Assembly consisting of a bumper skin and of masking means

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DESCRIPTION

Set of a bumper enclosure and concealment means.

The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle bumpers.

A body part forming a bumper shell is already known in the state of the art. The bumper shell comprises a face visible from the outside of the vehicle and is delimited by lower and upper transverse edges. The bumper surround is also delimited by side edges. A portion of each side edge is connected to each wing of the vehicle and another portion delimits at least in part each wheel arch. These transverse and lateral edges can comprise rectilinear or curved, concave or convex portions, depending on the style of the bumper shell.

Once the bumper casing has been mounted on the vehicle, the upper edge comprises two portions concealed by additional components of the vehicle, for example two optical blocks. For its part, the portion of the upper edge complementary to the two portions hidden by the optical blocks is visible to the user of the vehicle, specifically in an opening position of the hood of the motor vehicle.

In order to guarantee a good perceived quality and the aesthetics of the vehicle, the upper and lower edges form returns that extend substantially at the level of the visible face of the bumper shell to which they are connected. The return formed by the upper edge makes it possible to offer a good finish to the vehicle, particularly during the opening of the vehicle hood, while the return formed by the lower edge also contributes to the styling of the vehicle.

Throughout the bumper skin painting process, several bumper wraps are arranged on a vertical support of a painting chain so that the lower and upper transverse edges of two successive pieces are adjacent.

In order to paint the entirety of each bumper shell, specifically the visible face and the returns formed by the edges, paint application robots suitable for moving along a three-dimensional path are generally used. On the one hand, these robots are very expensive and very complex to control. On the other hand, as the trajectory is three-dimensional, the time required for the application of the paint is relatively long. Finally, the spaces between the envelopes of the same support must be relatively large to allow the passage of robots between the envelopes and the application of paint on the returns formed by the edges. These spaces between the envelopes reduce the number of envelopes that can be arranged on the support and therefore the performance of the painting chain. Document US 6 511 109 describes an assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. Document US 2004/22 40 99 discloses an assembly comprising a bodywork part with respect to which the object of claim 1 differs in that the upper part of this part is not hidden both by an organ of the vehicle and by a second element complementary to this body.

The invention aims to simplify the procedure for painting the bumper shell.

To this end, the invention has as its object an assembly intended to be added to a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork part intended to form at least a part of a vehicle bumper shell, the part being delimited by lower and upper edges, comprising the upper edge at least one portion intended to be hidden by at least one member of the vehicle added to the part once the part is mounted on the vehicle, characterized in that the set comprises at least a first added element for concealing the lower edge and at least one second added element for concealing a portion of the upper edge complementary to the portion (s) of the upper edge intended to be concealed by the member (s) once assembled the assembly on the vehicle, the first and second concealment elements being fixed with respect to the bodywork part.

Such a body part can be painted by a simple procedure.

Indeed, since the upper and lower transverse edges of the bodywork part are hidden from one side edge to the other by the added members and the first and second concealment elements, then it is useless to paint the returns formed by the upper and lower edges. Then it is even possible to have a body part that has transverse edges that do not form returns.

Due to the fact that it is not necessary to paint the returns formed by the transverse edges, then it is possible, on the one hand, to reduce the spaces between the body parts of the same support and therefore to arrange a relatively large number of body parts on the painting support and, on the other hand, using application robots suitable for moving only along a bi-directional path and thus allowing relatively fast paint application using robots whose cost is relatively low and whose operation is relatively simple. Such robots are for example two-dimensional reciprocators.

According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, the added member that hides at least a portion of the upper edge of the bodywork part comprises an optical block.

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According to another optional feature of the set according to the invention:

- given a first piece identical to the bodywork part, obtained by translating the bodywork part upwards in the position of use in the vehicle, and

- given a second piece identical to the bodywork part, obtained by downward translation of the bodywork part in the position of use in the vehicle, the bodywork part is formed in such a way that any portion of the upper edge of the bodywork part, respectively lower, projected on a projection plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in the position of use in the vehicle, which delimits a non-planar convex projected part of the part, it faces a portion of the lower edge, respectively upper, projected on the projection plane, which delimits a concave or flat part of the first part, respectively of the second part.

A piece of this type makes it possible to optimize the volume occupied by the pieces on the painting support and therefore increase the number of pieces that can be arranged on the painting support. Indeed, the part is formed in such a way that the upper and lower edges follow, at least in certain portions, substantially parallel trajectories, which makes it possible to optimize the volume occupied by a set of overlapping parts in which the lower and upper edges of two Successive pieces are facing each other.

Optionally, the lower edge defines a recess arranged in the bodywork part and the upper edge defines at least one projection that forms a visible part of the part once it is mounted on the vehicle, the bodywork part being formed in such a way that :

- each protrusion of the bodywork part is suitable to be positioned in the recess of the first identical bodywork part, and

- the recess in the bodywork part is suitable for receiving the projections of the second identical bodywork part.

Such body parts can be interlocked with each other during the painting process, which makes it possible to further increase the number of parts that can be arranged on the painting support.

Furthermore, as the notch is suitable to receive the projection (s) of another identical piece, the passage of the applicator in the vicinity of the notch also allows the projection (s) of the other identical piece placed in the notch to be painted, thus reducing losses. classical painting associated with the application of paint in the vicinity of the edges of the pieces to be painted.

According to an optional characteristic of the assembly according to the invention, the first and second concealment elements are made of a single piece from molding, preferably of a plastic material.

Optionally, the first and second shielding elements are connected to each other by elastically deformable connecting means.

In the case in which the first and second concealment elements are in one piece, the deformable connecting means make it possible to adjust the position of the first and second concealment elements with respect to the body by elastically deforming the connecting means. These joining means therefore make it possible to add the concealment elements to the part despite any possible dimensional variations of the bodywork part and the concealment elements.

According to another optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, the assembly comprises a support part of the bodywork part comprising:

- a support part intended to support the bodywork part, and

- a part visible from the outside of the vehicle once the assembly is mounted on the vehicle, the visible part comprising the first and second concealment elements.

The support piece thus ensures the function of concealing the lower edge and the complementary portion of the upper edge, as well as the supporting function of the bumper shell. This support piece can also comprise other parts suitable for exercising other functions, for example shock absorption.

Advantageously, the bodywork part comprises fixing means to the first and second concealment elements formed in one piece by molding with the bodywork part.

Such fastening elements make it possible to manufacture a bodywork part at a low cost.

According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, at least one of the first and second concealment elements comprises at least one decorative element, for example an air intake grille.

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Thus, by arranging different models of the first and second concealment elements comprising decorative elements corresponding to different gamut levels, it is possible to obtain different gamut levels of the set by changing at least one of the first and second concealment elements.

Optionally, the bodywork part comprises means for fixing the part to at least one other identical bodywork part.

The object of the invention is also a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a set as defined above.

A method of painting at least a first and a second bodywork part that each form a part of a bumper shell is also envisaged, the first and second parts being identical to each other, in which each first and second bodywork part forms a body part of an assembly as defined above and in which paint is applied to each first and second part by means of a mobile applicator according to at most two dimensions.

Advantageously, the second piece is suspended from the first piece.

Therefore, the second piece can be attached to the first piece without using a paint support as an intermediary, but directly by suspending it from the first piece. It is thus possible to provide for suspending several bodywork parts in succession from one another, the highest part being the only one suspended from a support.

The invention will be better understood after reading the following description, provided solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention;

figure 3 is a perspective view of a bodywork part of the assembly of figure 2;

figure 4 is a perspective view of a support piece of the assembly of figure 2;

figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the support part of figure 4;

figure 6 is another perspective view of the support part of figure 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a set of bodywork parts painted according to a painting method according to a first embodiment;

figure 8 is a perspective view of a set of bodywork parts painted according to a painting method according to a second embodiment,

figure 9 is a perspective view of the part of figure 3 and of the first and second parts obtained by translating this part respectively up and down.

In Figures 1 to 6, X, Y, Z axes orthogonal to each other corresponding to the usual longitudinal X, transverse Y and vertical Z orientations of a vehicle have been represented. The longitudinal axis is oriented from the front towards the rear of the vehicle.

Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle according to the invention designated by the general reference V.

The vehicle V comprises a front assembly 10 added to the motor vehicle, and represented in figure 2. The assembly 10 comprises a bodywork part 11 which forms a part of a bumper envelope PC of the vehicle and a support part 12 of the body part 11, represented in figures 4 and 6. The vehicle V also comprises other body parts such as a hood C, movable with respect to the body part 11, and wings A. The vehicle V also comprises two optical blocks BO arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the vehicle substantially parallel to the XZ plane.

As is also represented in Figures 2 and 3, part 11 comprises a face 13 visible from the outside of the vehicle V and is delimited by lower 14 and upper 16 transverse edges. Part 11 is also delimited by two lateral edges 17, 18. Each lateral edge 17, 18 comprises a first portion 18a connected to each wing A and a second portion 18b that delimits at least in part each wheel arch 20. The edges 14 and 16 form returns that extend substantially perpendicular to the visible face 13. These returns have a dimension of less than or equal to 10 mm, even 7 mm, and preferably 5 mm.

The lower edge 14 of the part 11 delimits a recess 22 arranged in the part. This notch extends, in the Y direction, for approximately half the width of the part 11 and, according to the Z direction, for approximately a third of the height of the part 11. The upper edge 16 delimits two projections 24, 26 which form

ES 2 387 705 T3 two visible parts of part 11 once mounted on the vehicle as shown in figure 1. The two projections 24, 26 extend substantially in the vertical direction Z and are symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal plane vehicle medium V. Each projection extends, according to the Y direction, in a portion 28, 29 of the upper edge 16 located opposite the recess 22 with respect to a median horizontal plane of the part 11, parallel to the XY plane.

The part 11 also includes two holes 30 for the passage of lower lighting elements 32, in this case fog lights.

As shown in figure 3, the part 11 comprises fixing means 34 to the support part 12. These fixing means 34 form a single piece by molding with the part 11. In this case, as the part 11 is molded of a plastic material, the fixing means 34 comprise elastic fixing elements such as clamps 36.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the support piece 12. The piece 12 is molded in one piece, preferably of a plastic material, specifically an injected plastic material. The part 12 comprises a part 38 intended to support the part 11 and located opposite the part 11, behind it once the assembly 10 is mounted on the vehicle V. The part 12 also comprises a part 40, visible from the outside of the vehicle V once the assembly 10 has been mounted on it. This part 40 comprises first and second elements 42, 44 intended to be fixed on the bodywork part 11 by means of means 34. Finally, part 12 comprises a lower converging element 45 that guarantees an air guiding function, and possibly a shock absorption function.

The part 38 comprises joining means 46 of the first and second elements 42, 44 to each other. These connecting means 46 can be elastically deformed and comprise several connecting members 48 distributed in the Y direction between the first and second elements 42, 44. Each member 48 has, in a plane parallel to the YZ plane, a wavy section. The part 38 also comprises an impact absorbing member 50 which is adapted to receive a bumper beam.

The first element 42, located in the lower part of the assembly 11, comprises an air intake grille 52 as well as a deflector 54. The second element 44, located in the upper part of the assembly 11, comprises a decorative element, in this case a calender 56. Each element 42, 44 further comprises fixing means 58 of the support part 12 to the bodywork part 11, these means 58 being complementary to the means 34. In this case, the means 58 comprise holes 60 for receiving the clamps 36.

As shown in figure 2, the lower edge 14 is hidden from the lateral edge 17 to the lateral edge 18 by the first element 42, thus forming a first concealing element of the lower edge 14 of the bodywork part 11. In In particular, the air intake grille 52 hides the lower edge of the recess 22.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the upper edge 16 comprises two portions 62a, 62b hidden by two organs of the vehicle once the bodywork part 11 has been mounted on the vehicle V, in this case the optical blocks BO. The upper edge 16 also comprises a portion 64, complementary to the portions 62a, 62b, so that the portions 62a, 62b and 64 form the edge 16 that extends from the lateral edge 17 to the lateral edge 18. The portion 64 of the edge 16 is concealed by the second element 44 thus forming a second concealment element of the portion 64 of the upper edge 16. Once added to the body part 11, the first and second concealment elements 42, 44 they are fixed with respect to the bodywork part.

As shown in Figure 9, the bodywork part 11 is formed in such a way that any portion 16a of the upper edge 16 of the bodywork part projected onto a transverse projection plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, substantially parallel to the YZ plane, that delimits a non-planar convex projected part of the part, is opposite a portion 14a of the lower edge projected onto the transverse projection plane, that delimits a concave or flat part of a first part 11a. This first part 11a, represented in broken lines in figure 9, is obtained by translating part 11 upwards in the position of use in the vehicle.

The bodywork part 11 is also formed such that any portion of the lower edge 14b, projected on the projection plane in the position of use in the vehicle, which delimits a non-planar convex projected part of the part, is opposite a portion 16b of the upper edge, projected on the transverse plane, which delimits a concave or flat part of a second part 11b. This second part 11b, also represented in discontinuous line in figure 9, is obtained by translation downwards of part 11 in the position of use in the vehicle.

The bodywork part 11 of the assembly 10 according to the invention can be painted according to a painting process of which the main aspects associated with the invention will be specified below.

Figure 7 shows a set of bodywork parts 11 painted according to a painting method according to a first embodiment.

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A painting installation 100 comprises a support 102 that forms a hanger. From this support 102 are suspended first, second and third body parts to be painted and respectively with the references 104, 106, 108. These three parts are identical to each other. In this case, part 104 is obtained by moving the second body part 106 upwards in the position of use in the vehicle and part 108 is obtained by moving the body part downwards in the position of use in the vehicle. This displacement comprises a translation, possibly completed by a rotation of a few degrees about an axis substantially parallel to the transverse axis Y.

Each body part comprises means for fixing each part to at least one other identical body part. In this case, the first piece 104 is suspended from the support 102 by means of first suspension means 105, the second piece 106 is suspended from the first piece 102 by means of second suspension means 107 and the third piece 108 is suspended from the second piece 106 by means of third suspension means 109.

The suspension means 105, 107, 109 respectively comprise rods 105a, 105b, 107a, 107b and 109a, 109b. These rods are preferably made of plastic material. The rods 105a, 105b are fixed on the upper part of the piece 104. The rods 107a, 107b are fixed on the upper part of the piece 106 and fixed on the lower part of the piece 104. Similarly, the rods 109a, 109b are fixed on the upper part of the piece 108 and on the lower part of the piece 106.

As shown in Figure 7 in which the first, second and third pieces 104, 106, 108 are superimposed on each other in this order, each piece 104, 106, 108 is formed so that the projections 24, 26 of the Second and third pieces 106 and 108 are suitable to be placed in the recess 22 respectively of the first and second pieces 104, 106. The notch 22 of the first and second pieces 104, 106 is suitable to receive the projections respectively of the second and third pieces 106, 108.

Advantageously, the rods are removably fixed in the fixing means 34 of two consecutive pieces. Therefore, the pieces are painted by means of a mobile applicator according to at most two dimensions, for example a reciprocator and, after the painting step, the rods are removed.

In a variant, the rods can be movable between:

- a suspension position used in a stage of applying a product, for example a stage of painting the part in which the part that carries them is suspended from the part located above,

- a separation position (figure 3) used in a stage of transport of the piece in which the rod allows to maintain a fixed separation between two consecutive pieces.

In a variant, the pieces 104, 106, 108 may be suspended from two continuous wire-like elements, for example cables, fixed to the support 102.

Figure 8 shows a set of bodywork parts to be painted according to a painting method according to a second embodiment.

In this figure 8, elements similar to those represented in the previous figures are designated by identical references.

The installation 200 comprises a support 202 that forms a mast. The facility also comprises first and second three-piece assemblies 204a, 204b. The first assembly 204a comprises first, second, and third parts 208a, 210a, 212a. Each part 208a, 210a, 212a is independently fixed to the mast 202 respectively by fixing means 209a, 211a, 213a. Each means 209a, 211a, 213a comprises two spacer bars 209a1, 209a2, 211a1, 211a2, 213a1, 213a2 that extend from the mast 202 to the corresponding part. The second set 204b is arranged symmetrically to the first set 204a with respect to a vertical plane P. The references of this second set 204b are derived by changing as necessary from those of the first set 204a.

As shown in figure 8, the length of the separation bars depends on the distance necessary to put two body parts with their rear parts facing each other without the latter touching. In the installation shown, the ends of the bodywork parts are placed almost level with each other so that the occupied volume of the installation is minimized. Therefore, the body parts are formed in such a way that the occupied volume of two parts located with their rear parts facing each other is minimized.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

Indeed, the bodywork part can be made of sheet metal.

Furthermore, the bodywork part can be injection, compression or thermoformed molded.

The bumper shell may also comprise one or more decorative elements formed from a single

ES 2 387 705 T3 part by molding or additions such as shock absorbers or fog lamp trims.

Specifically, it may be envisaged, independently of the other characteristics, a method of painting at least a first and a second bodywork parts that each form a part of a bumper shell, the first and second parts being identical to each other, in which paint is applied to each first and second part 5 by means of a mobile applicator according to a maximum of two dimensions.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the characteristics:

- of the bodywork part 11,

- of the concealment elements 42, 44,

- of the support piece 12, and

- the painting procedure, and

- of the set 10 described above, they can be implemented independently of each other, and regardless of the fact that the set comprises at least one added element for concealing the lower edge and at least one second element for concealing a complementary upper edge portion to the portion (s) 15 of the upper edge intended to be concealed by the member (s) once the assembly is mounted on the vehicle, the first and second concealment elements being fixed with respect to the bodywork part.