Rear beam barrel nut reinforcement

Abstract

A reinforcement assembly of a vessel's rear spar is disclosed, comprising inner and outer bulwark supports. The supports include radially extending walls welded to the inner and outer walls, as well as a lower wall, of the rear spar. A barrel nut is installed between the bulwark supports and is held by the bulwark supports at an intermediate location between the side walls of the rear spar.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] This disclosure concerns the barrel nut reinforcements for a rear frame member of a vehicle. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Barrel nut reinforcements are a type of reinforcement that connects a rear frame member of a vehicle to a subframe. The reinforcement holds the barrel nut and strengthens the side walls of the rear frame member. The reinforcement must meet stiffness requirements and should not add unnecessary weight.

[0003] The prior art is known in DE 603 ​​13 298 T2. This describes a spar with an inner wall and an outer wall and a reinforcement with a bulwark support having a first and second radial wall extending to a welded flange that is flush with one of the walls.

[0004] WO 002007105566 A1 describes a spar with an inner wall, an outer wall and a lower wall, a reinforcement with a bulwark support comprising two radial walls extending to a welded flange flush with one of the walls, and an upper wall between the radial walls.

[0005] This disclosure is aimed at solving the above problems and other problems summarized below. SUMMARY

[0006] A reinforcement and a rear spar assembly with the features of the independent claims are provided.

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a reinforcement is disclosed comprising an inner bulwark bracket and an outer bulwark bracket attached to opposite sides of a barrel nut. References to inside and outside direction as used herein refer to lateral directions, with inside being closer to the longitudinal centerline of the vessel and outside being the direction more toward the outside of the vessel. The bulwark brackets each comprise a first and a second radial wall extending radially outward in a vertical plane from the barrel nut to a welded flange mounted flush with a rear spar side wall extending in a vertical direction.

[0008] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a spar assembly is disclosed comprising a rear spar having an inner wall and an outer wall connected by a lower wall. A barrel nut extends through the lower wall of the rear spar. The inner and outer bulwark supports each include a first and second radially extending vertical wall connected by a horizontally extending upper wall. Each upper wall extends from the barrel nut to one of the inner and outer walls.

[0009] According to other aspects of this disclosure, relating either to the reinforcement or the aft spar assembly, the inner and outer bulwark supports may each include an upper mesh section or an upper wall connecting the first and second radial walls. The upper walls extend horizontally between the barrel nut and the side walls of the aft spar.

[0010] The first and second radial walls of the inner and outer bulwark supports can extend from the barrel nut at approximately 90-degree intervals around the barrel nut. In other words, the walls are arranged at approximately 45 degrees relative to the side walls of the aft spar.

[0011] Two rear spar side walls are provided, connected by a lower wall. The first and second radial walls can each have a bottom edge located adjacent to the lower wall, with a base welding flange provided at the bottom edges, perpendicular to the respective radial wall and designed to be welded to the lower wall.

[0012] The base welding flanges can be provided on the same side of the first and second radial walls as the welding flanges on the first and second radial walls respectively.

[0013] The welding flanges can include a front welding flange on a first pair of radial walls in front of the barrel nut, designed to be welded to the rear spar side walls in front of the radial walls. The welding flanges can also include a rear welding flange on a second pair of radial walls behind the barrel nut, designed to be welded to the rear spar side walls behind the radial walls.

[0014] The aspects of this revelation mentioned above, and further aspects, are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is an incomplete perspective side view of a rear section of a vehicle with the tailgate removed. Fig. Figure 2 is an incomplete perspective view of an embodiment of a barrel nut reinforcement assembly attached to a rear spar of the vehicle. Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a barrel nut reinforcement of the rear spar. Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the in Fig. 3 shown barrel nut reinforcement of the rear spar. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. It is understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples, which can be implemented in different and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be enlarged or reduced to show details of certain components. The specific details regarding structure and function are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching the person skilled in the art how to implement the disclosed concepts.

[0016] With reference to Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 10 partially with the rear hatch removed in order to better show a section of the rear pillar 12 in the area where a reinforcement assembly 14 is installed.

[0017] With reference to Fig. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a reinforcement assembly 14 comprising an inner V-bracket 16 and an outer V-bracket 18, which is attached to a barrel nut 20 or to a tubular receptacle for a barrel nut 20. Each V-bracket includes a front radial wall 22 and a rear radial wall 24. The radial walls 22 and 24 may also be referred to herein as vertical walls. It is understood that the vertical walls may be offset at an angle of ±10 degrees from a exactly vertical direction. A front welding flange 28 and a rear welding flange 30 are provided at the outer ends of the radial walls 22 and 24 and are designed to be welded to an inner wall 32 or an outer wall 34.

[0018] A base weld flange 36 can be provided at a lower edge 38 of each of the radial walls 22, 24. The reinforcement 14 is assembled as a subassembly with the V-brackets 16 and 18, which are welded or otherwise attached to the barrel nut 20. The reinforcement assembly 14 is built onto the rear spar 12. The reinforcement 14 is welded to the rear spar 12, with the front and rear weld flanges 28 and 30 of each of the V-brackets 16, 18 being welded to the inner wall 32 or outer wall 34. The base weld flange 36 of each of the radial walls 22, 24 is welded to a lower wall 40 of the rear spar 12.

[0019] With reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. In Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of the reinforcement assembly is generally indicated by reference numeral 44. The reinforcement assembly 44 includes an inner bulwark support 46 and an outer bulwark support 48. The inner and outer bulwark supports are generally shaped like the corner of a cube and are mounted on opposite sides of a barrel nut 50.

[0020] The inner and outer bulwark supports 46, 48 are welded to the sides of the barrel nut 50 by arc welding, MIG welding, or TIG welding 52. Each of the bulwark supports 40 and 42 includes a front radial wall 54 and a rear radial wall 56, which also, as described above with reference to the embodiment of Fig. 2 described, which can be referred to as vertical walls. A front welding flange 58 and a rear welding flange 60 are designed as shown in the Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 2 illustrates that the rear spar 12 is welded to it. The radial walls 54, 56 each include a base welding flange 66 on a lower edge 68. The base welding flange 66 is designed as described in the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Fig. 2 described, to be welded to a lower wall of the rear spar 12. The welds used to attach the front and rear welding flanges 58, 60 and the base welding flanges 66 to the rear spar 12 are preferably spot welds or resistance welds.

[0021] An upper inner wall 70 is provided as part of the inner bulwark support 46, and an upper outer wall 72 is provided as part of the outer bulwark support 48. The upper walls 70 and 72 extend between the barrel nut 50 and the side walls of the aft spar 12 (shown in Fig. 2) The assembly mounting openings 74 are provided in the upper walls 70, 72 to allow the attachment of the bulwark brackets 46 and 48 to the rear timber 12 (shown in Fig. 2) to facilitate.

[0022] While the reinforcement assembly 14 provides robust reinforcement for the rear spar 12 and offers some weight savings, the embodiment of the reinforcement 44 provides additional strength and robustness as a result of the horizontally extending upper walls 70 and 72, which connect the front and rear radial walls 54, 56. The structure of the inner and outer bulwark supports 46 and 48 allows the supports to be made lighter by using a thinner-walled material or a lightweight / high-strength material.

[0023] The embodiments described above are specific examples and do not represent all possible forms of disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the description serve to describe, not to limit, the scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

[1] Reinforcement (44), comprising: an inner bulwark support (46) and an outer bulwark support (48) attached to opposite sides of a barrel nut (50), the bulwark supports (46, 48) each comprising a first and a second radial wall (54, 56) extending radially outward in a vertical plane from the barrel nut (50) to a welded flange (58, 60) mounted flush with a rear spar side wall extending in a vertical direction, the inner and outer bulwark supports (48) each further comprising: an upper net section connecting the first and second radial walls (54, 56) and extending between the barrel nut (50) and the rear spar side wall. [2] Reinforcement (44) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second radial walls (54, 56) of the inner and outer bulwark support (48) extend from the barrel nut (50) at approximately 90 degree intervals around the barrel nut (50). [3] Reinforcement (44) according to claim 1, wherein two rear spar side walls are provided which are connected by a lower wall (40), wherein the first and second radial walls (54, 56) each have a lower edge (68) which is arranged adjacent to the lower wall (40), wherein a base welding flange (66) is provided at the lower edge (68) which extends perpendicular to the corresponding radial wall (54, 56) and is designed to be welded to the lower wall (40). [4] Reinforcement (44) according to claim 3, wherein the base welding flanges (66) are provided on the same side of the first and second radial wall (54, 56) as the welding flanges (58, 60) on the first and second radial wall (54, 56) respectively. [5] Reinforcement (44) according to claim 1, wherein the welding flanges (58, 60) include a front welding flange (58) on a first pair of radial walls (54, 56) in front of the barrel nut (50), which are designed to be welded to the rear spar side walls in front of the radial walls (54, 56), and wherein the welding flanges (58, 60) include a rear welding flange (60) on a second pair of radial walls (54, 56) behind the barrel nut (50), which are designed to be welded to the rear spar side walls behind the radial walls (54, 56). [6] Reinforcement (44) according to claim 5, wherein two rear spar side walls are provided which are connected by a lower wall (40), wherein the first and second radial walls (54, 56) each have a lower edge (68) which is arranged adjacent to the lower wall (40), wherein a base welding flange (66) is provided at the lower edge (68) which extends perpendicular to the corresponding radial wall (54, 56) and is designed to be welded to the lower wall (40). [7] Rear spar assembly, comprising: a beam (12) having an inner wall (32) and an outer wall (34) connected by a lower wall (40); a barrel nut (50) extending through the lower wall (40); and inner and outer bulwark supports (46, 48) each comprising a first and a second radially extending radial wall (54, 56) connected by a horizontally extending upper wall (70, 72), each upper wall (70, 72) extending between the barrel nut (50) to either the inner wall (32) or the outer wall (34). [8] Rear spar assembly according to claim 7, wherein the radial walls (54, 56) are planar walls extending from the lower wall (40) to the upper walls (70, 72). [9] Rear spar assembly according to claim 7, wherein the radial walls (54, 56) extend radially from the barrel nut (50) at approximately 90 degree intervals around the barrel nut (50). [10] Rear spar assembly according to claim 7, wherein the radial walls (54, 56) define a receptacle for the barrel nut (50) between the inner wall (32) and the outer wall (34). [11] Rear spar assembly according to claim 7, wherein the radial walls (54, 56) have a lower edge (68) which is arranged adjacent to the lower wall (40), wherein a base welding flange (66) is provided on the lower edge (68) which is perpendicular to the radial wall (54, 56) and is welded to the lower wall (40). [12] Rear spar assembly according to claim 11, wherein the base welding flanges (66) are provided on the same side of the radial walls (54, 56) as the welding flanges (58, 60) on each radial wall (54, 56). [13] Rear spar assembly according to claim 7, further comprising: a front welding flange (58) on each of the first pairs of radial walls (54, 56) in front of the barrel nut (50), which are designed to be welded to the inner wall (32) and the outer wall (34) in front of the first pair of radial walls (54, 56); and a rear welding flange (60) on each of a second pair of radial walls (54, 56) behind the barrel nut (50), which are designed to be welded to the inner wall (32) and the outer wall (34) behind the second pair of radial walls (54, 56). [14] Rear spar assembly according to claim 13 wherein the rear spar (12) further comprises: a lower wall (40) and radial walls (54, 56) having a lower edge (68) arranged adjacent to the lower wall (40); and a base welding flange (66) which is provided at the lower edge (68) which is perpendicular to the radial wall (54, 56) and is designed to be welded to the lower wall (40). [15] Rear spar assembly according to claim 7, wherein each upper wall (70, 72) is attached to two adjacent radial walls (54, 56).

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