Connection arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a front bulkhead cross member (14), which runs across a front bulkhead (10) of the passenger compartment (12) and has, on each vehicle side, a lateral end portion (18) connected to a lower end portion (20) of a laterally situated A-pillar (16), and which supports a rear end portion (26) of a laterally situated longitudinal member (22). Each vehicle side is equipped with a support structure (32), the lower end portion (34) of which supports the rear end portion (26) of the corresponding longitudinal member (22) and the upper end portion (36) of which is supported by the A-pillar (16), the lower end portion (34) of the support structure (32) being inserted into the front bulkhead cross member (14).

Description

[0001] 2024P0700WQ

[0002] 1

[0003] Mercedes-Benz Group AG Mr. Thoms

[0004] September 29, 2025

[0005] Connection arrangement for a motor vehicle

[0006] The invention relates to a connection arrangement for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] From EP 0 836 983 B1, a connection arrangement for a motor vehicle is already known with a front wall cross member running along a front end wall of the passenger compartment, which is connected with its respective lateral end region to a lower end region of a laterally associated A-pillar on each side of the vehicle and on which a rear end region of a laterally associated longitudinal member is supported.

[0008] Typically, the respective end section of the front wall cross member is attached to the inside of the lower end section of the laterally associated A-pillar using appropriate joining technology, for example spot welding.

[0009] If a frontal collision results in a force being transmitted into the bulkhead crossmember via the respective main longitudinal member, the joint between the respective end of the bulkhead crossmember and the lower end of the corresponding A-pillar is subjected to considerable forces. This can potentially even lead to at least partial failure of the joint.

[0010] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a connection arrangement of the aforementioned type which exhibits improved crash behavior in a frontal collision of the motor vehicle. 2024P0700WQ

[0011] 2

[0012] This problem is solved according to the invention by a connection arrangement with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further connections of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] The connection arrangement according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprises a front wall cross member extending along a front wall of the passenger compartment, which is connected on each side of the vehicle with its respective lateral end region to a lower end region of a laterally associated A-pillar and on which a rear end region of a laterally associated longitudinal member is supported.

[0014] To create a connection arrangement with improved crash behavior in a frontal collision of the vehicle, a support structure is arranged on each side of the vehicle according to the invention. The rear end of the corresponding longitudinal member is supported at the lower end of this support structure, and the upper end of this support structure is supported at the A-pillar. The support structure thus provides additional support for the corresponding laterally adjacent longitudinal member and connects it to the corresponding laterally adjacent A-pillar. For example, a rigid node is created at the rear end or root point of the respective longitudinal member, which provides additional stiffness. The support structure can therefore optimally transfer the force introduced via the longitudinal member to the A-pillar in the event of a frontal collision.According to the invention, the lower end region of the support structure is further provided that it is inserted into the end wall cross member. This results in a particularly rigid node at the rear end region or root point of the corresponding longitudinal beam through the combination of the end wall cross member and the support structure inserted therein.

[0015] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in one embodiment of the invention, a front wall section of the end wall cross member is arranged between the lower end region of the support structure and the rear end region of the laterally corresponding longitudinal member. This allows the rear end region of the respective longitudinal member to be connected to the support structure via the wall section of the end wall cross member, resulting, for example, in a composite consisting of three sheet metal layers. 2024P0700WQ

[0016] 3

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the upper end region of the support structure is supported at the front of the laterally associated A-pillar, relative to the vehicle's longitudinal direction. In the event of a force being introduced via the corresponding longitudinal member as a result of a frontal collision, and acting rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the A-pillar thus provides rearward support for the lateral end region of the support structure. In other words, the corresponding lateral end region of the support structure is positioned in front of the laterally corresponding A-pillar to achieve a quasi-positive locking connection and support of the support structure to the A-pillar, which is independent of the quality of the joining technology.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the support structure is designed as a shell component, which is closed by the end wall. The combination of the shell component and the end wall results in a box profile for the support structure, which is particularly stable and easy to manufacture.

[0019] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the upper end region of the support structure, relative to the vehicle's vertical direction, is arranged above the laterally associated end region of the front wall crossmember, and the lower end region of the support structure, relative to the vehicle's transverse direction, is arranged on the inside of the laterally associated end region of the A-pillar. This results in an arrangement of the support structure between the front wall crossmember and the A-pillar at an angle, so that an overall particularly well-stiffened frame structure is formed, against which the laterally associated longitudinal member is supported to the rear.

[0020] Further advantages 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 those 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. 2024P0700WQ

[0021] 4

[0022] This shows:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a partial perspective view of a connection arrangement according to the invention for a motor vehicle, with a front wall cross member extending along a front end wall of the passenger compartment, which is connected on each side of the vehicle with its respective lateral end region to a lower end region of a laterally associated A-pillar and on which a rear end region of a laterally associated longitudinal member is supported, wherein a support structure is arranged on each side of the vehicle, at the lower end region of which the rear end region of the corresponding longitudinal member is supported and the upper end region of which is supported on the A-pillar; and

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a partial front view of the connection arrangement according to Fig. 1.

[0025] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a partial perspective view of the body of a passenger car and Fig. 2 shows a partial front view showing a connection arrangement with a front wall cross member 14 running along a front front wall 10 of the passenger compartment 12.

[0027] The front wall 10 extends in the vertical and transverse directions of the vehicle, where it is laterally limited by a respective A-pillar 16 or connects to it on the inside. The front wall 10 extends upwards to a cross member under the cowl, which is not visible, and against which the lower end of the vehicle's windshield is also supported.

[0028] The front wall crossmember 14, which runs along the underside of the front wall 10, is connected on each side of the vehicle at its respective lateral end section 18 to a lower end section 20 of the laterally associated A-pillar 16. The front wall crossmember 2024P0700WQ

[0029] 5

[0030] 14 extends essentially at the level of a respective column root 28 of the A-pillar 16, above which the A-pillar is supported on a front end section 30 of a laterally corresponding side sill 40. It is also evident that a longitudinal member 22 is supported at the level of a main longitudinal member plane of a front-end structure 24 of the body with a rear end section 26. An identical, mirrored arrangement of a corresponding longitudinal member 22 is located on the opposite side of the vehicle.

[0031] As can now be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, an approximately arc-shaped support structure 32 is arranged on the corresponding side of the vehicle - here in the forward direction of travel on the left side of the vehicle - at whose lower end region 34 the rear end region 26 of the corresponding longitudinal member 22 is at least indirectly supported and whose upper end region 36 is supported on the A-pillar 16.

[0032] More precisely, the lower end section 34 of the support structure 32 is inserted into the end wall crossbeam 14, in which a corresponding recess is provided on the upper side. This creates a front wall section 38 of the end wall crossbeam 14 between the lower end section 34 of the support structure 32 and the rear end section 26 of the laterally corresponding longitudinal beam 22. This allows the rear end section 26 of the respective longitudinal beam 22 to be connected to the support structure 32 via the wall section 38 of the end wall crossbeam 14, resulting, for example, in a composite consisting of three sheet metal layers. Thus, a particularly rigid node is formed at the respective rear end section 26, or root point, of the corresponding longitudinal beam 22 by the combination of the end wall crossbeam 14 and the support structure 32 inserted therein.

[0033] The support structure 32 is, for example, formed by a shell component made of sheet metal, which is closed to form a box profile by the end wall 10, which is also made of sheet metal. A design of the support structure 32 from a profile, for example an extruded profile, would also be conceivable in principle.

[0034] The upper end section 36 of the support structure 32 is supported and fastened at the front of the laterally associated A-pillar 16 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Or, in other words, the support structure 32 covers the 2024P0700WQ

[0035] 6 corresponding A-pillar 16 in the transverse direction of the vehicle outwards. This also applies to the front wall cross member 14, which is also supported and fastened to the front of the laterally associated A-pillar 16 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, or which covers the corresponding A-pillar 16 in the transverse direction of the vehicle outwards.

[0036] The overlapping arrangement of both the support structure 32 and the front wall cross member 14 in the transverse direction of the vehicle in front of the A-pillar provides particularly good support for these components when, as a result of a frontal collision, correspondingly high forces are introduced via the longitudinal member 22, which can be absorbed by the support structure 32 and the front wall cross member 14 and supported at the A-pillar 16 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the rear.

[0037] By arranging the upper end region 36 of the support structure 32 in relation to the vehicle's vertical direction above the laterally associated end region 18 of the front wall cross member 14 and arranging the lower end region 34 of the support structure 32 in relation to the vehicle's transverse direction inside the laterally associated end region 20 of the A-pillar 16, the support structure 32 extends diagonally in this case, so that the stiffness of the body can be further increased.

Claims

Mercedes-Benz Group AG Mr. Thoms September 29, 2025 Patent claims 1. Connection arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a front wall cross member (14) extending along a front front wall (10) of the passenger compartment (12), which is connected on each side of the vehicle with its respective lateral end region (18) to a lower end region (20) of a laterally associated A-pillar (16) and on which a rear end region (26) of a laterally associated longitudinal member (22) is supported, characterized in that a support structure (32) is arranged on each side of the vehicle, the rear end region (26) of the corresponding longitudinal member (22) is supported on the lower end region (34) of which the upper end region (36) is supported on the A-pillar (16) and that the lower end region (34) of the support structure (32) is inserted into the front wall cross member (14).

2. Connection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a front wall area (38) of the end wall cross member (14) is arranged between the lower end region (34) of the support structure (32) and the rear end region (26) of the laterally corresponding longitudinal member (22).

3. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper end region (36) of the support structure (32) is supported in front of the laterally associated A-pillar (16) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

4. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral end region (18) of the front wall cross member (14) is supported in front of the laterally associated A-pillar (16) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

5. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (32) is designed as a shell component which is closed by the end wall (10).

6. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper end region (36) of the support structure (32) is arranged above the laterally associated end region (18) of the front wall cross member (14) with respect to the vehicle's vertical direction.

7. Connection arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower end region (34) of the support structure (32) is arranged inside the laterally associated end region (20) of the A-pillar (16) with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle.

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