Vehicle, outer skin component and outer skin system

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) comprising a body (2) and at least one headlight assembly (3) fastened to the body (2), wherein the body (2) in turn comprises a supporting frame (2.1) and at least one outer skin component (2.2). The vehicle according to the invention is characterized in that the headlight assembly (3) is fastened to an outer skin component (2.2) via at least one fastening point (BP).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, an outer skin component for such a vehicle and an outer skin system.

[0002] With the help of headlights, vehicles can project different light characteristics into the surroundings, such as daytime running lights, parking lights, low beams, high beams, and the like. To form a headlight, several individual headlights are integrated into a common headlight assembly. For example, a first individual headlight can be used to emit low beams and a second individual headlight to emit high beams. A headlight assembly can include additional lighting elements, for example, to form direction indicators.

[0003] Integrating such a headlight assembly into the vehicle is a complex task. For reliable attachment, the headlight assembly is typically fastened to the front support of the vehicle body's supporting structure. Exterior skin components such as the hood, fenders, bumpers, and the like are then attached to the supporting structure. The geometry and spatial orientation of these components must be carefully planned. Of particular importance here is the gap dimension of the joints between the exterior skin components and the headlight assembly. This gap dimension should be constant along its entire length and, if possible, as small as possible. Due to the manufacturing and installation tolerances of the respective components, the provision of such joints is essential.

[0004] In order to maintain a constant gap, it is common practice to connect the headlight assembly to the supporting structure of the vehicle body using adjustment devices. These adjustment devices allow for reliable fastening of the headlight assembly and also enable the headlight assembly to be aligned relative to the outer skin components. Care must be taken to ensure that the light characteristics emitted by the headlights into the surrounding area meet certain directional requirements, particularly taking into account applicable law. In order to meet these directional requirements, headlight assemblies themselves include adjustment devices to enable the corresponding individual headlights or lighting modules to be precisely aligned relative to the road surface on which the vehicle will later travel.

[0005] However, aligning the headlight assembly relative to the outer skin components to achieve a desired gap, as well as the subsequent alignment of the individual headlights included in the headlight assembly, increases the manufacturing effort during vehicle production. This increases the corresponding production cycle times and thus also the manufacturing costs.

[0006] A headlight assembly rigidly attached to the supporting structure of the vehicle body also represents a significant resistance in the event of an accident. The impact energy can cause the outer skin components to shift relative to the supporting structure and thus be pressed against the headlight assembly. This can also result in damage to the headlight assembly, even though the actual impact occurred in an area of an outer skin component remote from the headlight assembly.

[0007] DE 10 2006 012 843 B4 discloses a vehicle with a front-end lighting system. This document describes a headlight assembly for forming the headlights of a vehicle, which is connected to the vehicle body via a two-part holding device. A first holding element of the holding device is connected directly to the headlight assembly, and a second holding element of the holding device is connected to the vehicle body. The first and second holding elements are geometrically adapted to one another and, in the event of an impact-related force, allow relative displacement to one another, which reduces the potential for damage in the event of an accident. The headlight assembly is connected to the supporting frame of the vehicle body.

[0008] DE 10 2018 100 032 A1 discloses a method for assembling a vehicle front end, which describes the attachment of a fender and a cooling module assembly to the vehicle front end. Furthermore, the supporting of a headlight assembly relative to the fender and the cooling module assembly such that movement of the headlight assembly in the X-axis and Z-axis directions is restricted is disclosed. The engagement of the headlight assembly with a grille such that movement of the grille in the X-axis and Z-axis directions is restricted is also described. In alternative embodiments, the grille extensions may be attachment elements, wherein each extension may include one or more loops. These loops may take various shapes, including a first shape for the first loop and a second shape for the second loop.

[0009] The present invention is based on the object of providing an improved vehicle that is simpler and more cost-effective to manufacture and that is characterized by a reduced damage potential in the event of an accident. A further object of the present invention is to provide an outer skin component for such a vehicle and an outer skin system, the use of which achieves the above-described objectives.

[0010] According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a vehicle having the features of claim 1, an outer skin component having the features of claim 6, and an outer skin system having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the dependent claims.

[0011] Such a vehicle, comprising a body and at least one headlight assembly fastened to the body, wherein the body in turn comprises a supporting frame and at least one outer skin component, is characterized in that the headlight assembly is fastened to an outer skin component via at least one fastening point. This creates a fixed geometric relationship between the headlight assembly and the outer skin component, so that the relative arrangement of the headlight assembly and the respective outer skin component is automatically determined. During manufacture of the vehicle, correct positioning of the headlight assembly relative to the outer skin component is thus automatically enabled, so that no subsequent adjustment processes are necessary to correct the gap size of the joint between the headlight assembly and the outer skin component. This reduces the manufacturing effort required to produce the vehicle.

[0012] In addition, the headlight assembly is thus firmly connected to the respective outer skin component. In the event of an accident, forces acting on the outer skin component are transmitted directly to the headlight assembly via the fastening, so that the accident forces can be specifically directed into the headlight assembly. This prevents the outer skin component from striking the headlight assembly and thus damaging it in the event of an accident, and also allows the headlight assembly and outer skin component to be movable together. As will be explained later, the headlight assembly can have at least one additional fastening point for connecting to the supporting structure, or it can be free of any connections to the supporting structure.If there is no direct connection to the support structure, the headlight assembly can move freely together with the outer skin component relative to the support structure. However, if there is at least a direct connection to the support structure, the corresponding connection can include a predetermined breaking point that is destroyed once a certain breaking force is exceeded. This ensures free movement of the headlight assembly together with the outer skin component relative to the support structure, even in such a case.

[0013] The structure of the headlight assembly or the individual headlights of the headlight assembly can also be simplified. Due to the fixed relative arrangement of the headlight assembly to the outer skin component, the headlight assembly and the outer skin component do not need to be geometrically adjusted relative to one another, or at least only to a lesser extent. This also reduces the actual light emission direction of the individual headlights from the legal specification. This also makes it possible to reduce the adjustment angle at which the individual headlights of the headlight assembly must be adjusted after the headlight assembly has been attached to the vehicle in order to meet legal requirements. This allows the corresponding components to be designed in a less complex manner.

[0014] The headlight assembly is attached to the outer skin component via at least one attachment point. The headlight assembly can also be connected to one and the same outer skin component via multiple attachment points. The headlight assembly can also be attached to multiple outer skin components simultaneously. "Attachment point" does not refer to a point in the geometric sense, but rather to a connection point.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the fastening points of the headlight assembly to the outer skin components are designed such that a component orientation determined in a design process can be easily maintained during installation. For example, screw connections, threaded bolt connections, rivet connections, or the like can be used for fastening. If an additional fastening point to the support frame is present, this is designed such that the headlight assembly, together with the outer skin component(s) connected to it, can be adjusted relative to the support frame. This enables joint fine adjustment of the headlight assembly and the outer skin components relative to the vehicle body, so that the outer skin components can be securely fastened to the vehicle body itself despite any component and installation tolerances.

[0016] The invention explicitly relates to headlights that are rigidly connected or attached to the body of a vehicle. Headlights that are movable relative to the vehicle body, such as fold-out headlights, are subject to entirely different mounting requirements.

[0017] The vehicle is preferably a road vehicle such as a car, truck, van, bus, or the like. Generally, a design of the vehicle as a rail vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft would also be conceivable.

[0018] According to the invention, the headlight assembly is indirectly attached to the outer skin component via at least one mounting adapter, wherein the mounting adapter is connected to the headlight assembly and to the outer skin component. The mounting adapter is thus adapted to the geometry of both the headlight assembly and the outer skin component. This enables particularly quick and easy assembly, since the headlight assembly can be placed and then attached to the outer skin component via the mounting adapter in a geometrically matching manner. However, the additional provision of another component is required.

[0019] Embodiments are possible in which the headlight assembly is fastened exclusively directly to the outer skin component, is fastened exclusively indirectly to the outer skin component by means of a mounting adapter, or is connected to the outer skin component directly via at least one fastening point and indirectly via at least one fastening point via a respective mounting adapter.

[0020] Mixed forms of attachment to multiple outer skin components are also possible. For example, the headlight assembly can be connected directly to a first outer skin component and indirectly to a second outer skin component via appropriate mounting adapters. However, the headlight assembly could also be attached to both outer skin components, either directly or indirectly.

[0021] The mounting adapter can be designed as a single piece or in multiple pieces. For example, a first part of the mounting adapter can be attached to the outer skin component, and a second part of the mounting adapter can be attached to the headlight assembly. To attach the headlight assembly to the outer skin component, the first and second parts of the mounting adapter are then connected to one another, for example by means of a threaded bolt and a nut that can be tightened onto the threaded bolt. A respective part of the mounting adapter could also be an integral part of the outer skin component or the headlight assembly. For example, a corresponding mounting adapter part could be molded onto the housing of the headlight assembly.

[0022] Furthermore, the invention provides that at least one mounting adapter is connected to the support frame via a compensating element. As already mentioned, the assembly of headlight assembly and the respective outer skin components can thus be adjusted together relative to the support frame. The compensating element functions as an adjustment means. The compensating element can be designed in such a way that a geometric adjustment of the mounting adapter relative to the support frame is possible. However, the mounting adapter can also function as a compensating element itself. Thus, mounting adapters with different geometric designs can exist, whereby a suitable mounting adapter can be selected depending on the respective geometric boundary conditions.

[0023] An advantageous development of the vehicle according to the invention provides that the headlight assembly is attached directly to the outer skin component via the at least one attachment point. "Directly" here includes the use of fastening means such as screws, bolts, rivets, clips, and the like. In general, all conceivable detachable or non-detachable connection techniques can be considered. Non-destructive detachable connection techniques are preferably used. By attaching the headlight assembly directly to the outer skin component, the number of required components can be reduced, which further reduces manufacturing costs.

[0024] A further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention further provides that the headlight assembly is free from any direct attachments to the supporting structure. Since the outer skin components themselves are connected to the supporting structure of the body, theoretically the headlight assembly, if directly connected to a respective outer skin component, would be indirectly connected to the supporting structure of the vehicle via the respective outer skin component. Preferably, the headlight assembly is free from any direct attachments to the supporting structure. In other words, the headlight assembly is then connected exclusively indirectly and / or directly to a respective outer skin component, but has no direct connection to the supporting structure. As already explained above, this facilitates the relative displacement of the headlight assembly with respect to the supporting structure in the event of an accident.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the headlight assembly has exactly three attachment points. At least two of these attachment points preferably have a different orientation relative to one another. The provision of three attachment points enables simultaneous connection to multiple outer skin components as well as a statically determined suspension.

[0026] If screws are used for fastening, for example, at least two screws are tilted relative to each other. This allows the force introduction into the headlight assembly to be adapted to different application scenarios and thus improves the force flow within the structure of the headlight assembly in the event of an accident.

[0027] A further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention further provides that at least two fastening points of the headlight assembly are fastened to different outer skin components, in particular all fastening points are fastened to a different outer skin component. This enables the headlight assembly to be used as a link between two or more outer skin components. Advantageously, a different outer skin component is connected to each fastening point. In a further advantageous variant, at least one fastening point is provided for each outer skin component surrounding the headlight assembly. This makes it particularly easy to keep the gap size of the joints between the respective outer skin components and the headlight assembly constant.

[0028] An outer skin component according to the invention is characterized by at least one attachment point for a headlight assembly. Using such an outer skin component, it is thus possible to manufacture a vehicle according to the invention quickly, easily, cost-effectively, and reliably.

[0029] Preferably, the outer skin component can be a hood, a fender, a bumper, a radiator grille, or an attachment. The headlight assembly can be connected to just one of these outer skin components or to multiple outer skin components.

[0030] An outer skin system according to the invention comprises such an outer skin component as described above and at least one headlight assembly attached to the outer skin component via at least one attachment point. The integration of such an outer skin system according to the invention into the vehicle according to the invention thus allows the vehicle to be manufactured with less effort and at lower cost. Furthermore, accident safety is improved because the headlight assembly can be moved together with the outer skin components relative to the supporting frame.

[0031] Further advantageous embodiments of the vehicle according to the invention, the outer skin component according to the invention and the outer skin system according to the invention also emerge from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

[0032] Showing: Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a headlight assembly usable for forming the headlights of a vehicle; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of a vehicle according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic first sectional view through the vehicle according to the invention in the area of the headlight assembly; Fig. 4 a schematic second sectional view through the vehicle according to the invention; and Fig. 5 a schematic third sectional view through the vehicle according to the invention.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a front view of a headlight assembly 3. The headlight assembly 3 can be inserted into a Fig. 2 shown vehicle 1 to form one of the headlights. The headlight assembly 3 comprises as shown Fig. 1, three individual headlights 6 are shown as an example, which can be used, for example, as parking lights, low beams, and high beams. Furthermore, the headlight assembly 3 includes an LED strip 7, which can be used both as daytime running lights and indicators. For this purpose, the LED strip 7 can, for example, include one or more orange and white LEDs.

[0034] Furthermore, the headlight assembly 3 comprises a housing 8 for accommodating corresponding light modules or components and a cover plate 9 for demarcating the space enclosed by the housing 8 from the surroundings. The housing 8 can be designed such that one or more fastening points BP are provided for fastening the headlight assembly 3 to the vehicle 1. Three such fastening points BP are shown as examples in the figures. Preferably, at least two fastening points BP have a different orientation to one another, which in Fig. 1 is indicated by dashed lines to enable reliable attachment to vehicle 1.

[0035] The Fig. The headlight assembly 3 shown in Figure 1 can be attached to a vehicle known from the prior art as well as to a vehicle 1 according to the invention. According to solutions known from the prior art, the headlight assembly 3 is attached exclusively to a Fig. 4 shown supporting structure 2.1 of the Fig. 2 shown body 2 of the vehicle. The supporting frame 2.1 is the basic load-bearing structure of the vehicle body 2. The Fig. The section of the support frame 2.1 shown in Figure 4 is, for example, a cross member. This enables a rigid connection to the vehicle. According to the invention, the headlight assembly 3 is connected to at least one outer skin component 2.2 of the body 2 via at least one attachment point BP, see Figure 4. Fig. 2 to 5, connected.

[0036] For this purpose, the geometry of the headlight assembly 3 can be specially adapted so that the respective fastening points BP match the geometry of the outer skin components 2.2. However, it would also be conceivable, in particular using a Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, it is also possible to connect headlight assemblies 3 to an outer skin component 2.2 that are otherwise intended exclusively for direct attachment to the support frame 2.1. In this case, no redesign of the housing 8 of the headlight assembly 3 is required, which reduces development costs.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows three sections A, B and C, which are shown in detail in the Fig. 3 to 5 are shown.

[0038] The exclusive direct fastening of the headlight assembly 3 to the supporting frame 2.1 of the vehicle has the disadvantage that increased effort is required to adjust the respective outer skin components 2.2 and the headlight assembly 3 to one another in order to achieve a Fig. 4, the gap dimension s of a gap 10 arising between the respective components is to be kept constant over their course, in particular the gap dimension s for all gaps 10 is to be set to the smallest possible, and preferably the same value. Furthermore, the headlight assembly 3 represents a strong resistance for an outer skin component 2.2 moving in an accident, in particular the front bumper, whereby the headlight assembly 3 also risks being damaged. The course of the respective gaps 10 between the outer skin components 2.2 and the headlight assembly 3 is shown in Fig. 2 is highlighted.

[0039] Furthermore, a high level of manual effort is required to adjust the headlights. Certain legal requirements must be met to project the light emitted by headlight assembly 3 into the surroundings within a specific direction. For this purpose, the outer skin components 2.2 and headlight assembly 3 are typically first attached to the vehicle. Headlight assembly 3 is then adjusted relative to outer skin components 2.2 to set the gap s to the target value. Moving headlight assembly 3 changes the orientation of the emitted light. This adjustment of the emitted light characteristics must subsequently be corrected. For this purpose, headlight assembly 3 includes appropriate adjustment devices. Fig. In Figure 4, this correction is indicated by a support 11 indicated in various positions by a dashed line and a corresponding curved double arrow. A representation of possible light sources has been omitted in Fig. 4 waived.

[0040] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a vehicle 1 according to the invention. The vehicle 1 according to the invention is characterized by at least one outer skin component 2.2 or outer skin system according to the invention. The vehicle 1 thus comprises at least one headlight assembly 3 connected to an outer skin component 2.2 via at least one attachment point BP. Fig. 2 illustrates the installation position of the respective outer skin components 2.2 relative to the headlight assembly 3 and the resulting gaps 10. In particular, at least one outer skin component 2.2 is formed by a hood, a radiator grille, a bumper, a fender, an attachment, or the like.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows the sectional view AA in detail. The respective components are shown highly schematically. According to the invention, the headlight assembly 3 can be connected to at least one fastening point BP directly on the outer skin component 2.2 or indirectly via said receiving adapter 4. In the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, the headlight assembly 3 is connected to the respective outer skin component 2.2 exclusively via receiving adapter 4. In particular, the receiving adapter 4 is designed in two parts, so that the receiving adapter 4 is composed of a first adapter part 4.1 and a second adapter part 4.2. In general, the connection of the receiving adapter 4 to both the headlight assembly 3 and the respective outer skin component 2.2 can be designed in any way. All common connection technologies are possible. For example, the first adapter part 4.1 is formed by an extension of the housing 8 of the headlight assembly 3. It may also be a separate component which can be connected to the housing 8, for example, in a form-fitting, force-fitting, or material-fitting manner.

[0042] The second adapter part 4.2 can, for example, also be formed from a separate component. The geometry of the second adapter part 4.2 can be specifically adapted to the geometry of the respective outer skin component 2.2, for example, to allow it to be clamped into the outer skin component 2.2. For additional security, the second adapter part 4.2 can also be glued to the outer skin component 2.2, for example. Non-destructive, detachable connection techniques, such as screwing, are also possible.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, the first and second adapter parts 4.1, 4.2 are fastened to one another via a threaded bolt 12 and a nut 13 tightened thereon. Particularly preferably, the receiving adapter 4 is designed as a single piece (not shown) and can be connected to both the headlight assembly 3 and the outer skin component 2.2 in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner. This further facilitates installation. The receiving adapter 4 can be plugged onto the headlight assembly 3, and then the system comprising the headlight assembly 3 and the receiving adapter 4 can be inserted into the corresponding opening formed by the outer skin components 2.2 fastened to the vehicle 1 and connected to the respective outer skin component(s) 2.2.

[0044] Fig. Figure 4 shows the sectional view BB in detail. By attaching the headlight assembly 3 to at least one outer skin component 2.2, the geometric relationship between these two components can be defined, so that after installation, only minimal or, preferably, no subsequent geometric fine adjustment is required. In particular, the gap dimension s of the gap 10 can be reduced compared to when the headlight assembly 3 is attached exclusively to the support frame 2.1 of the vehicle. For example, the gap dimension s can be reduced from 5 mm to 1-2 mm. A reduced gap dimension s improves the aesthetics of the vehicle 1.

[0045] Since, in addition, only a reduced or even no fine adjustment of the geometric alignment of the headlight assembly 3 relative to the body 2 of the vehicle 1 is required, the required extent of the adjustment movement of the carrier 11 can also be reduced in order to comply with the legal directional requirements for projecting the light characteristic emitted by the headlight assembly 3 into the surroundings.

[0046] This advantageously simplifies the technical structure of the headlight assembly 3. This means that either a smaller or even no adjustment movement of the support 11 is required, allowing simpler and / or fewer components to be installed.

[0047] Fig. 5 shows the section view CC in detail. Fig.5, the headlight assembly 3 has a direct attachment 5 to the support frame 2.1 of the vehicle 1, here in the form of a hollow screw 14. However, it would also preferably be conceivable for the outer skin system according to the invention or vehicle 1 to be free of any such direct attachments 5 to the support frame 2.1. The mounting adapter 4 itself can also be connected to the support frame 2.1. Preferably, the mounting adapter 4 is connected to the support frame 2.1 via a compensating element (not shown in detail) in order to enable joint fine adjustment of the headlight assembly 3 together with the respective outer skin components 2.2 relative to the support frame 2.1. For example, the corresponding components can be connected to the cross member or a longitudinal member (not shown in detail) of the support frame 2.1.

[0048] By means of the outer skin component 2.2 according to the invention, it is possible to produce an outer skin system according to the invention. By providing such an outer skin system according to the invention, a vehicle 1 according to the invention can be produced. The vehicle 1 according to the invention is characterized in that no conventional adjustment means are required for aligning the headlight assembly 3 and the outer skin components 2.2 with respect to one another. In addition, the effort required to adjust the individual headlights 6 or to align the light characteristics emitted into the environment can be reduced. This also allows the complexity of the headlight assembly 3 to be reduced. Thus, corresponding adjustment angles can be reduced or even the need to provide alignable light components can be eliminated. The headlight assembly 3 can also move together with the respective outer skin components 2.2 in the event of an accident.For this purpose, the headlight assembly 3 is particularly preferably connected at least to the front bumper of the vehicle 1 directly and / or indirectly via at least one mounting adapter 4.

Claims

[1] Vehicle (1) comprising a body (2) and at least one headlight assembly (3) fastened to the body (2), wherein the body (2) in turn comprises a supporting frame (2.1) and at least one outer skin component (2.2), wherein the headlight assembly (3) is fastened to an outer skin component (2.2) via at least one fastening point (BP) and wherein the headlight assembly (3) is fastened indirectly to the outer skin component (2.2) via at least one receiving adapter (4), wherein the receiving adapter (4) is connected to the headlight assembly (3) and to the outer skin component (2.2), characterized by that at least one receiving adapter (4) is connected to the supporting structure (2.1) via a compensating element. [2] Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the headlight assembly (3) is fastened directly to the outer skin component (2.2) via the at least one fastening point (BP). [3] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by that the headlight assembly (3) is free from any direct fastenings (5) to the supporting structure (2.1). [4] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the headlight assembly (3) has three attachment points (BP). [5] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that at least two fastening points (BP) of the headlight assembly (3) are fastened to different outer skin components (2.2), in particular all fastening points (BP) are fastened to a different outer skin component (2.2). [6] Outer skin component (2.2) for a vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , at least one attachment point (BP) for a headlight assembly (3). [7] Outer skin component (2.2) according to claim 6, characterized by a design as a hood, fender, bumper, grille or attachment. [8] Outer skin system, characterized by, an outer skin component (2.2) according to claim 6 or 7 and at least one headlight assembly (3) fastened to the outer skin component (2.2) via at least one fastening point (BP).

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