Body structure for a large vehicle, especially a bus

Abstract

Body structure for a large vehicle, in particular a bus, comprising a floor assembly (1) and a superstructure (3) that define a vehicle interior (5), wherein the superstructure (3) has lateral vertical vehicle pillars (B, D) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle and roof cross members (7) extending in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, and the floor assembly (1) has floor cross members (9) extending in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, characterized in that, to increase crash safety in the event of a vehicle rollover, at least one reinforcement frame (53, 55) is provided, which can optionally be installed as a separate attachment in the vehicle interior (5), and that the roof, side and floor frame parts of the reinforcement frame (53, 55) are connected to the vehicle pillars (B, D), the roof cross members (7) and the floor cross members (9) in a force-transmitting manner.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a body structure for a large-capacity vehicle, in particular a motor coach, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The body of a motor coach can be constructed as a frame structure or, alternatively, as a sheet metal shell structure. The frame structure uses steel hollow profiles (with closed hollow profiles), i.e., tubes, as load-bearing elements, forming a supporting framework or skeleton that is clad on the outside with a sheet metal outer skin. In contrast, in the sheet metal shell structure, the load-bearing elements of the body structure are made up of shell-shaped sheet metal components (with open hollow profiles) that are joined together to form preferably closed hollow profile beams. For example, the body can have an outer sheet metal side wall forming the vehicle's outer skin, which is welded to an inner, shell-shaped sheet metal side wall, forming a hollow profile beam such as a vehicle pillar.

[0003] Strict legal crash requirements apply to the body structure of a bus. In particular, a survival space in the passenger area must be maintained in the event of a vehicle rollover.

[0004] From DE 10 2009 018 272 A1, a generic body structure for a motor bus is known, comprising a floor assembly and a superstructure that together define a vehicle interior. The superstructure has lateral vertical pillars arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as well as roof cross members extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The floor assembly has floor cross members extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle and longitudinal floor beams extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0005] From DE 697 14 465 T2, a rollover protection device for buses made of fiber-reinforced plastic is known. The rollover protection device has a roll bar formed from a horizontal section and two lateral vertical sections. The roll bar simultaneously serves as a mounting frame for add-on parts of the vehicle body and is attached to the frame of the bus.

[0006] From DE 29 16 010 A1, a rolling bar is known which has an upper and a lower cross member as well as two sections attached to opposite sides of the vehicle body. The elements of the rolling bar are connected to each other via a gusset plate system and the rolling bar is attached to the rear pillars of a truck cab.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a body structure for a large vehicle, in particular a bus, which meets the crash requirements in a structurally simple manner.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the characterizing part of claim 1, at least one reinforcement frame is provided to increase crash safety, particularly in the event of a vehicle rollover. This reinforcement frame can be installed in the vehicle interior as a separate add-on component in a structurally simple manner. The side frame components, as well as the floor and roof frame components of the reinforcement frame, are connected to the vehicle pillars, roof cross members, and floor assembly in a force-transmitting manner to ensure high connection stiffness.

[0010] Such a reinforcement frame is particularly suitable for use in a body structure built using a sheet metal shell construction, where the vehicle pillars, roof cross members, and floor cross members are designed as hollow profile beams. In such a sheet metal shell construction, the body structure has an outer sheet metal side panel forming the vehicle's outer skin, which is joined to a shell-shaped inner sheet metal side panel to form the vehicle pillars. Similarly, the body structure has an outer roof panel, which is joined to shell-shaped (i.e., U-shaped) roof sheet metal sections to form roof cross members. Analogously, the floor assembly also has a floor panel that defines the vehicle interior, which is joined to shell-shaped floor sheet metal sections to form the floor cross members and floor longitudinal members. These floor sections may extend, in particular, along the underside of the floor panel.The intended closed hollow profiles created during the joining process do not allow for the subsequent application of further internal reinforcements.

[0011] For ease of installation into the body structure, it is preferred that the reinforcement frame be constructed from multiple individual segments that can be easily and independently installed in the body structure and preferably connected to each other by means of bolted connections. The frame components of the reinforcement frame are preferably rigid tubular profiles with a closed hollow profile, for example, square steel tubes.

[0012] In a motor coach, the passenger compartment extends longitudinally between an A-pillar and the rear portal of the vehicle, which defines the rear loading opening. To ensure sufficient survival space in the event of a vehicle rollover, it is preferred that a front reinforcement frame is attached to the B-pillars, while another rear reinforcement frame is attached to the rear vehicle pillars, which, together with a rear roof crossmember and a rear floor crossmember, form the aforementioned rear portal of the vehicle.

[0013] In a first embodiment, the front reinforcement frame can, in particular, have a double profile on its underside, which is composed of a support strut and the bottom frame section of the reinforcement frame. The support strut can be bolted and / or bonded to the vehicle floor in the transverse direction and serve as a support base for the reinforcement frame. For this purpose, the bottom frame section of the reinforcement frame is attached directly to the support strut, in particular by bolting and / or bonding.

[0014] The two lateral B-pillars, together with a front roof crossmember, lie essentially in a transverse plane of the vehicle that runs perpendicular to the longitudinal center plane. The shell-shaped inner sheet metal components of the B-pillars and the front roof crossmember have an approximately U-shaped cross-section with an internal profile base from which lateral profile flanks with outwardly angled edge flanges extend. These are flanged to an outer sheet metal side panel or an outer roof panel. Preferably, the profile flanks of the B-pillars and the front roof crossmember, pointing towards the rear of the vehicle, form a mounting base to which the side frame components and the roof frame component of the front reinforcement frame are attached, in particular by bonding over a large area. In this way, the reinforcement frame can be mounted in a direction that is oriented forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0015] For installation in the rear of the vehicle, the rear roof crossmember, the rear floor crossmember, and the rear vehicle pillars can also have inner profiled bases extending towards the vehicle interior, i.e., in the transverse plane towards the vehicle interior. From a manufacturing perspective, it is simpler if the side frame components as well as the floor and roof frame components of the rear reinforcement frame are directly connected to the inner profiled bases, particularly if they are bonded to them.

[0016] As mentioned above, the rear reinforcement frame can be attached to the inward-facing, inner profile bases of the rear floor and roof crossmembers, as well as the rear vehicle pillars. However, this may reduce the opening cross-section of the rear loading hatch, and in particular, the available access height. To increase the available access height, it is preferable for the roof frame section of the rear reinforcement frame to extend outside the opening cross-section, for example, by using a flat, angled sheet metal section instead of a tubular section. This section engages and is attached to the inner profile base and the front-facing profile flank of the rear roof crossmember. Together with the rear roof crossmember, the angled sheet metal section forms a double layer of sheet metal, resulting in a reduced overall height compared to using a tubular roof frame section.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 a body structure of a motor coach with partial elevation; Fig. 2 in an exploded view a front reinforcement frame; Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 each an enlarged sectional view along the cutting planes A, B and C from the Fig. 1; Fig. 6 in a view according to the Fig. 2 a rear reinforcement frame; as well as Fig. 7 to 9 each show an enlarged sectional view along the cutting plane D, E and F from the Fig. 1.

[0019] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a partial elevation of the body structure of a motor coach. The body structure consists of a floor assembly 1 and a superstructure 3, which define a vehicle interior 5. Between the front A-pillars and the rear D-pillars, a passenger compartment extends in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle, in which seats, benches, etc., can be installed for the transport of passengers. In addition to the A- and D-pillars, the superstructure 3 has roof cross members 7 extending in the transverse direction y of the vehicle, while the floor assembly 1 has floor cross members 9 extending in the transverse direction y of the vehicle, as well as floor longitudinal members 11 ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 9).

[0020] The two rear D-pillars, together with a rear roof crossmember 7 and a rear floor crossmember 9, form a rear portal H with a vehicle rear opening 13, which can be closed by means of tailgates (not shown). The body structure 3 and the floor assembly 1 are constructed using a sheet metal shell design, in which the load-bearing elements, i.e., the vehicle pillars, the roof crossmembers 7, the floor crossmembers 9, and the floor longitudinal members 11, are assembled from shell-shaped sheet metal components to form a closed hollow profile. Thus, according to the Fig. 4 The B-pillar is constructed from an outer sheet metal side wall 15, forming the vehicle's outer skin, and an inner sheet metal side wall 17. The inner sheet metal side wall 17 is designed as a shell-shaped sheet metal component, which has an inner profile base 19 in the transverse direction y of the vehicle, as well as profile flanks 21 extending upwards from it with outwardly angled edge flanges 23. These are flanged to corresponding edge flanges of the outer sheet metal side wall 15.

[0021] Accordingly, the one in the Fig. The front roof crossmember 7 shown in Figure 3 incorporates an inner roof panel section 25, which is shell-shaped with an interior profile floor 27, from which lateral profile flanks 29 project with outwardly angled edge flanges 31. The edge flanges 31 of the roof panel section 25 are flange-connected to an outer roof panel 24. The front roof crossmember 7 is also formed in the same way as the... Fig. 8 rear roof crossbeams shown, 7 assembled.

[0022] The structure of the rear D-pillar is in the Fig. Figure 6 shows the structure of the D-pillar, which is essentially identical to that of the B-pillar. Accordingly, the D-pillar also has an inner sheet metal side wall 17, which is flanged to an outer sheet metal side wall 15. The inner sheet metal side wall 17 has a cross-section with an interior profile base 19 and profile flanks 21 extending upwards from it, with laterally angled edge flanges 23 that are connected to corresponding edge flanges of the outer sheet metal side wall 15.

[0023] As from the Fig. As further shown in Figure 9, the floor assembly 1 has a floor plate 43, to the underside of which shell-shaped floor plate parts are attached, forming longitudinal floor beams 11. The floor plate 43 closes in the Fig. 9 at the rear with a downwardly vertically angled rear edge web 47, the angled edge flange 49 of which is supported on a flange connection of the rear floor cross member 9.

[0024] In the Fig. 1 The body structure is additionally stiffened by means of a front reinforcement frame 53 and a rear reinforcement frame 55. The front reinforcement frame 53 is attached to the B-pillars, while the rear reinforcement frame 55 is attached to the rear D-pillars of the rear portal H.

[0025] The front reinforcement frame 53 is in the Fig. Figure 2 shows an exploded view. Accordingly, the front reinforcement frame 53 has a total of four separate, angled corner segments 57, each formed by steel tubes. Each corner segment 57 has a horizontal leg and a vertical leg. In the assembled position, the legs are joined at their free ends by means of bolted connections to form a fully enclosed frame. For further stiffening, the two lower corner segments 57 have strut sections 59 projecting inwards towards the vehicle, which converge at nodes K1 and K2 to form a truss structure 61. The strut sections 59, together with the outer vertical and horizontal legs of the corner segments 57, define a shear field 63 that is either fully or partially closed, depending on the strength requirements.

[0026] The front reinforcement frame 53 is shown in the sectional views of the Fig. Figures 3 to 5 are shown in the installed position. According to the Fig. 3 A roof frame section 65 of the front reinforcement frame 53 is attached to a rearward-facing profile flank 29 of the front roof crossmember 7, by means of an adapter sheet metal part 67 attached to the roof frame section 65, which bridges a mounting gap between the front roof crossmember 7 and the roof frame section 65. The adapter part 67 of the roof frame section 65 is preferably bonded to the front roof crossmember 7 over a large area. In the same way, the side frame sections 69 of the front reinforcement frame 53 are also bonded to the rearward-facing profile flanks 21 of the B-pillars, as shown in the Fig. 4 is shown.

[0027] As from the Fig. 2 and Fig. As further shown in Figure 5, the front reinforcement frame 53 has a double profile 71 on its bottom side, which is composed of a support strut 73 and a bottom frame part 75. The support strut 73 is attached at screw points 77 ( Fig. 5) screwed and / or glued to the base plate 43. The base frame part 75 of the front reinforcement frame 53 is in turn screwed and glued directly to the support strut 73.

[0028] In the Fig. Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the rear reinforcement frame 55. Accordingly, the rear reinforcement frame 55 has two lower angled corner segments 57, which correspond approximately to the corner segments 57 of the front reinforcement frame 53. In contrast to the front reinforcement frame 53, the Fig. However, the upper corner segments 57 are omitted. Instead, the rear reinforcement frame 55 has a continuous roof frame section 79, which, unlike the two lower corner segments 57, is not made of a steel tube, but rather is a bent angle profile sheet metal part. The two horizontal legs of the lower corner segments 57 are joined in the Fig. 5 are connected to each other via a central connecting beam 81 in a force-transmitting manner.

[0029] In the Fig. Figures 7 to 9 show the rear reinforcement frame 55 in its installed position: This is how the rear reinforcement frame 55 is in the Fig. 7 with its side frame parts 83 glued to the inner profile floors 19 of the D-pillars. As from the Fig. As can be seen from Figure 8, the roof frame part 79, designed as an angled angle profile sheet metal part, rests with a horizontal profile leg 88 on the inner profile base 27 of the rear roof cross member 7 and with a vertical profile leg 86 on the profile flank 29 of the rear roof cross member 7 pointing towards the front of the vehicle.

[0030] In the Fig. 9 The vertical rear edge web 47 of the floor plate 43, together with a cover plate 85 of the rear floor cross member 9, spans an inner corner area 87 in which the floor frame part 89 is arranged so that it does not unnecessarily reduce the opening height of the rear portal. The floor frame part 89 of the rear reinforcement frame 55 is bonded to both the rear edge web 47 and the cover plate 85 of the rear floor cross member 9. Reference symbol list 1 Floor assembly 3. Organizational Structure 5 Vehicle interior 7 roof crossbeams 9 floor crossbeams 11 floor longitudinal beams 13 Rear opening 15 outer sheet metal side wall 17 inner sheet metal side wall 19 profile floor 21 profile flanks 23 edge flanges 25 inner roof sheet metal part 27 profile floor 29 profile flanks 31 edge flanges 43 Floor plate 45 floor panel parts 47 Rear sidewalk 49 Edge flange 53 Front reinforcement frame 55 Rear reinforcement frame 57 corner segments 59 strut sections 61 Timber frame structure 63 thrust field 65 Roof frame part 67 Adapter part 69-page frame section 71 Double profile 73 Support strut 75 Floor frame part 77 screw points 79 Roof frame part of the rear reinforcement frame 81 connecting beams 83-page frame section 85 Cover plate 86 vertical profile leg 87 Inside corner area 88 horizontal profile leg 89 Floor frame part

Claims

[1] Body structure for a large-capacity vehicle, in particular a bus, comprising a floor assembly (1) and a superstructure (3) which define a vehicle interior (5), wherein the superstructure (3) has lateral vertical vehicle pillars (B, D) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle and roof cross members (7) extending in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle and the floor assembly (1) has floor cross members (9) extending in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, characterized by , that to increase crash safety in the event of a vehicle rollover at least one reinforcement frame (53, 55) is provided, which can also be retrofitted as a separate attachment in the vehicle interior (5), and that the roof, side and floor frame parts of the reinforcement frame (53, 55) are connected to the vehicle pillars (B, D), the roof cross members (7) and the floor cross members (9) in a force-transmitting manner. [2] Body structure according to claim 1, characterized by, that the superstructure (3) and the floor assembly (1) are constructed in a sheet metal shell construction, in which the vehicle pillars (B, D), the roof cross members (7) and the floor cross members (9) are designed as hollow profile beams with a completely or largely closed hollow profile, and that the body structure has an outer sheet metal side wall (15) forming the vehicle outer skin, which is joined to an inner sheet metal side wall (17) to form the vehicle pillars (B, D), and that the body structure has a roof sheet (24) forming the vehicle outer skin, which is joined to shell-shaped roof sheet parts (25) to form the roof cross members (7), and that the floor assembly (1) has a floor sheet (43) delimiting the vehicle interior (5) as well as shell-shaped floor sheet parts (45, 85) which are joined to form the floor cross members (9). [3] Body structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the reinforcement frame (53, 55) is constructed in multiple parts from a number of individual segments (57, 79) which are connected to each other, in particular by screw connection, and / or that the frame parts of the reinforcement frame (53, 55), in particular with the exception of a roof frame part (79) of a rear reinforcement frame (55), are tubular profile parts with hollow profiles closed in cross-section. [4] Body structure according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized by , that a first reinforcement frame (53) is attached to the B-pillar, and / or that a second reinforcement frame (55) is attached to the rear vehicle pillar (D), which - contrary to the previously described design - forms a rear portal (H) defining a rear opening (13) and lying in a transverse plane (yz) of the vehicle, together with a rear roof cross member (7) and a rear floor cross member (9). [5] Body structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the reinforcement frame (53) has a double profile (71) on the bottom side, which is formed from a support strut (73) acting as a support base and the bottom frame part (75), and that the support strut (73) is attached to the bottom plate (43), in particular by screwing and / or gluing, and that the bottom frame part (75) is attached to the support strut (73), in particular by screwing and / or gluing. [6] Body structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the B-pillars and a front roof cross member (7) lie essentially in a vehicle transverse plane (yz) and have profile flanks (21, 29) pointing towards the rear or front of the vehicle, and that the side frame parts (69) and the roof frame part (65) of the front reinforcement frame (53) are connected to the profile flanks (21, 29), in particular bonded to them. [7] Body structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the B-pillars and a front roof cross member (7) lie essentially in a vehicle transverse plane (yz) and have inner profile floors pointing towards the vehicle interior (5), i.e. in the vehicle transverse plane (yz) ) towards the vehicle interior, and that the side frame parts (69) and the roof frame part (65) of the front reinforcement frame (53) are connected to the inner profile floors, in particular bonded to them. [8] Body structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the roof cross member (7), the floor cross member (9) and / or the vehicle pillars (D) have profile flanks pointing towards the rear or front of the vehicle, and that the side frame parts and the roof frame part of the rear reinforcement frame (55) are connected to the profile flanks, in particular bonded to them. [9] Body structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the roof cross member (7), the floor cross member (9) and / or the vehicle pillars (D) have inner profile floors (19, 27, 85) pointing towards the vehicle interior (5), i.e. in the vehicle transverse plane (yz) towards the vehicle interior, and that in particular the side frame parts (83), the floor and roof frame parts (79, 89) of the reinforcement frame (53, 55) are connected to the inner profile floors (19, 85, 27), in particular are bonded to them. [10] Body structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the floor plate (43) terminates at the rear with a downwardly angled vertical rear edge web (47) which is attached to the rear floor cross member (9), and that the rear edge web (47) together with the floor cross member (9) spans an inner corner area (87) with a space in which the floor frame part (89) of the rear reinforcement frame (55) is arranged and is attached to the rear edge web (47) and the rear floor cross member (9), in particular bonded. [11] Body structure according to claims 7 to 10, characterized by, that profile flanks (29) with angled edge flanges (31) are raised from the vehicle interior profile base (27) of the roof sheet part (25), which are connected to the roof sheet (24) forming a roof cross member (7), and that in particular the roof frame part (79) of the reinforcement frame (55) is an angled angle profile sheet part that surrounds the inner profile base (27) and a profile flank (29) of the roof cross member (7) pointing towards the front of the vehicle and is attached to it, forming a double sheet layer structure. [12] Body structure according to claims 7 to 11, characterized by , that from the vehicle interior profile floor (19) of the inner vehicle column side wall (17) profile flanks (21) with angled edge flanges (23) are raised, which are connected to the outer vehicle column side wall (15) forming the vehicle column (B, D).

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