COMPLETE BODY STRUCTURE WITH AN UPPER CROSS MEMBER SUITABLE FOR A SUNROOF OR A FIXED ROOF

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle body structure assembly with an upper crossmember adapted for a sunroof or non-sunroof.

[0002] In a vehicle with a sunroof, a structural assembly forming a sunroof frame is known to be used, comprising two roof arches designed to cooperate with the movable sunroof panel in the closed position. A front roof crossmember is attached, along a transverse direction of the vehicle, to each roof arch so as to be positioned near the upper part of the front windshield opening. In a vehicle equipped with a fixed roof, also called a standard roof, a sunroof panel is fitted onto a rear flange of the front roof crossmember.

[0003] It is known that different front crossmembers are used depending on whether the roof is retractable or not. This increases the number of crossmember types available for mounting a retractable or fixed roof and results in managing two part numbers: a front crossmember for a retractable roof and a front crossmember for a fixed roof.

[0004] There is therefore an additional assembly cost due to two additional stamping tools associated with an increased storage cost due to an additional crossmember reference to be stored.

[0005] It is also common practice to use the same front crossmember for all roof types. As a result, the sunroof skin is not properly secured when installing a so-called universal crossmember, which is more specifically designed for a sunroof than a fixed one. In this case, the fixed roof skin, forming the canopy, can sag due to lack of support, which is a serious defect and contributes to an unsightly appearance.

[0006] Document DE-A-102008045574 describes a structure with a retractable roof in a passenger vehicle, the roof having a roof opening delimited by lateral roof supports and transverse roof supports, the roof being movable between an open and a closed position. Each lateral roof support, viewed in cross-section, includes a structural support that has guide rails for the movable roof, the guide rails being covered by a roofing element that projects away from one upper side of the vehicle. Document GB 2 204 284 A describes a motor vehicle body structure assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] This document provides no guidance on the design of a front roof crossmember that can be used for both a sunroof and a non-sunroof, and is suitable for both a normal roof and a sunroof.

[0008] Therefore, the problem underlying the invention is to propose a set of motor vehicle body structures forming a roof that is adaptable to both a sunroof and a non-sunroof.

[0009] To achieve this objective, the invention provides for a motor vehicle body structure assembly forming a roof with a sunroof or a non-sunroof, the structure assembly comprising at least one roof arch and a front roof crossmember attached to said at least one roof arch so as to be positioned near an upper part of a front windshield bay, the front crossmember having a rear rebate extending transversely with respect to said at least one roof arch, characterized in that the front crossmember is configured to fit a sunroof or a non-sunroof, the rear rebate of the front crossmember having at least one boss projecting towards the sunroof or the non-sunroof, said at least one boss penetrating into a respective opening carried by a sunroof frame or said at least one boss serving as a shoring element for the non-sunroof.

[0010] The technical effect is to obtain a front crossmember that is compatible with both a sunroof and a fixed roof. For a fixed roof, the front crossmember has bosses that penetrate an element associated with the sunroof, while the bosses serve as shimming elements for a roof panel in the case of a fixed roof.

[0011] Advantageously, at least two bosses are arranged along the length of the rear rebate of the front crossmember, said at least two bosses being arranged symmetrically with respect to the midpoint of the length of the rear rebate of the front crossmember. The attachment to a sunroof component or the securing of a non-opening roof panel is thus symmetrically distributed along the rear rebate of the front crossmember.

[0012] Advantageously, said at least two bosses are arranged between one-quarter and one-third of the length of the rear rebate of the front crossmember, measured from one longitudinal end of the rear rebate. The bosses are thus arranged so as to be neither too far nor too close to the longitudinal ends of the rear rebate of the front crossmember.

[0013] Advantageously, when the roof is fixed, at least one boss serves as an interface for applying a shim to a fixed roof panel. A fixed roof is not penetrated by the boss(es), which do not extend into any structural element of the roof panel and serve only to support and shim the roof panel.

[0014] Advantageously, when the roof is openable, the assembly includes a crossbar closure superimposed at least partially on the front crossbar, a portion of the crossbar closure opposite the rear rebate of the front crossbar having at least one opening associated with said at least one boss.

[0015] This crossmember closure is not essential and should even be avoided for a fixed roof. The rear rebate of the front crossmember is therefore designed to work with or without a crossmember closure.

[0016] Advantageously, when the roof is a sunroof, the sunroof frame supports a sunroof trim.

[0017] Advantageously, the sunroof frame is connected to the upper crossmember by a peripheral bead of glue.

[0018] Advantageously, the front cross member has a longitudinal section in the shape of an enlarged U, a first arm of the U directed towards the rear of the front cross member bearing said at least one boss being longer than a second arm of the U directed towards the front of the front cross member.

[0019] Advantageously, when the roof is a non-opening roof, a skin of the non-opening roof is applied against and welded to a free end of the second arm of the U.

[0020] The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a sunroof or a non-sunroof, characterized in that it comprises such a structural assembly.

[0021] Other features, purposes, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows and from the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of non-limiting examples and on which: there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a perspective top view of a half-section of a motor vehicle sunroof, a front crossmember being able to form part of the structural assembly according to the present invention when at least one boss is associated with it, being visible in this figure, the figure 2 is a schematic representation of a longitudinal section of a structural assembly according to the present invention, this structural assembly comprising a front roof crossmember whose rear rebate is adapted to support a sunroof and a fixed roof, the two roofs being illustrated in the figure 1 although not present together in normal assembly, the figure 3 is a schematic representation of a perspective top view of a front cross member closure used in the case of a sunroof, two bosses belonging to a front roof cross member forming part of the structural assembly according to the present invention being visible in this figure by entering a respective opening of the cross member closure.

[0022] It should be borne in mind that the figures are given as examples and are not limiting to the invention. They constitute schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not necessarily to scale with practical applications. In particular, the dimensions of the various elements illustrated are not representative of reality.

[0023] In what follows, reference is made to all figures taken in combination. When reference is made to one or more specific figures, these figures are to be taken in combination with the other figures for the recognition of the designated numerical references.

[0024] In what follows, the terms "upper", "lower", and other references to spatial positioning are understood to refer to components positioned in their non-opening operating and usage position, particularly when the motor vehicle is on a horizontal plane.

[0025] By referring to figures 1 à 3 The present invention relates to a motor vehicle body structure assembly forming a roof with a retractable roof 1c or a fixed roof. The structure assembly comprises at least one roof arch and a front roof crossmember 2 attached to said at least one roof arch so as to be positioned near an upper portion of a front windshield opening not shown in the figures but located towards the left side of the figure 1 .

[0026] The front roof crossmember 2 has a rear rebate 2a extending transversely from said crossmember through at least one roof arch. The front crossmember 2 is configured to accommodate either a sunroof 1c or a fixed roof, both of which are illustrated in the figure 2 although only one type of roof is actually present.

[0027] The rear rebate 2a of the front crossmember 2 has at least one boss 3, visible at the figure 3 in the form of two bosses 3. This boss or these bosses 3 project towards the opening roof 1c or the fixed roof. For an opening roof 1c, the boss or bosses 3 enter into a respective opening 4 supported by a frame 7 of the opening roof 1c.

[0028] For a fixed roof, the boss(es) 3 serve as interfaces for applying a shim for a fixed roof skin. No opening is shown in the figures for a frame 7 of a fixed roof 1c, but an opening 4 is shown in the figure 3 for a 5. crossbar closure.

[0029] To the figure 3 , it is visible that there are at least two bosses 3 which are arranged along a length of the rear rebate 2a of the front cross member 2. The two bosses 3 can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle of the length of the rear rebate 2a of the front cross member 2.

[0030] The two bosses 3 can be positioned between one-quarter and one-third of the length of the rear rebate 2a of the front cross member 2, measured from one longitudinal end of the rear rebate 2a. Thus, the two bosses 3 leave space in the middle longitudinal portion of the rear rebate 2a of the front cross member 2, while not being too far from or too close to the longitudinal ends of the rear rebate 2a.

[0031] As can be seen at the figure 2 , when the roof is not opening, the boss(es) 3 can serve as shoring elements for a non-opening roof skin 1a by applying against the inner face of the non-opening roof skin 1a so that this skin does not flex by bending downwards.

[0032] As it can also be seen at the figure 2 and also to the figure 3 , when the roof is openable, the assembly includes a crossbar closure 5 superimposed at least partially on the front crossbar 2. A portion of the crossbar closure 5 opposite the rear rebate 2a of the front crossbar 2 may include at least one opening 4 associated with said at least one boss 3.

[0033] The opening 4 or each opening 4 is of such dimensions that it allows the insertion of the boss 3 inside it so that the opening 4 is crossed with just sufficient play by the boss 3. The boss 3 can therefore only move slightly both in the width of the closure of the crossbar 5 and in its length when inserted in the opening 4.

[0034] As shown in the figure 2 When the roof is a retractable roof 1c, the retractable roof frame 7 1c can support a retractable roof trim 1b 1c, intended to conceal, in particular, the retractable roof frame 7 1c. The retractable roof trim 1b 1c can be secured to the retractable roof frame 7 1c by at least two beads of adhesive 6. In addition, the retractable roof frame can be connected to the upper cross member by a peripheral bead of adhesive which ensures the cohesion of the assembly and the watertightness.

[0035] Still referring to the figure 2 but also to the figure 1The front cross member 2 may have a longitudinal section in the shape of an enlarged U, i.e., with arms diverging from each other. A first arm 2a, 2b of the U may be directed towards the rear of the front cross member 2 and include the rear rebate 2a of the front cross member 2 bearing the boss(es) 3. The other arm of the U, i.e. the second arm 2c, 2d of the U, may be shorter than the first arm 2a, 2b of the U.

[0036] The second arm 2c, 2d of the U is directed towards the front of the front crossmember 2, that is, towards the windshield. The free ends of the first 2a, 2b and second arms 2c, 2d are curved. The base 2e of the U joins the first 2a, 2b and second arms 2c, 2d of the U.

[0037] The front cross member 2 of the roof can be a sheet metal. For a non-opening roof, one end of the non-opening roof skin 1a or, for an opening roof 1c, one closing end of the cross member 5 can be joined with the curved free end 2c of the second branch 2c, 2d of the front cross member 2, these elements being able to be welded together respectively.

[0038] The structure assembly can form a hollow region near the intersection between the roof arch and the front crossmember 2. Thus, such a hollow region increases the mechanical resistance of the structure assembly to stresses resulting from frontal and / or lateral impact and torsion of the body, which helps to limit the deflection of the roof arch during an impact or torsion.

[0039] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a sunroof 1c or a non-opening roof, including such a structural assembly.

[0040] The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only by way of example.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle body structure set forming a pavilion with an opening roof (1c) or a non-opening roof, the structured set consisting of at least one pavilion arc and one front bow (2) of a roof, joined to at least one pavilion arc, so that it is positioned near a top part of a front windscreen bay, the front bow (2) having a back rebate (2a), extending horizontally from at least one pavilion arc, the front bow (2) being configured to fit to an opening roof (1c) or a non-opening roof, the combination being characterized in that the back rebate (2a) of the front bow (2) has at least one boss (3) projecting towards the opening roof (1c) or the non-opening roof, the said at least one boss entering into a respective blanking (4), carried by a framework (7) of a opening roof (1c), or at least one boss (3) serving as a element for the non- roof.

2. Set in accordance with the previous claim, in which at least two bosses (3) are organised according to a length of the back rebate (2a) of the front bow (2), the two or more bosses (3) are organised symmetrically, in relation with the middle of the length of the back rebate (2a) of the front bow (2).

3. Set according to the previous claim, in which the said two or more bosses (3) are organised between one quarter and one third of the length of the back rebate (2a) of the front bow (2) from a longitudinal end of the back rebate (2a).

4. Set in accordance with any of the preceding claims, in which, when the roof is not an opening one, the said at least one boss (3) is used as an interface to place a stalling mastic for a non-opening roof outer layer (1a).

5. Set under one of claims 1 to 3, in which the set includes a crossmember closing (5) at least partially overlapped with the front bow (2), a portion of the crossmember closing (5) opposite the back rebate (2a) front bow (2) having at least one blanking (4) associated to at least one boss (3).

6. Set according to one of the claims 1 to 3 or according to claim 5, in which the framework (7) of an opening roof (1c) supports one hubcap (1b) of an opening roof (1c).

7. Set according to the previous claim, in which the opening roof (1c) is connected to the top crossmember by a peripheral glue cord.

8. Set in accordance with any of the preceding claims, in which the front bow (2) has an enlarged U-shaped longitudinal segment, a first branch (2a, 2b) of the U directed towards the back of the front bow (2), bearing at least one boss (3) longer than a second branch (2c, 2d) of the U directed towards the front of the front cross (2).

9. Set according to one of the claims 1 to 4 in combination with claim 8, in which an outer layer (1a) of the non-opening roof is applied and welded at a free end (2d) of the second branch (2c, 2d) of the U.

10.

10. Motor vehicle with an opening roof (1c) or a non-opening roof, characterized as it includes a structure set according to any of the previous claims.