Motor vehicle body

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-supporting body of a motor vehicle, comprising a front column pair, or an A-column pair, and a rear column pair, or a B-column pair, or a C-column pair. The rear pillar pairs are connected to each other, in particular at the upper end sections of the rear pillars, via a rear upper cross member, i.e. A rear roof cross member. The self-bearing vehicle body and the rear upper cross beam are provided with a closed structural path. The closed structural path extends from the rear upper roof rail up to the floor rail structure. The floor cross-member structure is spaced rearward from the rear upper cross-member by a distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction, that is, the floor cross-member structure is arranged rearward of the rear upper cross-member in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle body, in particular a motor vehicle body for a passenger car, having an A-pillar and a B-pillar or a plurality of A-pillars and a plurality of B-pillars. Background Art

[0002] Known motor vehicles have a self-supporting body in the form of a shell structure. Here, the entire body, that is, also the passenger compartment, contributes to the strength and rigidity of the motor vehicle. Modern passenger cars with a self-supporting body usually have an A-pillar in the area of ​​the windshield. In addition, the passenger car has a B-pillar and / or a C-pillar. The B-pillar is usually arranged at the height of the rear area of ​​the front seat. In a vehicle of a coupe structure, the B-pillar is usually omitted. The C-pillar is usually formed at the height of the rear area of ​​the rear seat. In some passenger cars (such as a passenger and cargo vehicle structure or an off-road vehicle structure), there is also a D-pillar. The body pillar pairs mentioned are connected to each other at their upper ends via a crossbar (crossbeam). The body pillar pairs with an upper crossbar make an important contribution to the body rigidity and body strength. In a body of a stepped tail structure, there is also a transversely extending wall or crossbar behind the rear seat to strengthen the body.

[0003] Furthermore, motor vehicles of ladder-frame construction are also known, wherein the motor vehicle consists essentially of a frame, on which chassis components are mounted and to which a non-self-supporting body is fixed. This was the construction of early automobiles, based on the previously known carriage construction. Ladder-frame construction is still used today for light commercial vehicles, such as delivery trucks or flatbed trucks, so-called pickup trucks or heavy commercial vehicles. In this ladder-frame construction, the vehicle rigidity and strength are based primarily on the ladder frame and not on the body—even without the body, the vehicle has sufficient rigidity. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to create a self-supporting motor vehicle body in which the number of body cross members outside (above) the floor structure assembly is reduced.

[0005] This object is achieved by a motor vehicle having the combination of features described in claim 1. Advantageous further developments are mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, the self-supporting body of the motor vehicle has a front pillar pair or A-pillar pair and a rear pillar pair or B-pillar pair or C-pillar pair. The rear pillar pair is connected to each other, in particular at the upper end section of the rear pillar, via a rear upper crossbeam, i.e. a rear roof crossbeam. The self-supporting body has a closed structural path with the rear upper crossbeam. The closed structural path extends from the rear upper crossbeam to the floor crossbeam structure. The floor crossbeam structure is spaced rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the rear upper crossbeam, i.e. the floor crossbeam structure is arranged further back in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle than the rear upper crossbeam.

[0007] By means of this configuration, i.e. the closed structural path extending obliquely to the rear and downward, the rear part of the vehicle body, i.e. the section of the vehicle body behind the rear pillar pair, can be configured sufficiently rigidly without requiring an additional transverse structure above the vehicle body floor. This enables a diversified or more free design of the rear part of the vehicle body or a motor vehicle having the vehicle body. In particular, the rear part of the vehicle body or the space enclosed by the vehicle body is not restricted upward.

[0008] The floor cross member structure is preferably a component of a floor structure assembly of the vehicle body.

[0009] In particular, the structural path of the vehicle body extends from the end sections of the rear upper cross member in each case rearward and downward, ie, obliquely rearward and downward.

[0010] The structural path of the vehicle body is advantageously a load-bearing or load-absorbing region of the vehicle body, which contributes particularly to the rigidity and strength of the vehicle body. The expression "closed" should be understood here to mean that the structural path extends without interruption from the lateral ends of the rear upper crossbeam to the corresponding lateral end sections of the floor crossbeam structure. Here, the structural path is, for example, essentially composed of the rear upper crossbeam, the left section, the right section and the floor crossbeam structure. The left section connects the left end section of the rear upper crossbeam with the left end section of the floor crossbeam structure. The right section connects the right end section of the rear upper crossbeam with the right end section of the floor crossbeam structure. The structural path is therefore closed. The structural path can also be referred to as a force flow loop.

[0011] The entire structural path can be formed from the hollow profile and / or the sheet metal doubler or sheet metal reinforcement.

[0012] As a result, the structural path is particularly rigid.

[0013] The vehicle body pillar according to the present invention can be understood as follows: it extends all the way to the roof of the vehicle body. The upper cross member can be understood here as a component of the roof of the vehicle body.

[0014] The vehicle body can be designed for a passenger vehicle. In particular, the passenger vehicle can be a vehicle with an inclined or steep rear end, such as a van, off-road vehicle, SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) or compact car. The passenger vehicle can also be designed in the form of a pickup truck. However, the motor vehicle can also be a commercial vehicle, such as a minibus or a van.

[0015] The front pillar pair is connected to one another, in particular, via a front upper cross member (which is also referred to as a front roof cross member or upper windshield).

[0016] The vehicle body is advantageously formed in a shell construction from interconnected vehicle body sheet metal. The vehicle body can be formed from steel or aluminum or else from fiber-reinforced plastic or from different materials in a so-called hybrid construction.

[0017] According to a preferred further improvement, the rear pillar pair is the rearmost pillar pair of the vehicle body. In other words, the vehicle body no longer has a pillar behind the rear pillar pair.

[0018] As a result, there is a great deal of design freedom for the body or the rear part of the motor vehicle, since there are no load-bearing body pillars in this area.

[0019] The body preferably has no further pairs of pillars, ie the body has only a front pair of pillars and a rear pair of pillars.

[0020] According to another preferred further development, the self-supporting vehicle body according to the invention has a transverse structure behind the pair of rear pillars only in a floor region. The vehicle body therefore has no cross member structure behind the pair of rear pillars which is formed above the floor region, for example no additional roof cross members, but also no cross member structure formed between the floor region and the roof region.

[0021] The cross member structure extends continuously and uninterruptedly from the left side of the vehicle body to the right side of the vehicle body.

[0022] Advantageously, the body is designed for a motor vehicle with a single row of seats, for example a two-seater motor vehicle with two seats arranged next to one another.

[0023] Preferably, a loading compartment is formed or provided behind the pair of rear pillars.

[0024] The loading space behind the pair of rear pillars is preferably free of a body cross member above the floor.

[0025] Such a loading compartment can advantageously be designed here without any cross-member structure.

[0026] In addition, a tailgate can be formed behind the rear pillar pair. Here, the tailgate can especially extend substantially until the rear upper crossbeam. Therefore, the space behind the rear pillar pair can be implemented as openable.

[0027] The floor cross member structure may be spaced apart from the rear upper cross member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle rearwardly, ie in the X direction, by at least 300 millimeters or at least 400 millimeters or at least 500 millimeters or at least 600 millimeters or at least 700 millimeters.

[0028] Furthermore, the left rear wheel housing and the right rear wheel housing can also be components of the closed structural path.

[0029] The floor cross member structure is advantageously arranged in the region of a rear axle of the motor vehicle or at least close to the rear axle of the motor vehicle.

[0030] Advantageously, a further cross member structure, for example a wall, extends between the pair of rear pillars, between the rear upper cross member and the floor of the vehicle body.

[0031] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a self-supporting body as embodied above.

[0032] The above-mentioned features can be combined with one another as desired and sensible as desired. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] A brief description of each figure is given below.

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view from above and behind shows a motor vehicle body according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Figure 2 A schematic perspective view from the side and rear shows a motor vehicle body according to this exemplary embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Refer to the following Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of the present invention is explained.

[0037] exist Figure 2 1 shows a self-supporting vehicle body 1 of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment in a perspective view from the oblique rear. The motor vehicle is a two-seater passenger car with a single row of seats 13. A loading compartment 15 is present behind the second row of seats.

[0038] The self-supporting vehicle body has a left A-pillar 3 and a right A-pillar 4, the upper ends of which are connected to the front roof crossbar 5. A windshield is arranged between the A-pillars. Behind the seat row 13, the vehicle body has a left B-pillar 9 and a right B-pillar 10, which are connected at their upper ends via the rear roof crossbar 7. The B-pillars 9, 10 extend over the entire vehicle body height from the underbody structural assembly to the rear roof crossbar 7.

[0039] The self-supporting vehicle body 1 has a closed structural path or load path 100 in the rear region, i.e. in the rear vehicle region, with the rear roof cross member 7. The closed structural path 100 extends from the rear roof cross member 7 to a floor cross member structure 11 as a component of the floor structure assembly of the vehicle body 1. The floor cross member structure 11 is located in the region of the rear axle 19 of the vehicle. The floor cross member structure 11 is arranged behind the rear roof cross member 7 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a length A of approximately 500 mm to 1000 mm. The rear roof cross member 7 and the floor cross member structure 11 are connected to each other via a left structural path section 101 and a right structural path section 102 of the vehicle body 1. The left and right structural path sections 101, 102 extend obliquely from the rear roof cross member 7 to the rear and downwards towards the wheel housings 17, 18 or the rear axle 19 to the floor cross member structure 11. The structural path 100 thus forms a closed loop. Therefore, the vehicle body 1 as a whole has an annular closed structural path 100 which extends obliquely from top to bottom toward the rear. The left structural path section 101 has a left wheel house 17 , and the right structural path section 102 has a right wheel house 18 .

[0040] The structural path 100 of the vehicle body 1 is the load-bearing or load-absorbing region of the vehicle body 1 which contributes in particular to the rigidity and strength of the vehicle body 1. The entire structural path 100 is made sufficiently rigid by hollow profiles and / or sheet metal doublings or sheet metal reinforcements.

[0041] As in Figure 2 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the vehicle body 1 has no cross member structure behind the roof cross member 7, except for the floor structure assembly with the cross member structure 11. Therefore, the loading compartment 15 has no cross member at the height of the roof and below it. The cross member structure 11 extends below the loading compartment 15.

[0042] The loading compartment can be closed by a tailgate (not shown), the pivot axis of which is located in the region of the rear roof beam, ie, just behind it.

[0043] The floor of the loading compartment 15 is arranged relatively low and slightly above the rear axle 19 .

[0044] Furthermore, the vehicle body 1 has a wall 25 between the load compartment 15 and the passenger compartment including the seat row 13, which wall additionally has a reinforcing effect. The wall 25 extends between the left B-pillar 9 and the right B-pillar 10.

[0045] Beam structure 11 Figure 1 and Figure 2 In different variants are shown. Figure 2 As shown schematically in FIG. 1 , the crossbeam structure 11 can be relatively simply implemented as a straight crossbeam, or can be implemented over a larger area in the X direction, for example, with branches, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0046] In summary, according to the present embodiment, a passenger car with a self-supporting body 1 is created in the manner of a pickup truck, with a low loading floor and without roof crossbars in the area of ​​the cargo compartment 15, but without the ladder frame construction known in pickup trucks. Since the body 1 also has no crossbar structure at the rear above the floor of the body 1, the passenger car has not only a deep loading compartment 15, but also an equally deep loading edge. Overall, a relatively flat pickup truck in the manner of a sports car can thus be realized.

Claims

1. A self-supporting body of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, comprising: a pair of front pillars (3, 4), which are connected to each other, in particular via a front upper cross member (5); and a pair of rear pillars (9, 10), which are connected to each other via a rear upper cross member (7), wherein: The self-supporting vehicle body (1) and the rear upper cross beam (7) have a closed structural path (100), which extends from the rear upper roof cross beam (7) to the floor cross beam structure (11), and the floor cross beam structure (11) is spaced a distance from the rear upper cross beam (7) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. The self-supporting vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein: The rear pillar pair (9, 10) is the rearmost pillar pair of the vehicle body (1), and in particular the vehicle body (2) has no further pillar pairs.

3. A self-supporting vehicle body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The vehicle body (1) has a transverse structure behind the pair of rear pillars (9, 10) only in the floor area.

4. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The vehicle body (1) is designed for only one seat row (13).

5. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: A loading compartment (15) is formed behind the pair of rear pillars (9, 10).

6. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: A tailgate is formed behind the pair of rear pillars (9, 10) and extends substantially up to the rear upper cross member (7).

7. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The floor cross member structure (11) is spaced apart from the rear upper cross member (7) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle rearwardly, i.e. in the X direction, by at least 300 mm, or at least 400 mm, or at least 500 mm, or at least 600 mm, or at least 700 mm, or at least 800 mm, or at least 900 mm, or at least 1000 mm, or at least 1100 mm, or at least 1200 mm.

8. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The left rear wheel housing (17) and the right rear wheel housing (18) are components of a closed structural path (100).

9. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The floor cross member structure (11) is arranged in the region of a rear axle (19) of the motor vehicle or at least close to the rear axle of the motor vehicle.

10. A self-supporting vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: A further cross member structure (21), such as a wall, extends between the rear pillar pair (9, 10) and between the rear upper cross member (7) and the floor.

11. A motor vehicle having a self-supporting body according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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