FR2782972A1 - FRONT FOOT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Front foot of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it includes a foot (12, 22) as well as an upper spar (13, 23) and an element of a supporting structure (14) of a suspension element.

Description

FRONT FOOT OF MOTOR VEHICLE

  The invention relates to a front foot of a motor vehicle, and more particularly of a vehicle, the frame of which has structural elements made up in particular of two front feet and two rear feet, as well as longitudinal members and stiffening crosspieces. The publication FR-A-2 221 295 describes an assembled structure mounted in abutment on a canopy cross member and on a spar. This structure has an element with central fixing zone on which is attached the whole of a strut and in particular a rod of a shock absorber. The central zone also provides the support cup function for a spring

suspension.

  The structure of such a room consists of different elements, assembled together. Thus, said part is relatively complex to manufacture and requires significant precision in the production of the various constituent elements in order to compensate for the tolerance dispersions of said elements. In addition, the presence of different parts requires a large number of stamping tools, which generates a cost.

  important in tool investment.

  The publication FR-A-2 702 710 describes a support structure for a suspension strut of a motor vehicle, constituted by a node for connecting hollow profile elements. This structure comprises a central zone which is produced in the form of a support cup centered on the axis of the shock absorber and the bottom of which ensures the support of the end

  upper of a spring of said damper.

  Such a structure requires an assembly of tubular elements creating a knot in the area of the shock absorber cup, which limits the

  possible architectures of the vehicle structure.

  -2- In order to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, the invention relates to a structure of the front leg of a motor vehicle, consisting of a number

reduced parts.

  The invention also relates to a front foot grouping together said foot as well as an upper spar and an element of a supporting structure of a

suspension element.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be put in

  obvious in the description which follows, given by way of example, in

  reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the two forms constituting the

front leg according to the invention.

  - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the front leg according to the invention.

  Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective of a front leg according to

  the invention having a portion serving as a shock absorber cup.

  The front leg according to the invention consists of two complementary shapes, exterior 1 and interior 2, merging into a single structure. These forms can be, for example, sheet steel or

stamped aluminum.

  The first external shape 1 is made up of three zones. A first zone 12 is a substantially vertical exterior half-upright and constitutes the exterior of the front leg of the structure of a vehicle. This external half-upright 12 is extended at its upper end by a second zone composed of an external half-spar 13 located in a plane

  substantially perpendicular to the axis of said half upright. So the half

  external upright 12 and the external half-spar 13 have substantially the

shape of an inverted L.

  The outer half-spar 13 is connected, at its free end, to a third zone composed of a shock absorber cup 14, located substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the half-spar

  outside 13 and the outside half upright 12.

  The damper cup 14 is pierced with a substantially circular hole for receiving the means for fixing the front suspension assembly of the vehicle, known per se and not shown. This cup also has a border 16 which forms a right angle,

  directed downward, with the plane of said cup.

  The second interior shape 2 consists of two zones. A first zone constitutes an internal half-upright 22 having substantially the shape of a U-shaped profile oriented in a substantially vertical direction. The wings 22a and 22b of the U are directed towards the outside of the vehicle. During the assembly of the internal half-upright 22 and the external half-upright 12, the wings 22a and 22b of the U come to bear against the external half-upright in order to form a hollow profile with a substantially rectangular section. A second zone consists of an interior half-spar 23 connected to the upper end of the interior half-upright 22, in a direction

  substantially perpendicular to said interior half upright. The half

  inner spar 23 forms an L complementary to that of the half

  outer spar 13, said inner half spar 23 closing said

  outer half-spar 13 along the shock absorber cup 14.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the union of the two forms 1 and 2 gives a front foot of a motor vehicle having the shape of an L, with a substantially rectangular hollow section, closing at the end of the half-beams 13 and 23, said foot being connected, only on its part

  outside, to a shock absorber cup 14.

  -4- In this way, a front foot is created, the external part 1 of which is linked to the shock absorber cup and the internal part of which 2, which is not linked to said

  shock absorber cup, nevertheless constitutes a reinforcement of the latter.

  Such a structure according to the invention makes it possible to assemble three parts, a front leg, an upper spar and a shock absorber cup, in a single element. This structure therefore results in a significant reduction

  tool investment costs.

  In addition, the structure according to the invention also results in a simplification of the mounting of the vehicle but also a stiffening of

  the assembly receiving the means for fixing the front suspensions.

  The invention is not limited to the single embodiment which has just been described but encompasses alternative embodiments. Thus, the foot according to the invention can also be used for a rear suspension of a motor vehicle. -5-

Claims (7)

  1 - Front foot of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it includes a foot (12, 22) and an upper spar (13, 23) and an element of a   supporting structure (14) of a suspension element.   2 - Front leg according to claim 1, characterized in that the element of the supporting structure of a suspension element is a cup shock absorber (14).   3 - Front leg according to claim 2, characterized in that said leg is   consisting of an outer shape (1) and an inner shape (2).   4 - Front leg according to claim 3, characterized in that the shape   exterior (1) consists of three zones, said zones being a half   external upright (12), an external half-spar (13) and a cup shock absorber (14).   - Front leg according to claim 4, characterized in that the internal shape (2) consists of two zones, said zones being a half   interior upright (22) and an interior half-spar (23).   6 - Front leg according to claim 5, characterized in that the half   internal upright (22) has the shape of a U-shaped profile whose wings (22a, 22b)   are directed towards the outside of the vehicle.   7 - Front leg according to claim 6, characterized in that during the assembly of the inner half upright (22) and the outer half upright (12), the wings (22a, 22b) of said inner half upright come in support against the external half-upright in order to form a hollow section profile substantially rectangular.   8 - Front leg according to claim 7, characterized in that the internal shape (2) forms an L and comes to bear under the shock absorber cup   (14), the external half-beam (13) and the external half-upright (12).   - 6 - 9 - Front leg according to claim 8, characterized in that the internal shape (2) constitutes a reinforcement of the shock absorber cup of the vehicle.