Bumper arrangement

Abstract

Bumper assembly (1) with a cross member (2) and with two crash boxes (3), wherein the cross member (2) can be arranged transversely on the front or rear of a motor vehicle, the cross member (2) has a first lateral end region (4) and a second lateral end region (6), wherein one of the two crash boxes (3) is arranged at each of the two lateral end regions (4, 6), wherein an adapter plate (7) is arranged between each crash box (3) and each lateral end region (4, 6), wherein the cross member (2) is arranged offset vertically relative to the two crash boxes (3), wherein each adapter plate (7) projects beyond each crash box (3) laterally on both sides, and wherein the adapter plate (7) is double-walled with two spaced-apart walls (16), wherein webs (17) are provided between the two walls (16) for connecting the walls (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular for the front and / or rear of a motor vehicle.

[0002] It is known that bumper arrangements for motor vehicles include a crossmember extending transversely to the direction of travel at the rear or front of the vehicle. This crossmember is attached to the body-in-white structure by means of two spaced-apart so-called crash boxes. A crash box is an impact energy absorption structure that absorbs energy in the event of a collision through deformation of the box structure. In the remainder of this application, the terms "crash box" and "impact energy absorption structure" are used interchangeably.

[0003] In the prior art, the crossmember is attached directly to each of the two crash boxes at its two lateral ends, and each crash box is attached directly to the body-in-white of the vehicle. The crossmember is at the same height as the two crash boxes and the mounting points on the body-in-white. This results in a virtually linear force transmission from the crossmember to the crash box, whereby the welds of the connection between the crossmember and the respective crash box are subjected to high loads, which can lead to weld failure and thus compromise the effectiveness of the bumper assembly.

[0004] US Patent 2020 / 0189502A1 discloses a bumper arrangement with a cross member and with two crash boxes, wherein the cross member can be arranged transversely on the front or rear of a motor vehicle, the cross member has a first lateral end region and a second lateral end region, wherein one of the two crash boxes is arranged at each of the two lateral end regions, wherein a reinforcing plate is arranged between the respective crash box and the cross member, and wherein the cross member is arranged offset vertically relative to the two crash boxes.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of creating a bumper assembly that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, yet safe and effective. It is also the objective of creating a motor vehicle with a bumper assembly that allows for improved energy absorption in the event of an impact.

[0006] The problem with the bumper arrangement is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0007] One embodiment of the invention relates to a bumper assembly with a crossmember and two crash boxes, wherein the crossmember can be arranged transversely on the front or rear of a motor vehicle, the crossmember has a first lateral end region and a second lateral end region, with one of the two crash boxes being arranged at each of the two lateral end regions, and an adapter plate being arranged between each crash box and each lateral end region, wherein the crossmember is arranged offset vertically relative to the two crash boxes. The adapter plate results in improved energy absorption in the event of an impact and better energy transfer into the crash boxes.

[0008] It is particularly advantageous if the crossbeam is positioned at a downward angle relative to the two crash boxes. This results in improved energy transfer into the adapter plate and the crash box, while also relieving stress on the welds used to join the components, such as the welds connecting the crash box to the adapter plate and / or the welds connecting the adapter plate to the crossbeam.

[0009] It is also advantageous if the crossbeam has a vertical extension with a top, a bottom and a vertical center, wherein the crash boxes each have a vertical extension with a top, a bottom and a vertical center, wherein the top of the crossbeam is arranged below the top of the crash boxes and / or the vertical center of the crossbeam is arranged below the vertical center of the crash boxes and / or the bottom of the crossbeam is arranged below the bottom of the crash boxes.

[0010] In another embodiment, it is also advantageous for the adapter plate to extend from the top of the crash boxes downwards to the underside of the cross member. This ensures good overlap between the respective crash box and the cross member, which improves the energy transfer into the crash box.

[0011] According to the invention, the respective adapter plate projects beyond the respective crash box on both sides in a lateral direction. This achieves improved additional support of the cross member and reduced deflection of the cross member, particularly laterally towards the center of the cross member.

[0012] In another embodiment, it is also advantageous if a crash box has a box-like structure with a wall that surrounds at least four sides, wherein a flange is provided on one or two opposite sides of the crash box, which serves to attach the crash box to the adapter plate and / or to the body shell of the vehicle. This allows the crash box to be designed in such a way that it is suitable as an energy absorption element and can still be securely welded to the body shell and / or the adapter plate.

[0013] According to the invention, the adapter plate is double-walled with two walls spaced apart from each other, with webs provided between the two walls to connect them. This allows the adapter plate to absorb energy through deformation in addition to the energy absorbed by the crash box itself, while the design is also sufficiently stable to ensure adequate transmission of forces to the crash box.

[0014] It is also advantageous if the ribs run in a vertical and / or horizontal direction. This allows for increased stability of the adapter plate and controlled deformation of the adapter plate.

[0015] It is advantageous if the crossbeam has a hollow structure with at least one web or cross web. This allows for increased stability of the crossbeam and controlled deformation of the crossbeam.

[0016] The problem relating to the motor vehicle is solved by the features of claim 8.

[0017] One embodiment of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a body shell having a front and a rear, wherein at least one bumper arrangement according to the invention is arranged at the front and / or at the rear.

[0018] The invention will now be explained in detail using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective representation of an embodiment of a bumper arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic partial representation of the embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 3 a further schematic partial representation of the exemplary embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 4 a further schematic partial representation of the exemplary embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention Fig. 3, Fig. 5 a schematic partial sectional view of the embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention Fig. 3, Fig. 6 a schematic partial representation of the embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention Fig. 2 in an undeformed operating state, Fig. 7 a schematic partial representation of the embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention Fig. 6 in a deformed operating state, Fig. 8 a schematic partial representation of the embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention Fig. 3 in an undeformed operating state, and Fig. 9 a schematic partial representation of the embodiment of the bumper arrangement according to the invention Fig. 8 in a deformed operating state.

[0019] The invention relates to a bumper arrangement 1 for the rear and / or the front of a motor vehicle.

[0020] The Fig. Figures 1 to 9 show different representations of the bumper arrangement in various configurations, some of which are shown in an undeformed operating state before an impact and some in a deformed operating state after an impact.

[0021] The Fig. Figure 1 shows the complete bumper assembly 1 with a crossmember 2 and two crash boxes 3. The crossmember 2 can be arranged transversely on the front and / or rear of a motor vehicle. The crossmember 2 has a first lateral end region 4, a central region 5, and a second lateral end region 6. The crossmember 2 is straight or slightly convex in the central region 5, with the two end regions 4 and 6 arranged at an obtuse angle to the central region 5.

[0022] The two crash boxes 3 are arranged apart from each other, with each of the two crash boxes 3 being arranged at one of the two lateral end areas 4, 6.

[0023] From the Fig. Figures 1 to 5 clearly show that an adapter plate 7 is arranged between each crash box 3 and the respective lateral end regions 4, 6 of the cross member 2. Each crash box 3 is connected to the respective adapter plate 7, in particular by welding, as shown in the welds 8. The adapter plate 7 is also connected to the cross member 2, for example by welding, as shown in the corresponding welds 8.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 5 clearly shows that the crossbeam 2 is offset vertically relative to the two crash boxes 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the crossbeam 2 is positioned at a downward angle relative to the two crash boxes 3. The crossbeam 2 therefore extends further downward than the crash boxes 3. The term "downwards" here refers to the vertical direction, i.e., the direction of the gravitational force.

[0025] According to the figures, in particular according to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 8, the crossbeam 2 has a vertical extent Q with a top 9, a bottom 10 and a vertical center Q M on.

[0026] The crash boxes 3 each have a vertical extent C with a top 11, a bottom 12 and a vertical center C M on.

[0027] According to the present embodiment, the upper surface 9 of the crossbeam 2 is arranged below the upper surface 11 of the crash boxes 3 and / or the vertical center Q M of crossbeam 2 is below the vertical center C M the crash boxes 3 are arranged and / or the underside 10 of the crossbeam 2 is arranged below the underside 12 of the crash boxes 3.

[0028] From the Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 8 clearly shows that the adapter plate 7 extends at least from the top 11 of the crash boxes 3 downwards to at least the underside 10 of the crossbeam 2. The adapter plate may also extend beyond the top 11 of the crash boxes 3 and / or below the underside 10 of the crossbeam 2.

[0029] From the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and especially from Fig. Figure 4 shows that the respective adapter plate 7 extends beyond the respective crash box 3 in a lateral direction, at least on one or both sides. The adapter plate 7 extends beyond the respective crash box 3 particularly in the direction towards the central area 5.

[0030] According to the figures, especially according to the Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 8 A crashbox 3 has a box-like structure with a wall 13 surrounding at least four sides, wherein a flange 14 is provided on one side or on two opposite sides of the crashbox 3, which serves to attach the crashbox 3 to the adapter plate 7 and / or to attach the crashbox 3 to the body shell of the motor vehicle.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the crash box 3 is attached to the adapter plate on one side by means of a weld, such as a fillet weld. On the other side, the crash box is welded to a mounting plate 19 as a flange plate 14.

[0032] The crashbox 3 has a hollow structure with a circumferential wall 13 and at least one internally arranged web or webs 15. The web 15 serves to improve the stiffness and the defined deformability of the crashbox 3. The web 15 shown lies in a plane that is essentially perpendicular to the vertical direction V.

[0033] The adapter plate 7 is double-walled with two walls 16 spaced apart from each other, see Fig. 4, wherein 16 webs 17 are provided between the two walls for connecting the walls 16. The webs 17 of the adapter plate 7 extend essentially in the vertical direction V and / or in the horizontal direction. The webs 17 serve to improve the stiffness and the defined deformability of the adapter plate 7.

[0034] The crossbeam 2 also has a hollow structure with at least one cross web or web 18, see Fig. 8.

[0035] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 8 shows the bumper assembly 1 in an operating state prior to an impact. All components of the bumper assembly 1 are undamaged and in their intended position.

[0036] In the Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 9 shows the bumper assembly 1 in an operating state after an impact against the crossmember 2. It can be seen that the impact leads to greater deformation of the crossmember 2, the adapter plate 7 and the crash box 3 in the lower area, and the welds 8 are subjected to less stress, while the upper area of ​​each is only slightly deformed. Reference symbol list 1 Bumper arrangement 2 crossbeams 3 Crashbox 4 first lateral end region 5 middle area 6 second lateral end area 7 Adapter plate 8 weld seam 9 Top side of the crossbeam 10 Underside of the crossbeam 11 Top of the crash box 12 Underside of the crash box 13 surrounding walls 14 flange 15 Bridge 16 Wall 17 Bridge 18 Bridge 19 Mounting plate

Claims

[1] Bumper assembly (1) with a cross member (2) and with two crash boxes (3), wherein the cross member (2) can be arranged transversely on the front or rear of a motor vehicle, the cross member (2) has a first lateral end region (4) and a second lateral end region (6), wherein one of the two crash boxes (3) is arranged at each of the two lateral end regions (4, 6), wherein an adapter plate (7) is arranged between each crash box (3) and each lateral end region (4, 6), wherein the cross member (2) is arranged offset vertically from the two crash boxes (3), wherein each adapter plate (7) projects beyond each crash box (3) laterally on both sides, and wherein the adapter plate (7) is double-walled with two spaced-apart walls (16), wherein webs (17) are provided between the two walls (16) for connecting the walls (16). [2] Bumper arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the crossbeam (2) is arranged lowered in the vertical direction relative to the two crash boxes (3). [3] Bumper arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the crossbeam (2) has a vertical extension with a top (9), a bottom (10) and a vertical center, wherein the crash boxes (3) each have a vertical extension with a top (11), a bottom (12) and a vertical center, wherein the top (9) of the crossbeam (2) is arranged below the top (11) of the crash boxes (3) and / or the vertical center of the crossbeam (2) is arranged below the vertical center of the crash boxes (3) and / or the bottom (10) of the crossbeam (2) is arranged below the bottom (12) of the crash boxes (3). [4] Bumper arrangement (1) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the adapter plate (7) extends from the top (11) of the crash boxes (3) downwards to the bottom (10) of the cross member (2). [5] Bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a crashbox (3) has a box-like structure with a wall (13) surrounding at least four sides, wherein a flange (14) is provided on one or two opposite sides of the crashbox (3), which serves to attach the crashbox (3) to the adapter plate (7) and / or to attach the crashbox (3) to the body shell of the motor vehicle. [6] Bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the webs (17) run in a vertical direction (V) and / or a horizontal direction. [7] Bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the crossbeam (2) has a hollow structure with at least one web (18). [8] Motor vehicle with a body shell having a front and a rear, wherein at least one bumper arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims is arranged at the front and / or at the rear.

Images