Method for manufacturing a central underbody portion including a multi-part tunnel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016332686-A1
Application number	US-201415111661-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Jan 14, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a central underbody portion of a structural body of a motor vehicle to delimit a bottom of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The method includes assembling a floor of the central underbody portion, attaching an integral central profile to the floor, arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a length dependent on a length of the central underbody portion in the longitudinal direction, and assembling at least one end piece forming an extension of the central profile. The end piece has an interface providing a connection and a function of absorbing and transmitting forces with a structural portion of the body that is separate from the central underbody portion and/or with the floor. The attaching includes adapting the length of the central profile as a function of the length of the central underbody portion in the longitudinal direction.

First claim

1 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . A method for manufacturing a central underbody portion of a structural body of a motor vehicle, to delimit a bottom of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, including a longitudinal structural tunnel, comprising:
assembling a floor of the central underbody portion; attaching an integral central profile to the floor, arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a length that is dependent on a length of the central underbody portion in the longitudinal direction; and assembling at least one end piece forming an extension of the central profile and configured so as to have an interface providing a connection and a function of absorbing and transmitting forces with a structural portion of the body that is separate from the central underbody portion and/or with the floor, wherein the attaching includes adapting the length of the central profile as a function of the length of the central underbody portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

14 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the adapting includes providing an initial profile then cutting the initial profile to define the length of the central profile by selecting from at least a length according to a first value corresponding to a first type of central underbody portion and a length according to a second value corresponding to a second type of the central underbody portion.

15 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the central profile has a length with a first value dimensioned such that the central underbody portion has a length enabling it to receive, on the passenger compartment side, two seats spaced apart in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the central underbody portion fitted with the central profile having the length corresponding to a first value constituting a first type of central underbody portion.

16 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the central profile has a length with a second value dimensioned such that the central underbody portion has a length enabling it to receive, on the passenger compartment side, four seats distributed in two rows spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and each containing two seats spaced apart in the lateral direction, the central underbody portion fitted with the central profile having the length corresponding to a second value constituting a second type of central underbody portion.

17 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said at least one end piece is configured so that it can be used independently within a central underbody portion of the first type and within a central underbody portion of the second type.

18 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the central profile belonging to the first type of central underbody portion and the central profile belonging to the second type of central underbody portion are adapted from an identical initial profile.

19 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the central profile belonging to the first type of central underbody portion and the central profile belonging to the second type of central underbody portion are adapted by cutting from an identical initial profile.

20 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said at least one end piece comprises:
a front end piece mounted at the front end of the central profile, in the extension of the central profile in the longitudinal direction, and having an interface providing a connection and a function of absorbing and transmitting forces with a front structural portion of the body that is separate from the central underbody portion and/or with the floor, and a rear end piece mounted at the rear end of the central profile, in the extension of the central profile in the longitudinal direction, and having an interface providing a connection and a function of absorbing and transmitting forces with a rear structural portion of the body that is separate from the central underbody portion and/or with the floor.

21 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the floor comprises a single piece which is integral over the entire length of the central underbody portion in the longitudinal direction and over the entire width of the central underbody portion in the lateral direction.

22 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the floor, said at least one end piece, and the central profile are shaped and assembled together such that over all or part of the length in the longitudinal direction, the longitudinal structural tunnel delimits a hollow reinforcing body of tubular form with a cross-section with closed contour.

23 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the central profile and each end piece are attached to an upper face of the floor such that the hollow reinforcing body is situated above the floor, on the passenger compartment side relative to the floor.

24 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the cross-section of the central profile in a section plane perpendicular to the extrusion direction has a profile with open contour, in particular in the form of a base situated above and spaced from the floor, and extended at its ends by two wings connecting the base and the floor.

25 . The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the central profile is formed of a material with a limit of elasticity greater than 900 MPa.

Assignees

• Renault Sa

Inventors

• Kowalski Philippe
• Hlubina Thierry

Classifications

• Y10T29/49616

  Structural member making · CPC title

• Y10T29/49798

  Dividing sequentially from leading end, e.g., by cutting or breaking · CPC title

• Y10T29/49789

  Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece · CPC title

• Y10T29/49627

  Frame component · CPC title

• Y10T29/49623

  Static structure, e.g., a building component · CPC title