Motor vehicle frame

Abstract

According to the invention, a motor vehicle frame has a floor assembly section to which a front section and a rear section are attached at the front (in the direction of travel). The front section is connected to the floor assembly section via a left front connecting element and a right front connecting element. The rear section is connected to the floor assembly section via a left rear connecting element and a right rear connecting element. The left front connecting element and the right rear connecting element are identical in construction and / or interchangeable. Additionally or alternatively, the right front connecting element and the left rear connecting element are identical in construction and / or interchangeable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle frame with a floor assembly area to which a front section and a rear section are attached.

[0002] It is known to manufacture a motor vehicle frame from longitudinal and transverse members. A known motor vehicle frame for a four-wheeled passenger vehicle has a floor assembly between a front axle and a rear axle. The front axle and corresponding wheel suspension are part of a so-called front section, which is connected to a front end of the floor assembly. The rear axle and corresponding wheel suspension are part of a so-called rear section, which is connected to a rear end of the floor assembly. In a motor vehicle with an electric drive, a battery is located in the area of ​​the floor assembly. An electric motor, for example, is located in the front section. Such a motor vehicle frame with drive components and chassis has recently also been referred to as a "skateboard architecture." A body with a passenger cell, etc., can then be mounted onto such a vehicle frame.Such a vehicle concept with a vehicle frame differs from a vehicle with a self-supporting body, where the floor assembly is also part of the self-supporting body.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to create a motor vehicle frame that is easily scalable and more cost-effective to manufacture.

[0004] This problem is solved by a motor vehicle frame that incorporates the combination of features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to the invention, a motor vehicle frame has a floor assembly section to which a front section and a rear section are attached at the front (in the direction of travel). The front section is connected to the floor assembly section via a left front connecting element and a right front connecting element. The rear section is connected to the floor assembly section via a left rear connecting element and a right rear connecting element. The left front connecting element and the right rear connecting element are identical in construction and / or interchangeable. Additionally or alternatively, the right front connecting element and the left rear connecting element are identical in construction and / or interchangeable.

[0006] Such a vehicle frame can also be called a vehicle ladder frame or vehicle chassis.

[0007] Such a vehicle frame can be equipped with all the necessary technical components to make it drivable. In particular, the vehicle frame can be designed to accommodate a motor vehicle drive system, for example, an electric drive including a drive battery. Furthermore, the vehicle frame can be designed to accommodate or mount a chassis including a front axle, front axle steering, independent wheel suspension, and a rear axle.

[0008] Such a vehicle frame is also referred to as a skateboard or rolling chassis.

[0009] The term "identical in construction" can mean that the corresponding connecting elements are identical in design. However, it can also mean that one connecting element differs from another identical connecting element, for example, through post-processing.

[0010] Due to the identical connecting elements, the vehicle frame can be manufactured more cost-effectively, as fewer tools, namely only two, are required for the production of the four connecting elements.

[0011] The vehicle frame can preferably be constructed from cross members and longitudinal members. The cross members and longitudinal members are advantageously made from open or closed continuous profiles or semi-finished products. Examples of such continuous profiles are tubes with a circular or rectangular cross-section, or U-profiles, T-profiles, I-profiles, or L-profiles. Continuous profiles are profiles that are theoretically produced in any length in a manufacturing process and then cut to the desired length. Such continuous profiles are produced, for example, by extrusion or drawing. The cross members and / or longitudinal members can be made of steel, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0012] Such a vehicle frame is easily scalable, as its size can be determined solely by the length of the cross members and longitudinal members. The length of these cross members and longitudinal members is easily achieved by appropriately cutting the continuous profiles. No special tools are required for producing members of varying lengths, making the vehicle frame very cost-effective to manufacture.

[0013] The vehicle frame is preferably designed for a passenger vehicle, i.e. a car.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting elements are castings, i.e. manufactured in a casting process, preferably a metal casting process using steel or aluminum.

[0015] The connecting elements are preferably designed or manufactured in one piece.

[0016] The connecting elements may be mechanically reworked, for example by machining processes.

[0017] Advantageously, the connecting elements can have receptacles for longitudinal and transverse members, for example in different horizontal planes. Advantageously, the floor assembly section can have at least one left outer longitudinal member and one right outer longitudinal member, each connected to the corresponding front and rear connecting elements. In other words, the left outer longitudinal member is connected to the front left connecting element and the rear left connecting element, and the right outer longitudinal member is connected to the front right connecting element and the rear right connecting element.

[0018] Furthermore, the left front connecting element and the right front connecting element can be connected to each other via a front cross member. Likewise, the left rear connecting element and the right rear connecting element can be connected to each other via a rear cross member.

[0019] The front cross member and the rear cross member can be of the same construction, in particular identical, or interchangeable with each other.

[0020] This reduces the manufacturing costs of the vehicle frame.

[0021] The front and / or rear connecting elements can also be connected to each other by at least two crossmembers. A front crossmember can be assigned to the front section of the vehicle or lie in the same plane as the crossmembers of the front section. Furthermore, another front crossmember can be assigned to the floor assembly section or lie in the same plane as the crossmembers of the floor assembly section. Additionally, another rear crossmember can be assigned to the floor assembly section or lie in the same plane as the crossmembers of the floor assembly section. Finally, a rear crossmember can be assigned to the rear section of the vehicle or lie in the same plane as the crossmembers of the rear section.

[0022] According to a preferred further development, a drive battery can be arranged in the floor assembly section.

[0023] Furthermore, an electric motor for driving a front axle or a rear axle can be arranged in the front section and / or in the rear section.

[0024] The front section can have two front longitudinal members and one front cross member and / or one rear front cross member.

[0025] The rear section can have two rear longitudinal members and one rear rear cross member and / or one front front cross member.

[0026] The front longitudinal beams and the rear longitudinal beams can be of the same construction, in particular identical.

[0027] The front crossmember(s) and the rear crossmember(s) can be of the same construction, in particular identical.

[0028] The aforementioned features can be combined in any way possible and where appropriate.

[0029] A brief description of the characters follows. Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the motor vehicle frame according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a first connecting element of the motor vehicle frame according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a second connecting element of the motor vehicle frame according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the motor vehicle frame according to the embodiment of the present invention with further components attached to it.

[0030] The following is with reference to Fig. Figures 1 to 4 explain an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view from a front oblique angle above of a motor vehicle frame 1 according to the exemplary embodiment, comprising a floor assembly section 3, a front section 5, and a rear section 7. The motor vehicle frame 1 essentially consists of four connecting elements 91, 92, 93, 94, which connect the front section 5 and the rear section 7 to the floor assembly section 3, as well as a plurality of simple beams with a closed rectangular profile, which will be described and designated in more detail below. In other words, all the beams described below are standard rectangular-profile tubes cut to a desired length. This makes the motor vehicle frame 1 both simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easily scalable, i.e., adaptable to a desired size of motor vehicle.

[0032] The floor assembly section 3 has a left longitudinal member 31 and a right longitudinal member 32. The left longitudinal member 31 is connected to the left front connecting element 91 and the left rear connecting element 93. The right longitudinal member 32 is connected to the right front connecting element 92 and the right rear connecting element 94. Furthermore, the front connecting elements 91 and 92 are connected to a cross member 33 at the level of, or in the plane of, the longitudinal members 31 and 32. The rear connecting elements 93 and 94 are also connected to a cross member 35 at the level of, or in the plane of, the longitudinal members 31 and 32. Thus, the longitudinal members 31 and 32 and the cross members 33 and 35, together with the connecting elements 91, 92, 93, and 94, form a closed frame of the floor assembly section 3.

[0033] The front section 5 has a left front longitudinal member 51 and a right front longitudinal member 52, which are connected at their rear ends to the left front connecting element 91 and the right front connecting element 92, respectively. Furthermore, the front section 5 has a front front cross member 57, which connects the two front longitudinal members 51, 52 in a forward region of the front longitudinal members 51, 52. Additionally, a rear front cross member 53 is connected to the front connecting elements 91, 92 substantially at the level or in the plane of the front longitudinal members 51, 52.

[0034] The rear section 7 has a left rear longitudinal member 71 and a right rear longitudinal member 72, which are connected at their front ends to the left rear connecting element 93 and the right rear connecting element 94, respectively. Furthermore, the rear section 7 has a rear rear cross member 77, which connects the two rear longitudinal members 71, 72 in a rear region of the rear longitudinal members 71, 72. Additionally, a front rear cross member 75 is connected to the rear connecting elements 93, 94 substantially at the level or in the plane of the rear longitudinal members 71, 72.

[0035] The left front connecting element 91 and the right rear connecting element 94 are identical in construction and / or interchangeable. Furthermore, the right front connecting element 92 and the left rear connecting element 93 are identical in construction and / or interchangeable.

[0036] The connecting elements 91, 92, 93 and 94 are preferably metal castings and can also be referred to as casting nodes.

[0037] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the connecting elements 91, 94 have a connecting section 95 for the longitudinal members 31, 32, a connecting section 96 for a front longitudinal member or a rear longitudinal member, a connecting section 98 for the cross members 33 or 35, and a connecting section 98 for the front cross member 53 or the rear cross member 75. The corresponding members can be connected to the connecting elements 91, 94, for example, by welding or bonding.

[0038] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the connecting elements 92, 93 have a connecting section 95 for the longitudinal members 31, 32, a connecting section 96 for a front longitudinal member 51, 52 or a rear longitudinal member 71, 72, a connecting section 98 for the cross members 33 or 35, and a connecting section 98 for the front cross member 53 or the rear cross member 75. The corresponding members can be connected to the connecting elements 92, 93, for example, by welding or bonding.

[0039] Due to the identical connecting elements, the motor vehicle frame 1 can be manufactured more cost-effectively, since fewer tools, namely only two, are required for the manufacture of the four connecting elements 91, 92, 93, 94.

[0040] The vehicle frame¹ is easily scalable in length and width for different vehicle types and sizes by adjusting the lengths of the longitudinal and transverse members while using the same or identical connecting elements. Different vehicle types include vehicles of varying sizes as well as vehicles with different body styles, such as sedans, SUVs, station wagons, compact cars, hatchbacks, convertibles, etc.

[0041] The vehicle frame 1 is self-supporting and serves to support a body (not shown) with a passenger compartment of a passenger vehicle mounted on it. A chassis with, for example, a steerable front axle and a drivetrain, in particular an electric drivetrain including a traction battery, can be mounted on the vehicle frame 1. Such a vehicle frame 1 with a chassis and a drivetrain, i.e., a roadworthy undercarriage, has recently also been referred to as a skateboard platform.

[0042] Accordingly, a front axle suspension can be mounted in the front section 5, and a rear axle suspension can be mounted in the rear section 7. Furthermore, a drive motor can be mounted in the front section. A drive battery is preferably mounted between the longitudinal members 31 and 32 in the floor assembly section 3. Floor assembly section 3 is located below a vehicle interior or passenger cabin with one to three rows of seats.

[0043] In Fig. Figure 5 shows the vehicle frame 1 with the drivetrain and other support elements mounted to it. A drive battery 21 is mounted in the floor assembly section 3. A floor element 23 is mounted above the drive battery 21. Seat cross members 25 and 27 are mounted on this. An instrument panel support 29 is also mounted.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle frame (1) with a floor assembly section (3) to which a front section (5) and a rear section (7) are attached at the front, the front section (5) being connected to the floor assembly section (3) via a left front connecting element (91) and a right front connecting element (92), the rear section (7) being connected to the floor assembly section (3) via a left rear connecting element (93) and a right rear connecting element (94), characterized by , that the left front connecting element (91) and the right rear connecting element (93) are identical in design or interchangeable with each other and / or that the right front connecting element (92) and the left rear connecting element (94) are identical in design or are interchangeable. [2] Motor vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein the connecting elements (91, 92, 93, 94) are in particular one-piece, optionally machined, cast parts. [3] Motor vehicle frame according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the motor vehicle frame (1) comprises supports (31, 32, 51, 52, 71, 72, 33, 35, 53, 75), in particular longitudinal supports (31, 32, 51, 52, 71, 72) and transverse supports (33, 35, 53, 75), which are connected to the connecting elements (91, 92, 93, 94), wherein the supports (31, 32, 51, 52, 71, 72, 33, 35, 53, 75) are in particular made of simple continuous profiles, in particular hollow profiles, for example tubes. [4] Motor vehicle frame according to claim 3, wherein the floor assembly section (3) has at least one left outer longitudinal member (31) and one right outer longitudinal member (32), wherein the left outer longitudinal member (31) is connected to the front left connecting element (91) and the rear left connecting element (93), and wherein the right outer longitudinal member (32) is connected to the front right connecting element (92) and the rear right connecting element (94). [5] Motor vehicle frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the left front connecting element (91) and the right front connecting element (92) are connected to each other via a front cross member (33, 53), and / or wherein the left rear connecting element (93) and the right rear connecting element (94) are connected to each other via a rear cross member (35, 75), wherein in particular the front cross member (33, 53) and the rear cross member (35, 75) are of identical construction, in particular identical design or are interchangeable. [6] Motor vehicle frame according to claim 5, wherein a front cross member (53) is assigned to the front section (5) and in particular lies in a plane with members (51, 52, 57) of the front section (5), and / or wherein a rear cross member (75) is assigned to the rear section (7) and in particular lies in a plane with members (71, 72, 77) of the rear section (7), and / or wherein another front cross member (33) is assigned to the floor assembly section (3) and in particular lies in a plane with members of the floor assembly section (3), and / or wherein another rear cross member (35) is assigned to the floor assembly section (3) and in particular lies in a plane with members of the floor assembly section (3). [7] Motor vehicle frame according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a drive battery is arranged in the floor assembly section (3). [8] Motor vehicle frame according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an electric motor for driving a front axle or a rear axle is arranged in the front section (5) and / or in the rear section (7). [9] Motor vehicle frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the front section (5) has two front longitudinal members (51, 52) and one front front cross member (53, 57), and / or wherein the rear section (7) has two rear longitudinal members (71, 72) and one rear rear cross member (75, 77). [10] Motor vehicle frame according to claim 9, wherein the front longitudinal members (51, 52) and the rear longitudinal members (71, 72) are of identical construction, in particular identical, and / or wherein the front cross member (57) and the rear cross member (75) are of the same construction, in particular identical.

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