FR3011788A1 - ROOF ASSEMBLY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof assembly (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a roof (2) connected to the body (5) of the vehicle by body panels (3, 4) forming front and rear side uprights, said body panels (3, 4) and the flag (2) respectively comprising a perforated portion (16, 17, 21) allowing the passage of light.

Description

The present invention relates to a roof assembly of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle provided with such a roof assembly.

One of the permanent concerns of motor vehicle manufacturers is to reduce the total mass of vehicles in order to reduce their energy consumption.

Given the substantial share of the roof assembly in the mass of a vehicle, solutions of the state of the art provide for modifying its characteristics in order to reduce the mass of the vehicle. Traditionally, such a roof assembly is formed by a sheet steel roof and body panels forming studs which connect it to the vehicle body. These state-of-the-art solutions concern, for example, pavilion construction in lighter materials such as plastics or even modifications to the structure of the latter by replacing sheet-metal portions with lighter glazed panels. . However, the main drawback of such solutions is that by reducing the mass of this roof assembly by modifying the structure of the roof, the architecture of this roof assembly is then weakened.

Therefore, the vehicle equipped with such a roof assembly has insufficient mechanical characteristics to ensure the safety of passengers during, for example, a collision.

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the various disadvantages mentioned above. To this end, the invention is based on a roof assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a roof connected to the vehicle body by body panels forming front and rear side uprights, characterized in that said body panels and the flag respectively comprise a perforated portion allowing the passage of light.

Each perforated portion may comprise a perforated structure having at least one opening. Glazed panels of transparent or translucent material may be mounted at the flag and each body panel, so as to seal their perforated portion. Each glazing panel may have a defined outer contour to coincide with a receiving border of the perforated portion of the roof and the body panels, so that said contour may be secured to said receiving edge from a fastener . Each rear glazing panel of said body panels may be provided at its inner surface with at least one fastening element capable of cooperating with first and second structural components of the front or rear uprights, so as to secure each glazed panel. at the level of each of the body panels. Each body panel may comprise a first end 5 connected to the roof and a second end connected to the vehicle body from a mechanical connection. The body panels and the roof can be made of metallic material. The flag may comprise connecting members that can be attached to side uprights of the vehicle body. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one roof assembly as described above. Advantageously, the invention allows a reduction in the mass of the vehicle while improving its mechanical characteristics relating to the stiffness of the body and the acoustics of the vehicle. Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which will follow, with reference to the figures, made by way of indicative and nonlimiting example: FIG. roof assembly including perforated portions of the roof and body panels are each without a glazed panel according to the embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the roof assembly, the perforated portions of the roof and body panels each comprising the glazing panel according to the embodiment of the invention; Figures 3 and 4 illustrate parts A and B of the roof assembly defined in Figure 1 according to the embodiment of the invention; Figures 5A, 6A are exterior views of the body panels according to the embodiment of the invention; - Figures 5B, 6B are interior views of the body panels with the vehicle body according to the embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 7A and 7B are views, respectively inside and outside, of a horn connecting member according to the embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate examples of curves relating to speeds as a function of time of a vehicle wall comprising the roof assembly during a side impact according to the embodiment of the invention; and Figure 10 relates to measurements of the intrusion into a passenger compartment of the vehicle of a deformed wall of the vehicle during a side impact according to the embodiment of the invention. In the following description, the following definitions will be adopted without limitation: - "forward" and "rear" refer to the direction of travel in the forward direction of the vehicle; - "inside" and "outside" refer to the parts of parts inside or outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

A roof assembly 1 of a vehicle according to the embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. This roof assembly 1 comprises the following parts: a roof 2 and body panels 3, 4. This roof assembly 1 comprises in particular four body panels 3, 4. Two body panels 3 forming front side pillars and two body panels 4 forming the rear side pillars of the vehicle. The front side pillars of the vehicle laterally border a bay 10 before the vehicle body 5. This front bay is adapted to receive a windshield 22. These lateral amounts each comprise a first 12 structural component and a second structural component 13. The rear side pillars of the vehicle are located between the rear door of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle. Thus, these rear side pillars may be able to border a rear bay which is adapted to receive a rear window, otherwise called rear window. Alternatively, these rear side pillars may define the frame of the opening of the trunk for example when the vehicle has three doors. These rear side pillars are also two in number. Each rear side pillar also has first 12 and second 13 structural components. Each body panel 3, 4 corresponds to a front quarterboard or otherwise called a fenestron when it forms a front lateral upright, and 30 to a rear quarter when forming a rear side upright.

The body panels 3, 4 and the roof 2 each comprise a perforated portion 16, 17, 21, allowing the passage of light. The perforated portion 21 of the roof is visible in FIG. 1. The perforated portions 16 and 17 of the body panels 3 and 4 are respectively described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The openwork portion 16, 17, 21 is a part of body panels 3, 4 or flag 2 forming an opening to let the light.

Each perforated portion 16, 17 for each of the body panels 3, 4 is between the first 12 and second 13 structural components. Regarding the flag 2, the perforated portion 21 is arranged on all or part of the body of the latter.

Each perforated portion 16, 17, 21 of the body panels 3, 4 and flag 2 respectively comprises a perforated structure 10, 11 and 6. Each perforated structure 6, 10, 11 comprises at least one opening 14 allowing the passage of light . In the present embodiment, each perforated structure 6, 10, 11 has a plurality of openings 14 whose distribution forms a mesh as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B. Each perforated structure 6, 10, 11 is preferably an integral part of the body panels 3, 4 and the roof 2. It then forms with each of them a one-piece assembly obtained by a high-pressure injection molding process. Such monoblock assemblies are preferably made of metallic material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Such a metallic material has in particular characteristics of stiffness (or rigidity) and high breaking strength. It also has properties that are likely to facilitate its pressure injection into a mold for obtaining by molding of each monobloc assembly whose mechanical properties are subject to high requirements. By way of example, the metallic material relates to an aluminum alloy of which an example of composition in percentage by weight is indicated below: - Si (Silicon): 1.8 - 2.6%; Fe (Fe): 0.19-0.21%; Cu (Copper): 0.02 - 0.04%; Mn (Manganese): 0.5 - 0.8%; Mg (magnesium): 5.0 - 6.0%; Zn (Zinc): 0.06-0.08%; Ti (Titanium): 0.19 - 0.21%, and - Be (Beryllium): 0.003 - 0.005%. The body panels 3, 4 and the roof 2 made with such an aluminum alloy can then have mechanical properties whose measurements are presented in Table I below. Thickness Yield strength Elongation strength (%) (mm) (N / mm2) 2 failure (N / mm) 2 - 4 160 - 220 310 - 340 12 - 18 Table I 25 Note that being able to use such an aluminum alloy, to obtain by molding the components of this roof assembly 1 that are the body panels 3, 4 and the roof 2, allows for parts having complex shapes. In addition, it also allows to design perforated structures 6, 10, 11, the shape of the openings 14 can be varied. Thus, the shape of the openings 14 and thus the aesthetics of the perforated structure 6, 10, 11 are completely customizable, thereby conferring different degrees of finish on this roof assembly 1. As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, each perforated portion 16, 17, 21 of the body panels 3, 4 and the flag 2 also comprises a fixed glazing panel, respectively 20, 9, 19, of translucent or transparent material. Note that transparent means a light-transmitting element, at least partially, including this expression includes windows tinted or treated against certain radiation.

These glazed panels 9, 19, 20 may be made of plastic or tempered glass or polycarbonate. They can be advantageously curved, in particular to give the roof 2 a shape having adequate penetration properties in the air and meeting current criteria in terms of design and / or comfort. The plastic material used may be a hard plastic, transparent or translucent and unbreakable such as plexiglassTM Each glass panel 9, 20, 19 is mounted integral with each of the body panels 3, 4 and 2, so as to seal their perforated portion 16, 17, 21 respective. Each of the glazed panels 9, 20, 19 intended to be mounted at the level of the roof 2 or the body panels 3, 4 comprises a contour which is defined to coincide with a receiving edge (not shown) of the perforated portion 16, 17 , 21 of the flag 2 or corresponding body panels 3, 4. This receiving edge defining the contour of the perforated portion 16, 17, 21 is arranged above the perforated structure 6, 10, 11 when the roof 2 and the body panels 3, 4 are seen from outside the vehicle . Each glazing panel 9, 20, 19 is thus mounted in the perforated portion 16, 17, 21 so that its contour is thus fixed flush with this receiving edge from a fastener, as described below. Regarding the body panels 3, 4, each glazing panel 20, 9 may alternatively be provided at its inner surface with at least one fastening element capable of cooperating with each of the first and second structural components 12, 13 of the front uprights or rearward so as to secure each glazed panel 20, 9 to each of the body panels 3, 4. Thus in this alternative, the inner surface of each glazed panel 9, 20 then comprises fixing areas that are likely to be in contact with the surface of the first and second structural components 12, 13, which are provided in whole or part of the fastener. For example, in the context of the mounting of each glazed panel 9, 20, 19 at the level of the roof 2 and the body panels 3, 4, the fastening element corresponds to glue or other elements. 'casing or screwing. As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the body panels 3 forming the front lateral uprights comprise first ends which are fixed at the level of the front part of the roof 2 by a mechanical connection 15 such as a welded connection. Other types of mechanical connections providing the same result can be used, such as gluing, crimping or riveting.

In the same way in FIG. 4, the first ends of the body panels 4 forming the rear lateral uprights are also fixed at the rear part of the roof 2 by a mechanical connection 15, for example a welded connection.

It will be noted that the mechanical characteristics of the mechanical connection 15 are the same as those of the parts which are here assembled by this connection and which are made of the same metallic material. In fact, this roof assembly 1 is then homogeneous in terms of structure.

In Figures 5A and 5B, which respectively show views of the outside and inside of the body panels 3 forming the front side pillars, is illustrated the attachment of the body panels 3 to the body 5 of the vehicle. Specifically, each body panel 3 has a second end which is fixed at the front portion of the body 5 of the vehicle by another mechanical connection 15 such as a riveting connection. Such a mechanical connection 15, visible in FIGS. 5A and 5B, can be replaced by other types of connections likely to provide the same result, such as gluing, crimping and / or welding. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, which also relate respectively to views of the exterior and interior of the body panels 4 forming the rear side pillars, the body panels 4 are fixed on the body of the vehicle substantially. in the same way as the body panels 3, as described above. Indeed, each body panel 4 has a second end which is fixed at the rear part of the body 5 of the vehicle from another mechanical connection 15.30 In addition, in order to reinforce the fasteners described above, the flag 2 comprises two connecting members 8 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7A and 7B. Each connecting member 8 is arranged laterally and substantially in the middle of the roof 2 between the front and rear side uprights included at the same side of the roof 2. Each connecting member 8 is provided to cooperate with a lateral upright 7 of the middle of the body. 5, more particularly with an upper middle foot reinforcement. Each connecting member 8 is assembled to this side upright 7 of the box medium 5 by another mechanical connection 15 such as a connection by riveting and / or welding. The roof assembly 1 thus made and secured to the body 5 of the vehicle thus reduces the mass of the vehicle while increasing its performance in body stiffness and improving its acoustic characteristics. Indeed, the increase in the stiffness performance results in particular from the rigidity of the metal material used, here an aluminum alloy. As regards the improvement of the acoustic characteristics, the latter is the consequence of the mass of the roof assembly 1 which is less in the perimeter defined by this roof 2 of the roof assembly 1 of the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle comprising this roof assembly 1 may have, in comparison with a reference vehicle, an acoustic gain of about 11% to 13%, a top stiffness of about 18% to 22% and a gain of mass of the order of 2.3kg to 2.5kg. Reference vehicle means a vehicle provided with a roof assembly 1 of the prior art comprising for example a roof 2 made of sheet steel. In order to illustrate this increase in stiffness of the vehicle body, examples relating to penetration speeds and measurements of the intrusion into the passenger compartment of a wall 18 of the vehicle undergoing lateral impact are represented by FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

More precisely, FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate examples of curves relating to these speeds of penetration into the passenger compartment of the wall 18 of the vehicle undergoing the lateral impact. Referring to Figure 10, it represents the measurements of the intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle of the wall 18 deformed during this side impact. It will be noted that measurements of penetration speeds and intrusions of the wall 18 are made at different parts of the body of a passenger of the vehicle installed in the passenger compartment.

Thus, the penetration speeds of the wall 18 at the part of the body of a passenger corresponding to the pelvis are illustrated in FIG. 8. More specifically, the curve C1 defines penetration speeds of the wall 18 of the vehicle comprising a roof assembly 1 according to the embodiment of the invention and the curve C2 relates to the penetration rates of the wall 18 of the reference vehicle. Curve C3 represents the speed of the basin. In a most significant time interval concerning the stiffness of the vehicle body, from the beginning of the shock to Oms up to 45ms, the average penetration rate of the wall 18 defined at the curve C1 is found to be The order of 5.32 m / s is less than that defined in curve C2 which is about 5.40 m / s.

With regard to the penetration speeds of the wall 18 at the part of the body of a passenger corresponding to the thorax, represented in FIG. 9, it can also be seen that the average penetration speeds at different time intervals for the wall 18 of the vehicle including the roof assembly 1 are smaller than those of the reference vehicle.

Indeed, in FIG. 9, a curve C4 relates to the penetration speeds of the wall 18 of the vehicle comprising the roof assembly 1 according to the embodiment of the invention and a curve C5 the penetration speeds of the wall 18 of the reference vehicle. Curve C6 represents the speed of the thorax. In the time interval of between 0ms and 55ms, the mean penetration rate of the wall 18 defined at the curve C4 is of the order of 5.32 m / s and that defined at the curve C5 is of about 5 , 59m / s.

And, in the time interval between 16ms and 55ms the average penetration speed of the wall 18 defined in the curve C4 is of the order of 7m / s and that defined in the curve C5 is of about 7.36m / s. As a result, the vehicle equipped with roof assembly 1 of the present embodiment has better performance under these impact conditions than the reference vehicle. In addition, the best performance of the vehicle comprising this roof assembly 1 are also confirmed by measurements of the intrusion 25 of the wall 18 deformed at different heights h1 to h6 of the wall 18 of the vehicle undergoing this side impact, as well as the illustrates, for example, for each height h1 to h6 of this wall 18 corresponding to different parts of the body of a passenger installed in the passenger compartment, the 30 values relating to the measurements for each height h1 to h6 of the intrusion of the wall 18 of the vehicle provided with this roof assembly 1 are all smaller than those of the reference vehicle. By way of example, the values are for the reference vehicle: - hl: 50 mm; h 2: 126 mm; H, 173 mm; h4: 230 mm; - h5: 256 mm, and - h6: 216 mm.

The values of these measurements for the vehicle comprising the roof assembly 1 are: - hl: 27 mm; h 2: 98 mm; H, 146 mm; h 4: 206 mm; - h5: 236 mm, and - h6: 200 mm.

It should be noted that the higher the heights h1 to h6 are close to the roof 2 of the roof assembly 1 plus the intrusion of the wall 18 deformed in the passenger compartment is less for the vehicle provided with this assembly roof 1 in comparison with the vehicle reference. This highlights the important role of the roof assembly 1 in improving the stiffness of the vehicle body. In fact, at the level of the height h1, the intrusion of the deformed wall 18 into the passenger compartment is approximately 46% less for the vehicle provided with this roof assembly 1 with respect to the intrusion of the wall 18 of the reference vehicle for this same height h1. At the following heights, it is about 23% for h2, 16% for h3, 11% for h4, and 8% less for h5 and h6. Thus, by decreasing the mass of the roof assembly 1, the vehicle then sees its mass be reduced while improving the stiffness of the body and the acoustic characteristics of the vehicle. In fact, the mechanical impact strength of the vehicle is also improved, especially with regard to side impacts that can be suffered by the body.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments that have been explicitly described, but includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. Roof assembly (1) for a motor vehicle having a horn (2) connected to the body (5) of the vehicle by body panels (3, 4) forming front and rear lateral uprights, characterized in that said body panels ( 3, 4) and the horn (2) respectively comprise a perforated portion (16, 17, 21) allowing the passage of light. 2. roof assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each perforated portion comprises a perforated structure (6, 10, 11) having at least one opening (14). 3. roof assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that glazed panels (9, 20, 19) transparent or translucent material are mounted at the flag (2) and each panel bodywork (3, 4), so as to close their perforated portion (16, 17, 21). 4. roof assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each glazed panel (9, 20, 19) has an outer contour defined to coincide with a receiving edge of the perforated portion (16, 17, 21) of flag (2) and body panels (3, 4), so that said contour can be attached to said receiving edge from a fastener. 5. roof assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each rear glazing panel (9, 20) of said body panels (3, 4) is provided at its inner surface with at least one fixing element, capable of cooperating with first (12) and second (13) structural components of the front or rear uprights, so as to secure each glazing panel (20, 9) at each of the body panels (3, 4). 6. roof assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each body panel (3, 4) comprises a first end connected to the roof (2) and a second end connected to the body (5). of the vehicle from a mechanical link (15). 7. roof assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body panels (3, 4) and the roof (2) are made of metal material. 8. roof assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roof (2) comprises connecting members (8) may be fixed to lateral uprights (7) of the medium of the vehicle. 9. Vehicle comprising at least one roof assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.