Side sill arrangement and motor vehicle comprising such a side sill arrangement

Abstract

Side sill arrangement comprising a hollow side sill (2) in which an exhaust pipe (3) extending at least sectionally along the side sill (2) is arranged, wherein at least one silencer (4) is provided in the exhaust pipe (3), which is also arranged in the side sill (2) and acts as an energy absorption element (14) in the event of a side impact.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a side sill arrangement comprising a hollow side sill in which an exhaust pipe extending at least partially along the side sill is arranged.

[0002] Most modern vehicles are electric, meaning they have a sufficiently sized energy storage system, usually located in the underbody between the two side sills. Sometimes, such a battery-electric vehicle is also equipped with a range extender, a small combustion engine that increases the vehicle's range. This engine typically drives a generator that produces electricity, which is then stored in the energy storage system. An exhaust system is connected to the combustion engine because its operation produces exhaust gases that must be expelled. The exhaust system usually includes exhaust manifolds and a downpipe, followed by an exhaust pipe.For example, it is known from DE 10 2018 213 673 A1 to route the exhaust pipe, at least partially, through a side sill, which is inherently a hollow component into which such a pipe can be integrated. This is because, due to the use of the typically relatively large energy storage unit in the underbody area between the side sills, there is not necessarily sufficient space there for integrating the exhaust pipe. At least one silencer is regularly integrated into the exhaust pipe, located in a section of the pipe that runs outside the side sill. The silencer must be positioned in a location where sufficient installation space is available, which is becoming increasingly difficult in the relevant area due to the growing complexity and compactness of vehicle construction.Examples of such active silencers and their integration into an exhaust system can be found in EP 2 108 791 B1, WO 2013 / 149 725 A1, US 2018 / 0 072 352 A1, US 2021 / 0 276 626 A1 or CN 2 19 873 853 U.

[0003] The invention is based on the problem of specifying an improved side sill arrangement.

[0004] To solve the problem, in a side sill arrangement of the type mentioned above, it is provided according to the invention that at least one silencer is provided in the exhaust pipe, which is also arranged in the side sill and acts as an energy absorption element in the event of a side impact.

[0005] According to the invention, a silencer that would otherwise be located in the exhaust pipe is also provided for in the side sill, thus accommodating not only the section of the exhaust pipe integrated there, but also such a silencer, preferably in the form of a rear silencer. Relocating the silencer to the side sill itself solves any potential integration problem of the silencer elsewhere and avoids the need for correspondingly more complex pipe routing to integrate the silencer into the exhaust pipe.Furthermore, according to the invention, the silencer integrated into the side sill also has an additional function, namely that of an energy absorption element, i.e., a crash element, which is deformed in the event of a side impact, i.e., when a lateral force resulting from a collision acts in the area of ​​the side sill, thereby dissipating energy that is then no longer directed towards the passenger compartment or the energy storage system. The silencer thus has a dual function: on the one hand, that of a damping element as usual, and on the other hand, that of an energy absorption element.

[0006] This embodiment according to the invention offers a number of advantages. Firstly, due to the additional functions of the silencer as an energy absorption element, kinetic energy resulting from a collision can be absorbed by deforming the silencer. This reduces the stress on the occupants of the passenger compartment, as well as on the energy storage device, i.e., the traction motor itself, which, as described, is located adjacent to the side sill. Furthermore, the integration of the silencer and its function as an energy absorption element makes it possible to eliminate the need for a separate energy absorption element in this area, or, if such a separate energy absorption element is nevertheless required, to design it more simply, since a considerable portion of the energy to be absorbed can be absorbed by the silencer. This leads to a reduction in the number of components.This results in a simplified body structure, combined with a reduction in complexity. Finally, integrating the silencer into an existing cavity, namely the hollow side sill, leads to increased component integration and more efficient use of the available installation space in the vehicle.

[0007] It is conceivable that at least one additional silencer is provided, also located in the exhaust pipe and the side sill, and which also acts as an energy absorption element in the event of a side impact. It is quite common to provide two separate silencers in an exhaust pipe. In principle, it is possible to integrate only one of the silencers into the side sill. However, according to this embodiment of the invention, it is also conceivable to integrate the second silencer into the side sill as well, so that it, too, is compactly installed in an existing cavity in the bodywork, thus requiring no separate installation space, and also acts as an energy absorption element, and therefore as a crash element in the event of a side impact. Advantageously, the two silencers are arranged axially offset from each other, resulting in different damping zones.For example, one silencer may be positioned so that it is directly hit in a side impact, while the other silencer is positioned so that it is deformed in a pole side crash.

[0008] Regardless of whether one or two silencers are integrated into the side sill, each silencer is made of high-strength materials and is usually divided into several chambers through which pipes run or within which pipes are arranged. The specific design of the silencer depends on its operating principle. Such a silencer can be designed as a reflection silencer, an absorption silencer, or an interference silencer, and combinations of these different damping functions are also possible.

[0009] The cross-section of the side sill in the area where the silencer or additional silencer is located can correspond to the cross-section that also accommodates the exhaust pipe. The integrated silencer is therefore relatively narrow, allowing it to be integrated into the existing cross-section of the side sill without requiring any local widening of the sill to accommodate the silencer.

[0010] However, an alternative design is also conceivable, i.e., that the side sill has a larger cross-section in an area where the silencer or the additional silencer is located than in an area where the exhaust pipe is accommodated.

[0011] The silencer, or the silencer itself, can comprise a hollow body with one or more chambers and a sound-attenuating device arranged within the hollow body, or it can have one or more pipes. As described, the specific design of the silencer depends on the operating principle to be implemented, i.e., whether the sound attenuation is to be based on reflection, absorption, or interference. Two or all of these different attenuation functions can also be implemented in the silencer. This means that the construction of the silencer or the sound-attenuating device, with its various pipes, chambers, etc., must be selected depending on the one or more operating principles to be implemented.

[0012] It is advantageous if the exhaust pipe and / or the silencer or additional silencer are connected to the side sill via one or more, preferably annular, vibration-damping coupling elements. These vibration-damping coupling elements prevent any vibrations or oscillations from the exhaust pipe, silencer, or additional silencer from being transmitted to the side sill and thus to the vehicle body, as these vibrations or oscillations are dampened and eliminated by the vibration-damping coupling element(s). Such a coupling element is preferably made of an elastic material, for example, a suitable plastic that can withstand the temperatures prevailing during operation.

[0013] In addition to the side sill arrangement, the invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system downstream of it comprising at least one exhaust pipe and a silencer arranged in the exhaust pipe, as well as a body comprising at least one side sill arrangement of the type described above.

[0014] A motor vehicle body naturally has two side sills on its two longitudinal sides. The side sill arrangement according to the invention can be implemented on only one side, i.e., only with respect to one of the two side sills. However, it is also conceivable that a side sill arrangement according to the invention of the type described above is provided on each side of the vehicle.

[0015] The motor vehicle is particularly preferably a battery-electric vehicle, i.e., it additionally has an electric drive unit with an associated energy storage device, wherein this drive unit and the energy storage device are the primary drive, while the internal combustion engine serves only as an additional drive or as an additional power source (in conjunction with a generator driven by it) in the sense of a "range extender".

[0016] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a side sill arrangement according to the invention of a first embodiment, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a side sill arrangement according to the invention of a second embodiment, and Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention in the form of a battery-electrically powered vehicle with an additional internal combustion engine.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a side sill arrangement 1 according to the invention, comprising a hollow side sill 2 in which an exhaust pipe 3 extending at least partially along the side sill 2 is located. A silencer 4 is integrated into this exhaust pipe 3, meaning that the silencer 4 is also located inside the side sill 4, which is known to be made of steel. The exhaust pipe 3 is interrupted at this position; a pipe section 5 is connected to the inlet 6 of the silencer 4, and another pipe section 7 is connected to the outlet 8 of the silencer 4, so that exhaust gases routed via the exhaust pipe 3 are forced to flow through the silencer 4.

[0018] The silencer 4 has a hollow body 9, i.e., a housing, in which one or more chambers 10 are formed, each typically containing one or more tubes 11, 12, 13, as well as, additionally or alternatively, appropriate absorption material. The specific design of the interior of the silencer 4 depends on the type of silencer to be implemented, i.e., a reflection silencer, an absorption silencer, or an interference silencer, whereby the various operating principles can also be implemented cumulatively. In the example shown, the tube 11 forms the inlet 6 and the tube 12 the outlet 8. The embodiment shown is a reflection silencer, although, as mentioned, the invention is not limited to this type.

[0019] By integrating the silencer 4, it simultaneously acts as an energy absorption element 14. It is therefore a safety element that, in the event of a side impact, when a lateral force K acts on the body or the side sill 2, deforms accordingly, thereby dissipating energy. The deformation occurs such that, depending on the magnitude of the applied force, the hollow body 9 and the arrangement of the pipes are compressed, thereby dissipating or dissipating energy. The silencer 4 can be positioned at any point along the length of the side sill 2, depending on the crash scenario in which the silencer 4 is intended to act as an energy absorption element 14. For example, it can be positioned where, at least for testing purposes, a pole-side crash is simulated.However, it can also be positioned in other locations to dampen a typical side impact.

[0020] Besides the integration of only one silencer 4, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, it is also conceivable to integrate at least a second silencer at an axially offset position in the side sill 2 or to connect it to the exhaust pipe 3. This silencer would then also have a corresponding function as an energy absorption element as an additional function.

[0021] The dimensioning of the in Fig. The silencer 4 shown in Figure 1 is such that the side sill 2 does not need to be widened in its cross-section, i.e., the hollow body 9 is slim enough to be integrated into the free cross-section of the side sill 2. Fig. Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the side sill 2 has a local widening 15. In the case of the Fig. In the side sill arrangement 1 shown in section 2, the side sill 2 is again provided, in which an exhaust pipe 3 is integrated, initially over part of its length, into which a silencer 4, which simultaneously also serves as an energy absorption element 14, is connected. The silencer 4 can again be a silencer configured arbitrarily with regard to its damping function.

[0022] However, it is evident here that the cross-section of the silencer 4 or the hollow body 9 is correspondingly larger than the general cross-section of the side sill 2. For this reason, the side sill 2 is locally provided with a widening 15, which is dimensioned so that the silencer 4 can be integrated into this widening 15, as shown. Fig. 2 shows.

[0023] Fig. Figure 2 further shows the possibility that, in the example shown, the exhaust pipe 3 or the two pipe sections 5, 7 as well as the silencer 4 are decoupled from the side sill 2 by means of corresponding, preferably ring-shaped, vibration-damping coupling elements 16, 17, 18 made of an elastic material, so that any vibrations or oscillations of the exhaust pipe 3 or the silencer 4 are not transmitted to the side sill 2 and thus to the body.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 further shows the possibility of providing two additional crash elements 18 on the side sill, which are shown with dashed lines. These crash elements can be, for example, hollow metal structures comprising one or more chambers 19, indicated here by dashed lines, or similar. These crash elements 18 are not provided at the position where the silencer 4 and thus the energy absorption element 14 are located, as their function is taken over by the energy absorption element 14.

[0025] Although in Fig. 2 where the widening 15 is shown on the opposite side compared with the crash elements 18, it is of course conceivable to carry out the widening 15 on the same side on which the crash elements of the 18 are also provided, so that the widening 15 is virtually integrated into the crash element structure.

[0026] Fig.Figure 3 shows a motor vehicle 20 according to the invention, comprising an electric drive 21 with an associated energy storage device 22, which is arranged between the two side sills 2, only one of which is shown. A combustion engine 23 is also provided, which can drive a generator 24 that generates energy which is stored in the energy storage device 22; this is therefore a range extender arrangement. The exhaust gas from the combustion engine 23 is discharged via an exhaust pipe 3, shown only in principle, which connects to the exhaust manifolds and a downpipe. For this purpose, the motor vehicle 20 has a side sill arrangement 1 according to the invention, as shown. The exhaust pipe 3 can be seen running at least partially through the side sill 2 and exiting at its end to discharge the exhaust gas.The integrated silencer 4 is also shown in its additional function as an energy absorption element 14. Optionally, a second silencer 25, which represents a further energy absorption element 26, is also indicated, which is also integrated in the side sill 2, thus being part of the side sill arrangement 1 and enabling impact damping at a different position.

Claims

[1] Side sill arrangement comprising a hollow side sill (2) in which an exhaust pipe (3) extending at least partially along the side sill (2) is arranged, characterized by , that at least one silencer (4) is provided in the exhaust pipe (3), which is also arranged in the side sill (2) and acts as an energy absorption element (14) in the event of a side impact. [2] Side sill arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one further silencer (25) is provided, which is also arranged in the exhaust pipe (3) and in the side sill (2) and which also acts as an energy absorption element (26) in the event of a side impact. [3] Side sill arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the cross-section of the side sill (2) in the area in which the silencer (4) or the further silencer (25) is arranged corresponds to the cross-section in which the exhaust pipe (3) is also accommodated. [4] Side sill arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the side sill (2) has a larger cross-section in an area where the silencer (4) or the further silencer (25) is located than in an area where the exhaust pipe (3) is accommodated. [5] Side sill arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the silencer (4) or the further silencer (25) has a hollow body (9) with one or more chambers (10) and a sound attenuation device arranged in the hollow body (9) comprising one or more tubes (11, 12, 13). [6] Side sill arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the exhaust pipe (3) and / or the silencer (4) or the further silencer (25) is connected to the side sill (2) via one or more, preferably ring-shaped, vibration-damping coupling elements (17, 18, 19). [7] Side sill arrangement according to claim 6, characterized by , that a coupling element (17, 18, 19) is made of an elastic material. [8] Motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine (23), an exhaust system downstream of it comprising at least one exhaust pipe (3) and at least one silencer (4) arranged in the exhaust pipe (3), and a body comprising at least one side sill arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized by , that the bodywork has a side sill arrangement (1) on both sides according to one of claims 1 to 7. [10] Motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by, that an additional electric drive device (21) with an associated energy storage device (22) is provided.

Images