WO2022162284A1

WO2022162284A1 - Vehicle with a cross-member incorporating elements of a bonnet locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2022162284A1
Application number: PCT/FR2021/052279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodolphe Peron; Thibault Gourvennec; Xavier Michel
Original assignee: Psa Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2021-01-28
Filing date: 2021-12-10
Publication date: 2022-08-04
Also published as: FR3119152A1; FR3119152B1

Abstract

A vehicle (V) comprises a structure (SV) comprising a cross-member (TV) that is installed in an upper front portion (PS) near a bonnet comprising a front end, which is provided with N first elements of a locking mechanism that respectively engage N second elements (E2) thereof, which are coupled to the structure (SV), where N ≥ 1. This cross-member (TV) comprises N open housings (LB), in each of which an open reinforcement casing (BR) is fixedly installed, said reinforcement casing (BR) in turn has a second element (E2) partially and fixedly installed therein and is arranged so as to increase the capacity of the cross-member (TV) to withstand an impact to which the vehicle (V) is subjected in a front portion in an at least partially transverse direction.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: PASS-THROUGH VEHICLE INCORPORATING ELEMENTS OF A HOOD LOCKING MECHANISM

The present invention claims the priority of the French application

5 2100835 filed on January 28, 2021, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to vehicle structures, and more specifically the resistance of such structures in the event of an impact suffered by their vehicle.

State of the art

Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a structure (or "body") comprising a crosspiece installed in a front part5, intended to absorb shocks undergone by this front part in an at least partially transverse direction, and which can also serve as a fixed anchoring piece for at least one other piece of equipment, such as for example a heat exchanger or part of the power electronics. 0 In some vehicle structures it is necessary to install the cross member in an upper part of the front part, close to the front end of the front bonnet. In this case, it may prove impossible, for reasons of space, to install elements of the bonnet locking mechanism on the upper external face of the crossmember. In the presence of such an impossibility5, these elements could be installed on a rear external face or a front external face of the crosspiece. But this also sometimes proves impossible due to local space requirements and/or the arrangement of the front end of the cover and/or thermal constraints.

It has been proposed in the patent document FR-B1 2911573 to define in the crosspiece an opening opening on its rear and upper external faces in order to partially house the aforementioned elements. However, such an opening significantly weakens the crosspiece, and even favors its deflection towards the rear (in the direction of the passenger compartment), in the presence of an impact undergone by the front part of the vehicle in a direction at least partially transverse. We are then forced to increase the rigidity (or mechanical resistance) of the crosspiece by increasing the thickness of its sheet and/or

5 by modifying and reinforcing its internal architecture, if it is to withstand shocks in accordance with the rules in force (for example a deformation of less than 10 mm in the transverse direction in the presence of a force of 4 kN).

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation when it is necessary to attach elements of the bonnet locking mechanism to the cross member.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a vehicle comprising a structure5 comprising a cross member installed in an upper front part close to a bonnet comprising a front end provided with N first elements of a locking mechanism cooperating respectively with N second elements of the latter. coupled to the structure, with N > 1.

This vehicle is characterized in that the crosspiece comprises N open housings and in each of which is fixedly installed an open reinforcement box, in which is fixedly and partially installed a second element, and arranged so as to increase a capacity of the crosspiece to withstand an impact suffered by the vehicle in a front part in an at least partially transverse direction. 5 Thanks to the reinforcing box(es), the crosspiece has a mechanical strength in the transverse direction which complies with the rules in force, and therefore can advantageously incorporate at least a second element of the bonnet locking mechanism.

The vehicle according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- the housing(s) and reinforcement box(es) may each have an opening which is oriented towards the top of the vehicle;

- each reinforcement box can comprise a bottom wall oriented towards a bottom of the corresponding housing and to which a side wall is secured;

- each reinforcement box can have a section in a horizontal plane which has a general shape chosen from a group

5 comprising an oval, a rectangle and a circle;

- Each reinforcement box may have an upper peripheral edge which is fixedly secured by welding to an outer face of the crosspiece;

- in the presence of the last option, the upper peripheral edge can be located outside the corresponding seat;

- each reinforcement box can be made of sheet metal having a thickness at least equal to 1 mm;

- N can be equal to two;

- it can be of the automotive type. 5 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"), of where the presence of certain levels of gray), on which:0 [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, part of an exemplary embodiment of a front part of a structure of a vehicle according to the invention, and

[Fig. 2] schematically illustrates, in another perspective view from the front side, the left end part of the crosspiece of the structure of FIG. 5

Detailed description of the invention

The aim of the invention is in particular to propose a vehicle V comprising a structure SV with a cross member TV integrating elements E2 of a bonnet locking mechanism while being able to withstand shocks in a direction at least partially transverse in accordance with the rules in force. .

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is automotive type. This is for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising a structure comprising a crosspiece allowing it to withstand shocks in a direction at least partially

5 transverse.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction X is a so-called longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is parallel to the lateral sides of the latter, the direction Y is a so-called transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is a so-called vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

A part of an exemplary embodiment of a front part of a structure SV of a vehicle V according to the invention has been schematically illustrated in FIG. 5 As illustrated, a structure SV of a vehicle V, according to the invention, comprises in particular a cross member TV which is fixedly installed in an upper front part PS close to a front bonnet (not illustrated), when the latter is in folded position (and therefore closed).

As illustrated without limitation in Figure 1, the TV crossbar can also serve as a fixed anchor for at least one other piece of equipment, such as for example an EV heat exchanger or part of the power electronics.

Although it does not appear in Figures 1 and 2, the cover comprises a front end which is provided with N first elements (not shown) of a locking mechanism cooperating respectively (in the folded position) with N second elements E2 of the locking mechanism coupled to the SV structure, with N > 1. It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, the cover comprises two first elements cooperating respectively with two second elements E2, and therefore N is equal to two. But N can take any value greater than or equal to one.

The crosspiece TV comprises N open housings LB and in each of which is fixedly installed an open reinforcing box BR. Moreover, in each reinforcement box BR is fixedly and partially installed a second element E2 of the hood locking mechanism. In addition, each reinforcement box BR is arranged so as to increase the capacity of the cross member TV to withstand an impact suffered by its vehicle V in

5 a front part in a direction which is at least partially parallel to the transverse direction Y.

Thanks to each reinforcement box BR allowing the crosspiece TV to have mechanical strength in the transverse direction Y in accordance with the rules in force, each housing LB can now accommodate a second element E2. This is particularly useful when there is not enough space to install a second element E2 between the upper external face FS of the cross member TV and the lower external face of the cover or on the rear external face FR or front FV of the crosses TV, or when thermal constraints prevent the installation of a second element E2 sur5 the rear outer face FR of the crosses TV.

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1 where N=2, the two housings LB are defined respectively near the two right and left ends of the crosspiece TV. But they could be defined in other places of the TV crossbar, preferably symmetrically with respect to a median plane (passing through the center of the TV crossbar). Furthermore, in the presence of a locking mechanism comprising only a single first element cooperating with a single second element E2 (i.e. for N=1), the single housing LB is preferably defined at the center of the crosspiece TV. Also preferably, each reinforcement box BR comprises a bottom wall facing the bottom of its housing LB and to which a side wall is secured. This increases the mechanical resistance of each BR reinforcement box.

It will be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the housing(s) LB and the reinforcement housing(s) BR may each have an opening which is oriented towards the top of the vehicle V. In this case, the opening of each housing LB is located at the level of the upper external face FS of the crosspiece TV. But in a variant not illustrated the housing(s) LB and reinforcement box(es) BR could each have an opening which is oriented towards the front of the vehicle V, and in this case, the opening of each housing LB is located at the level of the front external face FV of the crossmember TV . In another variant not shown, the housing(s) LB and housing(s) of

5 reinforcement BR could each have an opening which is oriented towards the rear of the vehicle V, and in this case, the opening of each housing LB is located at the level of the rear external face FR of the crossmember TV. These two variants are in fact now possible because the part of each second element E2 located outside a reinforcement box BR can be relatively short and therefore can be compatible with a relatively large local size. In the three cases described above, each housing LB is centered relative to the width of the outer face (FS, FR or FV) of the crosspiece TV comprising its opening, for reasons of mechanical strength. It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, that each reinforcement box BR may have a section in the horizontal plane XY which has a generally rectangular shape. But in variants not shown, each reinforcement box BR could have a section in the horizontal plane XY having a generally ovoid (or oval) or circular (or in a circle) shape. In general, any form known in mechanics for its resistance, and making it possible to accommodate part of a second element E2, can be envisaged.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, that each reinforcement box BR may have an upper peripheral edge BP which is fixedly secured by welding to the outer face of the crosspiece TV comprising the opening of the corresponding housing LB (here the upper external face FS). Each upper peripheral edge BP is located at the upper end of the side wall of its reinforcing box BR. Depending on requirements, the welding may define a continuous welding bead or may be carried out point by point.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, that each upper peripheral edge BP can be located outside the corresponding housing LB. This facilitates welding and defines thicker and therefore more resistant welding points or beads.

It will also be noted that each reinforcement box BR can be made from sheet metal having a thickness at least equal to 1 mm. It will be understood that the thickness of the sheet may vary according to the mechanical strength requirements.

Claims

1 . Vehicle (V) comprising a structure (SV) comprising a cross member (TV) installed in a front upper part (PS) close to a bonnet

5 comprising a front end provided with N first elements of a locking mechanism cooperating respectively with N second elements (E2) of the latter coupled to said structure (SV), with N>1, characterized in that said crosspiece (TV) comprises N open housings (LB) and in each of which is fixedly installed an open reinforcement box (BR), in which a second element (E2) is fixedly and partially installed, and arranged so as to increase a capacity of said crosspiece (TV ) to absorb an impact suffered by said vehicle (V) in a front part in an at least partially transverse direction.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said5 housing (s) (LB) and housing (s) reinforcement (BR) each have an opening facing the top of said vehicle (V).

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each reinforcing casing (BR) comprises a bottom wall oriented towards a bottom of said corresponding housing (LB) and to which a side wall is secured.

4. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each reinforcing box (BR) has a section in a horizontal plane having a general shape chosen from a group comprising an oval, a rectangle and a circle.

5 5. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each reinforcement box (BR) has an upper peripheral edge (BP) fixedly secured by welding to an outer face of said crosspiece (TV).

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that said upper peripheral edge (BP) is located outside said housing (LB) 0 corresponding.

7. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each reinforcing casing (BR) is made of sheet metal having a thickness at least equal to 1 mm.

8. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that N is equal to two.

9. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is of the automotive type.