Assembly comprising a spare wheel and a device for fastening the spare wheel for a loading space of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a spare wheel and a device for fastening the spare wheel. The assembly comprises a spare wheel (2) and a device (1) for fastening the spare wheel for a loading space, the device comprising a housing (17) containing the spare wheel, the housing comprising: - an inner wall of a wheel arch of a rear wheel, the inner wall comprising a first surface (13), - a portion (12) of an inner side panel of the loading space that is situated above the inner wall and comprising a second surface (14) and a third surface (15). The first, second and third surfaces (13, 14, 15) produce a counter-form of the spare wheel capable of fixing the spare wheel above the wheel arch of the rear wheel by simply fitting the spare wheel in the counter-form.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Assembly comprising a spare wheel and a spare wheel fixing device for a cargo space of a motor vehicle.

[0003] The invention relates to an assembly comprising a spare wheel and a device for securing the spare wheel to the cargo area of ​​a motor vehicle.

[0004] For users of commercial vehicles, it is necessary that a commercial vehicle be able to be equipped with a spare wheel, in particular a "real" ready-to-use wheel, identical to those installed on the vehicle.

[0005] However, such a wheel takes up a significant amount of space. Furthermore, an area under the floor, which could previously be used to house a spare wheel, can now be used to install equipment such as a traction battery and / or an electric powertrain.

[0006] There are solutions for securing a spare tire in the cargo area of ​​a vehicle. However, these solutions have drawbacks. In particular, existing solutions require reinforcing the area where the tire is mounted, which increases the vehicle's weight.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide an assembly comprising a spare wheel and a spare wheel mounting device for the cargo area of ​​a motor vehicle, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and improves upon prior art assemblies comprising a spare wheel and a spare wheel mounting device for the cargo area of ​​a motor vehicle. In particular, the invention makes it possible to create an assembly comprising a spare wheel and a spare wheel mounting device for the cargo area of ​​a motor vehicle that is reliable and efficient and does not require reinforcing the area to which the wheel is attached.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a spare wheel and a device for securing the spare wheel in the cargo area of ​​a motor vehicle, the securing device comprising a housing in which the spare wheel is housed, the housing comprising:

[0009] - an inner wall of a rear wheel arch of the motor vehicle, said inner wall comprising a first surface,

[0010] - a portion of an interior side panel of the vehicle's cargo space, said portion of interior side panel being located above the interior wall, said portion of interior side panel comprising a second surface and a third surface, the first surface, the second surface and the third surface of the fastening device together forming a counter-form for the spare wheel capable of fixing the spare wheel above the rear wheel passage by simply fitting the spare wheel into the counter-form.

[0011] In one embodiment, at least one surface among the second surface and the third surface lies at least partially above a substantially horizontal plane of symmetry of a volume of the spare wheel inserted in the housing.

[0012] In one embodiment, the assembly further includes

[0013] - an exterior side panel of the motor vehicle, and

[0014] - a guide rail for a sliding door and / or a door stop allowing a rear door to open 180 degrees, said door being intended to close the loading area. In addition, the housing further includes a fourth surface defining a depth of the housing, the depth being defined so as to minimize the obstruction, along a transverse axis of the motor vehicle, of a spare wheel inserted in the housing, and / or the depth being defined so as to allow installation of the guide rail and / or the door stop in an area located between the fourth surface and the outer side panel of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In one embodiment, a thrust exerted on the spare wheel by at least one surface among the second surface and the third surface includes a non-zero component along each axis of an orthonormal frame attached to the motor vehicle.

[0016] In one embodiment, at least one surface among the first surface, the second surface and the third surface comprises a coating intended to increase the grip of a spare wheel tire on at least one surface.

[0017] In one embodiment,

[0018] - an angle measured between, on the one hand, a first plane tangent to the first surface at its lowest point relative to the vertical axis of the motor vehicle, and, on the other hand, a plane comprising a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of the vehicle, is such that a first thrust, exerted on the spare wheel by the first surface at its lowest point, is primarily oriented along the increasing vertical axis of the vehicle, and / or

[0019] - an angle measured between, on the one hand, a second plane tangent to the first surface at a most lateral point of the first surface relative to the transverse axis of the motor vehicle, and, on the other hand, a plane comprising a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis of the vehicle, is such that a second thrust, exerted on the spare wheel by the first surface at the most lateral point, is mainly directed along the transverse axis of the vehicle and oriented towards the interior of the vehicle.

[0020] In one embodiment, the fastening device further includes a strap capable of preventing the spare wheel from moving into the cargo space, the movement being oriented along the transverse axis of the vehicle.

[0021] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assembly according to the invention.

[0022] The invention further relates to a method of fixing a spare wheel of a motor vehicle according to the invention comprising a step of embedding the spare wheel in the housing of the entire motor vehicle.

[0023] In one embodiment, the motor vehicle includes an assembly according to the invention comprising a strap, and the method includes, following the embedding step, a step of attaching the spare wheel of the assembly with the strap of the fastening device of the assembly.

[0024] The attached drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of an assembly consisting of a spare wheel and a spare wheel fixing device for a cargo space of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] Figure 1 represents an embodiment of a motor vehicle equipped with an assembly according to the invention.

[0026] Figure 2 defines an orthonormal coordinate system relative to the motor vehicle according to the invention. Figure 3 is a first perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0027] Figure 4 is a second perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0028] Figure 5 is a third perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0029] Figure 6 is a fourth perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0030] Figure 7 is a fifth perspective view of an assembly according to the invention.

[0031] An example of a motor vehicle 100 equipped with an embodiment of an assembly 10 formed by a passage 11 of a rear wheel 4 of the motor vehicle 100, and an inner side panel of a cargo space 3 of the motor vehicle 100, is described below with reference to Figure 1.

[0032] For the purposes of this description, and with reference to Figure 2, we use a direct orthonormal coordinate system R0, with axes X, Y, Z, commonly used in automotive design, in which

[0033] - the X-axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear,

[0034] - the Y-axis designates the transverse direction and is oriented towards the right of the vehicle, and

[0035] - The Z-axis designates the vertical direction and is oriented upwards. In the embodiment described below, the motor vehicle 100 is a vehicle comprising a loading space 3, in particular a utility vehicle of the van type.

[0036] In the embodiment presented, the motor vehicle 100 includes an assembly 10 comprising a spare wheel 2 and a fixing device 1 for the spare wheel 2 for a loading space 3 of a motor vehicle 100.

[0037] The fastening device 1 includes a housing 17 in which the spare wheel 2 is housed, the housing 17 comprising:

[0038] - an inner wall 111 of a passage 11 of a rear wheel 4 of the motor vehicle 100, said inner wall 111 comprising a first surface 13,

[0039] - a portion 12 of an interior side panel of the loading space 3 of the motor vehicle 100, said portion 12 of the interior side panel being located above the interior wall 111, said portion 12 of the interior side panel comprising a second surface 14 and a third surface 15, the first surface 13, the second surface 14 and the third surface 15 of the fastening device 1 together forming a counter-form of the spare wheel 2 suitable for fixing the spare wheel 2 above the passage 11 of the rear wheel 4 by a simple embedding of the spare wheel 2 in the counter-form.

[0040] Portion 12 of the inner side panel is more specifically illustrated in Figures 4 to 7. In the remainder of this document, the terms "inner side panel 12" or "panel 12" refer to portion 12 of the inner side panel located above the inner wall 111 of passage 11. Furthermore, the second surface 14 and the third surface 15 are distinct. In other words, a point belonging to the second surface 14 does not belong to the third surface 15. Advantageously, the second surface 14 and the third surface 15 are disjoint.

[0041] In the rest of the document, the motor vehicle 100 and the assembly 10 are described with reference to an orthonormal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) illustrated by Figure 2.

[0042] Figures 3 to 5 illustrate an assembly 10 on which a spare wheel 2 is mounted. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an assembly 10 without the spare wheel 2.

[0043] Figure 3 is a view along a (Y, Z) plane, representing:

[0044] - the fastening device 1 disposed on a first side (in particular on the left side of figure 3) of a separation boundary between the inside and outside of the body of the motor vehicle 100, the assembly 10 being located in the loading space 3, the assembly 10 comprising an inner wall 111 of the passage 11 and the portion 12 of the inner side panel, and

[0045] - an area of ​​the motor vehicle 100 arranged on a second side (in particular on the right side of Figure 3) of a boundary separating the inside and outside of the vehicle body, said area comprising an outer wall 112 of the passage 11, and a guide rail 7 of a sliding side door of the motor vehicle 100.

[0046] Passage 11 thus comprises two walls 111 and 112 which together define a space for the passage of a rear wheel. The inner wall 111 of passage 11 is located within the cargo space 3 of the motor vehicle 100, and the outer wall 112 of passage 11 is located outside the vehicle's cargo space. Passage 11 thus isolates the rear wheel 4 from the cargo space 3. In the remainder of this document, an inner face 121 of panel 12 is referred to as "inner face 121," and an outer face 122 of panel 12 is referred to as "outer face 122."

[0047] In one embodiment, panel 12 is made of sheet metal with a thickness of approximately 1 millimeter, or even 0.8 millimeter.

[0048] The panel 12 extends above the inner wall 111 of the passage 11, the inner face 121 being oriented towards the loading space 3 of the motor vehicle 100, and the outer face 122 being oriented towards the outside of the body of the motor vehicle 100. The inner face 121 is illustrated by figures 4, 6 and 7; the outer face 122 is illustrated by figure 5.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one surface among the second surface 14 and the third surface 15 lies at least partially above a substantially horizontal plane of symmetry P1 of a volume of the spare wheel 2 inserted in the housing 17.

[0050] For example, as can be seen more specifically in Figure 6, the third surface 15 extends above plane P1.

[0051] In one embodiment, set 10 further includes

[0052] - an interior side panel 12 of the motor vehicle, and

[0053] - a guide rail 7 of a sliding door and / or a cam door stop allowing a rear swing door to open 180 degrees, said door being intended to close the loading space, and the housing 17 further includes a fourth surface 16 delimiting a depth 171 of the housing 17.

[0054] The depth 171 is then advantageously defined so as to minimize an obstruction on the transverse axis Y of the motor vehicle of a spare wheel 2 inserted in the housing 17, and / or the depth 171 is defined so as to allow installation of the guide rail 7 and / or the cam door stop in an area located between the fourth surface 16 and the outer side panel 6 of the motor vehicle 100.

[0055] In other words, the depth 171 of housing 17 is defined so as to meet both

[0056] - constraints limiting the size of the spare wheel 2 in the cargo space 3, and

[0057] - constraints to preserve sufficient space to install a guide rail 7, between the inner side panel 12 and the outer side panel 6 and / or to install a cam door stop between the inner side panel 12 and the outer side panel 6.

[0058] The presence of a cam door stop between the inner side panel 12 and the outer side panel 6 may be intended for the implementation of a rear swing door.

[0059] In one embodiment, a thrust, exerted on the spare wheel 2 by at least one surface among the second surface 14 and the third surface 15, includes a non-zero component along each axis (X, Y, Z) of an orthonormal frame attached to the motor vehicle.

[0060] In one embodiment, at least one surface among the first surface 13, the second surface 14, and the third surface 15 comprises a coating intended to increase the grip of a spare tire on at least one surface. For example, the coating may contain micro-asperities to increase the coefficient of friction or grooves. In one embodiment, the shape of the wheel arch 11 has been modified so that a recess formed by the surface 13 at a vertex 113 of the wheel arch is located at a distance from a wheel inserted in the wheel arch 11.In other words, the wheel arch 11 has a modified height, that is to say a height measured along the Z axis greater than the height of a traditional wheel arch, so as to be able to lower the upper surface of the wheel arch slightly by forming the hollow of the first surface 13, the modified height allowing to retain a volume necessary for the passage of a rear wheel 4.

[0061] In one embodiment, an angle measured between, on the one hand, a first plane tangent to the first surface 13 at a point 131 lowest of the first surface 13 relative to the vertical axis Z of the motor vehicle 100, and, on the other hand, a plane comprising a longitudinal axis X and a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, is such that a first thrust exerted on the spare wheel 2 by the first surface 13 at the lowest point 131 of the first surface is mainly oriented along the increasing vertical axis Z of the vehicle, and / or an angle measured between, on the one hand, a second plane tangent to the first surface 13 at a point 132 most lateral of the first surface relative to the transverse axis Y of the motor vehicle 100, and, on the other hand, a plane comprising a longitudinal axis X and a vertical axis Z of the vehicle,is such that a second thrust exerted on the spare wheel by the first surface 13 at the most lateral point 132 is mainly directed along the transverse axis Y of the vehicle and oriented towards the loading space 3.,

[0062] In other words, the force exerted on the spare wheel 2 at each point of the first surface 13 is distributed along the Y and / or Z axes of the vehicle, with the force along the Y axis directed inwards towards the vehicle, particularly towards the cargo space 3, and the force along the Z axis directed upwards towards the vehicle. Thus, the surfaces 13, 14, and 15 described above conform to the shape of the spare wheel so as to hold the spare wheel 2 securely in the compartment 17. Since the retention of the spare wheel is largely ensured by friction forces at the surfaces 13, 14, and 15, no central fastener is required. Furthermore, the shape of the compartment 17, particularly through stamping, enhances the rigidity of the inner panel 12, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement of the inner panel 12 on which the spare wheel is intended to be held.

[0063] In order to reduce the risk of the spare wheel 2 coming out of its housing 17, particularly during a strong lateral acceleration exerted on the spare wheel 2 and directed towards the interior of the vehicle, the fastening device may contain a strap capable of opposing a movement of the spare wheel 2 in a direction along the transverse axis Y of the vehicle and directed towards the interior of the vehicle.

[0064] In one embodiment, the strap can be fixed at both ends to the portion 12 of the inner side panel, so as to be positioned, for example, according to a diameter of the spare wheel 2.

[0065] Alternatively, the strap can be positioned so that it is offset from the center of the spare wheel 2.

[0066] The invention further relates to a method for securing a spare wheel of a motor vehicle comprising a step of fitting the spare wheel into the housing 17, comprising a counter-form delimited by the first surface 13, the second surface 14 and the third surface 15. In one embodiment, the fastening method comprises, following the fitting step, a step of attaching the spare wheel 2 with the strap of the fastening device 1 of the assembly 10.

[0067] Ultimately, the invention allows the use of existing vehicle surfaces to create a housing for the spare tire without having to reinforce those surfaces. Not using reinforcement for the spare tire mounting reduces the vehicle's mass.

[0068] Furthermore, the spare wheel is secured by fitting it into a molded housing, possibly with the use of a strap for added stability. This eliminates the need for screws, simplifying its use.

[0069] Furthermore, fitting the spare wheel into a housing greatly reduces the vibrations generated by the spare wheel.

[0070] Furthermore, the recessed housing of the spare wheel in a compartment made in an interior side panel of the cargo area, the compartment being located above the wheel arch, helps to limit the volume occupied by the spare wheel in the cargo area.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Assembly (10) comprising a spare wheel (2) and a fixing device (1) for the spare wheel (2) for a cargo space (3) of a motor vehicle (100), the fastening device (1) being characterized in that it comprises a housing (17) in which the spare wheel (2) is housed, the housing (17) comprising: - an inner wall (111) of a rear wheel passage (11) (4) of the motor vehicle (100), said inner wall (111) comprising a first surface (13), - a portion (12) of an inner side panel of the loading space (3) of the motor vehicle (100), said portion (12) of inner side panel being located above the inner wall (111), said portion (12) of inner side panel comprising a second surface (14) and a third surface (15), the first surface (13), the second surface (14) and the third surface (15) of the fastening device (1) together forming a counter-form of the spare wheel (2) capable of fixing the spare wheel (2) above the passage (11) of the rear wheel (4) by a simple embedding of the spare wheel (2) in the counter-form.

2. Assembly (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one surface among the second surface (14) and the third surface (15) is located at least partially above a substantially horizontal plane of symmetry (P1) of a volume of the spare wheel (2) inserted in the housing (17).

3. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, assembly (10) further comprising - an exterior side panel (6) of the motor vehicle, and - a guide rail (7) for a sliding door and / or a door stop allowing a rear door to open 180 degrees, said door being intended to close the loading space (3), characterized in that the housing (17) further comprises a fourth surface (16) delimiting a depth (171) of the housing (17), the depth (171) being defined so as to minimize an encroachment, along a transverse axis (Y) of the motor vehicle (100), of a spare wheel (2) inserted in the housing (17), and / or the depth (171) being defined so as to allow an installation of the guide rail (7) and / or the door stop in an area located between the fourth surface (16) and the outer side panel (6) of the motor vehicle (100).

4. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thrust, exerted on the spare wheel (2) by at least one surface among the second surface (14) and the third surface (15), comprises a non-zero component along each axis (X, Y, Z) of an orthonormal frame attached to the motor vehicle.

5. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one surface among the first surface (13), the second surface (14) and the third surface (15) comprises a coating intended to increase the grip of a spare wheel tire (2) on at least one surface.

6. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that - an angle measured between, on the one hand, a first plane tangent to the first surface (13) at a lowest point (131) of the first surface relative to the vertical axis (Z) of the motor vehicle (100), and, on the other hand, a plane comprising a longitudinal axis (X) and a transverse axis (Y) of the vehicle, is such that a first thrust, exerted on the spare wheel (2) by the first surface (13) at the lowest point (131) of the first surface, is mainly oriented along the increasing vertical axis (Z) of the vehicle, and / or - an angle measured between, on the one hand, a second plane tangent to the first surface at a most lateral point (132) of the first surface (13) relative to the transverse axis (Y) of the motor vehicle (100), and, on the other hand, a plane comprising a longitudinal axis (X) and a vertical axis (Z) of the vehicle, is such that a second thrust, exerted on the spare wheel (2) by the first surface (13) at the most lateral point (132), is principally directed along the transverse axis (Y) of the vehicle and oriented towards the interior of the vehicle.

7. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening device (1) further comprises a strap capable of opposing a movement of the spare wheel (2) towards the loading space (3), the movement being oriented along the transverse axis (Y) of the vehicle.

8. Motor vehicle (100) comprising an assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Method of fixing a spare wheel of a motor vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of embedding the spare wheel (2) in the housing (17) of the assembly (10) of the motor vehicle (100).

10. A fastening method according to the preceding claim, the motor vehicle (100) comprising an assembly (10) according to claim 7, the method being characterized in that it comprises, following the embedding step, a step of attaching the spare wheel (2) of the assembly (10) with the strap of the fastening device (1) of the assembly (10).

Images