CN117999218A - Vehicle comprising a structural member with a pillar reinforcement part - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a structural member (SV) comprising two uprights (MR) of right and left, each of which comprises a lower Portion (PI) fixedly connected to a floor (PV), and two reinforcing Parts (PR) of right and left, each of which is fixedly connected to one of the lower Portions (PI) and to the floor (PV) and has the general form of an inverted elbow capable of absorbing, by deformation, at least a portion of the energy of a lateral collision suffered by the associated lower Portion (PI).

Description

Vehicle comprising a structural member with a pillar reinforcement part

Technical Field

The present invention claims priority from french application 2106151 filed on 6/10 of 2021, the contents of which (text, figures and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to vehicles, optionally of the motorized type, and more precisely to the structural members comprised by these vehicles.

Background

Many vehicles of the motorized type generally comprise a structural member comprising at least two (structural) elements defining a right pillar (or "pillar") and a left pillar (or "pillar") and which are required to deform without breaking when subjected to a lateral collision. In fact, it is desirable to enable the lower portion of the upright to deform more than its central and upper portions in the event of a lateral (or transverse) collision, so as to optimise protection for the adjacent passengers.

In some vehicles, for example for reasons of space and/or weight, the lower portion of the upright mentioned above is forced to be thinner than the central portion of the upright and therefore to deform excessively (even break) in the event of a lateral collision, which is suffered by the upright, which prevents the lower portion from ensuring its protective function correctly.

In KR1996-0033983 it is proposed to add rigid and inclined right and left elongate bars to the structural members of the vehicle, so as to be fixedly connected to the lower portion of the central upright and to said floor respectively. This can strengthen the lateral rigidity of the structural member of the vehicle. However, in the event of a lateral collision, which is suffered by the lower portion of the central upright, the strong rigidity of the associated elongated rod (or reinforcement) can cause breakage of the lower portion above the location where the rod is elongated and integrated, which prevents the lower portion from ensuring its protection function correctly through deformation.

The object of the invention is therefore, inter alia, to improve the situation.

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, the invention provides, inter alia, a vehicle comprising a structural member comprising at least two right and left uprights, each of the at least two uprights comprising a lower portion fixedly connected to a floor.

The vehicle is characterized in that, since the structural part of the vehicle also comprises two reinforcing parts, a right reinforcing part and a left reinforcing part, each of said two reinforcing parts being fixedly connected to one of said lower parts and to said floor panel and having the general form of an inverted elbow capable of absorbing at least part of the energy of a lateral collision suffered by the associated lower part by deformation.

In the event of a lateral crash, which is suffered by the lower part, the assembly (of the reinforcing element and of the lower part) is thus deformed without breaking the lower part, which enables the lower part to correctly ensure its protection function against the adjacent passengers.

The vehicle according to the invention may comprise other features, in particular:

Each reinforcing part may comprise: in one aspect, a first portion extends from an associated lower portion substantially parallel to the floor along a lateral direction of the vehicle; and, in another aspect, a second portion extending downwardly from the first portion;

-in the presence of first optional features, each first portion may be parallel to the base plate;

and in the presence of the first optional feature, each second portion may form an angle with the associated first portion of between 90 ° and 100 °;

and in the presence of the first optional features, each first portion may comprise at least one lateral edge folded down, said at least one lateral edge being able to increase the lateral stiffness of its reinforcing part;

and, in the presence of the first optional features, each first portion may comprise an inwardly radiused cut on at least one lateral edge and in the vicinity of the associated second portion, said cut being capable of allowing rotational deformation;

And in the presence of the first optional feature, each reinforcing part may comprise: in one aspect, a third portion extending upwardly from the first portion and fixedly joined by at least one weld to an associated lower portion; and, in another aspect, a fourth portion extending the second portion above the base plate and fixedly joined to the base plate by at least one weld;

-and in the presence of the first optional features, each first portion may comprise at least one through hole allowing the fixation of the equipment of the vehicle;

-in the presence of the latter sub-optional feature, the equipment may be a trim;

Each upright may be a rear or central upright;

The vehicle may be of the motorised type.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings (which are taken by the CAO/DAO ("computer aided design/computer aided drafting")) in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows, in a first perspective view, an example left rear part of a structural member of a vehicle according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 schematically shows, in a second perspective view, a left rear pillar of the vehicle structural member of fig. 1, said left rear pillar being associated with an example of a reinforcing part.

Detailed Description

It is an object of the present invention, inter alia, to provide a vehicle V comprising a structural member SV comprising at least two uprights MR, right and left, each of which comprises a lower portion PI associated with a reinforcing element PR which deforms together with this lower portion PI in the event of a lateral collision.

Hereinafter, as an illustrative example, the vehicle V is considered to be of a motorized type. The vehicle is for example related to an automobile, as shown in a non-limiting part in fig. 1. The invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. The invention relates to virtually any type of vehicle comprising a structural member comprising at least two right and left uprights that are required to be deformed in the event of a lateral collision.

In addition, hereinafter, as an illustrative example, the pillar MR is considered as a rear pillar (or pillar) of the structural member SV of the vehicle V. The invention is not limited to this type of column MR. The invention in fact also relates to a central upright (or post).

In fig. 1 and 2, the direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V (which is parallel to the lateral side including the lateral door), the direction Y is the lateral direction of the vehicle V (which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X), and the direction Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle V (which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y).

An example left rear portion of a structural member SV of a vehicle V according to the invention is schematically shown in fig. 1. As shown partially, the structural member SV comprises a base plate PV fixedly connected in one piece with two uprights (or struts) MR of a right upright (or strut) and a left upright (or strut), each of which comprises a lower portion PI extending upwardly from a central portion. Note that the right pillar (here, the right rear pillar) is similar to the left rear pillar MR shown.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, and without limitation, the lower portion PI of each post MR is fixedly joined to the base plate PV, preferably by welding.

The structural member SV further comprises two stiffening parts PR, a right stiffening part and a left stiffening part, each of which is fixedly connected in one of the two lower portions PI and with the bottom plate PV. More precisely, the right reinforcement part PR is fixedly connected to the lower portion PI of the right upright MR and to the floor PV, and the left reinforcement part PR is fixedly connected to the lower portion PI of the left upright MR and to the floor PV.

Furthermore, as better shown on fig. 2, each stiffening element PR has the general form of an inverted elbow capable of absorbing, by deformation, at least a portion of the energy of the lateral impact suffered by the associated lower portion PI.

Here, an "inverted elbow" is understood to be an elbow that (as opposed to a typical elbow elsewhere) is not abutted against the lower portion PI and the floor PV and is therefore (due to the inversion of its position) almost completely separated from the associated lower portion PI and floor PV by empty space. The elbow thus comprises a first portion P1 disposed opposite to but spaced from the floor PV and a second portion P2 disposed opposite to but spaced from the associated post MR.

Because the reinforcement part PR has the ability to deform significantly due to its particular form and location in the event of a lateral collision suffered by the associated lower part PI, the assembly (of reinforcement part PR and lower part PI) deforms without breaking the lower part PI. This enables the lower portion PI to correctly ensure its protection function against the adjacent passengers, even if it is thinner than the central portion of the lower portion that is extended upwards (as is the case in the example shown in fig. 1 and 2 without limitation).

Note that as shown in fig. 2 without limitation and as described above, each reinforcement part PR comprises a first portion P1 and a second portion P2, which are mutually elongated while defining a general form in the shape of an inverted elbow. The first portion P1 extends from the associated lower portion PI substantially parallel to the floor panel PV along the transverse direction Y of the vehicle V. The second portion P2 extends the first portion P1 down to the bottom plate PV.

For example, as shown in fig. 2 without limitation, each first portion P1 may be parallel to the bottom plate PV and thus included in the plane XY. In an embodiment variant not shown, however, each first portion P1 may deviate very slightly from the XY plane by a few degrees (typically up to 3 °).

Also for example, as shown in fig. 2 without limitation, each second portion P2 may form an angle of 90 ° with the associated first portion P1. But this is not mandatory. In fact, the angle may be between 90 ° and 100 °.

Also for example, as shown in fig. 2 without limitation, each first portion P1 may include at least one lateral edge BT folded down, which can increase the lateral stiffness of its reinforcing part PR. Here, a "lateral edge" is understood to be an edge substantially parallel to the lateral direction Y (which is included in the plane YZ when the edge is folded down). It is understood that, thanks to its lateral and vertical position, the folded lateral edge BT constitutes a thickness extender in the lateral direction Y for the lower portion PI and thus contributes to the reinforcing of the lateral rigidity of the upright MR, while allowing the deformation of this upright in its lower portion PI.

In the example shown on fig. 2, without limitation, the first portion P1 comprises only a single transverse edge BT folded down (more precisely the transverse edge closer to the front end of the vehicle V). In the first embodiment variant, however, the first portion P1 may also comprise only a single transverse edge BT folded down (i.e. the transverse edge that is closest to the rear end of the vehicle V). In a second embodiment variant, the first portion P1 may comprise two lateral edges BT folded down in the warp direction, said two lateral edges being substantially parallel to each other.

Also for example, as shown in fig. 2 without limitation, each first portion P1 may include an inwardly radiused cutout DA on at least one of its two lateral edges BT and adjacent to the associated second portion P2, the cutout being capable of allowing rotational deformation. In the example shown on fig. 2, without limitation, a radially inward-radiused cut DA is defined in the folded-down transverse edge BT, which allows for rotational deformation toward the front of the vehicle V. In the first embodiment variant, however, an inwardly rounded cutout DA may be defined in the transverse edge BT which is not folded down, so as to allow rotational deformation towards the rear of the vehicle V. In a second embodiment variant, each of the two transverse edges BT may comprise an inwardly rounded cutout DA, so as to allow rotational deformation towards the front or rear of the vehicle V, depending on the lateral collision angle with respect to the transverse direction Y.

Also for example, as shown in fig. 2 without limitation, each reinforcement part PR may include a third portion P3 and a fourth portion P4. The third portion P3 extends upwardly from the first portion P1 and is fixedly joined to the associated lower portion PI by at least one weld. The fourth portion P4 extends over the bottom panel PV by a second portion P2 and is fixedly connected to said bottom panel PV by at least one welding point. For example, each of the integration may be performed by two welding points. Note that the weld is superior to the weld because the weld results in increased stiffness (which limits deformability).

In an embodiment variant not equipped with the third portion P3 and the fourth portion P4, the lateral ends of the first portion P1 are fixedly joined to the associated lower portion PI by at least one welding point, and the lower ends of the second portion P2 are fixedly joined to the bottom plate PV by at least one welding point.

Also for example, as shown in fig. 2 without limitation, each first portion P1 may comprise at least one through hole TT advantageously allowing the fixation of the equipment (for example, a trim) of the vehicle V, which is not possible in said same region without the presence of the reinforcing element PR. In the example shown in fig. 2, without limitation, each first portion P1 comprises four through holes TT. The number of through holes TT may take any value greater than or equal to one as desired.

It is important to note that in the example of structural member SV described above, only the right and left rear uprights MR are associated with the reinforcement part PR. In the first embodiment variant, however, only the right and left central uprights can be associated with the reinforcing element PR. In the second embodiment variant, the right and left rear uprights MR and the right and left central uprights can be associated simultaneously with the reinforcement part PR.

Claims (10)

1. A vehicle (V) comprising a structural member (SV) comprising at least two uprights (MR) of right and left, each of said at least two uprights comprising a lower Portion (PI) fixedly connected to a floor (PV), characterized in that said structural member (SV) further comprises two reinforcing Parts (PR) of right and left reinforcing parts, each of said two reinforcing parts being fixedly connected to one of said lower Portions (PI) and to said floor (PV) and having the general form of an inverted elbow capable of absorbing, by deformation, at least a portion of the energy of a lateral collision suffered by the associated lower Portion (PI).

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that each reinforcement Part (PR) comprises: i) -a first portion (P1) extending from the associated lower Portion (PI) substantially parallel to the floor (PV) along a transversal direction of the vehicle (V); and ii) a second portion (P2) which extends downwards the first portion (P1).

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that each first portion (P1) is parallel to the floor (PV).

4. A vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each second portion (P2) forms an angle with the associated first portion (P1) of between 90 ° and 100 °.

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each first portion (P1) comprises at least one transverse edge (BT) folded down, said at least one transverse edge being able to increase the transverse rigidity of its reinforcing Part (PR).

6. The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that each first portion (P1) comprises, on at least one transverse edge (BT) and in the vicinity of the associated second portion (P2), an inwardly rounded cutout (DA) capable of allowing rotational deformation.

7. The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each reinforcement Part (PR) comprises: i) -a third portion (P3) which extends upwards said first portion (P1) and is fixedly connected to the associated lower Portion (PI) by at least one welding point; and ii) a fourth portion (P4) which extends the second portion (P2) above the base Plate (PV) and is fixedly connected to the base Plate (PV) by at least one weld.

8. The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that each first portion (P1) comprises at least one through hole (TT) allowing the fixation of the equipment of the vehicle (V).

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the equipment is a trim piece.

10. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each pillar (MR) is a rear pillar or a center pillar.