Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/48—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting
  • B60D1/485—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
  • B62D25/08—Front or rear portions

Definitions

• the present invention claims priority from French application 2303756 filed on April 14, 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.
• the present invention relates to the field of vehicle hitch crossmembers and more particularly to a fixing part mounted in a rear side member of a vehicle for fixing a rear axle of the vehicle to the side member and a vehicle comprising such a fixing part.
• the hitch crossmember is conventionally attached to the rear of a vehicle structure and comprises two attachment arms, each positioned at one of the two ends of the hitch crossmember.
• Each fixing arm is housed in a side member of the vehicle structure and fixed to a side wall of the side member by a screw/nut system.
• a towing hook can be attached to the tow bar for towing a trailer or caravan, for example.
• the hitch crossmember is subjected to significant forces when towing.
• the thickness of the rear spar does not allow it to withstand these significant forces.
• the aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a fixing part for the rear axle making it possible to improve the mechanical strength of the coupling crossmember to the side member.
• the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a fixing part intended to be mounted in a side member positioned at the rear of a vehicle structure to fix a rear axle of the vehicle to the side member.
• the fixing part comprises a central portion intended to run along a lower longitudinal wall of the side member and which comprises a first orifice intended to receive a first fixing element for fixing an axle fixing to the side member.
• the fixing part comprises a first side flange extending from a first side of the central portion so as to project relative to the central portion.
• the first side flange is intended to run along a first side wall of the spar connected to the lower longitudinal wall.
• the fixing part comprises a second lateral edge extending from a second side of the central part, parallel to the first lateral edge.
• the second lateral edge is intended to run along a second lateral wall of the side member connected to the lower longitudinal wall and comprises fixing means intended to fix a hitch cross member of the vehicle to the second lateral edge and to the second lateral wall of the side member.
• the invention thus makes it possible to increase the thickness of the sheet metal at the level of the attachment of the coupling crossmember to improve its mechanical strength.
• the fixing part comprises a cross section having a general U shape.
• the central part comprises a first part and a second part connected together by an intermediate part so as to form a recess on the central part.
• the first orifice is positioned on the first part.
• the second side edge comprises a front portion running along the first part of the central part and a rear portion running along the second part of the central part.
• the rear portion has a greater height than the height of the front portion.
• This greater height on the rear portion also allows enough space to be left on the second side edge to allow the attachment of the hitch crossmember arm.
• the fixing means comprise a second orifice formed in the rear portion of the second lateral edge and intended to receive a second fixing element.
• the second hole provides a simple means of fixing in cooperation with a screw/nut system.
• the first part of the central part comprises a first edge.
• the second part of the central part comprises a second edge parallel and opposite to the first edge.
• the intermediate part extends transversely from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge while being inclined relative to the first and second edges.
• the invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one side member positioned at the rear of a structure of the vehicle, a rear axle and at least one fixing part as defined above for fixing a hitch cross member to the side member.
• the first lateral edge of the fixing part is welded to the first lateral wall of the spar.
• the second lateral edge of the fixing piece is welded to the second lateral wall of the spar.
• the attachment arm of the hitch cross member comprises a first attachment hole positioned at one end of the attachment arm.
• a second nut is attached opposite the first attachment hole.
• the second attachment element is inserted into a second attachment hole formed in the second side wall of the beam, the second hole in the attachment piece, the first attachment hole in the attachment arm and screwed into the second nut to attach the attachment arm to the second side wall of the beam and to the second side edge of the attachment piece.
• FIG.1 schematically illustrates a perspective view from below of a vehicle structure comprising a hitch crossmember
• FIG.2 schematically illustrates a perspective view from above of the structure showing a fixing part mounted in a spar of the structure
• FIG.3 schematically illustrates a detailed perspective view of the fixing part.
• Figure 1 illustrates the underside of a vehicle 2 comprising a structure 8 comprising two side members 3 positioned at the rear of the structure 8.
• the two side members 3 extend in a longitudinal direction X.
• the two side members 3 are parallel and positioned on each side of the structure 8 of the vehicle 2.
• the vehicle 2 comprises a coupling crossmember 18 extending in a transverse direction Y, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.
• the vehicle 2 comprises two metal fixing parts 1, each mounted in one of the respective side members 3, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the hitch crossmember 18 comprises two opposite ends 27, 28.
• the hitch crossmember 18 comprises a fixing arm 17 positioned at each end 27, 28, i.e. two fixing arms 17.
• Each fixing arm 17 is connected to a crossbar 29 and extends inside the spar 3 in the longitudinal direction X.
• the vehicle 2 comprises a rear axle 4 which is a multi-link axle in the example of FIG. 1.
• the rear axle 4 comprises two axle attachments 30, only one of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the axle attachment 30 has a cylindrical shape and comprises a fixing orifice 31 axially passing through the axle attachment 30.
• Each fixing piece 1 comprises a central part 5 running along a lower longitudinal wall 6 of the spar 3 which extends in the longitudinal direction X.
• the fixing piece 1 also extends in the longitudinal direction X.
• the fixing part 1 comprises a first orifice 7 receiving a first fixing element (not shown) for fixing the landing gear fixing 30 to the spar 3.
• a cylindrical spacer 33 comprising a channel is arranged between the lower longitudinal wall 6 of the spar 3 and the fixing piece 1 so as to form a space between the fixing piece 1 and the lower longitudinal wall 6.
• the lower longitudinal wall 6 is positioned between the landing gear fixing 30 and the spacer 33.
• the fixing part 1 is positioned opposite one end 36 of a transverse structural bar 35 extending in the transverse direction Y.
• the fixing part 1 comprises a first lateral flange 9 extending from a first side 10 of the central part 5 so as to project relative to the central part 5.
• the first lateral edge 9 is perpendicular to the central part 5.
• the first lateral edge 9 runs along a first lateral wall 11 of the spar 3 which is connected perpendicularly to the lower longitudinal wall 6.
• the fixing part 1 extends to a second side wall 14 of the spar 3 connected perpendicularly to the lower longitudinal wall 6.
• the fixing part 1 comprises a second lateral flange 12 extending from a second side 13 of the central part 5, parallel to the first lateral flange 9.
• the second lateral edge 12 is perpendicular to the central part 5.
• the fixing part 1 comprises a cross section, in the transverse direction Y, having a general U shape.
• the second side edge 12 runs along the second side wall 14 of the side member 3 and comprises fixing means 15, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for fixing the second side edge 12 and the second side wall 14 of the side member 3 to one of the fixing arms 17 of the coupling cross member 18 of the vehicle 2.
• the first lateral edge 9 of the fixing part 1 is welded to the first lateral wall 11 of the spar 3 and the second lateral edge 12 of the fixing part 1 is welded to the second lateral wall.
• the central part 5 is formed of a first part 22 and a second part 23 connected together by an intermediate part 24 so as to form a step or a step.
• the first orifice 7 is positioned on the first part 22.
• the first part 22 and the second part 23 are parallel but not coincident, that is to say offset in a vertical direction Z, perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.
• the lower longitudinal wall 6 is closer to the second part 23 than to the first part 22.
• the second lateral edge 12 comprises a front portion 37 running along the first part 22 of the central part 5 and a rear portion 21 running along the second part 23 of the central part 5.
• the rear portion 21 has a height h2 greater than the height h1 of the front portion 37, from the central part 5.
• the first lateral edge 9 of the fixing part 1 comprises a front portion 38 running along the first part 22 of the central part 5 and a rear portion 39 running along the second part 23 of the central part 5.
• the rear portion 39 has a height h2 greater than the height h1 of the front portion 38.
• the fixing means 15 comprise a second orifice 15 formed in the rear portion 21 of the second lateral edge 12.
• the second orifice 15 is intended to receive a second fixing element 16 for fixing the coupling crossmember 18 to the side member 3.
• the fixing arm 17 of the hitch crossmember 18 comprises a first fixing orifice positioned at the end 19 of the fixing arm 17.
• a second nut 20 is fixed by welding to the end 19 of the fixing arm 17.
• the second nut 20 is positioned opposite the first fixing hole, the second hole 15 of the fixing part 1 and a second fixing hole 32 formed in the second side wall 14 of the spar 3.
• the second fastening element 16 is for example a screw inserted into the second fastening hole 32, the second hole 15 of the fastening part 1, the first fastening hole of the fastening arm 17 then screwed into the second nut 20 to fasten the fastening arm 17 to the second side wall 14 of the spar 3 and to the second side edge 12 of the fastening part 1.
• the second side edge 12 of the fastening part 1 is positioned between the fastening arm 17 and the second side wall 14 of the spar 3.
• the first part 22 comprises a first edge 25 and the second part 23 comprises a second edge 26 parallel and opposite the first edge 25.
• the intermediate portion 24 extends transversely from the first lateral edge 9 to the second lateral edge 12 while being inclined relative to the first and second edges 25, 26. [0064] In this way, the rear portion 21 of the second side flange 12 is wider than the rear portion 39 of the first side flange 9. This provides enough space to secure the attachment arm 17 of the hitch cross member 18 to the rear portion 21.
• the vehicle 2 comprises two side members 3 as explained above. Each side member 3 comprises a fastening piece 1 as described above.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=87748260

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2023
  • 2023-04-14 FR FR2303756A patent/FR3147735B1/fr active Active
• 2024
  • 2024-03-11 EP EP24715672.2A patent/EP4695100A1/de active Pending
  • 2024-03-11 WO PCT/FR2024/050292 patent/WO2024213839A1/fr not_active Ceased

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