Sedans with improved side impact protection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a car (1) having a body (3) and at least one side door (5) movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a side door fixing element (9) is arranged at a free edge region (7) of the at least one side door (5). The car is characterized in that a body stopper (13) is provided on a supporting column of the body (3) and is arranged above the side door fixing element (9) in the vertical direction of the car; when the side door (5) is arranged in the closed position, the body stopper is spaced apart from the side door fixing element (13) in the vertical direction (z direction) of the car; the side door fixing element (9) and the body stopper (13) are relatively offset from each other in the transverse direction (20) of the car in the closed position of the side door (5); and when the side door (5) is deformed due to a collision with another side door, the side door fixing element (9) can be displaced and abut against the body stopper (13).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger car having improved side impact protection. Background Art

[0002] Passengers are facing increasing demands for improved crash protection, particularly side impact protection. This means ensuring passenger protection despite the significant energy exposure. In particular, in side impacts involving higher speeds and greater mass, there's a risk of the side door protruding over the side of the vehicle, causing significant intrusion into the passenger compartment. The hinges and locks of the recessed side door can fail, in particular break, causing the door to spring open. Consequently, the vehicle interior is exposed in the event of a collision. Passengers' arms and legs can be exposed through the openings, and objects can enter the interior, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

[0003] DE 10 2011 101 533 A1 discloses a passenger car side door, the door base region of which (when viewed in the closed position in the vehicle transverse direction) is arranged at least partially overlapping the side panel delimiting the vehicle body door opening. In this region, the side door has a reinforcement element. In the event of a side impact, the side door, particularly in the covering region, is displaced toward the side panel in the event of an accident-induced force extending at least substantially in the vehicle transverse direction and applied to the side door from the outside inward. The reinforcement element ultimately hooks or wedges onto the side panel in a form-fitting manner, thereby preventing the side door from overrunning the side panel or somewhat alleviating the corresponding risk. However, the forces acting on the door hinges and door locks are substantial, so the risk of failure cannot be ruled out.

[0004] US 2015 / 0123427 A1 discloses a motor vehicle having a side door. The side door has a loop in the door bottom area. When the side door is closed, the loop protrudes through an opening in the side panel and into a cavity thereof. A hook is provided in the cavity. In the event of a side impact, the side door deforms toward the passenger compartment. As a result of the deformation of the side door, the hook engages the loop and thereby secures the side door to the side panel in the lower area.

[0005] EP 0 642 940 B1 discloses a passenger car side door, wherein the side door is provided with a reinforcement profile to which a hook is bolted in a side edge region of the side door. In the closed position of the side door, the hook corresponds to a groove-like recess formed in the body pillar, with the free end of the hook lying approximately in the plane of the outer side of the body pillar to which it is directed. Under the action of forces directed at the side door, the free end of the hook slides over the outer side of the body pillar with strong friction, which may eventually form a ridge-like protrusion. This significantly reduces the depth of the side door's intrusion into the vehicle interior. However, the hook is fixed or embedded in the body pillar in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e., the x-direction of the vehicle coordinate system, specifically only in the forward direction. In the event of a head-on collision and the resulting rearward movement of the side door, the hook slides out of the recess. However, the problem remains that the side door can be pulled over the longitudinal member in a side collision, which poses a risk of the side door lock breaking, making it impossible to securely hold the side door in the closed position. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a passenger car in which improved side impact protection is achieved without significantly increasing the overall weight of the passenger car.

[0007] This object is achieved by providing the technical teachings of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein.

[0008] To achieve this object, a passenger car is proposed. The passenger car includes a body and at least one side door that is movable, in particular pivotable, between a closed position and an open position, wherein a side door fastening member is disposed at a free edge region of the at least one side door. The passenger car is characterized in that a body stop is disposed on a support pillar of the body and is located above the side door fastening member in the vertical direction of the vehicle. When the side door is in the closed position, the body stop is spaced apart from the side door fastening member in the vertical direction of the vehicle, i.e., in the z-direction of a vehicle coordinate system. When the side door is in the closed position, the side door fastening member and the body stop are offset relative to each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and when the side door is deformed by a collision with an opposing party, the side door fastening member can be displaced to abut against the body stop.

[0009] Because the side door fastenings are arranged relative to the body stop in the manner described above, the side door can be opened and closed without these components coming into contact. However, in the event of a side impact on the side door, the side door fastenings are supported on the body stop, thereby substantially preventing displacement of the side door in the vehicle's vertical direction (z-direction). At most, the side door will rise slightly or slightly due to intrusion, i.e., deformation toward the passenger compartment, until the side door fastenings abut the body side stop. Further movement of the side door in the vehicle's z-direction is therefore prevented by passive side door fastenings that only act in the event of a collision. It is important to note that the side door is preferably supported on the body or a stop located thereon in only one direction, i.e., in the vehicle's vertical direction (z-direction), while the other direction of movement of the side door, i.e., in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction) and the vehicle's transverse direction (y-direction), is preferably unrestricted. The ability of the side door to deform in the event of a collision is particularly advantageous in the design of the present invention. As a result, the vehicle body sidewalls, side door connections to the sidewalls, hinges, and locking hooks are protected. Furthermore, the door frame components, particularly the door frame and the reinforcements and profiles mounted thereon, such as side impact protection profiles (SAPS profiles), are effectively protected from bending loads. Consequently, fractures in door hinges, locking hooks, door components, and welded and / or adhesively bonded connections in the door frame are avoided. In summary, while at least some side door intrusion cannot be avoided, the design of the side door or vehicle body according to the present invention ensures that, in the event of a collision, numerous components deform and dissipate as much of the collision energy as possible.

[0010] It is also advantageous that overloading of the side door lock can be avoided and the force connection between the side door and the body of the passenger car can thus be maintained.

[0011] Due to the embodiment described above, ie the side door fastening element and the body stop element only come into contact in the event of an accident, these two components can be designed not to be aligned with one another and thus not to generate noise.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body stop is arranged above the side door fastening in the vertical direction of the vehicle. This means that even when the side door is closed and intact, there is a certain overlap between the side door fastening and the body stop in the transverse direction of the vehicle. This ensures that the side door fastening abuts the body stop even when the side door is relatively intrusive and that the side door fastening cannot slide past the body stop in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0013] An embodiment is also particularly preferred in which the side door fastening element passes the vehicle body stop without contact when the intact side door is displaced between its closed and open positions. The side door fastening element and the vehicle body stop are thus offset in height relative to one another in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least in the closed position of the side door.

[0014] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of a passenger car is characterized in that, when a collision object strikes the side door, causing the side door to deform, the side door securing member is displaceable in the transverse direction of the vehicle toward the passenger compartment until it abuts against another body-side stop. This stop may be, for example, a portion of the body side wall and / or a body pillar. Even with this design, a certain relative movement of the side door in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is always possible.

[0015] Since the side door fixing element and the body stop have a height offset relative to each other in the vertical direction of the vehicle (z direction) and a lateral offset in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y direction) in the working position and / or closed position of the side door, it is particularly achieved that in normal operation the side door fixing element and the body stop can pass each other without contact when the side door is opened or closed.

[0016] According to an improved embodiment of the present invention, the effective connection between the side door fixing and the vehicle body stop is not based on a pull-joint and / or form-fitting effective connection. This prevents, in particular, areas and / or components of the side door from being subjected to excessive loads that could damage and / or weaken the integrity of the side door. By deforming the side door, it is particularly possible to dissipate the energy of the accident and also prevent the side door from being displaced excessively in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In other words, however, displacement of the side door in directions other than the vertical direction of the vehicle is not prevented, thereby allowing the side door's connecting parts, such as locks and hinges, to be particularly protected and the side door to be subjected only to bending loads. In this respect, the energy of the accident can be dissipated advantageously. In addition, the deformation of the side door reduces the loads on the welding and bonding of the side door frame.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the side door fastening and the body stop are passive fastening and stop elements, meaning in particular that these components do not engage or fit together when the side door is opened and / or closed and do not need to be moved separately by means of an actuator in the event of a crash.

[0018] The load-bearing pillar of the vehicle body that is provided with the vehicle body stop can be for example an A-pillar or a B-pillar or a C-pillar. In particular, the pillar of the vehicle body is particularly suitable for introducing forces in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0019] According to a further development of the present invention, the side door fastening element is arranged below the side door in the side door installation position, and correspondingly, a corresponding portion of the vehicle body is arranged on the foot of the A-pillar, B-pillar, or C-pillar. In particular, the foot region of the vehicle body pillar, in conjunction with the side panel arranged thereon, is particularly suitable for absorbing forces, particularly in the vertical direction of the vehicle, without itself being significantly deformed.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the side door fastening element and / or the body stop are fastened by means of screws, pins and / or nuts, wherein preferably reinforcement elements are also provided to increase stability, and wherein preferably, in the case of a side door manufactured from a plate-like structure, nuts for fastening the side door fastening elements are welded and / or adhesively bonded to the side door, and / or in the case of a side door manufactured from an extruded profile, a slide with a threaded hole is inserted into the extruded profile of the side door, in particular transversely through the hole. In particular, in combination with the reinforcement elements, the side door element and / or the body stop are designed to be stable so that the currently required forces can be achieved without significant deformation of the components.

[0021] According to an improvement of the present invention, the vehicle body stop is designed as a hinge, in particular a lower hinge, of a side door. This particularly achieves that no other components are needed, and thus the effect according to the present invention can be obtained very simply and at low cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention is explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1A A first embodiment of a sedan is shown schematically.

[0024] Figure 1B Shown in a schematic diagram Figure 1A A cross section of the first embodiment of the sedan along the section line AA,

[0025] Figure 1C Schematic diagram showing the Figure 1B A cross section of a first embodiment, wherein Figure 1C The schematic diagram shows the situation after the accident.

[0026] Figure 2A A second embodiment of a sedan is shown schematically.

[0027] Figure 2B Schematic diagram showing the Figure 2A A cross section along the cutting line BB of the second embodiment,

[0028] Figure 2C Schematic diagram showing the Figure 2B The cross section, compared to Figure 2B Shows the accident status.

[0029] In the figures, identical components are provided with identical reference numerals, so that reference is hereby made to the preceding description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] from Figure 1AIn the schematic diagram of FIG, a first embodiment of a passenger car 1 is shown, which has a body 3 and at least one side door 5. Only a part of a body pillar 4 of the body 3 can be seen, which is a so-called B-pillar in this case. Figure 1A In the illustration of , only the base of the B-pillar can be seen. The side door 3 is the so-called front door of the preferably four-door sedan 1 in this embodiment. Only the rear lower corner of the front door framed by the dotted line can be seen.

[0031] In comparison, Figure 2A Show the basis Figure 1A In the detail of the sedan 1 or another sedan in the area of ​​another embodiment of the side door 5 (here, the rear door), only the rear lower corner of the rear door is visible. Therefore, the body pillar 4 is a so-called C-pillar, with only its base visible. The sedan 1 is designed as at least a four-door sedan.

[0032] A side door fastening 9 is provided at the free edge region 7 of the side door 5, and more precisely at its rear lower corner. The side door fastening 9 cooperates with a body stop 13 which is arranged at a portion 11 of the body 3 corresponding to the side door fastening 9 of the side door 5 in the closed position of the side door 5, such that during normal operation of at least one side door 5, it can be opened and closed together with the side door fastening 9 next to the body stop 13 of the body 3 without contact, and in the event of an accident, due to deformation, in particular the side door 5 can be opened and closed towards the passenger compartment, i.e. towards the side door fastening 9. Figure 1A and 2A The side door fixing member 9 is supported on the vehicle body stopper 13, thereby substantially preventing the side door 5 from being displaced in the vertical direction (z direction) of the vehicle.

[0033] exist Figure 1A Also visible is a reinforcement element 8, also known as a side impact protection profile (SAPS profile), which extends obliquely downwards into the corner of the side door 5 at least at its rear end. Here, the reinforcement element 8 is connected to the door frame, i.e., the door's load-bearing structural frame. This takes place at or near the side door attachment element 9.

[0034] In accordance with Figure 1A In the embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body stop 13 is designed as a hinge or formed on a hinge, in particular as a lower hinge, wherein it is used to be mounted on the vehicle body in a rotatable manner. Figure 1A The rear door of the car 1 is not shown. Figure 2A In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the body stop 13 is designed as a plate-shaped element, in particular as a stop plate, which is placed from the outside on the body pillar 4 or is optionally also formed thereon.

[0035] In addition, especially from Figure 1A and 2AIt can be seen that the side door fixing part 9 and the body stop part 13 have a height offset 17 relative to each other in the vertical direction of the vehicle (z direction) in the working position and / or closed position of the side door 5, so that when the side door 5 is closed, there is a distance or gap of height z between them.

[0036] In addition, especially from Figure 1B and 2B As can be seen in FIG, the side door fixing part 9 and the body stop part 13 have a lateral offset relative to each other in the working position and / or closed position, that is, an offset in the vehicle transverse direction (y direction in the vehicle coordinate system). Figure 1B In the embodiment of the invention, the y offset of the side door fixing part 9 is large enough so that when the side door 5 is closed there is no overlap between it and the body stop 13 in the z direction, ie upwards. Figure 2B In the embodiment, the side door fixing part 9 is already arranged slightly overlapping with the body stop 13 in the z direction when the side door 5 is closed. The common point of the two embodiments is that the side door fixing part 9 is arranged at a distance from the body 3 or its body pillar 4, that is, it does not abut.

[0037] Still Figure 1A 2A and 2A, the side doors 5 are each hatched; otherwise, components located geometrically below them with respect to the plane of the drawing, such as the side door fastening 9 or the body stop 13, would be blocked by the side doors 5.

[0038] Especially from Figure 1A 、 1B 2B, it can be seen that the side door fastening element 9 and the body stop 13 are fixedly fixed to the side door or body 3 by means of bolts, pins and / or nuts 15 or 16. In the case of a side door 5 manufactured from a plate, the nuts for fastening the side door fastening element 9 are preferably welded and / or adhesively bonded to the side door 5. In the case of a side door 5 manufactured from an extruded profile, a slide (not shown in the figure) with a threaded hole (not shown in the figure) is preferably inserted into the extruded profile of the side door 5, in particular through the hole in the transverse direction.

[0039] In addition, from Figure 1C In the first or second embodiment of the car 1 in FIG. 2C , it can be seen how the side door fixing member 9 and the body stop 13 support each other in the event of an accident, in particular the side door fixing member 9 abuts against the body stop 13 , thereby preventing the side door 5 from being displaced in the vertical z direction of the car.

[0040] The cooperation between the side door fixing part 9 and the vehicle body stop 13 during or at the time of a side impact with the side door 5 will be explained in detail below. Since the collision object hits the side door 5 accordingly strongly, the side door is deformed towards the interior of the vehicle, i.e. in particular towards the passenger compartment. The intrusion of the side door 5 causes the side door fixing part 9 arranged in its lower edge area to be displaced a certain distance in the transverse direction y of the vehicle, but also a certain distance in the z direction, i.e. in the vertical direction of the vehicle, whereby after bridging the height difference z between the side door fixing part 9 and the vehicle body stop 13, the side door fixing part 9 here abuts the vehicle body stop 13, here against the mating support contact surface 33, with its support contact surface 44. The stop contact area is Figure 1C and 2C 21. It can also be seen that in this stop position the side door fixing element 9 also abuts against the vehicle body 3, here the respective vehicle body pillar 4, and is also supported there. This stop contact area is marked with reference numeral 23.

[0041] In the car of the present invention, Figures 1A-2C In the embodiment shown, the supporting contact surface 44 of or on the side door fixing part 9 and the mating supporting contact surface 33 of or on the body stopper 13 are respectively designed to be flat. The contact surfaces 33 and 44 are oriented in parallel or substantially parallel to each other. In addition, in the embodiment shown in the figure, it is provided that the contact surfaces 33 and 44, which are respectively located in an imaginary plane defined by the x-direction and the y-direction of the vehicle coordinate system, are arranged in parallel or substantially parallel to the imaginary horizontal plane. Alternatively, the contact surfaces 33 and 44 can also be arranged tilted relative to the imaginary horizontal plane, where they are preferably arranged tilted toward the side door, that is, tilted downward toward its center. The arrangement and design of the supporting contact surface 44 and the mating supporting contact surface 33 are preferably such that when the supporting contact surface 44 of the side door fixing part 9 is displaced due to deformation of the side door toward the passenger compartment caused by a collision, the supporting contact surface 44 of the side door fixing part 9 is driven toward the mating supporting contact surface 33 of the body stopper 13 and preferably abuts against it with a plane or an entire surface, such as Figure 1C and 2C As shown. If the side door continues to intrude, i.e., deforms toward the vehicle interior, while absorbing some of the impact energy, the bearing contact surface 44 and the mating bearing contact surface 33 can slide or glide against each other. Specifically, in the side door that has been dented by the deformation, the bearing contact surface 44 can slide on the mating bearing contact surface 33 without the side door being displaced in the z-direction. Therefore, it should be noted that the bearing contact surface 44 and the mating bearing contact surface 33 are designed and arranged so as to permit relative movement between the side door and the vehicle pillar, specifically in the x-direction of the vehicle coordinate system. Any relative movement can be limited by a stop (not shown) acting in the x-direction. However, this is not necessarily required in all cases.

[0042] In summary, the key point is that the side door 5 is limited in its z-direction motion due to a crash by abutting the body stop 13. This design prevents overloading of the locking ring of the door closing mechanism, thereby maintaining force coupling with the body pillar in the area of ​​the lock. The key is that the two supports (side door mounting 9 and body stop 13) can contact each other in the event of a crash, without requiring any relative positioning / orientation during installation of the side door.

[0043] It should also be noted that, because the side door fixing member 9 overlaps the body stop member 13 in the x-direction, the side door is allowed to deform inwardly without the side door being able to slide upwardly over the side panel (not shown) that defines the body side door opening.

Claims

1. A passenger car (1) comprising a body (3) and at least one side door (5) movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein: A side door fixing element (9) is arranged at the free edge region (7) of the at least one side door (5), It is characterized in that A vehicle body stopper (13) is provided on the supporting column of the vehicle body (3) and is located above the side door fixing member (9) in the vertical direction of the vehicle. When the side door (5) is placed in the closed position, the vehicle body stopper is spaced apart from the side door fixing member in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The side door fixing member (9) and the vehicle body stopper (13) are relatively offset from each other in the transverse direction (20) of the vehicle in the closed position of the side door (5). When the side door (5) is deformed due to a collision with another object, the side door fixing member (9) can be displaced to abut against the vehicle body stopper (13); wherein, displacement of the side door in a direction other than the vertical direction of the vehicle is not prevented.

2. The car according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the undamaged side door (5) is displaced between its closed position and its open position, the side door fixing member (9) passes the vehicle body stop member (13) in a contactless manner.

3. The car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that When the side door (5) is deformed due to collision with the other party, the side door fixing member (9) can be displaced toward the passenger compartment in the transverse direction of the car to abut against the vehicle body stopper on the other side.

4. The car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The side door fixing member (9) has a supporting contact surface (44) which can be displaced to abut against the supporting contact surface (33) of the vehicle body stopper (13) due to deformation of the side door (5) caused by the collision of the other party with the side door, wherein the supporting contact surface (44) of the side door fixing member (9) and the supporting contact surface (33) of the vehicle body stopper (13) matched therewith are designed in such a way that, although these supporting contact surfaces abut against each other, relative movement between the side door fixing member (9) and the vehicle body stopper (13) can be achieved by sliding along these contact surfaces (33, 44).

5. The car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The side door fixing member (9) and the vehicle body stopper (13) are respectively a passive fixing member and a stopper.

6. The car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The side door fixing member (9) is arranged at the lower corner of the side door (5), and the corresponding vehicle body stopper (13) is arranged at the column foot (23) of the vehicle column.

7. The car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The vehicle body stopper (13) is designed as a hinge of the side door (5) or is formed on the hinge.

8. The car (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The vehicle body stopper (13) is formed on the lower hinge member.

Images