FR3121891A1 - REAR BEAM WITH SIDE INTERFACE PIECES, FOR A LAND VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A rear beam (PR) is installed in a rear part of a land vehicle parallel to a transverse direction, being concealed by a bumper. This rear beam (PR) comprises a rear face (FR) oriented towards the bumper and to which are secured fixedly and respectively, close to two ends (E1-E2) left and right, interface parts (PI1- PI2) each comprising at least one face (F1) inclined at a predefined angle with respect to the transverse direction, in order, when it undergoes an impact with a transverse component, to reduce the probability of contact between the bumper and the end concerned and to absorb at least part of the energy of this shock by deformation. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 1

Description

REAR BEAM WITH SIDE INTERFACE PIECES, FOR A LAND VEHICLE

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to land vehicles, and more specifically to the rear beams which are intended to equip the rear parts of land vehicles.

State of the art

Certain land vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a rear part comprising a rear beam installed transversely and concealed by a rear bumper or a rear shield. This rear beam is designed in such a way as to withstand (or absorb) in a regulatory manner at least partially longitudinal shocks suffered from the rear by its (land) vehicle.

When the shock is suffered by a part of the rear beam close to one of its two opposite ends and when this shock takes place at low relative speed and in a direction having longitudinal and transverse components, it happens relatively frequently that the bumper is locally damaged at the end concerned when it comes into contact with it. This results from the fact that the edge of each end is a sharp edge and that the rear beam is bent very little, if at all, at least in the vicinity of its ends.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a rear beam intended to be installed in a rear part of a land vehicle parallel to a transverse direction of the latter and being concealed by a bumper.

This rear beam is characterized in that it comprises a rear face intended to be oriented towards the bumper and to which are secured fixedly and respectively, close to two left and right ends, interface parts (lateral) each comprising at least one face inclined at a predefined angle with respect to the transverse direction, in order, when it undergoes an impact with a transverse component, to reduce a probability of contact between the bumper and the end concerned and to absorb by deformation at least part of the energy of this impact.

The presence of these interface parts with inclined face(s) close to the two ends of the rear beam makes it possible, in the event of an impact in the vicinity of one end, to press the bumper against an inclined face of the interface part concerned and thus to reduce the probability of contact between the bumper and the sharp edge of this end, and to absorb by deformation at least part of the impact energy.

The rear beam according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- each interface part can comprise, in a central sub-part of a lower part, a first face which is inclined by a first predefined angle with respect to the transverse direction, being increasingly close to the face rear (of the rear beam) approaching the corresponding end;

- in the presence of the first option, the first face may have the general shape of an isosceles triangle;

- each interface part may comprise, in a lower sub-part of a lower part, extending downwards a central sub-part of the latter, a second face which is inclined at a first predefined angle with respect to the transverse and disoriented direction of a second predefined angle with respect to this central sub-part, being increasingly close to the rear face as it approaches the corresponding end;

- in the presence of the last option, the second face may have the general shape of an isosceles triangle;

- also in the presence of the last option, the second predefined angle can be between 20° and 40°;

- the first predefined angle can be between 5° and 15°;

- each of the two ends can be bevelled by making a third predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction;

- in the presence of the last option, the third predefined angle can be between 20° and 40°;

- as a variant, each interface part can comprise, in an external lateral extension of each face, an additional part extending beyond the corresponding end, masking it and being inclined at a fourth predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction;

- in the presence of the last option, the fourth predefined angle can be between 20° and 40°.

The invention also proposes a land vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising a rear part comprising a rear beam of the type of that presented above and concealed by a rear bumper.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings (obtained in CAD/DAO ("Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Drawing")), on which :

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, an example of a rear protection device comprising an example embodiment of a rear beam according to the invention, before equipping a rear part of a vehicle, and

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, a right part of an exemplary rear protection device comprising a variant of the rear beam of the .

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a rear beam PR intended to be installed in a rear part of a land vehicle and making it possible to reduce the risk of damage to the rear bumper in the event of an impact suffered in the vicinity of the one of its two ends Ej left and right.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the rear beam PR is intended to be part of a vehicle of the automotive type, such as a car for example. But the invention is not limited to this type of land vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising a rear part comprising a rear beam intended to absorb (or absorb) at least partially longitudinal shocks suffered by the rear.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V, which is parallel to the lateral sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

We have schematically illustrated on the an exemplary embodiment of a rear protection device DP comprising an exemplary embodiment of a rear beam PR according to the invention, before it is fitted to a rear part of a land vehicle.

As illustrated, the rear protection device DP comprises, in addition to its rear beam PR, left and right feet PPj (j=1 or 2) each provided with a base EP intended to be fixedly secured by screwing to a structure of the vehicle, in a rear part. When j is equal to 1, its element is located on the left longitudinal (or lateral) side of the vehicle, and when j is equal to 2, its element is located on the right longitudinal (or lateral) side of the vehicle.

These feet PPj are intended to be installed substantially along the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. Furthermore, these feet PPj can be an integral part of the rear beam PR, or else can be parts which are attached respectively to the front face of the rear beam PR, in the vicinity of its two opposite ends Ej (left and right), for example by welding or screwing. The base EP of each foot PPj is set back from the rear beam PR, that is to say offset towards the front of the vehicle (in the longitudinal direction X).

The rear beam PR, according to the invention, is intended to be installed parallel to the transverse direction Y in the rear part of the vehicle. A rear bumper (or a rear shield) is intended to be placed in front of this rear beam PR, in particular to hide it, and therefore the rear beam PR comprises a rear face FR which is oriented towards this bumper.

In what follows and what precedes, the notions of "front" and "rear" refer to the front end of the vehicle. Moreover, in what follows and what precedes, a wall (or part) is said to be "upper" when it is located at the top of an element, and a wall (or part) is said to be "lower" when it is located the lowest and therefore opposite the upper wall (or part) of this same element.

On the rear face FR are fixedly secured and respectively, close to the two ends Ej (left and right), side interface parts PIj. Each interface part PIj (lateral) comprises at least one face Fk which is inclined by a predefined angle am with respect to the transverse direction Y, so that, when it undergoes a shock with a transverse component (for example during a maneuver (possibly parking)), to reduce the probability of contact between the bumper and the end Ej concerned and to absorb by deformation at least part of the energy of this impact.

Thanks to the presence of these interface parts PIj with inclined face(s) Fk near the two ends Ej, when a shock with a transverse component is suffered in the vicinity of one end Ej the bumper is plated against a face Fk of the corresponding interface part PIj which, due to its inclination, makes it possible to reduce the probability of contact between the bumper and the sharp edge of this end Ej, and therefore to limit the risk of local damage to the bumper, including when the rear beam PR is slightly or not at all bent. In addition, the inclination of the contacted face Fk makes it possible to absorb at least part of the impact energy by deformation.

For example, the interface parts PIj can be fixedly attached to the rear beam PR by welding. But it could also be done by screwing.

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, each interface part PIj can comprise a lower part PAI comprising a central sub-part SPC extended downwards (along Z) by a lower sub-part SPI . In this case, the central sub-part SPC may comprise a first face F1 (k = 1) which is inclined by a first predefined angle a1 (m = 1) with respect to the transverse direction Y (see ), being closer and closer to the rear face FR approaching the corresponding end Ej.

In other words, in the case of the right PI2 interface part (shown in the ), the left end of its first face F1 is farther from the rear face FR of the rear beam PR than its right end (closest to the right end E2 (j=2) of the rear beam PR). In the case of the left PI1 interface part (shown in the ), the right end of its first face F1 is farther from the rear face FR of the rear beam PR than its left end (closest to the left end E1 (j=1) of the rear beam PR). This orientation of the inclination makes it possible to optimize the reduction of the probability of contact between the bumper and the sharp edge of the end Ej concerned.

Preferably, each first face F1 is contained in a vertical plane disoriented by the first angle a1 with respect to the plane YZ (transverse and vertical).

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, each first face F1 can have the general shape of an isosceles triangle. Such a shape makes it possible to increase the resistance of each first face F1 and therefore to increase the capacity to absorb impact energy by deformation.

Also for example, the first predefined angle a1 can be between 5° and 15°. Thus, it can, by way of example, be chosen equal to 10°.

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, each interface part PIj can comprise, in the lower sub-part SPI of its lower part PAI, a second face F2 (k=2) which is not only inclined by the first predefined angle a1 with respect to the transverse direction Y, but also disoriented by a second predefined angle a2 (m=2) with respect to the central sub-part SPC. In addition, this second face F2 is increasingly close to the rear face FR approaching the corresponding end EPj.

In other words, in the case of the right PI2 interface part (shown in the ), the left end of its second face F2 is farther from the rear face FR of the rear beam PR than its right end (closest to the right end E2 (j=2) of the rear beam PR). In the case of the left PI1 interface part (shown in the ), the right end of its second face F2 is farther from the rear face FR of the rear beam PR than its left end (closest to the left end E1 (j=1) of the rear beam PR). The first orientation of the inclination (a1) makes it possible, as for the first face F1, to optimize the reduction of the probability of contact between the bumper and the sharp edge of the end Ej concerned, and the disorientation ( a2) makes it possible to take into account shocks having a larger transverse component and/or a vertical component.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, each second face F2 can have the general shape of an isosceles triangle. Such a shape makes it possible to increase the resistance of each second face F2 and therefore to increase the capacity to absorb impact energy by deformation.

Also for example, the second predefined angle a2 can be between 20° and 40°. Thus, it can, by way of example, be chosen equal to 30°.

It is important to note that in the examples illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, each interface part PIj comprises first F1 and second F2 faces. But in non-illustrated embodiment variants, each interface part PIj could only include a first face F1 or even a second face F2.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in the , that each of the ends Ej of the rear beam PR can be bevelled by making a third predefined angle a3 (m=3) with respect to the longitudinal direction X (perpendicular to the transverse direction Y). This option makes it possible to further reduce the risk of local damage to the bumper because it "softens" the angle of the edge of the end Ej and therefore allows the bumper to rest on the latter (Ej ) by deforming slightly, reversibly, which is not the case when the external face of the end Ej is contained in an XZ plane (longitudinal and vertical), as in the variant of the .

For example, the third predefined angle a3 can be between 20° and 40°. Thus, it can, by way of example, be chosen equal to 30°.

In a variant embodiment adapted to the case where the external face of each end Ej is contained in an XZ plane (longitudinal and vertical), each interface part PIj can comprise in an external lateral extension of each face Fk an additional part which is extends beyond the corresponding end Ej by masking it and being inclined by a fourth predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction X. In other words, in the case of the right PI2 interface part ( illustrated on the ), the straight ends of its first F1 and second F2 faces are extended laterally towards the right by an additional part which is inclined by the fourth predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction X after the sharp edge of the straight end E2. In the case of the left PI1 interface part, the left ends of its first F1 and second F2 faces are extended laterally to the left by an additional part which is inclined by the fourth predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction X after the edge lively from the left end E1.

This fourth predefined angle can, for example, be identical to the third predefined angle a3. It can therefore, for example, be between 20° and 40°. Thus, it can, by way of example, be chosen equal to 30°.

It will be noted that in the examples illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, each interface part PIj comprises an upper part NOT extended downwards (along Z) by its lower part PAI and not comprising any of the faces Fk described above . But in a variant embodiment not shown, each upper part PAS could also comprise at least one inclined face similar to a face Fk and providing the same function but at a higher level than the lower part PAI.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, that, when the rear beam PR comprises behind one of its interface parts PIj a hole TV allowing the screwing of a towing ring, this part d PIj interface comprises a through hole (or an opening) TT allowing the passage of the threaded rod of this towing eye for its screwing into this screw hole TV.

It will also be noted that each interface part PIj can, for example, be obtained by foundry of a metallic material and/or forging and/or stamping and/or cutting.

Claims (10)

Rear beam (PR) suitable for being installed in a rear part of a land vehicle parallel to a transverse direction of the latter and being concealed by a bumper, characterized in that it comprises a rear face (FR) intended to be oriented towards said bumper and to which are secured fixedly and respectively, close to two left and right ends (Ej), interface parts (PIj) each comprising at least one face (Fk) inclined by a predefined angle (am) with respect to said transverse direction, in order, when it undergoes an impact with a transverse component, to reduce the probability of contact between the bumper and the end (Ej) concerned and to absorb by deformation a at least part of the energy of said impact. Rear beam according to Claim 1, characterized in that each interface part (PIj) comprises, in a central sub-part (SPC) of a lower part (PAI), a first face (F1) inclined from a first predefined angle (a1) with respect to said transverse direction, being increasingly close to said rear face (FR) approaching the corresponding end (Ej). Rear beam according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said first face (F1) has the general shape of an isosceles triangle. Rear beam according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each interface part (PIj) comprises, in a lower sub-part (SPI) of a lower part (PAI), extending downwards a - central part (SPC) of the latter (PI), a second face (F2) inclined by a first predefined angle (a1) with respect to said transverse direction and disoriented by a second predefined angle (a2) with respect to said central sub-part (SPC), being increasingly close to said rear face (FR) approaching the corresponding end (EPj). Rear beam according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said second face (F2) has the general shape of an isosceles triangle. Rear beam according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the said second predefined angle (a2) is between 20° and 40°. Rear beam according to Claim 2 or 3 taken in combination with one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the said first predefined angle (a1) is between 5° and 15°. Rear beam according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each of the said ends (Ej) is bevelled by making a third predefined angle (a3) with respect to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the said transverse direction. Rear beam according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each interface part (PIj) comprises, in an external lateral extension of each face (Fk), an additional part extending beyond the end ( Ej) corresponding by masking it and being inclined at a fourth predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to said transverse direction. Land vehicle comprising a rear part, characterized in that said rear part comprises a rear beam (PR) according to one of the preceding claims, concealed by a rear bumper.