Floor arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor (11) arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, the floor (11) arrangement (1) comprising a floor (11) extending between two side rails (13) of the motor vehicle, a heel board (12) that extends across the floor (11) and comprises a rabbet (121) forming a folded edge that bears against the floor (11). According to the invention, the rabbet (121) of the heel board (12) is shaped in a manner similar to that of the floor (11), relative to a transverse axis (Y), such that the rabbet (121) bears against the floor (11) along the transverse axis (Y). In addition, the floor (11) comprises at least one boss (111) forming a depression that extends along a longitudinal axis (X) so as to provide a flow channel for cataphoresis fluid under the heel board (12).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title of the invention: Floor arrangement for a motor vehicle

[0003]

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2403724 filed on April 11, 2024, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The technical context of the present invention is that of structural elements for motor vehicles, and in particular those located under the passenger compartment. More particularly, the invention relates to a floor arrangement for a motor vehicle.

[0004] [2] In the state of the art, floor arrangements are known which extend under the passenger compartment and which make it possible to support seats for the occupants of the motor vehicle. Such floor arrangements thus delimit a substantially flat surface which extends longitudinally from front to rear and, transversely, between two side members of the motor vehicle. Of course, such a floor is possibly supported by one or more side cross members.

[0005] [3] At the level of a front part of the floor, we know of the existence of a heel board which extends across said floor, between the two side rails. The heel board is fixed securely to the floor and, where applicable, to the side rails.

[0006] [4] In order to prevent premature rusting of the chassis elements of motor vehicles, the cataphoresis process is known, which consists of immersing the chassis elements in a bath of water-soluble anti-rust paint. The immersed chassis elements are polarized via an electric current allowing the paint particles suspended in the bath to migrate and deposit towards said chassis elements. This process ensures uniform deposition of the anti-rust paint on all the immersed chassis elements.

[0007] [5] However, for a total application of the paint during the bath, it is appropriate that all surfaces are immersed and in contact with the bath. Consequently, the geometry of the known chassis elements must not form closed parts, nor include shapes for retaining the anti-rust paint thus applied. [6] However, on the known chassis elements, the arrangement of grooves on the rebate of the heel board is known in order to allow the circulation of the anti-rust paint from a rear part of the floor to a front part located beyond the heel board. Such grooves thus form channels arranged on the rebate of the heel board, by embossing the rebate, so as to allow a fluid flow through the heel board, and more particularly between the heel board and the floor, through the grooves.Thus, the anti-rust paint applied by cataphoresis can be evacuated from the floor through these grooves, leading to a circulation of the anti-rust paint towards the front of the heel board.

[0008] [7] The disadvantage of these grooves is that they cause weak areas on the heel board and for the known chassis elements. In particular, in the event of a side impact against such known chassis elements, the grooves form fracture or bending incipients, concentrating the mechanical stresses resulting from the side impact. Of course, this situation is not desired.

[0009] [8] The object of the present invention is to provide a novel floor arrangement to at least largely address the foregoing problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0010] [9] Another object of the invention is to allow the flow of the cataphoresis fluid through the heel board while reinforcing the rigidity of such a floor arrangement to lateral impacts.

[0011]

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a floor arrangement for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement comprising:

[0012]

[0011] - a floor extending between two side members of the motor vehicle;

[0013]

[0012] - a heel board which extends across the floor, between the two side members, said heel board comprising a rebate forming a folded edge resting against the floor and fixed securely to said floor.

[0014]

[0013] According to the invention, the rebate of the heel board is flat and the floor comprises at least one boss forming a depression extending along a longitudinal axis so as to provide a channel under the heel board.

[0014] In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood in a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior and exterior refer to such a transverse axis.Furthermore, the longitudinal axis extends as being taken along a direction that extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis. The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. Finally, the vertical axis is understood as being taken along an axis that extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis and to the longitudinal axis. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis.

[0015]

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the floor extends under the passenger compartment and allows the subsequent attachment of seats for the occupants of the motor vehicle. The floor delimits a substantially flat surface which extends longitudinally from front to rear and, transversely, between two lateral side members of the motor vehicle. Relative to the vertical axis, there is, above the floor, the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and, below the floor, transmission elements in the case of a thermal motor vehicle or a battery module in the case of a hybrid or electric motor vehicle.

[0016]

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the lateral side member forms a prismatic span which extends relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, at each lateral edge of said motor vehicle. The lateral side members form structural elements of the motor vehicle to which other parts of the motor vehicle are attached. The lateral side members thus provide the rigidity necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle, during driving sequences, but also in the event of an accident in order to transmit the forces resulting from said impact towards absorption devices or towards the running gear of the motor vehicle, for example. The lateral side members are generally formed from steel profiles giving the body structure its robustness.

[0017]

[0017] In the context of the present invention, the heel board forms a cross member which extends relative to the transverse axis. The heel board has a prismatic bearing surface. The heel board is secured to the floor. The heel board bears against the floor, and it is located at a front portion or a rear portion of the floor, relative to the longitudinal axis. The heel board extends vertically or substantially vertically; and it extends over the entire width of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, between the two side rails. The heel board is fixed by its end edges to the side rails of the motor vehicle, and it is fixed to the floor by means of a rebate forming a flap against the floor.

[0018]

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the at least one boss forms a groove arranged in the floor. Each boss thus forms a cavity which extends over the floor mainly along the longitudinal axis. In other words, each boss forms a groove so as to provide a space between said groove and the rebate of the heel board. Thus, the floor - taken at the level of each boss - is located at a distance from the rebate, relative to the vertical axis, so as to subsequently allow the flow of a cataphoresis fluid in the groove and through the heel board.

[0019]

[0019] Thus, the floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention makes it possible to facilitate the flow of the cataphoresis fluid under the heel board. In addition, the rebate of the heel board is now flat, that is to say it has a shape which is analogous to the shape of the floor under the heel board, so as to no longer have folds which formed - on known floor arrangements - incipient breaks and / or folds in the event of a side impact. Thus, the floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention now solves the technical problem presented above.

[0020]

[0020] The floor arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0021]

[0021] - each boss extends under the rebate and under the heel board. In particular, each boss extends on either side of the heel board, relative to the longitudinal axis. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to facilitate the flow of cataphoresis fluid on the floor and under the heel board, from front to back, relative to the longitudinal axis;

[0022]

[0022] - advantageously, the floor comprises a plurality of bosses distributed between the two side members. According to an alternative embodiment, the bosses are all identical. Alternatively, the bosses are all different, or at least one of them differs from the others. Generally speaking, the bosses take the form of grooves arranged on the floor. The bosses are for example formed by stamping;

[0023]

[0023] - the bosses have a transverse profile, taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in a “U” or “V” shape. Generally, each boss is delimited by a bottom wall parallel or substantially parallel to the plane of elongation of the floor - taken outside the bosses - and delimited on either side, relative to the transverse axis, by two side walls which extend in a secant manner relative to the bottom wall. The side walls form with the bottom wall an angle of between 90° and 150° for example;

[0024]

[0024] - by way of non-limiting example, each boss has a height, taken along the vertical axis, greater than 1 mm in order to facilitate the flow of the cataphoresis fluid under the heel board. In the context of the present invention, the height of the bosses is measured between the bottom wall and the rebate of the heel board located opposite. Preferably the height of the bosses is between 1 mm and 3 mm;

[0025]

[0025] - preferably, the bosses all extend in a rectilinear manner. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to simplify the formation of the bosses on the floor and to facilitate their distribution on said floor;

[0026]

[0026] - advantageously, the bosses all extend parallel to each other;

[0027] - the heel board is fixedly attached to the floor by means of a plurality of welding points connecting the rebate to said floor, the welding points being located between two adjacent bosses. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to optimize the connection between the heel board and the floor. Cleverly, a distance between two adjacent bosses, taken relative to the transverse axis, is between 5 mm and 25 mm in order to allow easy welding of the rebate to the part of the floor located opposite.

[0027]

[0028] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising a floor arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements.

[0028]

[0029] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, in all their possible combinations, the various optional features set out herein.

[0029]

[0030] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0030]

[0031] [Fig.1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a floor arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

[0031]

[0032] [Fig.2] illustrates a detail view of the floor arrangement shown in FIGURE 1;

[0032]

[0033] [Fig.3] illustrates a three-dimensional view of the floor arrangement of FIGURE 1 in which the heel board is shown transparently to facilitate understanding;

[0033]

[0034] [Fig.4] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the floor arrangement shown in FIGURE 1.

[0034]

[0035] Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0035]

[0036] In particular, all the variants and embodiments described can be combined with each other if there is no technical obstacle to this combination.

[0036]

[0037] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0037]

[0038] In the FIGURES described below, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the floor arrangement 11 according to the invention is intended to be mounted.

[0038]

[0039] More specifically, the transverse axis Y is understood to be a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood to be a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior and exterior refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0039]

[0040] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as taken along a direction that extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives frontal, front, and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0040]

[0041] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood to be taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0041]

[0042] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 4, the invention relates to a floor arrangement 11 for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement 11 comprising

[0042]

[0043] - a floor 11 extending between two side members 13 of the motor vehicle;

[0044] - a heel board 12 which extends across the floor 11, between the two side members 13, said heel board 12 comprising a rebate 121 forming a folded edge resting against the floor 11 and fixed securely to said floor 11.

[0043]

[0045] As can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the floor 11 forms a predominantly flat surface, but the invention is not limiting of this conformation, and it could quite easily be adapted to curved or leveled floors 11. In all cases, the heel board 12 has an elongation along the transverse axis Y which is adapted, that is to say analogous or identical to the shape of the floor 11 along the transverse axis Y. Thus, if along the transverse axis Y, the floor 11 is rectilinear, then the heel board 12 has a rectilinear elongation so as to bear against the floor 11 along the transverse axis Y. Conversely, if along the transverse axis Y, the floor 11 is curved, then the heel board 12 has a curved elongation so as to bear against the floor 11 along the transverse axis Y.

[0044]

[0046] The heel board 12 forms a reinforcing crosspiece which extends from one lateral edge to the other of the floor 11. The heel board 12 has a prismatic bearing surface and a rebate 121 which forms a flap at a lower edge in contact with the floor 11. The rebate 121 thus forms a connecting surface for the heel board 12 on the floor 11. Depending on the shape of the floor 11, the shape of the rebate 121 and that of the heel board 12 is adapted - as described above - so as to allow surface support of the rebate 121 against the floor 11.

[0045]

[0047] The rebate 121 thus forms a flap of sufficient width to allow welding along the floor 11, relative to the transverse axis Y. By way of non-limiting example, the rebate 121 has a width, measured along the longitudinal axis X, of the order of several millimeters, greater than around ten millimeters.

[0046]

[0048] Cleverly, the invention provides that the rebate 121 of the heel board 12 has a general conformation similar to the shape of the floor 11 along the transverse axis Y; and the floor 11 comprises at least one boss 111 forming a depression extending along a longitudinal axis X so as to provide a channel under the heel board 12.

[0047]

[0049] Thus, the floor 11 is not completely flat, but it comprises at least one - and preferably several - bosses 111 which extend towards the heel board 12. Each boss 111 takes the form of a depression, that is to say a groove, a groove, formed in the floor 11 itself. Typically, the boss(es) 111 are formed by stamping the floor 11.

[0048]

[0050] In the embodiment illustrated in the FIGURES, the bosses 111 are all identical. Furthermore, the bosses 111 all extend in a rectilinear manner, along the longitudinal axis X. The bosses 111 are all parallel to each other.

[0049]

[0051] As seen in FIGURE 3, the bosses 111 extend from a portion of the floor 11 located behind the heel board 12, to a portion of the floor 11 located in front of the heel board 12. The bosses 111 extend continuously between the rear portion of the floor 11 and the front portion of the floor 11. In other words, the depressions formed by the bosses 111 extend at least between the rear portion and the front portion of the floor 11, without interruption. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to facilitate the flow of the cataphoresis fluid between the rear portion of the board and the front portion of the floor 11, or vice versa. Advantageously, each boss 111 extends from a rear edge of the floor 11 to a front edge of the floor 11.

[0050]

[0052] As seen in more detail in FIGURE 4, each boss 111 forms a depression on the floor 11, so that said depression also extends under the heel board 12. In particular, each boss 111 takes the form of a groove delimited by:

[0051]

[0053] - a bottom wall parallel or substantially parallel to the plane of elongation of the floor 11 - taken outside the bosses 111. The bottom wall extends mainly along the longitudinal axis X;

[0052]

[0054] - two side walls that extend on either side of the back wall, relative to the transverse axis Y. The side walls extend mainly along the longitudinal axis X. The side walls extend in a secant manner relative to the back wall. The side walls form, for example, an angle of between 90° and 150° with the back wall.

[0053]

[0055] More generally, each boss 111 has a transverse profile, taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, in a “U” or “V” shape.

[0054]

[0056] Thus, the presence of the bosses 111 makes it possible to provide a flow channel for the cataphoresis fluid, along the longitudinal axis X and along the floor 11. In particular, each boss 111 defines a flow channel which is not interrupted, that is to say which is not obstructed, by the heel board 12, so that the cataphoresis fluid can flow from one side to the other of the heel board 12, relative to the longitudinal axis X. By way of non-limiting example, each boss 111 has a height, taken along the vertical axis Z, greater than 1 mm in order to facilitate the flow of the cataphoresis fluid under the heel board 12.

[0055]

[0057] In summary, the invention relates to a floor arrangement 11 for a motor vehicle, the floor arrangement 11 comprising a floor 11 extending between two side members 13 of the motor vehicle, a heel board 12 which extends across the floor 11 and comprising a rebate 121 forming a folded edge bearing against the floor 11. According to the invention, the rebate 121 of the heel board 12 has a conformation similar to that of the floor 11, relative to a transverse axis Y, so that the rebate 121 bears against the floor 11 along the transverse axis Y. In addition, the floor 11 comprises at least one boss 111 forming a depression extending along a longitudinal axis X so as to provide a flow channel for the cataphoresis fluid under the heel board 12.

[0056]

[0058] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Arrangement (1) of floor (11) for motor vehicle, the arrangement (1) of floor (11) comprising: - a floor (11) extending between two side members (13) of the motor vehicle; - a heel board (12) which extends across the floor (11), between the two side members (13), said heel board (12) comprising a rebate (121) forming a folded edge resting against the floor (11) and fixed integrally to said floor (11); characterized in that the rebate (121) of the heel board (12) is flat and in that the floor (11) comprises at least one boss (111) forming a depression extending along a longitudinal axis (X) so as to provide a channel under the heel board (12).

2. Arrangement (1) of floor (11) according to the preceding claim, in which each boss (111) extends under the rebate (121) and under the heel board (12).

3. Arrangement (1) of floor (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each boss (111) extends on either side of the heel board (12), relative to the longitudinal axis (X).

4. Arrangement (1) of floor (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the floor (11) comprises a plurality of bosses (111) distributed between the two lateral side members (13).

5. Arrangement (1) of floor (11) according to the preceding claim, in which the bosses (111) all extend in a rectilinear manner.

6. Arrangement (1) of floor (11) according to the preceding claim, in which the bosses (111) all extend parallel to each other.

7. A floor (11) arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the heel board (12) is securely attached to the floor (11) via a plurality of anchor points. weld connecting the rebate (121) to said floor (11), the weld points being located between two adjacent bosses (111).

8. Motor vehicle comprising a floor (11) arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, i

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