Front end for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a front end (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a front end carrier (12) and at least one attachment part (42, 44) which forms part of the outer skin of the motor vehicle and which is arranged on the front end carrier (12) in a position adjustable. In order to create a front end (10) whose respective attachment part (44, 46) can be adjusted in an improved manner in its position on the front end carrier (12), the front end carrier (12) has a main carrier (14) and a carrier slide (16) adjustable relative to it, to which the at least one attachment part (42, 44) is attached and by means of which the attachment part (42, 44) can be adjusted in its position relative to the main carrier (14).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a front end for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such front ends are known in many versions from the series production of motor vehicles and usually serve to attach the bumper and the associated bumper cover, but also respective add-on parts such as light units, central trim parts such as front grilles or the like, to the front end of the body or the shell of the motor vehicle.

[0003] Typically, the front end includes a front end carrier, which supports the cladding and attachment parts and is attached to the respective longitudinal beams in the body shell.

[0004] One problem with such front ends is creating consistent gaps and joints between the various trim and add-on parts of the front end, as well as between these parts and adjacent body panels forming the vehicle's exterior, such as hoods, fenders, and the like. Factors such as weight-related settling of the components must also be considered. For example, modern headlight units weigh approximately 10 kg each, which can cause the respective component to sag within its mounting.

[0005] For this reason, a simple tolerance compensation or adjustability of the respective attachments is required.

[0006] Such a tolerance compensation is already known, for example, from EP 3 110 666 B1. In this case, the front end comprises a front end carrier and several attachments, some of which form part of the outer skin of the motor vehicle, and which are arranged on the front end carrier in a position adjustable to their position.

[0007] Furthermore, JP 2008-132 960 A discloses a support structure for a vehicle body of a heat exchanger located at the front of a vehicle. Within the support structure, the heat exchanger can be moved a predetermined distance to the rear of the vehicle while maintaining its support state relative to the vehicle body when an external force is applied from the front of the vehicle.

[0008] Furthermore, a fastening device for motor vehicles is known from EP 1 247 681 A2, which is attached to a first part and comprises receiving means for a positioning element of a second part in a first position with respect to the first part.

[0009] Furthermore, JP 2004-351959A reveals a rear light mounting structure for automobiles.

[0010] The object of the invention is to create a front end whose respective attachment part can be adjusted in an improved manner in its position on the front end carrier.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by a frontend with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] The front end according to the invention, which comprises a front end carrier and at least one attachment part forming the outer skin of the motor vehicle in a region and which is adjustable in its position on the front end carrier, enables an improved adjustment of the respective attachment part on the front end carrier by having a main carrier and a carrier slide adjustable relative to it, to which the at least one attachment part is attached and by means of which the attachment part can be adjusted in its position relative to the main carrier.

[0013] The mounting bracket allows one or more attachments to be fixed to the front end carrier, or more precisely, its mounting bracket, and adjusted relative to the main carrier. This allows, for example, a system supplier to pre-adjust the mounting bracket relative to the main carrier and attach attachments such as headlights and central trim panels. This pre-adjustment typically results in a precise and uniform gap pattern or dimensions with the adjacent trim panels or similar components. Should an inaccurate or inconsistent gap pattern or dimensions occur in a particular case, this can be easily corrected by adjusting the mounting bracket and the attached components relative to the components that are fixed or relatively fixed to the main carrier.In this way, production and manufacturing tolerances can be compensated for particularly easily. Furthermore, in the event of component replacement due to damage / accidents over the vehicle's lifetime, the joint pattern for the new components can be individually adjusted in the repair shop, thus restoring the original joint quality.

[0014] Furthermore, the carrier carriage is designed as a frame with two laterally spaced vertical struts extending in the vehicle's vertical direction. Each strut has a guide for moving the carrier carriage vertically and is connected to each other at its upper and lower ends via cross struts. This results in a stable mounting and adjustment of the attachments mounted on the carrier carriage.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, two lighting units are attached to the support carriage as add-on components, the position of which relative to the main support can be adjusted by means of the support carriage. Thus, both lighting units can be adjusted simultaneously and uniformly relative to the main support.

[0016] It is further advantageous if a trim panel, in particular a central trim panel, a radiator grille, or the like, is attached to the support slide and its position relative to the main support can be adjusted by means of the support slide. This allows at least one trim panel to be adjusted in addition to the headlights / lighting units.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one attachment component, which partially forms the outer skin of the motor vehicle, is mounted on the main support. This can, for example, be a bumper cover as an attachment component, relative to which the at least one attachment component mounted on the support slide is adjustable. Thus, a precise and uniform joint pattern or uniform gap dimensions to the adjacent body panels or similar components are possible.

[0018] It is also advantageous if the support carriage is adjustable in the vehicle's vertical direction and guided on the main beam. This allows for compensation of settling of components attached to the support carriage, such as lighting units or similar items, particularly due to gravity.

[0019] In this context, it has proven further advantageous if the support carriage has an adjustment screw for each upright, allowing the support carriage to be adjusted relative to the main beam. This results in a particularly uniform and precise adjustment of the joint pattern or gap dimensions.

[0020] Finally, it has proven advantageous to arrange stop elements between the support carriage and the main beam, by means of which the adjustment of the support carriage is limited. Thus, the adjustment can be limited in a simple manner.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a front end carrier of the front end according to the invention, which comprises a main carrier and a carrier slide guided and adjustable thereon in the vehicle vertical direction, as well as respective partial and enlarged perspective views of adjusting screws by means of which the carrier slide can be adjusted in its position relative to the main carrier, Fig. 2 a partial perspective view of the front end according to the invention with a bumper cover arranged on the main support and respective attachments in the form of lighting units attached to the support slide, wherein a respective butt joint between the bumper cover and the respective lighting unit is adjustable by means of the support slide, Fig. 3 a partial perspective view of the front end according to the invention, from which the fastening of one of the attachment parts arranged on the carrier slide in the form of the corresponding lighting units can be seen, Fig. 4 a partial perspective view of the front end according to the invention in the area of ​​one of the two uprights of the frame-like support slide, which is guided on the main support in the vehicle's vertical direction, Fig. 5 a partial sectional view through the guide of the corresponding high strut of the beam carriage on the main beam; as well as Fig. 6 A partial perspective section view through one of the adjusting screws for adjusting the carrier slide in the vehicle vertical direction relative to the main carrier.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a front end carrier 12 of a [unclear] Fig. 2 front ends 10 recognizable in a partial perspective view for a motor vehicle, in the present case a passenger car.

[0024] The in Fig. The front end carrier 10, as shown in the present document, is essentially formed in two parts, namely a main carrier 14 and a carrier slide 16 which is guided and adjustable in the upward direction of the vehicle. The front end carrier 12 is connected via its main carrier 14 in a manner not further specified to components of a front-end structure, in particular to longitudinal members.

[0025] The support carriage 16 is designed here as a frame 18 with two laterally spaced vertical struts 20, 22 extending in the vehicle's vertical direction, which are connected to each other at their upper and lower ends by respective transverse struts 24, 26. As can be seen from the Fig. 4 in a partial perspective view of the front end according to the invention in the area of ​​one of the two uprights 20 of the frame-like support slide 16, each of these uprights 20, 22 is guided on the main support 14 in the vehicle upward direction.

[0026] A partial sectional view through one of the two guides 28 of the corresponding upstand 20 is shown in Fig. Figure 5 shows that the respective upright strut 20, 22 is held essentially without play in the transverse direction and longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is only guided in a movable manner in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0027] The adjustment of the carrier slide 16 is effected in this case via a respective adjusting screw 30, 32 for each upright 20, 22, which is located in Fig. 1 in a respective partial perspective view and in Fig. 6 is shown in a partial and perspective sectional view.

[0028] Especially from Fig. Figure 6 shows that each adjusting screw 30, 32 has a tool engagement 34, in this case, for example, an internal hexagon socket, and at the opposite lower end a bearing ball 36, which is axially fixed in a bearing shell 38 of a bearing receptacle 40, which is part of the main support 14. Furthermore, each adjusting screw 30, 32 has a thread 54 which engages with a thread 56 on the side of the respective upright 20, 22 of the support slide 16. Turning each adjusting screw 30, 32 thus results in a lifting or lowering movement of the support slide 16 relative to the main support 14 in the upward direction of the vehicle.

[0029] Out of Fig. 6 In addition, respective stop elements 43, 45 are visible on the side of the respective high strut 20, 22 of the carrier slide 16 or the main beam 14, so that the lifting or lowering movement of the carrier slide 16 relative to the main beam 14 in the vehicle upward direction is limited.

[0030] As seen in the overall view of the Fig. 2 and Fig.As can be seen in a partial perspective view of the front end 10 shown in Figure 3, a bumper cover 52, which forms part of the outer skin of the vehicle, is attached to the underside of the main support 14. On each side of the vehicle, a light unit 42, 44 is attached to the support slide 16, abutting the bumper cover 52 at a joint 46, 48. Furthermore, the two light units 42, 44 abut the leading edge of the vehicle's hood, which is also not visible, at the top of an unidentified joint.

[0031] Furthermore, in the area of ​​a central opening 50 between the light units 42, 44, an unobserved central trim piece is arranged on the carrier slide 16. This piece partially forms the outer skin of the vehicle and, in this case, is designed as the so-called "BMW kidney grille." Alternatively, another molded part, a radiator grille, or a similar trim piece or add-on component would also be conceivable. The central trim piece also forms butt joints with the bumper trim 52 and the leading edge of the hood, respectively.

[0032] In order to adjust the butt joints - for example, the joints 46, 48 - between the light units 42, 44 and the central trim part on the one hand and the bumper trim 52 arranged below and the front edge of the hood arranged above, the light units 42, 44 and the central trim part, which are fixedly arranged on the carrier slide 16, can be moved or adjusted in height relative to the bumper trim 52, which is fixed to the main carrier 14, and the hood, which is also fixed in place, by means of the carrier slide.

[0033] Because all the attachments (lighting units 42, 44 and central trim panel) are firmly attached to the carrier slide 16, they can be adjusted as a whole relative to the stationary trim panels (bumper trim 52, front hood), thus enabling very quick and easy assembly of the vehicle. In particular, rework in the event of a faulty joint pattern or gap dimension is very simple. Specifically, the adjusting screws 30, 32 are each turned a further half turn to prevent the carrier slide 16 from becoming misaligned in the area of ​​the guides 28.

[0034] Another advantage is that the front-end carrier 12 is particularly well adaptable to different vehicle models with, for example, light units 42, 44 of varying weights, by positioning the carrier slide 16 at an adjusted height relative to the main carrier 14 depending on the weight and settling movement of the light units 42, 44. This significantly minimizes the need for rework. If a gap measurement proves to be significantly incorrect, the preset height relative to the main carrier 14 can be easily adjusted or changed. Reference symbol list 10 Frontend 12 front end carriers 14 main supports 16 carrier sleds 18 frames 20 high struts 22 High strut 24 Crossbar 26 Cross brace 28 guided tours 30 Adjustment screw 32 Adjusting screw 34 Tool attack 36 bearing balls 38 bearing shell 40 Bearing intake 42 lighting units 43 Stop element 44 lighting units 45 Stop element 46 butt joint 48 butt joint 50 opening 52 Bumper trim 54 threads 56 threads

Claims

Front end (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a front end carrier (12) and at least one attachment part (42, 44) which forms part of the outer skin of the motor vehicle and which is adjustable in its position on the front end carrier (12), wherein the front end carrier (12) has a main carrier (14) and a carrier slide (16) which is adjustable relative to the main carrier, to which the at least one attachment part (42, 44) is attached and by means of which the attachment part (42, 44) is adjustable in its position relative to the main carrier (14), characterized in that the carrier slide (16) is designed as a frame (18) with two laterally spaced vertical struts (22) (20) extending in the vehicle's vertical direction, each of which has a guide for displacing the carrier slide (16) in the vehicle's vertical direction and which are connected to each other at the upper and lower ends via respective transverse struts (24, 26). Frontend (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that two lighting units (44) (42) are attached to the carrier slide (16) as attachment parts, which can be adjusted in their position relative to the main carrier (14) by means of the carrier slide (16). Frontend (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a cladding part, a radiator grille or the like, is attached to the carrier slide (16), which is adjustable in its position relative to the main carrier (14) by means of the carrier slide (16). Frontend (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one attachment part (52) forming at least the outer skin of the motor vehicle is attached to the main support (14). Frontend (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that a bumper cover (52) is attached to the main carrier (14) as an attachment part, relative to which the at least one attachment part (42, 44) attached to the carrier slide (16) is adjustable. Frontend (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier slide (16) is adjustable in the vehicle vertical direction on the main carrier (14). Frontend (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support slide (16) has an adjusting screw (30, 32) for each high strut (20), by means of which the support slide (16) can be adjusted relative to the main support (14). Frontend (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that respective stop elements (43, 45) are arranged between the carrier slide (16) and the main carrier (14), by means of which the adjustment of the carrier slide (16) is limited.

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