EP4013666A1

EP4013666A1 - Rear deflector with housings for guiding bumper fastening tabs, for a vehicle structure

Info

Publication number: EP4013666A1
Application number: EP20758277.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephane BERTH
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: Stellantis Auto SAS
Priority date: 2019-08-12
Filing date: 2020-08-10
Publication date: 2022-06-22
Also published as: FR3099906A1; FR3099906B1; WO2021028638A1

Abstract

A rear deflector (DR) is fitted to a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (SV), having a rear panel provided with N first fastening tabs, and a rear bumper (PCR) comprising N second fastening tabs (PF2). This rear deflector (DR) comprises a rear edge (BR) having N regions against which there bear, on an underside (FI), the N second fastening tabs (PF2) and which are provided with N holes which, just like the first and second (PF2) fastening tabs, are traversed by N screws securely fixing the rear bumper (PCR) to the rear deflector (DR) and the latter to the rear panel. This rear edge (BR) also comprises on its underside (FI), in each of the N regions, a housing (LP) comprising a hole and guiding the positioning of, and housing, one of the second fastening tabs (PF2).

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: REAR DEFLECTOR WITH BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKETS GUIDE HOUSINGS, FOR VEHICLE STRUCTURE

Technical field of the invention

The present invention claims the priority of French application 1909140 filed on August 12, 2019, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated here by reference.

The invention relates to wheeled vehicles comprising a rear bumper and a structure comprising a base and a rear panel, and more specifically the rear deflectors which must be secured to these bases, rear panels and rear bumpers.

State of the art

Certain wheeled vehicles, generally of the automotive type, include a structure (or body) to which are secured a rear bumper and a rear deflector to reduce aerodynamic drag and therefore energy consumption. More specifically, the rear deflector comprises a front edge which is oriented towards the front of the vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to a lower face of a base part of the structure, and a rear edge which is oriented towards the rear of the vehicle. vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to N first fixing brackets of a rear panel of the structure and N second fixing brackets of the rear bumper, with N> 2. To do this, the rear edge includes N areas against which s 'support respectively, on a lower face, the N second fixing lugs and respectively provided with N traversed holes, just like the first and second fixing lugs, by N screws which ensure the fixed attachment of the rear bumper to the rear deflector and from the latter to the rear panel.

To achieve such an assembly, a technician usually begins by securing the upper part of the rear bumper to the rear panel of the structure by letting the lower part of the rear bumper hang down, while the vehicle structure is suspended above the ground on the assembly line. Then, this technician takes hold of the rear deflector, places the rear edge of the latter above the second fixing lugs of the rear bumper, then couples the front edge of the rear deflector to screws or studs which have been fixed beforehand. on the underside of the base. Then, the technician is forced to temporarily let go of the pre-held rear deflector in order to grab a screwdriver and N screws (or bolts). Then, the technician introduces each of the N screws into holes defined respectively in the rear edge of the rear deflector, one of the N second fixing lugs and one of the N first fixing lugs, before proceeding with the screwing.

As a person skilled in the art knows, this phase of introducing the screws into the holes is not easy to carry out because it requires that the N holes of the rear edge of the rear deflector be initially placed opposite the N holes respectively the second rear bumper mounting brackets. However, such an initial placement is quite difficult to obtain because the structure of the vehicle is suspended and therefore the technician must perform above his head the coupling of the rear bumper to this structure. There is therefore frequently a transverse offset between the rear deflector and the rear bumper that the technician must catch up with with his arms raised, which is not ergonomic, is tiring because of the respective weights of the rear deflector and bumper. rear, and wastes time on the assembly line. In addition, the rear deflector and the lower part of the rear bumper are frequently dark (for example black), which does not make it easier to see (or coincide) their respective holes.

Furthermore, once the rear deflector and the rear bumper have been properly secured to the structure by screwing, the second rear bumper mounting brackets are exposed to shocks because they are placed against the underside of the rear deflector. They can therefore be broken, which can cause the vehicle structure to separate from the lower part of the rear bumper. This exposure to shocks is further increased when the second fixing lugs each include a free front end inclined downwards in order to facilitate the passage of the rear edge of the rear deflector during assembly. The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a rear deflector, on the one hand, intended to equip a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure, comprising a rear panel provided with N first fixing lugs, with N> 2, and a rear bumper, comprising N second fixing lugs, and, on the other hand, comprising a rear edge comprising N zones against which are intended to rest respectively, on a lower face, the N second fixing lugs and respectively provided with N holes intended for be traversed, like the first and second mounting brackets, by N screws ensuring the fixed attachment of the rear bumper to the rear deflector and the latter to the rear panel.

This rear deflector is characterized by the fact that its rear edge also comprises on its lower face, in each of the N zones, a housing comprising one of the holes and intended to guide the positioning of one of the second fixing lugs and to at least partially accommodate the latter, once positioned.

Thanks to the invention, when the technician has grasped a rear deflector, he can now easily place its rear edge above the N second fixing lugs of the rear bumper, by adjusting its position so that the N housings respectively house these N second fixing brackets after guiding them.

The rear deflector according to the invention may include other features which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- Each housing can be delimited at least partially by a rib projecting on the underside of the rear edge;

- In the presence of second fixing lugs comprising a free front end inclined downwards over a first height, each rib may comprise a front part extending downwards over a second height greater than or equal to this first height; - The front part PV1 of each rib can extend forward in an upwardly inclined plane so as to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle;

- Each housing can be defined at least partially by a recess defined in the rear edge and projecting on an upper face of the latter, opposite to the lower face;

- In the presence of second fixing lugs comprising a free front end inclined downwards over a first height, each recess may include a front wall extending over a second height greater than or equal to this first height;

- In the presence of second fixing lugs comprising a free front end and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib may include a front part extending over a second height less than this first height, each recess may include a front wall extending over a third height less than this first height, and a sum of the second and third heights is then greater than or equal to this first height;

- the front part of each rib can extend forward in an upwardly inclined plane so as to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

The invention also proposes a wheeled vehicle, optionally of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, a structure, comprising a rear panel provided with N first fixing lugs, with N> 2, and a rear bumper, comprising N second fixing lugs, and, on the other hand, a rear deflector of the type presented above and fixedly secured to the rear bumper and to the rear panel by N screws.

For example, each of the first brackets may be provided with a nut for screwing in a threaded end of one of the screws.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings, in which: [Fig. 1] illustrates schematically, in a perspective view from the front side, an example of a rear panel of a vehicle structure, to which are fixedly secured a rear bumper and a first embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention ,

[Fig. 2] illustrates schematically, in a perspective view from below, a rear part of a vehicle structure to which are fixedly secured a rear bumper and a second embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention,

[Fig. 3] illustrates schematically, in a perspective view from the side of the lower face, the rear deflector of FIG. 2,

[Fig. 4] illustrates schematically, in a perspective view from below, the rear bumpers and rear deflector of FIG. 2 during the positioning of the latter relative to the first,

[Fig. 5] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a small part of a rear bumper secured to a small part of a third exemplary embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention,

[Fig. 6] illustrates schematically, in a sectional view, the parts of the rear bumper and rear deflector of Figure 5, before the introduction of a screw in their holes, and

[Fig. 7] illustrates schematically, in a perspective view from below, a small part of a rear bumper secured to a small part of a fourth embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a rear spoiler DR intended to equip a wheeled vehicle comprising an SV structure and a rear bumper PCR, and facilitating assembly.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of nonlimiting example, that the rear deflector DR is intended to equip a vehicle of the automotive type, such as for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of wheeled vehicle. It relates in fact to any wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (or body) comprising a rear panel PR and a base SS to be equipped with a rear deflector. Thus, it also concerns utility vehicles, minibuses, coaches, and road vehicles, in particular.

There is schematically shown in Figure 1 an example of a rear panel PR of a structure (or body) SV of a vehicle (here automotive type) to which are fixedly attached a rear bumper PCR and a first embodiment of 'a rear deflector DR according to the invention.

This rear panel PR is intended to be installed at the rear end of the base SS of the structure (or body) SV, partially shown in Figure 2. It comprises N first PF1 fixing lugs which are intended to be fixedly secured by screws VS a lower part PIP of the rear bumper PCR and the rear spoiler DR.

For example, and as illustrated in Figure 1, each first PF1 bracket can be provided with a nut EC for screwing a threaded end of one of the screws VS. Each EC nut can, for example be welded against the hole defined in the first PF1 fixing lug for the passage of a VS screw.

As illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, the number N is here equal to four. But this number can take any value greater than or equal to two (2).

As indicated in the introductory part, and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the rear deflector DR comprises front BV and rear BR edges.

In what follows and what precedes, the concepts of front and rear relate to the front and rear ends of the vehicle. A front element is therefore intended to be oriented towards the front of the vehicle, while a rear element is intended to be oriented towards the rear of the vehicle.

The front edge BV is oriented towards the front of the vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to the underside of the SS base of the SV structure. The rear edge BR is oriented towards the rear of the vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to the N first fixing lugs PF1 of the rear panel PR of this structure SV and to N second PF2 mounting brackets of the PCR rear bumper. To this end, the rear edge BR comprises N zones against which rest respectively, on a lower face F1 (intended to be oriented towards the road), the N second fixing lugs PF2 of the rear bumper PCR. These N zones respectively comprise N holes T1 to be placed opposite, on the one hand, N corresponding holes T2 and defined respectively in the N second fixing lugs PF2, and, on the other hand, N other corresponding holes (not visible) and defined respectively in the first N PF1 brackets.

In order to facilitate this placement by a technician, the rear edge BR of the rear deflector DR comprises on its lower face F1, in each of its N zones, a housing LP which comprises one of the N holes T1 and which is intended to guide the positioning of one of the N second fixing tabs PF2 and at least partially housing the latter (PF2), once it has been positioned.

Thus, when the technician has grasped a rear deflector DR, he can easily place his rear edge BR above the N second fixing lugs PF2 of the rear bumper PCR, the lower part of which PIP hangs pending attachment to the first lugs of fixing PF1 of the rear panel PR, by adjusting its position so that the N LP housings respectively house these N second fixing brackets PF2 after having guided them. Then, the technician can couple the front edge BV of the rear deflector DR to screws or studs G which have previously been fixedly secured to the underside of the base SS (see figure 2). Then, the technician temporarily releases the rear deflector DR pre-held at the front and at the rear (due to the housing of the second fixing brackets PF2 in the corresponding LP housings), in order to grab a screwdriver and N screws (or bolts) VS. Finally, the technician introduces each of the N screws VS into a hole T2 of one of the N second fixing brackets PF2, a corresponding hole T1 of the rear edge BR of the rear deflector DR, and a corresponding hole of one of the N first PF1 mounting brackets, before screwing in using the screwdriver.

Several embodiments of the rear deflector DR can be envisaged. Some of these modes are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

In a first embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 5 to 7, each LP housing is defined at least partially by a recess RL defined in the rear edge BR and projecting on an upper face FS of the latter (BR). This upper face FS is opposite to the lower face F1. It is therefore here at least one deformation (by indentation RL) of the rear edge BR in a zone which makes it possible to at least partially define a housing LP.

It will be noted that in the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, each housing LP is defined not only by a recess RL but also by a rib NL, as will be seen below. But each LP slot could only be defined by an RL recess. In this case, when each second PF2 fixing lug comprises a free front end EV and inclined downwards to a first height in order to facilitate the placement by the technician of the rear edge BR of the rear deflector DR above the N second brackets of fixing PF2 of the rear bumper PCR, each recess RL preferably comprises a front wall PV2 which extends over a second height greater than or equal to this first height. This makes it possible to prevent each front end EV from being exposed to shocks, and therefore that its second PF2 fixing lug can be broken.

In a second embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 7, each LP housing is defined at least partially by a rib NL projecting on the lower face F1. It is therefore here at least a small "wall" defined on the lower face F1 of the rear edge BR in each zone which makes it possible to at least partially define a housing LP.

Note that in the example illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, each LP housing is defined only by a NL rib. In this case, when each second fixing tab PF2 comprises a free front end EV and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib NL can comprise a front part PV1 which extends downwards over a second height greater than or equal at this first height. This makes it possible to prevent each front end EV from being exposed to shocks, and therefore that its second PF2 fixing lug can be broken.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 7, that the front part PV1 of each rib NL can advantageously extend forward along a plane PAI which is inclined upwards in order to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle. vehicle. For example, the slope may have an inclination of between 10 ° and 45 °, with respect to a horizontal plane. In a third embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 5 to 7, each LP housing is defined not only in part by a rib NL but also in part by a recess RL. This third embodiment therefore constitutes a combination of the first and second embodiments.

In this case, when each second fixing tab PF2 comprises a front end EV which is free and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib NL preferably comprises a front part PV1 which extends over a second height less than this first height and each recess RL preferably comprises a front wall PV2 which extends over a third height less than this first height. In addition, the sum of the second and third heights is preferably greater than or equal to the first height. This makes it possible to prevent each front end EV from being exposed to shocks, and therefore that its second PF2 fixing lug can be broken.

In this third embodiment, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 7 and as mentioned above, the front part PV1 of each rib NL can advantageously extend forward along the plane PAI inclined upwards in order to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 7, that the inclined plane PAI may optionally include at least one hole T3 allowing water or accumulated condensation to be discharged. Each hole T3 is preferably defined in the lowest part of the inclined plane PAI.

Claims

1. Rear deflector (DR) for a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (SV), comprising a rear panel (PR) fitted with N first fixing lugs (PF1), with N> 2, and a rear bumper (PCR ), comprising N second fixing lugs (PF2), said rear deflector (DR) comprising a rear edge (BR) comprising N areas against which are intended to rest respectively, on a lower face (Fl), said N second lugs fixing (PF2) and provided respectively with N holes (T1) intended to be crossed, just like said first (PF1) and second (PF2) fixing lugs, by N screws ensuring the fixed attachment of said rear bumper (PCR) to said rear deflector (DR) and from the latter (DR) to said rear panel (PR), characterized in that said rear edge (BR) further comprises on said lower face (Fl), in each of said N zones, a housing ( LP) comprising one of said holes (T1) and intended to guide the positioning of one of said s second fixing lugs (PF2) and to house at least partially the latter, once positioned.

2. Rear deflector according to claim 1, characterized in that each housing (LP) is at least partially delimited by a rib (NL) projecting on said lower face (Fl).

3. Rear deflector according to claim 2, characterized in that in the presence of second fixing lugs (PF2) comprising a front end (EV) free and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib (NL) comprises a part front (PV1) extending downward over a second height greater than or equal to said first height.

4. Rear deflector according to claim 3, characterized in that said front part (PV1) extends forward in an upwardly inclined plane so as to optimize aerodynamics of said vehicle.

5. Rear deflector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each housing (LP) is defined at least partially by a recess (RL) defined in said rear edge (BR) and projecting on an upper face (FS) of this last (BR), opposite to said lower face (Fl).

6. Rear deflector according to claim 5, characterized in that in the presence of second fixing lugs (PF2) comprising a front end (EV) free and inclined downwards over a first height, each recess (RL) comprises a wall front (PV2) extending over a second height greater than or equal to said first height.

7. Rear deflector according to the combination of claims 2 and 5, characterized in that in the presence of second fixing lugs (PF2) comprising a front end (EV) free and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib (NL ) comprises a front part (PV1) extending over a second height less than said first height, each recess (RL) comprises a front wall (PV2) extending over a third height less than said first height, and a sum of said second and third heights being greater than or equal to said first height.

8. Rear deflector according to claim 7, characterized in that said front part (PV1) extends forward in an upwardly inclined plane so as to optimize aerodynamics of said vehicle.

9. Wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (SV), comprising a rear panel (PR) provided with N first fixing brackets (PF1), with N> 2, and a rear bumper (PCR), comprising N second brackets. fixing (PF2), characterized in that it further comprises a rear deflector (DR) according to one of the preceding claims, fixedly secured to said rear bumper (PCR) and to said rear panel (PR) by N screws.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that each of said first fixing lugs (PF1) is provided with a nut for screwing a threaded end of one of said screws.