lower shell, kit for manufacturing a lower shell and method for manufacturing a lower shell

The lower shell for the rear wing of a motor vehicle, with standardized fastening and untreated plastic shell body, addresses the need for cost-effective manufacturing by enabling modular construction and reduced visual impact, while maintaining aerodynamic functionality.

DE102014118495B4Active Publication Date: 2026-02-05DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102014118495
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2014-12-12
Publication Date
2026-02-05
Estimated Expiration
2034-12-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

There is a constant need to reduce the manufacturing cost of motor vehicles, particularly in producing components like the rear wing of a motor vehicle, while maintaining aesthetic and functional requirements.

Method used

A lower shell for the rear wing is designed with a shell body and panel that can be fastened to the vehicle body, featuring standardized fastening means allowing modular construction and use of identical panels across different vehicle models, with the shell body being minimally visible and produced from untreated plastic to reduce costs.

Benefits of technology

This design allows for cost-effective production by increasing production pieces of panels, reduces visual impact, and maintains aerodynamic functionality without complex painting or additional structural support, enabling cost-effective manufacturing and versatile design adaptation.

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Abstract

lower shell (22) comprising a cover (26) and a shell body (24) for at least partially receiving a rear wing (32) adjustable between a rest position and a working position in the rest position, with a shell body (24) attachable to a motor vehicle body (12), wherein the shell body (24) has a top surface (34) for forming a receiving volume for the rear wing (32) and a rear wall (36) connected to the top surface (34) and with a portion facing against the direction of travel, characterized in that a cover (26) connected to the rear wall (36) is provided for covering the rear wall (36), wherein the cover (26) has cover fastening means (38, 42) arranged spatially at a defined, in particular standardized, distance from each other, wherein the cover fastening means (38, 42) are arranged spatially at a defined, in particular standardized, distance from each other,shell body fastening means (40, 44) of the shell body (24), in particular the rear wall (36), arranged at a distance from each other, interact, wherein the shell body (24) can be covered in a substantially invisible manner by the cover (26), by the vehicle body (12) and by the rear wing (32) positioned in the rest position, wherein the cover (26) has as a first fastening means a hook or a retaining clip (38) which engages an upper edge (40) acting as a first shell body fastening means and wherein the lower end of the cover (26) is bent towards the rear wall (36), wherein the bent end of the cover (26) contacts the vehicle body with a spring force.
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Description

The invention relates to a lower shell, a kit for producing a lower shell and a method for producing a lower shell, with the aid of which a rear wing of a motor vehicle can be at least partially accommodated in its rest position.DE 10 2004 004 360 A1 discloses a rear wing of a motor vehicle which can be lowered in a shell-shaped depression, the depression being formed by an outer skin of a tailgate of the motor vehicle.From DE 37 07 595 A1, it is known to cover a gap between a glass pane and a motor vehicle body by means of a profile strip into selectable elevations.EP 2 006 193 A2 discloses a rear cover for a motor vehicle rear, in which a rear wing that can be adjusted between a rest position and a use position is fastened to a mounting support as a load-bearing component of the motor vehicle rear. Furthermore, a separate panel carrier is connected to the mounting carrier, to which a separate panel is connected. The panel is connected to the panel carrier via fastening means, wherein the panel carrier is fastened to the mounting carrier via further fastening means.There is a constant need to reduce the manufacturing cost for manufacturing a motor vehicle.The object of the invention is to specify measures which make it possible to produce a motor vehicle in a cost-effective manner.The object is achieved according to the invention by a lower shell having the features of claim 1, a rear wing arrangement according to claim 8, a kit having the features of claim 9 and a method having the features of claim 10.According to the invention, a lower shell for at least partially receiving a rear wing that can be adjusted between a rest position and a use position is provided in the rest position, comprising a shell body that can be fastened to a motor vehicle body, wherein the shell body has an upper side for forming a receiving volume for the rear wing and a rear wall connected to the upper side and pointing with a portion counter to the direction of travel, and a panel connected to the rear wall for covering the rear wall, wherein the panel comprises panel fastening means arranged spatially relative to one another at a defined, in particular standardized, distance from one another, wherein the panel fastening means cooperate with shell body fastening means of the shell body, in particular the rear wall, which are arranged spatially relative to one another at a defined, in particular standardized, distance from one another, wherein the shell body of the panel is separated from the panel, The panel (26) can be covered essentially not visibly by the motor vehicle body and by the rear wing positioned in the rest position, wherein the panel (26) has as a first fastening means a suspension or a retaining clip (38), which engages around an upper edge (40) acting as a first shell body fastening means and wherein the lower end of the panel (26) is bent over towards the rear wall (36), wherein the bent-over end of the panel (26) contacts the motor vehicle body with a spring force.The lower shell is not constructed in one piece but in several pieces. In particular, the cover is configured in one piece, so that the lower shell is preferably configured in two parts and in particular only consists of the shell body and the cover. This makes it possible to provide different materials and / or a different appearance, in particular a different color and / or surface structure, for the shell body and the screen. In this case, it can be taken into account that, when the motor vehicle is stationary or driving slowly, it is generally not necessary to extend the rear wing into its use position, such that the shell body can be concealed to a large extent, in particular completely. The shell body is covered by the panel, by the motor vehicle body and by the rear wing positioned in the rest position, so that the shell body is substantially not visible and makes substantially no contribution to the overall visual impression of the motor vehicle. The shell body is at most visible if, for example, for cleaning purposes, the rear wing is manually extended. When the rear wing is extended, in particular to increase the contact pressure of the motor vehicle on a subgrade, the motor vehicle is generally in a comparatively fast journey in which neither the driver nor other road users can see the shell body, in particular the upper side of the shell body, so that the shell body also provides substantially no contribution or only a small contribution to the overall visual impression of the motor vehicle in the extended state of the rear wing when the rear wing is displaced from the receiving volume bounded by the upper side of the shell body into the use position. This makes it possible to reduce the optical requirements for the lower shell on the diaphragm. The shell body can be produced more cost-effectively on account of the lower requirements with regard to the optical impression, in that the shell body remains unlacquered, for example. For example, it is possible to produce the shell body from an only slightly treated or untreated plastic material, so that a complicated painting of the shell body can be omitted. The shell body is in particular unlacquered or provided with a protective layer free of color pigment and / or free of effect pigment, for example a clearcoat. The shell body is preferably designed as a substantially color-free black shell. The material of the shell body has in particular carbon black particles or comparable substances as protection against UV light in order to avoid ageing of the material of the shell body by sunlight.At the same time, a modular construction for the lower shell can be realized by the defined, in particular standardized, distances of the panel fastening means and the shell body fastening means, so that it is possible to provide differently shaped lower shells adapted to different designs of motor vehicles, wherein differently shaped shell bodies but identically shaped panels can be used for this purpose. This makes it possible to use a specific fixed design of the panel across motor vehicle models for different subshells of differently shaped motor vehicles. Due to the increased number of production pieces by mass production of the panel, the production costs and the storage costs for the lower shell can be reduced for different motor vehicle models. The defined distance of the fastening means makes it possible to use the same panel for shell bodies of different shapes and adapted to different designs of motor vehicle models, so that the increased number of production pieces on panels of the same type for different motor vehicle models makes it possible to produce a motor vehicle cost-effectively.The defined distance of the fastening means, i.e. the panel fastening means and the shell body fastening means, is not oriented here in particular to the specific shape of a shell body provided for a specific motor vehicle model. The defined distance of the panel fastening means can be selected independently of the structural shape of the shell body. In this case, in particular the distance of two fastening means on a common horizontal and / or the distance of two fastening means on a common vertical can be an integer in cm. The distance of two fastening means on a common horizontal and / or the distance of two fastening means on a common vertical is in particular different from an integer division of the extension of the rear wall in the horizontal and / or in the vertical direction. The shell body is concave in particular in the region of the upper side, so that the receiving volume, which is in particular trough-shaped and / or trough-shaped, can be delimited by the upper side. The upper side points vertically upward, in particular to a predominant extent. The diaphragm is in particular detachably connected to the shell body, so that the diaphragm can be exchanged separately, for example in order to replace the diaphragm with a differently colored diaphragm for another optical effect. Due to the in particular standardized distances of the fastening means, the replacement of the panel can be carried out particularly simply and cost-effectively. In particular, the panel is directly connected to the shell body, so that an interposed panel carrier can be saved.In particular, the panel extends substantially over the entire width of the rear wall transversely to the direction of travel, wherein in particular the panel covers substantially the entire rear wall. In the installed state, the aperture can be positioned in particular between two tail lamps, wherein the aperture extends, preferably substantially without gaps, from the left tail lamp to the right tail lamp. As a result, it is substantially not possible to see the rear wall of the shell body laterally past the panel. Preferably, the panel also extends over the entire height of the rear wall of the shell body, so that the rear wall can be completely covered by the panel. Alternatively, the panel can cover only a part of the vertical height of the rear wall, while the remaining free part of the rear wall not covered by the panel can be covered by the rear wing in the rest position.Preferably, the panel is clipped and / or hanged with the shell body, in particular exclusively with the rear wall, wherein in particular the panel is clipped in at least one latching opening arranged between an upper edge of the rear wall and a lower edge of the rear wall and engages around the upper edge and / or the lower edge with a retaining clip and / or a hang-in. The retaining clip can extend in particular over a large part or substantially the entire horizontal extent of the edge of the rear wall. The panel can be attached to the edge of the rear wall, in particular during assembly, first with the aid of the retaining clip and subsequently moved to the rear wall by a pivoting movement about a pivot axis running along the edge of the rear wall until a further clip of the panel or of the shell body latches into the corresponding latching opening of the shell body or of the panel. This makes it possible to achieve simple and cost-effective mounting of the lower shell. If necessary, the cover can be released from the shell body by cancelling the locking of the clip with the locking opening, for example with a tool attached from the interior of the shell body, for example a screwdriver. Preferably, the panel fastening means are formed by the retaining clip and the clip, while the shell body fastening means are formed by the edge of the rear wall and the latching opening. Particularly preferably, the retaining clip of the panel engages around the upper edge of the rear wall, while a lower end of the panel contacts the motor vehicle body, preferably substantially without joints. The lower end of the panel can be bent over in particular toward the rear wall, wherein the bent-over end of the panel contacts the motor vehicle body in particular with a spring force.Particularly preferably, at least one indicator element, in particular a logo and / or writing of a motor vehicle manufacturer, is connected to the cover. In particular, a plurality of indicating elements are provided, wherein the indicating elements can be connected to the panel separately from one another. The pointer elements can each represent, for example, a letter of the name or keyword of the motor vehicle manufacturer. The indicating element has in particular a plastic core, for example made of PC, which is coated, in particular chrome plated, at least on the side facing away from the shell body. The screen usable for different motor vehicle models can thereby increase the recognition value and / or the origin function of the pointer element as an identically shaped design element repeating in the different motor vehicle models.In particular, the indicating element has at least one connecting web which projects in each case through a connecting opening of the panel, wherein in particular the indicating element is connected to the panel by hot-caulking or adhesive bonding of the connecting web. As a result, a cost-effective and non-detachable connection of the indicating element to the panel can be achieved.Preferably, the indicating element is oriented relative to the aperture via a directing nose inserted into an alignment depression, which is in particular configured as a groove. In particular, the indicating element has the directing nose and the aperture has the alignment depression. The indicating element does not need to penetrate the material of the aperture in order that the alignment nose can be inserted in a defined position in the alignment depression. As a result, the indicating element can easily be aligned on the panel in a defined relative position before the indicating element is fastened to the panel. Additionally or alternatively, the aperture can have a three-dimensional contouring pointing towards the indicator element, which corresponds to a three-dimensional contouring of the indicator element pointing towards the aperture. For example, the panel has a horizontally extending elevation or depression, at which the indicating element can be aligned in the vertical direction. Additionally or alternatively, the panel can have a receiving depression for at least partially receiving the indicator element, so that the indicator element can be positioned recessed into the panel and can be aligned with the panel in the vertical and / or horizontal direction within the receiving depression.Particularly preferably, the panel is painted with a paint and / or provided with a surface structure at least on an outer side facing away from the rear wall. The color varnish can correspond in particular to the color of the motor vehicle body or contrast intentionally to the color of the motor vehicle body. A color difference between the panel and the motor vehicle body can be provided particularly easily by providing the lower shell as a pre-assembled structural unit which is installed only after the painting of the motor vehicle body. The color lacquer has in particular color pigments and / or effect pigments, for example for a metallic effect. The surface structure can achieve in particular a matt coloured impression.The invention further relates to a rear wing arrangement for providing an aerodynamic effect, in particular for increasing a contact pressure of a motor vehicle on a subgrade, having a rear wing that can be adjusted between a rest position and a use position and a lower shell, which can be configured and further developed as described above, for at least partially receiving the rear wing in the rest position, wherein the rear wing in the rest position covers substantially the entire upper side of the shell body visible in the use position of the rear wing. Due to the defined distance of the fastening means of the lower shell, it is possible to use the same panel for shell bodies of different shapes and adapted to different designs of motor vehicle models, so that cost-effective production of a motor vehicle is made possible by the increased number of production pieces of similar panels for different motor vehicle models. Due to the covered upper side of the shell body, the overall visual impression is not impaired by the preferably untreated appearance of the shell body, which is produced in particular cost-effectively from a plastic.The invention further relates to a motor vehicle rear for a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle body and a lower shell connected to the motor vehicle body, which may be designed and further developed as described above, and / or a rear wing arrangement, which may be designed and further developed as described above. In particular, the rear wing is connected to the motor vehicle body via at least one joint arrangement, wherein the respective joint arrangement is preferably guided through the shell body through a through opening provided in the upper side of the shell body. The plastic body thus does not need to be designed as a load-bearing component for supporting the forces occurring in the use position, in particular aerodynamic pressing forces, as a result of which the production of the shell body and the lower shell can be effected more cost-effectively. Due to the defined distance of the fastening means of the lower shell, it is possible to use the same panel for shell bodies of different shapes and adapted to different designs of motor vehicle models, so that cost-effective production of a motor vehicle is made possible by the increased number of production pieces of similar panels for different motor vehicle models.The invention further relates to a kit for producing a lower shell, which can be designed and further developed as described above, and / or a rear wing arrangement, which can be designed and further developed as described above, having a first shell body adapted to a first design of a motor vehicle, a second shell body adapted to a second design of a motor vehicle, wherein the second shell body has a three-dimensional shape design deviating from the first shell body, and a panel, which can be connected both to the first shell body and to the second shell body, for forming the lower shell, which panel can be designed and further developed as described above, in the mounted state. The defined distance of the fastening means makes it possible to use the same panel for shell bodies of the kit ("kit-of-parts") of different shapes and adapted to different designs of motor vehicle models, so that cost-effective production of a motor vehicle is made possible by the increased number of production pieces of panels of the same type for different motor vehicle models. The kit can be produced, for example, in a store in which the various shell bodies and the panels are stored and brought together depending on the motor vehicle model to be produced. In this case, it is possible in particular to provide screens of different colors, so that a large number of color combinations of subshells for different motor vehicle models can be provided as required using a comparatively small number of differently configured components.The invention further relates to a method for producing a lower shell, which can be configured and further developed as described above, and / or a rear wing arrangement, which can be configured and further developed as described above, in which a first shell body adapted to a first structural form of a motor vehicle is provided, a second shell body adapted to a second structural form of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the second shell body has a three-dimensional shape configuration deviating from the first shell body, a panel that can be connected both to the first shell body and to the second shell body is provided, and the panel is connected to the first shell body or to the second shell body to form the lower shell, which can be configured and further developed as described above. The defined distance of the fastening means makes it possible to use the same panel for shell bodies of different shapes and adapted to different designs of motor vehicle models, so that the increased number of production pieces on panels of the same type for different motor vehicle models makes it possible to produce a motor vehicle cost-effectively. In this case, it is possible in particular to provide screens of different colors, so that a large number of color combinations of subshells for different motor vehicle models can be provided as required using a comparatively small number of differently configured components.The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the attached drawings on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, wherein the features illustrated below can represent an aspect of the invention both individually and in combination. The following are shown: FIG. 1 : shows a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle rear end, FIG. 2 : shows a schematic sectional view of a first design of a motor vehicle rear, FIG. 3 : shows a schematic sectional view of a second design of a motor vehicle rear, FIG. 4 : a superposition of the sectional views from FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 5 : a schematic sectional view of a diaphragm along a first sectional plane, and FIG. 6 : shows a schematic sectional view of the diaphragm from FIG. 5 along a second sectional plane offset from the first sectional plane.The motor vehicle rear 10 of a motor vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 has a motor vehicle body 12 in which a left rear light 14 and a right rear light 16 are inserted. A rear wing assembly 20 is positioned horizontally between the left rear light 14 and the right rear light 16 and horizontally between the vehicle body 12 and a rear deck lid 18. The rear wing arrangement 20 has a multipart lower shell 22, which has an unlamped shell body 24, to which a colored-painted panel 26 pointing counter to the direction of travel is connected. The shell body 24 has through-openings 28, through each of which a joint arrangement 30 is guided. Connected to the hinge arrangements 30 is a rear wing 32 which can be displaced by means of the hinge arrangements 30 between a rest position partially lowered into the lower shell 22 and a use position illustrated in FIG. 1. The rear wing 32 can be painted with paint at least on a flow side pointing away from the top side 34 of the shell body 24. In the position of use shown, the wind flowing along the rear cover 18 can strike the flow side of the rear wing 32 and thereby increase the contact pressure of the motor vehicle rear 10 on a subgrade, whereby the traction of the motor vehicle can be improved.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 using the example of different motor vehicle models, the shell body 24 has a concave top side 34, which delimits a receiving volume into which the rear wing 32 can partially enter in the illustrated rest position. Connected to the upper side 34 is a rear wall 36 to which the panel 26 is fastened. For this purpose, the panel 26 has, as a first panel fastening means, a suspension or a retaining clip 38 which engages around an upper edge 40 acting as a first shell body fastening means. In addition, the cover 26 has, as a second cover fastening means, a clip 42 which is latched to a latching opening 44 acting as a second shell body fastening means in order to form a clip connection. The first fastening means 38, 40 can have a standardized distance from one another in the vertical direction from the second fastening means 42, 44, which distance is, for example, an integer in cm. In addition, a plurality of second fastening means 42, 44 can be provided in the horizontal direction, which have a standardized distance from one another in the horizontal direction, which distance is, for example, an integer in cm. Furthermore, an indicator element 46 can be connected to the cover 26, which, for example, represents a letter of a letter of a motor vehicle manufacturer.As shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the rear 10 of the motor vehicle may differ for different motor vehicle models, which may be reflected in different three-dimensional shapes of the shell body 24 and the rear wing 32 of the rear wing arrangement 20. However, the panel 38 and in particular additionally the rear wall 36 and / or the indicator element 46 can be identically shaped in the different motor vehicle models. As a result, the same panel 26 can be used for differently shaped shell bodies 24.As shown in FIG. 5, the indicator element 46 can have connecting webs 50 which project through connecting openings 48 of the panel 26 and can be hot-caulked or glued to the side of the panel 26 facing the shell body 24. As shown in FIG. 6, it may also be sufficient to insert only one alignment nose 52 of the indicator element 46 into an alignment depression 54 of the aperture 26 in order to align the indicator element 46 relative to the aperture 26 before the connecting webs 50 are caulked or bonded.

Claims

Lower shell (22) having a panel (26) and a shell body (24) for at least partially receiving a rear wing (32) which can be adjusted between a rest position and a use position in the rest position, having a shell body (24) which can be fastened to a motor vehicle body (12), wherein the shell body (24) has an upper side (34) for forming a receiving volume for the rear wing (32) and a rear wall (36) which is connected to the upper side (34) and points with a portion counter to the direction of travel, characterized in that a panel (26) which is connected to the rear wall (36) is provided for covering the rear wall (36), wherein the panel (26) has panel fastening means (38, 42) which are arranged spatially with respect to one another at a defined, in particular standardized, distance from one another, wherein the panel fastening means (38, 42) have shell body fastening means (40, 42) which are arranged spatially with respect to one another at a defined, in particular standardized, distance from one another, 44) of the shell body (24), in particular of the rear wall (36), wherein the shell body (24) can be substantially not visibly covered by the panel (26), by the motor vehicle body (12) and by the rear wing (32) positioned in the rest position, wherein the panel (26) has, as a first fastening means, a suspension or a retaining clip (38) which engages around an upper edge (40) acting as a first shell body fastening means and wherein the lower end of the panel (26) is bent over towards the rear wall (36), wherein the bent-over end of the panel (26) contacts the motor vehicle body with a spring force.Lower shell according to Claim 1da characterized in that the panel (26) extends substantially over the entire width of the rear wall (36) transversely with respect to the direction of travel, wherein in particular the panel (26) substantially covers the entire rear wall (36).Lower shell according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cover (26) is clipped and / or suspended with the shell body (24), in particular exclusively with the rear wall (36), wherein in particular the cover (26) is clipped into at least one latching opening (44) arranged between an upper edge (40) of the rear wall (36) and a lower edge of the rear wall (36) and engages around the upper edge (40) and / or the lower edge with a retaining clip (38) and / or a suspension.Lower shell according to one of Claims 1 to 3da, characterized in that at least one indicator element (46), in particular a logo and / or writing of a motor vehicle manufacturer, is connected to the panel (26).Lower shell according to Claim 4da characterised in that the indication element (46) has at least one connecting web (42) which projects in each case through a connecting opening (44) of the panel (26), wherein in particular the indication element (46) is connected to the panel (26) by hot-caulking or adhesive bonding of the connecting web (42).Lower shell according to Claim 4 or 5da, characterized in that the indicator element (46) is aligned relative to the aperture (26) via a directing nose (52) which is inserted into an alignment depression (54).Lower shell according to one of Claims 1 to 6da, characterized in that the panel (26) is painted with a paint and / or is provided with a surface structure at least on an outer side pointing away from the rear wall (36).Rear wing arrangement for providing an aerodynamic effect, in particular for increasing a contact pressure of a motor vehicle on a subgrade, having a rear wing (32) which can be adjusted between a rest position and a use position, and having a lower shell (22) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 for at least partially receiving the rear wing (32) in the rest position, wherein the rear wing (32) in the rest position covers substantially the entire upper side (34) of the shell body (24) which can be seen in the use position of the rear wing (32).Kit for producing a lower shell (22) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 or a rear wing arrangement (20) according to Claim 8, having a first shell body which is matched to a first structural form of a motor vehicle, a second shell body which is matched to a second structural form of a motor vehicle, the second shell body having a three-dimensional shape configuration which differs from the first shell body, and a panel (26) which can be connected both to the first shell body and to the second shell body, for forming the lower shell (22) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 in the mounted state.Method for producing a lower shell (22) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 or a rear wing arrangement (20) according to Claim 8, in which a first shell body adapted to a first structural form of a motor vehicle is provided, a second shell body adapted to a second structural form of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the second shell body has a three-dimensional structural form deviating from the first shell body, a panel (26) which can be connected both to the first shell body and to the second shell body is provided, and the panel is connected to the first shell body or to the second shell body in order to form the lower shell (22) according to one of Claims 1 to 7.

Citation Information

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