FR3021987B1 - EXTERNAL VEHICLE DOOR OPENING CONTROL SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a mechanical opening device (3), a manual opening control member (2) for actuating the mechanical device (3), an interface box (4) on which the control member (2) and the mechanical opening device (3) are mounted and having fasteners to the vehicle, and a trim (6) for covering the outer periphery of the system. According to the invention, the hubcap (6) and the casing (4) are two separate parts.

Description

Title: Motor Vehicle Exterior Door Opening Control System

The present invention relates to a control system for external opening of a motor vehicle door.

The doors of a motor vehicle, in particular the rear side doors, are equipped with an "External Opening Control" or "COE" module. Figures 1 to 4 show different views of a COE module 100 of the prior art: - Figure 1 shows an external side view of a vehicle door equipped with the COE module 100; FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively represent a front view and a rear view of the COE module 100; - Figure 4 shows a view of a vehicle door box having three attachment points of the COE module 100.

The COE module 100 comprises a pivoting member 101, commonly called a pallet, manual door opening control and a mechanical opening device 102 to be actuated by the pallet 101, when the latter is manually moved in rotation. The pallet 101 and the mechanical device 102 are mounted on an interface box 103 which comprises a first recessed portion 104, bowl-shaped, adapted to receive the hand of a user wishing to seize the pallet 101 and rotate it, and a second outer portion 105 surrounding the bowl 104, intended to dress around the bowl 104 and the pallet 101. This second portion 105 is commonly called "hubcap". The COE module 100 is fixed to a door box 106 of the vehicle, for example by three attachment points 107.

There is currently a desire to offer cars whose door panels can be changed during the life of the vehicle, at the will of the customer, either for aesthetic reasons or for a repair. Such a change may also impact the COE module whose style, shape and / or color are adapted to the original door panel. However, COE modules are generally manufactured in large numbers in order to make the initial investments in manufacturing equipment (typically by injection or equivalent process) and / or assembly possible. It is therefore difficult to change and customize the COE module at a lower cost.

The present invention improves the situation. To this end, the invention relates to an external motor vehicle door opening control system comprising a mechanical opening device, a manual opening control device, intended to actuate the mechanical device, an interface box. on which the control member and the mechanical opening device are mounted and comprising fastening elements to the vehicle, and a trim intended to cover the outer periphery of the system, characterized in that the hubcap and the housing are two pieces separated. The invention therefore proposes an external opening control system in two separate parts constituted by: a base module comprising all the functional elements of door opening, in particular the control member or pallet and the opening mechanism , mounted on an interface box and - a trim intended to cover one face of the base module and to dress the periphery of the control member.

With this, it is easy and cheaply to change the hubcap, while maintaining the basic module of the COE, for example in case of change of the door panel, for a change of style or for a repair.

In a particular embodiment, the hubcap includes fasteners to the vehicle.

Advantageously, the fastening elements of the hubcap comprise three respective fastening axes, two axes parallel or substantially parallel to a front face of the hubcap and the third axis forming a non-zero angle with said front face, including an equal angle or substantially equal to 90 °.

The fasteners may include screws.

Advantageously, the first and second fixing elements are adapted to be fixed on a wafer of a door box of the vehicle and the third fixing element is intended to be screwed onto a side of said door box. The third fastening element makes it possible to add a fastener in a second plane different from the first plane containing the first and second fastening elements, which makes it possible to ensure the isostatism of the hub / box connection.

With this, to remove the hubcap, just open the door to access the fasteners. It is thus not possible to disassemble it from outside the vehicle, which limits the risk of theft.

The system may also include all or part of the following additional features: the trim includes a receiving opening of the control member having a curved support edge, and the interface box comprises a nesting zone, said edge support and said interlocking zone being adapted to cooperate in order to position the trim with respect to the housing; - The hubcap comprises a portion shaped to partially hide a window liner of the vehicle; - The hubcap is made by thermoforming or injection; - The hubcap is made of polypropylene or a composite material. The invention also relates to a hubcap specifically intended to be used in the system that has just been defined. The invention also relates to a module specifically intended to be used in the system that has just been defined. The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising the manual opening system as just defined. The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of various embodiments of the outer door opening control system (COE) of a motor vehicle door according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 5 shows a vehicle side door equipped with the COE system, according to a first embodiment; - Figures 6 and 7 show an enlarged view of the COE system of Figure 5 mounted on the door, respectively with a hubcap and without hubcap; - Figures 8 and 9 show respectively a front view and a rear view of the COE system of Figure 5, without trim; - Figures 10 and 11 show respectively a front view and a rear view of the hubcap of the COE system of Figure 5; - Figures 12 and 13 respectively show a view of the vehicle interior of the door of Figure 5, equipped with the COE system, respectively without hubcap and with trim; FIG. 14 represents the COE system of FIG. 5 with different section planes C-C, D-D, E-E, F-F, G-G; FIGS. 15 to 19 show sectional views along the C-C, D-D, E-E, F-F and G-G planes, respectively, of the COE system of FIG. 14; - Figure 20 shows a hubcap according to a second embodiment, in rear view; FIG. 21 represents the COE system according to the second embodiment, with different shots, in particular E-E and F-F; FIGS. 22 and 23 respectively show sectional views along the EE and FF planes of the COE system of FIG. 21. From the outset, it will be noted that on the identical or corresponding elements represented in the different figures, the same references are given, except specific indication to the contrary.

FIG. 5 represents a side door 50 of a motor vehicle equipped with an external opening control system 1, or "COE", according to a first embodiment of the invention. The door 50 conventionally comprises a window 51 and a door panel 52. In the particular embodiment described here, the COE system 1 is positioned above the door panel, at the rear of the window 51 and close to it. It could of course be positioned differently, for example at the door panel. From the outset, it will be noted that by the terms "front" and "rear" is meant respectively the parts intended to be arranged vis-à-vis the outside of the vehicle and the parts intended to be oriented towards the outside. inside the vehicle.

The COE system 1 comprises the following elements: a manual opening control member 2, here having the shape of a pallet; a mechanical door opening device 3; an interface box 4 associated with fastening elements 5A, 5B and 5C; - A hubcap 6 associated with fasteners 62A, 62B, 62C.

The control pallet 2 is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis, or substantially vertical, on the housing 4, at the front thereof.

The mechanical opening device 3 comprises in a known manner a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational movement of the pallet to a cable 30 intended to control (that is to say open or close) a lock (not shown) Door. The mechanical device 3 is mounted on the housing 4, on the rear face thereof.

Each of the three fastening elements 5A (respectively 5B, 5C) of the housing 4 here comprises a tapped foot 50A and an associated fixing screw 51B, extending along a longitudinal axis 52A (respectively 52B, 52C) which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular (within + or - 5 °) to the plane through which the pallet 2 extends when the latter is in the rest position. The feet 50A-50C of the fastening elements 5A-5C are secured at one of their ends to the rear face of the casing 4. They can be fixed to the casing 4, for example by gluing or welding, or molded from a single 4. The fastening elements 5A to 5C are intended to fix the interface box 4 to a door box 7 of the vehicle by insertion into the fixing holes 70A, 70B, 70C formed in the box 7, as shown in FIGS. shown in Figures 12 and 13.

The interface box 4 comprises a recessed portion 40, for example bowl-shaped, oriented towards the front and forming a concave housing adapted to receive the hand of a user wishing to enter the pallet 2 and rotate it. The bowl 40 is surrounded by a front edge 41 extending in a plane (or a slightly curved surface) in which the pallet 2 also extends. This flange 41 constitutes the front face of the casing 4. The trim 6 is intended to covering the front face 41 of the interface housing 4 and to dress the periphery of the control pallet 2 and the concave housing 40. The hubcap 6 and the housing 4 are two separate parts. The hubcap 6 comprises a front face 60 here planar (but can be slightly curved) having a central opening 61 for receiving the pallet 2, disposed at the right of the housing 40. The hubcap 6 here comprises three fastening elements 62A, 62B and 62C, for attaching the hubcap 6 to the door box 7 of the vehicle.

The two fastening elements 62A and 62B each comprise a fastening lug 63A (63B), consisting of an L-shaped bracket, one of whose branches is fixed to the rear face of the hubcap 6, for example by bonding or welding, and the other branch, facing rearward, provides a passage opening of a fastening screw 64A (64B) which extends along a fastening axis 65A (65B) parallel or substantially parallel (that is to say, within + or - 5 °) to the plane through which extends the front face 60 of the hubcap 6. The fastening lugs 63A and 63B, respectively upper and lower, are positioned above and below the central opening 61, and so as to be fixed at two attachment points 71A, 71B located on a wafer 72 of the door box 7 of the vehicle. The third fastener 62C is disposed below the opening 61, next to the lower tab 63B. It comprises here a threaded fastening foot 63C, integral with the tab 63B at one of its ends, and a fastening screw 64C, which extend along a fastening axis 65C. This is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular (that is to say, within + or - 5 °), the plane in which extends the front face 60. The attachment pins 65A and 65B of the legs 62A and 62B here define a plane of attachment parallel, or substantially parallel, to the plane through which the front face 60 of the hubcap 6 extends. The attachment pin 65C forms a non-zero angle with this fastening plane. In the embodiment described here, this angle is equal to or substantially equal (+/- 5 °) to 90 °. The second securing element thus ensures the isostatism of the connection between the hubcap 6 and the vehicle casing 7. The third fixing element 62C is intended to be fixed at a point of attachment 71C of a lateral flank of the casing. door 7, close to the attachment point 70C of the housing 4. The hubcap 6 comprises an edge curved inwards (that is to say towards the rear), surrounding the central opening 61 and constituting a first edge 66 of support of the hubcap 6 on the housing 4. Correspondingly, the interface housing 4 comprises a zone 42 of engagement of the support edge extending in the plane before opening of the bowl 40, all around this one. This interlocking zone 42 here consists of a step-shaped rim surrounding the front opening of the bowl 40. The hubcap 6 and the casing 4 are shaped to fit one into the other, by insertion. of the first support edge 66 in the rim 42. In other words, the support edge 66 and the engagement zone 42 are adapted to cooperate in order to position the hubcap 6 with respect to the housing 4. This allows easy, fast and accurate positioning of the hubcap 6 during its assembly.

The periphery of the hubcap 6 comprises another edge curved towards the rear and constituting a second edge 67 of support of the hubcap 6 on the housing or on the vehicle.

In addition, the hubcap 6 comprises a lower portion 68, located below the opening 61, shaped and sized to extend forward of one end of a window liner 8 of the vehicle and thus the partially hide from the outside.

In the first embodiment, the hubcap 6 is made by thermoforming plastic material, then equipped with fastening lugs 62A, 62B and 62C which can be welded or glued to the hubcap 6. The plastic material used can be a polypropylene , in particular a polypropylene without reinforcement and / or talc. Alternatively, composite materials such as ABS / PC (for "acrylonitrile butadiene styrene" / "polycarbonate") or ABS / PMMA (for "acrylonitrile butadiene styrene" / "polymethyl methacrylate")) or NORYL could be used. GTX® (a trade name for a specific polypropylene for body parts, resistant to high temperature) or a polyamide filled with glass fibers.

The assembly of the COE system 1 is done in three stages.

In a first step, the module comprising the interface box 4, on which are mounted the mechanical opening device 3 and the control pallet 2, is mounted on the vehicle door box by means of the fastening elements. 5A, 5B and 5C and using the fixing holes 70A, 70B and 70C of the door casing 7.

During a second step, the hubcap 6 is pressed against the interface box 4 and against the box 7. During this step, the trim 6 is correctly positioned relative to the box 4, by simply fitting the bearing edge 66 in the interlocking zone 42.

In a third step, the hubcap 6 is fixed to the door box 7 of the vehicle by means of the fastening elements 62A, 62B and 62C using the fixing holes 71A, 71B and 71C.

Figures 20 to 23 show a second embodiment of the hubcap 6 which differs from the first embodiment described in that the hubcap 6 is obtained by injection into a mold. In this case, the fixing lugs 62A, 62B and 62C can be obtained directly by injection and thus form a one-piece piece with the hubcap 6. The plastic material used may be a polypropylene, in particular a polypropylene without reinforcement and / or talc. Alternatively, other composites such as NORYL GTX or a polyamide or ABS could be used.

Claims (9)

1. A motor vehicle door external opening control system comprising a mechanical opening device (3), a manual opening control member (2) for actuating the mechanical device (3), a housing interface (4) on which the control member (2) and the mechanical opening device (3) are mounted and comprising elements (5A, 5B, 5C) for attachment to the vehicle, and a hubcap (6) for to cover the outer periphery of the system, the trim (6) and the housing (4) being two separate parts, characterized in that the hubcap (6) comprises elements (62A, 62B, 62C) for attachment to the vehicle which comprise three respective attachment axes (65A, 65B, 65C), two axes (65A, 65B) parallel or substantially parallel to a front face (60) of the hubcap (6) and the third axis (65C) forming an angle not zero with said front face (60), in particular an angle equal to or substantially equal to 90 °, and in that the first and second fastening elements (62A, 62B) are adapted to be fixed on a wafer (72) of a door box (7) of the vehicle and the third fastening element is intended to be screwed on a side of said door casing (7) 2. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the third fastening element (62G) is arranged to fix the hubcap (6) and Se interface box (4). 3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hubcap (6) comprises an opening (61) for receiving the control member (2) having a curved bearing edge (66) and Se interface box includes an engagement zone (42), said support edge and said engagement zone being adapted to cooperate in order to position the trim (6) relative to the housing (4). 4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trim (6) comprises a portion (68) shaped to partially hide a window liner (8) of the vehicle. 5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hubcap (6) is formed by thermoforming or injection. 6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trim is made of polypropylene or a composite material. 7. Wheel cover specifically intended for use in the system according to one of claims 1 to 6. 8. Module specifically intended for use in Se system according to one of claims 1 to 6. 9. Automobile vehicle comprising the manual opening system according to one of claims 1 to 6.