Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
  • B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
  • B05B13/0292—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work devices for holding several workpieces to be sprayed in a spaced relationship, e.g. vehicle doors spacers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
  • B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
  • B62D25/16—Mud-guards or wings; Wheel cover panels
  • B62D25/161—Mud-guards made of non-conventional material, e.g. rubber, plastics
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D29/00—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof
  • B62D29/001—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof characterised by combining metal and synthetic material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D29/00—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof
  • B62D29/001—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof characterised by combining metal and synthetic material
  • B62D29/005—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof characterised by combining metal and synthetic material preformed metal and synthetic material elements being joined together, e.g. by adhesives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D65/00—Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
  • B62D65/02—Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to methods of manufacturing motor vehicles, including methods of mounting the body members on the vehicle frame, and painting these body members.
• the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of manufacturing a motor vehicle, the vehicle comprising at least one chassis, body elements made of a first material, and at least one bodywork element in a second material different from the first, the body elements being capable of being fixed to the frame in respective final positions, the method comprising the following successive steps:
• the bodywork element of second material and the bodywork parts of first material which surround it, have appearance defects. Indeed, the clearances between the various body elements are extremely small, so that the thermal expansion of the bodywork elements during the baking step causes the elements to touch each other. These contacts result in defects in appearance, for example by craters in places where the various body elements have been in contact.
• the invention aims to provide a manufacturing method that allows to obtain a better surface condition of the bodywork elements.
• the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a motor vehicle of the aforementioned type, characterized in that, before the painting step, the bodywork element of the second material is mounted on the frame in a temporary position with a support fixed to the frame, the second body body member being mounted on the frame in its final position after the firing step.
• the method may also have one or more of the following features, considered individually or in any technically feasible combination:
• bodywork element of the second material and the support are removed from the chassis, and accessories intended to be placed under the bodywork element of the second material are mounted on the vehicle; body element of second material being mounted on the frame in its final position after fitting the accessories;
• the second material body element is an element of the vehicle wing
• the second material body element is intended to at least partially delimit a wheel well and is intended to adjoin a side opening of the vehicle;
• said lateral opening is mounted a first time on the chassis before the painting step, disassembled after the firing step, and mounted a second time on the chassis after the mounting of the second material body element in his final position;
• an acoustic seal is mounted on the second material body member after said body member has been removed from its provisional position on the support and before said body member has been reassembled in its final position; on the chassis;
• the second material is a plastic material.
• the invention relates to a support adapted for mounting a bodywork element of second material to the chassis of a vehicle, in a method having the above characteristics, characterized in that it comprises a frame of shape corresponding substantially to that of the bodywork element of the second material, and three fixing fingers of the support frame, the three fingers being connected to the frame and substantially perpendicular to each other.
• the invention relates to a motor vehicle chassis, adapted to receive the above support, characterized in that it comprises three receiving holes of the fixing fingers of the support.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the chassis of a motor vehicle, of a plastic body element and of a support for fixing this element on the chassis, considered from the outside. of the vehicle ;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support of Figure 1 fixed on the chassis of the motor vehicle, considered from inside the motor vehicle;
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the support of FIG. 2.
• the motor vehicle comprises a frame 2 and body members 4 may be fixed on the frame 2 in respective final positions.
• the final positions correspond to the positions occupied by the various elements on the vehicle in the finished state.
• the chassis 2 comprises, inter alia, a side panel 6 defining a side access opening to the vehicle cabin, a vehicle wing support beam 8, and a bay post 10 for laterally supporting the vehicle. windshield of the vehicle.
• the panel 6, the beam 8 and the upright 10 are rigidly fixed to each other.
• the beam 8 extends longitudinally forwardly from the panel 6.
• the panel 6 comprises front uprights 12 and lower 14, defining the access opening to the vehicle respectively forward and downward. It also comprises an arm 16, projecting forward longitudinally from the upright 12.
• the beam 8 extends forward, in the extension of the arm 16, and is rigidly fixed to this arm.
• the amount of bay 10 extends obliquely from the front post 12, forwards and downwards to the arm 16. It defines with the amount 12 and the arm 16 a side window 18 of triangular shape.
• the bodywork 4 includes, inter alia, a side opening 20 and a flange 22.
• the opening 20 is pivotable to mount on the front upright 12. It has an outer skin of sheet metal and is adapted to close or release the vehicle access opening defined by the sign 6.
• the wing 22 comprises a plastic element 24 and sheet metal elements (not shown).
• the plastic element 24 In final position, the plastic element 24 is fixed on the frame 6 and on the beam 8, immediately at the front of the opening 20.
• the sheet metal elements in their final positions, are fixed at least to the beam 8, and are arranged longitudinally at the front of the element 24.
• the plastic element 24 defines a wheel well for the front axle of the vehicle. To this end, it is delimited downwards by an arcuate edge 26, which extends forwardly by a substantially straight edge 28. It is bounded to the rear by an edge 30 intended to abut the opening 20. The Edge 30 joins edge 26 and delimits with it a tapered zone 31 pointing downwards.
• the plastic element 24 is delimited upwards and forwards by straight or slightly curved edges 32 and 34.
• the various body elements, with the exception of the plastic element 24 are first mounted in their respective final positions on the frame 2 of the vehicle.
• the opening 20 is fixed on the frame 6.
• a support 36 adapted to receive the plastic element 24, is fixed on the frame 2, substantially at the location that will occupy the element 24 in final position.
• the plastic element 24 is then removably attached to the support 36 in a temporary position.
• the provisional position of the element 24 is different from its final position. In its provisional position In the meantime, the plastic element 24 is slightly displaced, substantially transversely, towards the outside of the vehicle.
• the bodywork elements 4 are then painted in a workshop provided for this purpose.
• the opening 20, the plastic element 24 and the other bodywork elements are painted during a single operation.
• the paint layer deposited on the bodywork elements 4 is then subjected to a baking operation to solidify the paint.
• the plastic element 24 is then removed from the support 36, and the support 36 is removed from the frame 2.
• the opening 20 is also removed from the frame 2.
• Accessories to be arranged under the plastic element 24 are then mounted on the frame 2. These accessories are for example bundles of electric cables, mechanical reinforcing parts, etc.
• an acoustic seal (not shown) is mounted on the plastic member 24, along the front edge 30. This operation is performed while the plastic member 24 is separated from the frame of the vehicle, for example in a dedicated workshop.
• the plastic element 24 is then mounted in final position on the frame 2. Finally, the opening 20 is raised on the frame 6.
• the support 36 comprises a peripheral frame 38 for receiving the element 24, three fingers 40, 42, 44 for fixing the support 36 to the frame 2, and a set of spacers 46.
• the frame 38 is a molded aluminum alloy piece of shape substantially corresponding to that of the plastic element 24.
• the element 24 is shaped so as to be able to be fixed on the frame 38 by simply snapping its
• the fingers 40 and 42 are rigidly fixed to the plates 48.
• the plates 48 are arranged substantially in the center of the frame 38.
• the plates 48 are spaced from one another and rigidly fixed to the frame 38 by the struts 46.
• the finger 44 is rigidly fixed on a plate 50.
• the plate 50 is itself mounted on a molded protuberance with a pointed end of the frame 38. This pointed end corresponds to the pointed zone 31 of the element 24 delimited by the lower edges 26 and rear 30.
• the fingers 40 , 42 and 44 are mutually perpendicular. Once in place on the frame 2 of the vehicle, the finger 40 extends transversely, the finger 42 vertically, the finger 44 substantially longitudinally, and the plates 48 are aligned longitudinally.
• the frame 2 has three orifices 54, 56 and 58 respectively for receiving the fingers 40, 42 and 44.
• the orifice 54 is pierced in a face 60 of the beam 8 of longitudinal and vertical orientation. This face 60 is turned towards the outside of the vehicle.
• the orifice 56 is pierced in a face 62 of the beam 8 facing upwards.
• the orifice 58 is pierced in an edge 64 of the panel 6 facing forward.
• the tab 40 carries a stop 66 defining the depth of engagement of the tab 40 inside the orifice 54.
• the manufacturing method described above has many advantages.
• the plastic body member 24 mounted on the frame in a temporary position with the support 30, the plastic body member 24 being mounted in its final position only after the cooking step, improves the appearance of the element 24 and surrounding elements. Indeed, the plastic element is in a position shifted outwardly of the vehicle during the paint firing step. There is no contact between the parts due to the thermal expansion of the different body elements.
• the plastic element 24 is mounted in a final position on the frame only downstream of the cooking operation in the process of floor.
• the step of mounting the element 24 in final position can be moved freely within the process, depending on the assembly requirements of the other elements of the motor vehicle.
• delaying the mounting of the element 24 in final position minimizes the risk that the appearance of this part is damaged by blows or claws during other interventions on the vehicle.
• the laying of the acoustic seal along the edge 30 of the element 24 is easier, since it is done at a time when the plastic element 24 is not mounted on the frame 2.
• the installation of the plastic element 24 is easily achieved, because the opening 20 is mounted on the chassis only after mounting of the element 24.
• the method of the invention may have multiple variants.
• the support 36 can be fixed to the chassis 2 of the vehicle by any kind of means, not necessarily by three fingers perpendicular to each other.
• the element 24 can be fixed on the support 36 by means other than snapping its edges on the frame 38, for example by engaging fingers carried by the support 30 in orifices provided on the inner face of the element 24.
• the element 24 to be fixed on the support 30 is not necessarily an element of the wing.
• This element can be any other element of the body of the vehicle. Similarly, this element is not necessarily an element delimiting the wheel well of the vehicle.
• the element 24 mounted on the support 30 is not necessarily plastic. It may be any material different from the constituent material of the surrounding parts, for example another metal alloy.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Automobile Manufacture Line, Endless Track Vehicle, Trailer (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=37813929

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2006
  • 2006-07-13 FR FR0652961A patent/FR2903647B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-06-15 WO PCT/FR2007/051446 patent/WO2008006996A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2007-06-15 EP EP07823520A patent/EP2040853A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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