Single-track, motorized two-wheeler with a roof

Abstract

A single-track, motor-driven two-wheeler (10) having a passenger compartment with a roof (16), with two lateral, mutually opposed beams (20) extending upwards from the front to form front pillars (24), which transition into roof beams (26), which in turn transition into rear, downwardly extending pillars (28), wherein the free ends of the front and rear pillars (24, 28) are attached to the two-wheeler side, characterized in that the front and / or rear pillars (24, 28) are each attached at a first attachment point (34) to a vertically deformable metal intermediate section (36) which is more unstable in the vertical direction than the passenger compartment, wherein each metal intermediate section (36) is in turn attached at a second attachment point (38) to the vehicle frame (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a single-track, motor-driven two-wheeler which has a passenger compartment with a roof.

[0002] To enable helmet-free riding on motorized two-wheelers, especially motorcycles, it is known to equip the two-wheelers with a roll cage that simultaneously forms the roof of the two-wheeler. The roll cage creates a passenger compartment. This makes it possible to ride the two-wheeler on public roads without having to wear additional protective clothing or a helmet.

[0003] According to the road traffic regulations, vehicles permitted to be driven without a helmet must undergo a roof dent test, in which a linear force must be applied to the passenger compartment, causing a deflection of at least 127 mm. Previously, a predominantly metallic roof structure was used to meet these requirements. However, this solution has the disadvantage of resulting in a relatively high center of gravity for the motorcycle, which negatively impacts the riding experience.

[0004] DE 196 29 879 A1 relates to a vehicle frame with a step-through for a vehicle with a sprung front wheel guidance, a steering device for a front wheel, a sprung rear wheel guidance for at least one rear wheel, at least one seat for a driver and at least one protective device extending in front of, above and behind the driver, which is designed in such a way that a laterally open cage, enabling the driver to step through, is created.

[0005] DE 196 32 827 A1 concerns a motor scooter with a tubular frame construction. The motor scooter has a safety bar which is attached to the frame in front of the steering head with a hinge and extends over the shoulders to the rear.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable a defined displacement of a vehicle roof structure in two-wheelers with a roof.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a single-track, motor-driven two-wheeler having a passenger compartment with a roof, with two lateral, mutually opposed beams extending upwards from the front to form front pillars which transition into roof beams which in turn transition into rear, downward-extending pillars, wherein the free ends of the front and rear pillars are attached to the side of the two-wheeler, characterized in that the front and / or rear pillars are each attached at a first attachment point to a vertically deformable metal intermediate section which is more unstable in the vertical direction than the passenger compartment, wherein each metal intermediate section is in turn attached at a second attachment point to the vehicle frame.

[0008] This type of two-wheeler has the advantage that, when the roof is subjected to stress, the metal intermediate sections are designed to be less stable in the vertical direction than the passenger compartment. This means the metal intermediate sections deform before the passenger compartment and its roof are deformed or damaged. Repairing the two-wheeler can therefore be particularly cost-effective, as only the metal intermediate sections may need to be replaced after certain stress events. Furthermore, the metal intermediate sections allow for deformation that follows a linear force distribution.

[0009] The second attachment points can be located vertically below the corresponding first attachment points. This allows the passenger compartment and roof to shift vertically downwards under load.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the metal intermediate parts are each screwed to their respective column and / or frame side. This allows the metal intermediate parts to be easily replaced if necessary. In particular, during repairs, deformed metal intermediate parts can be unscrewed and new, undeformed metal intermediate parts can be screwed on.

[0011] For example, the metal intermediate parts are each made of sheet metal. Using sheet metal has several advantages. Firstly, the metal intermediate parts can be stamped from sheet metal, making them simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, sheet metal, if of a suitable thickness, is sufficiently stable to hold the passenger compartment of the two-wheeler in a defined position during normal driving, while simultaneously being sufficiently deformable under load.

[0012] The metal intermediate sections can have predefined, particularly pre-formed, bending zones where the metal intermediate section is plastically deformed when a load is applied to the roof from above. This allows the way in which the metal intermediate sections deform under load to be predetermined. Furthermore, the forces absorbed by the metal intermediate sections during deformation can be tracked. Additionally, the deformation of the metal intermediate sections can occur predominantly in the area between the fastening points and not directly at the fastening points themselves, especially the screw connections. This prevents damage to, for example, the vehicle frame or the pillars in the area of ​​the fastening points.

[0013] For example, the metal intermediate sections are deformed sheets of metal, particularly corrugated sheets, that are shaped from a flat surface. This means that the metal intermediate sections are already deformed before they are subjected to stress during driving or a roof crush test. Due to their corrugated shape, the metal intermediate sections can be compressed almost like an accordion, allowing for a particularly large degree of deformation. The individual corrugations can, for example, be deformed or compressed until they are directly adjacent to each other.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the frame members are attached exclusively to the two-wheel side via the metal intermediate sections. This allows the roof, and thus the entire one-piece passenger compartment, to be vertically shifted downwards and / or tilted depending on the type of load.

[0015] Preferably, the metal intermediate sections are vertically sized and the associated first and second fastening points are vertically spaced sufficiently far apart to allow the metal intermediate section to deform by at least 127 mm under vertical load on the roof, particularly in the vertical direction. This ensures compliance with the necessary safety aspects and legal requirements.

[0016] The laterally spaced frame members, the roof, and a rear wall can be seamlessly integrated as a single, fiber-reinforced plastic component, forming the self-supporting passenger cell. This makes the roof particularly easy to handle during assembly and maintenance. Furthermore, the stability of the passenger cell is improved by the single-piece construction compared to a multi-section design. Fiber-reinforced plastic components have limited energy absorption capacity, which is compensated for by the metal intermediate sections.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the front pillars extend downwards from below a windshield located between them, until they are attached to the vehicle frame below a seat. This offers the advantage that the pillars can overlap the vehicle frame in sections and be supported by it. The roof is thus supported laterally not only by the metal intermediate sections but also by the contact surface between the pillars and the vehicle frame. This means that the roof can only move in one direction along the vehicle's vertical axis, but not in a direction perpendicular to it.

[0018] The area of ​​the front pillars that runs downwards below the windshield can also run diagonally towards the rear of the two-wheeler.

[0019] A section of the rear pillars that lies below a seat can run diagonally downwards and forwards.

[0020] This means that the front and rear pillars run diagonally towards each other.

[0021] The angled pillars beneath the seat surface allow the passenger compartment to absorb some of the impact. Furthermore, this design allows for a particularly compact vehicle frame, as the mounting points are closer together along the vehicle's length.

[0022] The individual parts and sections of the passenger compartment are joined together in one piece using hot or cold bonding.

[0023] In hot bonding, resin-impregnated fabrics with a high fiber volume fraction (prepregs) are cured in an autoclave, or dry non-woven fabrics and / or braided semi-finished products are cured in one piece by subsequent resin infusion in a resin injection process (also called resin transfer molding) at high temperature and high pressure. In cold bonding, finished plastic parts, especially carbon fiber-reinforced ones, are bonded together. With both processes, components bonded in this way cannot be separated from each other without damage.

[0024] According to one embodiment, lateral, parallel beams, connected by the roof, can be curved and designed as hollow bodies running continuously from the front lower to the rear lower end of the passenger compartment. Due to this structure and shape, the beams can elastically deform to a certain degree under load during driving, thereby dissipating forces. This provides particularly good shielding and protection for the occupant within the passenger compartment.

[0025] In principle, the beams can be manufactured entirely as hollow profiles, preferably with constant wall thicknesses. This can be achieved by manufacturing the beams as continuous closed profiles or by manufacturing the beams, at least in sections, from inner and outer parts bonded together.

[0026] Preferably, the passenger cell is a fiber-reinforced plastic component. For example, the passenger cell is a component made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). Furthermore, the passenger cell can also be a composite of different fibers, such as CFRP and Kevlar, CFRP and glass fibers, CFRP, Kevlar and glass fibers, or glass fibers and Kevlar. Alternatively or additionally, natural fibers may be included.

[0027] In general, a composite of different layers made of the same material is also conceivable. Such a composite could, for example, comprise one layer of CFRP, two layers of GFRP, and another layer of CFRP. By using a fiber-reinforced component, the weight of the passenger cell is significantly reduced compared to a passenger cell with a structure made of conventional materials, such as aluminum. This reduces the energy consumption of the two-wheeler during operation and improves its handling due to the lowered center of gravity.

[0028] A composite material with different fibers can be produced, for example, by having at least one layer used to manufacture a fiber-reinforced component contain different fibers. Alternatively, several layers can be used to manufacture a component, each containing different fibers, in particular, each layer containing only one type of fiber. The aforementioned examples can also be combined. That is, at least one layer contains different fibers and at least one other layer contains only one type of fiber.

[0029] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the following drawings, to which reference is made. The drawings show: - Fig. 1 the two-wheeler according to the invention in an unloaded state, - Fig. 2 a metal intermediate part for a two-wheeler according to the invention and - Fig. 3 the two-wheeler according to the invention made of Fig. 1 in a stressed state.

[0030] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a single-track, motor-driven two-wheeler 10 according to the invention. The two-wheeler 10 is, for example, electrically driven and comprises a battery pack 12, which is part of a vehicle frame 14, in particular a two-wheeler frame.

[0031] The two-wheeler 10 has a roof 16 as part of a passenger compartment, which is not subjected to, nor has been subjected to, any stresses exceeding those normally occurring during operation. The vehicle frame 14 is primarily formed by a housing 18 of the battery pack 12.

[0032] The roof 16 is part of a one-piece, self-supporting passenger cell, which is preferably a one-piece, in particular fiber-reinforced plastic part.

[0033] The passenger compartment has two lateral, spaced-apart beams 20, which extend upwards from the front to the roof 16 and downwards behind the roof 16. These form front columns 24, roof beams 26 and rear columns 28, with the front columns 24 transitioning into the roof beams 26 and the roof beams 26 in turn transitioning into the rear columns 28.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the beams 20 are connected to each other by the roof 16 and a rear wall 30, creating the one-piece component. However, it is also conceivable that only the roof 16 is provided to connect the beams 20.

[0035] In the operating position, both the front pillars 24 and the rear pillars 28 extend to their free ends below a seat 32 for the occupant and are attached to the vehicle frame 14 at their lower end.

[0036] The area of ​​the front pillars 24, which runs downwards below the windshield, also runs diagonally towards the rear of the two-wheeler.

[0037] A section of the rear columns 28, which lies below a seat surface 32, runs diagonally downwards and forwards in a similar manner.

[0038] According to the invention, the front and / or rear pillars 24, 28 are each attached at a first attachment point 34 to a vertically deformable metal intermediate part 36 which is designed to be more unstable in the vertical direction than the passenger cell, wherein the metal intermediate parts 36 are in turn each attached at a second attachment point 38 to the vehicle frame 14.

[0039] The second fastening points 38 are located vertically below the associated first fastening points 34.

[0040] The metal intermediate parts 36 are, for example, sheet metal parts, in particular stamped parts. It is also conceivable to manufacture the metal intermediate parts 36 as formed parts in a press. Such a metal intermediate part 36 is exemplified in Fig. 2 illustrated.

[0041] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, pre-formed bending zones 40 can be provided in the metal intermediate parts 36, at which the metal intermediate part 36 is plastically deformed when a load is applied to the roof 16 from above. Due to the pre-formed bending zones 40, a defined deformation can occur under load. Fig. 1 and Fig. The bending areas 40 are illustrated by dashed lines.

[0042] For example, the metal intermediate parts 36 are sheets deformed from a plane, in particular corrugated sheets. That is, the metal intermediate parts 36 can have an accordion-like cross-section.

[0043] The figures illustrate metal intermediate parts 36 with only one shaft, but several shafts may also be provided.

[0044] When the metal intermediate parts 36 are mounted on the two-wheeler 10, the shafts can either run along a horizontal line or be inclined at, for example, a maximum of 30% of the horizontal. An inclination of the shafts allows the metal intermediate parts 36 to deform in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0045] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the metal intermediate parts 36 are each screwed to their assigned column 24, 28 and to the frame side.

[0046] The frame members 20 are therefore attached exclusively via the metal intermediate parts 36 on the two-wheel side, in particular exclusively to the vehicle frame 14.

[0047] Fig. 3 shows the two-wheeler 10 from Fig. 1 in a loaded state, where the load acts on the vehicle roof as illustrated. Such a loading case occurs, for example, during a roof crush test, in which the roof 16 is subjected to a defined force or force profile.

[0048] The load causes the roof 16 to be pushed downwards, as shown in Fig. 3 is illustrated by a dashed line, where the dashed line represents an upper contour of the roof 16 in an unloaded state.

[0049] Due to the downward displacement of the roof 16 and the passenger compartment, the metal intermediate parts 36 are deformed. As in Fig. As can be seen in section 3, the bending areas 40 are particularly noticeable in comparison to Fig. 1. Deformed in the vertical direction and thus shortened.

[0050] Since the metal intermediate parts 36 are designed to be more unstable vertically than the roof 16 according to the invention, the metal intermediate parts 36 are deformed under the illustrated load case without damaging the roof 16 and the passenger compartment. Only when no further deformation of the metal intermediate parts 36 is possible is there a risk that the roof 16 will also be damaged.

[0051] The metal intermediate parts 36 are vertically sized and the associated first and second fastening points 34, 38 are vertically spaced sufficiently far apart that each metal intermediate part 36 can deform by at least 127 mm under vertical load on the roof 16, particularly in the vertical direction. A deformation of 127 mm in the vertical direction corresponds to a legally required displacement of the roof 16 during the roof indentation test.

[0052] Apart from the metal intermediate parts 36 already described, which are attached to the vehicle frame 14, an additional metal intermediate part 36' can optionally be provided, which is attached to a front support, but which is not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity. The front support is designed separately from the battery pack 12.

[0053] To attach the additional metal intermediate part 36', a mounting plate can be provided on the front carrier, which provides the mounting point for the additional metal intermediate part 36'.

Claims

[1] Single-track, motor-driven two-wheeler (10) having a passenger compartment with a roof (16), with two lateral, mutually opposed beams (20) extending upwards from the front to form front pillars (24), which transition into roof beams (26), which in turn transition into rear, downward-extending pillars (28), the free ends of the front and rear pillars (24, 28) being attached to the side of the two-wheeler, characterized by , that the front and / or rear pillars (24, 28) are each attached at a first attachment point (34) to a vertically deformable metal intermediate section (36) which is more unstable in the vertical direction than the passenger cell, wherein each metal intermediate section (36) is in turn attached at a second attachment point (38) to the vehicle frame (14). [2] Two-wheeler (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the second attachment points (38) are located vertically below the associated first attachment points (34). [3] Two-wheeler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the metal intermediate parts (36) are each screwed to their assigned column (24, 28) and / or to the frame side. [4] Two-wheeler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the metal intermediate parts (36) are each made of sheet metal. [5] Two-wheeler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the metal intermediate parts (36) have predefined, in particular preformed bending areas (40) at which the metal intermediate part (36) is plastically deformed when a load is applied to the roof (16) from above. [6] Two-wheeler (10) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the metal intermediate parts (36) are deformed from a plane, in particular corrugated sheets. [7] Two-wheeler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the frame members (20) are attached exclusively via metal intermediate parts (36) on the two-wheel side. [8] Two-wheeler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the laterally spaced beams (20) and the roof (16) as well as a rear wall (30) merge seamlessly into one another and are designed as a fiber-reinforced plastic part, which forms the passenger compartment. [9] Two-wheeled vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the front pillars (24) extend downwards from below a windshield located between the front pillars (24) to be attached to the vehicle frame (14) below a seat surface (32). [10] Two-wheeler (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the area of ​​the front pillars (24), which runs downwards below the windshield, also runs diagonally towards the rear of the two-wheeler. [11] Two-wheeled vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a section of the rear columns (28), which lies below a seat surface (32), runs diagonally downwards and forwards.

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