WO2017006002A1 - Bodywork part including a protective element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bodywork part (2) of a motor vehicle, including: - a main panel (3) and - a protective element (4) mounted on the main panel (3) and forming a protrusion relative thereto, the main panel (3) and the protective element (4) forming at least one deformable gallery (7), the protective element (4) including: - a structural sublayer (10), - a skin (11) covering the structural sublayer (10), and - protruding reinforcement ribs (6) in contact with the main panel (3) and defining the deformable gallery (7).

Description

 BODY PIECE COMPRISING AN ELEMENT OF

 PROTECTION

The invention relates to the field of the automobile, and more specifically to the protection of a bodywork part of the vehicle, against shocks.

 When the vehicle is stopped or running at low speed (for example less than 10 km / h), the body parts are regularly subjected to low intensity shocks, for example when opening the door. a door on a parking lot, a parking lot or a maneuver. Depending on the nature and intensity of the impact, the resulting damage to the body part is usually scratches or plastic deformation of the body part.

In order to protect these body parts, it is known to fix a protective element, made of rigid plastic, on a main panel of the bodywork part. This protective element prevents any scratching of the paint on the protected area. However, during an impact of sufficient intensity, the impact energy is transmitted integrally to the bodywork part, via the protection element, this resulting in a plastic deformation of the bodywork part.

 It is known, in order to absorb the energy due to a shock that can cause a slight deformation of the bodywork part, to manufacture the protective element of deformable elastic polymer material. The protection element thus absorbs the energy due to impact and recovers its initial shape following the impact.

 [0005] WO 2008/103385 discloses a protective element integral with a main panel of a bodywork part. The protection element comprises a skin of deformable elastic polymer material provided with grooves. The skin and the main panel form a deformable chamber. In order to absorb energy due to shock without deforming the main panel, the protective element comprises a foam placed within the deformable chamber and occupies substantially the volume defined by the deformable chamber.

Such a protective element effectively prevents irreversible deformation of the bodywork part of the motor vehicle. However, a bodywork part equipped with the said element protection, has a significant mass affecting the consumption of the vehicle.

 A first objective is to provide a body part comprising a protective element capable of absorbing energy due to impact.

 A second objective is to provide a body part adapted to recover its original shape after a shock.

 A third objective is to provide a lightweight bodywork part.

A fourth objective is to propose a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork part meeting the above objectives.

 For this purpose, it is proposed, in the first place, a bodywork part of a motor vehicle comprising:

- a main panel, and

 a protection element mounted on the main panel and forming a protrusion relative thereto,

the main panel and the protection element forming at least one deformable gallery, the protection element comprising:

a structural sub-layer,

 a skin that covers the structural underlayer, and

 reinforcing ribs projecting, in contact with the main panel and defining the deformable gallery.

The structural underlayer, the skin and the reinforcing ribs in contact with the main panel of the bodywork element can significantly reduce the mass of the bodywork part, resulting in a decrease in the vehicle consumption.

The structural underlayer, the skin and the reinforcing ribs also make it possible to define, at design, the rigidity of the protection element. Thus, an elastic deformation of such a protective element makes it possible to protect the bodywork part of the vehicle against scratches and shocks by absorbing the energy due to these shocks by elastic deformation, the protective element covering its initial shape. as a result of the shock.

Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination: the reinforcing ribs belong to the structural sub-layer;

 the structural underlayer comprises lumens at the junction between curved regions of the skin and the reinforcing ribs; the structural sub-layer comprises at least one fastener made of material with the structural sub-layer;

 at least a first part of the reinforcing ribs belongs to the structural underlayer and at least a second part of the reinforcing ribs belongs to the skin;

the structural sub-layer comprises at least one opening of which at least one reinforcing rib projects;

 the reinforcing ribs of the second part comprise a bend disposed substantially at mid-height of the reinforcing ribs of the second part;

the structural sub-layer has a thickness measured along an axis Y, defining a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bodywork part, this thickness is variable along an axis X and an axis Z, defining orthogonal directions between them, substantially parallel; on the plane of the bodywork part;

 the skin has a thickness measured along an axis Y, defining a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bodywork part, this thickness is variable along an axis X and an axis Z, defining orthogonal directions between them, substantially parallel to the plane of the body; body part.

 It is proposed, secondly, a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork part as shown above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly and concretely on reading the following description of embodiments, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a motor vehicle comprising a body part provided with a protective element; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view, along the axis CC of Figure 1, a detail on an enlarged scale, showing the protection element according to a first embodiment;

 FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, illustrating the deformation and displacement of the protection element during an impact;

 Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view, along the axis C-C of Figure 1, a detail on an enlarged scale, showing the protection element according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, illustrating the deformation and displacement of the protection element during an impact;

 Figure 6 is a schematic view of an enlarged detail of a structural sub-layer of the protection element, according to the second embodiment, centered on a domed region of the protection element.

In Figure 1 is shown a vehicle 1 automobile comprising a body part 2 provided with a main panel 3 and a protective element 4 integral with the main panel 3.

In the description below, the body part 2 is a vehicle door 1 automobile. However, the body part 2 is not limited to a door.

 The protective element 4 substantially forms an outward protrusion of the vehicle 1, relative to the main panel 3 of the bodywork part 2, protecting it against scratches or possible shocks. The protection element 4 may comprise regions bulging outwardly of the vehicle 1, distributed over all or part of the protection element 4, increasing the protective effect of the main panel 3.

In order to effectively protect the main panel 3, the protection element 4 has, preferably, a dimension, along an axis X, defining a longitudinal direction, substantially in the plane of the body part 2, equal to or greater one dimension, along the X axis, of the main panel 3.

As illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the protection element 4 comprises ribs 6 of reinforcement. The reinforcing ribs 6 protrude of the protection element 4, towards the inside of the vehicle 1, until coming into contact with the main panel 3. The main panel 3 and the protection element 4 form deformable galleries 7 delimited by the ribs 6 of reinforcement. The expression "deformable gallery 7" is understood to mean a space defined by an upper partition, a lower partition and at least two lateral partitions defining a principal direction in which the deformable gallery 7 extends.

Each curved region 5 is disposed between two ribs 6 of reinforcement.

The number of reinforcing ribs 6 in dense zones 8 of the protection element 4 is greater than the number of reinforcement ribs 6 in non-dense zones 9 of the element 4 of protection.

 The protection element 4 comprises a structural underlayer 10 made of rigid polymer material. The term "rigid polymer material" is understood to mean a material chosen in particular from the group of Styrenic Polymers (commonly called PS) comprising Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (commonly called ABS), Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (commonly known as ASA) or a material selected from the group of polyamides (commonly called PA).

 The protection element 4 also comprises a skin 11 made of elastically deformable polymer material, for example thermoplastic polyurethane (commonly known as TPU).

The skin 11 comprises, substantially to the right of the reinforcing ribs 6 disposed on either side of the curved regions 5, grooves 12 forming a recess towards the inside of the vehicle 1.

The structural underlayer 10 and the skin 11 are integral.

The skin 11 may be made by overmolding the structural underlayer 10 or by bimaterial injection with the structural underlayer 10.

Thicknesses, of the structural underlayer 10 and the skin 11, measured along an axis Y, defining a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis X and the plane of the body part 2, are thus different. These thicknesses vary each along the axis X and along an axis Z, defining a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the axis X and the axis Y. A first portion 13 of the reinforcing ribs 6 may belong to the structural underlayer 10 and a second portion 14 of the reinforcing ribs 6 may belong to the skin 11 of the element 4 of protection.

Thus, the variations of the thicknesses of the structural sub-layer 10 and the skin 11 along the X axis and the Z axis, the provision of the reinforcing ribs 6 in the dense zones 8 and the zones 9 non-uniform. dense elements of the protection element 4 and the membership of the reinforcing ribs 6 to the structural underlayer 10 or the skin 11 used to define, in the design of the bodywork part 2, the energy absorbed by the element 4 protection, along the X axis and along the Z axis, and the mass thereof.

 According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the reinforcement ribs 6 are integral with the structural sub-layer 10.

 The thickness of the structural underlayer 10 is greater than the thickness of the skin 11.

 The skin 11 has a substantially constant thickness.

At the junction between the curved regions 5 and the reinforcing ribs 6, the structural underlayer 10 comprises lumens 15.

 The thickness of the structural sub-layer at the center of the curved regions is less than the thickness of the structural sub-layer at the ends of the curved regions.

 The slots 15 of the structural underlayer 10, the variation of the thickness of the structural underlayer 10 at the level of the curved regions 5 and the grooves 12 of the skin 11 make it possible to locate a deformation of the element. 4 protection at the center of the curved regions, to avoid a break in the structural underlayer 10 and to obtain a lightweight protection element 4.

The protective element 4 is integral with the main panel 3 of the bodywork part 2 by means of fasteners 16 integrally provided with the structural underlayer 10. In a variant not shown, the fasteners 16 are inserts.

According to a second embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6, the first portion 13 of the reinforcing ribs 6 is integral with the structural underlayer 10 and the second portion 14 of the reinforcement ribs 6 is material with the skin 11. The second portion 14 of the reinforcing ribs 6, made of material with the skin 11, pass through the structural underlayer 10, on either side of the curved regions, by openings 17.

The reinforcing ribs 6 of the second portion 14, on either side of the curved regions 5, each form a bend 18 disposed substantially at mid-height of the ribs 6 of reinforcement, to define, in the design of body part 2, the energy absorbed by the protection element 4. The height of the ribs 6 is measured along the Y axis (see FIG. 4), between the base of the ribs 6 and their end in contact with the main panel 3.

 As shown in FIG. 6, the openings 17 of the structural sub-layer 10 have substantially an oval ring shape surrounding each convex region 5.

 The thickness of the structural underlayer 10 is less than the thickness of the skin 11.

 The structural underlayer 10 has a substantially constant thickness.

 The thickness of the skin 11 in the center of the curved regions 5 is less than the thickness of the skin 11 at the ends of the curved regions 5.

 The variation of the thickness of the skin 11 at the level of the curved regions 5 and the grooves 12 of the skin 11 make it possible to locate a deformation of the element 4 of protection in the center of the curved regions 5 and to obtain a element 4 light protection.

The skin 11 comprises, in ends, returns 19 in contact with the main panel 3. The returns 19 are traversed by a reinforcing rib 6 of the structural underlayer 10.

The element 4 of protection is advantageously secured to the main panel 3 by gluing, to remove the fasteners 16 and thus reduce the mass of the vehicle 1.

The curved regions 5 participate in the design and protection of the body part 2 of the vehicle 1 automobile. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the event of a shock of low or medium intensity on the bodywork part 2 of the vehicle 1, such as the collision of a supermarket trolley, the curved regions and the reinforcement ribs 6 of the protection element 4 can deform elastically. This elastic deformation makes it possible to absorb the energy due to the shock without damaging the body part 2. Following the shock, the bulging regions cover their original shapes.

The structural underlayer 10, the skin 11 and the reinforcement ribs 6 distributed in a non-equidistant manner and having different and variable thicknesses, significantly reduce the mass of the bodywork part 2, causing a drop in the Vehicle consumption 1.

 The structural underlayer 10, the skin 11 and the reinforcing ribs 6 also allow to define, at the design, the rigidity of the element 4 of protection. Thus, an elastic deformation of the protection element 4 as described makes it possible to protect the bodywork part 2 of the vehicle 1 against scratches and shocks, by absorbing the energy due to these shocks by elastic deformation, the element 4 protection covering its original shape following the impact.

Claims

1. Part (2) of a vehicle body (1) comprising: a main panel (3), and  a protection element (4) mounted on the main panel (3) and forming a protrusion with respect thereto, the main panel (3) and the protection element (4) forming at least one deformable gallery (7), the body part (2) being characterized in that the protection element (4) comprises:  a structural underlayer (10),  a skin (11) which covers the structural underlayer (10), and protruding ribs (6) in contact with the main panel (3) and delimiting the deformable gallery (7).  2. Part (2) of bodywork according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ribs (6) of reinforcement belong to the underlayer (10) structural.  3. Part (2) of bodywork according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the underlayer (10) comprises structural openings (15) at the junction between regions (5) convex skin (11) and the ribs (6) reinforcement.  4. Part (2) of bodywork according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the underlayer (10) comprises at least one structural attachment (16) integral with the underlayer (10) structural.  Body part (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a first part (13) of the reinforcement ribs (6) belongs to the structural sub-layer (10) and at least a second part ( 14) ribs (6) of reinforcement belongs to the skin (11).  6. Part (2) bodywork according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the underlayer (10) structural comprises at least one opening (17) of which at least one rib (6) reinforcing struts. 7. Part (2) of bodywork according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the ribs (6) of reinforcing the second portion (14) comprise a bend (18) disposed substantially halfway up the reinforcing ribs (6) of the second portion (14).  8. Part (2) bodywork according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structural underlayer (10) has a thickness measured along an axis Y, defining a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece (2). ) body thickness, this thickness being variable along an axis X and a Z axis, defining directions orthogonal to each other, substantially coplanar with the plane of the part (2) body.  9. Part (2) of bodywork according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the skin (11) has a thickness measured along a Y axis, defining a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece (2). body, this thickness being variable along an axis X and a Z axis, defining directions orthogonal to each other, substantially coplanar with the plane of the part (2) body.  10. Vehicle (1) automobile comprising a part (2) of bodywork according to any one of the preceding claims.