Splash-proof wall of front vehicle body structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a splash wall of a motor vehicle, said splash wall extending transversely to the vehicle direction and being used for separating a passenger compartment from a front compartment, preferably a motor compartment, said splash wall having an upper cross-member, two inner A-pillars arranged in each case on the sides of the splash wall, and receiving elements arranged in each case on the inner A-pillars for a sill and a longitudinal beam, the splash wall has a lower cross-member, and the splash wall is configured as a one-piece or one-piece light metal die-cast part.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a splash wall (or firewall, i.e., Spritzwand) for a motor vehicle and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the splash wall extends transversely to the vehicle direction and is used to separate the passenger compartment from the front compartment, preferably the motor compartment, and the splash wall has an upper cross member, two inner A-pillars respectively arranged on the sides of the splash wall, and receiving elements respectively arranged at the inner A-pillars for the sill and the longitudinal beam. Background Art

[0002] DE 10 2008 062 007 A1 discloses a partition wall which is constructed in a multi-piece manner, i.e., composed of a lower cross member, a partition wall element and an upper reinforcing beam, wherein the lower cross member is constructed as a light metal die-cast member, and the partition wall element and the upper reinforcing beam are constructed of light metal sheets. The elements are connected to each other, for example, by welding, screwing, gluing or clamping.

[0003] The disadvantage here is that the cost of connecting the individual components to each other is relatively high.

[0004] DE 10 2008 062 004 A1 discloses a vehicle body structure, wherein the splash wall has a flange and is connected to a cross member which also has a flange. Here, the partition wall is constructed of light metal sheets and is preferably welded or glued to the cross member. There is also the disadvantage here that there is a relatively high time consumption when installing the individual elements to each other before the vehicle body structure components can be installed in the vehicle body.

[0005] EP 409 916A1 discloses a one-piece structural member which shows a transversely extending splash wall having A-pillars laterally arranged thereon. The disadvantage here is that the lower cross member still has to be added separately to the one-piece structural member. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a splash wall and a related method which shorten the production time, reduce the logistics cost and require as few manual work steps as possible, thereby improving the economy of the components, and the splash wall has as low a weight as possible.

[0007] According to the present invention, this object is achieved in that the splash wall has a lower cross member, and the splash wall (1) is constructed as a one-piece or monolithic light metal die-cast part.

[0008] The splash guard according to the invention for a motor vehicle, preferably the front body structure splash guard, extends transversely to the vehicle direction and is used to separate the passenger compartment from the front compartment, preferably the motor compartment. The splash guard according to the invention has an upper cross member, two inner A-pillars respectively arranged on the sides of the splash guard, and receiving elements for the sill and the longitudinal beam respectively arranged in the lower region at the inner A-pillars. Preferably, the inner A-pillars are constructed mirror-symmetrically. In addition, the splash guard has a lower cross member. Elements such as the inner A-pillars, the upper cross member and the lower cross member, and the receiving elements at the sill and the longitudinal beam do not require a joining process to be connected to each other to form the splash guard, but the splash guard according to the invention is constructed as a whole.

[0009] The splash guard according to the invention is constructed as a one-piece or monolithic light metal die-cast part, which realizes a thin-wall structure and still achieves the desired stability.

[0010] It has proven to be advantageous that at least one inclined rib is arranged between the receiving element - sill and the receiving element - longitudinal beam. This is used for passenger compartment protection because in the event of a frontal impact, the force is led from the longitudinal beam into the sill via the inclined rib. Preferably, two to three inclined ribs are arranged between the receiving element - sill and the receiving element - longitudinal beam at the inner A-pillar.

[0011] It has proven to be a preferred embodiment that the lower cross member is constructed for connecting the battery housing. Preferably, corresponding connecting elements such as tightening points are arranged in the light metal die-cast member so that the battery housing can be installed at the lower cross member by joining.

[0012] Preferably, the lower cross member is constructed for connecting the chassis subframe. Preferably, corresponding connecting elements such as tightening points are arranged in the light metal die-cast part so that the chassis subframe can be installed at the lower cross member by joining. Of course, other, such as additional connection points, can also be integrated into the splash guard according to the vehicle type.

[0013] It is advantageous that the receiving element is constructed in a C-shape, thereby positively enclosing the sill and / or the longitudinal beam. The C-shape of the receiving element also serves as a guide for the sill and / or the longitudinal beam.

[0014] It is advantageous that the splash guard is constructed with a thin wall, wherein the wall thickness of the member is between 1 and 8 mm, preferably between 2 and 5 mm. Preferably, the wall thickness of the member has different thicknesses according to its position at the splash guard. The flow characteristics in the splash guard can be optimized or filling optimization can be achieved through the different wall thicknesses of the member. On the one hand, the individual wall thicknesses of the member can have different thicknesses according to their arrangement, and on the other hand, the wall thickness of the member itself can also have different thicknesses, that is, the wall thickness of the member can be tapered or widened so as to achieve filling optimization as described above.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the splash guard according to the present invention, a ribbed portion is provided at the lower cross member for reinforcement. Preferably, ribbed portions are arranged on both sides of the lower cross member, that is, in the direction of the passenger compartment and in the direction of the front compartment. Advantageously, the ribs extend obliquely downward from top to bottom over the entire lower cross member. Preferably, the ribs extend at regular or irregular intervals over the entire length of the lower cross member.

[0016] Preferably, the upper cross member has a ribbed portion for reinforcement. The ribs preferably point towards the inside of the passenger compartment at the upper cross member. Advantageously, the ribbed portion extends over the entire length of the upper cross member, that is, from one inner A-pillar to the opposite inner A-pillar. Preferably, the ribs are configured in a crosswise manner.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the splash guard according to the present invention is made of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy.

[0018] According to the present invention, this task is solved by manufacturing the splash guard according to the present invention by die-casting. By manufacturing the splash guard according to the present invention by die-casting, a complex, thin-walled yet stable shape can be achieved. In addition, various additional components can be directly integrated into the one-piece splash guard, thus avoiding additional assembly steps.

[0019] It has proven to be advantageous that the splash guard according to the present invention undergoes heat treatment after casting. Thereby, the desired properties, such as the ductility of the material of the splash guard, are improved. The heat treatment can be carried out integrally and can also be carried out only partially.

[0020] All design possibilities can be freely combined with each other, and in order to avoid repetition, the features of the device also automatically relate to the method, and vice versa. Description of the Drawings

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings, wherein the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the splash guard according to the present invention as seen from the front compartment is shown,

[0023] Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of the splash guard according to the present invention as seen from the passenger compartment is shown,

[0024] Figure 3 A partial side view of the lower region of the inner A-pillar is shown, and

[0025] Figure 4 A view of the splash guard according to the present invention from below is shown. Detailed Description

[0026] In Figure 1The accompanying drawings shown therein illustrate a splash guard 1 according to the present invention for a motor vehicle. The splash guard 1 is configured as a one-piece or monolithic light metal die-cast part. The splash guard 1 includes an upper cross member 2, inner A-pillars 4 arranged laterally thereof, and a lower cross member 3. In the lower region of the inner A-pillars 4, receiving elements 5, 6 for the sill and the longitudinal beam are integrally arranged, or are likewise integrated into the die-cast splash guard 1 according to the present invention. Advantageously, as can be seen from Figure 2 as shown, the upper cross member 2 and the lower cross member 3 have ribbed portions 8, 9 so that the splash guard 1 can meet the stiffness requirements as well as the strength requirements. Preferably, the ribbed portion 8 at the upper cross member is configured crosswise and extends over the entire length of the cross member or extends from one inner A-pillar 4 to the opposite inner A-pillar 4. The lower cross member 3 preferably has ribbed portions 9, 10 in the direction of the passenger compartment G and in the direction of the front compartment F.

[0027] In Figure 3 the lower region of the side view of the inner A-pillar is shown. It can be clearly seen therefrom that the receiving elements 5, 6 for the sill and the longitudinal beam are configured in a C-shape. This enables a form-fitting connection of the sill and the longitudinal beam to the splash guard 1. Furthermore, an inclined rib 7 extending between the receiving elements 5, 6 can be seen, and the inclined rib has the advantage of redirecting force.

[0028] Figure 4 A preferably integrated connecting element 11 is shown, so that the chassis subframe and / or the battery housing can be installed at the splash guard 1 by engagement. The connecting element 11 is preferably configured as a tightening point.

[0029] List of reference numerals

[0030] 1 Splash guard

[0031] 2 Upper cross member

[0032] 3 Lower cross member

[0033] 4 Inner A-pillar

[0034] 5 Receiving element - sill

[0035] 6 Receiving element - longitudinal beam

[0036] 7 Inclined rib

[0037] 8 Ribbed portion of the upper strut

[0038] 9 Ribbed portion of the lower strut on the passenger compartment side

[0039] 10 Ribbed portion of the lower strut on the front compartment side

[0040] 11 Connecting element

[0041] G Passenger compartment

[0042] F Front compartment

Claims

1. A splash guard (1) for a motor vehicle, wherein: The splash guard (1) extends transversely to the vehicle direction and is used to separate a passenger compartment from a front compartment, preferably an engine compartment, wherein the splash guard (1) has an upper cross member (2), two inner A-pillars (4) arranged laterally of the splash guard (1), and receiving elements (5, 6) for door sills and longitudinal beams arranged at the inner A-pillars (4), characterized in that the splash guard (1) has a lower cross member (3) and is constructed as a one-piece or monolithic light metal die-cast component.

2. The splashback wall (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one oblique rib (7) is arranged between the receiving element side sill (5) and the receiving element longitudinal beam (5).

3. The splashback wall (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The lower cross member (3) is configured to be connected to a battery housing and has a connecting element (11).

4. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The lower cross member is configured to be connected to a chassis subframe and has a connecting element (11).

5. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The receiving element (5) is designed to be C-shaped in order to surround the door sill in a form-fitting manner.

6. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The receiving element (6) is designed to be C-shaped in order to surround the longitudinal beam in a form-fitting manner.

7. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The splash guard (1) is of thin-walled design, the component wall being between 1 and 8 mm, preferably between 2 and 5 mm.

8. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The lower cross beam (3) has ribs for reinforcement.

9. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The upper cross beam (3) has ribbed portions for reinforcement.

10. The splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The splash-proof wall (1) is made of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy.

11. A method for producing a splashback wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The splash guard (1) is manufactured by a die-casting method.

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