Motor vehicle body with a supporting structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle body (1) with a supporting structure (2), wherein the supporting structure (2) has at least a first longitudinal member (3) and a second longitudinal member (4) which are connected to each other by means of a cross member (5), and with a tension band (6) extending between the two longitudinal members (3, 4), and with a storage module (7) which is arranged between the two longitudinal members (3, 4) and behind the cross member (5) in the direction of travel. According to the invention, the pull cord (6) is integrated into the storage module (7) and connected to the longitudinal beams (3, 4) by means of connecting elements (15, 16) which are independent of the pull cord (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle body with a supporting structure according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Vehicle bodies with load-bearing structures are generally known. These structures essentially comprise longitudinal beams and cross members arranged transversely to them, which provide the necessary stability and a certain degree of rigidity. Furthermore, they can absorb impact energy through deformation in the event of a vehicle collision. In particular, the load-bearing structure must possess a rigidity that reduces damage to the vehicle body in an accident or crash, thus minimizing the risk to the vehicle's occupants. The load-bearing structures are designed to accommodate storage compartments, which can be configured as storage space. These compartments can be located in the rear or front of the vehicle body.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2019 200 892 A1 discloses a vehicle body with a trunk tray in the front section of the body. A cross member of the body is integrated into a wall of the trunk tray.

[0004] From German patent application DE 10 2020 128 579 A1, a vehicle with a cargo space in a front section is known. The front section comprises a front section module with a receiving area and a wall that defines the receiving area on its sides extending in the direction of travel and transversely to the direction of travel, as well as on its floor. The wall has stiffening structures on its surfaces extending in the direction of travel and facing away from the receiving area. The wall also has stiffening structures on its transversely extending front surface.

[0005] The patent application EP 2 511 160 A1 shows a motor vehicle body with a tension band between longitudinal members of a front section.

[0006] German patent application DE 10 2018 222 018 A1 discloses a motor vehicle body with a supporting structure comprising two longitudinal members and a cross member connecting the two longitudinal members. A bumper extends beyond the two longitudinal members in front of the cross member. A radiator module is arranged immediately behind the bumper. The radiator module is located between the bumper and a tension member extending between the two longitudinal members.

[0007] Patent DE 102 42 282 C1 discloses a motor vehicle structure for a motor vehicle body, wherein the motor vehicle structure is a front-end support structure having two longitudinal beams extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, between which an intrusion space is formed. To reduce vehicle weight, a flexible, impervious fiber band is attached to the front-end support structure, which is arranged transversely in front of the intrusion space.

[0008] German patent application DE 10 2016 210 880 A1 describes a motor vehicle body with a bumper arrangement, comprising a first cross member extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle and a second cross member which is arranged behind the first cross member in the direction of travel and which is designed in the form of a textile band.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved motor vehicle body with a supporting structure.

[0010] The problem is solved according to the invention with a motor vehicle body comprising a supporting structure with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial further developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

[0011] A motor vehicle body according to the invention has a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure comprises at least a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member, which are connected to each other by means of a cross member. A tension band extends between the two longitudinal members. The motor vehicle body further comprises a storage compartment module, which is arranged between the two longitudinal members and behind the cross member in the direction of travel. According to the invention, the tension band is integrated into the storage compartment module and connected to the longitudinal members by means of connecting elements designed independently of the tension band. The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that, by integrating the tension band into the storage compartment module, the known installation space of the tension band between the storage compartment module and the cross member can be eliminated, and existing storage space within the storage compartment module can be utilized.Furthermore, integrating the tension band creates a stable tensile connection between the longitudinal beams, the storage module, and the tension band. Integrating the storage module into the tension band can also reduce the weight of the storage module.

[0012] To reduce weight, the drawstring is preferably designed flat. Due to its integration into the storage module, it can also be unstructured, and therefore cost-effective, as sufficient strength is provided by the storage module even in its unstructured form.

[0013] To ensure a secure connection between the tension band and the longitudinal beams, the connecting elements are attached to the longitudinal beams using fasteners that can create a force-fit and / or form-fit connection between the connecting elements and the longitudinal beams, in particular screws.

[0014] A further secure connection can be achieved by connecting the tension band to the connecting elements using additional fastening means, in particular screws, which can create a force-fit and / or form-fit between the connecting elements and the tension band.

[0015] The supporting structure, which integrates the tension band into the storage module, is preferably designed in a front area of ​​the vehicle body to reduce intrusion and activate buckling of the longitudinal beams in the event of an impact on an obstacle in the form of a central pole.

[0016] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are assigned identical reference symbols. These indicate: Fig. 1. A perspective view of a section of a supporting structure of a motor vehicle according to the state of the art, Fig. 2 in another perspective view the supporting structure according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 in a perspective view a section of a supporting structure of a motor vehicle body according to the invention, and Fig. 4 in a perspective view the supporting structure according to Fig. 3 in a deformed state.

[0017] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a section of a supporting structure 2 of a motor vehicle body 1 according to the prior art in a perspective view. The supporting structure 2, which is formed in a front area 24 of the motor vehicle body 1, comprises a first longitudinal member 3 and a second longitudinal member 4, wherein the two longitudinal members 3, 4 are connected to each other at their ends facing a front bumper (not shown in detail) by a cross member 5.

[0018] The first longitudinal member 3 and the second longitudinal member 4 extend essentially along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle body 1. The cross member 5 is arranged transversely to the longitudinal members 3, 4, extending essentially along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle body 1.

[0019] The supporting structure 2 has a tension band 6, which is arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle body in front of a storage module 7, which is designed to define a storage compartment 8 of the vehicle body 1. A gap 9 is thus formed between the storage module 7 and the cross member 5 by means of the tension band 6. The storage module 7 has a wall 10 that defines the storage compartment 8 and a base 11 enclosed by the wall 10 around its circumference. The storage compartment 8 is open opposite the base 11. Thus, the storage compartment 8 can be filled from above, for example, when viewed along a vertical axis Z of the vehicle body 1.

[0020] The tension band 6, which is preferably made of steel, is arranged at a height level of the longitudinal members 3, 4 formed along the body vertical axis Z, and extends over a length L formed between the two longitudinal members 3, 4, wherein it is secured to the longitudinal members 3, 4 by means of its band flanges 12 which at least partially encompass the longitudinal members 3, 4 with retaining plates 13 arranged on the longitudinal members 3, 4.

[0021] The tension band 6 can withstand high tensile forces and is designed to prevent or reduce damage to the storage module 7 in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle body 1 with an obstacle. For example, if the vehicle body 1 is that of an electric vehicle, the tension band 6 could be used to protect the housing of a battery module of the electric vehicle from damage.

[0022] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the supporting structure 2 of a motor vehicle body 1 according to the invention in a perspective view, wherein it is in Fig. 3 in an undeformed state and in Fig. Figure 4 shows the storage module 7 in a deformed state due to a frontal impact with an obstacle 14. According to the invention, the tension strap 6 is integrated into the storage module 7 and connected to the longitudinal beams 3, 4 by means of connecting elements 15 and 16, which are independent of the tension strap 6. The connecting elements 15 and 16 are attached to the longitudinal beams 3 and 4; they can also be attached to a screw connection of a so-called crash management system 26. The crash management system 26 comprises the cross member 5 and two short beams 27 arranged on the cross member 5 and designed for connection to the longitudinal beams 3 and 4.

[0023] The tension band 6 of the vehicle body 1 according to the invention is designed in the form of a flat and unstructured metal band, which is held between and connected to the two longitudinal members 3, 4 by means of the connecting elements 15, 16, wherein the first connecting element 15 is assigned to the first longitudinal member 3 and the second connecting element 16 to the second longitudinal member 4. An unstructured metal band is understood to be a flat metal band. The connecting elements 15, 16 are preferably designed in the form of tabs.

[0024] The drawstring 6 can also be made of a fibrous material comprising long fibers. It can also advantageously be made of the same material as the storage module 7.

[0025] The pull cord 6 can, for example, be arranged on the storage module 7 facing the storage compartment 8; it could also be arranged on the storage module 7 facing away from the storage compartment 8, thus facing the crossbeam 5. It could also be integrated into the storage module 7 in other ways.

[0026] The first connecting element 15 is axially symmetric to the second connecting element 16 when viewed along the vertical axis of the body Z.

[0027] The first connecting element 15 and the second connecting element 16 each have a first retaining section 17 that partially encompasses the first longitudinal beam 3 and the second longitudinal beam 4, respectively. To partially encompass the first longitudinal beam 3 and the second longitudinal beam 4, the first retaining section 17 preferably has a receiving opening 22 that is open on one side. This first retaining section 17 is firmly connected to the first longitudinal beam 3 and the second longitudinal beam 4, respectively, by means of fasteners 18, preferably in the form of screws, which can create a force-fit and form-fit connection. Adjoining the first retaining section 17 is a second retaining section 19 of the first connecting element 15 and the second connecting element 16, respectively, which is provided for attaching the tension band 6.The tension band 6 is connected at its first end 20, which faces the first connecting element 15, to the second retaining section 19 of the first connecting element 15 by means of further fastening means 21, which are also preferably in the form of screws. At its second end 23, which faces away from the first end 20, it is also firmly connected to the second retaining section 19 of the second connecting element 16 by means of the further fastening means 21. Thus, a stable tensile connection is created between the tension band 6 and the two connecting elements 15, 16.

[0028] The storage module 7 has reinforcing ribs 25 and can be made of plastic. Reference symbol list 1 Motor vehicle body 2 Supporting structure 3 First longitudinal beam 4 Second longitudinal beam 5 crossbeams 6 drawstring 7 Storage module 8 storage spaces 9 distance 10 wall 11 Floor 12 Band flange 13 Mounting plate 14th obstacle 15 First connecting element 16 Second connecting element 17 First stopping section 18 Fasteners 19 Second stopping section 20 First End 21. Other fastening means 22 Intake opening 23 Second Ending 24 Front area 25 reinforcing ribs 26 Crash Management System 27 short beams Length L X Body longitudinal axis Y body transverse axis Z Body vertical axis

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle body (1) with a supporting structure (2), wherein the supporting structure (2) has at least a first longitudinal member (3) and a second longitudinal member (4) which are connected to each other by means of a cross member (5), and with a tension band (6) extending between the two longitudinal members (3, 4), and with a storage module (7) which is arranged between the two longitudinal members (3, 4) and behind the cross member (5) in the direction of travel, characterized by , that the pull cord (6) is integrated into the storage module (7) and is connected to the longitudinal beams (3, 4) or a crash management system (26) by means of connecting elements (15, 16) designed independently of the pull cord (6). [2] Motor vehicle body (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the connecting elements (15, 16) are connected to the longitudinal beams (3, 4) by means of fasteners (18). [3] Motor vehicle body (1) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the fastening means (18) creates a force-fit and / or form-fit between the connecting element (15; 16) and the longitudinal beam (3; 4). [4] Motor vehicle body (1) according to one of the claims, characterized by , that the drawstring (6) is connected to the connecting element (15; 16) by means of further fastening means (21). [5] Motor vehicle body according to claim 4, characterized by , that the additional fastening means (21) creates a force-fit and / or form-fit between the tension band (6) and the connecting element (15; 16). [6] Motor vehicle body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the tension band (6) is flat. [7] Motor vehicle body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the tension band (6) is unstructured. [8] Motor vehicle body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the supporting structure (2) is formed in a front area (24) of the motor vehicle body (1).

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