Motor vehicle with a subframe

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a motor vehicle (10) having a passenger compartment (12) and a front compartment (13) arranged in front of the passenger compartment (12) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (X). Here, the passenger compartment (12) is surrounded by a vehicle body (14) having an inclined surface (16). In the front compartment (13), a subframe (17) is arranged. According to the present disclosure, a gap (22) is formed between the subframe (17) and the inclined surface (16) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X), and a spacer (19) is provided in the gap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, a front compartment, and a subframe disposed in the front compartment. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, a vehicle front structure is known from US 8333425 B2, which includes: a front end portion having a stepped portion that extends downwardly and obliquely in the rearward direction; a front portion disposed at a position closer to the front of the vehicle than the stepped portion; and a rear portion disposed at a position closer to the rear of the motor vehicle than the stepped portion; and a subframe disposed below the front portion and resting on the rear portion or the stepped portion. A tail end portion of the subframe forming a first inclined portion that extends downwardly and obliquely in the rearward direction and rests on the front portion, wherein the front portion is formed with a second inclined portion that abuts against the first inclined portion. The first inclined portion is held movably relative to the second inclined portion. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a motor vehicle having a subframe with an improved arrangement.

[0004] The motor vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a passenger compartment and a front compartment, the front compartment being disposed in front of the passenger compartment in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The passenger compartment is surrounded by a vehicle body having an inclined surface. A subframe is disposed in the front compartment. According to the present disclosure, a gap is formed between the subframe and the inclined surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a spacer is disposed in the gap.

[0005] By the arrangement of the spacer, a free space between the subframe and the inclined surface has a smaller value, which is more favorable for the collision characteristics. Thus, the collision characteristics are improved, especially for the frontal collision. In addition, the present disclosure makes it possible to use a subframe having a relatively large gap from the vehicle body. Thereby, the subframe can be used for more vehicle body versions, or on the other hand, additional subframe versions can be saved. Therefore, a more cost-effective manufacture of various motor vehicle models is achieved.

[0006] In an advantageous configuration of the motor vehicle according to the present disclosure, the spacer fills at least 4 / 5 of the gap between the subframe and the inclined surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0007] Therefore, the gap is filled in an optimal manner and the remaining free space is as small as possible without restricting the assembly ability.

[0008] In another advantageous configuration of the motor vehicle according to the present disclosure, the spacer is attached to the inclined surface or the subframe. Here, the spacer is especially glued, screwed, clamped, or welded to the inclined surface or the subframe.

[0009] By attaching the spacer to the inclined surface, the stiffness of the inclined surface is increased. By attaching the spacer to the subframe, the subframe is lengthened.

[0010] In another advantageous design of the motor vehicle according to the present disclosure, the spacer is made of the same material as the inclined surface.

[0011] Thus, at least similar material properties can be provided. The connection between the spacer and the inclined surface can thereby be simplified.

[0012] In another advantageous configuration of the motor vehicle according to the present disclosure, the spacer comprises solid material or filler material.

[0013] Thus, the stiffness of the spacer is achieved as high as possible. The high stiffness of the spacer prevents the subframe from being buried in the spacer during a frontal collision and thus from possibly slipping off.

[0014] In another advantageous configuration of the motor vehicle according to the present disclosure, the subframe is connected to the inclined surface by means of a connecting member.

[0015] By means of the connecting member, additional holding points for the subframe can be created. By differently implemented connecting members, differently implemented subframes can be connected to the vehicle body. In this way, the number of combination possibilities of the subframe and the vehicle body is increased.

[0016] The connecting member is in particular formed in such a way as a predefined failure member that it does not impede the downward movement of the subframe along the vertical axis. Here, the connecting member is in particular designed to separate the subframe in the direction of the longitudinal axis, where the subframe can slide on the connecting member without torque.

[0017] Thus, the connecting member supports the sliding movement of the subframe in the event of a frontal collision.

[0018] In another advantageous configuration of the motor vehicle according to the present disclosure, the spacer comprises a touch surface which is positioned opposite a contact surface which is arranged on the subframe or on the inclined surface, wherein the touch surface and / or the contact surface comprise a sliding layer.

[0019] In this way, the sliding of the subframe is additionally promoted.

[0020] Other advantages of the present disclosure are apparent from the detailed description and the drawings. The present disclosure is explained in more detail by the drawings and the following description. In the figures: Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 An exemplary configuration of a motor vehicle according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0022] Figure 2Shows a detailed view of a motor vehicle according to the present disclosure in a first exemplary configuration in a first case;

[0023] Figure 3 Shows a detailed view of a motor vehicle according to the present disclosure in a second exemplary configuration in a first case; and

[0024] Figure 4 Displays a detailed view of the first configuration in the second case. Detailed Description

[0025] In Figure 1 , the motor vehicle 10 according to the present disclosure is schematically shown in the X-Z plane in an exemplary configuration. The X-Z plane is formed by the longitudinal axis X and the vertical axis Z. The transverse axis Y extends conventionally with respect to the X-Z plane.

[0026] The motor vehicle 10 includes a passenger compartment 12 and a front compartment 13. The passenger compartment 12 is an interior space formed by a body 14 for accommodating at least one passenger. The front compartment 13 is arranged at the front end of the passenger compartment 12, i.e., in front of the passenger compartment 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The front compartment 13 is in particular an engine compartment, in which a motor 11 is arranged.

[0027] Between the front compartment 13 and the passenger compartment 12, a partition wall 15 is preferably arranged. The partition wall 15 separates the front compartment 13 from the passenger compartment 12. The partition wall 15 is also referred to as a bulkhead. The partition wall 15 is part of the body 14.

[0028] Below the partition wall 15, i.e., in the direction of the vertical axis Z below the partition wall 15, an inclined surface 16 is formed. The inclined surface 16 is in particular the surface of a longitudinal support (not shown) that extends substantially along the longitudinal axis X. The motor vehicle 10 has in particular two of these longitudinal supports, one on the left side of the motor vehicle and one on the right side of the motor vehicle. The inclined surface 16 is part of the body 14.

[0029] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 10 also has a subframe 17, which is at least partially arranged in the front compartment 13. The subframe 17 is in particular designed to accommodate the motor 11, drive components or chassis components. The subframe 17 according to the present disclosure is arranged at a certain distance from the inclined surface 16 such that an interval 22 exists between the inclined surface 16 and the subframe. The interval 22 is formed in the X-Z plane and includes at least a part in the direction of the longitudinal axis X.

[0030] According to the present disclosure, a spacer 19 is arranged in the spacer 22, which may also be referred to as a body spacer. The spacer 19 is formed in such a way as to force the subframe 17 to move downward in the negative direction of the vertical axis Z while moving in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The spacer 19 has a prescribed thickness on the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the free space in the X-Z plane between the subframe 17 and the inclined surface 16 is at least reduced. This thickness is especially designed such that the spacer 19 fills the spacer 22 at least half, especially at least 4 / 5, in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The spacer 19 has a high stiffness such that when the subframe 17 moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis X, the subframe 17 is prevented from being buried in the spacer 19 and thus the subframe 17 can slide off the spacer 19.

[0031] The spacer 19 has an assembly side 26 through which the spacer 19 is attached to the remaining motor vehicle 10. Here, the spacer is especially attached to the inclined surface 16. This is Figure 2 and 4 the manner shown. As an alternative to the attachment to the inclined surface 16, the spacer 19 can be attached to the subframe 17. This is Figure 3 the manner shown. The spacer 19 is fixed on the assembly side 26 by welding, gluing, screwing or clamping.

[0032] Opposite to the assembly side 26, the spacer 19 has a contact surface 20. This contact surface 20 faces the contact surface 21. If the spacer 19 is attached to the inclined surface 16 as Figure 2 shown, the contact surface 21 is formed on the subframe 17. If the spacer 19 is attached to the subframe 17 as Figure 3 shown, the contact surface 21 is formed on the inclined surface 16. Both the contact surface 20 and the contact surface 21 are designed to slide relative to each other. Thus, both surfaces 20, 21 have a sufficient width extending in the direction of the transverse axis Y such that in the case of a collision, the contact of the two surfaces 20, 21 can occur over a predetermined width. The structural stiffness of the two surfaces 20, 21 is formed in such a way that in the case of a collision, the surfaces 20, 21 in contact with each other do not penetrate into each other. The contact surface 20 and / or the contact surface 21 are especially provided with a sliding layer. In this case, the sliding layer is formed by a prescribed surface quality related to roughness and / or by a coating of a material including relatively low adhesion and sliding friction values, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). By the low friction at the contact points, the vertical movement 25 is minimized.

[0033] The spacer 19 is in particular formed from the same material as the inclined plane 16 or the subframe 17, i.e. for example steel, in particular high-strength steel. In the case of a rigid material such as steel, the spacer 19 has a suitable wall thickness and is made, for example, of a deep-drawn sheet metal part. Alternatively, the spacer 19 comprises solid material or filling material. In this case, the filling material can be, for example, metal foam within a relatively thin-walled steel plate. Here, lightweight materials such as plastics, composite materials or aluminium alloys are selected. Foam fillers such as aluminium foam are also conceivable.

[0034] In addition to the other connection points, the subframe 17 can be connected to the vehicle body 14 at least also on the inclined plane 16. For this purpose, a connecting member 18 is provided in particular, which connects the subframe 17 to the inclined plane 16 or to the spacer 19 of the inclined plane 16. The connecting member 18 is in particular designed as a predefined failure member in such a way that it fails or displaces when the subframe 17 is displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The subframe 17 can slide off the connecting member 18 without play. In this way, the movement of the subframe 17 downwards along the vertical axis Z is made possible. The spacer 19 is configured in such a way as not to impede the movement of the connecting member 18.

[0035] In Figure 4 FIG. [8], the operating mode of the spacer 19 under the action of the force 23 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X in the event of a collision is schematically shown. The operating mode applies both to the connection of the spacer 19 to the inclined plane 16 and to the connection of the spacer 19 to the subframe 17. The force 23 occurs, for example, during a frontal collision of the motor vehicle 10. If the force 23 acts on the subframe 17 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X, the movement of the subframe 17 is subsequently restricted by the spacer 19 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The spacer 19 forms a contact surface 20 at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The contact surface 20 faces the contact surface 21. If the subframe 17 moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis X, the contact surface 21 thus strikes the contact surface 20 of the spacer 19. Due to the rigid construction of the spacer 19, the subframe 17 is forced into an inclined movement 24. The inclined movement 24 is substantially parallel to the contact surface 20 and also parallel to the inclined plane 16 in the example shown. The inclined movement 24 thus includes a vertical component, shown here as a vertical movement 25. By means of the spacer 19, a vertical movement 25 of the subframe 17 is forced by a force 23 acting horizontally (and thus along the longitudinal axis X). Thus, the subframe 17 is prevented from entering the passenger compartment 12. The increased tensile component caused by the increasing component of the vertical movement 25 promotes the failure of the connecting member 18.

[0036] Although the present disclosure has been more particularly explained and described by means of preferred exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0037] These figures are not necessarily to scale for details and proportions and may be enlarged or reduced in scale to provide a better overview. Accordingly, the functional details disclosed herein are not restrictive but illustrative only, providing guidance to those skilled in the art for using the present disclosure differently.

[0038] As used herein, the term "and / or" when used in reference to a list of two or more elements means that each of the elements so recited may be used alone, or any combination of two or more of the recited elements may be used. For example, if a composition containing components A, B, and / or C is described, the composition may contain only A alone; B alone; C alone; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising: A passenger compartment; A front compartment, the front compartment being arranged in front of the passenger compartment in the direction of the longitudinal axis; A vehicle body, the vehicle body surrounding the passenger compartment and having an inclined surface; A subframe, the subframe being in the front compartment; Wherein, in the direction of the longitudinal axis, a gap is formed between the subframe and the inclined surface, and a spacer is provided in the gap; Further comprising a connecting member, the connecting member connecting the subframe to the inclined surface, wherein the connecting member is designed as a preset failure member such that the movement of the subframe in the direction vertically downward is unobstructed.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer fills at least 4 / 5 of the gap between the subframe and the inclined surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is attached to the inclined surface.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the spacer is glued, screwed, clamped or welded to the inclined surface.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is attached to the subframe.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the spacer is glued, screwed, clamped or welded to the subframe.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is made of the same material as the inclined surface.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is a solid material.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is a filling material.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a touch surface, the touch surface being positioned relative to a contact surface, the contact surface being arranged on the subframe or the inclined surface, wherein the touch surface and / or the contact surface includes a sliding layer.

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