MODULAR FRONT FOOT REINFORCEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the front structure of a motor vehicle. Previous technique

[0002] The structure of a motor vehicle includes, on each side, a front pillar forming a hollow body, which notably supports a roof and a front door. This front pillar may also include at least one reinforcement designed to strengthen the front pillar, in order to limit damage to the structure in the event of a frontal or side impact.

[0003] The published patent documents JP 2014-180891 and US 2016 / 257344 A1 disclose a hinge reinforcement located in the front pillar of the vehicle. Each reinforcement has a U-shaped cross-section and includes a mounting surface for the hinge and two lateral portions. Each reinforcement also includes an upper extension forming a hook, but, being specific to a front pillar, it lacks modularity. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More specifically, the invention aims to improve the reinforcement of the forefoot, regardless of its cross-sectional size.

[0005] The invention relates to a front foot reinforcement for a motor vehicle, intended to be placed in a hollow body formed by said front foot and remarkable in that said reinforcement comprises: a first stamped part with two parallel walls and a transverse wall connecting the two parallel walls to an edge of each of said walls; and a second stamped part connecting the two parallel walls, at a distance from the transverse wall.

[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the two parallel walls of the first stamped part includes a tab for fixing to a lateral wall of the hollow body formed by the front foot.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the two parallel walls of the first stamped part includes at least one stiffening indentation and / or a folded edge.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second stamped part forms a wall and, at two opposite edges of said wall, two tabs for fixing to the two parallel walls of the first stamped part.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second stamping forms, at two opposite edges of the wall of said stamping and distinct from the edges with the fixing tabs, folded stiffening portions.

[0010] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising: two front feet formed, each, by a front foot stamping of U cross-section and a front wing lining with a U cross-section opposite to the U cross-section of the front foot stamping, said stamping and said lining being assembled mutually so as to form a hollow body, and a front foot reinforcement housed in the hollow body of each of the two front feet, remarkable in that each of the front foot reinforcements is according to the invention, the two parallel walls of the first stamping being horizontal and the transverse wall of said stamping being against an inner front or rear face of the hollow body.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the transverse wall of the first stamped part is against and fixed to an inner face of the wing lining.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the two parallel walls of the first stamped part includes a tab for fixing to a lateral wall of the hollow body formed by the front foot, and the tabs for fixing are against and fixed to an internal lateral face of the corresponding hollow body.

[0013] Advantageously, the front foot also includes an additional front foot reinforcement. This additional reinforcement is advantageously positioned at the upper hinge and comprises five walls: lateral, front, rear, upper, and lower walls, with openings for attaching the hinge to the front foot stamping. The front and rear walls are in contact with the front and rear inner faces of the hollow body.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method for dimensioning the body structure of a motor vehicle, said structure comprising: two front legs formed, each, by a front leg stamping with a U-shaped cross-section and a front wing lining with a U-shaped cross-section opposite to the U-shaped cross-section of the front leg stamping, said stamping and said lining being assembled mutually so as to form a hollow body, and a reinforcement housed in each of said hollow bodies; remarkable in that each of the reinforcements is according to the invention, and the same reinforcements are used for different vehicle models with different front leg geometries, said reinforcements being fixed directly exclusively on the wing lining and the two parallel walls of the first stamping of each of said reinforcements being at a distance from the front leg stamping in at least one of the geometries.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for dimensioning the body structure of a motor vehicle, said structure comprising: two front legs formed, each, by a front leg stamping with a U-shaped cross-section and a front wing liner with a U-shaped cross-section opposite to the U-shaped cross-section of the front leg stamping, said stamping and said liner being assembled mutually so as to form a hollow body, and a reinforcement housed in each of said hollow bodies; remarkable in that each of the reinforcements is according to the invention, the second stamping being common to the same vehicle model with a front leg geometry, the first stamping being specific to a thermal propulsion configuration and an electric propulsion configuration of said model.

[0016] Advantageously, the front foot reinforcements adapted for an electric propulsion vehicle each have an indexing tab capable of allowing their differentiation from the front foot reinforcements adapted for a thermal propulsion vehicle.

[0017] The features of the invention are interesting because they allow for modularity of the front strut reinforcements. Two embodiments of the invention exist for each reinforcement, adapted to either internal combustion engine vehicles or electric vehicles. Furthermore, depending on the vehicle model, a difference in the thickness of the front strut is possible. The front strut reinforcements according to the invention adapt to several front strut configurations within a given tolerance range. This avoids modifying the reinforcement depending on the vehicle model chosen, thus reducing production costs. Installation is identical regardless of the model or type of propulsion chosen, thereby reducing assembly time. Moreover, the number of welds required to attach the reinforcements to the front strut is virtually identical between an internal combustion engine vehicle and an electric vehicle.Ordinarily, additional reinforcements are necessary in an electric vehicle due to the added mass of the traction batteries. In this case, the reinforcement adds very little mass, primarily because of the similarity in design between the individual reinforcements.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description and drawings. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] [ Fig 1 ] is a perspective view of a motor vehicle according to the invention; [ Fig 2 ] represents a view of the front foot stamping with the two front foot reinforcements according to a first embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 3 ] represents the lower reinforcement of the figure 2 , attached to the front wing lining; [ Fig 4 ] represents the lower reinforcement of the figures 2 And 3 ; Fig 5] represents a cross-sectional view of the lower reinforcement of the figures 2 , 3 and 4 , viewed downwards, with two different front foot geometries; Fig 6 ] represents a cross-sectional view as shown in the figure 5 , but viewed from above, with two different front foot geometries; Fig 7 ] represents an upper front foot reinforcement, as shown in the figure 2 ; Fig 8 ] represents a view of the front foot stamping with two front foot reinforcements according to a second embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 9 ] represents the lower reinforcement of the figure 8 ; Fig 10 ] represents the upper reinforcement of the figure 8 . Detailed description

[0020] There are many different models of automobiles, each available in either a combustion engine or electric powertrain configuration. Consequently, differences in front-end geometry can be found between models. Variations in rigidity are also apparent between electric and combustion engine vehicles of the same model. Electric vehicles are generally heavier and require more reinforcement to better withstand impacts.

[0021] There figure 1shows a perspective view of a motor vehicle according to the invention. This vehicle (1; 101) may have the characteristics of a combustion engine vehicle 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention, or the characteristics of an electric vehicle 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The body structure of the vehicle (1; 101) comprises, on each side of the vehicle (1; 101), a front pillar (3; 103), a front fender (15; 115) positioned in front of the front pillar (3; 103), and a front door (13; 113). The front pillar (3; 103) forms a hollow body, consisting of a stamped front pillar (visible in the figure 2 ) of U-shaped cross-section and a front wing liner (visible at the figure 3with a U-shaped cross-section opposite to the cross-section of the front foot section. The front foot section and the front fender liner are joined at their front and rear ends to form the hollow body. The front foot hollow body (3; 103) has two front foot reinforcements (20, 41; 120, 141) (3; 103), a lower reinforcement (20; 120), and an additional upper reinforcement (41; 141). The steering axis x shown in these figures denotes the direction of travel of the vehicle (1; 101).

[0022] THE figures 2 And 3These are diagrams reproducing, respectively, the front foot stamping or the front wing liner with reinforcements according to the first embodiment of the invention. The lower reinforcement 20 of the front foot comprises a first stamping 21 and a second stamping 31. The first stamping 21 consists of two parallel walls, upper 23 and lower 25, and a transverse wall 27. The transverse wall 27 connects the two upper walls 23 and lower walls 25 together. The transverse wall 27 is preferably positioned towards a rear inner face 11 of the hollow body of the front foot. The upper walls 23 and lower walls 25 comprise, respectively, an upper attachment tab 23B and a lower attachment tab 25B, this attachment being made to a lateral wall 7A of the front wing liner 7, and more preferably to a lateral inner face 7B of said liner 7.This attachment is preferably achieved by welding, and more preferably by spot welding. The second stamped part 31 connects the upper wall 23 and lower wall 25, at a distance from the transverse wall 27. The second stamped part 31 and the horizontal upper wall 23 and lower wall 25 are advantageously positioned in contact with a front inner face 9 of the hollow body. The second stamped part 31 includes a wall 33 that extends longitudinally in the front foot, between the upper wall 23 and lower wall 25 of the first stamped part 21. This wall 33 includes a lateral tab 40 that extends forward from the first stamped part 21.

[0023] The additional front foot reinforcement 41 comprises a side wall 43 in contact with the front foot stamping 5, as well as front walls 45, rear walls 47, upper walls 49, and lower walls 51. The front walls 45 and rear walls 47 are in contact with the front inner faces 9 and rear inner faces 11 of the hollow body forming the front foot, respectively. The additional front foot reinforcement 41 is preferably attached by welding, and more preferably by spot welding. This additional reinforcement 41 is a front door hinge reinforcement.

[0024] There figure 4 is an enlarged view of the lower reinforcement shown in figures 2 And 3The first stamped section 21 comprises the upper wall 23 and lower wall 25, connected to the transverse wall 27 by upper edges 23A and lower edges 25A, respectively. Each of the upper wall 23 and lower wall 25 includes, in addition to the fixing tabs (23B, 25B), reinforcing elements (23C, 25C), two for the upper wall 23 and one for the lower wall 25. The upper wall 23 and lower wall 25 also include a folded edge (23D, 25D). The second stamped section 31 has an S-shape, with the wall 33 and two upper edges 35 and lower edges 37, extended respectively by upper fixing tabs 35A and lower fixing tabs 37A. The wall 33 also includes a median stiffening reinforcement 39. The fixing tabs (35A, 37A) serve to fix the second stamped part 31 to the upper 23 and lower 25 walls of the first stamped part 21.The second stamped part 31 further includes folded stiffening portions, separate from the edges (35, 37) and the fixing tabs (35A, 37A).

[0025] THE figures 5 and 6 They show sections at the level of the lower front foot reinforcement, with two distinct front foot geometries. figure 5 is a downward view, and the figure 6is a top view. In these figures, it can be seen that the upper 23 and lower 25 walls of the lower reinforcement 20 of the front foot 3 are adapted to the tightest front foot 3 configuration, where the front foot indentation 5 is shown in dashed lines. Thus, this reinforcement 20 can also adapt to all larger front foot 3 geometries. In larger front foot 3 geometries, the reinforcement 20 is positioned directly and exclusively against the wing lining 7, the two upper 23 and lower 25 walls of the first indentation being at a distance from the corresponding front foot indentation 5 (shown in solid lines). Similarly, the thickness of the transverse wall 27 is adapted to the tightest wing lining 7 configuration (particularly visible in the figure 6 (the tightest configuration is represented by dotted lines).

[0026] There figure 7shows the additional front foot reinforcement as shown in the figure 2 The side wall 43 of the additional reinforcement 41 has a lateral abutment face 43A, in contact with the underlying front foot indentation (visible in the figure 2 ). The front wall 45 and rear wall 47 each have a front docking face 45A and a rear docking face 47A, these faces (45A, 47A) being capable of coming into contact with the internal front and rear faces, visible at the figure 2, of the front foot stamping. The walls (45, 47) further have an upper extension (45B, 47B) and a lower extension (45C, 47C), which allow, respectively, the attachment of said walls (45, 47) to the lower 49B and upper 51B faces of the upper 49 and lower 51 walls. This attachment is preferably achieved by weld points 57. The upper 49 and lower 51 walls each include a lateral edge (49A, 51A). The lateral 43 and rear 47 walls further include openings 55, suitable for attaching the corresponding hinge to the underlying front foot stamping (visible in the figure 2 ). The additional reinforcement 41 also includes stiffening ribs 53 improving the rigidity of the reinforcement 41, particularly during a frontal impact, these ribs 53 being positioned between the upper wall 49, and lower wall 51, and each of the extensions (45B, 45C, 47B, 47C) of the front wall 45 and rear wall 47.

[0027] THE figures 8 to 10 These figures present the front foot reinforcements according to a second embodiment of the invention, in an electric vehicle configuration. These figures retain the numbering of the preceding figures for identical or similar elements, the numbering being incremented by 100. Reference is also made to the description of these elements in relation to the first embodiment of the invention.

[0028] The lower front foot reinforcement 120 comprises a first stamped section 121, with upper wall 123, transverse wall 127, and lower wall 125. An additional upper portion 129 is positioned on the upper wall 123. This additional upper portion 129 improves the rigidity of the reinforcement 120 in an electric vehicle; it includes the upper attachment tab 129A to the underlying fender liner (not visible on the figures 8 to 10A cross-shaped stiffening reinforcement 129B is also positioned on the face of the upper additional portion 129 in contact with the upper portion 123. This upper additional portion 129 further includes openings 129C for attaching the reinforcement 120. The lower wall 125 includes an indexing tab 125E, positioned on the side of the transverse wall 127, this tab 125E being suitable for facilitating the identification of the reinforcement 120.

[0029] The additional front foot reinforcement 141 is a thicker stamping than the stamping produced for reinforcing internal combustion engine vehicles. This reinforcement 141 also features an indexing tab 145D, extending from the front wall 145 and oriented towards the inside of the stamping 141. This indexing tab 145B facilitates the identification of said stamping 141. Other slight differences are found on this stamping 141, such as the shapes of the extensions (145B, 145C, 147B, 147C), which are not described but visible in the Figure 10 which notably facilitate its manufacture.

Claims

1. Reinforcement (20; 120) of the front foot (3; 103) of a motor vehicle (1; 101), intended to be arranged in a hollow body formed by said front foot (3; 103), comprising: - a first stamped portion (21; 121) with two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125) and a transverse wall (27; 127) connecting the two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125) to an edge (23A, 25A; 125A) of each of said walls (23, 25; 123, 125); and - a second stamped portion (31; 131) connecting the two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125), at a distance from the transverse wall (27; 127), the second stamped portion (31; 131) form ing a wall (33; 133) and, at two opposite edges (35, 37; 135, 137) of said wall (33; 133), two fixing lugs (35A, 37A; 135A, 137A) to the two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125) of the first stamped portion (21; 121), characterized in that the second stamped portion (31; 131) forms at two opposite edges (35, 37; 135, 137) of the wall (33; 133) of said stamped portion (31; 131) and distinct from the edges (35, 37; 15, 37) with the fixing lugs (35 A, 37 A; 135 A, 137 A), folded stiffening portions.

2. Reinforcement (20; 120) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125) of the first stamped portion (21; 121) comprises a fixing lug (23B, 25B; 129A, 125B) to a side wall (7A) of the hollow body formed by the front foot (3; 103).

3. Reinforcement (20; 120) according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each of the two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125) of the first stamped portion (21; 121) comprises at least one stiffening recess (23C, 25C; 129B, 125C) and / or a folded edge (23D, 25D; 123B, 125D).

4. Motor vehicle (1; 101) comprising: - two front legs (3; 103) each formed by a press (5; 105) of the front leg (3; 103) of U-shaped cross-section and a front wing lining (7; 107) with a U-shaped cross-section opposite the U-shaped cross-section of the press (5; 105) of the front leg (3; 103), said press (5; 105) and said lining (7; 107) being mutually assembled so as to form a hollow body, and - a reinforcement (20; 120) of the front foot (3; 103) housed in the hollow body of each of the two front feet (3; 103), characterized in that each of the reinforcements (20; 120) of the front foot (3; 103) is according to one of claims 1 to 3, the two parallel walls (23, 25; 123, 125) of the first stamped portion (21; 121) being horizontal and the transverse wall (27; 127) of said stamped portion (21; 121) being against a front (9; 109) or rear (11; 111) inner face of the hollow body.

5. Motor vehicle (1; 101) according to claim 4, characterized in that the transverse wall (27; 127) of the first stamped portion (21; 121) is against and fixed to an internal face (7B) of the wing lining (7; 107).

6. Motor vehicle (1; 101) according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that each of the reinforcements (20; 120) is according to Claim 2 and the fixing lugs (23B, 25B; 129A, 125B) are against and fixed to a lateral internal face (7B) of the corresponding hollow body.

7. Method for dimensioning the body structure of a motor vehicle (1), said structure comprising: - two front legs (3) each formed by a front leg press (5) (3) of U-shaped cross-section and a front wing lining (7) with a U-shaped cross-section opposite the U-shaped cross-section of the front leg press (5) (3), said press (5) and said lining (7) being mutually assembled so as to form a hollow body, and a reinforcement (20) housed in each of said hollow bodies; characterized in that each of the reinforcements (20) is according to one of claims 1 to 3, and the same reinforcements (20) are used for different vehicle models (1) with different front foot geometries (3), said reinforcements (20) being fixed directly exclusively to the wing lining (7) and the two parallel walls (23, 25) of the first stamped portion (21) of each of said reinforcements (20) being at a distance from the front foot stamped portion (5) (3) in at least one of the geometries, or the second stamped portion (31; 31) is common to a same vehicle model (1; 101) with a geometry of the front foot (3; 103), the first stamped part (21; 121) being specific to a thermal propulsion configuration and an electric propulsion configuration of said model.