Structural or semi-structural assembly means for structurally or semi-structurally assembling together at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials

Abstract

The invention relates to structural or semi-structural assembly means for assembling together at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements, the assembly means comprising at least: a structural or semi-structural assembly element (11) intended to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element (P1) to be assembled, the assembly element comprising a flange (111) and a shaft (112) projecting axially from the flange (111, 121), the shaft (112, 122) of the assembly element (11, 12) being configured to be inserted into a through-hole provided in the structural or semi-structural element (P1), the flange (111, 121) being intended to extend against a face of the first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials (P1), the assembly means (1) comprising attachment means (21; 22) associated with the assembly element (11) and configured to cooperate with complementary attachment means associated with a second element made of composite materials (P2) to be assembled.

Description

Structural or semi-structural assembly means for structurally or semi-structurally assembling at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials.

[0001] The present invention relates to structural or semi-structural assembly means for structurally or semi-structurally assembling at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials.

[0002] The present invention relates in particular to the structural or semi-structural assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials in technical sectors consuming composite materials such as aerospace, aeronautics, automotive, naval, wind, solar, furniture, logistics, building or any other sector, for which small, medium or large structures are made partly of structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials.

[0003] In these technical sectors, it is particularly important to enable safe structural or semi-structural assembly, but also to be able to offer the disassembly or dismantling of assembled structures during their life, for maintenance, repair or end-of-life reasons during recycling.

[0004] In the automotive sector, structures made of structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials are being considered to offer lighter vehicles that consume less fossil fuel, thus meeting recommendations and regulations concerning CO2 emissions. Similarly, manufacturers are now offering vehicles with electric or hybrid (electric / thermal) engines, which also require lighter vehicles.

[0005] However, such vehicle structures must be repairable, particularly in the event of an impact, and it is therefore necessary to be able to offer structures in which certain parts can be assembled and provide the appropriate rigidity properties, while also being able to be disassembled for replacement or repair, or even dismantled at the end of their life.

[0006] Another issue lies in the need for structural and / or semi-structural elements to have the required characteristics of impact resistance and rigidity, enabling vehicles to meet increasingly stringent accident standards.

[0007] It is therefore necessary that the structural and / or semi-structural elements made of corn- materials composites to form such structures can be assembled, giving the resulting structure appropriate rigidity and impact resistance characteristics.

[0008] It is well known that bolted assemblies are made, particularly at the interface between the front body of an automotive structure, for example, and the engine (structural). Bolting uses inserts located in a structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials, such as a sandwich panel with a polymer core between two skins.

[0009] These inserts can be through-hole or non-through-hole. Through-hole inserts are at least as thick as the core of the sandwich structure and allow shear forces to be transmitted to the core and tensile and bending forces to the skins symmetrically. These inserts are perforated and can be through-hole or not. They are classified into two categories: flush and non-flush inserts.

[0010] Flush inserts have ends whose edges do not protrude from the panel. Therefore, it is simply a matter of drilling the sandwich panel to the correct diameter and inserting the insert with adhesive to secure it in place. Alternatively, it is possible to drill the sandwich panel to the correct diameter, insert a cavity within the cavity, and then fill these cavities with resin. This addition of resin allows for a much better distribution of stress at the joints.

[0011] There is another category of through-hole inserts that are not flush and have a flange that extends beyond the hole and rests against the panel. They are generally composed of at least two parts that are screwed or press-fitted. The presence of the flange promotes stress concentration and causes the core to be crushed due to the tightening.

[0012] These through-hole or non-through-hole inserts must allow for the assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials that must be either permanently fixed or removable, to allow for the repair of one of the elements. However, these inserts are primarily made of metallic materials, which adds mass to a structure that aims to reduce it.

[0013] It is also known for offering assemblies by bonding elements made of composite materials.

[0014] These bonded assemblies offer the following advantages: very satisfactory mechanical strength, potential shock and vibration absorption (depending on the type of adhesive), non-destructive disassembly, and they prevent stress concentrations. Furthermore, a bonded assembly allows for control of the assembly's mass. Advantageously, one also features demountable bonded assemblies, allowing the bonded assembly to be undone without damaging the bonded elements.

[0015] Thus, FR-A-3099993 and FR-A-2954776 describe assemblies that can be disassembled by heating. Such assemblies allow for bonding between elements, and then, by applying heat to the joint, the assembly can be undone, making it reversible. In the automotive field, it is particularly important to enable structural or semi-structural assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials to create a lighter vehicle structure, while also allowing for disassembly between different structural parts of the vehicle, notably to facilitate maintenance through repair or replacement.

[0016] Inserts are known for assembling monolithic composite components; for example, they can be found in a monocoque chassis with over 200 aluminum components. These inserts do not allow for optimal stress distribution within the composite parts and are not suitable for assembling structural and / or semi-structural sandwich-type components.

[0017] The present invention therefore aims to provide means for the structural or semi-structural assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, enabling the fulfillment of several constraints of a structural or semi-structural assembly. These constraints must allow for a simple structural or semi-structural assembly of the structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, easy disassembly of at least some of the assembled elements, and, in the case where these structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials are notably sandwich panels, allow for the distribution of stresses on said panels, consequently reducing the risks of crack initiation, localized failure of the reinforcement-matrix interface, and delamination of the plies.or even the removal of the structural or semi-structural assembly means of structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials.

[0018] The invention therefore relates to structural or semi-structural assembly means for structurally or semi-structurally assembling at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements, comprising at least: a structural or semi-structural assembly element intended to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled, comprising a flange and a shaft extending axially from the flange, the shaft of said structural or semi-structural assembly element being configured to be inserted into a through hole formed in the structural or semi-structural element. to be assembled, said flange being intended to extend against a face of said first structural or semi-structural element, said structural or semi-structural assembly means further comprising fastening means associated with said structural or semi-structural assembly element, configured to cooperate with complementary fastening means associated with a second structural or semi-structural element to be assembled.

[0019] Thus, advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly element is configured to be able to be inserted and pass through the first structural or semi-structural element, for example made of composite materials, and is associated with fastening means which cooperate with the complementary fastening means associated with a second structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials, which allows the structural or semi-structural assembly of these at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.The assembly elements according to the invention are particularly advantageous for structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled which can be considered "brittle" such as those made of composite materials, but the assembly elements according to the invention are also usable for any other type of structural or semi-structural element to be assembled such as thin sheets of light alloys, for example or any other "lightweight" material which can be considered more "brittle".

[0020] Each structural and / or semi-structural element has at least one face called a structural or semi-structural assembly face intended to bear against the structural or semi-structural assembly face of another structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, a structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally being able to be assembled with two structural and / or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally and then having two structural or semi-structural assembly faces.

[0021] Advantageously, the flange of a structural or semi-structural fastener also acts as a load and stress distribution element, in addition to its assembly function. The shaft of a structural or semi-structural fastener is advantageously used to center, position, and adjust the elements to be joined. These shafts can also be used to adjust the compression between the fasteners and the elements to be joined.

[0022] The remainder of the description describes the invention for elements to be assembled from composite materials but applies to other structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0023] Advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means further comprise a structural or semi-structural assembly element intended to be mounted on the second structural or semi-structural element, in particular made of composite materials, to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, comprising a flange having a shaft open at both ends, extending axially from a face of the flange, the shaft of said second structural or semi-structural assembly element being configured to be inserted into a through hole formed in the second structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials and extending at least along the entire length of the through hole, while said flange is intended to extend against a face of said second structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials.the fastening means associated with said second structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials being configured to be housed in the shaft of the second structural or semi-structural assembly element and to cooperate with the fastening means associated with said first structural or semi-structural assembly element.

[0024] Advantageously, the fastening means consist of a threaded element mounted in the shank of one of the assembly elements, for example at the end of the shank of said assembly element, and a screw configured to cooperate with the threaded element and mounted in the shank of the second assembly element.

[0025] Advantageously, a structural or semi-structural fastener, thus forming an insert intended for mounting on structural and / or semi-structural composite elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, has a shaft configured to extend at least partially along the through-hole into which it is configured to be inserted. It is also advantageous for this shaft to extend the entire length of the through-hole or even to protrude from said through-hole.

[0026] Composite material components advantageously constitute lightweight structural and / or semi-structural elements for building structures in sectors such as automotive, aeronautics, aerospace, naval, solar, wind energy, furniture, logistics, and construction. Such structural or semi-structural elements are available, for example, as panels with a sandwich structure consisting of a core and two outer skins. The core is preferably made of a plastic, metallic, or natural material in the form of foam, a cellular structure, or a solid, while the outer skins are made of a polymer matrix composite reinforced with continuous or discontinuous fibers. Other structural or semi-structural elements of the structure are made of polymer matrix composites reinforced with continuous or discontinuous fibers, in monolithic form.

[0027] Structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, intended for structural or semi-structural assembly, are most often in the form of panels, either flat or shaped, and are joined together. Each panel has a face designed to bear against a face of another element; these faces are called structural or semi-structural joining faces. These structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, intended for structural or semi-structural assembly, each have a through hole and, inserted into it, at least one structural or semi-structural joining element.Each structural or semi-structural assembly element includes a flange which, when the shaft is engaged in said through orifice, extends against a face of the structural and / or semi-structural element while the end of the shaft is flush or protrudes or is recessed, the compression value of which does not exceed the allowable compression rate of the structural or semi-structural element on the opposite face, preferably the structural or semi-structural assembly face.

[0028] Advantageously the end of the shaft of the first element to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled includes first fastening means such as a threaded element provided in the shaft while the structural or semi-structural assembly element engaged in the through hole of the second element to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled accommodates complementary fastening means such as a screw which, housed in the shaft of said structural or semi-structural assembly element cooperates with the threaded element, to clamp the structural or semi-structural assembly faces of the two structural or semi-structural elements to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled against each other.The shafts of the various structural or semi-structural assembly elements are not only configured to engage in the through holes of the structural and / or semi-structural elements to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled, but also to interlock with one another. Thus, when the fastening means are attached to the end of one of the shafts, the interlocking of that shaft into the shaft of another structural or semi-structural assembly element allows them to cooperate. This is how...

[0029] These fastening devices, such as threaded elements and screws, are advantageously made of metal, carbon, or other high-performance fibrous reinforcements, while structural or semi-structural assembly elements with a flange and a shaft are made of composite materials such as thermoplastics, reinforced with continuous or discontinuous fibers. These hybrid (metal / composite) structural or semi-structural assembly devices are thus significantly lighter than conventionally made metal inserts.

[0030] The means of structural or semi-structural assembly advantageously include, in addition, a structural or semi-structural assembly element intended to be mounted on the first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled, for example, made of composite materials, which includes a flange intended to extend against a face called structural or semi-structural assembly of said first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled in composite materials and a shaft open at its two ends, said structural or semi-structural assembly element forming a structural or semi-structural connecting assembly element, the shaft of which is configured to be inserted into the through orifice, fitted onto and around the end of the shaft of the first structural or semi-structural assembly element.

[0031] This alternative embodiment advantageously allows for the placement, on each face of one of the structurally or semi-structurally assembled elements (for example, when it has a significant thickness), of an additional structural or semi-structural connecting element whose flange acts as a stress distributor for the structural or semi-structural assembly / fixing on the structural or semi-structural assembly face. Specifically, the structural or semi-structural connecting element is intended to be located on the structural or semi-structural assembly face.

[0032] The structural or semi-structural assembly means alternatively include an assembly element configured to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled, for example in composite materials, this structural or semi-structural assembly element comprising a flange intended to extend against a face called structural or semi-structural assembly face of said first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled in composite materials and a shaft open at its two ends and configured to be aligned with fastening means carried by said first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled in composite materials, such as a fir pin embedded in the mass of the structural or semi-structural element or carried by another structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0033] A second structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally comprises a structural or semi-structural assembly element as described previously, the shaft of which extends beyond the through-hole of the element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally. The shaft of the structural or semi-structural assembly element allows a fastening screw carried by the structural or semi-structural assembly element to engage with the dowel pin to cooperate with and secure the structural or semi-structural assembly thus formed.

[0034] In certain applications, structural and / or semi-structural elements to be assembled from composite materials may take the form of a structurally or semi-structurally assembled element of the structural double-wall type and / or semi- structural, thus consisting of two structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials such as two sandwich structure panels for example, extending parallel to each other and assembled, to form the double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element.

[0035] This structural and / or semi-structural element of the double wall type can thus be assembled on a second structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, just as two elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, but kept spaced apart from each other, can be assembled structurally or semi-structurally together on a third element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0036] To this end, advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention comprise an additional structural or semi-structural assembly element forming a spacer configured to extend between a first and a second structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials extending spaced apart and parallel to each other, and forming a first structural and / or semi-structural element made of double-walled structural and / or semi-structural composite materials P to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, said spacer comprising a shaft having at each end a flange intended to bear against opposite faces of the structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials extending spaced apart and parallel to each other,said shaft of said spacer being configured to be positioned at each end opposite a through hole formed in each of the structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials extending spaced apart and parallel to each other, the shaft of said spacer being further configured to receive engaged within it the shaft of a first structural or semi-structural assembly element.

[0037] Thus advantageously, a first structural or semi-structural assembly element has a shaft configured to be engaged in the through hole of a first wall of the double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element, then in the shaft of the structural or semi-structural spacer, and then in the through hole of the second wall of the double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element, and possibly protrude from said through hole.

[0038] Such a form of realization of the means of structural or semi-structural assembly advantageously allows to structurally or semi-structurally in a simple and structural manner a structural or semi-structural element which may have a double wall structural and / or semi-structural structure to another structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0039] Advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means include a structural or semi-structural assembly element intended to be mounted on the second of the structural or semi-structural elements, for example in composite materials, extending spaced and parallel to each other, the structural or semi-structural assembly element having a flange intended to extend against a face of said second structural or semi-structural element of the structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials extending spaced and parallel to each other, opposite face to that against which a flange of the spacer is intended to bear and a shaft configured to be fitted onto the shaft of the structural or semi-structural assembly element intended to be mounted on the first of the structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials extending spaced and parallel to each other.

[0040] According to one variant, the shaft configured to engage at one end of the shaft of said spacer and protrude at the other end of the shaft of the spacer, and through a through hole in the second structural or semi-structural element, have fastening means such as an element having a thread configured to cooperate with fastening means of a second structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally on the double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element.

[0041] Thus advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention allow a mechanically demountable structural or semi-structural assembly between two structural and / or semi-structural elements preferably made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, one of these structural and / or semi-structural elements being advantageously a double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element, each wall being made up, for example, of a sandwich-structure composite material panel.

[0042] By tightening the fastening means such as a screw, the structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, such as sandwich structure panels, are compressed, but this compression is controlled by the dimensions of the shoulders of the flanges and / or the centering and / or adjusting rings and / or the shafts, allowing a distribution of the structural or semi-structural assembly-fastening stresses of the structural or semi-structural assembly, guaranteeing the strength and rigidity of the assemblies made.

[0043] Structural or semi-structural assembly means advantageously allow several structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, for example several panels, each having a structural or semi-structural assembly element placed on the structural or semi-structural assembly face of said structural or semi-structural element.

[0044] Advantageously, structural or semi-structural fasteners can also be bonded to the structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite or other materials to be structurally or semi-structurally joined. This reinforces the rigidity of the structural or semi-structural assembly and also improves the adhesion of the structural or semi-structural fasteners to the elements to be structurally or semi-structurally joined, thus facilitating the structural or semi-structural assembly. It is therefore possible to incorporate bonding methods between the flange of a fastener and the structural and / or semi-structural element to be joined, to advantageously enhance the rigidity and stress distribution of the assembly.

[0045] Even more advantageously, the means of structural or semi-structural assembly further include a complementary assembly element interposed between the two structural or semi-structural elements, in particular made of composite materials.

[0046] Advantageously, this additional assembly element is an assembly element made of structural or semi-structural adhesive material, preferably reversible, in the form of a film, a pad, a washer, a double-sided adhesive material, carried by a structural or semi-structural assembly face of one or the other of the elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0047] Thus, the structural or semi-structural assembly made with the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention is glued, using a structural or semi-structural adhesive material, interposed between the two structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite or other materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally and preferably a reversible structural or semi-structural adhesive material allowing for gluing and ungluing, and therefore disassembly of the structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials.

[0048] Thus, this structural or semi-structural adhesive material is a reversible structural or semi-structural glue, that is to say that once the structural or semi-structural assembly is glued, it has the characteristics of a structural or semi-structural glue, namely, that it is able to withstand high loads, dynamic or static, and allows to maintain the structural or semi-structural integrity of the surfaces of the assembled structural and / or semi-structural elements, in particular in conditions of use under load in high temperature and saturated humidity.

[0049] Advantageously, the reversible structural or semi-structural adhesive material is chosen to be bondable and debondable (assemblable / disassemblable) by thermal activation. Even more advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means include heating means to activate the assembly and disassembly of the complementary assembly element, such as the bonding and debonding of the structural or semi-structural adhesive assembly material.

[0050] These heating means consist of an electrical resistance heating disc for activating bonding and unbonding, comprising a support distributing structural or semi-structural assembly stresses by bonding, a resistive heating element and, optionally, a thermally conductive element, said structural or semi-structural assembly stress distribution support having electrical connection means for connecting electrical cables and energizing the resistive heating element.

[0051] Thus, the heating means include an electrical resistance heating disc for activating bonding and unbonding, including a support distributing structural or semi-structural assembly stresses by bonding, or the heating means include a resistive heating element and a thermally conductive element.

[0052] According to another variant, the heating means consist of an induction or RF heating disc.

[0053] These heating means can be supported by one of the structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0054] Preferably, a one-component or two-component adhesive, with or without a primer (itself reversible or not), or with an active substrate that is switchable by polarization, is used as a reversible structural or semi-structural adhesive. The reversibility of bonding or unbonding the structural or semi-structural adhesive or primer is induced and controlled by functional additives, such as foaming agents, expanders, and oxidizers, which, under a given thermal stress, generate unbonding mechanisms through pore growth or by inducing internal stresses, crack initiation, or ruptures in the structural or semi-structural adhesive or primer. The reversibility of bonding or unbonding the structural or semi-structural adhesive or primer can also be induced and controlled by the breakdown of chemical crosslinking bonds within the adhesive or primer.

[0055] The structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention thus make it possible to carry out structural or semi-structural assemblies in a way that is simple to implement either in a purely mechanical way or by combining mechanical structural or semi-structural assembly-fixing and gluing, offering a simple dismantling to allow in particular the repair or replacement of one of the elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally and the dismantling of the primary and secondary structures at the end of their life or in the event of total damage in order to recycle the structural and / or semi-structural elements.

[0056] Alternatively, the additional assembly element is an assembly element made of thermoplastic material, configured for example in the form of a film, to be interposed between the Two structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally. This thermoplastic material is thermofusible, activated by thermal bonding. The assembly is formed by melting the thermoplastic material, then solidifying, resulting in a welded, thermoplastic adhesive bond. This assembly is preferably reversible.

[0057] Such a material can be chosen from among hot melt adhesives such as those known under the trade name Technomelt. This thermoplastic hot melt material is also chosen to allow for reversible assembly, the material being interposed between the two structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled and disassembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0058] Adhesive or thermoplastic materials are chosen according to the materials constituting the structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled. In particular, these materials forming the bonded assembly element have a glass transition temperature (Tv) and a melting temperature (Tf) higher than the maximum service temperature of the assembly, but lower than the Tv of the materials constituting the structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled / disassembled.

[0059] Advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention are usable in many technical fields using structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials which must be assembled together or with another material such as metal, fields such as aerospace, aeronautics, automotive, naval, wind, solar, furniture, logistics, building or others for which structures of more or less large size are made of composite materials.

[0060] The assembly means according to the invention make it possible to produce an assembly whose mechanical performance is improved and which can in particular withstand much better loads, forces, stresses, in tension, in compression, in bending, in torsion, combined or alternating.

[0061] They also help to reduce problems of fatigue, mechanical aging, temperature and humidity, and high-frequency load peaks.

[0062] Advantageously, it is possible to achieve, with the assembly means according to the invention, structural or semi-structural assemblies giving rigidity and mechanical strength to the structures thus assembled, but which also allow maintenance operations to be carried out, offering the possibility of dismantling the elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally without causing their deterioration or destruction.

[0063] Thus the invention also relates to a structural or semi-structural assembly comprising at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials assembled by structural or semi-structural assembly means as described above.

[0064] Advantageously, said structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite or other materials are structural and / or semi-structural elements defining a primary and / or secondary structure of machinery for the transport of persons and / or goods and / or services by land, air or water.

[0065] Advantageously, a primary and / or secondary structure is a motor vehicle structure, comprising a central structural module defining at least the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, two front and rear high-energy shock-absorbing structural modules, two front and rear medium- and low-energy shock-absorbing structural modules, said structural or semi-structural assembly means allowing structural or semi-structural assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements of the same module together, and / or structural and / or semi-structural elements belonging to different modules to structurally or semi-structurally assemble said modules.

[0066] Advantageously, each of the structural modules defining the structure of the motor vehicle comprises structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, formed at least in part by structural or semi-structural assembly of said structural and / or semi-structural elements using structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention. Furthermore, the modules can be assembled to one another by structural or semi-structural assembly of some of their elements using the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention.

[0067] Advantageously, the motor vehicle structure thus offers the advantage of having a number of structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials which are in the form of five modules advantageously assembled using the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention, which makes it possible to limit manufacturing costs.

[0068] The composite materials constituting the structural and / or semi-structural elements of such a motor vehicle structure, such as panels, are a composite material with a sandwich structure consisting of a core and two outer skins. The core is preferably made of a plastic, metallic, or natural material in the form of foam, a honeycomb structure, or a solid. The outer skins are made of a polymer matrix composite reinforced with continuous or discontinuous fibers. All structural and / or semi-structural elements are preferably made of polymer matrix composite materials reinforced with continuous or discontinuous fibers. Other structural and / or semi-structural elements of the structure are in a composite material with a polymer matrix reinforced by continuous or discontinuous fibers.

[0069] By vehicle structure, we mean all the elements which in a vehicle form a virtually undeformable central zone, namely the passenger compartment, and front and rear energy absorption zones which, by deforming, absorb a maximum of energy during frontal and rear impacts to protect the passenger compartment.

[0070] In side impacts, it is the central module that will absorb the resulting energy and prevent intrusion related to the impact, particularly to the vital parts (head, neck, chest, abdomen) of the occupants of the passenger compartment.

[0071] A motor vehicle structure is only one example of a structure that can be achieved by structural or semi-structural assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials with the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention; other types of structures for the transport of people and / or goods and / or services can be assembled in this way, for example in the aeronautical sector such as drones, aerospace, maritime or river transport.

[0072] Advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assemblies made with the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention can relate to structures in the field of wind energy, solar energy, furniture, logistics, building.

[0073] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings in which the following are shown:

[0074] [Fig. 1] a cross-sectional view of a structural or semi-structural assembly of two elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally by a first variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0075] [Fig. 2] a cross-sectional view of a structural or semi-structural assembly of two elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally by a second variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0076] [Fig. 3] a cross-sectional view of a structural or semi-structural assembly of two elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally by a third variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0077] [Fig. 4] a cross-sectional view of the variant of figure 3;

[0078] [Fig. 5] a cross-sectional view of a variant of figure 4;

[0079] [Fig. 6] a fourth variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0080] [Fig. 7] a cross-sectional view of a fifth variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0081] [Fig. 8] a cross-sectional view of an example of a structural or semi-structural assembly;

[0082] [Fig. 9] an exploded perspective view from above of figure 3 of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0083] [Fig. 10] an exploded perspective view from above of figure 3 of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention

[0084] [Fig. 11] an exploded perspective view from above of a sixth variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention;

[0085] [Fig. 12] An exploded perspective view of an example of a structural or semi-structural assembly such as a structure for a motor vehicle

[0086] [Fig. 13] A perspective view from above of a platform sub-module

[0087] [Fig. 14] a rear perspective view of a structural partition element and a high-energy shock-absorbing module comprising structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention, and

[0088] [Fig. 15] a rear perspective view according to figure 14 showing the assembly of the half-arches.

[0089] As can be seen in Figure 1, the structural or semi-structural assembly means 10 are configured to structurally or semi-structurally assemble at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials Pl, P2 to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled. These structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, in the example described, to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled, are most often in the form of panels, flat or shaped, and are structurally or semi-structurally assembled to each other, each having a face intended to bear against a face of another element, these faces being called structural or semi-structural assembly faces.

[0090] These structural and / or semi-structural composite material elements, intended for structural or semi-structural assembly, each have a through-hole and, within it, at least one structural or semi-structural connecting element. Each structural or semi-structural connecting element includes a flange which, when the shaft is engaged in said through-hole, extends against the face of the structural and / or semi-structural element opposite the structural or semi-structural connecting face, while the end of the shaft is flush, protrudes, or recessed, the value of which does not exceed the allowable compression ratio of the structural element. or semi-structural on the assembly face.

[0091] The structural or semi-structural assembly means include a structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 intended to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials PI. This structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 comprises a flange 111 and a shaft 112 extending axially from a face of the flange 111. The shaft 112 is configured to be inserted into a through hole formed in the structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials PI, said flange 111 being intended to extend against a face Fl of said first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials PI, opposite the structural or semi-structural assembly face F2 of said element to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled, intended, for example, to bear against another structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials or of another material.The 112 barrel allows for adjustment of the compression of the assembly means of the Pl, P2 panels.

[0092] Preferably, the flange 111 is bonded to the face Fl, opposite the assembly face F2, of the structural or semi-structural element to be assembled. This bonding is preferably irreversible. Bonding the assembly element 11 reduces the shear effects on the element to be assembled.

[0093] The structural or semi-structural assembly means 10 further include first fastening means 21 carried by this structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 and second fastening means 22 mounted on the second structural or semi-structural composite material element to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled P2 and which are configured to cooperate with the first fastening means 21 to structurally or semi-structurally assemble said structural and / or semi-structural composite material elements Pl, P2.

[0094] The structural or semi-structural assembly means 10 thus include a structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 intended to be mounted on the second structural or semi-structural composite material element P2 to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled. This structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 also includes a flange 131 comprising a shaft 132 open at both ends and extending axially from one face of the flange 131. The shaft 132 of said second structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 is configured to be inserted into a through hole formed in the second structural or semi-structural composite material element P2 to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled and extends at least the entire length of the through hole. This shaft 132 forms centering and positioning means for the panels P1, P2.

[0095] The flange 131 is intended to extend against a face F3 of said second structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally. P2, said face F3 being opposite the face F4 of structural or semi-structural assembly of said structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P2.

[0096] Preferably, the flange 131 is bonded to face F3, opposite the assembly face F4, of the structural or semi-structural element to be assembled. This bonding is preferably irreversible.

[0097] The second fastening means 22 mounted on said second structural or semi-structural composite material element P2 are configured to be housed in the shaft 132 of the second structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 and to cooperate with the first fastening means 21 carried by said first structural or semi-structural assembly element 11.

[0098] The respective structural or semi-structural assembly faces F2, F4 of the elements to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled Pl, P2 are placed against each other with the through holes of PI and P2 in correspondence.

[0099] The structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 has a shaft 112 configured to extend at least along the entire length of the through hole formed in said first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials PI, and preferably projecting from said through hole. The shaft 112 of said structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 is also configured to extend into the shaft 132 of the structural or semi-structural assembly element mounted on the second structural or semi-structural assembly element P2, such that the structural or semi-structural assembly faces F2 and F4 bear against each other.

[0100] The structural or semi-structural assembly thus created is fixed by the cooperation of the fixing means 21 such as an element having a thread, housed at the end of the shaft 112, opposite the flange 111 and the complementary fixing means such as a screw engaged in the shaft 132 and screwed into the threaded element 21, the head of the screw resting against the flange 131, with a fixing washer 3 interposed, to distribute the stresses of the screw fixing assembly induced by the head of the screw 2. Once made, such disassembly is reversible by unscrewing the screw 22.

[0101] Figure 1 shows the assembly of two panels Pl, P2, using screw-fastening means 10, said means 10 being fixed by gluing to the surfaces of Pl, P2 by their respective flanges. This assembly can be disassembled by unscrewing.

[0102] As can be seen in Figure 2, the structural or semi-structural assembly means 100 comprise two structural or semi-structural assembly elements 11, 12 intended to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials P3, a first structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 being configured to be engaged, with its shaft 112 extending at least over the entire length of the through opening provided in the structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials P3 and its flange 111 being intended to extend against a face of said first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials P3.

[0103] The shaft 122 of the second structural or semi-structural assembly element 12, open at both ends, is configured to be mounted in the same through hole of the first structural or semi-structural composite panel P3 with its flange 121 intended to extend on the opposite face, namely the structural or semi-structural assembly face of the first structural or semi-structural element in composite materials.

[0104] The shaft 122 of the second structural or semi-structural assembly element 12 is configured to be housed in said through orifice with the shaft 111 of the first structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 engaged in said shaft 122.

[0105] The second structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P4 comprises a structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 as described previously, the shaft of which 132 extends projecting from the through-hole of the structural or semi-structural assembly element P4. The shaft 112 of the first structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 extends projecting from the structural or semi-structural assembly element P3 and is engageable in the shaft 132 of the structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 mounted on the structural or semi-structural assembly element P4, while the shaft 132 is engageable between the shaft 112 and the shaft 122 of the second structural or semi-structural assembly element carried by the structural or semi-structural assembly element P3, as can be seen in Figure 2.

[0106] The structural or semi-structural assembly element 12 forms a structural or semi-structural assembly element connecting the structural or semi-structural assembly elements 11 and 13.

[0107] A centering and compression stress control ring 7b is provided in the through hole of the structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P3. To facilitate centering and compression stress control of the structural and / or semi-structural elements, an adjustable centering and compression stress control ring 7a is provided in the through hole of a structural or semi-structural element P4, thus allowing for dimensional compensation in case of play between the structural and / or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0108] The two examples of structural or semi-structural assembly methods 10, 100 thus allow for the creation of a structural or semi-structural assembly of two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally PI, P2, and P3, P4. This structural or semi-structural assembly allows for a rigid, centered connection between the two structural and / or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally (P1, P2 and P3, P4), while remaining reversible. One of the structural or semi-structural elements can be the "fixed" element onto which the other structural or semi-structural element, referred to as "removable," can be mounted / dismounted.

[0109] According to the variant shown in Figure 3, structural or semi-structural assembly means 101 include an additional structural or semi-structural assembly element forming a spacer 14. This spacer 14 is configured to extend between a first element and a second structural and / or semi-structural element made of composite materials P5, P6 which extend spaced apart and parallel to each other, which form the walls of a single first double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element P made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

[0110] The spacer 14 comprises a shaft 142 having at each end a flange 141 intended to bear against faces opposite the structural and / or semi-structural walls P5, P6, which extend at intervals and parallel to each other. The shaft 142 of said spacer 14 is configured to be positioned opposite a through-hole provided in each of the structural and / or semi-structural walls P5, P6. This shaft 142 is configured to house and structurally or semi-structurally guide the shaft 112 of a structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 intended to be mounted on the first structural or semi-structural wall P5. The said structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 has a flange 111 intended to extend against a face of the first structural or semi-structural wall P5, opposite the face against which a flange 141 of the spacer 14 is supported. [OR I] The structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 has a shaft 112 configured to engage through a through hole provided in the structural or semi-structural wall P5, then in the shaft 142 of said spacer 14, then projecting at the other end of the shaft 142 of the spacer 14, in the through hole of the second structural or semi-structural wall (P6).

[0112] As can be seen in Figure 3, a structural or semi-structural connecting element 12 is mounted on the second structural or semi-structural wall P5. This structural or semi-structural connecting element 12 has a flange 121 designed to extend against a face of said second structural or semi-structural wall P6, the face opposite to that against which a flange 141 of the brace 14 bears. Said structural or semi-structural connecting element 12 includes a shaft 122 configured to be fitted onto the shaft 132 of the structural or semi-structural connecting element 13 mounted on the first structural or semi-structural wall P7.

[0113] The two structural and / or semi-structural walls P5 and P6 form a single element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P with double structural and / or semi-structural wall, which can be assembled structurally or semi-structurally on another structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P7 as in the previous example.

[0114] Figures 4 and 5 show variations of the structural or semi-structural assembly elements and the structural or semi-structural assembly means 101. Thus, it is possible to provide that the shaft 132 has a transverse retaining wall 133 with an opening and forming a recess engaged in the through-hole. The screw 22 can engage through the opening in the retaining wall 133 while being concealed within the recess. Consequently, the shaft 132 abuts against the flange 122 of the structural or semi-structural connecting element 12, into the shaft 122 of which the end of the shaft 112 of the structural or semi-structural connecting element 11 is engaged. This end of the shaft 112 includes a threaded hole 21 that cooperates with the screw 22.

[0115] In Figure 5, structural or semi-structural assembly means 101' include a structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 which carries the screw 22 as a fastening means, while the structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 includes the threaded element 21. This reversal of the structural or semi-structural fastening means thus allows one 101' or the other 101 of the structural or semi-structural assembly means to be used depending on accessibility to actuate the screw and allow assembly and disassembly.

[0116] Figure 6 shows a variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means in which a structural or semi-structural connecting element 11 A is intended to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element made of composite materials P8a which may be a structural wall element.This structural or semi-structural assembly element 11A comprises a flange 111A intended to extend against the structural or semi-structural assembly face of said first structural or semi-structural composite material element P8a, and a shaft 112A open at both ends and configured to be aligned with structural or semi-structural fastening means carried by said first structural or semi-structural composite material element P8a, such as a fir pin 15 embedded in the mass of the structural or semi-structural element P8a or carried by a second structural or semi-structural element P8b to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally. The structural or semi-structural element P8b may be, for example, a beam or a stringer, which can be assembled to the structural or semi-structural element P8a.

[0117] A third structural or semi-structural element P9 to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally comprises a structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 as described previously, the shaft 132 of which extends projecting from the through hole of the structural or semi-structural element P9 to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally. The shaft 112A of the structural or semi-structural assembly element 11A allows a fixing screw 22 carried by the structural or semi-structural assembly element 13 to engage with the fir tree pin 15 to cooperate with and fix the structural or semi-structural assembly thus formed.

[0118] Figure 7 shows a variant of the structural or semi-structural assembly means 101, in which a structural or semi-structural assembly element 11 is engaged on the first wall of a double-walled structural or semi-structural element PI to protrude on the second structural or semi-structural wall P4, which does not have a structural or semi-structural connecting element 12.

[0119] Figure 8 shows a variant of structural or semi-structural assembly in which a structural and / or semi-structural double wall element P formed of a double wall P7 and P6, is structurally or semi-structurally assembled to two structural and / or semi-structural elements P101 and P102 which are assembled by a structural or semi-structural connecting assembly element 15, and preferably glued together, to form a structural and / or semi-structural element P10 reversibly fixed to the structural and / or semi-structural element P.

[0120] In order to reinforce the strength and rigidity of the structural or semi-structural assembly made with structural or semi-structural assembly means according to the invention, said structural or semi-structural assembly means further comprise an assembly element made of structural or semi-structural adhesive material 5, configured to be interposed between the two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, for example P3, P4 as shown in Figure 2 or P, P7 as shown in Figure 3.

[0121] Advantageously, the structural or semi-structural adhesive material is also removable. This makes it possible to create structural or semi-structural assemblies that provide rigidity and mechanical strength to the assembled structures, while also allowing for maintenance operations that enable the structurally or semi-structurally assembled elements to be disassembled without causing their deterioration or destruction.

[0122] Advantageously, the structural or semi-structural adhesive material is thermally reversible. Therefore, advantageously, the structural or semi-structural assembly means include heating elements 4 to activate the structural or semi-structural adhesive material for assembly or disassembly.

[0123] Thus, as can be seen in Figure 2, the assembly made allows two Panels P3, P4 are assembled using the assembly means 100 according to the invention, comprising assembly elements 11, 13 fixed by bonding to the surfaces of panels P3, P4 with their respective flanges 111, 131, said assembly elements 11, 13 assembling the panels by screwing. These panels are also assembled by bonding the interface of the two panels P3, P4. This assembly is also demountable, provided the bonding is reversible. To this end, heat is applied to the adhesive material at bonding activation temperatures lower than the glass transition temperature Tv of the materials to be bonded and bonding deactivation temperatures higher than the maximum service temperature of the elements constituting the assembly, but always lower than the Tv of the materials to be bonded.

[0124] As can be seen in figures 9, 10 and 11, the structural or semi-structural assembly element in reversible adhesive material is in the form of a film, a pellet or washer, or a double-sided adhesive material 5 that can be engaged on the shaft 112 of the structural or semi-structural assembly element 11, and is intended to be housed between the structural or semi-structural assembly faces of the elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P3, P4 or P7, P.

[0125] The structural or semi-structural assembly means 100 shown in Figure 2 and 101 shown in Figure 3 include, as heating means 4, an electrical resistance heating disc 41.

[0126] In Figure 9, this electrical resistance heating disc 41 comprises a support 42 for distributing the bonding assembly stresses and a resistive heating element 43 directly bearing on the adhesive material washer 5, said assembly stress distribution support 42 having electrical connection means 421 for connecting electrical cables 6 and energizing the resistive heating element 43. The electrical resistance heating disc 41 is in the form of a washer and is engaged on the shaft 112 of the assembly element, intended to be housed between the structural or semi-structural assembly faces of the elements to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled P4, P3 or P7, P and against the adhesive material washer 5.

[0127] The assembly means 101 shown in Figure 10 include, in exploded view as heating means, an electrical resistance heating disc 41 comprising a bonding assembly stress-distributing support 42, a resistive heating element 43 and a thermally conductive element 44, promoting heat transfer to the adhesive material, said assembly stress-distributing support 42 having electrical connection means 421 for connecting electrical cables 6 and energizing the resistive heating element 43. The support 42, the resistive heating element 43 and the thermally conductive element 44 are in the form of a washer and are engaged on the shaft 112 of the structural or semi-structural assembly element. structural 11, and are intended to be housed between the structural and semi-structural assembly faces of the elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally P7, P and against the washer 5 in adhesive material.

[0128] The structural and semi-structural assembly means 101 shown in Figure 11 include, as heating means 4, a heating disc 45 by induction or Radio Frequency RF, in the form of a washer, engaged on the shaft 112 of the structural or semi-structural assembly element 11, and intended to be housed between the structural or semi-structural assembly faces of the structural and / or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, for example P7, P against a film, a pellet or washer, a double-sided material 5 made of adhesive material.

[0129] The assembly element may be an adhesive material such as a disc-shaped hot-melt thermoplastic film instead of a glue disc 5. In this case, the thermoplastic material is chosen to have a glass transition temperature Tv and a melting temperature Tf higher than the service temperature of the structural and semi-structural elements forming the assembly, but lower than the glass transition temperature Tv of the materials constituting the structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled / disassembled by melting / cooling / remelting.

[0130] Thus, composite material elements, structural and / or semi-structural, can be structurally or semi-structurally assembled at least in part by the aforementioned assembly means 10, 100, 101 but also by bonding to form a vehicle structure SV made up of several assembled modules, namely a central structural module MC defining the passenger compartment of a vehicle with its integrated and structurally and mechanically interfaced powertrains, two front and rear modules designed to absorb high-energy shocks HE, and two front and rear medium and low-energy shock absorption modules BE (see figure 12).

[0131] The MC central structural module comprises a first structural platform sub-module forming the lower part of the passenger compartment, and a second sub-module forming the upper and lateral parts of the passenger compartment.

[0132] Such a structural sub-module of the MP platform includes a structural floor element 1010, a front structural partition element 1011 and a rear structural partition element 1012 and two structural support elements 1013, 1014 placed respectively in front and behind the structural floor element 1010 and intended to receive respectively front and rear powertrains of the vehicle (see fig 13).

[0133] The MP platform structural sub-module further includes half-arch shaped elements 61 which are positioned along the rear structural support element 1014 or front 1013 and against the rear structural partition element 1012 or front 1011, said elements 61 being complementary to also half-arch shaped elements 62 carried by the rear and front HE high energy shock absorber structural modules to form wheel arches when the rear / front HE high energy shock absorber module is placed around the rear / front structural support element 1014,1013 as will be described later.

[0134] The structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials constituting the structural panels PI, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P, etc., have a sandwich structure comprising a core 8 and two outer skins 9. The outer skins are made of a composite material with a polymer matrix reinforced by continuous or discontinuous fibers such as mineral fibers with a basalt base associated with a high-performance resin while the core is preferably made of a plastic, metallic or natural material in the form of foam, alveolar or solid structure.

[0135] Such a composite material is therefore lighter, stronger, recyclable, and offers optimal energy absorption. Furthermore, this material is manufactured in such a way as to achieve interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the matrix, thus preserving the integrity of the structures during the aging of the composites under temperature and humidity conditions.

[0136] At the front and rear ends of the structural floor element 1010 thus formed, the front structural partition elements 1011 and rear structural partition elements 1012 are positioned.

[0137] The front structural partition element 1011 or rear 1012 comprises two composite material panels P5, P6 of the type already described above, extending apart from each other, preferably parallel to each other and forming a double-walled structural element P.

[0138] These structural bulkhead elements, front 1011 and rear 1012, therefore have a structure substantially similar to a double wall, comprising two composite panels made of sandwich-type composite materials such as that described previously. These bulkhead elements (known by the English term "bulkhead") thus have a "double wall, double bulkhead" structure.

[0139] On this front partition 1011 of the central module MC, it is possible to structurally assemble front and rear modules designed to absorb high energy HE shocks, then two front and rear BE medium and low energy shock absorption modules.

[0140] Thus, to structurally assemble a front or rear HE module designed to absorb high-energy shocks, as shown in Figure 11, the assembly means 101 are used according to the variant described in Figure 3, in which the spacer assembly element 14 is housed between the two panels of the front bulkhead 1011 or rear bulkhead 1012. This bulkhead 1011 or 1012 thus presents two composite material panels forming the composite material structural elements P5, P6 spaced apart forming the double wall structural element P. On figure 14, the assembly means 101 are for reasons of clarity represented on the HE module in order to indicate their locations.

[0141] The two HE modules, front and rear, of similar structure, thus comprise two lateral structural elements 110, in the form of panels, extending parallel to each other and connected to each other by a front / rear structural frame 121, 111 at each end of the lateral structural elements 110. The structural frame 111 is intended to extend forward of the front bulkhead 1011 and forms the second element to be structurally assembled P7.

[0142] As can be seen in figure 14, through holes O are provided in the structural frame 111 forming the structurally assembled element P7 and in the structural rear partition to be structurally assembled, consisting of the two walls P5, P6 of the structural and / or semi-structural double wall partition P, the strut-forming element 14 extending between the walls P5, P6.

[0143] This assembly is reversibly made by means of assembly 101, which allows easy dismantling of said front or rear HE module intended to absorb high energy shocks.

[0144] It is also possible to use these assembly means 101 to allow the assembly on the central module MC of half-arch shaped shock-absorbing elements 61 positioned against the rear structural partition element 1012 or front 1011 along the front structural support element 1013. These elements 61 are complementary to half-arch shaped shock-absorbing elements 62 carried by the HE module intended to absorb high-energy shocks, said elements 61, 62 being complementary and assembleable by assembly means 10, 100 according to the invention to form wheel arches when the rear structural shock-absorbing module HE is fitted onto the front structural support element 1013 (see Figure 15).

[0145] These assemblies include assembly means provided with structural or semi-structural adhesive material that can be glued and detached by heating.

[0146] List of references: PI P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8a P8b P9 P10 P structural or semi-structural element 10, 100, 101 means of structural or semi-structural assembly II 12 13 structural or semi-structural assembly element 14. Assembly element forming a spacer III 121 131 141 flask 112 122 132 142 barrel 21 threaded element 22 screws 3 fixing washers 4 heating methods 41 heating disc by electrical resistance 42 support stress distributor for bonded assembly 43 resistive heating element 44 thermally conductive element 45 induction or Radio Frequency (RF) heating disc 421 means of electrical connection 5 structural adhesive material 6 electrical cable SV vehicle structure MC central module HE module designed to absorb high-energy shocks BE module designed to absorb medium and low energy shocks MB platform module 1011 front structural partition element 1012 rear structural bulkhead element 1013 front structural support element 1014 rear structural support element 111a structural framework 121a structural framework 61 half-arche-shaped element 62 half-arche-shaped element 7a, 7b rings 8 souls 9 outer skin 15 Christmas tree pawns

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Structural or semi-structural assembly means for structurally or semi-structurally assembling at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements, characterized in that they comprise at least: a structural or semi-structural assembly element (11, 111 A) intended to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element (P, Pl, P3, P8a) to be assembled, comprising a flange (111, 111 A) and a shaft (112, 112A) extending axially from the flange (111, 111 A), the shaft (112, 112A) of said structural or semi-structural assembly element (11, 11 A) being configured to be inserted into a through hole formed in the structural or semi-structural element to be assembled (P, Pl, P3, P8a), said flange (111, 111 A) being intended to extend against a face of said first structural or semi-structural element to be assembled (P, Pl, P3, P8a), said structural or semi-structural assembly means further comprising fastening means (21;22) associated with said structural or semi-structural assembly element (11, 11 A), configured to cooperate with complementary fastening means associated with a second structural or semi-structural element (P2, P4, P7, P9, P10) to be assembled.; 2. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 1, characterized in that they further comprise a structural or semi-structural assembly element (13) intended to be mounted on the second structural or semi-structural element to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled, comprising a flange (131) comprising a shaft (132) open at both ends, extending axially from a face of the flange (131), the shaft (132) of said second structural or semi-structural assembly element (13) being configured to be inserted into a through hole formed in the second structural or semi-structural element (P2, P4, P7, P9, P10) and extending at least along the entire length of the through hole, while said flange (131) is intended to extend against a face of said second structural or semi-structural element (P2), the fastening means (22;21) associated with said second structural or semi-structural element (P2) being configured to be housed in the shaft (132) of the second structural or semi-structural assembly element (13) and to cooperate with the fastening means (21; 22) associated with said first structural or semi-structural assembly element (11).; 3. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening means consist of a threaded element (21) mounted in the shank (112, 132) of one of the assembly elements (11, 13), such as at the end of the shank (112, 132) of said assembly element (11, 13), and a screw (22) configured to cooperate with the threaded element (21) and mounted in the shank (132, 112) of the other assembly element (13, 11).

4. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fastening means such as the threaded element (21) and the screw (22) are made of metal or carbon or other high-performance fibrous reinforcements.

5. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that they comprise a structural or semi-structural assembly element (12) intended to be mounted on the first structural or semi-structural element (PI) which comprises a flange (121) intended to extend against a so-called structural or semi-structural assembly face of said first structural or semi-structural element (PI) and a shaft (122) open at both ends, said structural or semi-structural assembly element forming a structural or semi-structural connecting assembly element, the shaft of which is configured to be inserted into the through hole, fitted onto and around the end of the shaft (111) of the first structural or semi-structural assembly element (11).

6. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a structural or semi-structural assembly element (11, 12, 13), forming an insert intended to be mounted on structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, has a shaft (112, 122, 132) configured to extend at least partially along the through-hole into which it is configured to be inserted, or all along the through-hole, or even protrude from said through-hole.

7. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that an assembly element (11 A) configured to be mounted on a first structural or semi-structural element (P8a), comprises a flange (111 A) intended to extend against a face said to be structural or semi-structural assembly face of said first structural or semi-structural element (P8a) and a shaft (112 A) open at its two ends and configured to be aligned with fastening means carried by said first structural or semi-structural element (P8a), such as a fir tree pin (15) embedded in the mass of the structural or semi-structural element or carried by another structural or semi-structural element to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally.

8. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that they comprise an additional structural or semi-structural assembly element forming a spacer (14) configured to extend between a first and a second structural and / or semi-structural elements (P5, P6) extending spaced apart and parallel to each other, and forming a first structural and / or semi-structural double-walled structural and / or semi-structural element (P) to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, said spacer (14) comprising a shaft (142) having at each end a flange (141) intended to be supported on faces opposite structural and / or semi-structural elements (P5, P6) extending spaced apart and parallel to each other, said shaft (142) of said spacer (14) being configured to be positioned at each end opposite a through hole provided in each of the structural and / or semi-structural elements (P5, P6) extending spaced apart and parallel to each other, the shaft (142) of said spacer (14) being further configured to receive engaged in it the shaft of a first structural or semi-structural assembly element.

9. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the structural or semi-structural assembly elements having a flange and a shaft are made of composite materials of the type of a thermoplastic material, reinforced by continuous or discontinuous fibers.

10. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that they comprise a complementary assembly element interposed between the two structural or semi-structural elements s.

11. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 10, characterized in that the complementary assembly element is an assembly element made of structural or semi-structural adhesive material, preferably reversible, in the form of a film, a pad, a washer (5), a double-sided adhesive material, carried by a structural or semi-structural assembly face of one or the other of the elements to be structurally or semi-structurally assembled.

12. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 11, characterized in that the reversible structural or semi-structural adhesive material is chosen to be stickable and unstickable by thermal activation.

13. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 10, characterized in that the complementary assembly element is an assembly element made of thermoplastic material, configured to be interposed between the two structural or semi-structural elements to be assembled structurally or semi-structurally, this thermoplastic material being thermofusible by thermal activation and the assembly by melting of the thermofusible material and solidification thus obtained forming a weld by thermoplastic adhesive bond, which is preferably reversible.

14. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that they comprise heating means (4) for activating the assembly or disassembly of the complementary assembly element.

15. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 14, characterized in that the heating means (4) consist of an electrical resistance heating disc for activating bonding and peeling (41), comprising a support (42) distributing structural or semi-structural assembly stresses by bonding, a resistive heating element (43) and, optionally, a thermally conductive element (44), said support (42) distributing structural or semi-structural assembly stresses having electrical connection means (421) for connecting electrical cables (6) and energizing the resistive heating element (43).

16. Structural or semi-structural assembly means according to claim 14, characterized in that the heating means (4) consist of a heating disc (45) by induction or RF.

17. Structural or semi-structural assembly comprising at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials, characterized in that the at least two structural and / or semi-structural elements made of composite materials are assembled by assembly means according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. Structural or semi-structural assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that said structural and / or semi-structural elements in composite materials are structural and / or semi-structural elements defining a primary and / or secondary structure of a land, sea, air, space transport vehicle.

19. Structural or semi-structural assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that the primary and / or secondary structure is a motor vehicle structure, comprising a central structural module (SCM) defining at least the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, two front and rear high energy (HE) shock absorption structural modules, two front and rear medium and low energy (BE) shock absorption structural modules, said structural or semi-structural assembly means allowing structural or semi-structural assembly of structural and / or semi-structural elements of the same module together, and / or structural and / or semi-structural elements belonging to different modules to structurally or semi-structurally assemble said modules.

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