WO2021156555A1

WO2021156555A1 - Rear region arrangement of a vehicle body structure provided with lateral reinforcement elements

Info

Publication number: WO2021156555A1
Application number: PCT/FR2021/050129
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Lefevre
Original assignee: Psa Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2020-02-05
Filing date: 2021-01-25
Publication date: 2021-08-12
Also published as: FR3106805B1; FR3106805A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear region arrangement of a body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising an underbody sub-assembly (10) comprising a load floor and two rear wheel housings (11) extending on either side of the load floor, as well as two contoured lateral sub-assemblies (30) each comprising a rear flap gutter lining (32) and a quarter light lining (34); the underbody sub-assembly (10) and the contoured lateral sub-assembly (30) comprising, respectively, two lower (20) and upper (40) lateral reinforcements extending in pairs substantially vertically one above the other and being attached by bolting to each other at their corresponding ends.

Description

Title of the invention: Rear area arrangement of vehicle body structure equipped with lateral reinforcement elements

[1]! [Technical area]

[2] The present invention claims the priority of the French application 2001139 filed on February 05, 2020, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated here by reference.

[3] The invention relates to the rear area of the body structure of a tailgate-type rear flap vehicle.

[4] [Prior art]

[5] Such a rear body structure zone is conventionally constituted by a plurality of sub-assemblies produced beforehand and assembled to each other on the vehicle's fitting line, namely:

- a base sub-assembly comprising a load floor and two wheel arches extending on either side of this load floor;

- two silhouette side sub-assembly each comprising a gutter and its lining, a side panel flank (or passenger compartment side), a quarter panel liner and a rear wing liner extending transversely between this quarter panel liner and the side panel flank;

- a rear panel sub-assembly; and

- a flag sub-assembly.

[6] These sub-assemblies each consist of a plurality of sheet metal parts welded to each other.

[7] This rear zone of the body structure is characterized by an infinity of intrinsic eigen modes and each characterized by a modal deformation and an eigenfrequency expressed in Hertz. One of these eigen modes, commonly called “body torsion mode”, directly participates in the dynamic behavior of the vehicle and in particular in vibratory comfort. [8] In order to optimize this behavior, the frequency of this eigenmode should be increased as much as possible by adding stiffness to this rear zone of the body structure while limiting the weight contribution.

[9] To do this, it is known in particular to report, on each lateral rear part of the body structure, a metal reinforcement extending substantially vertically against each quarter panel lining between the gutter lining (or an element attached to this last) and the corresponding wheel arch so as to constitute a channel for transmitting forces between this gutter lining and the vehicle base.

[10] The kinematics of assembly of each lateral silhouette sub-assembly on the base sub-assembly being effected by sliding from one to the other in a transverse direction, it is understood that these reinforcements unfortunately cannot not be pre-assembled prior to this assembly on one or other of these sub-assemblies and that they must therefore be fully assembled on each lateral rear part of the body structure a posteriori on the fitting line.

[11] Furthermore, the lack of available space and the angular shape of the implantation areas of these reinforcements makes them inaccessible to welding heads, which prevents the fixing of these reinforcements by electrical welding points (FSE). ).

[12] This fixing of the reinforcements must therefore be carried out entirely by screwing, which significantly increases the assembly time of the vehicle and also requires prior arrangement of a large number of fixing holes in the various sheets concerned, which may pose problems. sealing problems.

[13] [Disclosure of the invention]

[14] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[15] For this purpose, it proposes a rear area arrangement of a motor vehicle body structure with a tailgate-type rear flap, comprising a plurality of sub-assemblies made up of sheet metal parts and assembled to each other to form said area. rear, including in particular a sub-assembly comprising a load floor and two rear wheel arches extending on either side of said load floor, as well as two silhouette side sub-assembly each comprising a rear flap gutter liner and a quarter panel liner; characterized in that said underbody sub-assembly also comprises two lower lateral reinforcements extending substantially vertically and each being welded against a corresponding rear wheel arch, and in that each of said lateral outline sub-assemblies also comprises a lateral reinforcement upper extending substantially vertically in line with a respective lower lateral reinforcement up to a corresponding gutter liner and being welded against a corresponding quarter panel liner, the upper end of each lower lateral reinforcement being fixed rigidly by bolting to the lower end of a corresponding upper lateral reinforcement.

[16] The addition of these lower and upper lateral reinforcements pre-assembled respectively on the base sub-assembly and on the lateral sub-assemblies of the silhouette, then rigidly fixed two-by-two on the shoeing line after the assembling these lateral subassemblies of silhouette to the base subassembly makes it possible to effectively stiffen the rear zone of the motor vehicle body structure, in particular in torsion, while limiting the screwing operations on the fitting line. [17] The invention thus makes it possible to significantly reduce the time spent by each vehicle on this fitting line so as to optimize production costs.

[18] According to preferred features of said arrangement according to the invention:

- Said fixing by bolting is carried out along a transverse axis;

- each of said lateral silhouette sub-assemblies also comprises a rear seat belt retractor support comprising a shelf welded against a corresponding quarter panel lining, said shelf being bordered at the rear by a rear flanged edge welded to the upper portion a said corresponding upper lateral reinforcement and the upper end of which is welded to a corresponding gutter liner; - each lower and upper lateral reinforcement comprises a main partition extending along a substantially transverse vertical plane while being bordered on the internal side by an internal flanged edge projecting back squarely towards the front, the upper end of the internal flanged edge of each lower side brace being rigidly fixed by bolting to the lower end of the internal flanged edge of a corresponding upper lateral reinforcement by means of a screw, introduced beforehand through two superimposed orifices formed respectively in one and the other of these ends, then bolted to a so-called nut welded around the perimeter of one of these holes;

- each lower lateral reinforcement also comprises three external lugs projecting in return of square from the external edge of its main partition, namely a lower lug projecting towards the rear and being welded to the corresponding wheel arch, a central lug projecting towards the 'front and being welded also to the corresponding wheel arch and an upper lug projecting towards the rear;

- each upper lateral reinforcement also includes an external flanged edge projecting right back towards the rear and the upper end of which is welded to the corresponding quarter panel lining, the upper end of the upper external tab of each lower lateral reinforcement being rigidly fixed by bolting on the lower end of the external flanged edge of a corresponding upper lateral reinforcement by means of a screw, introduced beforehand through two superimposed orifices formed respectively in one and the other of these ends, then bolted to a nut welded around the perimeter of one of these holes;

- the upper outer tab of each lower lateral reinforcement and the external flanged edge of each upper lateral reinforcement are shaped so as to define between them, a said rear wheel arch and a said corresponding quarter panel lining, a passage window for electrical harnesses and / or pipes;

- the main partitions of two assembled lower and upper reinforcements are spaced apart longitudinally from one another so as to define a hollow body between them;

- a vertical offset is provided between the ribs of the top of each rear wheel arch and those of the lower end of each corresponding upper reinforcement so as to avoid any risk of interaction between these elements during the assembly of the sub-assemblies silhouette sides on the base sub-assembly; and or

- Said vertical offset is between 5 and 15 mm. [19] [Brief description of the drawings]

[20] The description of the invention will now be continued with the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[21] [Fig 1] shows an interior perspective view of the rear right side part of the body structure of a motor vehicle on which a support is installed;

[22] [Fig 2] is an interior perspective view of the rear right side portion of the body structure of Figure 1, but taken from another angle;

[23] [Fig 3] shows a perspective sectional view along a vertical transverse plane of the rear right side portion of the body structure of Figure 1; and

[24] [Fig 4] shows a perspective sectional view along a horizontal plane of the rear right side portion of the body structure of Figure 1.

[25] [Detailed description]

[26] Figure 1 shows the lower right part of a rear area of the body structure 1 according to the invention of a motor vehicle with a tailgate type rear flap.

[27] In the description which follows and by convention, the terms "lower",

“Upper”, “front”, “rear”, “longitudinal” and “transverse” will be understood in relation to the orientation of the vehicle considered in a standard XYZ frame of reference generally used to locate a vehicle in space.

[28] The terms “external” and “internal” will be used to define the relative position of an element by reference to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle. The element closest to this plane will thus be qualified as internal as opposed to the other element more distant from this same plane which will in turn be qualified as external.

[29] Furthermore, the term "substantially" will be used to indicate that a slight deviation is allowed from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining included within the scope of the invention. For example,

"Substantially perpendicular" will indicate that a deviation of the order of 15 ° per in relation to a strictly perpendicular orientation is allowed within the framework of the invention.

[30] The rear area of the body structure 1 is conventionally constituted by several sub-assemblies produced beforehand and then assembled to each other on the vehicle's fitting line, namely, a sub-assembly 10, two Silhouette side sub-assemblies of which only one (the one on the right) is visible in the figures, a rear panel sub-assembly and a roof sub-assembly (the latter not visible in the figures not being concerned by invention).

[31] These sub-assemblies each consist of a plurality of sheet metal parts welded to each other.

[32] The base sub-assembly 10 comprises a load floor (not visible in the figures), two side floor extensions or side member side closures extending on either side of the rear part of the load floor (also not visible in the figures), as well as two rear wheel arches 11 extending on either side of the front part of the load floor in front of the side floor extensions (only the right rear wheel arch being visible in the figures while the one on the left is symmetrically similar).

[33] The rear wheel arches 11 here consist of a main wheel arch body 12 and a wheel arch reinforcement 13 fitted against the internal face (ie that turned towards the interior of the passenger compartment) of this main part 12.

[34] This sub-assembly 10 also comprises two rear seat backrest support reinforcements 14 and two lower side reinforcements 20 (only those on the right being visible in Figures 1 to 3 while those on the left are symmetrically similar to them. ) fitted firmly against the corresponding rear wheel arches 11.

[35] These two rear seat backrest support reinforcements 14 and these two lower lateral reinforcements 20 are each produced by cutting, bending and cold stamping from a metal sheet having a thickness advantageously less than or equal to 1, 3 mm (preferably between 1, 2 and 1, 3 mm) so as to allow the realization of the triple thickness welds using a conventional welding head.

[36] Extending in a substantially vertical direction projecting above the top of the rear wheel arch 11 over a few tens of millimeters (for example between 20 and 30 mm), each lower lateral reinforcement 20 comprises a main partition 21 s' extending along a substantially transverse vertical plane while being bordered on the internal side by an internal flanged edge 22 projecting back at right angles to the front and the lower end of which is welded by two electrical welding points to the wheel arch reinforcement 13 .

[37] Each lower lateral reinforcement 20 also comprises three tabs 23, 24, 25 projecting in return from the square from the outer edge of this partition 21, namely:

- a lower lug 23 (visible in Figures 1 and 3) projecting rearward and being welded to the wheel arch reinforcement 13 as well as to the main wheel arch body 12 by two electrical welds (FSE) to triple thickness of sheet metal;

- a central lug 24 (visible in Figure 2) projecting forward and being welded only to the wheel arch reinforcement 13 by three electrical welds (FSE); and

- an upper tab 25 (visible in Figures 1 and 3) projecting rearward.

[38] The silhouette side sub-assemblies 30 each include a rear flap gutter (not visible in the figures) and its lining 32, a side panel flank or passenger compartment side (not also visible in the figures), a quarter panel lining 34 and a rear wing lining 35 (visible in FIG. 3) extending transversely between this quarter panel lining and the side panel flank.

[39] Each of the silhouette side sub-assemblies 30 also includes a rear seat belt retractor support 36, a rear side seat back support 37 carrying a seat belt return 38 and a strike wire 39, as well as an upper lateral reinforcement 40 fixedly attached against the quarter panel lining 34.

[40] The reel support 36 comprises a substantially horizontal shelf 36A bordered laterally on the external side by an external flanged edge (not visible in the figures) fixed by electrical welding points on the quarter panel lining 34. This shelf 36A is also bordered laterally on the internal side by an internal flanged edge 36B having a plurality of holes intended to ensure the attachment of a support ( not shown) of the trunk side trim.

[41] The shelf 36A is further bordered at the front by a front flanged edge (not visible in the figures) fixed by electrical welds against the rear face of the rear side seat backrest support 37.

[42] This shelf 36A is finally bordered at the rear by a rear flanged edge 36C extending upwards and the curved upper end of which 36D is fixed by electrical welding points to the rear flap gutter liner 32 .

[43] Extending in a substantially vertical direction, each upper lateral reinforcement 40 comprises a main partition 41 extending in a substantially transverse vertical plane and the upper portion 41 A of which is welded by three electrical welding points to the rear face of the rear flanged edge 36C of the rewinder support 36.

[44] This main partition 41 is bordered on the internal side and over a portion of its height by an internal flanged edge 42 projecting back at right angles to the front and the upper end of which is welded by an electric welding point to the internal flanged edge 36B of the rewinder support 36.

[45] The upper side brace 40 also includes an external flanged edge 43 projecting right back to the rear and the upper end of which is welded by an electric welding point to the quarter panel lining 34.

[46] On the shoe line of the vehicle and as illustrated by the figures, each lateral silhouette sub-assembly 30 is attached against the base sub-assembly 10 by a transverse sliding movement, then these sub-assemblies are welded to each other by a plurality of electrical welding points.

[47] The upper end of each rear seat back support 14 is secured to the lower end of a corresponding rear side seat back support 37 by a plurality of electrical welds and a transverse screw point. (in an area inaccessible to a welding head). [48] Furthermore, each upper lateral reinforcement 40 now located directly above a corresponding lower lateral reinforcement 20 is also fixed to the latter. More specifically, the upper end of each lower lateral reinforcement 20 is fixed to the lower end of a respective upper lateral reinforcement 40 so as to constitute a force transmission path between the rear flap gutter liner 32 and the vehicle load floor.

[49] Their interface zone being inaccessible for a welding head, the upper end of each lower lateral reinforcement 20 and the lower end of each corresponding upper lateral reinforcement 40 are fixed to each other by bolting by through two screws 51, 52.

[50] As illustrated by FIG. 4, the upper end of the internal flanged edge 22 of each lower lateral reinforcement 20 thus has a circular orifice arranged so as to overlap with a corresponding circular orifice formed at the level of the end. lower edge of the internal flanged edge 42 of the corresponding upper lateral reinforcement 40 (a nut 42A being moreover welded to the outer periphery of the latter orifice).

[51] Still with reference to this figure 4, the upper end of the upper outer tab 25 of each lower lateral reinforcement 20 also has a circular orifice arranged so as to overlap with a corresponding circular orifice formed at the level of the end. lower edge of the outer flanged edge 43 of the corresponding upper lateral reinforcement 40 (a nut 43A being moreover welded to the outer periphery of the latter orifice).

[52] The fixing between the upper end of each lower lateral reinforcement 20 and the lower end of a respective upper lateral reinforcement 40 is thus carried out by bolting each screw 51, 52, introduced beforehand along a transverse axis through two Respective holes superimposed on a corresponding nut 42A, 43A.

[53] Requiring only two screws, the fixing of these two reinforcements 20, 40 to each other thus proves to be much faster on the fitting line than the complete assembly of a single reinforcement using a large number of screws as was the case in the prior art. [54] In addition, the fact that the bolting of the two screws 51, 52 is carried out along a transverse axis greatly facilitates the work of the operator (more ergonomic access) while making it possible to absorb the possible dispersion between the each sub. - silhouette side set and the base sub-assembly.

[55] It will be noted in support of Figure 4 that the two reinforcements 20, 40 are shaped so that once assembled to each other, their respective main partitions 21, 41 are slightly apart longitudinally l 'one from the other by a few millimeters (for example, 5 to 15 mm) so as to delimit between them a hollow body further improving the rigidity of the assembly.

[56] It will also be noted with reference to FIG. 3 that the upper outer leg 25 of the lower lateral reinforcement 20 and the external flanged edge 43 of the upper lateral reinforcement 40 are shaped so as to define between them the rear wheel arch 11 and the quarter panel lining 34, a passage window 53 for the electrical harnesses and / or pipes of the vehicle.

[57] Furthermore, the fact that the internal 42 and external 43 flanged edges of the upper reinforcement 40 extend in opposite directions from each other (this reinforcement 40 thus having an S-shaped section) ensures a gain. of substantial rigidity while making it possible to prevent the whole of the support 40 from rotating about a vertical axis.

[58] Finally and to avoid any risk of interaction between the top of the rear wheel arch 11 of the base sub-assembly 10 and the lower end of the upper reinforcement 40 when these two sub-assemblies are brought together by transverse sliding, a vertical offset of a few millimeters (advantageously between 5 and 15 mm) is provided between the ribs of this top of the rear wheel arch 11 and those of the lower end of this upper reinforcement 40.

[59] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the lower and upper supports have reception openings for beam clamping clips or connector supports.

[60] According to other variant embodiments not shown, the upper end of the upper support is fixed directly to the rear flap gutter liner by a plurality of electrical welding points. [61] Certain elements may also be absent or arranged differently, such as, for example, the window for the beam and pipe passage, or the front and rear flanged edges.

Claims

[Claim 1] Rear area arrangement of a motor vehicle body structure with a tailgate-type rear flap, comprising a plurality of sub-assemblies (10, 30) made of sheet metal parts and assembled to each other to form said area rear, including in particular a sub-assembly (10) comprising a load floor and two rear wheel arches (11) extending on either side of said load floor, as well as two lateral sub-assemblies of silhouette (30) each comprising a rear flap gutter liner (32) and a quarter panel liner (34); characterized in that said underbody sub-assembly (10) also comprises two lower lateral reinforcements (20) extending substantially vertically and being each welded against a corresponding rear wheel arch (11), and in that each of said sub- Silhouette side assemblies (30) also include an upper side brace (40) extending substantially vertically plumb with a respective lower side brace (20) to a corresponding gutter liner (32) and being welded against a corresponding quarter panel lining (34), the upper end of each lower lateral reinforcement (20) being rigidly fixed by bolting to the lower end of a corresponding upper lateral reinforcement (40).

[Claim 2] Rear body structure arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said bolting fixing is carried out along a transverse axis.

[Claim 3] A body structure rear area arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said lateral silhouette sub-assemblies (30) also comprises a rear seat belt retractor support ( 36) comprising a shelf (36A) welded against a corresponding quarter panel lining (34), said shelf (36A) being bordered at the rear by a rear flanged edge (36C) welded to the upper portion of a said upper lateral reinforcement correspondent (40) and of which the upper end is welded to a corresponding gutter liner (32).

[Claim 4] Rear body structure arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each lower (20) and upper (40) lateral reinforcement comprises a main partition (21,

41) extending in a substantially transverse vertical plane while being bordered on the internal side by an internal flanged edge (22, 42) projecting back at right angles to the front, the upper end of the internal flanged edge (22) of each lower lateral reinforcement (20) being rigidly fixed by bolting on the lower end of the internal flanged edge (42) of a corresponding upper lateral reinforcement (40) by means of a screw (51), introduced beforehand through two superimposed orifices formed respectively in one and the other of these ends, then bolted to a said nut (42A) welded to the periphery of one of these orifices.

[Claim 5] A body structure rear area arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that each lower lateral reinforcement (20) also comprises three outer legs (23, 24, 25) projecting back squarely from the outer edge. of its main partition (21), namely a lower lug (23) projecting towards the rear and being welded to the corresponding wheel arch (11), a central lug (24) projecting towards the front and also being welded to the passage corresponding wheel (11) and an upper lug (25) projecting rearwardly.

[Claim 6] A body structure rear area arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that each upper lateral reinforcement (40) also comprises an external flanged edge (43) projecting back squarely towards the rear and of which the the upper end is welded to the corresponding quarter panel lining (34), the upper end of the upper outer tab (25) of each lower lateral reinforcement (20) being rigidly fixed by bolting to the lower end of the external flanged edge ( 43) of a corresponding upper lateral reinforcement (40) by means of a screw, introduced beforehand through two superimposed holes formed respectively in one and the other of these ends, then bolted on a nut (43A ) welded around the perimeter of one of these holes.

[Claim 7] A body structure rear area arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper outer leg (25) of each lower lateral reinforcement (20) and the outer flanged edge (43) of each upper lateral reinforcement ( 40) are shaped so as to define between them, a said rear wheel arch (11) and a said corresponding quarter panel lining (34), a passage window (53) for electrical harnesses and / or pipes.

[Claim 8] Rear body structure arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the main partitions (21, 41) of two assembled lower (20) and upper (40) reinforcements are spaced apart longitudinally. one from the other so as to delimit a hollow body between them.

[Claim 9] Rear body structure arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a vertical offset is provided between the ribs of the top of each rear wheel arch (11) and those of the 'lower end of each corresponding upper reinforcement (40) so as to avoid any risk of interaction between these elements during the assembly of the lateral silhouette subassemblies (30) on the base subassembly (10). [Claim 10] A body structure rear area arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that said vertical offset is between 5 and 15 mm.