Side reinforcement assembly and vehicle

Abstract

This application provides a side panel reinforcement assembly and a vehicle, which can improve the connection strength between the A-pillar reinforcement and the B-pillar reinforcement. According to an example of this application, the side panel reinforcement assembly includes: an A-pillar reinforcement including a hot air expansion tube; and a B-pillar reinforcement including an outer B-pillar reinforcement plate and an inner B-pillar reinforcement plate, wherein the outer B-pillar reinforcement plate is located outside the hot air expansion tube and is fixedly connected to the hot air expansion tube, and the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate is fixedly connected to the outer B-pillar reinforcement plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle component technology, and more specifically, to a side panel reinforcement assembly and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] As vehicles become increasingly heavier and collision safety standards continue to rise, the challenges to vehicle collision safety are also growing. The side reinforcement assembly is a crucial component of the vehicle body structure and plays a vital role in whole-vehicle collisions.

[0003] In related technical terms, the side reinforcement assembly typically includes an A-pillar upper reinforcement and a B-pillar reinforcement. The A-pillar upper reinforcement and the B-pillar reinforcement are connected and fixed by a connecting plate. This connection method has low overall strength and low connection reliability. When a vehicle collision occurs, the connecting plate between the A-pillar upper reinforcement and the B-pillar reinforcement is prone to breakage, so that the A-pillar reinforcement and the B-pillar reinforcement do not share the impact force during the collision. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a side reinforcement assembly that can improve the connection strength between the A-pillar reinforcement and the B-pillar reinforcement.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a side panel reinforcement assembly, comprising: A-pillar reinforcements, including hot gas expansion tubes; The B-pillar reinforcement includes an outer B-pillar reinforcement plate and an inner B-pillar reinforcement plate. The outer B-pillar reinforcement plate is located outside the hot air expansion tube and is fixedly connected to the hot air expansion tube. The inner B-pillar reinforcement plate is fixedly connected to the outer B-pillar reinforcement plate.

[0006] Optionally, the side reinforcement assembly further includes a B-pillar connection transition plate, which is located above the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate and inside the hot air expansion tube, and is fixedly connected to the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate and the hot air expansion tube respectively.

[0007] Optionally, the B-pillar connecting transition plate includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part, the first connecting part being located above the second connecting part, the first connecting part being riveted to the hot air expansion tube, and the second connecting part being welded to the B-pillar reinforcing inner plate.

[0008] Optionally, the hot gas expansion tube includes a tube beam, a first flange edge, and a second flange edge. The tube beam, the first flange edge, and the second flange edge are integrally formed. The first flange edge and the second flange edge both extend along the length direction of the tube beam, and the first flange edge and the second flange edge are spaced apart along the circumference of the tube beam. The B-column reinforced outer plate is fixed to the tubular beam.

[0009] Optionally, the B-pillar reinforcing outer panel is also fixedly connected to the second flange edge.

[0010] Optionally, the first flange is located on the upper side of the pipe beam, and the second flange is located on the lower side of the pipe beam.

[0011] Optionally, the angle between the first flange edge and the horizontal direction is in the range of 0 to 30°.

[0012] Optionally, the angle between the second flange edge and the vertical direction is in the range of 0 to 30°.

[0013] Optionally, the side reinforcement assembly further includes a canopy beam transition member extending along the length of the hot gas expansion tube. The canopy beam transition member is located inside the hot gas expansion tube and is fixedly connected to the hot gas expansion tube.

[0014] Optionally, when the hot gas expansion tube includes a tube beam, a first flange edge, and a second flange edge, the canopy beam transition component includes a canopy beam transition body and a canopy beam transition extension, wherein the canopy beam transition extension extends downward from the canopy beam transition body. The transition body of the canopy beam is welded to the first flange edge, and the transition extension of the canopy beam is riveted to the beam.

[0015] Optionally, the side reinforcement assembly further includes a C-pillar reinforcement, which includes an upper C-pillar reinforcement plate and an upper C-pillar connecting plate. The upper C-pillar reinforcement and the upper C-pillar connecting plate are connected and enclosed to form a closed-loop structure. The rear end of the hot air expansion tube is inserted into the closed-loop structure and is fixedly connected to the closed-loop structure.

[0016] Optionally, when the hot gas expansion tube includes a pipe beam, a first flange edge, and a second flange edge, the second flange edge is provided with a first riveting hole, and the C-pillar reinforcing plate and the C-pillar connecting plate are both riveted to the second flange edge through the first riveting hole.

[0017] Secondly, this application discloses a vehicle comprising: a side panel reinforcement assembly as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0018] The side reinforcement assembly and vehicle provided in this application have at least the following advantages: In this way, the B-pillar reinforcement panel is directly fixed to the hot air expansion tube of the A-pillar reinforcement, so that the hot air expansion tube and the B-pillar reinforcement form a direct connection structure without the need for additional intermediate parts, making the connection more reliable. In the event of a vehicle collision, the load of the B-pillar reinforcement can be directly transferred to the hot air expansion tube, and vice versa. The B-pillar reinforcement and the hot air expansion tube form an integrated load-bearing unit, which can jointly bear and disperse the impact force of the collision, thereby helping to improve the overall impact resistance of the side reinforcement assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the side reinforcement assembly shown in one embodiment; Figure 2 This is a structural view of the side reinforcement assembly shown in one embodiment, viewed from the outside to the inside. Figure 3 This is a structural view of the side reinforcement assembly shown in one embodiment, viewed from the inside to the outside. Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of part A; Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of part B; Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the B-pillar reinforcement shown in one embodiment; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the canopy beam transition piece and the hot gas expansion tube in one embodiment; Figure 8 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of part C; Figure 9 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of part D; Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the A-pillar reinforcement and the hot gas expansion tube as shown in one embodiment.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 10. Hot gas expansion tube; 11. Pipe beam; 12. First flange edge; 13. Second flange edge; 131. First riveting hole; 14. Second riveting hole; 20. B-pillar reinforcement; 21. B-pillar reinforcement outer plate; 22. B-pillar reinforcement inner plate; 23. Internal reinforcement beam; 30. B-pillar connecting transition plate; 31. First connecting part; 32. Second connecting part; 40. Canopy beam transition piece; 41. Canopy beam transition body; 42. Canopy beam transition extension; 50. C-pillar reinforcement; 51. C-pillar upper reinforcement plate; 52. C-pillar upper connecting plate; 53. C-pillar lower reinforcement; 60. A-pillar lower reinforcement; 70. A-pillar connecting transition plate; 71. Third connecting part; 72. Fourth connecting part. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions in the embodiments (or "implementations") of this specification will be clearly and completely described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0022] If the embodiments of this specification contain terms relating to directional indications or positional relationships (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, outside, top, bottom, center, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, transverse, length, width, counterclockwise, clockwise, axial, radial, circumferential, etc.), such terms are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and movements between components in a specific posture (as shown in the attached figures); if the specific posture changes, the directional indications or positional relationships will also change accordingly. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" used in the embodiments of this specification are for descriptive convenience only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] This application provides a side panel reinforcement assembly and a vehicle. The side panel reinforcement assembly and the vehicle are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the features in the following embodiments and implementations can be combined with each other.

[0024] This application provides a side panel reinforcement assembly, with reference to... Figures 1 to 5 The side reinforcement assembly includes: an A-pillar reinforcement and a B-pillar reinforcement 20.

[0025] The A-pillar reinforcement includes a hot-expansion tube 10, which is a tube formed by a hot-expansion process and has relatively high strength. Specifically, the forming process involves using high-pressure gas within a mold to expand a heated metal tube. The hot-expansion tube 10 may include a tube beam 11, a first flange 12, and a second flange 13. The tube beam 11, the first flange 12, and the second flange 13 are integrally formed. The tube beam 11 is a hollow structure. The first flange 12 and the second flange 13 are spaced apart circumferentially along the tube beam 11, as shown in the figure. The first flange 12 is located on one radial side of the tube beam 11, and the second flange 13 is located on the other radial side. Both the first flange 12 and the second flange 13 extend along the length of the tube beam 11. The lengths of the first flange 12 and the second flange 13 may be equal, but are not limited to this. In some other embodiments, the hot-expansion tube 10 may only include the tube beam 11. Alternatively, the hot-expansion tube 10 may only include the tube beam 11 and the first flange 12. Alternatively, the hot gas expansion tube 10 may consist only of the tube beam 11 and the second flange edge 13.

[0026] The B-pillar reinforcement 20 is a supplementary structure for the B-pillar, used to improve the load-bearing capacity of the entire vehicle at the B-pillar. The B-pillar reinforcement 20 includes an outer B-pillar reinforcement plate 21 and an inner B-pillar reinforcement plate 22. As the name suggests, the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate 22 is located inside the outer B-pillar reinforcement plate 21 and is fixedly connected to it, making the outer B-pillar reinforcement plate 21 and the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate 22 an integral structure. The outer B-pillar reinforcement plate 21 is located outside the hot air expansion tube 10 and is fixedly connected to it.

[0027] Thus, this solution directly fixes the B-pillar reinforcing outer panel 21 to the hot air expansion tube 10 of the A-pillar reinforcement, making the hot air expansion tube 10 and the B-pillar reinforcement 20 form a direct connection structure without the need for additional intermediate parts, making the connection more reliable. In the event of a vehicle collision, the load of the B-pillar reinforcement 20 can be directly transferred to the hot air expansion tube 10, and vice versa. The B-pillar reinforcement 20 and the hot air expansion tube 10 form an integrated load-bearing unit, which can jointly bear and disperse the impact force of the collision, thereby helping to improve the overall impact resistance of the side reinforcement assembly.

[0028] The following details how the B-pillar reinforcement outer panel 21 is connected to the hot air expansion tube 10.

[0029] In some embodiments, the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 is fixedly connected to the tube beam 11 of the hot air expansion tube 10. It is understood that the tube beam 11 is the main load-bearing component of the hot air expansion tube 10, and is the primary component for transmitting and bearing impact loads. Compared to the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 of the hot air expansion tube 10, the tube beam 11 has superior structural stiffness and deformation resistance. Therefore, fixing the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 to the tube beam 11 allows the impact load between the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 and the hot air expansion tube 10 to be directly transmitted through the tube beam 11, which helps improve the load transmission efficiency. This allows the B-pillar reinforcement 20 and the hot air expansion tube 10 to bear external loads as a whole, thereby improving the overall load-bearing capacity of the side reinforcement assembly.

[0030] Furthermore, the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 is also fixedly connected to the second flange edge 13 of the hot gas expansion tube 10. In this way, the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 is simultaneously connected to the tube beam 11 and the second flange edge 13 of the hot gas expansion tube 10, forming a double connection guarantee. The overall strength and reliability of the connection between the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 and the hot gas expansion tube 10 are high, which helps to avoid connection failure between the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 and the hot gas expansion tube 10, thereby enabling the B-pillar reinforcement 20 and the hot gas expansion tube 10 to jointly bear the external load.

[0031] Specifically, the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 is riveted to the tube beam 11 of the hot air expansion tube 10 and welded to the second flange edge 13 of the hot air expansion tube 10. It is understandable that the tube beam 11 of the hot air expansion tube 10, being a tubular structure, is the main component bearing the brunt of impacts. If the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 and the hot air expansion tube 10 were welded together, the high temperatures generated during welding could lead to deformation of the tube beam 11 and reduced strength. Therefore, this design uses riveting to connect the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 to the tube beam 11 of the hot air expansion tube 10, avoiding high temperatures and performance degradation of the tube beam 11 due to heating. Conversely, the second flange edge 13 of the hot air expansion tube 10 is not a primary load-bearing structure; therefore, the B-pillar reinforcing outer plate 21 can be welded to the second flange edge 13 to improve the connection strength.

[0032] In some embodiments, the side reinforcement assembly further includes a B-pillar connection transition plate 30, which is located above the B-pillar reinforcement inner plate 22 and inside the hot air expansion tube 10. The B-pillar connection transition plate 30 is fixedly connected to the B-pillar reinforcement inner plate 22 and the hot air expansion tube 10, respectively.

[0033] In this way, the outer B-pillar reinforcing plate 21 is fixed to the outside of the hot air expansion tube 10, and the inner B-pillar reinforcing plate 22 is fixed to the inside of the hot air expansion tube 10 through the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30, sandwiching the hot air expansion tube 10 in the middle. This creates a sandwich-like connection structure for the side wall reinforcement assembly in the connection area between the B-pillar and A-pillar, resulting in high structural strength of the side wall reinforcement assembly in this area. Under side collision or top-pressure conditions, it can effectively bear the load and improve the protection of passengers. Furthermore, the load generated by the collision can be transferred not only through the outer B-pillar reinforcing plate 21 to the hot air expansion tube 10, but also through the inner B-pillar reinforcing plate 22 and the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30, achieving multi-path load transfer and avoiding excessive stress concentration. Furthermore, the personalized design of the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30 can match the size and structural shape of different B-pillar reinforcing inner plates 22, eliminating the need to change the molding mold of the hot air expansion tube 10 due to the connection requirements of the B-pillar reinforcing inner plate 22. This not only ensures the process stability of the one-piece molding of the hot air expansion tube 10, but also solves the adaptation problem of the size difference of the B-pillar reinforcing inner plate 22 in different models, thus enabling this solution to be applied to different vehicle sizes and categories.

[0034] Furthermore, the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30 includes a first connecting part 31 and a second connecting part 32. The first connecting part 31 is located above the second connecting part 32. The first connecting part 31 is riveted to the tube beam 11 of the hot air expansion tube 10, and the second connecting part 32 is welded to the B-pillar reinforcing inner plate 22.

[0035] Similarly, if the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30 and the hot gas expansion tube 10 are welded, the high temperature generated during welding may cause deformation and reduced strength of the tube beam 11. Therefore, this solution uses riveting to connect the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30 and the tube beam 11 of the hot gas expansion tube 10, avoiding high temperatures and performance degradation of the tube beam 11 due to high-temperature heating. The B-pillar reinforcing inner plate 22 is mostly a flat or low-curvature plate structure, which is well-suited for welding processes and provides high connection rigidity. During assembly, the pre-positioned connection between the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30 and the hot gas expansion tube 10 can be completed first by riveting, and then the B-pillar connecting transition plate 30 and the B-pillar reinforcing inner plate 22 can be fixed by welding. This step-by-step operation reduces the difficulty of synchronous assembly and facilitates mass production.

[0036] It should be noted that the number of riveting points between the first connecting part 31 and the hot air expansion tube 10 can be set to multiple, and this specification does not impose specific restrictions on this.

[0037] In some embodiments, reference Figure 6 The B-pillar reinforcement 20 also includes an internal reinforcing beam 23 disposed between the outer B-pillar reinforcement panel 21 and the inner B-pillar reinforcement panel 22. The internal reinforcing beam 23 is formed using a hot-air expansion process. It is understood that the internal reinforcing beam 23 is integrally formed using a hot-air expansion process, without any separate weld seams or weak connection points. During a collision, the internal reinforcing beam 23 will not fail due to weld cracking or joint detachment, effectively absorbing and transferring collision energy, thus better protecting passengers.

[0038] In some embodiments, reference Figure 7 and combined Figure 1 The side reinforcement assembly also includes a skylight beam transition piece 40 extending along the length of the hot air expansion tube 10. The skylight beam transition piece 40 is located inside the hot air expansion tube 10 and is fixedly connected to the hot air expansion tube 10. The skylight beam transition piece 40 is used to connect to the skylight beam on the roof of the vehicle.

[0039] Thus, the sunroof crossbeam transition piece 40 extends along the length of the hot air expansion tube 10 and is fixed inside it, connecting the load-bearing structure of the hot air expansion tube 10 to the roof sunroof crossbeam. In the event of a side collision or top impact, the sunroof crossbeam transition piece 40 can transfer the load borne by the roof to the high-strength hot air expansion tube 10, and then to other side structures such as the B-pillar reinforcement 20. In other words, the sunroof crossbeam can be connected to the hot air expansion tube 10 through the sunroof crossbeam transition piece 40, and the sunroof crossbeam can be supported by the hot air expansion tube 10 and other side structures, helping to prevent the sunroof crossbeam from collapsing. Furthermore, it is understood that the sunroof crossbeam transition piece 40 can match the size and structural shape of different sunroof crossbeams without requiring replacement of the hot air expansion tube 10 molding die for the connection requirements of the sunroof crossbeam, thereby allowing this solution to be applied to more vehicle sizes and categories.

[0040] Furthermore, the canopy beam transition component 40 includes a canopy beam transition body 41 and a canopy beam transition extension 42. The canopy beam transition extension 42 extends downward from the canopy beam transition body 41. The canopy beam transition body 41 is welded to the first flange edge 12, and the canopy beam transition extension 42 is riveted to the pipe beam 11.

[0041] Thus, the canopy beam transition piece 40 is connected not only to the tube beam 11 of the hot gas expansion tube 10, but also to the first flange edge 12 of the hot gas expansion tube 10. This allows the canopy beam transition piece 40 and the hot gas expansion tube 10 to be fixed in two positions, improving the connection reliability between them and enabling better transfer of loads from the canopy beam to the hot gas expansion tube 10. Furthermore, riveting the canopy beam transition extension 42 to the tube beam 11 of the hot gas expansion tube 10 avoids high temperatures and prevents performance degradation of the tube beam 11 due to high-temperature heating. Conversely, the second flange edge 13 of the hot gas expansion tube 10 is not a primary load-bearing structure; therefore, the canopy beam transition body 41 can be welded to the second flange edge 13 to improve the connection strength.

[0042] It should be noted that both the canopy beam transition body 41 and the canopy beam transition extension 42 can be plate-shaped structures, but are not limited to this.

[0043] In some embodiments, reference Figure 8 and Figure 9 and combined Figures 1 to 3 The side reinforcement assembly also includes a C-pillar reinforcement 50, which includes a C-pillar upper reinforcement plate 51 and a C-pillar upper connecting plate 52. The C-pillar upper reinforcement and the C-pillar upper connecting plate 52 are connected and enclosed to form a closed-loop structure. The connection method includes, but is not limited to, integral molding, welding, screwing, etc. The rear end of the hot air expansion tube 10 is inserted into the closed-loop structure and is fixedly connected to the closed-loop structure.

[0044] First, by forming a closed-loop structure with the C-pillar upper reinforcing plate 51 and the C-pillar upper connecting plate 52, a high moment of inertia can be achieved between the two plates. Furthermore, by inserting the rear end of the hot air expansion tube 10 into this closed-loop structure, a nested connection is formed between the A-pillar upper reinforcing member and the C-pillar reinforcing member 50. At this connection, the hot air expansion tube 10 and the closed-loop structure can mutually constrain each other radially, and the connection has a large radial wall thickness, which improves the structural strength and radial load-bearing capacity of the connection. At this connection, the hot air expansion tube 10, the C-pillar upper reinforcing plate 51, and the C-pillar lower reinforcing plate can jointly resist external impact forces, effectively dispersing the stress at the connection, thereby improving the overall vehicle safety performance.

[0045] Furthermore, the second flange edge 13 of the hot air expansion tube 10 has a first riveting hole 131. The C-pillar reinforcing plate 51 and the C-pillar connecting plate 52 are both riveted to the second flange edge 13 through the first riveting hole 131. In this way, the C-pillar reinforcing plate 51 and the C-pillar connecting plate 52 can share the first riveting hole 131 and be fixed to the hot air expansion tube 10 by the same rivet. Compared with the scheme where the C-pillar reinforcing plate 51 and the C-pillar connecting plate 52 are riveted to the hot air expansion tube 10 separately, this embodiment combines the two processes into one, reducing installation time and helping to improve assembly efficiency.

[0046] Furthermore, when the side reinforcement assembly also includes the canopy beam transition piece 40, the canopy beam transition piece 40 can also be inserted into the closed-loop structure formed by the C-pillar reinforcement plate 51 and the C-pillar connecting plate 52, so that the canopy beam can also establish a connection relationship with the C-pillar reinforcement piece 50.

[0047] In some embodiments, the C-pillar reinforcement 50 further includes a lower C-pillar reinforcement 53, which is fixedly connected to the upper C-pillar reinforcement plate 51 and the upper C-pillar connecting plate 52, respectively. In other embodiments, the lower C-pillar reinforcement 53 may be integrally formed with the upper C-pillar reinforcement plate 51 and the upper C-pillar connecting plate 52.

[0048] In some embodiments, reference Figure 10 and combined Figures 1 to 3 The side reinforcement assembly also includes an A-pillar under-reinforcement member 60, which overlaps with the hot air expansion tube 10 and is fixedly connected to the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13. The fixing methods include, but are not limited to, riveting and welding.

[0049] Thus, this solution directly connects to the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 via two flange edges (first flange edge 12 and second flange edge 13), eliminating the need for additional intermediate parts and ensuring a more reliable connection. In the event of a frontal collision, the load of the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 can be directly transferred to the hot air expansion tube 10. The hot air expansion tube 10 itself possesses high strength, enhancing the structure's resistance to bending and deformation while maintaining lightweight design, thereby improving the overall vehicle safety performance. Furthermore, since both flange edges of the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the hot air expansion tube 10 are connected, the load can be transferred more evenly through the two flange edges, helping to avoid localized stress concentration. Simultaneously, even if the connection between the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and one flange edge (such as the first flange edge 12) fails, the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 can still maintain its connection to the hot air expansion tube 10 through the other flange edge (such as the second flange edge 13), further improving the reliability of the connection between the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the hot air expansion tube 10. In addition, this solution uses a single structure of hot gas expansion tube 10 as the A-pillar reinforcement. Compared with the traditional A-pillar reinforcement which involves welding the inner and outer plates and reinforcing with patch plates, this solution directly reduces the number of independent parts such as inner and outer plates and patch plates, avoiding assembly problems such as multiple parts requiring multiple processes to connect.

[0050] In some embodiments, the side reinforcement assembly further includes an A-pillar connection transition plate 70, which is located at the front end of the hot air expansion tube 10 and on the side of the hot air expansion tube 10 opposite to the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60; the A-pillar connection transition plate 70 is fixedly connected to the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13. In other words, the hot air expansion tube 10 is held by the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60 and the A-pillar connection transition plate 70. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the A-pillar connection transition plate 70 is located inside the hot air expansion tube 10, and the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60 is located outside the hot air expansion tube 10.

[0051] In this way, the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70 is fixed to both the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13. Combined with the fixation of the flange edge by the outer A-pillar lower reinforcement 60, the hot air expansion tube 10, the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60, and the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70 form a rigid whole without relative displacement. In other words, by setting the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70, the structural strength and connection strength at the connection between the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the hot air expansion tube 10 are enhanced. When a load is transferred to this connection, the structure formed by the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60, the hot air expansion tube 10, and the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70 can jointly bear the load, effectively dispersing the stress at the connection, thereby preventing the A-pillar structure from detaching or breaking at this connection.

[0052] In some embodiments, the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70 includes a third connecting portion 71 and a fourth connecting portion 72 connected together, with the fourth connecting portion 72 located at the front end of the third connecting portion 71; the third connecting portion 71 is riveted to the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 respectively, and the fourth connecting portion 72 is fixedly connected to the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60.

[0053] Thus, the third connecting part 71 is directly riveted to the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 of the hot gas expansion tube 10, thereby fixing the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70 to the hot gas expansion tube 10. The fourth connecting part 72 is fixedly connected to the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60, so that the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70 is simultaneously fixedly connected to both the hot gas expansion tube 10 and the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60, further improving the reliability of the connection between the hot gas expansion tube 10, the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60, and the A-pillar connecting transition plate 70.

[0054] Furthermore, both the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 are provided with second riveting holes 14. The first connecting part 31 and the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60 are both riveted to the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 through the second riveting holes 14. That is, the first connecting part 31 and the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60 can share the second riveting hole 14 and be fixed to the hot gas expansion tube 10 by the same rivet. Compared with the scheme in which the first connecting part 31 and the lower A-pillar reinforcement 60 are connected to the hot gas expansion tube 10 separately, this embodiment combines the two connection processes into one, reducing installation time and helping to improve assembly efficiency.

[0055] It should be noted that the number of second riveting holes 14 can be multiple, and the specific number can be set as needed. For example, when the overlap area between the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the hot air expansion tube 10 is long, multiple second riveting holes 14 can be provided along the length of both the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 to make the connection between the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the hot air expansion tube 10 more reliable. Alternatively, as shown in the figure, when the overlap area between the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the hot air expansion tube 10 is short, only one first riveting hole 131 can be provided on the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13. This specification does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0056] In some embodiments, the first flange edge 12 is located on the upper side of the pipe beam 11, and the second flange edge 13 is located on the lower side of the pipe beam 11. This allows for fixed connection with the side outer plate at both the upper and lower positions, improving the reliability of the connection with the side outer plate. Furthermore, the placement of the first flange edge 12 and the second flange edge 13 on the upper and lower sides of the pipe beam 11 respectively facilitates connection with the required mating parts. The mating parts refer to the components connected to the hot gas expansion tube 10.

[0057] Furthermore, the first flange edge 12 is aligned with the horizontal direction (e.g.) Figure 7The angle between the first flange edge 12 and the horizontal direction (as shown in the Y direction) is in the range of 0 to 30°. For example, the angle between the first flange edge 12 and the horizontal direction can be 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, or 30°, but is not limited to these. That is to say, the first flange edge 12 extends generally along the horizontal direction, which can form a relatively horizontal installation platform, making it easier to connect with multiple structures such as the canopy beam transition piece 40 and the side outer panel.

[0058] Furthermore, the second flange edge 13 is perpendicular to the vertical direction (e.g.) Figure 7 The included angle (in the Z direction shown) is in the range of 0 to 30 degrees. For example, the included angle between the second flange edge 13 and the vertical direction can be 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, or 30°, but is not limited to these. That is, the second flange edge 13 extends substantially vertically, providing a larger connection area in the vertical direction to facilitate connection with the A-pillar lower reinforcement 60 and the B-pillar reinforcement 20.

[0059] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a vehicle that includes the side reinforcement assembly of any of the above embodiments or implementations. The vehicle can be a sedan, truck, van, SUV, or any other type of civilian or commercial vehicle. In one specific embodiment, the vehicle is a high-voltage traction battery-powered electric vehicle (e.g., a pure battery electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, etc.); in another specific embodiment, the vehicle is an autonomous driving vehicle (i.e., an automated driving vehicle), which can automatically control its driving, steering, braking, and other maneuvering functions through an onboard control system without direct input from a human driver.

[0060] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A side panel reinforcement assembly, characterized in that, include: A-pillar reinforcement, including hot air expansion tubes; The B-pillar reinforcement includes an outer B-pillar reinforcement plate and an inner B-pillar reinforcement plate. The outer B-pillar reinforcement plate is located outside the hot air expansion tube and is fixedly connected to the hot air expansion tube. The inner B-pillar reinforcement plate is fixedly connected to the outer B-pillar reinforcement plate.

2. The side reinforcement assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side reinforcement assembly also includes a B-pillar connecting transition plate, which is located above the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate and inside the hot air expansion tube, and is fixedly connected to the inner B-pillar reinforcement plate and the hot air expansion tube respectively.

3. The side reinforcement assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The B-pillar connecting transition plate includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The first connecting part is located above the second connecting part. The first connecting part is riveted to the hot air expansion tube, and the second connecting part is welded to the B-pillar reinforcing inner plate.

4. The side reinforcement assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The hot gas expansion tube includes a tube beam, a first flange edge, and a second flange edge. The tube beam, the first flange edge, and the second flange edge are integrally formed. The first flange edge and the second flange edge both extend along the length direction of the tube beam. The first flange edge and the second flange edge are spaced apart along the circumference of the tube beam. The B-column reinforced outer plate is fixed to the tubular beam.

5. The side reinforcement assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The reinforced outer plate of the B-pillar is also fixedly connected to the second flange edge; And / or, the first flange is located on the upper side of the pipe beam, and the second flange is located on the lower side of the pipe beam; And / or, the angle between the first flange edge and the horizontal direction is in the range of 0 to 30°; And / or, the angle between the second flange edge and the vertical direction is in the range of 0 to 30°.

6. The side reinforcement assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, characterized in that, The side reinforcement assembly also includes a canopy beam transition piece extending along the length of the hot gas expansion tube. The canopy beam transition piece is located inside the hot gas expansion tube and is fixedly connected to the hot gas expansion tube.

7. The side reinforcement assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the hot gas expansion tube includes a tube beam, a first flange edge and a second flange edge, the canopy beam transition component includes a canopy beam transition body and a canopy beam transition extension, and the canopy beam transition extension extends downward from the canopy beam transition body. The transition body of the canopy beam is welded to the first flange edge, and the transition extension of the canopy beam is riveted to the beam.

8. The side reinforcement assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5, and 7, characterized in that, The side reinforcement assembly also includes a C-pillar reinforcement, which includes an upper C-pillar reinforcement plate and an upper C-pillar connecting plate. The upper C-pillar reinforcement and the upper C-pillar connecting plate are connected and enclosed to form a closed-loop structure. The rear end of the hot air expansion tube is inserted into the closed-loop structure and is fixedly connected to the closed-loop structure.

9. The side reinforcement assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the hot gas expansion tube includes a pipe beam, a first flange edge, and a second flange edge, the second flange edge is provided with a first riveting hole, and the C-column reinforcing plate and the C-column connecting plate are both riveted to the second flange edge through the first riveting hole.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: The side reinforcement assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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