Vehicle floor having a drain for a cataphoresis bath, and vehicle provided with such a floor

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle floor, characterised in that it comprises, on at least one portion of the floor (1), at least one area (7) which is recessed or stamped with respect to a main plane (P) of the portion (1) of the floor and in that said recessed area (7) is in relation to a cavity (9) made under the portion of the floor (1), the cavity (9) being open to the outside. The invention also relates to a vehicle which is provided with such a floor.

Description

Description Title of the invention: VEHICLE FLOOR WITH A CATAPHOREASIS BATH DRAIN AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A FLOOR

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2406536 filed on June 19, 2024, the content of which (text, drawings, and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The invention relates to a vehicle floor with a drain for a cataphoresis bath and to a vehicle equipped with such a floor.

[0002] Here the term vehicle refers to a car, a van, a truck, a public transport vehicle, a piece of public works or agricultural machinery, the vehicle being motorized, by at least one internal combustion or electric motor.

[0003] On a vehicle, the metal body parts are protected from corrosion by a surface treatment that involves electrochemically depositing an epoxy resin onto the parts. This is achieved through a process called cataphoresis, which consists of immersing the parts in a bath of epoxy resin. An electric current is applied to the bath, with the parts acting as cathodes. This process allows for the rapid application of a homogeneous and uniform protective resin layer across all parts, including hard-to-reach areas.

[0004] When the part, which can be quite complex and often large, is removed from the cataphoresis bath, all the cataphoresis solution or bath must be drained from the part. To achieve this, drainage holes are made at various points on the part to prevent any liquid retention once it is removed from the bath. These holes must then be sealed to ensure the floor is watertight, which generates additional manufacturing costs. Furthermore, it is essential that such holes do not interfere with the application of a sealant bead between the parts. Indeed, no leakage or rise of liquids or gases into the passenger compartment should be possible in a finished vehicle. A floor panel for an electric vehicle, configured to ensure watertightness, is known from WO-A-2023227 836. The complete vehicle body once the batteries are in place. The applicant of this application has also developed a marking solution for the vehicle floor to serve as a positioning indicator for a bead of sealant. Existing solutions do not optimize the removal of the cataphoresis bath once the part is removed from the bath. The invention aims to provide a solution that facilitates the removal of the cataphoresis bath from a part after treatment, without additional manufacturing costs and without affecting the floor's watertightness.

[0005] For this purpose, the invention relates to a vehicle floor, characterized in that it comprises, on at least a part of the floor, at least one recessed or indented area relative to a principal plane of the part of the floor and in that said recessed area is related to a cavity formed under the part of the floor, said cavity being open to the outside.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, a means of draining the cataphoresis bath is defined, avoiding any stagnation on the floor, without additional parts and without modifying the initial dimensions and weight of the floor.

[0007] According to advantageous, but not mandatory, aspects of the invention, such a vehicle floor may include one or more of the following features:

[0008] The recessed or embossed area is provided on one of the free edges of the floor section.

[0009] Several recessed or embossed areas are provided on one of the free edges of the floor section.

[0010] At least one recessed or embossed area is related to the cavity formed under the part of the floor by a free edge of the recessed or embossed area.

[0011] At least one recessed or embossed area is related to the cavity formed under the part of the floor by at least one opening formed in the recessed or embossed area.

[0012] The part of the floor with the recessed or embossed area partially overlaps another part of the floor.

[0013] The cavity is created between the two overlapping parts of the floor.

[0014] The recessed or embossed area is positioned above the cavity and is of such dimensions that the space between the parts of the floor is globally constant between the two parts over the entire length of the overlap area.

[0015] The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a floor conforming to any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of part of a vehicle floor according to an embodiment of the invention and,

[0018] [Fig.2] is a larger scale view of detail II in figure 1.

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a vehicle floor 1. In this example, this portion is the front part of the floor 1 relative to the vehicle's direction of travel. Alternatively, it is the rear part of the floor. A side member 2, here the right side member in the vehicle's direction of travel, is partially shown. Side member 2 borders part 1 on one of its sides. In addition to a partially shown Y-shaped reinforcement 3 located above part 1, a rear portion of the floor 4 is also present, partially visible in Figures 1 and 2. Parts 1 and 4 together define, at least partially, the vehicle floor, it being understood that there may be at least one additional central floor section. Parts 1 and 4 are connected to each other by one of their edges 5 and 6, respectively, across the entire width of parts 1 and 4. Here, edge 5 of part 1 overlaps edge 6 of part 4.The overlap of edge 5 over edge 6 is more or less significant, even variable depending on the width of the vehicle floor. In another embodiment, it is the rear section 4 that partially overlaps the front section 1. In all cases, the overlap of edges 5 and 6 ensures a watertight connection between sections 1 and 4 of the floor, preventing any gaps. between the constituent parts of the floor through which a liquid or gas could potentially rise into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0020] As is particularly evident in Figure 2, the free edge 5 of part 1 includes at least one recessed or embossed area 7. Hereafter, the terms embossed area and recessed area will be used interchangeably. Only one embossed area 7 is shown here. Alternatively, there may be several, of identical or different shapes and / or dimensions. Similarly, when the rear part 4 overlaps the front part 1, the recessed or embossed area 7 is formed on the free edge 6 of part 4. In all cases, all the embossed areas 7 are recessed relative to a principal plane P of a face 8 of the floor part 1 oriented towards the interior of the vehicle. Thus, each embossed area 7 protrudes towards the ground, i.e., towards the exterior of the vehicle. Each stamped part 7 includes an outlet or, more generally, a means of communication with a cavity 9 located under the part 1, therefore, a cavity 9 opposite the face 10, called the outer face, of the part 1 opposite the face 8.Here, the means of communication between the stamped part 7 and the cavity 9 is formed by the free edge 11 of the stamped part 7. Alternatively, it is at least one through-hole provided in the stamped part 7, in addition to the free edge 11, as the means of communication with the cavity 9. In all cases, the cavity 9 communicates with the outside, allowing any liquid present on the face 8 of part 1 to flow first onto the stamped part 7 and then be discharged, according to arrow F, to the outside via the cavity 9, solely by gravity. This ensures complete drainage of the cataphoresis bath, with no residue remaining on the vehicle floor. Such a stamped part 7 is produced by means known per se, for example, using a stamping press.

[0021] It should also be noted that the presence of a raised section 7, particularly when positioned in a corner of part 1 of the floor as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, allows part 1, at cavity 9, to be brought closer to part 4 of the vehicle floor located beneath part 1. The presence of the raised section 7 reduces the gap between parts 1 and 4 at cavity 9, which allows for the continuous application of a bead of sealant with minimal gap between the parts. Indeed, the dimensions of the recessed area or raised section 7 are such that the gap between parts 1 and 4 of the floor remains virtually constant along the entire length of the overlap. between sections 1 and 4. This ensures continuous and even support of section 1 on section 4, and therefore support for the sealant bead, thus optimizing the seal between sections 1 and 4 of the floor. The application of the sealant bead can advantageously be automated, before the overlap of sections 1 and 4.

[0022] Thanks to the invention, the evacuation of the cataphoresis bath from the floor is ensured without additional parts, without additional cost and without modification of the geometric and structural characteristics of the floor, and the sealing between the constituent parts of the vehicle floor is improved.

[0023] Furthermore, combining parts 1 and 4 reduces the amount of sealant needed to create the sealing bead. Additionally, rapid removal of the cataphoresis bath from the vehicle helps preserve its initial quality by minimizing contamination.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle floor, characterized in that it comprises, on at least a part of the floor (1), at least one recessed or indented area (7) relative to a principal plane (P) of the part (1) of the floor and in that said recessed area (7) is related to a cavity (9) formed under the part of the floor (1), said cavity (9) being open to the outside.

2. Floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow or embossed area (7) is provided on one (5) of the free edges of the part of the floor (1).

3. Floor according to claim 2, characterized in that several hollow or embossed areas (7) are provided on one (5) of the free edges of the part of the floor (1).

4. Floor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one hollow or embossed area (7) is related to the cavity (9) formed under the part of the floor (1) by a free edge (11) of the hollow or embossed area (7).

5. Floor according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one recessed or embossed area (7) is related to the cavity (9) formed under the part of the floor (1) by at least one opening formed in the recessed or embossed area (7).

6. Floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the part of the floor (1) provided with the hollow or embossed area (7) partially overlaps another part of the floor (4).

7. Floor according to claim 6, characterized in that the cavity (9) is provided between the two overlapping parts of the floor (1, 4).

8. Floor according to claim 7, characterized in that the hollow or embossed area (7) is positioned above the cavity (9) and of dimensions such that the space between the parts of the floor (1, 4) is globally constant between the two parts (1, 4) over the entire length of the overlap area.

9. Vehicle equipped with a floor conforming to any one of the preceding claims.

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