Transverse member of an automobile extending between two shock absorber cups

Abstract

The present invention relates to a strut cross member (20) for a motor vehicle having a central portion (21) and two lateral end portions (22, 23), each of said end portions (22, 23) having an interface (24, 25) for attachment to the vehicle body and an interface (26, 27) for attachment to a shock absorber cup, the strut cross member (20) being made from cast aluminum.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, particularly to transverse or cross members extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of a motor vehicle.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a front axle assembly of a motor vehicle comprising a suspension member received in a shock absorber cup.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Generally, a shock absorber cup is fixed to an axle comprising two side rails connected transversely by a cross member.

[0004] It is also a known technique to incorporate the cross member into the vehicle interior in the form of a tubular beam extending transversely in the driver's cab of the motor vehicle. The cab cross member enables the attachment of various cab elements such as the dashboard, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system), vehicle steering column, glove box, and the like.

[0005] These cross members are manufactured by hot or cold deformation of the tube. To manufacture them, it is necessary to use steel materials having high mechanical properties.

[0006] [[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​However, welding between tubular sections carries a high risk of cracking in the weld.

[0010] The transverse members of an automated vehicle need to be optimized to meet stringent requirements in terms of rigidity and shock absorption capabilities.

[0011] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a cross member for an automatic vehicle with an optimized shape that is lighter, more ergonomic, and lower cost, while simultaneously ensuring occupant safety in the event of a head-on collision.

[0012] One subject of the present invention is a strut tower brace transverse member for an automobile, comprising a central portion and two lateral ends, each of which has an interface for fixing to the vehicle body and an interface for fixing to a shock absorber mounting portion or cup, and being made of cast aluminum. Thus, the strut tower brace transverse member extends laterally between two shock absorber cups.

[0013] This ensures that the strut tower brace transverse member provides sufficient dynamic handling rigidity for the shock absorber cup.

[0014] Advantageously, the transverse member is a single, integrated component.

[0015] For example, the interface for fixing to the vehicle body has at least one hole for passing a screw fixing element, and the interface for fixing to the shock absorber cup has at least one hole for passing a screw fixing element. In a modified form, two or more holes can be used.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the transverse member protrudes from the central portion in the direction away from the vehicle interior and includes at least one fixing lug that forms a mounting interface for a charging device for the propulsion unit's battery.

[0017] Thus, the strut tower brace transverse member also has the function of ensuring the dynamic rigidity of the charging device.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the transverse member comprises two pairs of fixing lugs for a charging device, each pair of fixing lugs having a recess formed by removing the base material, the recess cooperating with a support mounting portion of the corresponding shape, the support mounting portion being fixed to the charging device.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the transverse member includes at least one fixing lug that protrudes from the central portion and forms a mounting interface for attaching an HVAC type heating unit.

[0020] The fixing lugs for the charging device and the heating unit can be the same lug or different lugs.

[0021] For example, the central section includes multiple protruding parts that extend inward into the vehicle interior.

[0022] The aforementioned protruding portion is cut to match the shape of other components of the vehicle.

[0023] As a variation, the rear surface can have a different cutout shape to accommodate all types of automobiles.

[0024] Each of the ends may be provided with a fixing interface for securing a water tank and / or a fixing interface for securing a wiper mechanism.

[0025] The lower surface of the central portion of the transverse member may be provided with multiple reinforcing ribs.

[0026] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a front axle assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising two longitudinal arms, at least one first transverse cross-member connecting the two arms, and an engine compartment defined by a vehicle body, wherein the front axle assembly further comprises two suspension members each connected to a front wheel of the vehicle at one end and to a support mounting or support cup at the other end, i.e., a front axle assembly with a suspension spring or a shock absorber etc., and wherein the front axle assembly is characterized in that it comprises the strut tower brace cross-member described above which extends horizontally between shock absorber cups within the engine compartment.

[0027] In this way, the strut tower brace cross-member makes it possible to ensure the dynamic handling stiffness of the shock absorber cups.

[0028] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising the front axle assembly described above.

[0029] Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following description which is presented merely as a non-limiting example and is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a part of a front axle assembly of a motor vehicle with a cross-member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the cross-member of FIG. 1 seen from below. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view of the cross-member of FIG. 1 seen from above.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] In the following description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "vertical", "front", "rear", "left", and "right" are defined according to the normal reference orthogonal coordinate system for a motor vehicle shown in the drawings, and that orthogonal coordinate system is - The longitudinal axis X is horizontal and runs from the front to the rear of the vehicle, - Horizontal, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and the lateral axis Y that points from left to right of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving forward, - The vertical axis Z is perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral axes X and Y. It consists of.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a portion of the front axle assembly 10 of an automobile, which has an axle comprising two longitudinal arms 11 and 12 connected by a first transverse member 13, the longitudinal arms together with the front bumper transverse member 14 and the vehicle body 16 to define the engine compartment 15. Arm 11 connects the vehicle body (not shown) to the support mounting portion of the wheel (not shown).

[0033] The engine compartment 15 is separated from the interior of the vehicle (not referenced) by a wall 16 or bulkhead extending in the YZ plane.

[0034] "Lateral direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal direction X.

[0035] The front axle assembly portion 10 further comprises two suspension members, such as suspension springs or shock absorbers (not shown), each of which is connected to the front wheel of the vehicle via one end and to a support mounting portion or support cup (not shown) via the other end.

[0036] The front axle assembly portion 10 includes a strut tower brace transverse member 20 that extends laterally between shock absorber cups within the engine compartment 15.

[0037] The strut tower brace transverse member 20 is made from cast aluminum. The strut tower brace transverse member 20 takes the form of a plate in which the vertical dimension is smaller than the longitudinal dimension.

[0038] Specifically, this is because the current design of the engine compartment in electric-powered vehicles does not allow for the incorporation of a tubular transverse member between the two shock absorber cups.

[0039] The strut tower brace transverse member 20 comprises a central portion 21 and two lateral ends 22 and 23.

[0040] The strut tower brace transverse member 20 is attached to the vehicle body and the respective shock absorber cups at both ends 22 and 23 by screw fixing elements. In this way, the transverse member ensures the dynamic handling rigidity of the shock absorber cups.

[0041] Each end 22, 23 has a fixing interface 24, 25 for fixing to the vehicle body and a fixing interface 26, 27 for fixing to the shock absorber cup.

[0042] As shown in the figure, the fixing interfaces 24 and 25 for fixing to the vehicle body are provided with two holes 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b for passing screw fixing elements. Alternatively, a different number of orifices per end, such as three or more, may be used.

[0043] As shown in the figure, the fixing interfaces 26, 27 for fixing to the shock absorber cup are provided with two holes 26a, 26b and 27a, 27b for passing screw fixing elements. Alternatively, a different number of orifices per end, such as three or more, may be used.

[0044] In no particular way, each end 22, 23 is provided with fixing interfaces 29a, 29b for fixing a water tank (not shown) and a fixing interface 30 for fixing a wiper mechanism (not shown).

[0045] The central portion 21 of the strut tower brace transverse member 20 is defined by a rear surface 21a facing towards the vehicle interior and a front surface 21b opposite to the rear surface 21a, which faces away from the vehicle interior.

[0046] As shown in the figure, the rear surface 21a has a plurality of projections 31 that protrude toward the vehicle interior and are spaced apart from each other. These projections 31 are designed to cooperate with the bulkhead of the vehicle.

[0047] The aforementioned protruding portion is cut to match the shape of other components of the vehicle.

[0048] Alternatively, the rear surface 21a may have a different cutout shape to accommodate all types of automobiles.

[0049] As shown in the figure, the front surface 21a of the transverse member 20 is provided with fixing lugs 32, 33, 34, and 35, that is, four fixing lugs in this example.

[0050] The fixing lugs protrude from the front surface 21a. These fixing lugs can protrude in the direction opposite to the vehicle interior. In modified embodiments not shown, the fixing lugs may protrude in the opposite direction.

[0051] Each pair of fixing lugs 32, 33; 34, 35 is provided with recesses 32a, 33a; 34a, 35a formed by removing the base material, and these recesses are made to receive support mounting parts 40, 41 of the corresponding shape, which are fixed to a charging device 42 for the battery of the propulsion unit.

[0052] As a result, the strut tower brace transverse member 20 further has the function of ensuring the dynamic rigidity of the charging device 42.

[0053] The support mounting portions 40 and 41 of the charging device 42 are configured to break in the event of a forward impact on the vehicle, thereby causing the charging device to move vertically rather than longitudinally.

[0054] Each of the fixing lugs 32, 33; 34, 35 is provided with fixing interfaces 32b, 33b; 34b, 35b for fixing to an HVAC type heating unit 50.

[0055] Alternatively, one of the pair of fixing lugs may be provided with a fixing interface for fixing the heating unit 50.

[0056] In this way, the heating unit 50 is placed inside the engine compartment 15, rather than inside the vehicle cabin as in known automobiles.

[0057] As shown in detail in Figure 3, the strut tower brace transverse member 20 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 60, particularly provided in the central portion 21 of the transverse member.

[0058] Here, the rib 60 has a closed shape.

[0059] As a variation, reinforcing ribs 60 of other shapes can be used.

[0060] As shown in the figure, the strut tower brace transverse member 20 is not symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

[0061] The strut tower brace transverse member 20 is substantially flat and is not an extruded, one-piece component.

[0062] The strut tower brace transverse member 20 is advantageously manufactured by casting aluminum in a mold and then further cutting it to accommodate a wide range of automobile vehicles.

[0063] In this way, it is possible to produce modular strut tower brace cross members that can accommodate a large number of vehicles using a single mold.

[0064] The strut tower brace transverse member 20 can support multiple mechanical components of an automobile, such as shock absorber cups, charging devices, and heating units, while simultaneously maintaining the dynamic rigidity of these components and reducing the manufacturing cost of the transverse member.

Claims

1. A strut tower brace cross member (20) of an automobile, comprising a central portion (21) and two lateral ends (22, 23), Each of the aforementioned ends (22, 23) Interfaces (24, 25) for fixing to the vehicle body, Interfaces (26, 27) for fixing to the shock absorber cup, The central portion (21) protrudes in the direction opposite to the interior of the vehicle and comprises at least two fixing lugs (32, 33, 34, 35) that form a mounting interface for a charging device (42) for the battery of the propulsion unit, A transverse member (20) made from cast aluminum.

2. The transverse member (20) according to claim 1 is an integrated component.

3. The transverse member (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface (24, 25) for fixing to the vehicle body has at least one hole (24a, 24b; 25a, 25b) for passing screw fixing elements through, and the interface (26, 27) for fixing to the shock absorber cup has at least one hole (26a, 26b; 27a, 27b) for passing screw fixing elements through.

4. A transverse member (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising two pairs of fixing lugs (32, 33, 34, 35), wherein each pair of fixing lugs (32, 33; 34, 35) has recesses (32a, 33a; 34a, 35a) formed by removing the base material.

5. The transverse member (20) according to claim 4, wherein the recess cooperates with a support mounting portion (40, 41) of the corresponding shape, and the support mounting portion is fixed to the charging device (42).

6. The transverse member (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising at least one fixing lug (32, 33, 34, 35) protruding from the central portion (21) and forming a mounting interface for mounting a heating unit (50).

7. The transverse member (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the central portion (21) is provided with a plurality of protruding portions (31) that project toward the interior of the vehicle.

8. The transverse member (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the aforementioned ends (22, 23) is provided with a fixing interface (29a, 29b) for fixing a water tank and / or a fixing interface (30) for fixing a wiper mechanism.

9. A front axle assembly (10) for an automatic vehicle comprising two longitudinal arms (11, 12), at least one first transverse member (13) connecting the two longitudinal arms (11, 12), and an engine compartment (15) defined by a vehicle body (16), wherein the front axle assembly comprises two suspension members, each connected to the front wheel of the vehicle by one end and to a support cup by the other end, A front axle assembly (10) characterized by comprising a strut tower brace transverse member (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which extends laterally between the shock absorber cups within the engine compartment (15).

10. An automatic vehicle comprising the front axle assembly according to claim 9.

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