EP2268532A2

EP2268532A2 - Vehicle body structure

Info

Publication number: EP2268532A2
Application number: EP09735718A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kevin Massif
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2008-04-25
Filing date: 2009-03-24
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: CN102015421A; WO2009130431A2; FR2930511A1; WO2009130431A3; BRPI0907281B1; BRPI0907281A2; CN102015421B; FR2930511B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle body structure (10) including a passenger compartment floor (20) having a tunnel (21) and at least one shaft (31, 32) for lining the tunnel (21), said shaft (31, 32) being extended by an exhaust stand (40) on one end thereof, and is characterized in that it also includes a reinforcing means (101, 102) disposed in the area of the connection between the shaft (31, 32) and the exhaust stand (40) to make said connection more rigid.

Description

"BODY STRUCTURE OF A VEHICLE"

The present invention relates to body structures of motor vehicles and vehicles equipped with such structures. More generally, it also relates to the field of protecting individuals against shocks in a vehicle.

In the present application, with reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle body 10 is defined as a rigid structure comprising a base (not shown) delimited by a floor of the passenger compartment 20 fixed between two longitudinal members 11.

In this floor 20 is formed a central tunnel 21 extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

This tunnel 21 has an end opening at the front (designated AV in Figure 1) in the connection zone between the floor 20 and an apron 60 separating the passenger compartment of a motor compartment.

Furthermore, this tunnel 21 is doubled, respectively, on each of its longitudinal edges by an inner stretcher 30 extended in its rear part by an exhaust support 40 together forming a force path for transmitting the forces from a set Powertrain / apron / cradle towards the rear of the vehicle, especially in the event of impact.

In addition, each exhaust support 40 connects the inner stretcher 30 to a heel floor 70 where are fixed, in particular, the seats of the driver or passenger seats. Such a vehicle body structure 10 is not fully satisfactory in the case of shocks to the vehicle.

Indeed, the manufacturers must meet today many objectives that they set themselves.

One of these objectives is the gain in mass of the vehicle body which leads in particular to the definition of the structural elements at most just seen the constraints they will have to undergo. Thus, to lighten the body of the vehicle, manufacturers have to reduce the thicknesses and shades of the inner shafts and exhaust mounts.

Another of these objectives is safety and in particular the strengthening of the passenger compartment so as to preserve the passengers and the driver during shocks of the vehicle.

However, by optimizing the inner stretchers 30 and the exhaust supports 40, it is then confronted with the folding of the tunnel 21 and the problems of lifting the cabin floor 20. The deformation of the cabin floor 20 is not without risk to the driver or passengers of the vehicle.

Indeed, the lifting of the floor may cause a risk of ejection of the latter vehicle because, as shown in Figure 2, the seats of the bench seats of the driver or passengers can switch causing their externalization of the vehicle.

The present invention aims to solve these disadvantages.

More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body structure meeting the objectives of mass gain while maintaining a nonetheless significant deformation resistance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body structure having a controlled resistance and deformation in case of impact of the vehicle without risk of deformation of the vehicle floor. For this purpose, the invention provides a body structure of a motor vehicle comprising a cockpit floor having a tunnel and at least one stretcher for doubling the tunnel, said stretcher being extended by an exhaust support to one of its ends remarkable in that it further comprises reinforcing means arranged in the region of the connection between the stretcher and the exhaust support to stiffen said connection. Advantageously, the reinforcing means cover the connection between the stretcher and the exhaust support to stiffen it.

Furthermore, it is also provided according to the invention a method of manufacturing such a body structure. Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a partial view from below of a body structure of a motor vehicle of the prior art;

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a motor vehicle having the body structure of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of a body structure of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view from below of zone III of FIG. 3 illustrating a reinforcement piece of a body structure of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a side view of the zone III taken along the direction IV of FIG. 4 illustrating a reinforcement piece of a body structure of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention;

In these figures, AV and AR respectively designate the front and rear of the vehicle.

With reference to FIG. 3, the various elements of the vehicle body structure previously described with reference to FIG. 1 are observed. The vehicle body 10 thus comprises a cockpit floor 20 extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle from the front to the rear of the vehicle between two longitudinal members 11 to which it is attached.

The cabin floor 20 is stiffened in its central zone by a central longitudinal tunnel 21. This tunnel 21 has a general shape of U forming a passage for equipment such as, for example, exhaust pipes.

It has an end opening to the rear of the cabin floor 20 on a floor with heel 70 for receiving the seats of the seats of a driver or passengers of the vehicle.

In addition, two inner struts 31 and 32 respectively extend from an apron (not shown) separating the passenger compartment of the vehicle from the engine compartment of the vehicle to the heel floor 70 along the two longitudinal edges 22 and 23 of the tunnel 21. The inner shafts 31 and 32 are L-section pieces, forming with the floor 20, hollow sections disposed under the tunnel 21 to double and strengthen the latter.

Each of the inner struts 31 and 32 is respectively extended in its rear part along the longitudinal edges of the tunnel 21 by an exhaust support 41 and 42 towards the heel floor 70 where the latter open.

As mentioned above, each inner stretcher pair 31,32 / exhaust support 41,42 forms a force path taking up the forces from a powertrain / cradle / deck assembly of the vehicle to transmit them towards the rear of the floor of the vehicle. cockpit 20 of the vehicle, especially in case of shock.

According to the invention, reinforcing means 101, 102 are respectively disposed at each of the links between the inner shafts 31, 32 and the exhaust supports 41, 42. They are intended to stiffen the connections between the inner shafts

31,32 and exhaust mounts 41,42.

More precisely, these reinforcing means 101, 102 cover each connection between the inner struts 31, 32 and their respective exhaust supports 41, 42. By coming to cover the junction between these two parts, the reinforcing means 101, 102 advantageously make it possible to create a rigid local zone which controls the deformations of the connection between an inner stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42 and ensures the passage of forces from the front to the rear of the vehicle during a shock.

Indeed, when a frontal impact occurs for example, the connection between an inner stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42 which previously was likely to deform, break and cause the lifting of the floor 20, advantageously supports the impact of the shock through the local reinforcement structure 101,102.

The risk of raising the floor 20 is thus reduced and the region corresponding to the part where the seats of the driver or passenger seats are installed, that is to say between the rear part of the cabin floor 20 and the heel floor 70 is reinforced.

The seating of the seats of the driver's and passengers' seats and, consequently, the safety are improved.

The reinforcing means 101, 102 each comprise a reinforcement piece 110 in the form of a folded sheet.

Each reinforcing piece 110 complies with the connection between the inner stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42 it covers.

It thus has a profile complementary to that of the respective ends of the stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42 at the level of their connection.

In its non-limiting form shown in Figures 3 to 5, each reinforcing piece 110 is a bent piece of generally L-shaped extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The concavity of the L is directed towards the intersection between the lower surface of the cabin floor 20 and the tunnel 21.

Each reinforcement piece 110 thus comprises a first branch

111 that extends in the direction and opposite a U branch of the tunnel

21 and which complies with the shape of the surface of the stretcher 31,32 and that of the associated exhaust support 41,42 at this branch of the tunnel 21. The second branch 112 of the reinforcement piece 110 matches the shape of the surface of the stretcher 31,32 and that of the exhaust support 41,42 at the floor of the passenger compartment 20.

The shape and dimensions of each reinforcement piece 110 are such that each of them can be secured, at one of its ends, to the tunnel 21 and to the cabin floor 20 and, at the opposite end, to the tunnel 21 and to the exhaust support 41,42.

Furthermore, the attachment of reinforcement pieces 110 on each of the links between an inner stretcher 31,32 and its respective exhaust support 41,42 is provided by welding means 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This contributes greatly to the rigidity of the whole.

For each reinforcement piece 110, the welding means 200 comprise weld seams or weld points binding the reinforcing piece 110, the tunnel 21 and the floor 20 at one end of the reinforcement piece 110 and / or the piece reinforcement 110, the tunnel 21 and the exhaust support 41,42 at the opposite end of the reinforcement piece 110.

More specifically, the points or weld seams are made on three thicknesses of three different parts at each end of the reinforcing piece 110 to stiffen the faulty connection between an inner stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42.

In a nonlimiting example illustrated in FIG. 5, at a first end of the reinforcement piece 110 corresponding to the end of the first branch 111 of the reinforcement piece 110, a first series S1 of weld points offset by a second S2 series of weld points is made between the reinforcing piece 110, the exhaust support 41,42 and the tunnel 21.

The forces experienced by the connection between the reinforcement piece 110 and the exhaust support 41, 42 are thus partially taken up by the tunnel 21 reinforcing the strength of the attachment of the reinforcement piece 110. Each weld spot is made on a set of three sheet thicknesses, which promotes the holding of each weld point against a shear force.

The use of a staggered arrangement of the weld points of the first and second series S1, S2 is remarkable in that a high force passage is allowed, without deterioration of the connection.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the opposite end of the reinforcement piece 110 corresponding to the end of the second branch 112 of the reinforcement piece 110 comprises a first series S3 of solder points binding together the reinforcement piece 110, cockpit floor 20 and tunnel 21.

According to an alternative embodiment, a second series of weld points (not shown) offset from the points of the series S3 is made to improve the strength of the connection between the parts 110, 20 and 21.

In this way, the reinforcement of each connection between an inner stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42 is obtained firstly by placing the reinforcing piece 110 at the connection and, on the other hand by the points or weld seams on three thicknesses that bind the different surrounding parts together.

The connection between an inner stretcher 31,32 and its respective exhaust support 41,42 is thus difficult to break when an impact occurs, which makes it possible to hold the seats of the benches fixed without them tilting and to improve accordingly the passenger safety.

Advantageously, the attachment by welding of the various parts also allows quick and easy assembly of the entire body structure of the vehicle.

In addition, the presence of the reinforcement pieces 110 makes it possible to maintain a lighter body structure while offering sufficient mechanical strength when an impact occurs for the vehicle. However, other means of attachment than welding can be envisaged.

Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a body structure according to the invention will now be described. It is based on a principle of manufacturing parts of the body structure using a general formatting tool, to achieve what is sometimes referred to as dropping operations, and three maximum tools for cutting and setting specific form intended for the realization of a geometrical refinement with the ribs and the determined forms. This principle is advantageous in that it requires a limited number of means of implementation.

Once the manufacture of each piece 20, 21, 30, 40 or 110 has been carried out, the exhaust supports 41, 42 are previously assembled with the inner shafts 31, 32, thus forming a first subassembly.

The cockpit floor 20 is then attached and pre-assembled on said first subassembly to form a second subassembly.

The tunnel 21 is then attached to said second subassembly, thereby covering the latter, to create a pre-assembled body base.

The parts 20, 21, 30 and 40 are then welded to each other to form an assembly made in one piece.

Each reinforcing member 110 is subsequently attached under the body underbody, so that one of its faces is disposed against the inner stretcher 31,32 and the associated exhaust support 41,42 to cover the connection between these two elements.

Finally, each reinforcing piece 110 is welded to the surrounding parts as previously described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

Claims

A body structure (10) of a motor vehicle comprising a cockpit floor (20) having a tunnel (21) and at least one stretcher (31,32) for doubling the tunnel (21), said stretcher

(31,32) being extended by an exhaust support (40) at one of its ends, characterized in that it further comprises reinforcing means (101, 102) arranged in the zone of the connection between the stretcher (31,32) and the exhaust support (40) to stiffen said connection.

2. Body structure according to claim 1 characterized in that the reinforcing means (101,102) cover the connection between the stretcher (31,32) and the exhaust support (40) to stiffen it.

3. Body structure according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterized in that it comprises two shafts (31,32) disposed respectively along each of the longitudinal edges of the tunnel (21), each stretcher (31,32) being extended by an exhaust support (41,42), the connection between each stretcher (31,32) and the associated exhaust support (41,42) being stiffened by reinforcing means (101,102).

4. Body structure according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the reinforcing means (101,102) comprise a reinforcement piece (110) of complementary profile to that of the respective ends of the stretcher (31,32) and the support of exhaust (41,42) at their link.

5. Body structure according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that it further comprises means (200) for fixing the reinforcement means (101, 102) to the stretcher (31, 32) and to the support. exhaust (41,42), said fixing means (200) being welding means.

6. Body structure according to claim 5 characterized in that the welding means are cords or weld points binding the reinforcement means (101,102), the tunnel (21) and the floor (20) at one end of the means reinforcement (101, 102) and / or the reinforcing means (101, 102), the tunnel (21) and the exhaust support (40) at an opposite end of the reinforcing means (101, 102).

7. Vehicle comprising a body structure according to one of claims 1 to 6 above.

8. A method of manufacturing a body structure according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a step of placing reinforcing means (101,102) in the area of the connection between the stretcher (31, 32) and the exhaust support (41,42) to stiffen said connection.

9. A method of manufacturing a body structure according to claim 8 characterized in that it comprises:

a stamping step of the reinforcing means (101, 102);

a superposition step of the reinforcing means (101, 102) on the connection zone between the stretcher (31, 32) and the exhaust support (41, 42) and;

a welding step of the reinforcing means (101, 102), of the tunnel

(21) and the floor (20) at one end of the reinforcing means (101, 102) and / or reinforcement means (101, 102), the tunnel (21) and the exhaust support (41, 42) at an opposite end. reinforcing means (101, 102).