Rear compartment of a motor vehicle equipped with a fuel tank mounting reinforcement and vehicle including such a compartment
The redesigned rear compartment of the motor vehicle chassis addresses breaking points at the fuel tank attachment by enhancing rigidity with a seat and tank reinforcement system, ensuring secure and durable fuel tank attachment in various transmission types.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- RENAULT SA
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
The integration of new vehicle chassis architectures for electric and thermal vehicles has resulted in breaking points at the fuel tank attachment due to significant local deformations, particularly at the rear part of the vehicle, with no existing solutions to address this issue.
A redesigned rear compartment of the motor vehicle chassis, featuring a seat reinforcement plate, seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember, and tank reinforcement plates, which form a hollow body to enhance rigidity and secure the fuel tank, with different configurations for 4x2 and 4x4 transmission vehicles.
The solution effectively prevents breaking points by increasing the rigidity of the rear compartment, ensuring secure attachment and improved durability against shocks and vibrations, particularly in 4x4 vehicles.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Rear compartment of a motor vehicle equipped with a fuel tank mounting reinforcement and vehicle comprising such a compartment. Technical field
[0001] The invention has as its technical field the design of an automotive platform, and more particularly, the design of the elements of the rear compartment of a motor vehicle. Previous techniques
[0002] With the development of new platforms, both for electric and thermal vehicles, new architectures can be developed, particularly at the level of the vehicle chassis.
[0003] By modifying a limited number of elements, the same chassis can be shared between passenger vehicles and utility vehicles.
[0004] Currently, end users are particularly attentive to the space available in the rear seats. The development of new chassis ideally coincides with meeting these new expectations by increasing the space available in the rear seats across all types of vehicles.
[0005] However, these changes resulted in the creation of breaking points in the rear part of the vehicle, particularly at the fuel tank attachment.
[0006] It was determined that these break points resulted from significant local deformations resulting from the implementation of these changes due in particular to the fixing of the tank to the rear floor.
[0007] As the platform is new, there is no solution in the prior art that can be applied. Description of the invention
[0008] The invention relates to a rear compartment of a motor vehicle, delimited by a right rear side member, a left rear side member, a central cross member, a rear cross member and the underside of a rear floor, comprising:
[0009] a. a seat reinforcement plate disposed opposite the upper face of the rear floor, the seat reinforcement plate and the rear floor being designed so as to form a hollow body extending on either side of a median plane of the motor vehicle,
[0010] b. a seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember extending from the right rear side member to the left rear side member, and
[0011] c. at least one tank reinforcement plate connecting the rear floor, the rear cross member and the seat seat belt hook reinforcement cross member and disposed under the hollow body formed by the seat reinforcement plate and the rear floor.
[0012] The hollow body can be formed by a central part of the rear floor and a central part of the seat reinforcement plate facing each other, the central part being included in an intermediate area of the rear floor, so as to be closer to the central part of the seat reinforcement plate than the intermediate area is close to said central part of the seat reinforcement plate.
[0013] The rear compartment of a motor vehicle may include a single tank reinforcement plate on which a bridge-shaped mounting bracket is fixed.
[0014] The rear compartment of a motor vehicle may include two tank reinforcement plates, each of which is attached a retaining strap.
[0015] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle, comprising a rear compartment as described above and a fuel tank fixed to the rear floor by means of at least one tank reinforcement plate.
[0016] When the motor vehicle described above includes a 4x2 type transmission, the fuel tank can be fixed to the rear floor by means of the single tank reinforcement plate and the bridge-shaped fixing bracket.
[0017] When the motor vehicle described above includes a 4x4 transmission, the fuel tank can be attached to the rear floor by means of the two tank reinforcement plates and the retaining straps. Brief description of the drawings
[0018] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0019] - Figure [Fig. 1] and Figure [Fig. 2] illustrate a 4x2 type motor vehicle equipped with a rear compartment according to the invention,
[0020] - Figure [Fig.3] and Figure [Fig.4] illustrate a 4x4 type motor vehicle equipped with a rear compartment according to the invention,
[0021] - Figure [Fig.5] illustrates a seat reinforcement plate,
[0022] - Figure [Fig. 6] illustrates a rear floor of a rear compartment for a 4x2 type motor vehicle,
[0023] - Figure [Fig.7] illustrates a rear floor of a rear compartment for a 4x4 type motor vehicle,
[0024] - Figure [Fig.8] and Figure [Fig.9] illustrate different parts of the cross member of seat belt hook reinforcement for a rear compartment of a motor vehicle.
[0025] - Figure [Fig. 10] illustrates a tank reinforcement plate of a compartment rear for a motor vehicle,
[0026] - Figure [Fig. 11] illustrates a bridge-shaped mounting bracket of a rear compartment for a motor vehicle, and
[0027] - Figure [Fig. 12] illustrates two reinforcement plates of a rear compartment for a motor vehicle. Detailed description
[0028] In order to solve the technical problem related to the appearance of breaking points due to the attachment of the fuel tank to the rear floor, a new rear compartment of the automotive chassis was designed.
[0029] The new rear compartment comprises two embodiments differing from one another in its use for the construction of vehicles with different modes of transmission of driving power to the wheels.
[0030] The first embodiment relates to a rear compartment for a 4x2 type transmission vehicle, in which the drive power is transmitted to the wheels of one axle, front or rear. The first embodiment is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, respectively in exploded top view and top view from underneath the vehicle.
[0031] The second embodiment relates to a rear compartment for a vehicle with a 4x4 transmission, in which drive power is transmitted to all four wheels, each wheel being independent. In this type of transmission, the front and rear axles are each equipped with a differential that allows one wheel to rotate while the other is locked. The differentials are connected by a transmission that is larger than that of a 4x2 vehicle driven by the rear axle. Such a 4x4 transmission requires modifications to the chassis to accommodate a substantial transmission tunnel. A 4x4 vehicle is also used in off-road situations, which can cause more shocks and vibrations than a 4x2 vehicle. This notably implies improving the security of the fuel tank.The second embodiment is illustrated by figures 3 and 4, respectively in exploded overhead view and overhead view from underneath the vehicle.
[0032] In both embodiments, the new rear compartment la,lb is delimited by a right rear longitudinal member 2a, a left rear longitudinal member 2b, a central cross member 3, a rear cross member 4 and the underside of the rear floor 5a,5b.
[0033] It should be noted that the rear seats of the vehicle are fixed to the upper face of the rear floor by means of a seat reinforcement plate 10.
[0034] Fig. 5 illustrates the seat reinforcement plate 10 while figures 6 and 7 illustrate the rear floor 5a, 5b according to each of the two embodiments.
[0035] Figure 6 illustrates a normal view of the rear floor 5a according to the first embodiment. It is noted that it includes an opening 5c for an inspection hatch of the fuel tank 9a. The rear floor 5a, 5b has an intermediate zone and a central portion Cl closer to the seat reinforcement plate 10 than the intermediate zone so as to stiffen the rear floor 5a, 5b.
[0036] It should be noted that the rear floor 5a, 5b and the seat reinforcement plate 10 have complementary shapes, referenced respectively as Cl and C2, such that their assembly forms a hollow body Cl, C2, which increases the rigidity of the rear floor 5a, 5b. More precisely, the rear floor 5a, 5b and the seat reinforcement plate 10 extend from the right rear side member 2a to the left rear side member 2b. The underside of the rear floor 5a, 5b includes bearing areas in contact with the side members 2a, 2b, while the seat reinforcement plate 10 is positioned in contact with the upper side of the supports of the rear floor 5a, 5b via its own supports.
[0037] The rear floor 5a, 5b includes an intermediate zone between the support zones on the side members 2a, 2b at a vertically higher level than the supports. An orthonormal coordinate system (O, X, Y, Z) is defined, in which the X direction (1, 0, 0) is directed towards the rear of the vehicle, the Y direction (0, l, 0) is directed to the right of the vehicle, and the Z direction (0, 0, l) is directed towards the top of the vehicle. In such a coordinate system, it is understood that the elevation along the Z direction of the intermediate zone is greater than the elevation along the same Z direction of the supports.
[0038] In this intermediate zone, a central portion Cl is provided having a dimension along the Z direction greater than the dimension along the same Z direction of the intermediate zone. However, the central portion Cl does not come into contact with the central portion C2 of the seat reinforcement plate 10.
[0039] The seat reinforcement plate 10 comprises bearing areas 10a, 10b and rests by these on the rear floor 5a, 5b in line with the side members 2a, 2b. The seat reinforcement plate 10 has a substantially flat surface in its central part C2 which is vertically offset from the opposite surface of the rear floor 5a, 5b, so as to form the hollow body with the rear floor 5a, 5b.
[0040] The rigidity of the assembly is further improved by the presence of bosses on each of these parts.
[0041] The rear compartment is equipped with a seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember 6, 6a, 6b extending from the right rear side member 2a to the left rear side member 2b, in contact with the rear floor 5a. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate different parts of the seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember 6, 6a, 6b. of seat. [Fig.8] illustrates the right end post 6a, and the left end post 6b, each arranged at one end of a central portion 6 of the seat safety belt hook reinforcement cross member 6,6a,6b, illustrated by [Fig.9].
[0042] In the first embodiment, the rear compartment is equipped with a tank reinforcement plate 7 and a bridge-shaped mounting support 8.
[0043] The tank reinforcement plate 7 connects the rear floor 5a, the rear crossmember 4 and the seat seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember 6, 6a, 6b. It is positioned opposite the area of increased rigidity due to the hollow body formed by the seat reinforcement plate 10 and the rear floor 5a, 5b.
[0044] The bridge-shaped mounting bracket 8 is fixed to the tank reinforcement plate 7 and the seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember 6, 6a, 6b. The fuel tank 9a is fixed to the rear floor 5a and to the bridge-shaped mounting bracket 8.
[0045] Fig. 10 illustrates the tank reinforcement plate 7 and Fig. 11 the bridge-shaped mounting bracket 8.
[0046] In the second embodiment, the rear compartment 1b is provided with two reinforcement plates 1la,l 1b and two retaining straps partially encircling the fuel tank 9b in the longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle.
[0047] Figure 12 illustrates the two reinforcement plates 1a, 1b, connecting the rear floor 5a, 5b, the rear crossmember 4, and the seat belt hook reinforcement crossmember 6, 6a, 6b. The right reinforcement plate 1a is positioned approximately equidistant from the right side member 2a and the vehicle's median plane, and opposite the area of increased rigidity due to the hollow section formed by the seat reinforcement plate 10 and the rear floor 5a, 5b. Similarly, the left reinforcement plate 11b is positioned approximately equidistant from the left side member 2b and the vehicle's median plane. The left reinforcement plate 11b is also positioned approximately opposite the area of increased rigidity due to the hollow section formed by the seat reinforcement plate 10 and the rear floor 5a, 5b.
[0048] Referring again to Figures 3 and 4, it can be seen that a right-hand retaining strap 12a is attached to the right-hand reinforcement plate 11a and to a first attachment point on the fuel tank. Similarly, a left-hand retaining strap 12b is attached to the left-hand reinforcement plate 11b and to a second attachment point on the fuel tank.
[0049] Figure 7 illustrates the rear floor 5b according to the second embodiment, viewed from above. The rear floor 5b according to the second embodiment differs from the rear floor 5a according to the first embodiment by the presence of two openings 5d opposite the fuel tank 9b instead of a single opening 5d in the first embodiment. The two openings 5d allow for the accommodation of Two inspection hatches, necessitated by the shape of tank 9b in the second embodiment. Indeed, the central part of the tank on its underside forms an arch so as to be able to cooperate with the transmission between the front and rear differentials of the 4x4 vehicle.
[0050] Due to the presence of this arch, the fuel tank has two low points that may need to be accessed for tank maintenance. Therefore, two separate access hatches are required.
Claims
Demands
1. Rear compartment of a motor vehicle, delimited by a right rear side member (2a), a left rear side member (2b), a central cross member (3), a rear cross member (4) and the underside of a rear floor (5a,5b), characterized in that it comprises: a. a seat reinforcement plate (10) disposed opposite the upper face of the rear floor (5a,5b), the seat reinforcement plate (10) and the rear floor (5a,5b) being designed so as to form a hollow body (C1,C2) extending on either side of a median plane of the motor vehicle, b. a seat seat belt hook reinforcement cross member (6,6a,6b) extending from the right rear side member (2b) to the left rear side member (2b), and c.at least one tank reinforcement plate (7,1la,l 1b) connecting the rear floor (5a), the rear cross member (4) and the seat safety belt hook reinforcement cross member (6,6a,6b) and disposed under the hollow body formed by the seat reinforcement plate (10) and the rear floor (5a,5b).
2. Rear compartment of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body (C1,C2) is formed by a central part (Cl) of the rear floor and a central part (C2) of the seat reinforcement plate (10) facing each other, the central part (Cl) being included in an intermediate zone of the rear floor (5a,5b), so as to be closer to the central part (C2) of the seat reinforcement plate (10) than the intermediate zone is close to said central part (C2) of the seat reinforcement plate (10).
3. Rear compartment of a motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a single tank reinforcement plate (7) on which is fixed a bridge-shaped mounting bracket (8).
4. Rear compartment of a motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising two tank reinforcement plates (1a,1b) on each of which is fixed a retaining strap (12a, 12b).
5. A motor vehicle, comprising a rear compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a fuel tank fuel (9a,9b), in which the fuel tank (9a,9b) is fixed to the rear floor (5a,5b) by means of at least one tank reinforcement plate (7,1 la,l 1b).
6. Motor vehicle comprising a rear compartment according to claim 3, a fuel tank (9a) and a 4x2 type transmission, wherein the fuel tank is fixed to the rear floor (5a) by means of the single tank reinforcement plate (7) and the bridge-shaped mounting bracket (8).
7. Motor vehicle comprising a rear compartment according to claim 4, a fuel tank (9b) and a 4x4 type transmission, wherein the fuel tank is fixed to the rear floor (5b) by means of the two tank reinforcement plates (1a,1b) and the retaining straps (12a,12b).