Car body having a passenger compartment formed from an armoured basic compartment and having a floor group connected thereto

Abstract

The invention relates to a car body having a passenger compartment (1), which is formed from an armoured basic compartment (2) and a series floor structure (22) connected thereto and which has an armoured front end wall (12) of the basic compartment (2) which is adjoined towards the front by a front section (23). In order to produce a car body by means of which the manufacturing outlay and manufacturing costs can be reduced, each side skirt (26) comprises, for connecting the armoured basic compartment (2) to the series floor structure (22), a side-skirt part (27) assigned to the series floor structure (22) and a side-skirt part (7) assigned to the armoured basic compartment (2), which side-skirt parts are interconnected.

Description

[0001] Motor vehicle body with a passenger cell consisting of an armoured basic cell and with a floor assembly connected to it

[0002] The invention relates to a motor vehicle body with a passenger cell comprising an armoured basic cell, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0003] Armored special-protection vehicles are particularly difficult to manufacture because they must meet a multitude of constraints. On the one hand, the most important goal is by far to equip the bodies of such special-protection vehicles with armor that provides particularly reliable protection for the vehicle occupants in the event of a bombing, shelling, or similar attack. On the other hand, such vehicle bodies should visually resemble, as closely as possible, the corresponding production vehicles without armor, for example, so as not to attract excessive attention in traffic, and should be manufactured with reasonable effort and limited costs.

[0004] Until now, such armored vehicle bodies were typically manufactured by fitting a production vehicle body with armored parts such as steel plates or aramid fiber components. The steel plates were typically attached to the inside of the structural components, particularly the passenger compartment, or within the cavities of the structural components, particularly using mechanical fasteners. This is not only extremely complex but also involves considerable additional weight.

[0005] For this reason, an armored base cell for the passenger compartment is already known from DE 10 2004 053 198 A1, so that in this area of ​​the vehicle body, the standard passenger compartment is replaced by the armored base cell. This results in a significant weight saving. This base cell is covered with cladding parts that, for example, correspond to the body of the vehicle. On the underside, the armored base cell is connected to an essentially unarmored standard floor structure. The object of the invention is to create a vehicle body that allows for reduced manufacturing effort and costs.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by a motor vehicle body and a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims and the description.

[0007] The motor vehicle body according to the invention comprises a passenger cell which is formed from an armored basic cell and a series floor structure attached to the underside of the basic cell.

[0008] In order to create a motor vehicle body that allows for reduced manufacturing effort and costs, according to the invention, for connecting the armored basic cell to the series floor structure, the respective side sill comprises a side sill part assigned to the series floor structure and a side sill part assigned to the armored basic cell, which are connected to one another. By directly connecting the side sill parts in the lower area of ​​the basic cell to the side sill parts of the series floor structure, it is easily possible from a manufacturing perspective to connect the basic cell to the series floor structure in the lower area by adopting the series floor structure of the series vehicle without armor. This allows the series floor structure to be easily used and connected to the armored basic cell, despite the use of an armored basic cell instead of a series passenger cell.

[0009] The side skirts of the series floor structure are connected, for example, to the tendon cross members and floor panels of the series floor structure.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the side sill part of the standard floor structure is designed as an inner shell part, which, together with the side sill part of the base cell, defines a cavity in the side sill at least on the upper side. This allows the floor structure, which is arranged on the inside, to be easily connected to the base cell arranged on the outside.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the side sill section of the basic cell has a lower sheet metal profile, which is connected to the side sill section of the standard floor structure and which defines the cavity of the side sill on the underside. The material thickness of the sheet metal profile is preferably selected between that of the armored steel of the side sill section of the basic cell and that of the much thinner side sill section of the standard floor structure, so that the components can be joined together particularly effectively by welding.

[0012] It is further advantageous if the side sill section of the basic cell has a lower armored section that is connected to the side sill section of the standard floor structure. The lower armored section ensures, on the one hand, an even more secure arrangement against fire or similar attacks, and, on the other hand, it enables an improved bond between the side sill section of the basic cell and the side sill section of the standard floor structure. The material thickness of the armored section is preferably selected between that of the armored steel of the side sill section of the basic cell and that of the side sill section of the standard floor structure, so that the components can be joined together particularly effectively by welding.

[0013] In the cavity of the side sill, respective bulkhead plates are preferably arranged, by means of which the rigidity of the heavy vehicle can be further improved.

[0014] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the standard front end merges into the standard floor structure at a transverse yoke extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Such a transverse yoke, for example, particularly advantageously connects the side sills to one another or optimally forms the front end of the passenger compartment, to which the respective structural components of the front end are attached in the lower area.

[0015] In this context, it has proven further advantageous if the transverse yoke limits the armored bulkhead at the bottom, at least along one length. This advantageously subdivides the passenger compartment at the transition to the front of the vehicle, with the passenger compartment being limited to the front by the floor structure on the underside and by the armored bulkhead in the upper area.

[0016] Further features of the invention emerge 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 alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own. The invention will now be explained in more detail using a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0017] Fig. 1 is a partial side perspective view of a

[0018] Motor vehicle body for a special protection vehicle with a passenger cell, which is formed from an armoured base cell and an unarmoured series floor structure connected to the underside thereof, and which has an armoured front bulkhead of the base cell, to which a front end is connected at the front, which is designed as a series front end with structural components in the lower area of ​​the series front end, which are directly connected to the series floor structure, and with structural components in the upper area of ​​the series front end, which are connected to the armoured front bulkhead,

[0019] Fig. 2 is a partial side perspective view of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, showing a side wall part of the series passenger compartment with which the armored basic cell is covered,

[0020] Fig. 3 a partial perspective view of the passenger compartment of the

[0021] Motor vehicle, which is formed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction in the upper area by the armored bulkhead and underside by the series floor structure, which has a transverse yoke at which the armored bulkhead merges into the floor structure,

[0022] Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and enlarged view of Fig. 3.

[0023] Perspective view of the armored front wall of the basic cell and floor structure with the cross yoke,

[0024] Fig. 5 is a partial and perspective sectional view in

[0025] In the vertical direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle through the vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger cell formed by the armoured basic cell and the floor structure into the front of the vehicle,

[0026] Fig. 6 is a further partial and perspective sectional view in

[0027] In the vertical direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle through the vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger cell into the front of the vehicle,

[0028] Fig. 7 is a further partial and perspective sectional view in

[0029] In the vertical direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle through the vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger compartment into the front of the vehicle, whereby in particular the transition of the upper bulkhead into the transverse yoke is illustrated,

[0030] Fig. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary and perspective sectional view in the vehicle vertical direction and in the vehicle longitudinal direction through the vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger cell formed by the armored basic cell and the floor structure into the front of the vehicle, with the transition of the upper end wall into the transverse yoke being again illustrated,

[0031] Fig. 9 a partial and perspective sectional view in

[0032] In the transverse direction of the vehicle and in the vertical direction of the vehicle through the vehicle body in the area of ​​one of the side sills, whereby for connecting the armoured basic cell to the series floor structure, the respective side sill comprises a side sill part assigned to the series floor structure and a side sill part assigned to the armoured basic cell, which are connected to each other,

[0033] Fig. 10 is a fragmentary and perspective view enlarged compared to Fig. 9

[0034] Sectional view in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction of the vehicle through the vehicle body in the area of ​​the side sill,

[0035] Fig. 11 a partial sectional view in the vehicle transverse direction and in

[0036] Vehicle vertical alignment through the side skirts with the respective side skirt part of the series floor structure and the corresponding side skirt part of the armored basic cell.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a partial side perspective view of a vehicle body for an armored special protection vehicle. In this case, it is a sedan passenger car (notchback), which is also offered as a production vehicle without armor.

[0038] The motor vehicle body comprises a passenger cell 1, which is formed on the upper side from an armored basic cell 2. The armored basic cell 2 is made of a plurality of armor plates that are appropriately formed and welded together. The armor plates are made of a steel material and have, for example, a wall thickness or material thickness of 4 to 15 mm, although these values ​​can vary depending on the resistance class and other boundary conditions. In contrast to generally conventional armored passenger cells, in which respective armor plates are attached to the inside of the unarmored longitudinal components or in their hollow space, a basic cell 2 is created in the present case, which is itself formed from armor plates made of steel or the like. Accordingly, this basic cell 2 differs from the upper part of the safety passenger cell used in unarmored series vehicles.

[0039] In the present case, the respective side wall sections 3 of the armored basic cell 2 with associated door pillars, the respective A-pillar 4, the respective B-pillar 5 and the respective C-pillar 6, as well as the respective side sill sections 7 and the respective roof frame 8 are made of armored steel. Parts of a vehicle roof 9 with associated roof cross members 10 and roof panels 11 are also made of armored steel. A front bulkhead 12 of the basic cell 2 with an associated upper bulkhead cross member 13 is also made of armored steel. Finally, in the rear area, a structure 14 made of armored steel is formed, which, for example, has a rear partition 15 and a panel 16 at the level below a rear window opening 18. Overall, it can be seen that the basic cell 2 also has respective openings 19, 20 for front and rear side doors (not shown) as well as an opening 21 for a windshield.

[0040] The armored base cell 2 is open at the bottom and is essentially closed by, or connected to, an essentially unarmored production floor structure 22, which is used in the production vehicle without armor. The production floor structure 22 is also armored, for example, by armor plates or the like attached to the outside or inside of the passenger compartment. As a result, the passenger cell 1 is formed from the basic cell 1, designed as an armored cell, and the production floor structure 22, which are connected to one another.

[0041] In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, towards the front, a standard front end 23, as used in the standard vehicle without armor plating, adjoins the passenger cell 1 in a manner described below. Towards the rear, a standard rear end adjoins the passenger cell 1.

[0042] According to Fig. 2, the passenger compartment 1 of the motor vehicle body is shown again in a partial side perspective view, wherein a paneling part in the form of a side wall part 24 of the standard passenger compartment of the production vehicle without armor can be seen, with which the armored basic cell 2 is covered. Accordingly, in the present case, the armored passenger compartment 1 is covered by standard parts of the vehicle outer skin of the production vehicle without armor, so that the armored vehicle's appearance corresponds at least substantially to that of the production vehicle without armor.

[0043] According to Fig. 3 and 4, which show a partial perspective view of the passenger cell 1 of the motor vehicle and a partial and enlarged perspective view of the passenger cell 1 compared to Fig. 3, it can be seen that the latter is formed at its front end in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the upper area by the armored front wall 12 and on the underside by the series floor structure 22.

[0044] Of the standard floor structure 22, a transverse yoke 25 can be seen in particular, which extends in relation to the vehicle's longitudinal direction and overlaps the bulkhead 12. This transverse yoke forms a cross member and extends between respective side sills 26, which are formed on the one hand by side sill parts 7 of the basic cell 2 and side sill parts 27 of the standard floor structure 22. In the area of ​​the vehicle center, the transverse yoke 25 rises in an arc to bridge a center tunnel 17 of the standard floor structure 22.

[0045] 3 and 4, the transverse yoke 25 forms the front upper end of the series floor structure 22, to which the armored front wall 12 of the basic cell 2 is connected at the top. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which each show a partial and perspective sectional view in the vehicle vertical direction and in the vehicle longitudinal direction through the motor vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger cell 1 formed by the armored basic cell 2 and the floor structure 22 into the series front end 23, a vehicle floor 28 with respective series floor panels 29 and cross members 30, which extend between the side sill parts 27 of the floor structure 22, adjoins the transverse yoke 25 downwards in the vehicle vertical direction and rearwards in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0046] Towards the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the respective engine longitudinal members 31, for example, are structural components in the lower region of the series front end 23, which are directly connected to the series floor structure 22 at the level of a main longitudinal member plane of the series front end 23. In particular, Fig. 3 shows the respective fastening or transition points 32 at which the two engine longitudinal members 31 merge into the transverse yoke 25 of the floor structure 22. Furthermore, the engine longitudinal members are supported and fastened to the floor structure 22 via a support structure 33, which can be seen in Figs. 5 and 6. It is thus clear that the respective structural components in the lower region of the series front end 23 are directly and immediately connected to the floor structure 22 or its transverse yoke 25.

[0047] As can be seen in particular from Fig. 5 in conjunction with Fig. 7, which shows a further partial and perspective sectional view in the vehicle vertical direction and in the vehicle longitudinal direction through the motor vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger compartment into the front end 23, in the upper area of ​​the series front end 22 respective structural components such as respective longitudinal members / support members 34 are provided at the level of respective spring strut mounts 35, which are connected to the armored front bulkhead 12.

[0048] Depending on the material or sheet thickness, the structural components in the upper area of ​​the series front end 22 are connected directly to the bulkhead 12, in particular by gas-shielded arc welding (GAW) or another type of one-sided weld, or indirectly via the respective adapter parts. This is due in particular to the fact that the armored bulkhead 12 has a material thickness of, for example, 4 to 15 mm, so that only structural components with a sheet thickness of, for example, 1.2 to 1.5 mm or more can be welded to it. In contrast, structural components with sheet thicknesses of, for example, approximately 0.8 mm cannot usually be joined to the bulkhead 12 by welding, as they would be subject to excessive thermal input during welding.

[0049] For this reason, in the present case, the armored basic cell 2, in particular the front wall 12, is welded via respective adapter parts to correspondingly thinner structural components of the front end 22 and / or the floor structure 22, wherein the adapter parts have a sheet thickness which, at 1.5 to 4 mm, lies between the material thickness of the correspondingly thin structural component and the material thickness of the armored front wall 12.

[0050] Instead of or in addition to the connections described, it is theoretically also conceivable to connect structural components of the front end 22 to components of the basic cell 2, in particular the front wall 12, via mechanical connecting means.

[0051] Fig. 8 shows a further partial and perspective sectional view, enlarged compared to Fig. 7, in the vehicle vertical direction and in the vehicle longitudinal direction through the motor vehicle body in the transition area of ​​the passenger cell 1 formed by the armoured basic cell 2 and the floor structure 22 into the front section 23, wherein the transition of the upper, armoured front wall 12 into the transverse yoke 25 is again illustrated.

[0052] At least in one longitudinal region, but in this case across at least almost the entire vehicle width, the armored bulkhead 12 is limited at the bottom by the transverse yoke 25. The transverse yoke 25 is open at the top, so that the armored bulkhead 12 protrudes into a cavity 36 of the transverse yoke 25. The transverse yoke 25 is connected to the bulkhead 12 from both sides via corresponding SG welds.

[0053] Fig. 9 shows the motor vehicle body in a partial and perspective sectional view running in the vehicle transverse direction and in the vehicle vertical direction in the region of one of the side sills 26, wherein, for connecting the armored basic cell 2 to the series floor structure 22, the side sill 26 comprises the side sill part 27 assigned to the series floor structure 22 and the side sill part 7 assigned to the armored basic cell 2, which are connected to one another. The connection of the two components is particularly clear from Fig. 10, which shows a partial and perspective sectional view in the vehicle transverse direction and in the vehicle vertical direction through the motor vehicle body in the region of the corresponding side sill 26, enlarged compared to Fig. 9.

[0054] In conjunction with Fig. 11, which shows a sectional view in the vehicle vertical direction and in the vehicle transverse direction through the side sill 26, it is clear that the side sill part 27 of the series floor structure 22 is designed as an inner shell part made of a steel sheet, for example with a wall thickness of 1.5 to 3 mm, which is connected to the side sill part 7 of the basic cell 2 made of armored steel, for example with a wall thickness of 4 mm to 15 mm, on the upper side at a weld seam 38, for example by SG welding, and delimits a cavity 37 of the side sill 26 at least on the upper side.

[0055] The side sill part 7 of the basic cell 2 made of armored steel extends downwards only over part of the height of the side sill 26. For this reason, the side sill part 7 has a lower sheet metal profile 38 which is made, for example, from a steel sheet with a wall thickness of between 1.5 mm and 4 mm and is connected to the lower end of the side sill part 7, in particular by SG welding. Via the sheet metal profile 38, which in the present case is designed as an angle part, the side sill part 7 is connected to the side sill part 27 of the series floor structure 22 by welding, in particular SG welding. The sheet metal profile 38, together with the side sill part 27, delimits the cavity 37 of the side sill 26 on the underside. Or in other words, the side sill part 27, the side sill part 7 and the sheet metal profile 38 delimit the cavity 37 on the outer circumference.

[0056] Parallel to and on the outside of the vertical leg of the sheet metal profile 38, the side sill section 7 of the basic cell 2 additionally has a lower armored part 39 joined to it by SG welding or the like, which is connected on the underside to the side sill section 27 of the standard floor structure 22 by SG welding or the like. The armored part 39 has, for example, a wall thickness of 3 to 10 mm, and in particular 4 to 5 mm. Thus, the passenger cell 1 is additionally protected against fire in the lower transition area to the floor structure 22.

[0057] On the outside, the side sill 26 is covered by an outer side sill part 40. This side sill part 40 is formed in one piece with the side wall part 24 (Fig. 2). On the underside, the side sill part 40 or the side wall part is connected to the side sill part 27 of the standard floor structure 22 and on the top side to the side sill part 7 of the basic cell 2.

[0058] In the cavity 37 of the side sill 26, a plurality of respective bulkhead plates 41 are fastened distributed over its length, for example by SG welding.

[0059] The side sill parts 27 of the series floor structure 22 are connected, for example, to the tendon cross members 30 and floor panels 29 of the series floor structure 22.

[0060] List of reference symbols

[0061] Passenger cell Basic cell Side wall parts A-pillar B-pillar C-pillar Side sill parts Roof frame Vehicle roof Roof cross member Roof panels Bulkhead

[0062] Bulkhead cross member structure rear partition panels

[0063] Center tunnel Rear window opening Opening Opening Opening Series floor structure Series front end Side wall section Cross yoke Side skirts Side skirt parts Vehicle floor

[0064] Series floor panels Cross members Engine longitudinal members Transition points Support structure Longitudinal members / support members Suspension strut mounts

[0065] cavity

[0066] cavity

[0067] Sheet metal profile

[0068] Armored part outer side sill part

[0069] bulkhead plate

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle body with a passenger cell (1) which is formed from an armoured basic cell (2) and a series floor structure (22) connected to the underside thereof, characterized in that, in order to connect the armoured basic cell (2) to the series floor structure (22), the respective side sill (26) comprises a side sill part (27) assigned to the series floor structure (22) and a side sill part (7) assigned to the armoured basic cell (2), which are connected to one another.

2. Motor vehicle body according to claim 1, characterized in that the side sill part (27) of the series floor structure (22) is designed as an inner shell part which, together with the side sill part (7) of the basic cell (2), delimits a cavity (37) of the side sill (26) at least on the upper side.

3. Motor vehicle body according to claim 2, characterized in that the side sill part (7) of the basic cell (2) has a lower sheet metal profile (38) which is connected to the side sill part (27) of the series floor structure (22) and which delimits the cavity (37) of the side sill (26) on the underside.

4. Motor vehicle body according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the side sill part (7) of the basic cell (2) has a lower armor part (39) which is connected to the side sill part (27) of the series floor structure (22).

5. Motor vehicle body according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that respective bulkhead plates (41) are arranged in the cavity (37) of the side sill (26).

6. Motor vehicle body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side sill (26) is covered on the outside by an outer side sill part (40).

7. Motor vehicle body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a front end is designed as a series front end (23) with structural components in the lower region of the series front end (23) which are directly connected to the series floor structure (22), and with structural components in the upper region of the series front end (23) which are connected to the armored front bulkhead (12).

8. Motor vehicle body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the series front end (23) merges into the series floor structure (22) at a transverse yoke (25) extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

Images