Raw structure behind the wheel arch of a front wheel of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Body shell structure (5) behind a wheel arch of a front wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one shell element (6) which together with a further shell element arranged behind it or with an end wall (3) forms a cross member (10) of the body shell structure (5) having a hollow cross section, which extends outside of a longitudinal member (2) in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a side sill (8), characterized in that the shell element (6) of the cross member (7) is connected to a structural element (21) of the side sill (8) by means of at least one screw connection (13, 14, 15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a structural shell behind a wheel arch of a front wheel of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the construction of passenger cars, car bodies are already known in which, in the area behind the respective wheel arches of the front wheels on both sides of the vehicle, respective body structures are provided with a cross member having at least one shell element, which extends outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a side sill on the outside of a laterally associated longitudinal member of a main longitudinal member plane, which is occasionally also referred to as an engine carrier.

[0003] Such a shell structure with a crossbeam formed as part of it with a hollow cross-section, which is formed by the shell element and an end wall arranged behind it in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is known from DE 10 2011 088 688 A1.

[0004] Particularly in frontal collisions with minimal overlap between the vehicle and an obstacle or other vehicle involved in the collision, such body-in-white structures behind the wheel arch of the front wheel on the side of the collision are subjected to considerable forces when the rearward-displaced wheel impacts the respective body-in-white structure. In this process, the connection between at least one shell element of the crossmember and a corresponding component of the side sill is subjected to particularly high forces.

[0005] Reinforcing plates or tension struts are already known from US 2016 / 0052554A1, DE 19836851C1, US 8469442B1, and DE 102014018755B3. These plates and tension struts are attached to the outside of a laterally associated longitudinal member of a main longitudinal member plane and extend outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a side sill, to which they are attached at the front. These reinforcing plates or tension struts are intended, in particular, to trap a front wheel that has been displaced backwards in a frontal collision with minimal overlap and prevent it from intruding into the front bulkhead of the passenger compartment.

[0006] These reinforcing plates or tension struts are additional components, usually attached to the body shell by means of screw connections or the like, following the body shell construction. They do not themselves belong to the body shell structure and therefore, for example, cause a considerable increase in weight.

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a body-in-white structure of the type mentioned at the outset, which, in particular in the event of a frontal collision with a small lateral overlap of the motor vehicle with an obstacle or a collision partner and the associated impact of the front wheel, which is displaced rearward due to the collision, on the body-in-white structure, exhibits improved force transmission behavior and thus improved deformation and energy absorption behavior.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a structural shell with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the independent claims.

[0009] The body-in-white structure according to the invention, located behind a wheel arch of a front wheel of a motor vehicle, comprises at least one shell element which, together with a further shell element arranged behind it or with an end wall, forms a cross member of the body-in-white structure having a hollow cross-section. This cross member extends outwards from a longitudinal member in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a side sill. In order to create a body-in-white structure that can absorb forces in an improved manner when a front wheel impacts the structure, particularly as a result of a rearward displacement during a frontal collision with a small overlap of the motor vehicle with an obstacle or other vehicle involved in the accident, and thus exhibits improved force transmission characteristics, the invention provides that the shell element of the cross member is connected to a component of the side sill by means of at least one screw connection.This type of bolted connection allows significantly more force to be absorbed between the crossmember's shell element and the side sill component than conventional connections. This effectively creates an improved connection between the crossmember's shell element and at least one corresponding side sill component, particularly when the front wheel impacts the crossmember in a frontal collision with a small overlap between the vehicle and an obstacle or other vehicle. This ensures that the crash loads generated by the front wheel are safely transferred to the sill.

[0010] It has proven particularly advantageous to fix the bolted connection before cathodic dip coating of the vehicle body, i.e., to install it during the body-in-white stage. This makes it possible, for example, to provide suitable sealing in the area of ​​the bolted connection and the flange connection it links, without the risk of the components of the bolted connection sticking together or becoming clogged by the sealant.

[0011] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for a screw strip to which at least one screw element, in particular at least one nut, of the screw connection is attached. Large forces can be absorbed or transmitted via such a screw strip between the shell element of the cross member and the structural element of the side sill, thus enabling a particularly favorable connection between the shell element of the cross member and the structural element of the side sill.

[0012] In this context, it has proven further advantageous if the screw strip is joined to the shell element of the crossbeam. This can be achieved, for example, by a suitable weld, in particular a spot weld. This results in a particularly convenient assembly of the corresponding screw connections.

[0013] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that, by means of at least one screw connection, a component of a door pillar, in particular an A-pillar, is also connected to the shell element of the cross member and the component of the side sill. Thus, the screw connection also integrates the respective door pillar into the assembly of the components involved, resulting in a particularly favorable and stable fixing of the shell element of the cross member.

[0014] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that, by means of at least one screw connection, a reinforcing element of the side sill is also connected to the shell element of the cross member and to the component of the side sill or to the component of the door pillar. This also results in a particularly stiff and stable assembly, unified by the respective screw connections.

[0015] Another embodiment of the invention provides that, by means of at least one screw connection, a component of a side frame or a side wall of the vehicle body is also connected to the shell element of the cross member and the component of the side sill, and optionally to the component of the door pillar and / or to the reinforcing element of the side sill. This results in an even more stable connection of the components joined by means of the respective screw connections.

[0016] Finally, it has proven advantageous if the shell element of the crossbeam and the screw strip have at least one recess for a welded connection of the other components connected to each other by means of screw connections. This allows components involved in the assembly to be connected to each other independently of the screw connection, thus achieving additional stiffening and stability of the assembly.

[0017] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone, are not only usable in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective under-view of a front part of a motor vehicle body of a passenger car, which in the area behind wheel arches on both sides comprises a respective body shell structure with an associated cross member having at least one shell element, which extends outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle from a laterally associated longitudinal member of a main longitudinal member plane, which is usually also referred to as engine carrier, to a corresponding side sill, Fig. 2 a partially enlarged perspective view from a slant below of the body shell structure arranged behind the left front wheel arch viewed in the direction of forward travel, with the associated cross member comprising at least one shell element, which extends outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle on the outside of the corresponding longitudinal member or engine carrier to the laterally corresponding side sill, wherein the shell element of the cross member is connected to the side sill by means of three screw connections, Fig. 3 one opposite Fig. 2 Enlarged and perspective view of the screw connections between the shell element of the cross member and respective structural elements in the area in front of the laterally corresponding side sill, and Fig. 4 a sectional view through the screw connections between the shell element of the cross member and the other structural elements in the area of ​​the side sill according to Fig. 3 along a cutting plane running in the vehicle's vertical direction or in the vehicle's transverse direction.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective bottom view of the front part of a passenger car body, which has a front structure 1, of which, among other things, the respective longitudinal members 2 of a main longitudinal member plane, which are also referred to as engine mounts, are visible. Also visible is a front bulkhead 3 of the passenger compartment 4 of the car, which divides it from the front structure 1.

[0020] On the outside of the respective longitudinal beam 2 is in Fig. 1 a respective shell structure 5 arranged behind a wheel arch of a front wheel which is only recognizable in its shell construction, and of which in Fig. 2 shows in a better and enlarged perspective view from a slant below the body shell structure 5, which is arranged behind the front left wheel arch when viewed in the direction of travel.

[0021] It is particularly evident that a shell element 6 of a cross member 7 extends on the outside of the longitudinal member 2 in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y-direction) up to a laterally corresponding side sill 8 or to the structural elements provided in this area, which will be explained in more detail below. The shell element 6 can, together with any further shell element located behind it, or with the front wall 3, form the cross member 7, which has a hollow cross-section. As can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the shell element 6, designed here as a sheet metal forming part, has flanges 9 and 10 with which the shell element 6 connects to the outside and underside of an angle element 11 located below the longitudinal beam 2, respectively, and belonging to it. A further flange connection 12 is visible on the upper side of the shell element 6 or the crossbeam 7, by means of which it is fixed to the end wall 3, for example by means of a spot weld.

[0022] Based on the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, which is opposite Fig. 2. An enlarged and perspective view of the upper structure 5 in the area of ​​the overlap of the shell element 6 of the cross member 7 with the side sill 8, or a section view through the connection of the shell element 6 of the cross member 7 with the side sill 8 along a section plane running in the vehicle's vertical direction (z-direction) or in the vehicle's transverse direction (y-direction), shows that the components involved are connected to each other via three screw connections 13, 14, 15.

[0023] For this purpose, the shell element 6 has a bent flange 16 at its outer end, which extends at least substantially in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) and in the vertical direction (z-direction) of the vehicle. Thus, the flange 16 forms an angle with an adjacent surface area 17 of the shell element 6. In the area of ​​this angle, a screw strip 18 is attached to the flange 16 from the inside, to which three nuts 19 are welded or similarly fastened. These nuts 19 act—as is particularly evident from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the screw strips 18 are joined together with the respective screws 20, which are screwed into the respective nuts 19 from the outside. The nuts 19 and the screws 20 thus form the respective screw connections 13, 14, 15. In this case, the screw strips 18 are also joined to the flange 16 of the shell element 6 on the inside during the rough construction phase, i.e., before cathodic dip coating, by spot welding or another type of joining. In this case, the screw strip 18 is designed around a corner and therefore angled, so that the screw strip 18 is in contact not only with the flange 16, but also with the surface area 17 of the shell element 6.

[0024] Directly adjacent to the shell element 6 of the cross member 7 is a lateral or outer component 21 of the side sill 8. This component is designed as a flat sheet metal part. On the outer surface of this component 21 of the side sill 8, a reinforcing component 23 of a door pillar in the form of an A-pillar rests above it, although the A-pillar is not otherwise visible. On the underside of this component 23, an additional reinforcing component 24 of the side sill 8 rests against the component 21 of the side sill 8; this additional component is also referred to as the outer sill reinforcement. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the upper component 23 of the door pillar and the reinforcement element 24 of the side sill 8 arranged below it have essentially the same material thickness, so that an overall flat contact surface is obtained on the outside, to which a component 25 of an otherwise unrecognizable side frame of the motor vehicle body rests and accordingly closes off the assembly of the components to the outside.

[0025] As it turns out Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the individual components 21, 23, 24, 25 have through-openings 26 in the area of ​​the respective screw connections 13, 14, 15. These through-openings are larger in cross-section than the respective screws 20, and the screws 20 are bolted to the corresponding nuts 19 on the opposite, inner side of the assembly through these through-openings. These screw connections 13, 14, 15 are installed or fastened – as already mentioned – in the body shell and before the cathodic dip coating of the vehicle body. It is clear that, if necessary, the screws 20 and the nuts 19 may also be located on the side of the screw strip 18. It is also clear that the assembly created here via the screw connections 13, 14, 15 must include at least the shell element 6 and one component, in particular the component 21 of the side sill 8.

[0026] By connecting at least one component of the cross member 7, in this case the shell element 6, with at least one component 21 of the side sill 8 by means of at least one screw connection 13, 14, 15, it is ensured that in the event of an accident-related force being applied to the body structure 5, in particular to the shell element 6 or the cross member 7, in the event of a frontal collision with a small overlap of the motor vehicle with an obstacle or a collision partner, in which the corresponding lateral front wheel is displaced backwards and may impact the body structure 5 at extremely high speed or with high forces, the reliable connection of the shell element 6 of the cross member 7 to the side sill 8 is ensured.Furthermore, the at least one, and in particular the three, screw connections 13, 14, 15 between the shell element 6 of the cross member 7 and the at least one component 21 of the side sill 8 ensure that crash loads impacting the cross member 7 or the body shell structure 5 are reliably transferred to the side sill 8. According to the invention, this is achieved by the at least one, and preferably three, screw connections 13, 14, 15.

[0027] Finally, in particular, it shows Fig.3, that the shell element 6 or the flange 16 and the screw strip 18 has at least one recess 27 for a welded connection 28 of the further components 21, 23, 24, 25 connected to each other by means of the screw connection 13, 14, 15. Thus, regardless of the respective screw connection 13, 14, 15, the components 21, 23, 24, 25 involved in the assembly can also be connected to each other, so that additional stiffening and stability of the assembly of the involved components 21, 23, 24, 25 can be achieved. Reference symbol list 1. Shell structure 2 longitudinal beams 3 Front wall 4 passenger compartment 5 Shell structure 6 shell elements 7 crossbeams 8 side skirts 9 flange 10 flange 11 Angle element 12 Flange connection 13 Screw connection 14 screw connection 15 screw connections 16 flange 17 Area 18 screw strip 19 mother 20 screws 21 Component 23 Reinforcement component 24 Reinforcement element 25 building elements 26 through openings 27 recess 28 welded joints

Claims

[1] Body shell structure (5) behind a wheel arch of a front wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one shell element (6) which together with a further shell element arranged behind it or with an end wall (3) forms a cross member (10) of the body shell structure (5) having a hollow cross section, which extends outside of a longitudinal member (2) in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a side sill (8), characterized by , that the shell element (6) of the cross member (7) is connected to a structural element (21) of the side sill (8) by means of at least one screw connection (13, 14, 15). [2] Shell structure (5) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the screw connection (13, 14, 15) is fixed before cathodic dip painting of the motor vehicle body. [3] Shell structure (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that a screw strip (18) is provided to which at least one screw element, in particular at least one nut (19), of the screw connection (13, 14, 15) is attached. [4] Shell structure (5) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the screw strip (18) is joined to the shell element (6) of the crossbeam (7). [5] Shell structure (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that by means of at least one screw connection (13, 14, 15) a component (23) of a door pillar is also connected to the shell element (6) of the cross member (7) and the component (21) of the side sill (8). [6] Shell structure (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that by means of at least one screw connection (13, 14, 15) a reinforcing component (24) of the side sill (8) is also connected to the shell element (6) of the cross member (7) and the component (21) of the side sill (8) and / or to the component (23) of the door pillar. [7] Shell structure (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that by means of at least one screw connection (13, 14, 15) a component (25) of a side frame is also connected to the shell element (6) of the cross member (7) and the component (21) of the side sill (8) and / or to the component (23) of the door pillar and / or to the reinforcement component (24) of the side sill (8). [8] Shell structure (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the shell element (6) of the crossbeam (7) and the screw strip (18) has at least one recess (27) for a welded connection (28) of the further structural elements (21, 25) connected to each other by means of the screw connection (13, 14, 15).

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