Connection assembly for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a bulkhead crossmember (16) which extends on a front bulkhead (14) of a passenger cell (12) and which is connected at its respective lateral end region (18) in a respective front corner region (10) of the passenger cell (12) to a lower end region (20) of a laterally associated A-pillar (22) and to a front end region (24) of a laterally associated side sill (26), wherein a console (28) is arranged in the respective front corner region (10) of the passenger cell (12), by means of which console the end region (18) of the bulkhead crossmember (16) is connected to the lower end region (20) of the laterally associated A-pillar (22).

Description

[0001] Connection arrangement for a motor vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a connection arrangement for a motor vehicle in a respective front corner area of ​​the passenger compartment according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with at least one such connection arrangement.

[0003] Such a connection arrangement is already known from EP 0 836 983 B1, which comprises a front wall cross member running along a front end wall of the passenger compartment, which is connected at its respective lateral end area in a respective front corner area of ​​the passenger compartment to a lower end area of ​​a laterally associated A-pillar and a front end area of ​​a laterally associated side sill.

[0004] In such connection arrangements, if no other measures are taken, in the event of a frontal collision, in particular a frontal impact with a small overlap of the vehicle with an obstacle / accident partner (offset crash or small-overlap crash), there is a risk of the A-pillar being torn off the laterally associated side sill, as well as of excessively strong intrusions and damage to the front bulkhead of the passenger compartment.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a connection arrangement and a motor vehicle with at least one such connection arrangement, by means of which, or in which, the tearing off of the A-pillar from the laterally associated side sill, as well as excessively strong intrusions and damage to the front bulkhead of the passenger compartment, can be prevented in a particularly reliable manner. This object is achieved according to the invention by a connection arrangement with the features of claim 1 and a motor vehicle with at least one such connection arrangement according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] The connection arrangement according to the invention in a respective front corner area of ​​the passenger cell of the motor vehicle comprises a front wall cross member extending along a front front wall of the passenger cell, which is connected at its respective lateral end area of ​​the passenger cell to a lower end area of ​​a laterally associated A-pillar and a front end area of ​​a laterally associated side sill.

[0007] To create a connection arrangement with at least one such connection arrangement, by means of which the tearing of the A-pillar from the laterally associated side sill, as well as excessively strong intrusions and damage to the front bulkhead of the passenger compartment, can be prevented in a particularly reliable manner, a console is arranged in the respective front corner region of the passenger compartment according to the invention. This console connects the end region of the bulkhead crossmember with the lower end region of a laterally associated A-pillar. The recessed console simultaneously serves as a support for the A-pillar.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the console is positively connected to the lower end region of the laterally associated A-pillar via a plug connection. This positive connection reliably prevents the A-pillar from being torn away from the laterally associated side sill in the event of a frontal collision.

[0009] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to connect the console to the front end of the adjacent side sill. This results in a particularly stable front corner area of ​​the passenger compartment.

[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the console is connected to an energy absorption element integrated into the front end region of the laterally associated side sill. This results in a particularly stable connection between the front bulkhead crossmember and the laterally associated side sill. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the console also has connection points for connecting the console to an energy storage housing of a vehicle's drive system. This also results in a particularly stable mounting of the energy storage housing below the passenger compartment in its front region.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the connection points of the console are formed by domes that penetrate the energy absorption element. This results in a particularly favorable positive-locking connection between the console and the energy absorption element.

[0012] Finally, it has proven particularly advantageous if the console is designed as a cast component, especially an aluminum casting. This allows the console to be manufactured especially cost-effectively and according to requirements.

[0013] The invention also includes a motor vehicle with at least one connection arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8. The advantages of such a motor vehicle result from the advantages of the connection arrangement described above.

[0014] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0015] This shows:

[0016] Fig. 1a, b respective partial perspective views of a connection arrangement according to the invention for a motor vehicle, with a front wall cross member running along a front end wall of the passenger compartment, which in a respective front corner area of ​​the passenger compartment is connected at its respective lateral end area by means of a console to a lower end area of ​​a laterally associated A-pillar and a front end area of ​​a laterally associated side sill;

[0017] Fig. 2 shows a further partial perspective view of the front wall cross member running along the front end wall of the passenger compartment and of the console attached to the front wall cross member in the respective corner area of ​​the passenger compartment;

[0018] Fig. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the separately shown console;

[0019] Fig. 4a, b, c shows sectional views of the connection arrangement according to the invention and an energy storage device arranged below the console for an electric drive of the motor vehicle.

[0020] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0021] Figures 1a and 1b each show a partial perspective view of a front corner area 10 of the passenger compartment 12 of a passenger car on the left side of the vehicle, viewed in the direction of forward travel.

[0022] A connection arrangement of the motor vehicle body with a front wall cross member 16 running along a front front wall 14 of the passenger cell 12 is recognizable here, which in the left front corner area of ​​the passenger cell 12 borders on or is connected to a column root or a lower end area 20 of an A-pillar 22 and to a front end area 24 of a laterally associated side sill 26 at its respective lateral end area 18.

[0023] In particular, the connection arrangement comprises a bracket 28, shown in a separate perspective bottom view in Fig. 3, which is designed here as a metal casting component, for example, an aluminum casting component. The bracket 28 can be manufactured, for example, by a die-casting process or a gravity die-casting process. Particularly in conjunction with Fig. 2, it can be seen that the bracket 28 is connected to the front wall cross member 16, which extends horizontally and transversely to the vehicle at the lower end of the front wall 14. The bracket 28 has, for example, a flange 30, via which the bracket 28 is welded or otherwise joined to the front wall cross member 16 and / or the front wall 14.

[0024] As can be further seen from Figures 2 and 3, the console 28 comprises a plug-in area 32, which is connected to the lower end area 20 of the laterally associated A-pillar 22 by forming a positive-locking plug connection 35. For this purpose, the lower end area 20 of the A-pillar has a hollow profile or the like, the clear cross-section of which is adapted to the outer cross-section of the plug-in area 32 of the console 28. The two components – the console 28 and the A-pillar 22 – can also be fastened to one another by means of a joining connection and / or mechanical fasteners. By being inserted or recessed into the end area 20 of the corresponding A-pillar 22, the console 28 simultaneously acts as a support for the A-pillar 22.

[0025] Furthermore, it is particularly evident from Fig. 2 that the console 28 is connected to the front end region 24 of the laterally associated side sill 26. In the present case, this is achieved by connecting the console 28 to an energy absorption element 34 integrated into the front end region 24 of the laterally associated side sill 26. The energy absorption element 34 is, for example, integrated into the box profile of the side sill 26 and arranged on its upper side.

[0026] Console 28 also has connection points for connecting the console to an energy storage housing of the vehicle's drive system.

[0027] Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c show sectional views of the described connection arrangement and of an energy storage device 36 for an electric drive of the vehicle, located below the vehicle floor of the passenger compartment 12 and below the console 28. Figure 4a shows a sectional view through the connection arrangement along a section plane extending transversely and vertically to the vehicle. Figure 4b shows a partially enlarged view in the area of ​​the side sill 26. Figure 4c shows a sectional view through the connection arrangement along a section plane extending longitudinally and vertically to the vehicle in the area of ​​the side sill 26.

[0028] In conjunction with the perspective view from below according to Fig. 3 and the three sectional views according to Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c, it becomes particularly evident that the console 28 has respective connection points 38 in the form of integrally molded domes 40, which penetrate the energy absorption element 34 within the side sill 26. The energy storage unit 36 ​​is connected to the console 28 via these domes 40, for example, by screwing the energy storage unit 36 ​​to the console 28 with screws 42, as shown in Fig. 4c.

[0029] Overall, a connection arrangement is thus created in which the cast aluminum console 28 supports the front wall crossmember 16 and is simultaneously integrated into the A-pillar base. The console 28 in the A-pillar base is positively connected to the energy absorption element 34 and is bolted to the energy storage unit 36 ​​in the vehicle's vertical direction. The console 22, which is recessed into the A-pillar 22, simultaneously acts as a support for the A-pillar and as a bearing for the energy storage unit 36.

[0030] The present connection arrangement prevents the upper A-pillar 22 from detaching from the side sill 26 in a frontal crash. Additionally, the bending stiffness of the front wall crossmember 16 is improved.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Connection arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a front wall cross member (16) extending along a front front wall (14) of a passenger compartment (12), which is connected at its respective lateral end region (18) in a respective front corner region (10) of the passenger compartment (12) to a lower end region (20) of a laterally associated A-pillar (22) and to a front end region (24) of a laterally associated side sill (26), characterized in that a console (28) is arranged in the respective front corner region (10) of the passenger compartment (12), via which the end region (18) of the front wall cross member (16) is connected to the lower end region (20) of the laterally associated A-pillar (22).

2. Connection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the console (28) is positively connected to the lower end region (20) of the laterally associated A-pillar (22) via a plug connection (35).

3. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the console (28) is connected to the front end region (24) of the laterally associated side sill (26).

4. Connection arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the console (28) is connected to an energy absorption element (34) integrated into the front end region (18, 20, 24) of the laterally associated side sill (26).

5. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the console (28) also has connection points (38) for connecting the console (28) to an energy storage housing (36) of a drive of the motor vehicle.

6. Connection arrangement according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the connection points (38) of the console (28) are formed by domes (40) which penetrate the energy absorption element (34).

7. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the console (28) is designed as a cast component, in particular an aluminium cast component.

8. Motor vehicle with at least one connection arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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