FR3061247A1 - FIXING DEVICE FOR A FLOOR ELEMENT OF A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastener (2; 102) for a piece of structural equipment (22; 122) of a motor vehicle comprising: - a first part (6; 106) positioned on one side of the part, and a second part (4; 104) positioned on another face of the part and capable of being fixed to the first part by gripping the part, at least one of the two parts comprising at least one concave cavity (18; the shape is able to collaborate with at least equivalent convex shape (26; 126, 129) of the structural part and comprising a central shaft (12, 112) adapted to pass through an orifice (24; 124) of the part.

Description

Agent (s): LLR.

(54) MEMBER FOR FIXING AN ELEMENT TO THE FLOOR OF A VEHICLE.

FR 3,061,247 - A1 (57) The invention relates to a member (2; 102) for attaching equipment to a structural part (22; 122) of a motor vehicle comprising:

- a first part (6; 106) positioned on one face of the part, and

- A second part (4; 104) positioned on another face of the part and capable of being fixed to the first part by enclosing the part, at least one of the two parts comprising at least one concave imprint (18; 118), the shape is able to collaborate with at least equivalent convex shape (26; 126, 129) of the structural part and comprising a central shaft (12, 112) able to pass through an orifice (24; 124) of the part.

The invention relates to structural parts of a motor vehicle made of composite materials, for example a thermosetting plastic material reinforced with glass fibers, on which another element of the vehicle is fixed. These may be, for example, motor vehicle floors.

A motor vehicle floor is regularly subjected to mechanical stresses, in particular at the points of attachment of cabin elements connected to the floor. For example, a seat will exert mechanical stresses at its points of attachment to the floor. Exceptional efforts may also apply in the case of emergency braking, or even vehicle shocks. These forces can be compression forces for the fasteners located at the front of the seat, due to the tilting of the seat towards the front. These efforts can also be traction efforts for the fasteners located at the rear of the seat, and more particularly at the level of the fasteners taking up the efforts from the hooks of the seat belt. In the case of a frontal impact, these tensile forces have components in several directions with in particular a vertical component most critical in terms of dimensioning, which can reach between 1000 and 2000 daN. The vehicle floor must then be able to support such efforts.

It is therefore essential to provide, at the level of the fixing, means for preventing the appearance of rupture of the floor.

A known solution consists in making a reinforced floor composed of two separate panels of composite material, for example SMC (for “Sheet Molding Compound”) with a high rate of fiberglass 3 mm thick each and placed parallel to each other. one of the other. This floor also includes, for fixing other elements, fixing members passing through the floor and therefore connected to its two panels in order to be able to exploit all its robustness. These bodies are then composed of several elements fixed to each other and located on either side of each of the two panels constituting the floor.

However, this solution has several drawbacks.

This type of floor is heavy and bulky because it consists of two distant panels. Its assembly is particularly complex. Indeed, it is first necessary to place a first part of the fixing member on the first panel, then assemble the two panels together, then put in place a second part of the fixing member on the second panel and finally assemble the upper and lower parts of the fixing member without visual inspection.

In addition, the reliability of the assembly process is not optimal because several stages of connection of the different parts of the fixing are done blind between the two panels, therefore without easy possibility of control.

Finally, the fixing member which must connect two remote panels comprises a large number of components (at least 5), which makes it a solution presenting a high cost of production.

The purpose of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above by proposing a fixing member which makes it possible on the one hand to withstand significant mechanical stresses and on the other hand easily mountable and having a lower cost price.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a member for attaching equipment to a structural part of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises:

- a first part positioned on one face of the part, and

a second part positioned on another face of the part and capable of being fixed to the first part by enclosing the part, at least one of the two parts comprising at least one concave imprint whose shape is able to collaborate with at least equivalent form convex of the structural part and comprising a central barrel capable of passing through an orifice of the part.

Thus, it is possible to make the imprints of the fixing member collaborate with convex shapes, for example ribs, present on the part in order to diffuse the concentrations of forces occurring at the level of the barrel towards the periphery of the zone. requested.

During the exercise of a constraint at the level of the fixing members, the latter, thanks to their convex shapes / concave imprints collaborating with convex shapes / complementary concave imprints present on the room (for example a floor), will transmit piece efforts in an area where the latter is reinforced. The part will moreover, by the shape and the direction of the convex shapes / concave imprints of the component, be able to distribute the force as uniformly as possible by stressing areas usually not stressed which allows to obtain a better resistance to effort.

This makes it possible to obtain a resistance comparable or even superior to the prior art when subjected to a tensile force. These advantages make it possible to consider using a floor composed of a single skin, therefore in particular cheaper to produce.

In addition, the barrel present in the part collaborates with the part in order to limit the appearance of rupture at the center of the fixing.

Finally, there is obtained a fixing member which is simple to assemble and of which it can be ensured that the fixing is correct because the lower part of the member comprises a barrel passing through the part, a member comprising only two elements.

The fixing member according to the invention can optionally include one or more of the following characteristics:

at least one of the two parts further comprises at least one convex shape capable of collaborating with at least one concave imprint present on the part;

- the second part is composed of two sub-parts, a first composed of the central barrel and a second composed of the main body of the second part comprising the imprint;

- at least one imprint present on the second part comprises at least one portion extending in a direction forming an angle less than 45 ° with a main axis of the second part, and;

the member comprising a number of concave imprints and / or convex shapes between 2 and 6, preferably equal to 4.

According to the invention, there is also provided a set of at least one fixing member according to the invention and of a motor vehicle part.

The assembly according to the invention can optionally include one or more of the following characteristics:

- The part comprises a single layer of material, preferably of composite material;

- The central barrel crosses the room at an orifice in the room, the room comprising near the orifice at least one convex shape complementary to at least one concave imprint present on one of the parts;

- The part further comprises at least one complementary concave imprint of at least one convex shape present on one of the two parts;

- The part also comprises at least one rib, extending in a direction parallel to a main axis of the element;

- the part includes an extra thickness located around the end of the orifice located on one of its faces, and;

- the part is a motor vehicle floor.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method for producing an assembly according to the invention in which:

- at least one seal is drilled closing the orifice present on the part,

- at least a second part of the fixing member is placed on a support able to also accommodate the part,

- the part is placed on an assembly support, the underside of the part then covering the second part of the fixing member, the central barrel passing through the orifice and the concave imprint being arranged on the convex shape,

- the first part is fixed to the second part at the level of the upper face of the part.

Preferably, the drilling is carried out at the same time as a deburring of the part.

We will now present embodiments of the invention given by way of nonlimiting example and with the support of the appended figures in which, by way of example, the structural part shown is a floor:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixing member according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 are respectively perspective views of the first and second parts of the fixing member of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of a motor vehicle floor adapted to collaborate with the fixing member of Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of a motor vehicle floor equipped with the second part of the fixing member of Figure 1;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the upper face of a motor vehicle floor equipped with the first part of the fixing member of Figure 1;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fixing member according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 8 and 9 are respectively perspective views of the second part and the first part of the fixing member of Figure 7;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of a motor vehicle floor adapted to collaborate with the fixing member of Figure 7;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of a motor vehicle floor equipped with the second part of the fixing member of Figure 7;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of the upper face of a motor vehicle floor equipped with the first part of the fixing member of Figure 7;

- Figure 13 is a schematic representation of an upper face of a motor vehicle floor of an alternative embodiment of the invention, and;

- Figure 14 is a sectional view of a floor equipped with a fixing member according to the invention.

Orientation terms that will be used later, such as "longitudinal axis X", "transverse axis Y", "vertical axis Z", "front", "rear", "above", "upper", "Below", "lower", etc. are understood by reference to the usual orientation of motor vehicles.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 which show a fastening member 2 of an element to a motor vehicle floor. It can be another part of a motor vehicle to which an element must be fixed. This member comprises a first part 4 and a second part 6 respectively capable of collaborating, in the examples illustrated, with the upper and lower faces of the floor. The first part 4 comprises a support surface 8, for example circular in FIG. 2, capable of coming to press against the upper face of the floor. It also includes a housing 10, for example of tubular shape, extending from the support surface 8 substantially perpendicular to the latter. This housing 10 allows the first part 4 of the fixing member 2 to be fixed to the second part 6 of the fixing member

2. The housing 10 can be attached to the second part 6 by any method known to those skilled in the art, for example by fitting with a specific tool or by screwing, crimping, welding or collage. It is preferable to choose fixing means allowing the fixing member 2 to be removed if necessary.

The second part 6 comprises a central barrel 12 capable of crossing the floor at a dedicated orifice. The central barrel 12 can have a height of between 8 mm and 16 mm, preferably between 9 and 13 mm. This height is adapted to the floor on which the fixing member 2 is mounted. The central barrel 12 is the element of the second part 6 fixed to the housing 10 of the first part 4 in order to fix the parts 4 and 6 therebetween. As shown in Figure 14, the housing 10 is fixed on the outer face of the central barrel 12. The central barrel 12 can be threaded at its outer face to allow this connection. The central barrel is open at least at its upper end and tapped on its internal diameter to allow the seat rail to be screwed in. The central barrel 12 can be opened at its lower end which is preferable to avoid creating a retention zone cataphoresis if the structural part is assembled on the body before the passage in the cataphoresis bath. In the case of a vehicle not passing in cataphoresis, it is possible not to open out the lower end of the barrel, which would have the advantage of simplifying the management of the seal between the exterior of the vehicle and the passenger compartment. The housing 10 is in turn open at its two ends.

The second part 6 also includes a base 14 capable of coming to bear on the underside of the floor. This base 14 has a bearing surface of between 400 mm ² and 1200 mm ² , preferably between 450 and 600 mm ² . It also has a thickness of between 1.3 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 1.4 mm and 1.6 mm. It is possible to vary the surface and the thickness of the base 14 in order to increase the resistance to the force of the fixing member 2.

The base 14 comprises a rib 16, for example annular in FIG. 3, capable of collaborating with a complementary concave imprint present on the floor in order to allow anchoring and a good transfer of forces between the fixing member 2 and the floor during the exercise of a constraint on the fixing member by the vehicle equipment attached thereto.

The base 14 also comprises a concave imprint 18, for example circular in FIG. 3, delimited by the annular rib 16, the central shaft 12 extending from the base 14 and substantially perpendicular to the latter at the center of the imprint 18. This imprint 18 is able to collaborate with a complementary rib present on the floor in order to also play a role of resistance to an effort, for example a tensile force exerted at the point of attachment of an element to the floor.

FIG. 4 shows the underside 20 of a floor 22 of a motor vehicle. The floor 22 consists of a single panel, preferably made of composite material, for example SMC. The floor 22 comprises, reinforcements in excess thickness, for example in FIG. 4, two rectilinear ribs 23 parallel to each other, making it possible to increase the resistance to a force in the region. These ribs extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the floor.

The floor can have a thickness of between 3 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 4.5 mm.

The floor 22 includes a through hole 24 allowing the attachment of an element, for example a seat. This through hole 24 is produced in the center of a rib 26, for example of circular shape, dimensioned so as to be able to collaborate with the imprint 18 of the fixing member 2. This rib 26 may include 4 imprints 28 forming a cross around the orifice 24, as illustrated in FIG. 4. These imprints 28 can then collaborate with ribs 30 located on the base 14 at the level of the wall forming the floor of the imprint 18 (shown in FIG. 5), always with a view to resistance to stress.

The floor 22 also includes on its lower face 20 an imprint 32, for example annular, located along the base of the circular rib 26 and able to collaborate with the annular rib 16 of the fixing member 2.

In FIG. 5, the second part 6 of the fixing member 2 is placed on the lower face 20 of the floor 22. The positioning of the lower part 6 is easy due to the respective complementarity between the circular rib 16 and the cavity 32, between cavity 18 and rib 26 (see for example in FIG. 14) and between ribs 30 and cavities 28. In addition, the second part 6 comprises curved ends 36 matching the shape of the base of the ribs 23, as illustrated in FIG. 14. All of these shape complementarities not only allow good positioning of the second part 6, a locking in rotation of the fastening when the seat rail is screwed on the manufacturer's assembly line, but also and above all a greater transmission of the forces of the fixing member 2 to the floor 22 and a better distribution of the forces at the level of the floor.

The central shaft 12 crosses the orifice 24 until it projects slightly from the upper face 38 of the floor 22, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 14. This projection can preferably be equal to the thickness of the first part 4 so that, when screwing an element to the floor, the latter is not compressed by the fixing of the element. The free end of the central barrel 12 can also be flush with this upper face 38. The first part 4 of the fixing member 2, more precisely the housing 10, extends between the outer face of the central barrel 12 and the wall of the through hole 24 in order to fix the fixing member 2 to the floor 20.

The number of fastening members 2 present on a floor 20 is between 2 and 8 members, preferably between 2 and 6 members.

In what follows, we will describe a second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 12. In these figures, elements similar to those of the previous figures are designated by identical reference numerals. Modified or new elements will be numbered in steps of one hundred.

Figures 7 to 9 show a fixing member 102 of an element, for example a seat, to a motor vehicle floor. This member 102 comprises a first part 104 and second part 106 fulfilling roles identical to those of parts 4 and 6 of the fixing member 2.

The fixing member 102 is a "reinforced" version of the fixing member 2, which means that it can withstand a tensile force of the order of 1800 daN while the fixing member 2 can withstand a tensile force of 1,200 to 1,400 daN.

The second part 106 comprises a central barrel 112 capable of crossing the floor at a dedicated orifice. The central barrel 112 is larger than the central barrel 12, it can have a height of between 12 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 18 and 22 mm. The central barrel 112 is also open at at least one of its ends and tapped on its internal diameter, as for the first embodiment of the invention.

The second part 106 also includes a base 114 capable of coming to bear on the underside of the floor. This base 114 is wider and thicker than the base 14 in order to have greater resistance to effort. Its support surface can be between 1300 mm ² and 4000 mm ² , preferably between 1300 and 2000 mm ² . It also has a thickness between 1.6 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably between 1.8 and 2mm. It is possible to vary the surface of the base 114 in order to increase the resistance to the force of the fixing member 102.

It should be noted that there are several intermediate configurations between the second parts 6 and 106 in terms of length of the central shaft, thickness and size of the plate in order to obtain fixing members having a range of resistance to effort. In addition, it is conceivable that the second part of the fixing member is comprised of two parts, on the one hand the central barrel and on the other hand the plate and this in order to be able to vary the length of the central barrel for a same base.

The central shaft 112 extends substantially perpendicularly to the base 114 at the center of an imprint 118 able to collaborate with a rib present on the floor. This imprint may include a central circular portion 140 at the center of which extends the central barrel 112 and straight portions 142 extending from the portion 140, as shown in FIG. 11. The straight portions 142 extend along two directions crossing at the center of the central shaft 112, forming a cross. The straight portions 142 extend in directions forming an angle less than 45 ° with the longitudinal axis A of the second part 104 corresponding to the longitudinal axis X of the floor. The footprint 118 can also be deeper than the footprint 18 and collaborate with one or more thicker ribs than the rib 26 in order to better transmit the forces to the floor.

This means that the portions 142, and consequently the complementary ribs present on the floor, extend in directions closer to the longitudinal axis X of the floor than to the transverse axis Y of the floor, in order to improve the mechanical strength properties of the floor by stressing areas of the floor far from the point of attachment and other than the rupture areas identified previously.

The second part 106 also includes a bearing surface 116 situated along the periphery of the cavity 118. This bearing surface has a role identical to that of the rib 16 but is of mainly rectangular shape due to the shape of the imprint 118. The surface of this rib is greater than that of the rib 16 in order to transmit more force to the floor.

The first part 104 of the fixing member 102 corresponds to a washer comprising an orifice 144 capable of collaborating with the free end of the central barrel 112 in order to fix the fixing member 102 to the floor. By this is meant that the orifice 144 has a diameter and includes means allowing this collaboration, such as for example those mentioned in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates a floor 122, more precisely the lower face 120 of an intermediate step of such a floor.

The floor 120 includes ribs 23 identical to those of the floor 20 and fulfilling a role identical to that of the ribs of the floor 20.

The floor 120 also comprises a through orifice 124 formed in the floor 120 at the center of a rib 126 of the floor 120, circular in FIG. 10, of a shape and a size complementary to the portion 140 of the imprint 118 from which extend four ribs 129 of shape and size complementary to the portions 142 of the cavity 118. As for the portions 142, the ribs 129 extend in directions closer to the longitudinal axis X of the floor that of the transverse axis Y of the floor and this in order to improve the mechanical strength properties of the floor by stressing areas of the floor other than the preferred rupture areas identified previously. The ribs 129 may, like the portions 142, have a length and a width different from those shown in the figures and extend in directions different from that of the figures, while respecting the condition mentioned above, namely directions closer to the longitudinal axis X than to the transverse axis Y.

Figure 12 shows, like Figure 6, the upper face 138 of the floor 122. The free end of the central shaft 112 extends slightly projecting from the upper face 138 so that the first part 104 can be fixed on the central barrel 112.

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment which can be applied to the two embodiments exposed above. For ease of reading, the references of the first embodiment are used. The upper face 38 includes an extra thickness 146 situated around the through hole 24 in order to avoid a concentration of stresses in the SMC at the edges of the first part 4 in the event of support. Alternatively, it is possible that the first part 4 is chamfered in order to avoid such a concentration of forces.

FIG. 14 also illustrates this additional thickness 146, here in addition to a chamfer produced on the first part 4 of the fixing member 2.

In the preferred mode of production and assembly, the floor is first molded so as to include all of the shapes described above, namely a set of ribs, impressions and orifices. Following molding, the orifices are generally still closed by a material seal.

The first step is to remove these covers to prevent them from interfering with or blocking the insertion of the barrel or tubular portion of the organ.

Preferably, this step is carried out at the same time as deburring the floor in order to save time.

Then the second parts are positioned in their final positions on an assembly support also allowing to accommodate the floor. The molded floor is then placed on this support, which is then superimposed on the second parts so as to match the imprint (s) of the second parts with the rib (s) present on the underside of the floor and the rib (s) present on the second parts with the imprint (s) present on the floor. During this stage the barrels of the second parts pass through the holes in the floor.

Finally, the first parts of the fasteners are positioned and fixed, by their tubular housing or by their orifice, on the free end of the barrels of the lower parts of the fasteners.

The central shaft being hollow and open at least on the side of the upper face of the floor, this allows the means used to fix equipment, for example a passenger compartment such as a seat, to be inserted into or passed through to the floor of the vehicle.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is conceivable that the second part is positioned on the upper face of the floor, the concave imprints / convex shapes then being present on the upper face of the floor. Concave footprints / convex shapes can take many forms other than those described above. The central shaft can also be understood by the first part of the fixing member.

It is also possible to use this fixing device with another element than a motor vehicle floor, or even to use this fixing device to fix an energy supply system, for example a fuel tank.

Nomenclature: fastener: first part: second part: bearing surface: housing: central shaft: base: annular rib: circular imprint: underside of the floor: floor: parallel ribs: through hole: circular rib: rectilinear imprints: ribs straight: annular footprint: curved ends: upper surface of the floor

102: fixing device

104: first part

106: second part

112: central shaft

114: plate

116: support surface

118: fingerprint

120: underside of the floor

122: floor

124: through hole

126: extra thickness

129: ribs

132: rectangular footprint

138: upper surface of the floor

140: circular portion of the imprint 118

142: rectilinear portions of imprint 118

144: hole in the upper part 104

146: extra thickness of the upper face 138

Claims (14)

Claims 1. Fastening member (2; 102) of an item of equipment to a structural part (22; 122) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a first part (6; 106) positioned on one face of the part, and - a second part (4; 104) positioned on another face of the part and capable of being fixed to the first part by enclosing the part, at least one of the two parts comprising at least one concave imprint (18; 118), the shape is able to collaborate with at least equivalent convex shape (26; 126, 129) of the structural part and comprising a central shaft (12, 112) able to pass through an orifice (24; 124) of the part. 2. Fixing member (2; 102) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two parts (4, 6; 104, 106) further comprises at least one convex shape (16, 30; 116) able to collaborate with at least one concave imprint (28, 32) present on the part (22; 122). 3. Fastener (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second part is composed of two subparts, a first composed of the central barrel and a second composed of the main body of the second part comprising the imprint. 4. Fixing member (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one imprint (118) present on the second part (106) comprises at least one portion (142) extending in a direction forming a angle less than 45 ° with a main axis (A) of the second part. 5. Fixing member (2; 102) according to any one of the preceding claims, the member comprising a number of concave impressions and / or convex shapes between 2 and 6, preferably equal to 4. 6. Assembly of at least one fixing member (2; 102) according to any one of the preceding claims and of a part (22; 122) of a motor vehicle. 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the piece (22; 122) comprises a single layer of material, preferably of composite material. 8. An assembly according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the central barrel (12; 112) passes through the room (22; 122) at an orifice (24; 124) formed in the room, the room comprising near the orifice at least one convex shape (26; 126, 129) complementary to at least one concave imprint (18, 118) present on one of the parts (104, 106). 9. An assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the part (22; 122) further comprises at least one concave imprint (28, 32) complementary to at least one convex shape (16, 30; 116 ) present on one of the two parts (4, 6; 104, 106). 10. An assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the part (22; 122) further comprises at least one rib (23) extending in a direction parallel to a main axis of the element. 11. An assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 10, in which the part (122) comprises an additional thickness (146) situated around the end of the orifice (124) situated on one of its faces (120, 138 ). 12. Assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 11, in which the part (22, 122) is a motor vehicle floor. 13. Method for producing an assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 12, in which: - at least one seal is drilled closing the orifice (24; 124) present on the part, - at least a second part (6; 106) of the fixing member (2; 102) is placed on a support capable of also accommodating the part, - The part (22; 122) is placed on an assembly support, the lower face (20; 120) of the part then covering the second part of the fixing member, the central barrel (12; 112) passing through the the orifice and the concave cavity (18; 118) being disposed on the convex shape (26; 126, 129), - The first part (4; 104) is fixed to the second part at the level of the upper face (38; 138) of the part. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein drilling is carried out at the same time as deburring the part. 1/5