FR3099906A1 - REAR DEFLECTOR WITH BUMPER MOUNTING LEG GUIDE HOUSINGS, FOR VEHICLE STRUCTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

A rear deflector (DR) is fitted to a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (SV), comprising a rear panel provided with N first fixing lugs, and a rear bumper (PCR), comprising N second fixing lugs (PF2). This rear deflector (DR) comprises a rear edge (BR) comprising N zones against which rest, on a lower face (FI), the N second fixing lugs (PF2) and provided with N traversed holes, just like the first and second (PF2) fixing brackets, by N screws ensuring the fixed attachment of the rear bumper (PCR) to the rear deflector (DR) and of the latter to the rear panel. This rear edge (BR) also comprises on its lower face (FI), in each of the N zones, a housing (LP) comprising a hole, guiding the positioning of one of the second fixing lugs (PF2) and accommodating the latter. . Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

REAR DEFLECTOR WITH BUMPER MOUNTING LUG GUIDE SLOTS, FOR VEHICLE STRUCTURE

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to wheeled vehicles comprising a rear bumper and a structure comprising a base and a rear panel, and more specifically the rear deflectors which must be secured to these bases, rear panels and rear bumpers.

State of the art

Some wheeled vehicles, generally of the automotive type, include a structure (or body) to which are attached a rear bumper and a rear deflector to reduce aerodynamic drag and therefore energy consumption. More specifically, the rear deflector comprises a front edge which is oriented towards the front of the vehicle and secured fixedly by screwing to an underside of a base part of the structure, and a rear edge which is oriented towards the rear of the vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to N first fixing lugs of a rear panel of the structure and N second fixing lugs of the rear bumper, with N ≥ 2. To do this, the rear edge comprises N zones against which s respectively support, on an underside, the N second fixing lugs and provided respectively with N holes traversed, like the first and second fixing lugs, by N screws which ensure the fixed connection of the rear bumper to the rear deflector and from the latter to the rear panel.

To achieve such an assembly, a technician generally begins by securing the upper part of the rear bumper to the rear panel of the structure by letting the lower part of the rear bumper hang down, even though the structure of the vehicle is suspended from the above ground on the assembly line. Then, this technician takes hold of the rear deflector, places the rear edge of the latter above the second mounting brackets of the rear bumper, then couples the front edge of the rear deflector to screws or studs which have been fixed beforehand on the underside of the base. Then, the technician is forced to temporarily let go of the pre-held rear deflector in order to grab a screwdriver and N screws (or bolts). Then, the technician inserts each of the N screws into holes defined respectively in the rear edge of the rear deflector, one of the N second fixing lugs and one of the N first fixing lugs, before proceeding with the screwing.

As those skilled in the art know, this phase of inserting the screws into the holes is not easy to carry out because it requires that the N holes of the rear edge of the rear deflector be initially placed respectively opposite the N holes second rear bumper mounting brackets. However, such an initial placement is quite difficult to obtain because the structure of the vehicle is suspended and therefore the technician must perform above his head the coupling of the rear bumper to this structure. There is therefore frequently a transverse offset between the rear deflector and the rear bumper that the technician must make up for by having his arms raised, which is not ergonomic, is tiring due to the respective weights of the rear deflector and bumper back, and wastes time on the assembly line. In addition, the rear spoiler and the lower part of the rear bumper are frequently dark (for example black), which does not facilitate the facing (or coincidence) of their respective holes.

Furthermore, once the rear spoiler and the rear bumper have been correctly fastened to the structure, by screwing, the second rear bumper mounting lugs are exposed to shocks due to the fact that they are placed against the underside of the rear deflector. They can therefore be broken, which can cause the structure of the vehicle to separate from the lower part of the rear bumper. This exposure to shocks is further increased when the second fixing lugs each comprise a free front end inclined downwards in order to facilitate the passage of the rear edge of the rear deflector during assembly.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a rear deflector, on the one hand, intended to equip a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure, comprising a rear panel provided with N first fixing lugs, with N ≥ 2, and a rear bumper, comprising N second fixing lugs, and, on the other hand, comprising a rear edge comprising N zones against which the N second fixing lugs are intended to rest respectively, on a lower face and provided respectively with N holes intended to be crossed, like the first and second fixing lugs, by N screws ensuring the fixed attachment of the rear bumper to the rear deflector and of the latter to the rear panel.

This rear deflector is characterized in that its rear edge also comprises on its lower face, in each of the N zones, a housing comprising one of the holes and intended to guide the positioning of one of the second fixing lugs and to at least partially accommodate the latter, once positioned.

Thanks to the invention, when the technician has grasped a rear deflector, he can now easily place his rear edge above the N second mounting brackets of the rear bumper, by adjusting its position so that the N housings respectively house these N seconds of fixing legs after having guided them.

The rear deflector according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- Each housing can be delimited at least partially by a projecting rib on the underside of the rear edge;

- in the presence of second fixing lugs comprising a free front end inclined downwards over a first height, each rib may comprise a front part extending downwards over a second height greater than or equal to this first height;

- the front part PV1 of each rib can extend forward along a plane inclined upwards so as to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle;

- each housing can be defined at least partially by a recess defined in the rear edge and projecting on an upper face of the latter, opposite the lower face;

- in the presence of second fixing lugs comprising a free front end inclined downwards over a first height, each recess may comprise a front wall extending over a second height greater than or equal to this first height;

- in the presence of second fixing lugs comprising a free front end inclined downwards over a first height, each rib may comprise a front part extending over a second height less than this first height, each recess may comprise a front wall extending over a third height lower than this first height, and a sum of the second and third heights is then greater than or equal to this first height;

- the front part of each rib can extend forward along an upwardly inclined plane so as to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

The invention also proposes a wheeled vehicle, optionally of the automotive type, and comprising, on the one hand, a structure, comprising a rear panel provided with N first fixing lugs, with N ≥ 2, and a rear bumper, comprising N second fixing lugs, and, on the other hand, a rear deflector of the type presented above and fixedly secured to the rear bumper and to the rear panel by N screws.

For example, each of the first fixing lugs can be provided with a nut for screwing in a threaded end of one of the screws.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings, in which:

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view of the front side, an example of a rear panel of a vehicle structure, to which are fixedly attached a rear bumper and a first embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a rear part of a vehicle structure to which are fixedly attached a rear bumper and a second embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the side of the underside, the rear deflector of Figure 2,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, the rear bumper and rear deflector of Figure 2 during the positioning of the latter relative to the first,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a small part of a rear bumper secured to a small part of a third embodiment of a rear spoiler according to the invention,

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view, the parts of the rear bumpers and rear deflector of Figure 5, before the introduction of a screw in their holes, and

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a small part of a rear bumper secured to a small part of a fourth embodiment of a rear deflector according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a rear deflector DR intended to equip a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure SV and a rear bumper PCR, and facilitating assembly.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the rear deflector DR is intended to equip a vehicle of the automotive type, such as a car for example. But the invention is not limited to this type of wheeled vehicle. It relates in fact to any wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (or body) comprising a rear panel PR and a base SS to be equipped with a rear deflector. Thus, it also concerns utility vehicles, minibuses, coaches, and road construction machinery, in particular.

There is schematically shown in Figure 1 an example of a rear panel PR of a structure (or body) SV of a vehicle (here of the automotive type) to which are fixedly attached a rear bumper PCR and a first example of embodiment of a rear deflector DR according to the invention.

This rear panel PR is intended to be installed at the rear end of the base SS of the structure (or body) SV, partially shown in Figure 2. It comprises N first fixing lugs PF1 to which are intended to be fixedly secured by screws VS a PIP lower part of the PCR rear bumper and the DR rear deflector.

For example, and as illustrated in figure 1, each first fixing lug PF1 can be fitted with a nut EC for screwing in a threaded end of one of the screws VS. Each EC nut can, for example, be welded against the hole defined in the first fixing lug PF1 for the passage of a screw VS.

As illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, the number N here is equal to four. But this number can take any value greater than or equal to two (2).

As indicated in the introductory part, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rear deflector DR comprises front edges BV and rear BR.

In what follows and what precedes, the notions of front and rear relate to the front and rear ends of the vehicle. A front element is therefore intended to be oriented towards the front of the vehicle, while a rear element is intended to be oriented towards the rear of the vehicle.

The BV front edge is oriented towards the front of the vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to the underside of the SS base of the SV structure. The rear edge BR is oriented towards the rear of the vehicle and fixedly secured by screwing to the N first fixing lugs PF1 of the rear panel PR of this structure SV and to N second fixing lugs PF2 of the rear bumper PCR. To this end, the rear edge BR comprises N zones against which rest respectively, on a lower face FI (intended to be oriented towards the road), the N second fixing lugs PF2 of the rear bumper PCR. These N areas respectively comprise N holes T1 to be placed facing, on the one hand, N corresponding holes T2 and defined respectively in the N second fixing lugs PF2, and, on the other hand, N other corresponding holes (not visible) and respectively defined in the first N fixing lugs PF1.

In order to facilitate this placement by a technician, the rear edge BR of the rear deflector DR comprises on its lower face FI, in each of its N zones, a housing LP which comprises one of the N holes T1 and which is intended to guide the positioning one of the N second fixing lugs PF2 and at least partially housing the latter (PF2), once it has been positioned.

Thus, when the technician has grasped a rear deflector DR, he can easily place its rear edge BR above the N second fixing lugs PF2 of the rear bumper PCR, the lower part PIP of which hangs down awaiting attachment to the first lugs of fixing PF1 of the rear panel PR, adjusting its position so that the N slots LP respectively house these N second fixing lugs PF2 after having guided them. Then, the technician can couple the front edge BV of the rear deflector DR to screws or studs G which have been fixed beforehand to the underside of the base SS (see FIG. 2). Then, the technician temporarily lets go of the rear deflector DR pre-held at the front and at the rear (due to the housing of the second PF2 fixing lugs in the corresponding LP housings), in order to grab a screwdriver and N screws (or bolts) VS. Finally, the technician introduces each of the N screws VS into a hole T2 of one of the N second fixing lugs PF2, a corresponding hole T1 of the rear edge BR of the rear deflector DR, and a corresponding hole of one of the first N PF1 fixing lugs, before proceeding with the screwing using the screwdriver.

Several embodiments of the rear deflector DR can be envisaged. Some of these modes are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

In a first embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 5 to 7, each housing LP is defined at least partially by a recess RL defined in the rear edge BR and projecting on an upper face FS of the latter (BR). This upper face FS is opposite the lower face FI. It is therefore here at least one deformation (by recess RL) of the rear edge BR in a zone which makes it possible to at least partially define a housing LP.

It will be noted that in the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, each housing LP is defined not only by a recess RL but also by a rib NL, as will be seen later. But each LP slot could only be defined by an RL recess. In this case, when each second fixing lug PF2 comprises a front end EV free and inclined downwards over a first height in order to facilitate the placement by the technician of the rear edge BR of the rear deflector DR above the N second legs of fixing PF2 of the rear bumper PCR, each recess RL preferably comprises a front wall PV2 which extends over a second height greater than or equal to this first height. This in fact makes it possible to prevent each front end EV from being exposed to shocks, and therefore from its second fixing lug PF2 being able to be broken.

In a second embodiment illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 7, each housing LP is defined at least partially by a rib NL projecting from the lower face FI. It is therefore here at least a small "low wall" defined on the lower face FI of the rear edge BR in each zone which makes it possible to at least partially define a housing LP.

Note that in the example illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, each housing LP is defined only by a rib NL. In this case, when each second fixing lug PF2 comprises a free front end EV and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib NL can comprise a front part PV1 which extends downwards over a second height greater than or equal to at this first height. This in fact makes it possible to prevent each front end EV from being exposed to shocks, and therefore from its second fixing lug PF2 being able to be broken.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 7, that the front part PV1 of each rib NL can advantageously extend forward along a plane PAI which is inclined upwards in order to optimize the aerodynamics of the vehicle. For example, the slope may have an inclination of between 10° and 45°, relative to a horizontal plane.

In a third embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 5 to 7, each housing LP is defined not only in part by a rib NL but also in part by a recess RL. This third embodiment therefore constitutes a combination of the first and second embodiments. In this case, when each second fixing lug PF2 comprises a free front end EV and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib NL preferably comprises a front part PV1 which extends over a second height lower than this first height and each recess RL preferably comprises a front wall PV2 which extends over a third height less than this first height. Moreover, the sum of the second and third heights is preferably greater than or equal to the first height. This in fact makes it possible to prevent each front end EV from being exposed to shocks, and therefore from its second fixing lug PF2 being able to be broken.

In this third embodiment, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 7 and as mentioned above, the front part PV1 of each rib NL can advantageously extend forward along the plane PAI inclined upwards in order to optimize vehicle aerodynamics.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 7, that the inclined plane PAI may possibly comprise at least one hole T3 making it possible to evacuate water or accumulated condensation. Each hole T3 is preferably defined in the lowest part of the inclined plane PAI.

Claims (10)

Rear deflector (DR) for a wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (SV), comprising a rear panel (PR) provided with N first fixing lugs (PF1), with N ≥ 2, and a rear bumper (PCR), comprising N second fixing lugs (PF2), said rear deflector (DR) comprising a rear edge (BR) comprising N zones against which are intended to bear respectively, on a lower face (FI), said N second fixing lugs (PF2) and respectively provided with N holes (T1) intended to be crossed, just like said first (PF1) and second (PF2) fixing lugs, by N screws ensuring the fixed attachment of said rear bumper (PCR) to said deflector back (DR) and from the latter (DR) to said rear panel (PR), characterized in that said rear edge (BR) further comprises on said lower face (FI), in each of said N zones, a housing (LP) comprising one of said holes (T1) and intended to guide the positioning of one of said second fixing lugs (PF2) and to house the latter at least partially, once positioned. Rear deflector according to Claim 1, characterized in that each housing (LP) is delimited at least partially by a rib (NL) projecting from the said lower face (FI). Rear deflector according to Claim 2, characterized in that in the presence of second fixing lugs (PF2) comprising a front end (EV) which is free and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib (NL) comprises a front part ( PV1) extending downwards over a second height greater than or equal to said first height. Rear deflector according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said front part (PV1) extends forwards along a plane inclined upwards so as to optimize the aerodynamics of the said vehicle. Rear deflector according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each housing (LP) is defined at least partially by a recess (RL) defined in the said rear edge (BR) and projecting on an upper face (FS) of the latter ( BR), opposite said lower face (FI). Rear deflector according to Claim 5, characterized in that in the presence of second fixing lugs (PF2) comprising a free front end (EV) and inclined downwards over a first height, each recess (RL) comprises a front wall ( PV2) extending over a second height greater than or equal to said first height. Rear deflector according to the combination of Claims 2 and 5, characterized in that in the presence of second fixing lugs (PF2) comprising a free front end (EV) and inclined downwards over a first height, each rib (NL) comprises a front part (PV1) extending over a second height lower than said first height, each recess (RL) comprises a front wall (PV2) extending over a third height lower than said first height, and a sum of said second and third heights being greater than or equal to said first height. Rear deflector according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said front part (PV1) extends forwards along a plane inclined upwards so as to optimize the aerodynamics of the said vehicle. Wheeled vehicle comprising a structure (SV), comprising a rear panel (PR) provided with N first fixing lugs (PF1), with N ≥ 2, and a rear bumper (PCR), comprising N second fixing lugs ( PF2), characterized in that it further comprises a rear deflector (DR) according to one of the preceding claims, fixedly secured to said rear bumper (PCR) and to said rear panel (PR) by N screws. Vehicle according to Claim 9, characterized in that each of the said first fixing lugs (PF1) is provided with a nut for screwing in a threaded end of one of the said screws.