vehicle body

Abstract

Vehicle body with a body pillar (3), a B-pillar having a module carrier (9) which carries functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) of a seat belt system (19) and / or a pillar trim (17), wherein the module carrier (9) is part of a pre-assembly unit (VM) separate from the vehicle body (50) in which the functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) and / or the pillar trim (17) are pre-assembled, and that the module carrier (9) is joined to at least one pillar-side connection point of the body pillar (3) after an assembly process step (ZSB), and that, to simplify the assembly process step (ZSB), the module carrier (9) and the body pillar (3) have a positioning aid (P) by means of which the module carrier (9) can be pre-positioned in the correct orientation in a connection position, a screw position (SP), in which the module carrier (9) can be attached to the body pillar (3), characterized in thatthat the module carrier (9) is screwed (S) to the body pillar (3), and that the module carrier (9) is correctly pre-positioned in the screw position (SP) by means of the positioning aid (P), in which the module carrier (9) can be screwed to the body pillar (3) by forming the screw connection (S), , wherein the positioning aid (P) is a cam guide in which of the two joining partners, i.e. the module carrier (9) of the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body pillar (3), a first joining partner has a positioning bolt (55) which interacts with a positioning cam (49) of the second joining partner in such a way that the pre-positioning is carried out by loosely hooking the module carrier (9) into the body pillar (3), wherein the body pillar (3) in the assembled state is composed of an inner sheet metal part (9) inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal part (11) outside the vehicle, which form a sheet metal hollow beam (12) with a hollow profile (13) closed in the vehicle vertical direction (z), and that the inner sheet metal part (9) is the module carrier of the pre-assembly unit (VM), wherein the outer sheet metal part (11) has a profile base (27) on the outside of the vehicle in the transverse direction (y) which transitions at profile edges (29) towards the inside of the vehicle into a front profile flank (31) and a rear profile flank (33), and that the inner sheet metal part (9) has a profile base (39) on the inside of the vehicle which is extended forwards and / or backwards in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle with an edge flange (41) angled therefrom, wherein, to realize the screw connection (S), the inner sheet metal part edge flange (41) and an outer sheet metal part profile flank (31, 33) with their screw holes (43) are aligned one above the other, and that a screw bolt (45) is guided through the screw holes (43), and / or that the screw axis of the screw connection is aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle, wherein the positioning bolt (55) projects from a base surface of the outer sheet metal profile flank (31, 33) and has an expanded bolt head (57), and that the bolt head (57) is spaced from the base surface of the outer sheet metal profile flank (31, 33) by a clear annular gap (r), and that the clear annular gap (r) is dimensioned larger than the sheet thickness of the inner sheet metal edge flange (41) on which the positioning cam (49) is formed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle body according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The B-pillar of a motor vehicle extends vertically between the roof structure and a side sill. The B-pillar serves two purposes: firstly, it stiffens the side structure of the vehicle body; secondly, it houses components such as a seatbelt anchor point; and thirdly, it defines the front and, where applicable, the rear entry points. To enhance side-impact resistance in a side collision, a reinforcing plate is integrated into the hollow profile of the B-pillar to counteract deformation of the pillar into the passenger compartment.

[0003] A body pillar of this type, in particular a B-pillar, is constructed from an inner sheet metal section located inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal section located outside the vehicle, thereby forming a hollow beam with a hollow profile extending vertically in the vehicle direction and having a closed cross-section. Functional elements of a seat belt system and / or a pillar trim can be mounted to the inner sheet metal section of the body pillar.

[0004] In a conventional assembly sequence, the inner sheet metal panel of the vehicle is welded to the joining flanges of the outer sheet metal panel already installed in the vehicle body using laser and / or spot welding. The assembled vehicle body is then moved to a painting process. After painting, the vehicle body is moved to an assembly line with workstations arranged in a single production direction. At each workstation, components of the seat belt system, such as the belt reactor, belt guide, belt height adjuster, belt end fittings, and the like, as well as the pillar trim, are installed. The belt components are installed manually. For this manual installation, the worker is in an ergonomically unfavorable position inside the vehicle body. Therefore, the assembly process is both physically demanding and ergonomically disadvantageous for the worker.

[0005] WO 01 / 70 557 A1 discloses a structural element for mounting on a vehicle structure, in which the B-pillar has a load-bearing support element to which trim parts and functional elements of a seat belt system can be mounted. EP 1 265 777 B1 discloses a structural element for mounting on a vehicle structure. EP 1 316 484 A1 and EP 0 730 536 B1 disclose further body structures for a vehicle. DE 10 2007 045 143 A1 discloses a machining or manufacturing plant. DE 101 60 885 A1 discloses a method for manufacturing a vehicle body.

[0006] DE 43 27 717 A1 relates to a fastening for a safety belt and its associated components such as a belt retractor, belt height adjustment or the like inside the body of a motor vehicle, wherein a belt can be pulled off and wound up from the belt retractor via a deflection fitting attached to the belt height adjustment.

[0007] From DE 198 04 849 A1 a design for attaching a seat belt adjuster is known, which is used when a vehicle seat belt is attached to a frame member.

[0008] JP 2000- 118 350 A relates to a shoulder anchor support mechanism for the slidable support of a shoulder anchor by a central column in a vehicle such as a passenger car.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle body and a method for manufacturing a vehicle body which, compared to the prior art, is produced with reduced manufacturing time and is more ergonomically advantageous for the workers in the vehicle manufacturing plant.

[0010] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the invention, the functional elements of the seat belt system and the pillar trim are no longer assembled on a fully assembled body pillar. Instead, a module carrier is provided, as described in the characterizing part of claim 1. The module carrier is part of a pre-assembly unit separate from the vehicle body, in which the functional elements and / or the pillar trim are pre-assembled. In an assembly process step, the module carrier is attached to at least one pillar-side connection point of the body pillar. To simplify the assembly process step, the module carrier and the body pillar have a positioning aid. By means of the positioning aid, the module carrier can be pre-positioned correctly in a connection position, in particular in a screw position, in which the module carrier can be attached to the body pillar.

[0012] The provision of the positioning aid according to the invention is particularly advantageous in a fully automated assembly process step where the assembly process step is carried out with the aid of a robot. In this case, the assembly process step can be divided into a feeding sub-step, a pre-positioning sub-step, and an assembly sub-step. In the feeding sub-step, the robot guides the pre-assembly unit to the body pillar. In the pre-positioning sub-step, the pre-assembly unit (i.e., its module carrier) is pre-positioned in the correct orientation for screwing onto the body pillar. Subsequently, in the assembly sub-step, the still loosely pre-positioned module carrier is screwed to the body pillar. By way of example, the feeding sub-step and the pre-positioning sub-step can be carried out with the aid of a feeding robot. The assembly sub-step, on the other hand, can be carried out with the aid of a separate screwing robot.

[0013] In one technical implementation, the module carrier can be screwed to the body pillar. In this case, the module carrier is pre-positioned in the correct orientation using the positioning aid, so that it can be screwed to the body pillar.

[0014] To ensure precise pre-positioning, the positioning aid is implemented as a cam guide. Within this cam guide, one of the two joining partners—the module carrier and the body pillar—can have a positioning pin that interacts with a positioning cam on the other joining partner. Pre-positioning can be achieved, for example, by loosely hooking the module carrier into the body pillar.

[0015] The body pillar, when assembled, consists of an inner sheet metal section located inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal section located outside the vehicle. The inner and outer sheet metal sections form a hollow sheet metal beam with a hollow profile that is essentially closed in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the inner sheet metal section can directly form the aforementioned module carrier of the pre-assembly unit.

[0016] The component geometry of the outer sheet metal part is designed as follows: The outer sheet metal part has a profile base located on the outside of the vehicle in the transverse direction, which transitions into a front profile flank and a rear profile flank at profile edges extending inwards along the vehicle's vertical direction. The inner sheet metal part may have a profile base located on the inside of the vehicle, which covers the hollow profile of the outer sheet metal part and is extended forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by at least one edge flange.

[0017] To create the bolted connection, the inner sheet metal flange and one of the outer sheet metal profile flanks, with their screw holes, are aligned one above the other. A bolt can be inserted through the screw holes, its axis of rotation possibly oriented approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0018] Specifically for the aforementioned component geometry of the inner and outer sheet metal parts, the positioning aid is implemented as follows: The positioning bolt, with a small cross-sectional shank, projects from a base surface of the outer sheet metal part's profile flank and has an expanded bolt head. The bolt head can be spaced from the base surface of the outer sheet metal part's profile flank by a clear annular gap. This clear annular gap can be dimensioned larger than the sheet thickness of the inner sheet metal part's edge flange, on which the positioning guide is formed, to ensure smooth and easy pre-positioning.

[0019] For simplified pre-positioning, the positioning guide can have an open insertion section in one joining direction. Starting from a trim edge of the inner sheet metal part's edge flange, this insertion section can extend with a transverse offset to a transverse stop edge. Additionally, the insertion section can transition into a vertical, linear guide track at a curve. This track can extend upwards with a vertical offset to an upper high stop edge.

[0020] This results in an approximately hook-shaped positioning guide. During the assembly process, the inner sheet metal part is first joined to the outer sheet metal part in such a way that the positioning bolt of the outer sheet metal part is guided through the insertion section of the positioning guide until it reaches the transverse stop edge. The opening edge of the positioning guide for the inner sheet metal part is located in the annular gap between the bolt head and the base surface of the outer sheet metal part's profile edge. Upon reaching the transverse stop edge, the inner sheet metal part is lowered so that the positioning bolt of the outer sheet metal part is guided along the transverse stop edge through the vertical guide track until it reaches the vertical stop edge. This pre-positions the inner sheet metal part in both the transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle.

[0021] The assembly process step can be integrated into a process chain for manufacturing the vehicle body, which is structured as follows: A first painting process step can take place before the assembly process step, in which the vehicle body (without the inner sheet metal part) is painted. Independently of this, a second painting process step takes place, in which the inner sheet metal part is painted as a separate component. Subsequently, the painted inner sheet metal part is fitted with the functional elements of the seat belt system and / or the pillar trim in a pre-assembly process step. The pre-assembled unit thus formed is then joined to the outer sheet metal part of the body pillar in the assembly process step.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0023] They show: Fig. 1. A two-track vehicle in a side view with partial elevation; Fig. 2 an enlarged side section view of a B-pillar with a view direction starting from the vehicle interior; Fig. 3a the hollow beam of the B-pillar in isolation, i.e. with the pre-assembly unit removed; Fig. 3b the pre-assembly unit of the B-pillar in standalone position, i.e. without hollow support of the B-pillar; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 sectional views through the B-pillar; Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. 9 illustrations, each showing an assembly sequence for the assembly of the B-pillar; Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 to Fig. 14 views illustrating a positioning aid.

[0024] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle in which a side wall assembly of a vehicle body is highlighted in a partial elevation in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle in the central vehicle area. The vehicle body has a side sill 1. A B-pillar 3 of the side wall assembly is arranged behind an A-pillar 5 in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle and connects the sill 1 to a roof structure 7 of the vehicle body in the vertical direction z of the vehicle. The B-pillar 3 serves both to stiffen the vehicle body and to accommodate attachments, such as a seatbelt retractor or the like.

[0025] In the Fig. 2. A pillar trim 17 and a safety belt system 19 are mounted on a sheet metal hollow beam 12 of the B-pillar 3, which is shown with a dashed line. The safety belt system 19 has in the Fig. 2 a bottom-side belt end fitting 21, a belt deflector 24 ( Fig. 3b) as well as a belt winder 23 and a height-adjustable deflection fitting 23 for a safety belt 25.

[0026] A sheet metal inner part 9 of the hollow beam 12 of the B-pillar 3, part of a vehicle body 50 ( Fig. 1 or Fig. 9) separate pre-assembly unit VM, as described in the Fig. Figure 3b shows that the above belt functional elements 20, 21, 23, 24 and a column cover 17 can be pre-assembled in the pre-assembly unit VM. The pre-assembly unit VM thus formed is then assembled in an assembly process step ZSB ( Fig. 9) attached to a sheet metal outer part 11 installed in the vehicle body 50.

[0027] The following is based on the Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Section 5 describes the structure of the B-pillar 3. Accordingly, the B-pillar 3 has the following features: Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 the already mentioned hollow beam 12. This is according to the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 is constructed from the inner sheet metal part 9 and the outer sheet metal part 11. The hollow beam 12 formed by the inner sheet metal part 9 and the outer sheet metal part 11 defines a hollow profile 13 extending in the vehicle's vertical direction z and having a substantially closed cross-section. A reinforcing sheet metal part 15 extends within the hollow profile 13 in the vehicle's vertical direction z. According to the Fig. Three mounting openings 6, 8 are formed, in which the belt retractor 20 and the belt deflector 24 can each be positioned. In addition, the inner sheet metal part 9 has in the Fig. 3a a mounting surface 10 for attaching the height-adjustable belt guide 23.

[0028] As from the Fig. 4 or Fig. As further shown in Figure 5, the outer sheet metal part 11 of the B-pillar 3 is formed with a profile base 27 on the outside of the vehicle in the transverse direction y, which transitions at profile edges 29 into a front profile flank 31 and a rear profile flank 33. Edge flanges 35 project from the two profile flanks 31 and 33 to the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively. The inner sheet metal part 9 has an inner profile base 39 that covers the hollow profile 13 and is extended forward and rearward in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle by means of screw-on flanges 41. These are located in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 are screwed to the outer sheet metal part 11 at screw connection points S. Each of the screw connections S is designed as a double screw connection.

[0029] To create such a screw connection S, the respective screw-on flange 41 of the inner sheet metal part 9 and one of the profile flanks 31, 33 of the outer sheet metal part 11 with their screw holes 43 are aligned one above the other, with the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 in between. This forms a three-layer structure, through whose screw holes 43 a screw bolt 45 is guided. The screw axis of the screw bolt 45 is in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 are aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. The screw-on flanges 41 of the inner sheet metal part 9 are in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, with the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 interposed, is joined to the inside of the two outer sheet metal profile flanks 31, 33. In contrast, the edge flanges 35 of the outer sheet metal part 11 are not connected to the inner sheet metal part 9.

[0030] For the screw connection S, a weld nut 47 is welded to the inside of the respective screw-on flange 41 of the inner sheet metal part 9, to which the screw bolt 45 is screwed. Accordingly, in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 the outer sheet metal profile flank 31, the inner sheet metal screw-on flange 41 and the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 are clamped together in a three-layer structure between the weld nut 47 and the bolt head of the screw bolt 45.

[0031] In the Fig. 5 The vehicle-internal profile base 39 of the inner sheet metal part 9 is offset by a transverse offset Δy from the two edge flanges 35 of the outer sheet metal part 11 towards the vehicle interior. In this way, an enlarged installation space is provided within the hollow profile 13 to position a belt retractor 20, as shown in the Fig. 8 is shown.

[0032] The following will be based on the Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. 9 an assembly sequence for assembling the in the Fig. The body structure shown in section 2 illustrates this: Accordingly, in the Fig. 9. First, the vehicle body 50 (still without the inner sheet metal part 9) is provided. The vehicle body 50 is painted in a first painting process step L1. Separately, a second painting process step L2 takes place, in which the still unassembled inner sheet metal part 9 is painted as a separate component. After the second painting process step L2, in the Fig. 9 a pre-assembly process step V is carried out. In pre-assembly process step V, the functional elements of the safety belt system 19 together with the pillar trim 17 are pre-assembled on the painted sheet metal inner part 9, forming the structure shown in the Fig. 3b shown pre-assembly unit VM. After pre-assembly, the inner sheet metal part 9 is joined to the vehicle body 50 in assembly process step ZSB. The joining process is not carried out by welding, but by means of the joint shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 indicated screw connections S (that is, double screw connections), so that damage to the already painted sheet metal surfaces is avoided.

[0033] Based on the Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 to Fig. Section 14 explains a positioning aid P that simplifies the assembly process step ZSB. Using the positioning aid P, the inner sheet metal part 9 is pre-positioned correctly in a screw position SP ( Fig. 11 or Fig. 14), in which the inner sheet metal part 9 can be screwed to the outer sheet metal part 11 by forming the aforementioned screw connections S.

[0034] The positioning aid P indicates in the Fig. 12 or Fig. 13 on the profile flank 33 of the sheet metal outer part 11 a positioning bolt 55, which is connected to a bolt shaft 56 with a small cross-section ( Fig. 10 or Fig. 12) projects from a base surface of the profile flank 33 in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle and has an expanded bolt head 57. This is spaced from a base surface of the outer sheet metal profile flank 33 by a clear annular gap r. The positioning bolt 55 interacts with a positioning cam 49, which is formed in the screw-on flange 41. The positioning cam 49 has in the Fig. 10 or Fig. 12 an insertion section 52 open in the insertion direction F (aligned in the transverse direction y of the vehicle). The insertion section 52 of the positioning backdrop 49 extends from a trimming edge 44 ( Fig. 12) of the inner sheet metal edge flange 41 by a transverse offset Δy ( Fig. 12) up to a transverse stop edge 46. In addition, the insertion section 52 transitions at a curve into a vertical cam track 53. This extends by a height offset Δz ( Fig. 10 or Fig. 12) upwards towards the top of the vehicle to an upper high-stop edge 59.

[0035] This results in an approximately hook-shaped positioning guide 49. During assembly process step ZSB, the inner sheet metal part 9 is first joined to the outer sheet metal part 11 such that the positioning bolt 55 of the outer sheet metal part is guided through the insertion section 52 of the positioning guide 49 until it reaches the transverse stop edge 46. The opening edge of the inner sheet metal part positioning guide 49 is located in the annular gap r between the bolt head 57 and the base surface of the outer sheet metal part profile edge 33. Upon reaching the transverse stop edge 46, the inner sheet metal part 9 is lowered (see arrow in the Fig. 11 or Fig.14) During the lowering process, the sheet metal outer part positioning bolt 55 is guided along the transverse stop edge 46, with minimal play, to the vertical stop edge 59. In this way, the sheet metal inner part 9 is correctly pre-positioned with respect to the sheet metal outer part 11 in both the transverse direction y and the vertical direction z of the vehicle. Reference symbol list 1 sill 3 B-pillar 5 A-pillar 6 Mounting opening for belt guide 7 Roof structure 8 Mounting opening for belt retractor 9 inner sheet metal part 10 Mounting surface 11 Sheet metal outer part 13 Hollow profile 15 Reinforcing sheet metal part 17 pillar trim 19 Seat belt system 20 belt retractor 21 End fitting 23 height-adjustable deflection fittings 24 belt guides 25 Seatbelt 27 profile floor 29 profile edges 31 front profile flank 33 rear profile flank 35 edge flanges 39 Profile base of the sheet metal inner part 41 Screw-on flange 43 screw holes 44 Trim edge 45 screw bolts 46 Cross-stop edge 47 weld nut 49 Positioning backdrop 50 vehicle body 51 screw holes 52 Insertion area 53 Scenery Railway 55 positioning bolts 56 bolt shaft 57 bolt head 59 High-impact edge r annular gap P Positioning aid S screw connection C clip connection L1, L2 painting process steps ZSB assembly process step V Pre-assembly process step FR direction of travel VM pre-assembly unit F Leading direction

Claims

[1] Vehicle body with a body pillar (3), a B-pillar having a module carrier (9) which carries functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) of a seat belt system (19) and / or a pillar trim (17), wherein the module carrier (9) is part of a pre-assembly unit (VM) separate from the vehicle body (50) in which the functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) and / or the pillar trim (17) are pre-assembled, and that the module carrier (9) is joined to at least one pillar-side connection point of the body pillar (3) after an assembly process step (ZSB), and that, to simplify the assembly process step (ZSB), the module carrier (9) and the body pillar (3) have a positioning aid (P) by means of which the module carrier (9) can be pre-positioned in the correct orientation in a connection position, a screw position (SP), in which the Module carrier (9) can be attached to the body pillar (3), characterized by, that the module carrier (9) is screwed (S) to the body pillar (3), and that the module carrier (9) is pre-positioned in the correct position (SP) by means of the positioning aid (P), in which the module carrier (9) can be screwed to the body pillar (3) by forming the screw connection (S), wherein the positioning aid (P) is a cam guide in which of the two joining partners, i.e. the module carrier (9) of the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body pillar (3), a first joining partner has a positioning bolt (55) which interacts with a positioning cam (49) of the second joining partner in such a way that the pre-positioning is carried out by loosely hooking the module carrier (9) into the body pillar (3), wherein the body pillar (3) in the assembled state is composed of an inner sheet metal part (9) inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal part (11) outside the vehicle, which form a sheet metal hollow beam (12) with a hollow profile (13) closed in the vehicle vertical direction (z), and that the inner sheet metal part (9) is the module carrier of the pre-assembly unit (VM), wherein the outer sheet metal part (11) has a profile base (27) on the outside of the vehicle in the transverse direction (y) which transitions at profile edges (29) towards the inside of the vehicle into a front profile flank (31) and a rear profile flank (33), and that the inner sheet metal part (9) has a profile base (39) on the inside of the vehicle which is extended forwards and / or backwards in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle with an edge flange (41) angled therefrom, wherein, to realize the screw connection (S), the inner sheet metal part edge flange (41) and an outer sheet metal part profile flank (31, 33) with their screw holes (43) are aligned one above the other, and that a screw bolt (45) is guided through the screw holes (43), and / or that the screw axis of the screw connection is aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle, wherein the positioning bolt (55) projects from a base surface of the outer sheet metal profile flank (31, 33) and has an expanded bolt head (57), and that the bolt head (57) is spaced from the base surface of the outer sheet metal profile flank (31, 33) by a clear annular gap (r), and that the clear annular gap (r) is dimensioned larger than the sheet thickness of the inner sheet metal edge flange (41) on which the positioning cam (49) is formed. [2] Vehicle body according to claim 1, characterized by, that the positioning backdrop (49) has an insertion section (52) open in a joining direction (F), and that the insertion section (52) extends from a trimming edge (44) of the inner sheet metal edge flange (41) by a transverse offset (Δy) to a transverse stop edge (46). [3] Vehicle body according to claim 2, characterized by , that the insertion section (52) of the positioning cam (49) transitions at a curve into a vertical cam track (53) which extends upwards by a height offset (Δz) to an upper high-stop edge (59).

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