Body for a motor car with supporting element in the region of the a-pillar

Abstract

The invention relates to a body for a motor car, with a front structure (28) with at least one structural element (30, 36) which runs in the region (32) of a front bulkhead (22) of the passenger cell (12), for example a main longitudinal beam (30) or a bulkhead crossmember (36), which structural element is connected to a structural element (38) of a laterally corresponding A-pillar (18) of an associated side wall (14) of the passenger cell (12). The motor car body is characterized in that the structural element of the A-pillar (18) is connected to a laterally corresponding side sill (20), and in that the structural element (30, 36), configured as a rear end (34) of a main longitudinal beam (30) or as a bulkhead crossmember (36), of the front structure (28) is supported, on the front side of the structural element (38) of the laterally corresponding A-pillar (18), to be precise on the upper side of the laterally assigned side sill (20), on the structural element (30, 36) of the A-pillar (18), and is connected to the latter by means of at least one bolted connection (52) extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Description

[0001] Body for a motor vehicle with support element in the area of ​​the A-pillar

[0002] The invention relates to a body for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0003] From DE 102005 034468 B4 a body with a front end structure with at least one structural element running in the region of a front end wall of the passenger cell in the form of a front wall cross member projecting laterally from a main longitudinal member is already known, which is connected to a laterally assigned structural element of a correspondingly laterally corresponding A-pillar of an associated side wall of the passenger cell by adjoining the corresponding A-pillar on the inside.

[0004] Particularly in accident scenarios where the vehicle's width overlaps with a barrier or other vehicle involved in the accident (small-overlap crash), it is problematic that, in the event of an accident-related impact of the front wheel in the rear area of ​​the corresponding wheel house, certain structural elements of the vehicle's front end structure detach from corresponding structural elements of the A-pillar, to which the structural elements of the front end structure are connected. If the corresponding structural elements of the front end structure are subjected to a force acting in the transverse direction of the vehicle, for example, a connection, usually a corresponding spot weld, to a corresponding structural element of the A-pillar can fail.

[0005] US 2020 0 353 995 A1 discloses a motor vehicle body comprising a dashboard cross member that is bolted to a reinforcement element provided in the corresponding A-pillar in the area of ​​a wheel housing of a front wheel using bolts aligned in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The object of the present invention is to create a body for a motor vehicle that provides improved crash performance in the event of a collision of the motor vehicle with a small overlap between a barrier or another vehicle involved in the accident.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with favorable further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The body according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprises a front-end structure with at least one structural element running in the region of a front bulkhead of the passenger compartment, for example a bulkhead cross member or a rear end of a correspondingly running main longitudinal member, which is connected to a structural element of a laterally corresponding A-pillar of an associated side wall of the passenger compartment.

[0008] In order to create a body in which, in particular in the event of a frontal collision of the motor vehicle with a barrier or another vehicle involved in the accident, a detachment of the structural element of the front end structure from the laterally corresponding structural element of the corresponding A-pillar of the associated side wall is avoided, it is provided according to the invention that the structural element of the front end structure is supported on the front side of the structural element of the laterally corresponding A-pillar and is connected by means of at least one screw connection extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that the structural element of the A-pillar is connected to a laterally corresponding side sill, that the structural element of the front end structure designed as the rear end of a main longitudinal member or as a bulkhead cross member is supported on the front side of the corresponding structural element of the laterally corresponding A-pillar, namely on the upper side of the laterally associated side sill on the structural element of the A-pillar, so that in the event of an impact of the front wheel as a result of a frontal collision of the motor vehicle with a small width overlap, forces introduced can be supported in a particularly advantageous manner towards the rear on the corresponding A-pillar.In order to better absorb forces that act in the transverse direction of the vehicle when introduced in an accident, and to prevent the structural element of the front end structure from detaching and separating from that of the A-pillar, which would lead to failure and collapse of the body in the corresponding area, the two said structural elements are connected to one another by means of at least one screw connection extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Such a screw connection can absorb corresponding forces acting in the transverse direction of the vehicle between the two structural elements and thus prevent the connection between the structural element of the front end structure and that of the A-pillar from becoming loose. Overall, this significantly improves the properties of the body in the event of a head-on collision between the vehicle and an obstacle or another vehicle with a small overlap.

[0009] Because the structural element or support element of the A-pillar is connected to the laterally corresponding side sill, a particularly favorable connection can be created between the A-pillar and the side sill in the front lower corner area of ​​the corresponding side wall by means of the structural element or support element. According to the advantageous embodiment in which the structural element of the front end structure is designed as the rear end of the main longitudinal member, the longitudinal member, in addition to its function in the area of ​​the front end structure, can also serve, with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction at the level of the firewall, to absorb corresponding forces in the event of a wheel impact following a frontal collision of the motor vehicle with a small width overlap with a barrier or another vehicle in the accident and to transfer these forces to the A-pillar or to its support element / structural element.A particularly advantageous connection of the rear end of the main longitudinal member is achieved due to its support on the upper side of the side sills. This further advantageous

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention in which the structural element of the front end structure is designed as a bulkhead cross member, corresponding accident forces can be absorbed, particularly in a higher area of ​​a wheel impact as a result of a frontal collision of the motor vehicle with a small width overlap with a barrier or an accident obstacle, and diverted via the A-pillar into the side sill or into the side wall.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous if the structural element of the A-pillar is designed as a support element arranged within a hollow space in the A-pillar, which support element has at least one threaded opening for the at least one screw connection. The A-pillar can, for example, be formed from several sheet metal shells or as a hollow profile within which the support element is arranged. In this case, at least one threaded opening is integrated into the support element in order to produce a screw for establishing the screw connection between the structural element of the front end structure and that of the A-pillar, in this case the support element. This results overall in a particularly advantageous screw connection between the said structural elements.

[0012] It is also advantageous if the support element is designed as an extruded profile with chambers running in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Such an extruded profile not only has excellent rigidity and energy-absorbing properties, but is also particularly easy to manufacture.

[0013] In this context, it has proven further advantageous if one of the chambers of the support element extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction forms the threaded opening for the at least one screw connection. In this way, a corresponding screw for establishing the connection between the structural element of the front end structure and the support element can be manufactured particularly easily.

[0014] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings. 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 specified combinations, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0015] Showing:

[0016] Fig. 1 is a partial and perspective side view of a body for a passenger car - relative to the vehicle's longitudinal direction - of the front left corner area of ​​the passenger compartment, wherein a structural element extending to the rear of a front end structure with at least one area of ​​a front bulkhead of the passenger compartment is adjoined to the rear by a laterally corresponding A-pillar of an associated side wall, on which a correspondingly laterally corresponding side sill is arranged on the underside, wherein a support element arranged within a cavity of the A-pillar is provided as a structural element of the A-pillar, on which support element a main longitudinal member with a rear end and a bulkhead cross member in an upper area are supported as structural elements of the front end structure; and

[0017] Fig. 2 is a partial perspective side view of a body of the passenger car in the front left corner area of ​​the passenger compartment according to Fig. 1, wherein the support element arranged within the A-pillar is shown in section, whereby it can be seen that as structural elements of the front end structure the rear end of the laterally corresponding main longitudinal member and above it the bulkhead cross member are connected to the support element of the A-pillar by means of respective screw connections.

[0018] In Figs. 1 and 2, the body of a passenger car is shown in a partial and perspective side view near a front left corner area 10 of a passenger compartment 12, viewed in the forward direction of travel. From a side wall 14 laterally delimiting the passenger compartment 12 on the corresponding side of the vehicle, an inner partial shell 16 of an A-pillar 18 can be seen, which is arranged on top of a laterally corresponding side sill 20.

[0019] The inner partial shell 16 of the corresponding A-pillar 18 is shown transparent in the present case, so that a front bulkhead 22 can be seen, which delimits the passenger compartment 12 at the front and merges rearward via a pedal floor 24 into a main floor 26, which delimits the passenger compartment at the bottom or, together with the side sills 20 and respective cross members and, if applicable, longitudinal members, forms the floor structure of the passenger compartment 12. In the present case, an energy storage device is arranged underneath this floor structure, by means of which the vehicle, which in this case is electrically powered, can be supplied with electrical energy.

[0020] At the front of the bulkhead 22, in a manner known per se, there is a front-end structure 28 of the motor vehicle body, which merges into the passenger compartment 12 in the area of ​​the bulkhead 22. In the present case, a left-hand main longitudinal member 30 - viewed in the forward direction of travel - can be seen from this front-end structure 28, which extends at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the front region 32. A rear region or a rear end 34 of the main longitudinal member 30 runs substantially in the transverse direction of the vehicle at the front of the bulkhead 22 and ends on the outside in the transverse direction of the vehicle approximately at the level of the outer side of the laterally corresponding side sill 20. The rear or outer end 34 of the main longitudinal member 30, viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle, is arranged approximately at the level of the laterally corresponding side sill 20 and is optionally connected to it.

[0021] At a height distance above the rear or outer end 34 of the main longitudinal member 30, a bulkhead cross member 36 extends at the front of the bulkhead 22 across at least substantially the entire width of the vehicle and approximately horizontally. Like the outer end 34 of the main longitudinal member 30, the bulkhead cross member 36 also ends on the outside approximately at the level of the side sill 20 or the corresponding A-pillar 18.

[0022] Both the bulkhead cross member 36 and the rear or outer end 34 of the main longitudinal member 30 are thus structural elements of the front structure of the motor vehicle body, which connect to the bulkhead 22 and thus to the passenger cell 12 at the front.

[0023] On the outside of the inner partial shell 16 of the A-pillar 18, a support element 38 can be seen, which is arranged within a cavity 40 of the A-pillar 18 formed by the inner partial shell 16 and an outer partial shell of the A-pillar 18 (not shown for the sake of clarity). The support element 38, for example, completely fills this cavity 40 of the A-pillar. Instead of an A-pillar 18 formed from several partial shells 16, it would also be conceivable, for example, to construct it from a different type of hollow profile, for example, an extruded profile.

[0024] In the present exemplary embodiment, the support element 38 is therefore a structural element of the A-pillar 18, which is connected to the partial shells 16 of the A-pillar 18, for example, via mechanical connecting means such as screws, rivets, or the like, in another manner, for example via joining connections such as adhesive bonds or spot welds. In the present exemplary embodiment, the support element 38 is designed as an extruded profile, for example made of an aluminum alloy, with chambers 42 extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. On the underside, the support element 38 is connected to the side sill 20, for example, via a leg 44 by means of respective screws 46.

[0025] Furthermore, it can be seen in particular from Fig. 2, in which the support element 38 is shown in section, that two respective chambers 44 are designed as openings or threaded channels 48. Accordingly, the respective chambers 48 are circular in cross-section and provided with corresponding threads so that corresponding screws 50 can be screwed in to form respective screw connections 52. By means of these screw connections 52, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and approximately horizontally according to the direction of extension of the chambers 48, both the rear end 34 of the laterally corresponding main longitudinal member 30 and the front wall cross member 36 are screwed to the support element 38.Or in other words, the respective structural elements 30, 36 of the front structure 28 are screwed to the corresponding structural element 38 of the corresponding A-pillar 20 by means of the respective screw connections 52.

[0026] These screw connections 52 of the respective structural elements 30, 36 of the front-end structure 28 with the corresponding structural element 38 of the corresponding A-pillar 20 result in an improved connection of the corresponding structural elements 30, 36 of the front-end structure 28 with the structural element 38 of the A-pillar 20, particularly in the event of a frontal collision of the motor vehicle with an obstacle or an accident partner with a small overlap (small overlap crash or offset crash).Since the described corner area 10 of the passenger cell 12 is arranged in the rear area of ​​the wheel house for the corresponding - viewed in the forward direction of travel - left front wheel, an accident-related force application and rearward displacement of the front wheel as a result of a described frontal collision with a small width overlap leads to an impact in the area of ​​the structural elements 30, 36 of the front structure 28, so that in this area not only forces acting in the vehicle's longitudinal direction are introduced, but also forces oriented in the vehicle's transverse direction.The respective screw connection 52 of the structural elements of the front end structure 28, namely the rear end 34 of the main longitudinal member 30 or the bulkhead cross member 36 with the associated structural element 38 of the A-pillar 20, ensures that in the event of a corresponding deformation, the support element 38 does not slip and force transmission is no longer guaranteed, or that the connection of those structural elements 30, 36 of the front end structure 28 to the support element 38 of the A-pillar 20 is no longer guaranteed. Rather, the provision of the respective screw connections 52 improves the robustness of the force transmission and thus improves the connection of the transverse structures 30, 36 of the front end structure to the support element 38 of the A-pillar 20 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.The solution described in this way ensures a significantly better cohesion of the front end structure 28 and the passenger cell 12 in the area of ​​the A-pillar, even in the case of high deformations.

[0027] In this case, self-tapping screws 50 are preferably used. In this case, no threads are required within the respective threaded openings 48.

[0028] From Fig. 2 it is clear that the two structural elements, the main longitudinal member 30 and the end wall cross member 34, of the front structure 28 each have a hollow profile with a respective rear wall 54, which has an opening 56 for a screw 50 of the screw connection 52, which is supported with its head 51 on the rear wall 54, and with a front wall 58, which has a larger opening 60, through which the screw 50 and its head 51 can be passed.

[0029] The two screw connections 52 thus ensure an improved transmission of the forces acting on the structural elements 30, 36 of the front-end structure 28 as a result of an accident-related force application in the event of a frontal impact with a small width overlap of a motor vehicle with a barrier or a vehicle involved in the accident to the laterally corresponding side sills 20, as is illustrated in Fig. 1 with the force arrows K1, K2 being visible. The two screw connections 52 improve the robustness of the force transmission, or forces acting, in particular in the transverse direction, on the respective structural elements 30, 36 of the front-end structure 28 can be transmitted in an improved manner to the corresponding A-pillar 20.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Body for a motor vehicle, with a front end structure (28) with at least one structural element (30, 36) running in the region (32) of a front end wall (22) of the passenger compartment (12), which structural element is connected to a structural element (38) of a laterally corresponding A-pillar (18) of an associated side wall (14) of the passenger compartment (12), characterized in that the structural element of the A-pillar (18) is connected to a laterally corresponding side sill (20), that the structural element (30, 36) of the front end structure (28) designed as a rear end (34) of a main longitudinal member (30) or as an end wall cross member (36) is supported on the front side of the structural element (38) of the laterally corresponding A-pillar (18), specifically on the upper side of the laterally associated side sill (20) on the structural element (30, 36) of the A-pillar (18) and is connected thereto by means of at least one screw connection (52) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. Body according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural element of the A-pillar (18) is designed as a support element (38) arranged within a cavity (40) of the A-pillar (18), which support element has at least one threaded opening (48) for the at least one screw connection (52).

3. Body according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support element (38) is designed as an extruded profile with chambers (42, 44, 48) running in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

4. Body according to claim 4, characterized in that the threaded opening (48) for the at least one screw connection (52) is formed by a chamber (42, 44) of the support element (38).

5. Body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structural element of the front structure (28) has a hollow profile with a rear wall (54) which has an opening (56) for a screw (50) of the screw connection (52), which is supported with its head (51) on the rear wall (54), and with a front wall (58) which has a larger opening (60) through which the screw (50) and its head (51) can be guided.

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