering modules are arranged directly above a passage opening (114) made in said apron, so that they pass through said opening during said capping operation, emerging into the passenger compartment.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle equipped with a power steering device with wired connection and easy post-wiring electrical connection. Technical field

[0001] The present invention applies to the assembly of motor vehicles equipped with a wired power steering system. It relates to the problem of electrically connecting the lower-level mechanism of such a system after the body structure has been fitted onto the underbody assembly. Prior art

[0002] In a conventional manner, the assembly of a motor vehicle includes an operation of assembling the body structure of this vehicle on a set of underbody components made up of various mechanical elements held together with respect to each other, such as in particular the front subframe, the front axle, the lower level mechanism of the power steering system (rack and pinion and assistance module), the powertrain (engine and gearbox assembly), the front right and left load-bearing elements, the rear axle, the exhaust pipe, the heat shield and the fuel tank.

[0003] Such an assembly operation, commonly called "coating", consists of bringing, by a substantially vertical movement oriented from top to bottom, the body structure of the vehicle onto this set of underbody components, and then ensuring the attachment of the various constituent elements of the latter to this body structure.

[0004] Recent years have also seen the emergence of power steering devices with wired rather than mechanical linkage, commonly referred to by the Anglo-Saxon term "Steer By Wire", in which traditional mechanical linkage means are replaced by wired electrical linkage means.

[0005] In such a "Steer By Wire" device, the higher level mechanism includes a motorized return device whose motor is coupled to the steering wheel and which makes it possible to provide force feedback to the driver of the vehicle.

[0006] The lower-level mechanism comprises at least one motorized assistance device whose motor is coupled to the rack via a coupling shaft, commonly referred to as the "valve tail," and carrying an actuating pinion that meshes with said rack.

[0007] A control module, connected by wired electrical links to the motorized restoration and assistance devices, ensures control by transmission electrical signals from the motors of these devices so as to correlate the position of the steering wheel with the actual position of the steering wheels as well as the feedback of force returned to the driver via the steering wheel.

[0008] Such "Steer By Wire" systems thus simplify vehicle design, improve safety, and refine the control laws of functional components. They also significantly improve driver assistance by providing variable steering ratio, generally based on speed.

[0009] For safety reasons, the implementation of a power steering system with wired rather than mechanical linkage requires the provision of two redundant motorized assistance devices, each coupled, via a respective coupling shaft, to the steering rack so that one can replace the other in the event of failure.

[0010] Also for safety reasons, the power and control cables which are connected, after this capping operation, to the corresponding connection bases of the two motorized assistance modules must come from circuits separate from the vehicle.

[0011] It may happen that the power and control cables of one of these circuits run through the passenger compartment, which complicates the connection of the connectors from these cables to the connection bases of the corresponding motorized assistance module. Description of the invention

[0012] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0013] To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle comprising: - a set of rocker panels comprising a lower level wired power steering mechanism including a rack and pinion and two motorized assistance modules each equipped with one or more electrical connection bases; - a body structure intended to be brought into position by a covering operation carried out by means of a substantially vertical sliding movement directed from top to bottom on said lower body assembly, said body structure comprising a front apron separating the engine compartment of said vehicle located in front of it from its passenger compartment extending behind said apron; characterized in that the electrical connection base(s) of one of the motorized assistance modules are arranged directly above a passageway in the apron, such that they pass through the said passageway during the wrapping operation, emerging into the passenger compartment

[0014] The invention thus makes it possible to greatly facilitate the manual connection by an operator of this or these bases to the respective connectors coming from corresponding electrical cables running in the passenger compartment.

[0015] According to preferred characteristics of said motor vehicle according to the invention: - said passage opening is made in a substantially horizontal wall of said front apron; - said wall constitutes the bottom of a hollow protrusion made in a stamped sheet metal piece attached by welding around the perimeter of a window made in another sheet metal piece constituting said front apron; - each motorized assistance device includes an electronic control module with a housing containing an electronic board; - the said electrical connection base(s) passing through said passage opening are fixedly mounted by screwing onto said housing of said corresponding motorized assistance device; - said vehicle includes an annular foam sealing gasket glued to said housing of said motorized assistance device comprising said electrical connection bases passing through said passage orifice, around the periphery of said connection bases and so that it is compressed, after said capping operation, by said front apron at the level of the periphery of said passage orifice; - said vehicle includes a cap made of plastic or elastomer material fitted, from the passenger compartment after said capping operation, onto the said connection base(s) passing through said passage orifice, so as to cover the area of ​​this orifice extending between its peripheral edge and these bases; - each motorized assistance module is equipped with two electrical connection bases intended to be connected to two connectors from two separate cables running through the passenger compartment; - one or more of said connection bases passing through said passage opening is connected to a connector from a power cable running through the passenger compartment and connected to a DC-DC converter; and / or - one or more of said connection bases passing through said passage opening is connected to a connector from a control cable running through the passenger compartment and connected to a control module coupled to the steering wheel. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an example embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which: - [Fig.1] represents a perspective view from below of the front part of the body structure of a motor vehicle according to the invention, taken from outside the vehicle at the front thereof, after the fitting of this body structure onto the entire lower body of this vehicle including in particular the lower level mechanism of a wire-linked power steering device; - [Fig.2] is a bird's-eye perspective view of the front part of the body structure of the motor vehicle in [Fig.1], taken from inside the passenger compartment after the fitting of this body structure onto the entire lower body of this vehicle; - [Fig.3] represents a view similar to that of [Fig.2] but after the connection of the power and control cable connectors running through the passenger compartment of the body structure to the respective bases of one of the two motorized assistance modules that comprise the lower-level mechanism of the wired power steering system; and - [Fig.4] is a perspective view showing only the stamped sheet metal part of the front apron on which the passage opening is made, as well as the lower level mechanism of the wire-linked power steering device whose bases have passed through this passage opening after the capping operation. Description of the implementation methods

[0017] Figures 1 and 2 show the front part of the body structure 100 of a motor vehicle according to the invention equipped with a wired power steering system, after the fitting of this body structure 100 onto the lower body assembly of this vehicle, of which only the lower level mechanism 200 of the power steering device is shown in order to facilitate reading.

[0018] By convention, an orthogonal XYZ frame of reference is defined with respect to the vehicle, comprising three axes perpendicular in pairs, namely: - an X axis, defining a horizontal longitudinal direction, parallel to the ground and coinciding with the general direction of movement of this vehicle; - a Y-axis, defining a horizontal transverse direction, also parallel to the ground, which, together with the X-axis, defines a horizontal XY plane; and - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal XY plane.

[0019] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the frame defined above, the terms "longitudinal" or "longitudinally" shall refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms "transverse" or "transversely" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0020] On the other hand, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used to specify the longitudinal positioning of certain elements relative to the orientation of the X axis, which by convention points forward.

[0021] Finally, the term "substantially" will indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially longitudinal" indicates that a deviation of approximately 15 to 20° from a strictly longitudinal orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0022] With reference to these figures 1 and 2, the front part of the body structure 100 comprises a front apron 110 extending upwards from the front of the floor 120 to the location of the lower edge of the windscreen and also extending transversely between the vertical portions of the side rails 130.

[0023] Separating the vehicle's engine compartment from its passenger compartment, this front apron 110 is made up of an assembly of several stamped sheet metal parts. It includes, in a conventional manner, a stamped sheet metal part 111 welded to the perimeter of a window formed in another sheet metal part of this front apron 110 at a lateral portion thereof.

[0024] More clearly visible in [Fig. 4], this stamped sheet metal part 111 includes a hollow protrusion 112 whose concavity faces the passenger compartment so that it protrudes into the engine compartment near the connection between the firewall crossmember and a front side member (not shown). This protrusion 112 has a substantially horizontal wall 113 forming its base, in which a passage 114 is provided.

[0025] Part 111 advantageously replaces the steering bowl, also made of stamped sheet metal, found on vehicles equipped with a mechanically linked power steering system, and which is intended to be traversed by the steering column connecting the upper and lower level mechanisms.

[0026] The lower level mechanism 200 of the vehicle's power steering device includes a rack 210 mounted movable in translation about its transversely oriented axis in a steering housing not shown.

[0027] This mechanism 200 also includes two redundant motorized assistance devices 220, 230 arranged on either side of the median vertical longitudinal plane of this vehicle and each comprising a respective geared motor 221, 231 coupled to the rack 210 via a corresponding coupling shaft 222, 232 commonly referred to as the "valve tail".

[0028] Each motorized assistance device 220, 230 further comprises an electronic control module 223, 233 with a housing 224, 234 containing an electronic board and on which two bases of connection (only those 235, 236 of the device 230 located on the right side of the vehicle being visible in figures 2 and 4) intended to be electrically connected, after the capping of the body structure 100 on the lower body assembly, with the respective connectors 121, 122 (visible in [Fig.3]) of two power and control cables not shown.

[0029] According to the invention and as can be seen in these figures 2 and 4, the connection bases 235, 236 of the motorized assistance device 230 are arranged vertically above the passage opening 114 made in the front apron 110, so that these bases pass through this opening 114 during the styling operation by opening into the passenger compartment.

[0030] The operator in charge of the wiring can thus easily manually connect one 235 of these bases 235, 236 to a connector 121 coming from a power cable running in the passenger compartment and connected for example to a DC-DC converter, and the other 236 to a connector 122 coming from a control cable running in the passenger compartment and connected for example to a control module coupled to the steering wheel.

[0031] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the number, dimensions, and arrangement of the connection bases of the motorized assistance device 230 intended to pass through the opening 114 in the front panel 110 may vary. This motorized assistance device 230 could, for example, comprise only a single base to which the connector(s) 121, 122 of the power and control cables would be connected.

[0032] Generally, it will be understood that the passage orifice 114 will be dimensioned according to the number, arrangement and dimensions of the connection bases 235, 236 which must pass through it, so as to ensure that the latter do not interfere with the periphery of this orifice 114 (which could damage them) during the capping operation.

[0033] It will be noted that the fact that the connection bases pass through the front apron 110 at the level of the stamped sheet metal piece 111 replacing the steering bowl makes it possible not to touch the rest of this front apron 110 which remains identical to that of a vehicle of the same model but equipped with a conventional steering column with mechanical linkage.

[0034] However, and according to alternative embodiments not shown, this passage opening may alternatively be provided in another area of ​​the front apron on another sheet metal part constituting the latter.

[0035] In order to ensure moisture sealing between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment at this passage 114, an annular foam sealing gasket (not shown) is advantageously bonded to the housing 234 of the motorized assistance device 230 around the periphery of the connection bases 235, 236 and so that this seal is compressed, after the capping operation, by the bottom wall 113 of the stamped sheet metal part 111 of the front apron 110 at the level of the perimeter of the passage orifice 114 (see [Fig.4]).

[0036] Furthermore, and in order to ensure dust sealing between the passenger compartment area and the engine compartment at the level of this passage opening 114, a cap made of plastic or elastomer material is also preferably fitted, from the passenger compartment after the capping operation and before the connection of the connectors 121, 122, on the connection bases 235, 236 passing through the passage opening 114, so as to cover the area of ​​this opening 114 extending between its peripheral edge and these bases 235, 236.

[0037] Many other variants are conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all variants of execution within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle comprising: - a body-on-frame assembly including a lower-level power steering mechanism (200) with wired connection comprising a rack (210) and two motorized power steering modules (220, 230) each equipped with one or more electrical connection bases (235, 236); - a body structure (100) intended to be brought into position by a capping operation carried out by a substantially vertical sliding movement oriented from top to bottom on said body-on-frame assembly, said body structure (100) comprising a front apron (110) separating the engine compartment of said vehicle located in front of it from its passenger compartment extending behind said apron (110);characterized in that the said electrical connection bases (235, 236) of one (230) of said motorized assistance modules (220, 230) are arranged directly above a passage opening (114) made in said apron (110), so that they pass through said opening (114) during said styling operation by emerging into the passenger compartment.;

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said passage opening (114) is made in a substantially horizontal wall (113) of said front panel (110).

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that said wall (113) constitutes the bottom of a hollow protrusion (112) formed in a stamped sheet metal part (111) attached by welding to the perimeter of a window formed in another sheet metal part constituting said front apron (110).

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each said motorized assistance device (220, 230) comprises an electronic control module (223, 233) equipped with a housing (224, 234) containing an electronic card.

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the said electrical connection bases (235, 236) passing through said passage orifice (114) are fixedly mounted by screwing onto said housing (234) of said corresponding motorized assistance device (230).

6. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises an annular foam sealing gasket bonded to said housing (234) of said motorized assistance device (230) comprising said electrical connection bases (235, 236) passing through said passage orifice (114), at the periphery of said connection bases (235, 236) and such that it is compressed, after said capping operation, by said front apron (110) at the periphery of said passage orifice (114).

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a cap made of plastic or elastomer material fitted, from the passenger compartment after said capping operation, onto said connection bases (235, 236) passing through said passage orifice (114), so as to cover the area of ​​this orifice (114) extending between its peripheral edge and these bases (235, 236).

8. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each said motorized assistance module (220, 230) is provided with two electrical connection bases (235, 236) intended to be connected to two connectors (121, 122) from two separate cables running in the passenger compartment.

9. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the or one of said connection bases (235, 236) passing through said passage opening (114) is connected to a connector coming from (121) a power cable running in the passenger compartment and connected to a DC-DC converter.

10. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the or one of said connection bases (235, 236) passing through said passage opening is connected to a connector (122) from a control cable running through the passenger compartment and connected to a control module coupled to the steering wheel.

Images