Front structure for the body structure of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Front structure for a body structure of a motor vehicle, wherein the body structure (4) has a basic structure on which a support (6) of the front structure (3) is supported, wherein the support (6) extends in the direction of a transverse body axis (30) of the body structure (4), and wherein a flow guide element (1) predominantly covers the front structure (3) at least in the direction of an environment, and wherein the flow guide element (1) has an air guide section (8) opposite a road surface in the direction of a vertical body axis (31) of the body structure (4), and a support rod (16) is formed to support the air guide section (8), which is arranged in the direction of the vertical body axis (31) under the support (6), and which extends along the transverse body axis (30).and wherein the support rod (16) is stabilized by means of a connecting element (32) which is supported in a vertical direction along the body vertical axis (31) on the support (6), and wherein the connecting element (32) is pre-tensioned between the support (6) and a support element (7) comprising the support rod (16), and wherein the connecting element (32) is fixed to the support (6) by means of a fastening system (39) which exerts the pre-tensioning force, and wherein the fastening system (39) comprises a pre-tensioning element (45) by means of which the pre-tensioning force can be brought about, characterized in that the fastening system (39) is arranged on a surface of a cross member (9) of the support (6) extending in the direction of the body transverse axis (30), which is formed facing the trim element (1) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (27) of the body structure (4),wherein a first connecting element end (33) of the connecting element (32) and a second connecting element end (34) of the connecting element (32) which is formed facing away from the first connecting element end (33) are arranged in the same direction in the direction along a longitudinal axis (35) of the connecting element (32).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a front structure for a body structure of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Front structures for motor vehicle body structures are well known. Front structures are characterized by the fact that they serve to absorb forces acting against a direction of travel, which can be directed in a wide variety of directions. The front structures consist of a structural cross member extending along a transverse axis of the vehicle body and two structural arms extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and connecting the front structure to a basic structure of the vehicle body structure. Furthermore, the structural arms serve to absorb the energy of forces introduced into the structural cross member during an impact. The structural cross member is typically slightly curved.

[0003] The front structure is covered with a covering element to create a favorable drag coefficient and to provide shielding. The covering element has airflow openings, which serve, for example, to provide cooling airflow to the auxiliary components of a drive unit and / or other components that heat up during operation of the vehicle. Furthermore, the covering element has an air guide section designed to create downforce. The air guide section is typically positioned opposite a running floor.

[0004] German Patent Application DE 10 2006 041 163 A1 discloses a trim panel that is vertically adjustable and attached to the body of a motor vehicle by means of a support member in the form of a cable. The trim panel is suspended from the body in a vertically adjustable manner, and can move, in particular, along the vertical axis of the body in a direction away from the ground to prevent damage, particularly due to collisions with uneven road surfaces and / or objects being driven over.

[0005] From the utility model DE 20 2017 105 235 U1, a front structure with a cladding element of a body of a motor vehicle is known, wherein the cladding element is designed to be supported on an underbody part of the body by means of cables on a support of the front structure.

[0006] German Patent Application DE 10 2016 113 730 A1 discloses a front structure for a motor vehicle body structure, comprising a cross member attached to the body structure by means of a bracket. A front fascia, which at least partially encloses the cross member, is designed in the form of a spoiler lip.

[0007] German Patent Application DE 10 2017 124 569 A1 discloses a front structure for a body structure, wherein a cross member is designed to absorb mechanical forces. The cross member has outriggers designed to engage a receiving section of the front structure.

[0008] The published patent application DE 10 2015 118 087 A1 also shows a front structure for a body structure, in which a predetermined breaking point is provided in the front structure.

[0009] From published patent application DE 10 2009 058 557 A1, a front structure of a body structure is known, which comprises a support rod arranged in the direction of a vertical body axis beneath a cross member extending in the direction of a transverse body axis. The support rod is stabilized by means of struts supported diagonally on the cross member, wherein the struts are prestressed between the cross member and the support rod. The struts are fixed to the cross member by means of a fastening system that applies the prestressing force, and wherein the fastening system comprises a prestressing element with which the prestressing force can be applied.

[0010] German Patent Application DE 199 11 832 A1 discloses a supporting structure for a motor vehicle body with a cross member concealed beneath an outer skin. The cross member is designed in the form of a shield frame and is detachably attached to longitudinal members of the motor vehicle body. The shield frame is designed to accommodate shock-absorbing elements.

[0011] Particularly when the air deflector section, also known as a spoiler, is designed with large contact surfaces that generate large downforces, there is a risk that the air deflector section will be pushed toward the ground due to the wind forces acting on it. This can lead to damage to the air deflector section and a reduction in the required downforce. Furthermore, deflection of the air deflector section will adversely and unpredictably affect the drag coefficient.

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved front structure for a body structure of a motor vehicle.

[0013] The object is achieved according to the invention by a front structure for a body structure of a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial further developments of the invention are specified in the respective subclaims.

[0014] A front structure according to the invention for a body structure of a motor vehicle, the body structure having a base structure, comprises a support that is supported on the base structure. The support is designed to extend in the direction of a transverse axis of the body structure. A flow guide element is designed to predominantly cover the front structure, at least in the direction of a surrounding area, wherein the flow guide element has an air guide section opposite a driving floor in the direction of a vertical axis of the body structure.To support the air guide section, a support rod is provided, which is arranged below the support in the direction of the body's vertical axis and which extends along the body's transverse axis. The support rod is stabilized by means of a connecting element supported on the support in a vertical direction along the body's vertical axis. The connecting element is prestressed between the support and a support element comprising the support rod, and is fixed to the support by means of a fastening system that applies the prestressing force. The fastening system has a prestressing element with the aid of which the prestressing force can be achieved.According to the invention, the fastening system is arranged on a surface of a cross member of the support extending in the direction of the body transverse axis, said surface facing the trim element in the direction of a body longitudinal axis of the body structure, wherein a first connecting element end of the connecting element and a second connecting element end of the connecting element facing away from the first connecting element end are arranged in the same direction in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the connecting element.

[0015] The support rod is stabilized by the connecting element, which is supported vertically along the body's vertical axis on the support. This allows the air deflector section to reliably absorb higher wind forces, as the support rod is secured to the support by the connecting element to prevent vertical deformation. A further advantage is a reduction in forces at the mounting points of the support rod and / or support arms, for example, on the base frame and / or on a body shell, since forces can be transmitted to the support via the connecting element.

[0016] Further secure absorption of wind forces acting on the air guide section and thus on the support rod is achieved by the pre-tensioned connecting element arranged between the beam and the support element. This allows the support rod, in particular, to be installed regardless of tolerances. In other words, this means that the position of the support element comprising the support rod is independent of tolerances, since vertical alignment can be achieved during assembly with the help of the pre-tensioned connecting element. This means that the position of the support element relative to the beam, the base frame, and the air guide section can be adjusted. This is cost-effective, since a tolerance-dependent design of the support element and the connecting element entails high manufacturing and assembly costs.In particular, during the manufacture of the connecting element, its length must be precisely designed, which in turn depends on the exact assembly of the support element on the basic frame and its tolerance-free design.

[0017] For secure fastening and to achieve the possible prestressing, the connecting element is fixed to the beam using a fastening system. This offers the advantage of creating a fastening system that is independent of the beam and / or support element. This supports cost-effective production of the fastening system and assembly effort, allowing the entire front structure to be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0018] The advantage is a reduction in, and in particular, prevention of, vertical deflection of the air guide section due to the wind force acting on it, so that it remains in its effective position and no loss of downforce can occur. Likewise, damage to the air guide section due to wind force can be reduced, and in particular, prevented.

[0019] The support rod can, for example, be attached to the air guide section. It can be designed as a hollow tube to reduce its weight. It can also be made of a plastic or a metal material.

[0020] In one embodiment of the front structure according to the invention, the support rod is attached to the base structure by means of a support arm. The advantage is that increased flexibility is realized in the manufacture of the support rod and the air guide section. The support rod can be securely supported on the base structure with the help of the support arm, whereby higher wind forces can be absorbed because, starting from the force introduction at the contact surface of the air guide section, the introduced force can be transmitted to the base structure via the support arm. If, for example, the support arm has a cross-section that increases in the direction of the body's longitudinal axis, the force introduced by the wind force can be distributed over the continuously increasing area of ​​the cross-section until it hits the base structure and can possibly be reduced.

[0021] To further increase the secure absorption of higher wind forces, the support rod features a support nose that extends into the air guide section. This support nose, which extends into the air guide section, allows for an increased surface area of ​​the air guide section where the wind force acts. Advantageously, the support nose is only implemented in sections along the extension direction of the support rod, thereby achieving a weight reduction.

[0022] In particular, if the support nose is designed to extend forward in the direction of a body longitudinal axis, a projection of the air guiding section in the body longitudinal direction over a remaining section of the flow guiding element can be achieved for increased absorption of wind power.

[0023] The connecting element advantageously has a tensile-loadable active element between a first connecting element end and a second connecting element end, wherein the element ends are designed to be permanently connected to the active element during operation of the motor vehicle. This means that the active element is designed to absorb tensile forces, and is particularly rod-shaped or rope-shaped. Compared to a rod-shaped or strut-shaped active element, the rope-shaped active element has the advantage of being insensitive to compressive forces. This means that when driving over obstacles, such as curbs, it can easily deform and return to its original shape undamaged after driving over the obstacle.

[0024] In particular, the support lugs and support arms and / or the fastening system are cost-effectively manufactured at least partially from plastic. Further cost reductions can be achieved if they are manufactured using an injection molding process.

[0025] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Identical or functionally equivalent elements are assigned identical reference numerals. For reasons of clarity, it is possible that the elements are not provided with their reference numerals in all figures, but without losing their assignment. They show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cladding element of a motor vehicle for covering a front structure according to the invention for a body structure of the motor vehicle, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the front structure according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 3 in a detailed view III of the front structure acc. Fig. 2, a fastening system of a connecting element of the front structure in a cross section, Fig. 4 in a longitudinal section the fastening system according to. Fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the front structure according to the invention in a second embodiment, Fig. 6 in a perspective view the fastening system of the front structure according to. Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 in a perspective view a support element of the front structure according to the invention. Fig. 5.

[0026] In Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a trim element 1 of a motor vehicle 2, which is intended to cover a front structure 3 according to the invention for a body structure 4 of the motor vehicle 2. The trim element 1 is designed as a flow-guiding element and has various flow-through openings 5 ​​through which air can flow into the motor vehicle 2 for various purposes. For example, one opening 5 is designed for the flow to a radiator (not shown in detail) of the motor vehicle 2. Another of the openings 5 ​​can serve, for example, for an air flow to a braking device of the motor vehicle 2.

[0027] The cladding element 1 is designed to cover a support 6 in the form of a bumper of the front structure 3 and a support element 7 for supporting an air guide section 8 of the cladding element 1, which in Fig. 2 are illustrated in detail. During operation of the motor vehicle 2, a high force is exerted on the air guide section 8 due to the air flow, which, without the support element 7, can lead to bending or possibly a crack or breakage of the air guide section 8. This air guide section 8 is thus supported by the support element 7 to prevent deflection.

[0028] The support 6 comprises a cross member 9 as well as a first support arm 10 and a second support arm 11. The two support arms 10, 11 extend along a central axis 12 of the cross member 9 and are designed to be a mirror image of the central axis 12. They each have a first end 13 at which they are connected to the cross member 9. At their second end 14, which faces away from the first end 13, they are designed to create a fixed connection to a longitudinal member (not shown in detail) of a basic structure of the body structure 4 and, for this purpose, each have a flange 15 at the second end 14.

[0029] The support element 7 has a support rod 16 comprising three support lugs 17 and two support arms 18. The support arms 18 serve to fasten the support element 7 to the body structure 4 and are each arranged at the two element ends, a first element end 20 and a second element end 21 of the support rod 16. In the present exemplary embodiment, they are each fastened by means of a further flange 29 to a shell component 19, which serves to delimit a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 2 from a front area of ​​the motor vehicle 2, see Fig. 5, in which the front structure 3 according to the invention is illustrated in a second exemplary embodiment. The design of the additional flanges 29 is advantageous because they are designed for the detachable connection of the support element 7 and serve to provide a defined connection of the support element 7 to the base structure.

[0030] The support lugs 17 are arranged between the two support arms 18. These support lugs 17 have an outer contour 22 that is adapted to an inner contour of the air guide section 8, which is hollow. Thus, an inner surface of the air guide section 8, which is designed to face away from an outer surface 23 of the air guide section 8, can be supported on a lug surface 24 arranged facing it. To reduce their component weight, the support lugs 17 are largely constructed like a load-bearing structure, i.e., in other words, supporting but not solid, with struts 25 arranged on a support plate 26. The support arms 18 are also constructed like a load-bearing structure and also have struts 25 arranged on the support plate 26. The supporting structure-like construction of the support lugs 17 and the support arms 18 results in high strength and rigidity of the elements 17, 18 while at the same time allowing the realization of a lightweight construction.

[0031] The support lugs 17 extend forward from the support rod 16 in the direction of a longitudinal body axis 27 of the body structure 4, thus facing away from the body shell 19. To support the air guide section 8, including in the areas of the support rod 16 in which the support arms 18 are received, the support arms 18 have support bodies 28 extending in the direction of the support lugs 17 and configured equivalently to the support lugs 17. It should be mentioned at this point that the motor vehicle 2 further comprises a transverse body axis 30 extending horizontally and a vertical body axis 31 extending orthogonally to the longitudinal body axis 27 and the transverse body axis 30.

[0032] To prevent deflection of the support rod 16, the support element 7 is attached to the support 6 by means of a connecting element 32, which is a cable-like fastening means. In other words, the support element 7 is suspended from the support 6 by means of the connecting element 32. In the present embodiments, the connecting element 32 is designed to comprise a metallic cable.

[0033] At its first connecting element end 33 facing the carrier 6, the connecting element 32 is detachably connected to the carrier 6. The second connecting element end 34 facing away from the first connecting element end 33 is fastened to the support rod 16 in the present embodiment by means of a receiving element 36, wherein the receiving element 36 is designed to produce a positive connection with the second connecting element end 34 and is firmly connected to the support rod 16 by a screw connection, as for example in Fig. 5. The second connecting element end 34 is designed to abut against a stop 37 of the receiving element 36 for secure fixation. Likewise, the second connecting element end 34 could also be permanently connected to the support rod 16, for example, via a material-to-material connection in the form of a welded joint.

[0034] At the second connecting element end 34, the connecting element 32 is preferably to be fixed to the support rod 16 before fastening the first connecting element end 33 in such a way that, in particular during and after the assembly of the first connecting element end 33 to the support rod 16, no changes in the position of the second connecting element end 34 can occur.

[0035] The receiving element 36 can be integrated into one of the support lugs 17. Preferably, a support lug 17 arranged centrally on the support rod 16 serves to receive the receiving element 36, so that a force balance can be established on the support rod parts 38 formed on both sides of the support lug 17.

[0036] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows a detailed view III of the front structure 3, which illustrates in detail a fastening system 39 of the connecting element 32 of the front structure 3 in the first exemplary embodiment in connection with the carrier 6. The fastening system 39 is designed to exert a defined prestressing force on the connecting element 32. For this purpose, in the first exemplary embodiment of the front structure 3 according to the invention, the first connecting element end 33 is designed in the form of an eyelet.

[0037] The first connecting element end 33 and the second connecting element end 34 are non-detachably connected to an active element 40 of the connecting element 32, which is rope-shaped.

[0038] A support element 41 is immovably mounted on the support 6, which support element is designed to receive an element housing 42 of the fastening system 39. The element housing 42 has, at its housing end 43 facing the support element 7, a chamber 44 in which a prestressing element 45 of the fastening system 39 in the form of a spiral spring is arranged. The prestressing element 45 is designed to encompass the connecting element 32, wherein the prestressing element 45 is designed to bear against an eyelet wall 46 of the eyelet 33 on the one hand and against a chamber wall 47 of the chamber 44 opposite the eyelet wall 46 on the other hand. For secure support of the pre-tensioning element 45 on the eyelet 33, the eyelet wall 46 thereof is designed transversely to the direction of extension of the pre-tensioning element 45, wherein in the present embodiment the eyelet wall 46 is designed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis 35 of the connecting element 32.

[0039] The element housing 42 has a receiving chamber 48 arranged remote from the active element 40, in which an eyelet portion 57 of the eyelet 33, having a through-opening 49, is arranged axially displaceably in the direction of the longitudinal axis 35. The through-opening 49 is designed in the form of an elongated hole whose longitudinal extent extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 35.

[0040] The receiving chamber 48 is accessible for assembly or disassembly on its side 58 facing away from the carrier 6. Arranged in this area is a fixing element 50 of the fastening system 39 in the form of a threaded pin with a head, which penetrates the element housing 42 and the through-opening 49. Its threaded portion is accessible via the receiving chamber 48. A clamping element 51 of the fastening system 39, for example in the form of a nut, is provided to fix and lock the connecting element 32. Clamping of the eyelet 33 on the element housing 42 can be achieved with the aid of the fixing element 50.

[0041] The connecting element 32 is pre-tensioned by means of the pre-tensioning element 45, since the eyelet 33 is pushed upward by the pre-tensioning element 45, thus in the direction away from the support element 7, whereby the active element 40 is pre-tensioned with a defined force. The connecting element 32 is fixed and locked by tightening the clamping element 51.

[0042] The support element 41 has stops 52 for supporting the element housing 42 and absorbing effective forces, which direct a direct transmission of rotational forces occurring during assembly of the clamping element 51 to the eyelet 33 on the support 6, wherein the eyelet 33 can be supported on an inner wall 53 of the element housing 42.

[0043] In the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, in particular, the connecting element 32 of the front structure 3 according to the second exemplary embodiment is shown. The connecting element 32 has its first connecting element end 33 in the form of a threaded pin. The pin 33 is non-detachably connected to the active element 40 and is encompassed by a working part 54 of the fastening system 39. The working part 54 has a further stop 60 against which the pin 33 can be supported, such that it cannot slip out of the working part 54 in the direction of the support element 7. For this purpose, a hole 59 in the working part 54, in which the active element 40 and the pin 33 are arranged, has two differently sized diameters D1, D2, wherein the hole section provided for receiving the pin 33 has a larger first diameter D1 than the hole section designed to guide the active element 40, which has a second diameter D2.Thus, the stop 60 for the pin 33 is brought about in a simple manner.

[0044] In a further embodiment, the work part 54 has at least partially a complementary internal thread to the external thread of the pin 33, so that it is designed to bring about a positive-friction connection with the pin 33.

[0045] The working part 54 has two snap elements 55, with the aid of which a snap connection with the carrier element 41 can be achieved. In this second exemplary embodiment, the carrier element 41 has through-holes 56 for the passage of the snap elements 55 and the pin 33. Thus, upon insertion of the working part 54, which is connected to the pin 33 and consequently also to the active element 40, the connecting element 32 is fastened to the carrier 6. With the aid of the preload element 45 acting on the pin 33, the connecting element 32 is preloaded by rotating the pin 33. In this exemplary embodiment, the preload element 45 is designed in the form of a nut. The working part 54 serves to pre-fix the connecting element 32 to the carrier 6 and also supports the pin 33 during the clamping process, preventing twisting of the active element 40.

[0046] As in Fig.7, in which the support element 7 is shown in a perspective view, one of the two snap elements 55 further serves to fix the first connecting element end 33 to the support nose 17. Thus, for example, the support element 7 can be equipped with the connecting element 32 before final assembly, wherein the second connecting element end 34 is finally assembled on the support element 7. The support element 7 can now be transported from one location to a destination where it is connected to the carrier 6, without losing the connecting element 32 or without damage, e.g. tearing off the fastening system 39.

[0047] Likewise, the eyelet 33 of the connecting element 32 of the first embodiment can be locked in a pin element, not shown in detail, arranged on the support nose 17.

Claims

[1] Front structure for a body structure of a motor vehicle, wherein the body structure (4) has a base structure on which a support (6) of the front structure (3) is supported, wherein the support (6) is designed to extend in the direction of a body transverse axis (30) of the body structure (4), and wherein a flow guide element (1) is designed to predominantly cover the front structure (3) at least in the direction of an environment, and wherein the flow guide element (1) has an air guide section (8) opposite a driving floor in the direction of a body vertical axis (31) of the body structure (4), a support rod (16) is designed to support the air guide section (8), which support rod is arranged under the support (6) in the direction of the body vertical axis (31) and which is designed to extend along the body transverse axis (30),and wherein the support rod (16) is designed to be stabilized by means of a connecting element (32) supported on the support (6) in the vertical direction along the body vertical axis (31), and wherein the connecting element (32) is designed to be prestressed between the support (6) and a support element (7) comprising the support rod (16), and wherein the connecting element (32) is fixed to the support (6) by means of a fastening system (39) which effects the prestressing force, and wherein the fastening system (39) has a prestressing element (45) with the aid of which the prestressing force can be brought about, , characterized byin that the fastening system (39) is arranged on a surface of a cross member (9) of the support (6) which extends in the direction of the body transverse axis (30) and which faces the cladding element (1) in the direction of a body longitudinal axis (27) of the body structure (4), wherein a first connecting element end (33) of the connecting element (32) and a second connecting element end (34) of the connecting element (32) which faces away from the first connecting element end (33) are arranged in the same direction in the direction along a longitudinal axis (35) of the connecting element (32). [2] Front structure according to claim 1, characterized by that the support rod (16) is fixed to the base structure by means of a support arm (18). [3] Front structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the support rod (16) has a support nose (17) which projects into the air guide section (8). [4] Front structure according to claim 3, characterized bythat the support nose (17) is designed to extend forward in the direction of a body longitudinal axis (27). [5] Front structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the connecting element (32) has an active element (40) which can be subjected to tensile stress between a first connecting element end (33) and a second connecting element end (34), wherein the element ends (33, 34) are formed inseparably with the active element (40) during operation of the motor vehicle (2). [6] Front structure according to claim 5, characterized by that the active element (40) is designed in the form of a metallic rope. [7] Front structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the prestressing element (45) is designed in the form of a spring element and / or a nut. [8] Front structure according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the connecting element (32) is connected to the support rod (16) at its end (34) facing the support rod (16) by means of a positive connection. [9] Front structure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the fastening system (39) is arranged on the support (6) by means of a support element (41).

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