Motor vehicle front structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle front structure (1) comprising an electrical wiring harness (2) designed to be powered by a low-voltage battery (3), the structure (1) having a location (4) for attaching the battery (3) and a front bulkhead (5), the bulkhead (5) being liable to be impacted by the battery (3) attached to its location (4) during a deformation caused by an impact experienced by the front structure (1), the electrical wiring harness (2) extending at least partially between the attachment location (4) and the front bulkhead (5), the structure (1) having a reinforcing element (6) secured to the structure (1) and designed to delimit, when the location (4) is forced towards the bulkhead (5), a confinement space (7) between the bulkhead (5) and the location (4) and around at least part of the wiring harness (2), the confinement space (7) making it possible to prevent the wiring harness (2) from being crushed.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Front structure of a motor vehicle

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2410250 filed on September 25, 2024, the content of which (text, drawings, and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The technical field relates to front structures of motor vehicles designed to protect an electrical wiring harness from crushing, and to motor vehicles having such a front structure.

[0002] In the area of ​​road safety, car manufacturers must consider numerous concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles. Vehicle behavior in various crash scenarios is regulated and tested using standardized testing procedures. The requirements for these test results are constantly increasing and becoming more demanding, forcing car manufacturers to continually innovate.

[0003] In a frontal collision, car manufacturers strive to control body deformation to best dissipate the energy released during the impact while preventing body parts from entering the passenger compartment. This dissipation is achieved through three distinct force pathways that control how the vehicle deforms.

[0004] In this context, most vehicles have a low-voltage battery, usually 12V, mounted in the engine compartment, near a bulkhead that separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment. While vehicle deformation is specifically designed to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment, it frequently happens that, following a collision, the battery and / or its mounting point moves closer to and / or impacts the bulkhead. When the engine compartment is small, its layout is particularly delicate and requires at least part of the wiring harness to run between the battery and the bulkhead. However, during a collision, the section of the wiring harness running between the battery and the bulkhead is at risk of being crushed and severed. Severing part of the 12V wiring harness is unacceptable because homologation standards require maintaining certain electrical functions powered by the 12V electrical harness.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution that preserves the electrical functions required for homologation when the vehicle undergoes deformations following an impact.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a front structure with a containment space that protects an electrical bundle from being crushed between the battery and the firewall.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a front structure of a motor vehicle comprising an electrical harness designed to be powered by a low-voltage battery, the structure having a mounting location for the low-voltage battery and a front apron, the apron being liable to be impacted by the low-voltage battery fixed to its location during a deformation caused by an impact suffered by the front structure, the electrical harness extending at least in part between the mounting location and the front apron, the structure having a reinforcement element integral with the structure and designed to delimit, when the mounting location of the apron is brought closer, a containment space between the apron and the mounting location and around at least part of the electrical harness, the containment space allowing the electrical harness to be crushed.

[0008] The invention also relates to a reinforcement element for making a front structure according to the invention, the reinforcement element having a fixing interface designed to allow the reinforcement element to be fixed to the deck, the reinforcement element further having at least one first wall extending between an external face, designed to be impacted when the battery is brought into position, and an internal face designed to delimit a containment space with the deck.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one front structure according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the front structure according to the invention makes it possible to delimit a containment space through which the electrical bundle passes to be protected against crushing. In the event of deformations resulting from a front impact sustained by the In the front structure, the reinforcement element is located between the battery and the bulkhead. This element resists deformation or, alternatively, exhibits controlled deformation. Even in the case of controlled deformation, the reinforcement element then defines a containment space around the electrical harness, resisting complete crushing. Those skilled in the art know perfectly well how to shape and dimension the reinforcement element, once the containment space has been determined, to withstand complete crushing between the battery or its location and the bulkhead. Thus, the portion of the electrical harness passing through the containment space is guaranteed not to be crushed and therefore severed by deformations of the front structure. Therefore, the front structure ensures the electrical functions required for vehicle type approval, which could not be guaranteed if the electrical harness were to be crushed.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the structure, the reinforcement element has a fixing interface designed to allow the reinforcement element to be fixed to the deck.

[0012] According to one possibility, the front structure includes at least one first wall extending between an external face, designed to be impacted when the battery apron is brought closer to its location, and an internal face delimiting the containment space with the apron.

[0013] Advantageously, the reinforcement element includes a second wall designed to extend between the deck and the first wall, the first wall forming an extension of the second wall by forming an angle with the first wall.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the structure, the reinforcement element further includes a reinforcing tab projecting from the first wall towards the deck when the reinforcement element is fixed to the deck. Thus, when the reinforcement element is shaped to partially deform, the reinforcing tab is dimensioned to bear against the deck and prevent the crushing of the reinforcement element.

[0015] Advantageously, the reinforcement tab has a notch to allow the passage of the electrical harness.

[0016] Depending on one possibility of the structure, the reinforcement element is formed from a stamped and / or folded sheet metal.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the structure includes a low-voltage battery fixed to the mounting location.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a front structure according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 represents a detailed view of a reinforcement element implemented in the structure of Figure 1;

[0021] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0022] A front structure 1 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, illustrated in Figure 1, comprises an electrical harness 2 designed to be powered by a low-voltage battery 3, illustrated in Figure 1. The low-voltage battery 3 is, for example, a 12V battery. The low-voltage battery 3 is different from a motor battery.

[0023] Structure 1 has a mounting location 4 for the low-voltage battery 3. Structure 1 also has a front bulkhead 5. The bulkhead 5 is typically a partition separating the engine compartment of the front structure 1 from the passenger compartment of the vehicle according to the invention. The bulkhead 5 is susceptible to impact by the low-voltage battery 3 mounted in its location 4 during deformation caused by an impact to the front structure 1.

[0024] In the front structure 1 according to the invention, and as illustrated in figure 1, the electrical bundle 2 extends at least in part between the fixing location 4 and the front apron 5.

[0025] As illustrated in Figure 1, structure 1 also includes a reinforcing element 6, shown in Figure 2, which is integral with structure 1 and designed to delimit, when the mounting point 4 of the deck 5 is brought into position, a containment space 7 between the deck 5 and the mounting point 4 and around at least part of the electrical bundle 2. This containment space 7 prevents the electrical bundle 2 from being crushed. The reinforcing element 6 is either designed to resist all deformation or it allows controlled deformations that maintain this containment space 7.

[0026] As illustrated in Figure 2, the reinforcing element 6 is, for example, formed from stamped and / or folded sheet metal. The dimensions and shape of the reinforcing element 6 are chosen to allow it to withstand complete crushing between the deck 5 and the location 4 or its battery 3 fixed to the location 4.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the reinforcement element 6 has a fixing interface 8 designed to allow the reinforcement element 6 to be fixed to the deck 5. The fixing interface 8 is, for example, formed of a plate 9 provided with a plurality of riveting holes 10.

[0028] In the example described, the reinforcement element 6 comprises at least one first wall 11 extending between an outer face 12, designed to be impacted when the apron 5 is brought into contact with the battery 3 fixed to its position 4, and an inner face 13 which, together with the apron 5, delimits the containment space 7. For example, the inner face 13 extends parallel to the apron 5. The reinforcement element 6 also comprises a second wall 14 designed to extend between the apron 5 and the first wall 11, forming an angle with the first wall 11. In the example in Figure 2, the second wall 14 extends the plate 9 of the fixing interface 8. The second wall 14 forms, for example, a right angle with the first wall 11. In order to reinforce the reinforcing element 6, the first 11 and / or second 14 walls have at least one reinforcing rib 15. In the example shown in Figure 2, the first wall 11 is, for example, extended by two extensions 16.

[0029] As illustrated in Figure 2, the reinforcement element 6 further includes a reinforcement tab 17 projecting from the first wall 11 towards the deck 5, when the reinforcement element 6 is fixed to the deck 5. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the reinforcement tab 17 has a notch 18 to allow the passage of the electrical cable 2. In this case, the notch 18 allows the cable 2 to pass between the reinforcement tab 6 and the second wall 14. For example, the length of the reinforcement tab 17 is chosen to cover 90% of the distance between the first wall 11 and the deck 5.

[0030] As illustrated in Figure 1, the electrical beam 2 passes through the deck 5 via an opening 19 and between the second wall 14 and the leg of reinforcement 17 to pass into the containment space 7. In the containment space 7, the electrical beam 2 forms a bend and exits from the containment space 7 between the two extensions 16.

[0031] Thus, in the event of a collision suffered by the motor vehicle according to the invention, the front structure 1 deforms and the mounting location 4, with its battery 3 fixed thereto, moves closer to the apron 5. The electrical harness 2 is protected from crushing, and any resulting cuts, in the containment space 7. In particular, the reinforcing tab 17 supports the apron 5 to prevent the first wall 11 from moving closer to the apron 5.

[0032] Thus, the front structure 1 according to the invention makes it possible to delimit the containment space 7 through which the electrical harness 2 passes to be protected against crushing. In the event of deformations resulting from a frontal impact on the front structure 1, the reinforcing element 6 is located between the battery 3 and the bulkhead 5 and thus delimits a containment space 7 around the electrical harness 2, resisting complete crushing (i.e., crushing that does not preserve the containment space 7). Therefore, the front structure 1 according to the invention, by preventing the crushing of a portion of the electrical harness 2, ensures the electrical functions required for vehicle type approval.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the front structure described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be devised by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Front structure (1) of a motor vehicle comprising an electrical harness (2) designed to be powered by a low-voltage battery (3), the structure (1) having a mounting location (4) for the low-voltage battery (3) and a front bulkhead (5), the bulkhead (5) being liable to be impacted by the low-voltage battery (3) fixed to its location (4) during a deformation caused by an impact sustained by the front structure (1), the electrical harness (2) extending at least partially between the mounting location (4) and the front bulkhead (5), the structure (1) having a reinforcing element (6) integral with the structure (1) and designed to delimit, when the mounting location (4) of the bulkhead (5) is brought closer together, a containment space (7) between the bulkhead (5) and the mounting location (4) and around at least part of the electrical harness (2), the containment space (7) preventing the harness (2) from being crushed electric.

2. Structure (1) front according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement element (6) has a fixing interface (8) designed to allow the fixing of the reinforcement element (6) on the deck (5).

3. Structure (1) front according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least a first wall (11) extending between an external face (12), designed to be impacted when the apron (5) is brought closer to the battery (3) fixed in its location (4), and an internal face (13) delimiting with the apron (5) the containment space (7).

4. Structure (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the reinforcement element (6) comprises a second wall (14) designed to extend between the deck (5) and the first wall (11), the first wall (11) forming an extension of the second wall (14) by forming an angle with the first wall (11).

5. Structure (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the reinforcing element (6) further comprises a projecting reinforcing tab (17) of the first wall (11) towards the deck (5) when the reinforcement element (6) is fixed to the deck (5).

6. Structure (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the reinforcing tab (17) has a notch (18) to allow passage of the electrical bundle (2).

7. Structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the reinforcing element (6) is formed of a stamped and / or folded sheet metal.

8. Structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a low voltage battery (3) fixed on the fixing location (4).

9. Reinforcement element (6) for making a front structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the reinforcement element (6) having a fixing interface (8) designed to allow the fixing of the reinforcement element (6) on the deck (5), the reinforcement element (6) further having at least a first wall (11) extending between an external face (12), designed to be impacted when the battery (3) is brought into position (4), and an internal face (13) designed to delimit with the deck (5) a containment space (7).

10. Motor vehicle having at least one front structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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