Support beam for an upper longitudinal member plane of a front section of a motor vehicle body

Abstract

The invention relates to a support beam (8) for an upper longitudinal beam plane (O) of a front section (1) of a motor vehicle body, with a front mounting area (11) for attaching the support beam (8) above a longitudinal beam (2) of a main longitudinal beam plane (H), and with a rear mounting area (9) for attaching the support beam (8) to a structural component (4) arranged behind it in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle. In order to enable a particularly favorable connection of a front fender (18) of the laterally corresponding side wall to the support beam (8) and to create an overall simpler manufacturing of the motor vehicle body, the support beam (8) has a triangular thrust panel (14) extending in the transverse direction (y) and longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle, the front mounting area (11) being arranged at the front inner corner area (15) of this panel and the rear mounting area (9) being arranged at the rear corner area (18), wherein a mounting leg (17) extending in the vertical direction (z) and longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle for attaching a laterally corresponding front fender (18) of a side wall is connected at an angle to the triangular thrust panel (14).which extends between an outer corner region (28) of the thrust field (14) arranged at a distance outside the inner front corner region (15) and the rear corner region (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a support beam for an upper longitudinal member plane of a front section of a motor vehicle body according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a front section of a motor vehicle body with at least one such support beam and a modular system for such a front section of a motor vehicle body.

[0002] It is generally known from the series production of passenger cars to arrange longitudinal members of a main longitudinal member plane, also referred to as engine mounts or engine longitudinal members, and longitudinal members of an upper longitudinal member plane at the level of the fender liners, also referred to as support members above the wheel arch, in the area of ​​the front end. Such a design of the front end is already known, for example, from DE 102 48 794 B4.

[0003] In this design, the respective support bracket for the upper longitudinal member plane is typically configured with a front mounting area for attaching the support bracket above a longitudinal member of a main longitudinal member plane and with a rear mounting area for attaching the support bracket to a structural component located behind it in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, for example, a strut mount or a cross member under the cowl. The respective support bracket has thus far typically had a hollow profile or a rectangular / square box profile in cross-section.

[0004] Due to the design of the support beam for the upper longitudinal member level, it is often problematic to connect a front fender to a corresponding side panel, as a large gap sometimes results between the side panel and the support beam. This often makes such connections difficult, expensive, and complex.

[0005] US patent 2013 / 0 241 233 A1 discloses a front vehicle structure comprising a front side frame, a lower element, and a stiffening plate (gusset) positioned between them. The front side frame is equipped with a primary bending point that absorbs loads through deformation upon impact. The stiffening plate is connected to the side frame on the inside and extends from the front end of the side frame to the bending point. Its outer surface features a rearward-tapering portion inclined toward the side frame.

[0006] German patent application DE 10 2016 203 163 discloses a vehicle body with an internal structure and an outer body skin, wherein support beams and strut mounts in the front of the body are arranged in such a way that the tops of the strut mounts remain accessible. This is achieved by support elements that brace the front side body panels above the strut mounts and create a vertical gap.

[0007] German patent application DE 4 008 896 A1 discloses an engine compartment structure of a motor vehicle in which a wheel skirt serves as a side wall of the engine compartment and is attached to a longitudinally extending side frame, which is connected to the opposite side frame by a transverse frame. Additionally, a wheel skirt reinforcement is provided, consisting of a horizontal and an L-shaped angled part, which increases the stability of the structure.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to create a support bracket, a front carriage and a modular system of the type mentioned above, which enable a particularly favorable connection of the front fender to the laterally corresponding side wall and an overall simpler manufacture of the motor vehicle body.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by a support beam with the features of claim 1, a front carriage with the features of claim 5, and a modular system with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the description.

[0010] A support beam according to the invention for an upper longitudinal beam plane of a front section of a motor vehicle body comprises a front mounting area for attaching the support beam above a longitudinal beam of a main longitudinal beam plane and a rear mounting area for attaching the support beam to a structural component arranged behind it in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, for example a strut support or a cross member under the cowl.

[0011] To create a support beam that enables a particularly favorable connection of the front fender to the laterally corresponding side wall and an overall simpler manufacture of the vehicle body, this beam, according to the invention, has a triangular thrust panel extending in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, the front mounting area being arranged at the front inner corner area of ​​which the rear mounting area is arranged at the rear corner area, wherein a mounting leg extending in the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle for attaching a laterally corresponding front fender to a side wall is connected at an angle to the triangular thrust panel, the latter extending between an outer corner area of ​​the thrust panel arranged at a distance outside the inner corner area and the rear corner area.

[0012] The design of the triangular thrust plate makes it possible to position the mounting leg, which extends at an angle from the triangular thrust plate in both the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, much closer to the inside of the corresponding front fender of the respective side panel. This allows for a significantly simpler attachment of the fender to the support bracket via the mounting leg. The triangular thrust plate thus bridges the considerable lateral gap, particularly between the front mounting area of ​​the thrust plate or the support bracket and the fender's attachment to the mounting leg, in a particularly rigid and straightforward manner, resulting in the desired stable and simple connection of the fender to the side panel.

[0013] Furthermore, the mounting leg is designed to have a radial lower edge adapted to the wheel arch. This allows the wheel arch shell to be attached to the support beam in a particularly advantageous manner, if necessary.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the mounting leg preferably extends in a plane parallel to the grid in the vehicle's vertical and longitudinal directions. This results in a particularly easy-to-reproducible and tolerance-insensitive method of attaching the fender to the mounting leg of the support bracket.

[0015] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that at least partial areas of the shear panel extend in a plane parallel to the grid in the vehicle's vertical and longitudinal directions. This allows the fender to be attached to the top of the support beam, namely to the shear panel, in a particularly stable and simple manner.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support beam has an open angle shape. In contrast to previously used hollow or box profiles, this results in a particularly simple manufacturing process for the support beam and, in particular, a favorable positioning of the mounting leg. The invention also includes a front section of a motor vehicle body with at least one support beam according to the invention, the advantages of which can be derived from those of the support beam.

[0017] Furthermore, a front-end design has proven particularly advantageous in which a vertical support rises at the front end of a longitudinal member of a main longitudinal member plane, to which the laterally corresponding support beam with its front mounting area is attached on the upper side, with a cross brace arranged at a distance below the thrust panel, connecting the vertical support to the mounting leg of the support beam. This results in a particularly rigid overall attachment of the support beam and the front fender of the side panel.

[0018] A particularly simple design of the front end is achieved when the support bracket is detachably connected to a laterally corresponding strut mount. This allows for easy replacement of the support bracket, for example, to create different front end variants for different derivatives of a vehicle series or in the event of accident-related deformation.

[0019] Finally, the invention also includes a modular system for the front end of a motor vehicle body, in which a plurality of support brackets, each specifically designed for a particular front end variant, are provided. Depending on the front end variant, the respective support bracket can be detachably attached to the laterally corresponding strut mount, which is common to all variants. This allows for a simple modular design of the front end in the area of ​​the support bracket, enabling, for example, the easy assembly of different fenders from different derivatives of a vehicle series.

[0020] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone, are not only usable in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a support beam according to the invention of a front section of a motor vehicle body, which is detachably attached at a rear mounting area to a structural component behind it with a strut support and at a front mounting area to the upper side of a vertical support rising from a longitudinal member of a main longitudinal member plane, Fig. 2 a perspective front view of the support beam of the front of the motor vehicle body according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 Another perspective front view of the support beam of the front section of the motor vehicle body according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, wherein a front fender attached to the support beam of the laterally corresponding side wall is shown, and Fig. 4 a perspective top view of the support beam of the front carriage with the front fender of the laterally corresponding side wall attached to the support beam.

[0022] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Show in a perspective view or a perspective front view a section of the front section 1 of a motor vehicle body of a passenger car.

[0023] Particularly visible here is a left-hand longitudinal member 2 of a main longitudinal member plane H, also referred to as an engine mount or engine longitudinal member, when viewed in the forward direction. This longitudinal member extends at least substantially horizontally and in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. On the opposite side of the vehicle, a mirror-symmetrical, but not visible, right-hand longitudinal member 2 of the main longitudinal member plane H is arranged. The two longitudinal members 2 extend rearward to a partially visible front wall 3, which, in the visible section, is formed by a large structural component 4, for example, made of die-cast aluminum. However, other construction methods are also conceivable, such as those using multiple metal components, especially sheet metal components.

[0024] In the present case, the structural component 4 forms a strut mount 5 for receiving a concealed strut of the front axle of the passenger car. The structural component 4 also forms a section of a crossmember 6 under the cowl, to which, for example, the concealed windshield can be supported and attached, at least indirectly, from below. A support stub 7 laterally delimits the crossmember 6, to which a support 8 according to the invention is supported and attached forwards, together with the strut mount 5. The support 8 here forms the longitudinal member of an upper longitudinal member plane O at the level of the fender liners 25 ( Fig. 3, Fig. 4), where the support beam 8 is also referred to as the support beam above the wheel arch.

[0025] The support bracket 8 is detachably attached at a rear mounting area 9 to the underlying structural component 4 in the area on the outside and in front of the strut mount 5 by means of several screw connections 10. At a front mounting area 11, the support bracket 8 is detachably attached to the upper side of a vertical support 12 projecting from the longitudinal member 2 of the main longitudinal member plane H by means of two screw connections 13.

[0026] The support beam 8 itself is in the present case an angle shape open in cross-section with a shear field 14 extending in the transverse direction y of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle, which is at least substantially triangular, at the front inner corner area 15 of which the front mounting area 11 and at the rear corner area 16 of which the rear mounting area 9 is arranged.

[0027] A mounting leg 17, extending in the vehicle's vertical direction z and longitudinal direction x, for attaching a laterally corresponding front fender 18, adjoins the triangular thrust field 14 at an angle. Fig. 3, Fig. 4) a side wall. The fastening leg 17 extends between an outer corner region 28 of the shear panel 14, arranged at a distance outside the inner corner region 15, and its rear corner region 16.

[0028] In the present case, the fastening leg 17 extends in particular in a plane parallel to the grid in the vehicle's vertical direction z and in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x. Likewise, at least partial areas 19, 20 of the shear field 14 extend in planes parallel to the grid in the vehicle's transverse direction y and in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x.

[0029] Furthermore, it can be seen that the fastening leg 17 has a radial lower edge 22 adapted to a wheel arch 21.

[0030] Furthermore, it is from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. It can be seen that the vertical support 12 projects from the front end of the longitudinal beam 2 of a main longitudinal beam plane H, to which the laterally corresponding support beam 8 is attached on its upper side with the front mounting area 11 of the shear panel 14. A cross brace 23 is arranged at a distance below the shear panel 14, which connects the vertical support 12 to the mounting leg 17 of the support beam 8. This connection is also made, for example, on both sides by means of screw connections 24.

[0031] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows in a further perspective front view and a perspective top view the support beam 8 of the front section 1 of the motor vehicle body according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows the front fender 18 attached to the support bracket 8. The fender 18 is fixed to the mounting leg 17 by a wall section 26 extending substantially in the vehicle's vertical direction z and longitudinal direction x below the fender liner 25, where the vertical wall section 26 transitions inwards into a wall section 27 extending at least substantially in the vehicle's transverse direction y and longitudinal direction x. This is achieved, for example, by arranging brackets (not shown) between the inside of the wall section 26 and the mounting leg 17. Direct attachment of the wall section 26 to the mounting leg 17 is also conceivable. Similarly, brackets (not shown) can be arranged between the underside of the wall section 27 and the thrust panel 14. Direct attachment and support of the wall section 27 to the thrust panel 14 is also conceivable.

[0032] It is evident that the design of the triangular thrust panel 14 provides a way to position the mounting leg 17, which extends at an angle to the triangular thrust panel 14 in the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, much closer to the inside of the wall area 26 of the laterally corresponding front fender 18. This allows for a significantly simpler attachment of the fender 18 to the support bracket 8 via the mounting leg 17. Consequently, the triangular thrust panel 14 bridges the considerable lateral distance, particularly between the front mounting area 11 of the thrust panel 14 and the attachment of the fender 18 to the mounting leg 17, in a particularly rigid and straightforward manner, thus achieving the desired stable and simple connection of the fender 18.

[0033] In Fig.Figure 2 schematically indicates the position of a front light 29 below the thrust panel 14 with a rectangle. A joint 30 of the fender 18 near the headlight can be easily designed using the mounting bracket 17. Likewise, an upper joint 31 of the fender 18 to the hood can be easily adjusted using the flexible geometry and brackets.

[0034] Furthermore, a modular system for a front section 1 of a motor vehicle body of a vehicle series can be easily created by means of a plurality of different support brackets 8 adapted to a respective construction variant of the front section 1, in that the respective support bracket 8 of the plurality of construction variant-specific support brackets 8 can be detachably attached to the construction variant-spanning laterally corresponding strut support 5, the laterally corresponding vertical support 12 and via the cross strut 23 to the construction variant-spanning front section 1.

Claims

[1] Support beam (8) for an upper longitudinal beam plane (O) of a front end (1) of a motor vehicle body, with a front fastening region (11) for fastening the support beam (8), and with a rear fastening region (9) for fastening the support beam (8) to a structural component (4) arranged behind it in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x), wherein the support beam (8) has a triangular shear field (14) extending in the vehicle transverse direction (y) and in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x), at the front inner corner region (15) of which the front fastening region (11) is arranged and at the rear corner region (18) of which the rear fastening region (9) is arranged, and wherein a fastening leg (17) extending in the vehicle vertical direction (z) and in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) is connected at an angle to the triangular shear field (14), which fastening leg extends between an outer corner region (28) of the shear field (14) arranged at a distance outside the inner front corner region (15) and the rear corner region (16), characterized by , that the front fastening area (11) for fastening the support beam (8) is arranged above a longitudinal beam (2) of a main longitudinal beam plane (H) and the fastening leg (17) is arranged for fastening a laterally corresponding front fender (18) of a side wall, which has a radial lower edge (22) adapted to a wheel house (21). [2] Support beam (8) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the fastening leg (17) extends in a plane parallel to the network in the vehicle vertical direction (z) and in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x). [3] Support beam (8) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that at least partial areas (19) of the shear field (14) extend in a plane parallel to the network in the vehicle transverse direction (y) and in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x). [4] Support beam (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support beam (8) has an angular shape with an open cross-section. [5] Front end (1) of a motor vehicle body with at least one support beam (8) according to one of claims 1 to 4. [6] Front end (1) according to claim 5, characterized bythat a vertical support (12) protrudes from the front end of a longitudinal member (2) of a main longitudinal member plane (H), to which the laterally corresponding support member (8) with the front fastening region (11) is fastened on the top side, and that a cross strut (23) is arranged at a distance below the shear field (14), which cross strut connects the vertical support (12) to the fastening leg (17) of the support member (8). [7] Front end (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the support bracket (8) is detachably connected to a laterally corresponding spring strut support (5). [8] Front end (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by that a laterally corresponding front fender (18) of a side wall is attached to the fastening leg (17). [9] Modular system for a front end (1) of a motor vehicle body according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized bythat with a plurality of support beams (8) designed specifically for a construction variant of the front end (1), of which the respective support beam (8) can be detachably fastened to the laterally corresponding spring strut support (5) across all construction variants, depending on the construction variant of the front end (1).

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