Structural element for a chassis of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element for a chassis of a motor vehicle, in particular for a chassis of an electrically driven motor vehicle. The structural element comprises at least two fixing sections and an intermediate section connecting the two fixing sections. The fixing sections are respectively fixable on an outer surface of an engine support shoe of the chassis and / or on an outer surface of a longitudinal beam of the chassis.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a structural element for a chassis of a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle comprising such a structural element. BACKGROUND

[0002] Motor vehicles having a chassis, in particular electrically driven motor vehicles, are known from the prior art. In electrically driven motor vehicles, electric drive devices can be accommodated in the front region of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, other components, such as components of the power electronics of the motor vehicle and / or connection fields of the traction battery of the motor vehicle, are also provided in the front region.

[0003] Due to the striving for a compact traffic area (low weight, small space requirement in urban traffic) and a spacious passenger compartment, in such electrically driven motor vehicles the front region is mostly constructed relatively short. But such a short front region constitutes a crumple zone of the motor vehicle, so that high requirements are placed on the crash behavior of the front region.

[0004] In the event of a collision of the motor vehicle with a rigid obstacle, a pile or a deformable offset obstacle, a short circuit can occur in the connection field and / or in the battery, in particular the traction battery, of the motor vehicle. Such a short circuit can cause the motor vehicle to catch fire. The short circuit can occur by components in the front region of the motor vehicle being displaced rearward toward the battery of the connection field. SUMMARY

[0005] It is the task of the present application to provide a structural element for a chassis of a motor vehicle, with the aid of which the risk of a short circuit occurring in the motor vehicle in the event of a collision can be reduced.

[0006] The structural element for a chassis of a motor vehicle, in particular for an electrically driven motor vehicle, which is a constituent part of the motor vehicle body, according to the present application comprises at least two fixing sections and an intermediate section connecting the two fixing sections. According to the present application, the fixing sections can be fixed respectively on the outer surface of the engine support shoe of the chassis and / or on the outer surface of the longitudinal beam of the chassis, which can also be referred to as the engine support. The motor vehicle can be a passenger car (PKW).

[0007] By means of the embodiment according to the present application, the rearward displacement of components in the front region of the motor vehicle, such as the drive unit, can be minimized in such a way that the collision energy is discharged onto the load-bearing structure of the chassis. The structural element can also be referred to as an intercepting element, in particular an intercepting bow (Fangbügel), which sufficiently intercepts the component before it hits the passenger compartment region.

[0008] The engine support shoe, which can also be referred to as a longitudinal beam shoe or a shoe of the front longitudinal beam, can be a support structure which interconnects the longitudinal beam, the front end wall of the passenger compartment and the floor of the vehicle body or serves as a connecting piece for these vehicle body components. The task of the engine support shoe is to distribute forces introduced via the longitudinal beam to the end wall and the floor of the vehicle body.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the intermediate section can be arranged on the chassis between, on the one hand, a component of the motor vehicle, in particular a drive unit, such as an electric motor, and / or a front axle of the motor vehicle, and, on the other hand, a battery of the motor vehicle, in particular a traction battery, and / or a power electronics device of the motor vehicle. The battery is preferably arranged in a region below the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and extends, for example, approximately up to the end wall of the motor vehicle, which forms the front end of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the structural element can be arranged between, on the one hand, the component and / or the front axle and, on the other hand, the end wall of the motor vehicle.

[0010] By this embodiment, the risk of a short circuit can be further reduced.

[0011] Preferably, the structural element can be arranged on the chassis such that the intermediate section extends in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the structural element can be arranged on the chassis such that the structural element extends substantially in a horizontal plane of the motor vehicle.

[0013] Preferably, the structural element further comprises a further fixing section, which is configured on the intermediate section and by means of which the structural element can be fixed to the end wall of the chassis.

[0014] By this embodiment, the collision energy can be introduced more effectively into the chassis, whereby the risk of a short circuit in the event of a collision can be reduced.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the structural element is configured as a curved tube or a curved flat steel.

[0016] This embodiment enables a simple and cost-effective production of the structural element.

[0017] Preferably, the fixing section and / or the further fixing section comprises at least one fixing opening for receiving a fixing screw and / or for receiving a fixing rivet, respectively.

[0018] This embodiment enables a more effective force introduction of the collision energy into the chassis, whereby the risk of a short circuit can be further reduced.

[0019] The motor vehicle according to the application can in particular be an electrically driven motor vehicle. The motor vehicle according to the application comprises a chassis and a structural element according to the application. The chassis comprises an engine support shoe and / or at least one longitudinal beam. According to the application, the engine support shoe and / or the at least one longitudinal beam is provided with at least two outer surfaces and the fixing section of the structural element is fixed on one of the outer surfaces of the engine support shoe and / or of the longitudinal beam, respectively.

[0020] The structural element is preferably a mounting part which is mounted to the chassis, for example by means of a screw connection. The structural element is thus not welded to the chassis or to the vehicle body during the vehicle body welding, but is only mounted in the vehicle mounting region.

[0021] It is thus possible in a simple manner to dispense with the structural element in motor vehicles which do not have a battery or do not have a heavy component, for example a drive assembly in the front region of the vehicle, for example in other drive variants. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The details and further advantages of the structural element according to the application and of the motor vehicle according to the application are explained by means of two embodiments described below. The drawings show here in detail:

[0023] Figure 1 a schematic view of the front region of a motor vehicle with a structural element according to a first embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 a schematic detail view of the front region in Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 3 another schematic detail view of the front region in Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 4 a schematic view of the force introduction into the vehicle body of a motor vehicle in the case of a frontal collision with a pole;

[0027] Figure 5 a schematic view of the force introduction into the vehicle body in the case of a frontal collision with a rigid barrier;

[0028] Figure 6 a schematic view of the force introduction into the vehicle body in the case of a frontal collision with a deformable offset barrier;

[0029] Figure 7 and 8 a diagrammatic representation of a motor vehicle colliding with a deformable offset barrier, wherein the motor vehicle is designed without a structural element according to the application;

[0030] Figure 9 and 10a diagram showing a frontal collision of a motor vehicle with a pole, wherein the motor vehicle is configured without a structural element according to the present application;

[0031] Figure 11 a diagram showing a schematic detail of a front part of a motor vehicle with a structural element according to a second embodiment; and

[0032] Figure 12 a diagram showing Figure 11 a further schematic detail of a front part of a motor vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present application relates to a structural element 20 for a chassis 120 of a motor vehicle 100, in particular for a chassis of an electrically driven motor vehicle. The structural element 20 comprises at least two fixing sections 30, 32 and one intermediate section 40 connecting the two fixing sections 30, 32. The fixing sections 30, 32 can be fixed on an outer surface 132 of an engine support shoe 130 of the chassis 120 and / or on an outer surface 142 of a longitudinal beam 140 of the chassis 120, respectively.

[0034] Furthermore, the present application also relates to a motor vehicle 100, in particular an electrically driven motor vehicle. The motor vehicle comprises a chassis 120 and a structural element 20 according to the present application. The chassis 120 comprises an engine support shoe 130 and / or at least one longitudinal beam 140. The engine support shoe 130 and / or the at least one longitudinal beam 140 are provided with at least two outer surfaces 132, 142. The fixing sections 30, 32 of the structural element 20 are fixed on one of the outer surfaces 132, 142 of the engine support shoe 130 and / or the longitudinal beam 140, respectively.

[0035] According to these embodiments, the motor vehicle 100 has two longitudinal beams 140. The longitudinal beams 140 extend essentially in the driving direction F of the motor vehicle 100.

[0036] The structural element 20 is fixed with the engine support shoe 130 on its outer surface 132, with the longitudinal beam 140 on its outer surface 142, or with both the engine support shoe 130 on its outer surface 132 and the longitudinal beam 140 on its outer surface 142. Typically, the longitudinal beam 140 is welded with the engine support shoe 130.

[0037] The structural element 20 according to the present application can also be referred to as a crash bow or an intercept bow, for example.

[0038] The outer surface 132 of the engine support shoe 130 points from the center of the motor vehicle 100 towards the outside, i.e. towards the outer skin of the motor vehicle 100. The outer surface 142 of the longitudinal beam 140 also points towards the outside or towards the outer skin of the motor vehicle 100.

[0039] The intermediate section 40 of the structural element 20 and / or the structural element 20 itself can be arranged or arrangeable on the chassis 120 between, on the one hand, a drive unit 180 of the motor vehicle 100 and / or a front axle 150 of the motor vehicle 100 and, on the other hand, a battery 160, in particular a traction battery, of the motor vehicle 100 and / or a power electronics device 170 of the motor vehicle 100. This design is in particular shown in Figure 1 and 4 to 6.

[0040] The drive unit 180 can also be referred to as a drive topology or a highly integrated electric drive topology and comprises an electric motor as well as a transmission.

[0041] The chassis 120 can also comprise a front bumper 144. The front bumper 144 can here extend essentially in the motor vehicle transverse direction Q or in other words transversely to the extension direction of the longitudinal beam 140.

[0042] The structural element 20 can be arranged or arrangeable on the chassis 120 in such a way that, in a provisionally correct installation position of the structural element 20 in the motor vehicle 100, the intermediate section 40 extends in the motor vehicle transverse direction Q. The motor vehicle transverse direction Q extends transversely to the driving direction F of the motor vehicle 100 and in a horizontal plane of the motor vehicle 100. This embodiment is in particular shown in Figure 1 .

[0043] Also in particular shown in Figure 1 , 3 and 12, the structural element 20 according to both embodiments has a substantially forwardly open basin shape in a top view.

[0044] The structural element 20 can be arranged or arrangeable on the chassis 120 in such a way that the structural element 20 extends essentially in a horizontal plane of the motor vehicle 100. The horizontal plane extends parallel to a horizontal ground on which the motor vehicle 100 is parked or travels.

[0045] The structural element 20 can also comprise a further fixing section which is configured on the intermediate section 40 and by means of which the structural element 20 is fixed or fixable to an end wall 122 of the chassis 120. This is in particular shown in Figure 11 and 12 . With this embodiment, an improved force introduction into the end wall 122 can be achieved in the event of a crash.

[0046] The structural element 20 can also comprise a retaining profile 50. The connection of the structural element 20 or of the fixing section on the end wall 122 can be achieved indirectly via the retaining profile 50, as is in particular shown in Figure 11 and 12The holding profile 50 can be screwed, riveted and / or welded to the end wall 122 and screwed and / or riveted to the fixing section.

[0047] The structural element 20 can be configured as a curved tube or a curved flat steel. The structural element 20 can have an approximately constant cross section here. The fixing sections 30, 32 and / or the further fixing sections can be formed by a profiled shaping of the tube or flat steel, respectively.

[0048] The fixing sections 30, 32 and / or the further fixing sections can comprise at least one fixing opening 34 for receiving a fixing screw and / or for receiving a fixing rivet, respectively. The fixing openings 34 can be formed by through-holes of the fixing sections 30, 32.

[0049] Correspondingly, corresponding openings can be formed on the outer surface 142 of the longitudinal beam 140 and / or on the outer surface 132 of the engine support shoe 130, through which the fixing screws and / or the fixing rivets for fixing the structural element 20 on the chassis 120 can be guided. By this embodiment a stable fixing between the structural element 20 and the chassis 120 of the motor vehicle 100 can be established.

[0050] Since the structural element 20 acts from the outside onto the longitudinal beam 140 or the engine support shoe 130, i.e. encloses the longitudinal beam 140 or the engine support shoe 130, a low screwing force can be used when fixing the structural element 20 by means of screws. Thereby, the force flow can be optimized in the case of a crash and the load of the fixing screws can be reduced.

[0051] Figures 7 to 10 Figures showing a collision of a motor vehicle with a deformable offset barrier and with a pole are shown, wherein the motor vehicle is configured without a structural element according to the application. These figures show the risk of a loading of the connection region 162 of the battery 160 by the drive unit 180 in the case of a crash. This loading of the connection region 162 can lead to a short circuit in the battery 160, whereby the motor vehicle 100 can catch fire.

[0052] Figures 4 to 6 Schematic figures showing the force introduction into the chassis 120 of the motor vehicle 100 in the case of a head-on collision with a pole P, a head-on collision with a rigid barrier SB and a head-on collision with a deformable offset barrier B, respectively, are shown. Here, the course of the force introduction is shown by means of arrows.

Claims

1. A structural element for a chassis (120) of a motor vehicle (100), comprising at least two fixing sections (30, 32) and an intermediate section (40) connecting the two fixing sections (30, 32), characterized in that The fixing sections (30, 32) can be fixed respectively on the outer surface of an engine bearer shoe (130) of the chassis (120), wherein the engine bearer shoe (130) is a bearer structure which interconnects or serves as a connecting piece for the longitudinal beam (140) of the chassis (120), the front end wall of the passenger compartment and the floor of the vehicle body, the engine bearer shoe (130) being configured for distributing forces introduced via the longitudinal beam (140) to the end wall and the floor of the vehicle body.

2. The structural element of claim 1, wherein, The intermediate section (40) can be arranged on the chassis (120) between, on the one hand, the drive unit (180) of the motor vehicle (100) and / or the front axle (150) of the motor vehicle (100) and, on the other hand, the battery (160) of the motor vehicle (100) and / or the power electronics (170) of the motor vehicle (100).

3. The structural element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The structural element (20) can be arranged on the chassis (120) such that the intermediate section (40) extends in the motor vehicle transverse direction (Q).

4. The structural element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The structural element can be arranged on the chassis (120) such that the structural element (20) extends substantially in the horizontal plane of the motor vehicle (100).

5. The structural element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The structural element further comprises a further fixing section which is configured on the intermediate section (40) and by means of which the structural element (20) can be fixed on the end wall (122) of the chassis (120).

6. The structural element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The structural element (20) is configured as a curved tube or a curved flat steel.

7. The structural element of claim 5, wherein, The fixing sections (30, 32) and / or the further fixing section comprise at least one fixing opening (34) for receiving a fixing screw and / or for receiving a fixing rivet, respectively.

8. The structural element of claim 1, wherein, The structural element is for a chassis of an electrically driven motor vehicle.

9. The structural element of claim 1, wherein, The structural element is for a chassis of a passenger vehicle.

10. The structural element of claim 2, wherein, The battery (160) is a traction battery.

11. Motor vehicle comprising a chassis (120) and a structural element (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the chassis (120) comprising an engine bearer shoe (130) and / or at least one longitudinal beam (140), the engine bearer shoe (130) and / or the at least one longitudinal beam (140) being provided with at least two outer surfaces, and the fixing sections (30, 32) of the structural element (20) being fixed respectively on the outer surfaces of the engine bearer shoe (130).

12. Motor vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that The motor vehicle is an electrically driven motor vehicle.

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