FR3063696A1 - METHOD OF ATTACHING A CARENAGE UNDER THE BODY OF A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of fixing under the body of a vehicle of a fairing (109), and of at least one staple (107) comprising at least one lane (106) for receiving a cable ( 4) and / or at least one pipe (5) of fluid, intended to secure the latter under said body. The main characteristic of a method according to the invention is that it comprises the following steps, - a step of securing each clip (107) to the fairing (109), a step of fixing the assembly constituted by said fairing ( 109) and each clip (107) to a structural member (1, 3) located under the body of the vehicle.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,063,696 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 17 51954

COURBEVOIE

©) Int Cl ⁸ : B 60 R 16/00 (2017.01), F 16 L 3/08, 3/22, H 02 G 3/30

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

(22) Date of filing: 10.03.17. © Applicant (s): RENAULT S.A.S. - FR. © Priority : @ Date of availability of the request: 14.09.18 Bulletin 18/37. (72) Inventor (s): LEGER GUILLAUME and GUIOT GERARD. (56) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this brochure References to other related national documents: ©) Holder (s): RENAULT S.A.S .. o Extension request (s): @) Agent (s): RENAULT SAS SERVICE PROPRIETE INDUSTRIELLE.

104 / METHOD FOR FIXING A FAIRING UNDER THE BODY OF A VEHICLE.

FR 3 063 696 - A1

The invention relates to a method of fixing under the body of a vehicle a fairing (109), and at least one clip (107) comprising at least one channel (106) for receiving a cable ( 4) and / or at least one pipe (5) of fluid, intended to secure the latter under said body.

The main characteristic of a method according to the invention is that it comprises the following steps,

- A step of securing each clip (107) to the fairing (109), a step of fixing the assembly constituted by said fairing (109) and each clip (107) to a structural element (1,3) located under the vehicle body.

FL XATI ON PROCESS OF A FAIRING UNDER THE VEHICLE CAI SSE

The invention relates to a method of fixing a fairing under the body of a vehicle.

In fact, for most motor vehicles, it is necessary to fix under the body various electric cables and fluid pipes, for example brake fluid pipes or fuel pipes. Generally, these cables and pipes are stowed under said body by means of different staples, which are themselves capped by a fairing having a dual function of protection and aerodynamics.

Application US8177171 discloses a method of fixing several staples and a fairing under the body of a vehicle. The specificity of such a process is that it makes it possible to fix said staples under said fairing.

Currently, the methods of fixing such staples and a fairing are carried out in two stages:

- a first step of securing these staples under the vehicle body by means of a first stud,

- a second step of fixing the fairing under the vehicle body by means of a second stud, said fairing covering said staples, the various electrical cables and fluid pipes.

A major drawback of this type of process is that it is not possible in assembly plants to fix the staples and the fairings at the same station. This results in greater assembly complexity, a significant loss of time during these different attachments, and therefore higher associated costs.

A fixing method according to the invention overcomes the drawbacks noted in the prior art.

The subject of the invention is a method of fixing under the body of a vehicle a fairing, and at least one clip comprising at least one channel for receiving a cable and / or at least one fluid pipe, intended to secure them under said body.

The main characteristic of a process according to the invention is that it comprises the following stages:

- a step of securing each clip to the fairing,

- A step of fixing the assembly constituted by said fairing and each clip to a structural element located under the body of the vehicle.

The principle of such a process is to be able to mount separately each clip on the fairing and then to fix the resulting assembly under the body of the vehicle. Such a feature allows greater flexibility in mounting the vehicle, by not requiring operators to assemble everything on site, increasing the clutter and bulk due to the different tools required and the different storage and storage elements required. to the various parts and equipment to be fitted. In general, several staples are required to tie in parallel under the vehicle body various wiring and fluid pipes. The structural element can advantageously be represented by a flat and substantially horizontal face when the vehicle is positioned on horizontal ground, said face being placed under the vehicle and facing the ground. Advantageously, once the assembly has been fixed to the structural element under the body of the vehicle, each clip is placed between the fairing and said structural element, the fairing constituting the lowest part under the element of structure. In this way, the fairing protects the staples as well as the various cables and pipes of fluid, from all potential projections coming from the ground. The fairing is also streamlined to improve the aerodynamic conditions of the vehicle. The step of securing each clip to the fairing can for example be carried out by screwing or by means of a clip. Preferably, the fairing and each clip are made of plastic. It should be noted that several staples can be secured to the same fairing, and that several fairings each with one or more staples can be fixed to the structural element located under the body of the vehicle. The fairing can advantageously be likened to a panel.

Advantageously, the step of fixing the assembly to the structural element is carried out via each clip by means of a stud.

Preferably, the step of securing the clip to the fairing is carried out by means of at least one quick coupling element, elastically deformable and penetrating into a corresponding orifice of the fairing, up to a locking position. A quick-attach element allows the clip to be secured to the fairing without the use of a tool, and without having to resort to complex and long manipulations requiring thoroughness and precision. Each clip can thus be secured to the fairing with one or more quick coupling elements.

Preferably, each quick coupling element is constituted by a clip. Advantageously, the clip is made of plastic.

Advantageously, each clip is elastically deformable. In this way, a simple manipulation of the clip with the fingers of the hand allows the clip to be easily and quickly attached to the fairing.

Advantageously, each clip is constituted by an insert. In this case, the clip constitutes a part which is added to the clip and the fairing.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, each clip is an integral part of the clip to form therewith a resultant piece in one piece. In this way, each clip and each clip constitute a single piece, said clips then appearing as extensions of said clips.

Preferably, each clip projects under the vehicle body once the assembly consisting of the fairing and the clip has been secured to the structural element located under the body. In this way, an operator can easily intervene under the vehicle body to refine without assembly, the assembly of the assembly constituted by the clip and the fairing.

Advantageously, the fixing step is preceded by a step of placing the assembly constituted by each clip and said fairing on a plate intended to convey and then to pre-position said assembly opposite said structural element. Indeed, the advantage of being able to secure each clip to the fairing in a separate place, is to be able to place the resulting assembly on a plate which will make it possible to pre-position as precisely as possible said assembly before fixing it on the structural element placed under the vehicle body. This reduces the number of operations along the assembly line, resulting in significant time savings.

Advantageously, a fixing method according to the invention allows a step of separating the fairing and from each clip by means of a simple manual deformation of each clip. Thus, an operator can slip under the vehicle, and quickly and easily detach the fairing and each clip by means of a simple manual pressure on the clips.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly composed of at least one clip comprising a path for receiving and holding a corresponding cable or pipe, and a fairing for carrying out a method according to the invention.

The main characteristic of an assembly according to the invention is that each clip is fixed to the fairing by means of at least one quick coupling element, and in particular two quick coupling elements.

A fixing method according to the invention has the advantage of being flexible by making it possible to secure each clip to the fairing in a separate place, which may be outside an assembly line of a vehicle. Thus, the assembly constituted by each clip and said fairing can be routed at any time along said assembly line. It also has the advantage of saving precious time along the assembly line of a vehicle, by enabling two operations to be carried out in parallel and not systematically one after the other. Finally, it has the advantage of allowing an operator to intervene easily and quickly, for example to separate the fairing from each clip, with the aim, for example, of ensuring after-sales intervention.

A detailed description is given below of a preferred embodiment of a fixing method according to the invention, with reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a view from below of a body of a vehicle for carrying out a method of fixing several staples and a fairing according to the state of the art,

FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of a lower part of a body of a vehicle for carrying out a method of fixing several staples and a fairing according to the state of the art,

Figure 3 is a simplified side view of a lower part of a body of a vehicle for carrying out a method of fixing several clips and a fairing according to the invention.

In the following text, the directions and orientations are indicated with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is the longitudinal front-rear direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear of the vehicle, Y is the transverse direction, oriented towards the vehicle right and Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the top.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle body generally comprises a floor 1 having the general shape of a flat and horizontal wall, when the vehicle is placed on a horizontal floor. Schematically, this wall 1 comprises an upper face 2 on which are intended to rest the feet of the occupants of the vehicle, and a lower face 3 which is parallel to said upper face 2 and which is located opposite the ground. The upper face 2 is internal to the vehicle and delimits the passenger compartment of said vehicle, the lower face 3 constituting an external face of said vehicle.

Generally, electric cables 4 and fluid pipes 5 are brought to connect a front zone of the vehicle to a rear zone of the latter, for example to provide braking, fuel supply and / or lighting functions. , these examples being in no way limiting in the context of the invention. In order not to clutter the passenger compartment of the vehicle and to prevent trampling and therefore degradation of these cables 4 and these pipes 5, these are fixed to the underside 3 of the wall 1 constituting the floor of the vehicle. These cables 4 and pipes 5 are then found outside the vehicle facing the ground.

These elements 4, 5 are fixed to the underside 3 of the wall 1 constituting the floor, by means of several staples 7 distributed over a determined length, in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, four staples 7 are provided which are spaced apart and distributed in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. The staples are spaced apart with a length typically between 200 and 300 mm, it being understood that the invention is not limited to this spacing value, which is given by way of example. Each clip 7 has the general shape of a bar comprising one or more channels 6 for receiving a cable 4 or a pipe 5 corresponding to maintain. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, each clip 7 contains five channels 6 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the clip 7. Each channel 6 for receiving a cable 4 or pipe 5 has the general shape of a U in which fits a corresponding section of cable 4 or pipe 5. The insertion is relatively adjusted between the branches of the U. As illustrated in FIG. 2, typically inclined elastic tabs extend transversely between the branches of the U so as to constrain and wedge the cable 4 or pipe 5 at the bottom of the U-shape of the channel 6 concerned. In the example illustrated, the clips 7 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, that is to say substantially along the transverse direction Y as illustrated in FIG. 1.

These clips 7 are substantially parallel to each other, and are aligned in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. In the example illustrated where each clip 7 has five tracks 6, the length of the clip 7 in the direction Y is of the order of 100-120 mm, the width of the clip 7 in the direction X is l 'order of 10 mm and the height of the clip 7 in the direction Z is of the order of 20mm. Each clip 7 is secured to the underside 3 of the wall 1 serving as a floor, by means of a first stud 8. The clips 7 and tracks 6 are made of plastic. A fairing 9, also made of plastic, covers the clips 7 containing the tracks 6 and which have been previously secured to the lower face 3 by means of the first stud 8. The fairing 9 thus comprises several anchoring zones 10 each provided an orifice 11, to allow the passage of a second stud 12. In this way, the fairing 9 is secured to the lower face 3 by means of a plurality of second studs 12.

Thus, a method of fixing the staples 7 provided with tracks 6 and a fairing 9 of the state of the art, comprises the following steps,

a first step of securing these clips 7 comprising tracks 6 for receiving a cable 4 and / or pipe 5 under the body of the vehicle by means of the first stud 8,

a second step of fixing the fairing 9 under the vehicle body by means of several second studs 12, said fairing 9 covering said staples 7.

In other words, each clip 7 is inserted between the lower face 3 of the wall 1 serving as the floor, and the fairing 9, said fairing 9 constituting the lowest part.

This fairing 9 is intended to protect the clips 7, the electric cables 4, the pipes 5 from fluid, and any other sensitive area located under the body of the vehicle, from all potential projections coming from the ground, and to favor the conditions of aerodynamics of the vehicle.

Such a fixing method has the disadvantage of multiplying the fixing operations and steps during the assembly of a vehicle.

Referring to Figure 3, a fixing method according to the invention overcomes this drawback. According to the invention, staples 107 are also provided for holding the cables 4 and pipes 5 between the fairing 109 and the underside of the vehicle floor. The geometric distribution diagram of the clips 107 under the body, that is to say longitudinally along the cables and pipes, is similar to that of FIG. 1 and will not be described in more detail. Indeed, to do this, each clip 107 comprises channels 106 for receiving a cable 4 or a corresponding pipe 5 as already indicated for FIGS. 1 and 2. Apart from what is indicated below, each clip 107 has a general shape similar to what has been indicated above, in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, each clip 107 is provided with two quick coupling elements 115 in the form of two elastically deformable clips. These clips 115 are made of plastic, and are an integral part of the clip 107 integrating the channels 106 for receiving cables 4 and pipes 5. In other words, the two clips 115 and the clip 107 constitute a single and produced part. in the same material. Schematically, each clip 107 has a base 120 extending over the entire length of the clip 107, said base 120 being extended on one side, by parallel walls 121 delimiting compartments. These compartments define the receiving paths 106 of a corresponding cable 4 or pipe 5. The parallel walls 121 form the branches of the U receiving a cable 4 or pipe

5. These walls 121 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base 120. On the other side of said base 120, project the two clips 115, also substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base 120 The clips 115 are elongated and extend parallel to each other. In other words, the walls 121 delimiting the compartments, and the two clips 115 are parallel, but extend from the base 120 in two opposite directions. Each clip 115 comprises, on a face opposite to the other clip 115, a divergent wall forming a ramp 123. The ramp 123 has a zero height on the side of the free end of the clip 115, in an area located substantially at mid-length of the clip 115, and a maximum height in an area adjacent to the base 120. A cutout or notch is provided between the ramp 123 and the base 120, into which a rim of the fairing 109 must be inserted. In a position of rest, the clips 115 are substantially parallel. The fairing 109 comprises orifices of which two opposite edges correspond to the spacing of the two clips 115 of the clip 107. One can provide a single orifice having a rectangular or square shape by clip 107 or an orifice dedicated to each clip 115. The fairing 109 comprises as many orifice or pairs of orifices as there are clip 107 to be stowed on this one.

Each clip 107 can be fixed to the fairing 109 by insertion of the clips 115 into a corresponding orifice, until the base 120 abuts against a support wall of the fairing 109. During the insertion, the ramps 123 are put under stress against the corresponding edges of the orifices, which tends to bring the free ends of the two clips 115 closer to the same clip 107. This tightening of the two clips 115 allows the complete passage of the ramp through the orifice. The edge of the orifice being inserted into the cutout at the base of the ramp 123, releases the latter, so that the ramp 123 is no longer stressed against the edge of the orifice, which allows the clip 115 resiliently return to its rest position. The clip 115 is therefore locked on the fairing 109. The extraction of the fairing 109 relative to the clip 115 assumes that the widest part of the ramp 123 crosses in the opposite direction the edge of the orifice, which is produced by pinching clips 115 so as to bring them one from the other. The fairing 109 can thus be detached from the clip 107 for its disassembly.

Thanks to these structural modifications, a process for fixing a fairing 109 according to the invention comprises the following steps:

a step of joining each clip 107 comprising channels 106 for receiving a cable 4 or pipe 5 corresponding to the fairing 109 by means of a penetration of the two clips 115 into at least one dedicated orifice of the fairing 109. The clips 115 are tightened against each other by the stress effect due to the edges of the orifice against the ramp 123 of each clip 115. After reaching their final positions in the orifices, the edges of the orifice are received in cutouts on the clips 115, which removes the stress effect on the ramps 123 and releases the clips 115. These thus resume their shape and rest position in an elastic manner, while ensuring locking and maintenance of the clips 115 on the fairing 109,

- A step of fixing the assembly constituted by said fairing 109 and each clip 107, to the underside 3 of the wall 1 constituting the floor of the vehicle, this fixing step being carried out with a stud 112 connecting each clip 107 to said wall

3. In other words, this assembly is fixed to the lower face 3 at the level of each clip 107.

Thus, thanks to a fixing method according to the invention, the staples 107 can be secured to the fairing 109 in a separate place, then the resulting assembly is then routed on an assembly line of a vehicle to be fixed directly under the body by means of a stud 112.

It is noted that the fairing 109 is moreover fixed directly to the structure, independently of the clips 107. The method according to the invention ensures simultaneous and automatic mounting on the vehicle body of the assembly comprising the fairing and the clips integrating the pipes and wiring under the body. However, the fairing is also fixed to the vehicle structure at other conventional fixing points, not detailed in the context of the invention.

Indeed, the screens, with regard to their surface, generally require a number of fasteners greater than the number of staples that they cover.

The clips nevertheless advantageously contribute to maintaining the fairing under the vehicle, in addition to the conventional means.

The invention makes it possible to share part of the fairing fixings with the staples, which allows the simultaneous mounting of the assembly as described above.

Such a fixing method will also simplify and facilitate the after-sales operations, in particular by allowing an operator to slip under the vehicle, then manually exert a pinch on the clips 115, in order to free them from each orifice. corresponding to the fairing 109, in order to be able to remove the fairing 109, leaving in place each clip 107 as well as the cables 4 and pipes 5 held in the corresponding tracks 6 under the body of the vehicle.

Claims (11)

REVENDI CATI ONS 1. Method for fixing under a vehicle body a fairing (109), and at least one clip (107) comprising at least one channel (106) for receiving a cable (4) and / or at least one fluid pipe (5), intended to secure the latter under said box, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step of securing each clip (107) to the fairing (109), - A step of fixing the assembly constituted by said fairing (109) and each clip (107) to a structural element (1, 3) located under the body of the vehicle. 2. Method of fixing according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of fixing the assembly (107, 109) to the structural element (1, 3) is carried out via each clip (107) by means a stud (112). 3. A fixing method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the step of securing the clip (107) to the fairing (109), is carried out by means of at least one element (115 ) quick coupler, elastically deformable and penetrating into a corresponding orifice in the fairing (109), up to a locking position. 4. Fastening method according to claim 3, characterized in that each quick coupling element is constituted by a clip (115). 5. Fastening method according to claim 4, characterized in that each clip (115) is elastically deformable. 6. Fastening method according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that each clip (115) is an integral part of the clip (107) to form therewith a resulting piece piece. 7. Fastening method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that each clip (115) protrudes under the vehicle body once the assembly formed by the fairing (109) and the clip (107 ) has been secured to the structural element (1, 3) located under the body. 8. Fixing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fixing step is preceded by a step of 5 placement of the assembly constituted by each clip (107) and said fairing (109) on a plate intended to route then to preposition said assembly opposite said structural element (1, 3). 9. Fastening method according to claim 7, characterized in that it allows a step of separating the fairing (109) and each 10 clip (107) by means of a simple manual deformation of each clip (115). 10. Assembly composed of at least one clip (107) comprising at least one channel (106) for receiving and holding a corresponding cable (4) or pipe (5), and a fairing (109) for the realization of a process 15 according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each clip (107) is fixed to the fairing (109) by means of at least one fastening element (115) quick, and in particular two elements quick coupler (115). 1/2