FR3056545A1 - CAISSE DE VEHICULE AUTOMOBILE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a body (1) of a vehicle comprising a front roof beam (2a) and a reinforcing beam (3) located at the rear of the front roof beam (2a), said sleepers (2a, 3) being connected to a roof panel of the vehicle and extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle, the reinforcing beam (3) being arranged in an opening (4) defined between a rear shelf ( 5) and a rear floor (6) of said box (1).

Description

© Publication number: 3,056,545 (to be used only for reproduction orders) © National registration number: 16 59091 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 62 D 25/08 (2017.01), B 62 D 25/06, 65/06, 27/02

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

®) Date of filing: 27.09.16. (© Priority: © Applicant (s): RENAULT S.A.S —FR. ®) Date of public availability of the request: 03.30.18 Bulletin 18/13. @ Inventor (s): BEZEAULT LOÏC and HEWAK GREGOR. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: ® Holder (s): RENAULT S.A.S. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): NOVAIMO.

154 / AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE BODY.

FR 3 056 545 - A1 (£ /) The invention relates to a body (1) of a vehicle comprising a front roof crossmember (2a) and a reinforcement crossmember (3) located behind the roof crossmember front (2a), said crosspieces (2a, 3) being connected to a roof panel of the vehicle and extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle, the reinforcement crosspiece (3) being arranged in a opening (4) defined between a rear shelf (5) and a rear floor (6) of said body (1).

AUTOMOTIVE BODY

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle body comprising a front roof cross member and a reinforcing cross member capable of participating in the support of a vehicle roof.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a body.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a body 100 of a motor vehicle conventionally comprises roof rails 101a, 101b, 101c connected to roof stretchers 102 helping to provide support for a roof panel in the body 100 of vehicle.

More specifically, this box 100 can include, in order to provide such support, front, intermediate and rear roof crossmembers 101a, 101b, 101c like the box 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 or even include just two crossmembers 101a, 101b, here front and rear roof crossmembers 101a, 101b like the body 100 shown in FIG. 2.

A drawback of such vehicle bodies 100 is linked to the fact that the arrangement of the rear roof crossmember 100b near the rear passengers of this vehicle significantly limits the glazed space of the latter. Thus, the vision of the rear passengers is limited or even obstructed, and therefore the field of vision of these passengers also called "bay window" is therefore not optimal.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks related to the state of the art.

In this design, the invention relates to a vehicle body comprising a front roof cross member and a reinforcing cross member located at the rear of the front roof cross member, said cross members being connected to a vehicle roof panel and s extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the reinforcing cross member being arranged in an opening defined between a rear shelf and a rear floor of said body.

In other embodiments:

- The reinforcing cross member comprises a body having a cross section having a substantially curved shape;

- A body of this reinforcing crosspiece comprises two ends provided with first and second fixing zones and a central part comprising a third fixing zone defined on all or part of a peripheral edge of this central part;

- First and second fixing zones are mechanically connected to side shelves included in the rear shelf;

- A third fixing zone is mechanically connected to a rear floor of the body, in particular by means of a connecting element of the reinforcing cross member;

- The body of the reinforcing cross member comprises at least one stiffening zone, in particular a rib;

- A stiffening zone extends in a body of the reinforcement crosspiece between first and second fixing zones of this body;

- body includes fixing elements defined to mechanically connect first and second fixing zones of a body of the reinforcing cross member to lateral shelves and a third zone of fixing to a connecting element in particular capable of being connected to a cross member floor included in the rear floor;

- the front roof crossmember or an intermediate roof crossmember are connected to roof stretchers;

the body comprises an intermediate roof cross member located at the right of the center feet of the body between the front roof cross member and the reinforcement cross member, and

- the roof panel is a solid panel, a panel in whole or in part glazed or a panel provided with at least one opening.

The invention also relates to a saloon type motor vehicle comprising such a body.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which will follow, with reference to the figures, produced by way of indicative and nonlimiting example:

- Figure 1 shows in perspective a variant of a motor vehicle body comprising cross members of the front, intermediate and rear roof of the state of the prior art;

- Figure 2 shows in perspective another variant of the body comprising front and rear roof rails of the state of the prior art;

- Figure 3 shows in perspective a first variant of a motor vehicle body comprising cross members of the front and intermediate roof and a reinforcing cross member arranged in an opening defined between a rear shelf and a rear floor of said body, according to the embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 4 shows in perspective a second variant of the body comprising the front roof cross member and the reinforcing cross member arranged in the opening defined between the rear shelf and the rear floor of said body, according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views on a larger scale of a part of the first or the second variant of the box illustrated in FIG. 3 or 4 comprising the reinforcement crosspiece arranged in said opening, according to the embodiment of the invention, and

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the reinforcing cross member comprising a connecting element, according to the embodiment of the invention.

The description is made with reference to a trihedron X, Y, Z, represented in FIGS. 3 to 6, conventionally associated with a motor vehicle, in which X is the front-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle directed towards the rear, Y is the right-left transverse direction to the vehicle, which is horizontal and perpendicular to X, directed to the right, and Z is the vertical direction directed to the top. Furthermore, the terms "front, rear, right, left, horizontal, vertical, upper, lower" are defined with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the vehicle body 1 comprises a front roof cross member 2a and a reinforcement cross member 3 situated at the rear of the front roof cross member 2a. Such a body 1 can be that of a three-body type motor vehicle, that is to say which comprises a rear trunk compartment independent of the passenger compartment. In this box 1, the front roof cross member 2a is included above the driver's head, or even behind it. This front roof cross member 2a comprises ends which are connected to roof stretcher bars 17 of the body 1.

In each of Figures 3 and 4 is shown a variant of this box 1. The first variant of the box 1 illustrated in Figure 3 differs from the second variant visible in Figure 4 in that it comprises an intermediate cross member 2b. The intermediate roof cross member 2b is located to the right of the middle feet 16 of the body 1. These middle feet 16 are each included in a lateral side of this body 1. Each middle foot 16 is defined between the stretcher of the roof 17 and a beam chassis. This intermediate roof cross member 2b is therefore substantially mid-length between the front roof cross member 2a and rear end zones 15b of stretchers 17 of the body 1. The intermediate roof cross member 2b is then in this context located between the cross member of the front roof 2a and the reinforcement cross member 3. This intermediate roof cross member 2b is connected to the roof stretchers 17 of the body 1.

In these two variants, the body 1 is conventionally provided with a roof (not shown) comprising a substantially horizontal roof panel. This panel can be a solid panel, a panel in whole or in part glazed or a panel provided with at least one opening.

This roof panel extends transversely between the stretchers 17 and longitudinally between the front roof cross member 2a and the rear end zones 15b of stretchers 17. The rear end zones 15b of stretchers 17 are transversely connected to one another. the other by means of a gutter which delimits the top part of the boot opening. The roof panel can extend longitudinally to the gutter. In the alternative embodiment, the roof panel is glazed so that it forms a rear window.

In the first variant of the body 1, this panel is supported directly by the stretchers 17 and the front and intermediate roof rails 2a, 2b. In the second variant, this panel is also directly supported by these stretchers 17 and the front roof cross member 2a. By "direct", it should be understood here that the panel is arranged in the immediate vicinity or even in contact with the stretchers 17 and the front roof cross member 2a and / or the intermediate roof cross member 2b according to the variants. In this context, the front roof rail 2a provides support for a front area of the roof panel and the intermediate roof rail 2b that of an intermediate or central area of this panel.

In this configuration, this panel is indirectly supported by the reinforcing cross member 3. The use of such a reinforcing cross member allows, despite the absence of some of the roof cross members, a resistance to deformation identical to that of prior art. While the stiffness of a traditional body is strongly linked to the presence of the front, intermediate and rear roof rails 101a, 101b, 101c, on which the roof panel is linked, the body of the invention does away with the rails intermediate and rear known, which are here replaced by the reinforcement crosspiece. The roof panel is then fixed directly to the stretchers 17 as well as to the front crossmember 101a, but also to the body structure delimited by the bottom of the rear window. In the case of a glass roof panel, the translucent surface is increased.

Thus, in these two variants of the body 1, the front and intermediate roof crossmembers 2a, 2b as well as the reinforcing crossmember 3 are then defined to participate in the resistance to deformation of the body on which the vehicle roof panel is fixed.

In FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the body 1 also comprises a rear shelf 5 separating the passenger compartment from the boot compartment of the vehicle. This rear shelf 5 is provided with a central shelf 14a and two side shelves 14b, 14c located on either side of the central shelf 14a. The rear shelf 5 is mounted integral with a rear floor 6 of the body 1 and in particular with a floor cross member 11, as well as with quarter panel linings of this body 1. Thus this rear cross member 5 forms with the rear floor 6, an opening 4 of generally substantially oblong shape. This opening 4 comprises a wall formed by inner edges 19b of the side shelves 14b, 14c, an inner edge 19a of the central shelf 14a and the floor cross member 11 included in the rear floor 6 of the body 1. This opening 4 s therefore extends transversely in this box 1.

In the body 1, the reinforcing cross member 3 is arranged in the opening 4 defined between the rear shelf 5 and the rear floor 6. This reinforcing cross member 3 extends in this opening 4 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This reinforcing cross member 3 while being thus arranged in the body 1 reinforces the rear part of the body 1 in particular a portion of this rear part of the body 1 which is defined to be in contact with a rear zone of the roof panel. Under these conditions, the reinforcing cross member 3 participates in supporting this roof panel and in particular in supporting the rear zone of this panel.

In FIGS. 3 to 7, the reinforcing cross member 3 has a general shape which is close to that of the inverted "Ω" character, when it is arranged in the opening 4. More specifically, the reinforcing cross member 3 comprises a body 7 having a cross section having a substantially curved shape. It will be noted that the curved shape of the reinforcing cross member 3 makes it possible to arrange in the opening 4 an object passage between the passenger compartment of the vehicle and the boot compartment. This passage is commonly called "ski hatch".

This reinforcing cross member 3 is a one-piece piece, preferably metallic, for example made of steel or aluminum alloy. Such a part can then be obtained according to folding or stamping methods well known in the state of the art. The reinforcing cross member 3 also comprises two ends 8a, 8b provided with first and second fixing zones 9a, 9b and a central part 8c comprising a third fixing zone 9c defined on all or part of a peripheral edge 10 of this central part 8c.

The first and second attachment zones 9a, 9b are substantially included in the same plane which is parallel to a plane comprising the attachment regions 20a, 20b defined on an external face 21 of each lateral shelf 14c, 14b.

The third attachment zone 9c is included in a plane forming with the plane comprising the first and second attachment zones 9a, 9b an angle which is between approximately 80 and 160 degrees, and which is preferably an obtuse angle of approximately 100 degrees.

In FIG. 5, the third fixing zone 9c is housed in a receptacle obtained by stamping the rear floor 6. The peripheral edge 10 of the central part 9c is curved so as to extend substantially parallel to the rear floor 6 on which it is fixed. The receptacle of the rear floor 6 defines a hollow inside which the peripheral edge 10 comes to bear. Connecting elements 18 are used for integrally connecting the reinforcement cross member 3 to the rear floor 6 of the vehicle.

According to another embodiment, this third fixing zone 9c also includes a connecting element 18 participating in the fixing of this central part 8c of this reinforcing cross member 3 to the rear floor 6 and in particular to the floor cross member 11. This floor cross member 11 comprises a body provided with a cavity 22 extending transversely in all or part of the body of this floor cross member 11. This cavity 22 has a width L1 which is adjusted to width L2 of the connecting element 18 in order to carry out a fitting of this connecting element 18 into the cavity 22 and thus ensure an optimal holding connection between the central part 8c of the reinforcement crossmember 3 and the floor crossmember 11 and therefore the rear floor 6.

The body 7 of the reinforcing cross member 3 also comprises at least one stiffening zone 12 corresponding to a deformed portion of this reinforcing cross member 3. This reinforcing cross member 3 preferably comprises two stiffening zones 12 which extend in all or part of the body 7 of the latter between the first and second attachment zones 9a, 9b. More specifically, this stiffening zone 12 extends transversely in the thickness of the body 7 of this reinforcement crosspiece

3. In the present embodiment, these two stiffening zones 12 are, without limitation, substantially the same lengths. Each stiffening zone 12 can be a stamped rib also called simply a rib. The stiffening zone 12 may have a longitudinal section in the shape of a "U" which is open at the level of an inner face of this reinforcing cross member 3 arranged opposite the boot compartment of the body 1. In other words, the stiffening zone 12 forms a protuberance in the body 7 of the reinforcing cross member 3. Such stiffening zones 12 make it possible in particular to limit or even avoid deformations and the unbuttoning of fastening elements 13 described below, in order to guarantee the vehicle body integrity 1.

The body 1 also includes the fixing elements 13 defined for mechanically connecting the first and second fixing zones 9a, 9b of the body 7 to the fixing regions 20a, 20b of the side shelves 14b, 14c as well as the third fixing zone 9c to the connecting element 18.

These fastening elements 13 can be chosen from the following elements: welding points, rivets, screws, snap-in parts or any equivalent element. In the present embodiment, these fixing elements 13 are preferably rivets and / or weld points.

It will be noted that the connecting element 18 which is arranged in the cavity 22 of the floor cross member 11 of the rear floor 6 can be mechanically connected to this cross member of the floor 11 from these fixing elements 13.

Such a reinforcement cross member 3 thus arranged in the vehicle body 1 makes it possible to make up for a loss of stiffness in this body 1 which may result from a reduction in section or a disappearance of a rear roof cross member conventionally fitted to the body of state-of-the-art vehicles. Under these conditions, this reinforcing cross member 3 can also be called “remote rear roof cross member” because of its new location in the opening 4 defined between the rear shelf 5 and the rear floor 6 of the body 1. This cross member reinforcement 3 thus confers stiffness on the body 1 which contributes to improving the acoustic and vibratory efficiency of the body 1 when the vehicle is moving.

It is therefore understood that this reinforcing cross member 3 thus makes it possible to manufacture vehicle bodies comprising rear roof crossmembers having reduced sections or even devoid of such crossmembers in order to provide a gain in the architecture of the body 1 and improve the high vision otherwise known as “bay window” in the rear seats of the vehicle. It will be noted that the elimination of the rear roof cross member makes it possible to increase the volume available at the level of a high rear part of the body 1 which can then be used for example for the arrangement of a blackout blind also called "awning". When the roof panel is entirely or partially glazed, as well as motors ensuring the movement of such a blind.

In addition, the reinforcing crossmember 3 has a low mass which is moreover less than that of the rear roof crossmembers used in the bodies of vehicles of the state of the art. Thus, such a reinforcing cross member 3 makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle, the engine of which operates for example with energy sources such as fuels, petrol or diesel, and / or electrical energy.

Claims (10)

1. Body (1) of a vehicle comprising a front roof cross member (2a) and a reinforcement cross member (3) located behind the front roof cross member (2a), said cross members (2a, 3) being connected to a roof panel of the vehicle and extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle, the reinforcement crosspiece (3) being arranged in an opening (4) defined between a rear shelf (5) and a rear floor (6) of said body (1). 2. Box (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the reinforcing crosspiece (3) comprises a body (7) having a cross section having a substantially curved shape. 3. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a body (7) of this reinforcement crosspiece (3) comprises two ends (8a, 8b) provided with first and second fixing zones ( 9a, 9b) and a central part (8c) comprising a third fixing zone (9c) defined on all or part of a peripheral edge (10) of this central part (8c). 4. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - first and second fixing zones (9a, 9b) are mechanically connected to lateral shelves (14b, 14c) included in the rear shelf (5), and / or - A third fixing zone (9c) is mechanically connected to a rear floor (6) of the body (1) in particular by means of a connecting element (18) of the reinforcement crosspiece (3). 5. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - a body (7) of the reinforcing crosspiece (3) comprises at least one stiffening zone (12), in particular a rib, and / or - a stiffening zone (12) extends in a body (7) of the reinforcement crosspiece (3) between first and second fixing zones (9a, 9b) of a body (7). 6. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fixing elements (13) defined for mechanically connecting first and second fixing zones (9a, 9b) of a body ( 7) from the reinforcing crossmember (3) to lateral shelves (14b, 14c) and a third fixing zone (9c) to a connecting element (18) in particular capable of being connected to a floor crossmember (11) included in the rear floor (6). 7. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front roof crossmember (2a) or an intermediate roof crossmember (2b) are connected to roof stretchers (17). 8. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate roof cross member (2b) located at the right of the middle feet (16) of the box (1) between the roof cross member front (2a) and the reinforcement crosspiece (3). 9. Box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roof panel is a solid panel, a panel in whole or in part glass or a panel provided with at least one opening. 10.Vehicle-type motor vehicle comprising a body 5 (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. 3/3