Shock-absorbing structure for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing structure (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one profiled member (14) comprising a core made of composite material and a plastic reinforcing structure, the shock-absorbing structure comprising at least one metal attachment insert (38) configured to attach the profiled member (14) to a wall (4) of a hollow body (2) by welding, the metal attachment insert (38) being mounted in a receptacle formed by the plastic reinforcing structure.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Shock absorption structure of a motor vehicle

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, and more particularly to structures enabling the protection of their equipment in the event of an impact.

[0004] Motor vehicles, particularly hybrid and electric vehicles, are equipped with battery modules that are usually located on the vehicle floor. These battery modules are fragile components that must be protected in the event of an accident or any other incident that could damage them. For example, it is important to protect the battery modules from potential side impacts to the vehicle, such as those resulting from contact between the side of the vehicle and a pole. Protecting the battery modules involves absorbing the energy generated during contact or impact.

[0005] For this purpose, shock absorbers are known to be used, positioned along the sides of the vehicle. These shock absorbers are, for example, integrated into the vehicle's side members, or into hollow sections that contribute to the structure of the body side or that of a door or opening, and they are designed to deform under the forces exerted during the impact, thus absorbing the energy generated by said impact.

[0006] Shock absorbers can be made of metal, plastic, or composite materials, depending on the application. While plastic or composite shock absorbers have the advantage of being lighter than metal ones, they present challenges when attaching to the metal structural elements of the vehicles they are designed to equip.

[0007] The present invention falls within this context by proposing a shock absorber made of composite material whose attachment to a side member of the motor vehicle is facilitated by the presence of a metal insert allowing spot welding.

[0008] The present invention thus has as its main object a shock absorption structure for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one profiled element including a core of composite material and a plastic reinforcing structure, the shock absorption structure including at least one metallic fixing insert configured for fixing by welding the profiled element to a wall of a hollow body, the metallic fixing insert being mounted in a receptacle formed by the plastic reinforcing structure.

[0009] The shock-absorbing structure according to the invention is intended to be integrated into a motor vehicle in order to protect equipment such as a battery module of said motor vehicle in the event of a collision. The shock-absorbing structure is configured to absorb the energy resulting from such a collision, thereby preventing the transmission of this energy to the battery module. The shock-absorbing structure includes, in particular, a profiled element comprising both a composite core, for example in the form of a plastic sheet with reinforcing fibers, and a plastic reinforcing structure arranged around the composite body. The profiled element is intended to be located within a hollow metallic body that is a structural element of the vehicle, for example a side member, the profiled element being preferably positioned against a wall of this hollow body.The profiled component is designed to be secured to the hollow body by means of at least one metal fastening insert, or possibly several metal fastening inserts, particularly to ensure that the profiled component is positioned as close as possible to a wall of the hollow body. The metal fastening insert, the shape of which varies depending on the embodiment, is configured to secure the profiled component to the hollow body by spot welding, a process made possible because both elements to be welded are metallic. The metal fastening insert is mounted in a portion of the reinforcing plastic structure that protrudes from the composite body to form a receptacle. The metal fastening insert is, for example, press-fitted into the receptacle. The metal fastening insert is a metallic element that will be heated and deformed during the welding operation.In this respect, a metal fixing insert differs from, for example, a fixing screw. The metal fixing insert ensures proper positioning of the profiled component within the hollow body and also prevents vibrations and unwanted noise. According to an optional feature of the invention, the metal fixing insert includes a bearing surface against the profiled component.

[0010] This bearing surface provides enhanced contact between the metal fixing insert and the profiled component. The bearing surface can, for example, take the form of a shoulder conforming to the shape of the profiled component. This surface improves the fastening by helping to press the profiled component against the hollow body, the component being then clamped between the metal fixing insert and the hollow body during spot welding.

[0011] According to an optional feature of the invention, the metal fixing insert extends at least partially through the profiled member.

[0012] More specifically, the metal fixing insert extends through a wall of the profiled component intended to be in contact with the hollow body. The metal fixing insert extends more precisely within a recess or opening provided in this wall, so as to be in contact with the hollow body and to allow the passage of the welding clamp intended to make contact with the insert via this recess or opening, it being understood that the other welding clamp is pressed against the outside of the hollow body.

[0013] According to an optional feature of the invention, the profiled organ is formed of a row of cylindrical shapes.

[0014] Here, a "row" refers to several cylindrical shapes arranged side-by-side along the main elongation direction of the shock-absorbing structure. These cylindrical shapes are formed by the configuration of the composite material of the profiled component, specifically by a sinusoidal shape of the composite sheets forming the core of the profiled component. These cylindrical shapes are surrounded by the reinforcing plastic structure. The cylindrical shapes have a round or oval cross-section and are hollow due to their construction from composite sheets, with the reinforcing plastic structure extending around the outer perimeter of these cylindrical shapes. In other words, each cylindrical shape defines an opening that extends from one face of the profiled component to an opposite face. The profiled component can, for example, result from the combination of two sections, each consisting of a series of half-cylinders.Cylindrical shapes are particularly advantageous for achieving the absorption function, with the reinforcing fibers of the composite material arranged parallel to the axis of the cylinders and these cylinders arranged parallel to the direction of the shock to be absorbed.

[0015] According to an optional feature of the invention, the metal fixing insert extends within at least one of the cylindrical shapes.

[0016] This is a first embodiment in which the metal fastening insert is inserted within at least one of the cylindrical shapes; more specifically, the metal fastening insert extends at least partially within an internal volume of the hollow cylindrical shape. The cylindrical shapes are thus advantageous in this embodiment for allowing the passage of spot welding tools, particularly electrodes or clamps, through the profiled component so that they reach the metal fastening insert to be welded onto the hollow body. Therefore, in this embodiment, the shock-absorbing structure is designed and dimensioned to position metal fastening inserts within the cylindrical shapes to allow the passage of spot welding tools towards these inserts.

[0017] According to an optional feature of the invention, the metal fixing insert extends alternately within one cylindrical shape out of two.

[0018] It is understood that a metal fixing insert is not placed in every cylindrical shape, but rather in every other cylindrical shape along the main elongation direction of the shock-absorbing structure in order to reduce its weight. In other words, a given cylindrical shape containing a metal fixing insert is surrounded by two cylindrical shapes without metal fixing inserts. This allows for a regular distribution of the metal fixing inserts and thus a distribution of the fixing forces along the main elongation direction.

[0019] According to an optional feature of the invention, the receptacle formed by the plastic reinforcing structure of the profiled component is a raised edge arranged across the opening defined by the cylindrical shape in which the metal fastening insert extends. This raised edge contributes, for example, to forming a closing wall of the cylindrical shape at one of its longitudinal ends. The metal fastening insert passes through the raised edge, its bearing surface coming into contact with the raised edge.

[0020] According to an optional feature of the invention, an opening in the raised edge has a diameter between 1 and 3 cm, a metal fixing insert extending into the opening of said raised edge has a diameter between 5 and 15 cm.

[0021] In some embodiments, the raised edge has an opening designed to receive the metal fixing insert. The metal fixing insert is then press-fitted into the opening. This ensures that the metal fixing insert is held securely within the profiled component prior to spot welding. In other embodiments, the raised edge does not initially have an opening, and the opening is created by the press-fit insertion of the metal fixing insert.

[0022] According to an optional feature of the invention, the metal fixing insert is arranged between two successive cylindrical shapes.

[0023] This is an alternative embodiment in which a passage is formed within the profiled element, between the cylindrical shapes, and opens onto at least one of the longitudinal faces of the profiled element. These longitudinal faces are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical shapes. The metal fixing insert extends into this passage, positioned near the longitudinal face of the profiled element intended to be aligned with the wall of the hollow body to which the metal fixing insert is to be welded.

[0024] According to an optional feature of the invention, the metal fixing insert is offset from a straight line passing through the centers of the two cylindrical shapes.

[0025] According to an optional feature of the invention, the receptacle formed by the plastic reinforcing structure is a reinforcement attached to the outer peripheral surface of at least one of the cylindrical shapes. The reinforcement has a slot into which the metal fastening insert is inserted. This represents a second embodiment of the metal fastening insert, which then takes the form of a metal plate. The reinforcement plays the same role as the previously mentioned raised edge by providing an intermediate support between the profiled element and the metal fastening insert. Here again, the reinforcement is formed within the plastic reinforcing structure; that is, it is made from the same material as the plastic reinforcing structure. Alternatively, the intermediate support could be made separately and then attached to the profiled element by means of screws or adhesive.The cylindrical shapes are delimited by an internal peripheral surface, which partitions the previously mentioned opening, and by an external peripheral surface opposite the internal peripheral surface. The reinforcement forms a projection from this external peripheral surface, opposite the opening of the cylindrical shapes. The external peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical shapes contribute to forming lateral walls of the profiled element that extend from one longitudinal face to the other, and the reinforcement, designed to cooperate with the metal fixing insert, thus forms a projection of the profiled element in a direction perpendicular to the elongation axis of the cylinders.

[0026] Positioning the metal fixing insert outside the opening of the cylindrical shapes facilitates spot welding in terms of space requirements. Specifically, it allows the metal fixing insert to be welded onto a rebate in the hollow body that is easily accessible for the two welding clamps. This eliminates the need to size the openings in the cylindrical shapes based on the dimensions of the welding tools, and instead focuses solely on their impact absorption properties. Furthermore, the presence of this reinforcement simplifies the design and manufacture of the metal fixing insert, which has no shape constraints other than the ability to be inserted into the reinforcement slot.

[0027] The invention also relates to a shock absorption assembly comprising at least one shock absorption structure as previously mentioned and a hollow body, the profiled organ being disposed at least partially within the hollow body.

[0028] In other words, the hollow body helps to form a housing for the profiled component to which it is attached. Specifically, the hollow body can consist of a side member of a motor vehicle or a hollow body formed in the side of the body or a side panel of the vehicle.

[0029] According to an optional feature of the invention, the hollow body comprises a bottom wall opposite which extends a longitudinal face of the profiled member, the profiled member being fixed to the hollow body by welding the metal fixing insert onto this bottom wall.

[0030] The metal fixing insert according to the first embodiment, i.e. the metal insert disposed at least partially within one of the cylindrical shapes, allows the profiled member to be secured to the bottom wall of the hollow body, the cylindrical shapes allowing the passage of welding clamps through the profiled member so that these welding clamps can come into contact with the metal fixing inserts within the hollow body.

[0031] According to an optional feature of the invention, the hollow body comprises at least one rebate, the profiled member being fixed to the hollow body by welding the metal fixing insert onto said rebate.

[0032] The metal fixing insert according to the second embodiment, that is, the metal insert located within the reinforcement carried by the external peripheral surface of one of the cylindrical shapes, allows the profiled component to be secured to the rebate of the hollow body. The rebate of the hollow body may, in particular, be intended to be in contact with a closing wall of the hollow body; the metal fixing insert is then positioned between the rebate and the closing wall, with the insert being welded to the rebate before the closing wall is brought against the rebate.

[0033] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one shock absorption assembly as previously mentioned.

[0034] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description on the one hand, and the illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0035] [Fig. 1] illustrates, schematically, a shock absorption assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a shock absorption structure according to a first embodiment and a hollow body, said structure comprising a profiled element having cylindrical shapes and a plurality of metallic fixing inserts arranged within a part of the cylindrical shapes;

[0036] [Fig. 2] illustrates, schematically, a cross-sectional view of the shock absorption assembly of Figure 1;

[0037] [Fig. 3] illustrates, schematically, another cross-sectional view of the shock absorption assembly of Figure 1;

[0038] [Fig. 4] illustrates, schematically, a shock absorption structure suitable for forming a shock absorption assembly according to the invention, said absorption structure being here according to a second embodiment, in which the metallic fixing inserts are arranged outside the cylindrical forms of the profiled member.

[0039] The features, variations, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variations of the invention may include only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from prior art.

[0040] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0041] As a reminder, the present invention relates to a shock-absorbing structure 1 comprising at least one profiled element, including a composite core and a reinforcing plastic structure, and a metal fixing insert configured for welding the profiled element to the wall of a hollow body. This hollow body 2 forms, together with the shock-absorbing structure, a shock-absorbing assembly 100 intended for equipping a motor vehicle, for example, a hybrid electric vehicle, to provide protection in the event of a violent impact or contact with an element external to the motor vehicle.

[0042] The shock absorption assembly 100 can be used, in particular, to protect a vehicle's battery module from side impacts, i.e., impacts to the sides of the vehicle. The shock absorption assembly is positioned opposite the battery module for this purpose.

[0043] Figures 1 and 2 thus schematically illustrate a shock absorption assembly according to the invention, this shock absorption assembly being represented in perspective view in figure 1 and in cross-section view in figure 2.

[0044] As illustrated, the shock absorption assembly comprises a hollow body 2, which is a structural element of the motor vehicle. The hollow body 2 is, in particular, a side member. The hollow body 2 is made of metal. It includes a bottom wall 4 that extends primarily along a principal extension direction of the motor vehicle, corresponding to a principal elongation direction D of the shock absorption assembly 1, and two cover walls 6, 8 that border the bottom wall 4. The cover walls 6, 8 extend in planes inclined relative to the bottom wall 4, thus giving the hollow body 2 a C-shaped cross-section. The cover walls 6, 8 comprise, in a direction perpendicular to the ground on which the motor vehicle rests, a lower cover wall 6, i.e., closest to the ground, and an upper cover wall 8, i.e., further from the ground.Each of the covering walls 6, 8 is bordered by a rebate 10, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the covering wall 6, 8 that it borders.

[0045] The bottom wall 4 and the cover walls 6 and 8 help to define a receiving cavity 12 within the C-shaped hollow body 2. This receiving cavity 12 is clearly visible in Figure 2. This receiving cavity 12 is dimensioned to accommodate the shock-absorbing structure 1. If necessary, the shock-absorbing assembly 100 may include a closing wall that encloses the hollow body. The shock-absorbing structure 1 is housed within the volume defined by the hollow body 2 and the closing wall, which is not visible in the figures. The rebates 10 are then in contact with this closing wall and allow for its attachment, notably by welding.

[0046] The shock-absorbing structure 1 includes, in particular, a profiled element 14 that extends primarily along the main elongation direction D of the shock-absorbing assembly 1. It is made of two materials, with a core formed from a composite material, notably reinforced with fibers, and a reinforcing plastic structure. More specifically, the core consists of one or more sheets of composite material, which are shaped to arrange the reinforcing fibers optimally with respect to the direction of the impact whose forces must be absorbed. The reinforcing plastic structure, notably formed by local ribs arranged around the composite core, serves to maintain the composite core in the desired position before the impact of the shock.

[0047] The composite core is configured here so that the profiled element has a plurality of cylindrical shapes 16 which are arranged next to each other along the main elongation direction D of the shock absorption assembly 1. In some embodiments, the composite core of the profiled element 14 is formed of a first corrugated portion 17A and a second corrugated portion 17B, the assembly of the corrugations of the first and second portions 17A, 17B forming the cylindrical shapes 16.

[0048] These cylindrical shapes 16 are hollow tubes, which, depending on the embodiment, may have a round cross-section, as shown in Figure 1, or an oval cross-section, as shown in Figure 4. Each cylindrical shape 16 extends from a first end 18, intended to be aligned with the bottom wall of the hollow body 2 when the shock-absorbing structure is positioned within the hollow body, to a second end 20 opposite the first end 18. The first ends 18 of the cylindrical shapes 16 are situated within a first longitudinal face 22 of the profiled element, while the second ends 20 of the cylindrical shapes 16 are situated within a second longitudinal face 24 of the profiled element 14, opposite the first longitudinal face 22. It is thus understood that the cylindrical shapes 16 extend from one longitudinal face 22, 24 to the other of the profiled element 14.

[0049] As previously mentioned, the cylindrical shapes 16 are hollow. Each cylindrical shape 16 thus defines within itself an opening 26, delimited by an internal peripheral surface 28 of the cylindrical shape 16. This internal peripheral surface 28 is opposed, along an axial direction of the cylindrical shape, to an external peripheral surface 30. Two adjacent cylindrical shapes 16 are joined to each other by a connecting portion 32 of the profiled element 14, this connecting portion being formed either by the continuity of the composite material sheet forming the core of the profiled element or by the presence of plastic material forming the reinforcing structure of the profiled element. This connecting portion 32 corresponds to an extension of the external peripheral surface 30 of a given cylindrical shape 16 to the next cylindrical shape 16.The connecting portion 32 extends from the first longitudinal face 22 of the profiled organ 14 to its second longitudinal face 24.

[0050] As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and 2, some of the cylindrical shapes 16 are closed at their first end 18 by a closing wall 34 which extends across the opening 26 formed within the cylindrical shapes. This closing wall 34 may, in particular, be formed as a single piece with the plastic reinforcement structure of the profiled element, the closing wall then forming a dropped edge of this plastic reinforcement structure which is configured to at least partially cover the first end 18 of an associated cylindrical shape.

[0051] As can be seen in Figure 2 in particular, this closing wall 34 extends in relation to the bottom wall of the hollow body 2 when the shock absorption structure is housed in the hollow body.

[0052] The closing wall 34 includes a boss 36, which extends in a plane offset from a principal plane of the closing wall 34, opposite the web of the profiled element. In other words, the boss 36 forms a recess within the closing wall 34 that tends to move closer to the rear wall of the hollow body when the shock-absorbing structure is housed within the hollow body. Thus, and this is important to note in the context of spot welding via a fixing insert made integral with this closing wall as described below, it can be ensured that the boss 36 is in contact with, or in close proximity to, the rear wall of the hollow body, without the rest of the profiled element hindering this positioning.

[0053] According to the invention, the shock-absorbing structure 1 comprises at least one metal fastening insert 38 configured to secure the profiled element 14 to the hollow body 2 by spot welding. The metal fastening insert 38 enables spot welding of the profiled element 14, made of plastic and composite material, to the metal hollow body. The metal fastening insert 38 is shown in a first embodiment in Figures 1 to 3, and in two variants constituting a second embodiment in Figure 4.A given shock absorption structure 1 may include either one or more metal fixing inserts 38 according to the first embodiment, or one or more metal fixing inserts 38 according to the second embodiment, or both one or more metal fixing inserts 38 according to the first embodiment and one or more metal fixing inserts 38 according to the second embodiment.

[0054] The first embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In this first embodiment, the metal fixing insert 38 is a pin. The metal fixing insert 38 is disposed here at least partially through the profiled member 14. In the illustrated example, it is inserted within one of the cylindrical forms 16, so as to extend at least partially into the opening 26 defined by this cylindrical form.

[0055] As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the metal fixing insert 38 extends through the boss 36 which closes the first end 18 of the cylindrical shape 16, this boss 36 forming a receptacle for the metal fixing insert 38. It is understood from the above that the metal fixing insert 38 passes through the first longitudinal face 22 of the profiled member 14, where applicable by inserting itself into an opening provided for this purpose in the raised edge 36. The metal fixing insert 38 is thus slid within the opening 26 of the cylindrical shape, along the internal peripheral surface 28 of the latter, until it comes into contact with the boss 36. Such sliding is represented in Figure 3 by an arrow. According to one example, the orifice of the boss 36 has a diameter between 1 and 3 cm, while the metal fixing insert 38 has a diameter between 5 and 15 cm.Because of this adjustment of diameters between the orifice of the boss 36 and the metal fixing insert 38, the sliding of the metal fixing insert 38 within the raised edge 36 is a force insertion.

[0056] Alternatively, one could provide for a force-fitting of the metal fixing insert 38 in the boss 36 without the latter being originally provided with an orifice, the force-fitting of the metal fixing insert having the effect of cutting material from the boss 36, possibly pre-cut locally, to create the orifice during insertion.

[0057] It is understood that during the assembly of the metal fixing insert 38, the latter comes to rest against the boss 36; more specifically, a bearing surface 40 of the metal fixing insert 38 abuts against the boss 36. The bearing surface 40 is here a shoulder within the metal fixing insert 38. When the bearing surface 40 is in contact with the boss 36, and particularly due to the offset of the boss relative to the closing wall 34, the metal fixing insert 38 is as close as possible to the bottom wall 4 of the hollow body 2, and spot welding is possible. This spot weld is performed by placing a first electrode outside the hollow body, against the bottom wall 4 of the hollow body 2, and inserting a second electrode into the cylindrical shape 16 until it is positioned against the metal fixing insert.The diameters of both the cylindrical shape 16 and the metal fixing insert 38 are dimensioned to allow unobstructed passage of the second electrode within the cylindrical shape 16 and to facilitate the welding operation. Once the spot weld is completed, the profiled element 14 is clamped between the hollow body 2 and the metal fixing insert 38 and held in position within the hollow body so as to be in a position as close as possible to the theoretical position desired during the impact. More specifically, the reinforcing plastic structure, and in particular the closing wall 34 and the boss 36, are engaged between the bottom wall 4 of the hollow body 2 and the bearing surface 40 of the metal fixing insert 38.

[0058] In the example shown in Figure 1, the profiled element 14 has a metal fixing insert 38 in one out of every two cylindrical shapes 16. Thus, along the main elongation direction D of the shock absorption assembly 1, there is an alternation between cylindrical shapes 16 having metal fixing inserts 38 and cylindrical shapes 16 without them; that is to say, along this main elongation direction D, with the exception of the end cylindrical shapes 16, each cylindrical shape 16 equipped with a metal fixing insert 38 is surrounded by two cylindrical shapes 16 without metal fixing inserts 38, and conversely, each cylindrical shape 16 without a metal fixing insert 38 is surrounded by two cylindrical shapes 16 having a metal fixing insert 38.

[0059] It is noteworthy that for reasons of cost and weight, cylindrical shapes not associated with a metal fixing insert lack a closing wall to obstruct the opening.

[0060] The second embodiment will now be described in relation to Figure 4. In this second embodiment, the metal fixing insert 38 is a plate disposed outside the opening 26 of the cylindrical forms 16. As will be explained below, in the second embodiment, the metal fixing insert 38 is intended to secure the profiled member 14 to one of the rebates 10 of the hollow body 2.

[0061] As can be seen in Figure 4, the metal fastening insert 38 according to the second embodiment has a substantially rectangular shape or a generally rectangular shape extended by two tabs extending in the same plane as the general rectangular shape. A reinforcement 42, formed by a projection on the periphery of the profiled member, provides a receptacle for the metal fastening insert 38. The reinforcement 42 is thus an intermediate element, formed within the plastic reinforcement structure, which is associated with the external peripheral surface 30 of at least one cylindrical shape 16. The reinforcement 42 extends, for a given cylindrical shape 16, between the two connecting portions 32 surrounding said cylindrical shape 16, and for this purpose, it has a wall whose shape is complementary to the cylindrical shape 16 in order to span this cylindrical shape 16.

[0062] In the illustrated example, the reinforcement 42 is formed in one piece with the plastic reinforcement structure of the profiled member, this protruding shape being easily obtained during the molding of the plastic material to form the profiled member 14. In order to stiffen the reinforcement 42 and allow it to remain intact during the transfer of forces between the hollow body, the metal fixing insert and the profiled member 14, the reinforcement 42 may have ribs 44 which extend, along the external peripheral surface 30 of the cylindrical shape 16, from a body of the reinforcement 42 to at least one longitudinal face 22, 24 of the profiled member 14.

[0063] The reinforcement 42 has a slot in which the metal fixing insert 38 is inserted, in a direction perpendicular to the main elongation direction D of the shock absorption assembly 1. Once positioned in the reinforcement, the metal fixing insert 38 extends in a plane substantially parallel to the first and second longitudinal faces 22, 24 of the profiled member 14.

[0064] The metal fixing insert 38 is dimensioned so that a portion is housed in the reinforcement 42, press-fitted into the slot, and so that a portion is free from the reinforcement to have a sufficiently large metal surface to allow fixing by spot welding.

[0065] The metal fixing insert 38 is thus easily accessible for spot welding. During this operation, the profiled element 14 is positioned within the receiving recess 12 of the hollow body 2 so that the metal fixing insert 38 is aligned with one of the rebates 10. If there are multiple metal fixing inserts 38, they can be distributed within the shock-absorbing structure 1 so that at least one metal fixing insert 38 is aligned with the rebate 10 bordering the lower cover wall 6 and at least one metal fixing insert 38 is aligned with the rebate 10 bordering the upper cover wall 8. For each metal fixing insert 38, spot welding is performed by positioning the first electrode aligned with the rebate 10 of the hollow body 2 and the second electrode aligned with the metal fixing insert 38.It is understood that in this context, the positioning of the second electrode is simplified compared to the first embodiment described previously.

[0066] According to an alternative not illustrated in the figures, the metal fixing insert 38 can further extend through the profiled member 14 outside the cylindrical forms 16. In this case, the metal fixing insert 38 is a rod which extends, for example, through the second longitudinal face 24 of the profiled member 14. The metal fixing insert 38 is more precisely engaged through the second longitudinal face 24 between two adjoining cylindrical forms 16, i.e. at the level of a connecting portion 32. According to this alternative, the metal fixing insert 38 is offset with respect to a straight line passing through the centers of the two adjoining cylindrical forms 16; Thus, the metal fixing insert 38 extends through either the first corrugated portion 17A or the second corrugated portion 17B, and through the plastic reinforcing structure, but not into the opening defined within the cylindrical forms.Where appropriate, the metal fixing insert 38 has a step shape, or any other suitable shape to permit welding onto one of the rebates 10 of the hollow body 2.

[0067] As described above through several embodiments, the present invention achieves its stated objective, namely to provide a shock-absorbing structure and assembly that is particularly effective in its function of protecting the vehicle or a specific vehicle component in the event of a collision. This is achieved either through the use of materials that absorb forces or through the implementation of positioning means that fix the position of the shock-absorbing structure within the assembly. The present invention thus proposes a shock-absorbing structure for a motor vehicle in which the presence of a metallic fixing insert facilitates the attachment of a profiled energy-absorbing element to a structural component of the vehicle, by allowing spot welding between this profiled element and the structural component.

[0068] It should be noted that the two embodiments described above are not mutually exclusive and can be included in the same shock absorption structure, for example in different locations of said structure.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated herein, and also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as any technically operative combination of such means.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Shock absorption structure (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one profiled element (14) comprising a composite core and a reinforcing plastic structure, the shock absorption structure comprising at least one metallic fixing insert (38) configured for fixing by welding the profiled element (14) to a wall (4) of a hollow body (2), the metallic fixing insert (38) being mounted in a receptacle formed by the reinforcing plastic structure.

2. Shock absorption structure (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the metal fixing insert (38) comprises a bearing surface (40) against the profiled member (14).

3. Shock absorption structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal fixing insert (38) extends at least partially through the profiled member (14).

4. Shock absorption structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled member (14) is formed of a row of cylindrical shapes (16).

5. Shock absorption structure (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the metal fixing insert (38) extends within at least one of the cylindrical forms (16).

6. Shock absorption structure (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the metal fixing insert (38) extends alternately within a cylindrical shape (16) on two.

7. Shock absorption structure (1) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the receptacle formed by the plastic reinforcement structure of the profiled member (14) is a raised edge (36) disposed across the opening defined in the cylindrical form (16) in which the metal fixing insert (38) extends.

8. Shock absorption structure (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein an orifice formed in the raised edge (36) has a diameter between 1 and 3 cm, a metallic fixing insert (38) extending into the orifice of said raised edge (32) having a diameter between 5 and 15 cm.

9. Shock-absorbing structure (1) according to claim 3, wherein F metal fixing insert (38) is disposed between two successive cylindrical shapes (16).

10. Shock absorption structure (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the metal fixing insert (38) is offset from a straight line passing through the centers of the two cylindrical forms (16).

11. Shock absorption structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 4, wherein the receptacle formed by the plastic reinforcement structure is a reinforcement (42) attached to the external peripheral surface (30) of at least one of the cylindrical shapes (16), the reinforcement (42) having a slot in which the metal fixing insert (38) is inserted.

12. Shock absorption assembly comprising at least one shock absorption structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a hollow body (2), the profiled member (14) being disposed at least partially within the hollow body (2).

13. Shock absorption assembly according to the preceding claim, in which the hollow body (2) comprises a bottom wall (4) opposite which extends a longitudinal face of the profiled member, the profiled member (14) being fixed to the hollow body (2) by welding the metal fixing insert (38) onto this bottom wall (4).

14. Shock absorption assembly according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the hollow body (2) comprises at least one rebate (10), the profiled member (14) being fixed to the hollow body (2) by welding the metal fixing insert (38) onto said rebate (10).

15. Motor vehicle comprising at least one shock absorption assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

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