EP2928761A1

EP2928761A1 - Motor vehicle a bodywork of which has a cabin with a driver seat and a front passenger seat arranged across the width but asymmetrically with respect to a median axis of the bodywork

Info

Publication number: EP2928761A1
Application number: EP13815034.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephane Bolle Reddat; Yong Wook SIN; Clement Lemele
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2012-12-05
Filing date: 2013-11-19
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Also published as: CN104955719B; CN104955719A; WO2014087065A1; FR2998855A1; FR2998855B1

Abstract

Motor vehicle (10) comprising a bodywork (12) determining a cabin (14) in which there are at least one driver seat (22) and one front passenger seat (23) arranged across the width in substantially one row. The vehicle (10) comprises a median longitudinal axis (10L) passing substantially through the middle of the bodywork (12) thereby determining a driver‑side cabin half (14C) and a passenger‑side cabin half (14P). The driver seat (22) is off-centred inboard in the driver‑side cabin half (14C), toward the median longitudinal axis (10L). The front passenger seat (23) is more or less centred in the passenger‑side cabin half (14P). In that way, the driver seat (22) and the passenger seat (23) are arranged asymmetrically about said median longitudinal axis.

Description

"MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A BODY

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork determining a passenger compartment in which there are at least one passenger compartment. The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork determining a passenger compartment in which there is at least one passenger car. driver's seat and a front passenger seat arranged front.

More particularly, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a body defining a passenger compartment in which there are at least one driver seat and a front passenger seat disposed substantially in front of a row, the vehicle comprising a median longitudinal axis substantially passing through middle of the bodywork by determining a half cockpit on the driver's side and a half cockpit on the passenger side.

This kind of vehicle is traditional since the beginning of the automobile, as evidenced by the document FR917487 which relates to a vehicle certainly very compact but poorly adapted to current needs.

In urban environments of the early twenty-first century, very compact cars are once again successful because of the congestion of traffic, the lack of parking spaces and the fact of the need to have energy efficient cars, so light. Even if cars used mainly in urban environments are often occupied by the only driver, without carrying any luggage, the possibility of a varied use to convey passengers and / or some luggage is regularly a criterion when choosing the vehicle to buy A compact vehicle with only two seats is sometimes insufficient.

[0005] Electric cars are a solution for reducing air pollution and noise pollution in urban environments. They are particularly suitable for journeys between home and work for many motorists using compact cars in an essentially urban environment. The electric traction system has the advantage of a small footprint which is important for compact vehicles in which the cabin must accommodate several occupants and / or some luggage. The difficulties are great to design a living cell meeting these criteria in a very compact vehicle. In addition, the energy savings that are becoming increasingly necessary are favored by good aerodynamics, especially for an electric vehicle that can be used on peri-urban highways.

The present invention is intended to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, particularly with respect to the interior of a vehicle.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a body defining a passenger compartment in which there are at least one driver seat and a front passenger seat disposed substantially in front of a row, the vehicle comprising a median longitudinal axis. passing substantially in the middle of the bodywork by determining a driver's side cockpit half and a passenger's cockpit half In this vehicle, the driver's seat is off-center inside the driver's half of the cockpit, towards the median longitudinal axis, and the front passenger seat is substantially centered in the passenger compartment half, so that the driver's seat and the passenger seat are arranged asymmetrically relative to said median longitudinal axis.

In various embodiments of the vehicle according to the invention, it may optionally be further recourse to one and / or the other of the following provisions: - two front wheels of the vehicle determining on the one hand an axis a front tread and, on the other hand, a transverse tread rear limit line, a foot pedal with brake pedal and accelerator pedal is located longitudinally in the extension of an inner half of the driver's seat and in the space determined between said rear limit line and said nose gear axis; - In the driver's seat half, a footrest is located laterally to a front wheel well, substantially in the transverse extension of the pedal and longitudinally in the extension of the outer half of the driver's seat; in the passenger compartment, a rear passenger seat is biased internally in the passenger compartment half towards the median longitudinal axis, so that the rear seat is offset towards the median longitudinal axis relative to the front passenger seat; in the passenger compartment, a rear auxiliary seat is on the one hand behind the driver's seat and on the other side to the rear passenger seat, this auxiliary seat being of smaller dimensions than the other seats so that it is shaped to accommodate a child ; - In the passenger compartment, a driver-side rear seat is on the one hand behind the driver's seat, being lateral to the rear passenger seat and, on the other hand, offset longitudinally rearwardly relative to the latter so that the shoulders of an occupant of the rear seat on the driver's side are shifted rearward with respect to a backrest of the rear passenger seat, all the seats being of substantially the same dimensions; two rear wheels of the vehicle determine a rear end of which a rear track is less than a forward track of the nose gear, the rear wheels being symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal axis of the vehicle and approximately in the longitudinal extension of the middle of the corresponding front seats; - The bodywork extends from front to back with a decreasing width so that the cockpit has its maximum width facing the front seats and the rear of the body is gradually tightened at the rear of these seats to promote continuous aerodynamic flow from front to rear by minimizing lateral aerodynamic detachments at the rear of the bodywork; - The width of the body at its rear end is substantially two times smaller than the width of the body facing the front seats; its engine is electric, to clear space for the front of the cabin, at the front of the body.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a top view showing a vehicle according to the invention in a first embodiment with three seats; - Figure 2 is a schematic view of a top view showing a vehicle according to the invention in a second embodiment with four seats including a rear auxiliary seat;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a top view showing a vehicle according to the invention in a third embodiment with four seats including a rear seat longitudinally offset behind the driver's seat.

Referring to the figures, the reference numeral 10 designates a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising a bodywork 12 defining a passenger compartment 14. The vehicle 10 is of electric-drive type whose engine or engines are compact and which do not require no gearbox. The propulsion organs as the batteries and their implementation are of conventional type, the batteries being for example under the floor of the passenger compartment. The vehicle 10 is of urban vehicle type, for example of the order of 2.5 meters to 3.5 meters in length, and typically of the order of 2.8 to 2.9 meters long for the first mode of transportation. embodiment of Figure 1 or the second embodiment of Figure 2.

[001 1] The vehicle has a median longitudinal axis 10L substantially passing through the middle of the body 12 by determining a driver's side cockpit half 14C and a passenger side half passage 14P. In the following description, the direction designated as longitudinal corresponds to this axis 10L of the vehicle 10 which serves here as a reference. In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

For clarity of drawing convenience, only the outer contour of the body 12 is shown schematically in the figures, and its windshield 12B extending rearward by a glazed flag (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The steering wheel 13 gives a visual cue in the cockpit 14. Similarly, in order not to overload the drawings, only a conductive wheel arch 12C of the bodywork body and a passenger wheel well 12P of this body are shown.

Each wheel well has a longitudinal portion 12L inner side of the wheel which corresponds to it, a rear transverse section 12T facing the rear of its wheel and an inclined section 12C connecting these sections and located at the rear of the corresponding wheel when it is rotated with its rear half facing towards the inside of the vehicle. The vehicle 10 comprises two front wheels 18 determining a front track 18V and two rear wheels 19 determining a 19V rear track. The wheels are shown covered by the body, but they may protrude from the outline of the body and each of the protruding wheels may be covered by a fender. The wheel arches 12C and 12P shown in the figures are in correspondence of the front wheels 18.

At their rolling position in a straight line, the front wheels 18 determine a front axle 18A perpendicular to the median longitudinal axis 10L of the vehicle. At this running position in a straight line, the treads of the front wheels 18 have their rear ends, at half the height of the wheels, which determine a tread rear limit line 18L, this line being perpendicular to the tread. median longitudinal axis 10L of the vehicle.

In the cockpit 14, at least one driver seat 22 and a front passenger seat 23 are disposed substantially in front of a row. The driver seat 22 has at its center a central longitudinal line 22M and comprises on each side of this line 22M, an outer seat half 22X and an inner seat half 22T. The passenger seat 23 has a middle longitudinal line 23M at its center and comprises on each side of this line 23M, an outer seat half 23X and an inner seat half 23T. A driver 24 and a passenger 25 are schematically shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 occupying respectively the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

The driver seat 22 is biased internally in the driver's side half cockpit 14C, towards the median longitudinal axis 10L of the vehicle. The front passenger seat 23 is substantially centered in the passenger cockpit half 14P. In this way, the driver's seat 22 and the passenger seat 23 are asymmetrically disposed relative to said median longitudinal axis 10L. The distance separating the median longitudinal axis 10L of the vehicle from the median longitudinal line 22M of the driver's seat 22 is less than the distance separating this median axis 10L from the middle longitudinal line 23M of the passenger seat 23. Advantageously, the driver 24 sitting on the seat 22 being shifted laterally towards the middle of the cockpit 14, it is recentered in the cockpit and can be placed forward in the latter so that its legs 24J are comfortably parallel to the conductive seat middle line 22M. His feet 24P are thus of a from each side of this line 22M, for the benefit of comfort, and secondly positioned laterally to the wheel arch 12C driver side, very forward in the vehicle. In addition, the driver is easier to protect in the event of a side impact, knowing that an urban vehicle is often used by a single driver and that passengers are occasionally present. In addition, the visibility by the driver seated further in the center of the vehicle is improved because the driver is less bothered by the amounts of windshield bay.

In the case of a vehicle 10 with electric drive, the absence of gearbox and the compactness of the electric motor or electric motors gives room in the front, near the axis of the front axle 18A and at least in front of the rear halves of the wheels 18 of the front axle. Since such a vehicle does not have a clutch pedal, space is also free because it is not necessary to provide volume for the pedal and its travel.

In the passenger compartment, a pedal 26 with 26N brake pedal and accelerator pedal 26A is located longitudinally in the extension of the inner half 22T of the driver's seat. The pedal 16 is also located in the space determined between the rear limit line 18L and the front axle 18A, opposite the rear halves of the front wheels.

In the passenger compartment, at its driver's side half 14C, a footrest 28 is located laterally to the driver's front wheel well 12C, substantially in the transverse extension of the pedal 26 and longitudinally in the extension of the outer half 22X driver's seat.

Regarding the comfort of the driver 24 and the front passenger 25, the front seats are located in the passenger compartment so that for all their settings or at least for the vast majority of their settings, the driver 24 and the passenger 25 have busts and their shoulders offset longitudinally to have maximum space and comfort. Thus, at least in the case of a mid-length adjustment of the longitudinal adjustment range of the front passenger seat 23, when the driver seat 22 is also positioned at the mid-length of its longitudinal adjustment range, the front passenger seat 23 is provided for the bottom of its backrest 23D is shifted forward relative to the bottom of the seatback 22D of the driver's seat. In the particular case of the maximum recoil adjustment of the front passenger seat 23, the adjustment range is particularly long towards the rear so that the bottom of its backrest 23D is here shifted backwards relative to the bottom of the seatback 22D of the driver's seat.

In the passenger compartment of the first embodiment of the vehicle as shown in Figure 1, a rear passenger seat 33 is biased internally in the passenger side half passenger 14P to the median longitudinal axis 10L of the vehicle, so that the rear seat 33 is shifted towards the median longitudinal axis 10L relative to the front passenger seat 23 which faces it. The rear passenger seat 33 has a middle longitudinal line 33M which is longitudinally aligned with the inner edge of the front passenger seat 23, so as to clear a living space between the rear passenger seat 33 and the front row of seats. An outer half 33X of the rear passenger seat 33 is substantially opposite the inner half LP front passenger seat 23. An inner half LP of the rear passenger seat 33 is substantially opposite the space between the driver's seat 22 and the front passenger seat 23, to improve the habitability. An occupant 35 of the rear passenger seat 33 sits being shifted internally in the cockpit 14, so that its inner leg is placed in part between the driver seat 22 and the front passenger seat 23. In Figure 1, the foot 35P of the rear passenger 35 is shown between the front of the driver's seat 22 and the front of the passenger seat 23, the vehicle having its seats arranged so that the rear passenger 35 can extend at least one of his legs. The other of its legs, located on the outer side of the passenger compartment, is itself located behind the passenger seat 23, substantially along its longitudinal center line 23M in front of which the outer foot of said rear passenger 33 is located.

[0025] Advantageously, even in a vehicle 10 of very short urban type, whose length is substantially 2.8 meters, the architecture with three seats as described above allows the cockpit 14 to comfortably accommodate three occupants. Advantageously, the bottom of the backrest 33D of the rear passenger seat 33 is above the front of one of the rear wheels 19, which allows the vehicle to have a trunk at the rear of this seat. In addition, due to the presence of only three seats in the cockpit, a cargo area is available at the rear of the driver's seat.

In the passenger compartment of the second embodiment of the vehicle as shown in Figure 2, a rear auxiliary seat 42 is on the one hand behind the driver seat 22 and on the other side to the rear passenger seat 33. This auxiliary seat 42 is of dimensions lower than the other seats. Indeed, given the limited space available and given the usual use of a small vehicle by a small family, the auxiliary seat 42 is shaped to accommodate a child, such as a booster seat. The outer edge 42B of the auxiliary seat 42 is substantially aligned with the corresponding edge of the driver seat. The inner edge 42T auxiliary seat 42 is substantially aligned with the middle of the inner half 22T of the driver's seat. Thus, advantageously, a trunk of the same length is available behind the two rear seats whose backs are substantially aligned above the front of the rear wheels 19 of the vehicle.

Advantageously, according to the second embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the vehicle 10 can accommodate four people including a child.

In the passenger compartment of the third embodiment of the vehicle as shown in Figure 3, a rear seat driver's side 52 is on the one hand behind the driver seat 22 being lateral to the rear passenger seat 33 and other part offset longitudinally backwards with respect to the latter. Thus, the backrest 52D of the driver's rear seat 52 is shifted, half of its length, rearwardly relative to the backrest 33D of the rear passenger seat 33. In this way, the shoulders of a rear seat occupant side Conductor 52 are shifted rearwardly relative to backrest 33D of the rear passenger seat 33. The driver's rear seat 52 is off-center with respect to the driver's seat 22 which faces it. This positioning makes it possible to retain the aforementioned positioning advantages for the rear passenger seat 33 and it is advantageous for the loading volume at the rear of the rear seats. In this third embodiment of the vehicle 10, which is of length for example of the order of 3.2 meters to 3.5 meters, all seats are substantially the same size. The trunk is long behind the rear passenger seat 33 and is shorter behind the driver's side rear seat 52. The 52D is above the rear wheel 19 which corresponds to it, while the 33D back seat 33 is in front of the corresponding rear wheel 19. In addition to its aspects of habitability, the vehicle 10 also has advantages relating to its aerodynamics, because its body 12 is particular around the particular passenger compartment.

In the embodiments shown, the rear track 19V is lower than the front track 18V of the front axle, the rear wheels being symmetrical relative to the median longitudinal axis 10L of the vehicle. The rear wheels 19 are approximately in the longitudinal extension of the middle of the front seats. In general, the rear track 19V is two to three times smaller than the front track.

In the embodiments shown, the rear track 19V is tightened, as described above, and the bodywork 12 covers the rear wheels 19 being of maximum width at the front of the vehicle 10 and narrow at the rear of the vehicle. The width of the body 12, at its rear end, is substantially two times smaller than the width of the body facing the front seats.

Advantageously, the body 12 therefore extends from front to back with a decreasing width so that on the one hand the cockpit 14 has its maximum width facing the front seats 22 and 23 and that other the rear of the body 12 is gradually tightened at the rear of these seats to promote a continuous aerodynamic flow from front to rear by minimizing lateral aerodynamic detachments at the rear of the body. In addition, the narrow rear vehicle is more compact, so more maneuverable in urban traffic.

In a variant not shown of the vehicle of Figure 1, the single rear seat is centered in the passenger compartment having its middle longitudinal line which is substantially in correspondence with the median longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In this case, this rear seat is moved back slightly with respect to the first embodiment described in connection with Figure 1, for example between the rear wheels sufficiently spaced, to clear the space of the legs of the rear passenger. The rear cargo space is minimal, although luggage can be placed on either side of the rear seat. The rest of the vehicle is similar to the first embodiment described in connection with Figure 1, in particular the arrangement of the front seats and the pedal. In another variant not shown of the vehicle of Figure 1, the cabin receives only the two front seats and the absent rear seat allows to have a large rear cargo volume. The rest of the vehicle is similar to the first embodiment described in connection with Figure 1, in particular the arrangement of the front seats and the pedal.

The advantages of the vehicles presented above are particularly interesting for compact vehicles, but also remain interesting for larger vehicles whose load capacity is to optimize for example to carry luggage. In addition, the generally trapezoidal shape seen from above of the tapered rear vehicle is also advantageous for said larger vehicles. This advantageous aerodynamic shape is favorable for saving on the quantity of accumulator batteries to be installed in the vehicle, for the benefit of its manufacturing price and its cost of energy use.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (10) comprising a body (12) defining a passenger compartment (14) in which there are at least one driver seat (22) and a front passenger seat (23) disposed substantially in a row, the vehicle (10) comprising a median longitudinal axis (10L) passing substantially in the middle of the body (12) by determining a driver's side cockpit half (14C) and a passenger's cockpit half (14P), the driver's seat (22) being off-center in the driver's side cockpit half (14C), towards the median longitudinal axis (10L), and the front passenger seat (23) being substantially centered in the passenger's cockpit half (14P), so that the seat conductor (22) and the passenger seat (23) are arranged asymmetrically relative to said median longitudinal axis, the vehicle (10) also comprising two front wheels (18) determining on the one hand a front axle (18A) and other by t a tread rear limit transverse line (18L), characterized in that a pedal (26) with brake pedal (26N) and accelerator pedal (26A) is located longitudinally in the extension of a half interior (22T) of the driver seat (22) and in the space between said rear limit line (18L) and said front axle axis (18A).

2. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in the driver's side cockpit half (14C), a footrest (28) is located laterally to a front wheel well (12C), substantially in the transverse extension pedal (26) and longitudinally in the extension of the outer half (22X) of the driver's seat.

3. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cockpit (14), a rear passenger seat (33) is biased internally in the passenger side half cabin (14P) towards the longitudinal axis median (10L), so that this rear seat 533) is shifted towards the median longitudinal axis (10L) relative to the front passenger seat (23).

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that in the cockpit (14), a rear auxiliary seat (42) is on the one hand behind the driver's seat (22) and on the other side to the rear passenger seat ( 33), this auxiliary seat (42) being of smaller dimensions than the other seats (22, 23, 33) so that it is shaped to accommodate a child.

5. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that in the cockpit, a rear seat driver's side (52) is on the one hand behind the driver's seat (22) being lateral to the rear passenger seat (33) and on the other hand, that the shoulders of a driver-side rear seat occupant are shifted rearward relative to a backrest (33D) of the rear passenger seat (33), all the seats (22, 23, 33, 52) being substantially of the same dimensions.

6. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two rear wheels (19) of the vehicle (10) determine a rear axle of which a rear track (19V) is less than a front track (18V) of the front axle , the rear wheels (19) being symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal axis (10L) of the vehicle and approximately in the longitudinal extension of the middle of the corresponding front seats.

7. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (12) extends from front to back with a decreasing width so that the passenger compartment (14) has its maximum width facing the front seats (22, 23) and that the rear of the body is gradually tightened at the rear of these seats to promote a continuous aerodynamic flow from front to rear by minimizing lateral aerodynamic detachments at the rear of the bodywork.

8. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the width of the body (12) at its rear end is substantially two times smaller than the width of the body facing the front seats (22, 23).

9. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its engine is electric, to clear space for the front of the passenger compartment, in front of the body (12).