Body component of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a body component of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, having an outer shell which is visible from the outside when the body component is attached to the motor vehicle, wherein the outer shell is produced from carbon composite material. According to the invention, the body component is composed of two subcomponents, a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent, which are produced individually from carbon composite material, wherein the outer shell is formed with the first subcomponent and the two subcomponents are connected to one another in a positionally fixed manner by means of an adhesive connection.

Description

[0001] ILM021

[0002] -1-

[0003] Description

[0004] Body component of a motor vehicle

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to a body component of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, with an outer shell which is visible from the outside when the body component is attached to the motor vehicle, wherein the outer shell is made of carbon composite material.

[0007] The term "body component with an outer shell" refers to any type of component attached to a motor vehicle within its outer skin and contributing to its appearance. "Body" encompasses any type of basic structure of the motor vehicle, such as a frame, wheel support, floor assembly, or similar components.

[0008] Motor vehicle body components must meet high demands in terms of strength, weight, and aesthetics. Body components made of glass fiber reinforced plastic or carbon fiber are well-known for this purpose. These components offer high strength properties, but they also present additional challenges regarding shaping and the secure attachment to the vehicle. Furthermore, aesthetics and aerodynamic efficiency are not always considered in these comparatively high-quality body components.

[0009] -2-

[0010] The reason is that it is comparatively complex and expensive to manufacture such body components from fiberglass-reinforced plastic or carbon fiber.

[0011] Underlying task

[0012] The invention is based on the objective of creating a body component for a motor vehicle in which these challenges are solved in a particularly cost-effective manner. In particular, such glass fiber reinforced plastic components for motor vehicles, which often have a comparatively complex shape structure, should be manufactured particularly cost-effectively.

[0013] Inventive solution

[0014] This problem is solved according to the invention with a body component of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, with an outer shell which is visible from the outside when the body component is attached to the motor vehicle, wherein the outer shell is made of carbon composite material and wherein the body component is composed of two sub-components, a first sub-component and a second sub-component, which are individually made of carbon composite material, in which at least a part of the outer shell is formed with the first sub-component and which are permanently connected to each other by means of an adhesive connection.

[0015] According to the invention, a body component of a motor vehicle, which is made of glass fiber reinforced plastic or a carbon composite material, is subdivided into several sub-components, which are then in turn coupled to each other in a fixed position by means of at least one adhesive connection.

[0016] In this way, according to the invention, it is possible to manufacture the individual sub-components relatively cost-effectively using conventional manufacturing processes for carbon composite materials. At the same time, the sub-components ILM021 can then be used to produce

[0017] -3-

[0018] Significantly more complex body components can be manufactured. According to the invention, at least one adhesive bond is specifically used, so that on the one hand the requirements of motor vehicles with regard to strength and stiffness are met, while on the other hand the aesthetic and aerodynamic requirements of such motor vehicles can also be satisfied.

[0019] Advantageous further developments of the invention

[0020] In an advantageous further development of the invention, a first surface shape, in particular a shell shape, is formed with the first sub-part, and a second surface shape is formed with the second sub-part.

[0021] In the context of a motor vehicle body component, the term "surface shape" refers to the external form or shape of the sub-component. This shape is essentially a two-dimensional surface that extends relatively little into the third dimension. The surface shape particularly influences the manufacturability of the sub-component because it then encloses a relatively small volume and can therefore be produced in a mold with a comparatively small height or thickness.

[0022] The sub-components according to the invention preferably form surface shapes because such shapes can be produced individually, even in conventional manufacturing processes with carbon composite material, at a comparatively low cost.

[0023] By selectively combining several such surface shapes in such a way that they are largely oriented perpendicular to each other, as per the invention, even large-volume and comparatively complex shape structures can be created using the manufacturing process according to the invention. Therefore, according to the invention, it is particularly preferred that the two surface shapes are aligned at an angle of ILM021

[0024] -4-

[0025] They are aligned between 45° and 135°, particularly at an angle between 75° and 105°. This allows for the production of L-shaped body components, especially in their overall structure.

[0026] The second sub-component is preferably equipped with a fastening element for permanently attaching the body component to the vehicle. In this way, the first sub-component can create an aesthetically pleasing body shape for the associated vehicle, while the second sub-component ensures its secure attachment to the rest of the vehicle. As explained above, this combination of the two sub-components can be comparatively complex. Such a complex structure of surface shapes would otherwise be very costly and expensive to produce, particularly using large-volume molds.

[0027] A third substructure component is also preferably provided according to the invention, which is likewise permanently connected to the first component by means of an adhesive bond. With such a third substructure component, the body structure according to the invention can be further diversified and meet the aforementioned aesthetic and aerodynamic requirements.

[0028] Another embodiment of this solution according to the invention is characterized in that the third sub-component also forms a surface shape. With such an additional, in the broadest sense "slightly curved" surface, U-shaped body components can be manufactured, particularly in their overall structure.

[0029] The third substructure is preferably also provided with a fastening means for permanently attaching the body component to the vehicle. According to the invention, both the first and the third substructure can preferably serve for fastening to the rest of the vehicle, thus creating a particularly rigid overall structure. ILM021

[0030] -5-

[0031] Accordingly, the solution according to the invention can be used to design a wheel cover for a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, which would otherwise only be possible with considerably more expensive manufacturing processes.

[0032] The invention is also directed to a method for manufacturing a body component of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, with an outer shell that is to be attached to the motor vehicle.

[0033] In the inventive method, a first sub-component is first manufactured from a carbon composite material, and a second sub-component is then manufactured from the same carbon composite material. The two sub-components are then permanently joined together by means of an adhesive bond.

[0034]

[0035] the

[0036] An exemplary embodiment of a solution according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. It shows:

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a front view of a bodywork component according to the invention.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the body component according to Fig. 1.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows section III according to Fig. 2 and

[0040] Fig. 4 shows detail IV according to Fig. 3.ILM021

[0041] -6-

[0042] Detailed description of the exemplary embodiment

[0043] The figure shows an embodiment of a body component 10 of a motor vehicle not further illustrated, wherein the body component 10 is designed here as a wheel cover of a motorcycle wheel.

[0044] The body component 10 is designed with a first sub-component 12, which, according to Figures 1 and 2, extends substantially horizontally in the upper area of ​​the body component and forms a substantially horizontal, only comparatively slightly curved first surface 14. The first sub-component 12 is made of a carbon composite material and, when installed on the vehicle, functions as a mudguard for the wheel.

[0045] A second substructure 16 and a third substructure 18 project downwards from the first substructure 12. These two further substructures 16 and 18 are also made of a carbon composite material. They each have a substantially two-dimensional shape or second surface shape 20 and are each designed with a fastening element 22 such that they can be permanently attached to a support structure of the vehicle (not shown here).

[0046] The first sub-component 12 is permanently connected to the second sub-component 16 at a first coupling area 24 by means of a first adhesive bond. Similarly, the first sub-component 12 is permanently connected to the third sub-component 18 at a second coupling area 28 by means of a second adhesive bond 30. At the adhesive bonds 26 and 30, the second sub-component 16 and the third sub-component 18, respectively, are located inside the first sub-component 12, i.e., on the inside side of the first sub-component 12. The first sub-component 12 thus covers the respective second sub-component 16 and third sub-component 18.

[0047] -7-

[0048] Substructure 18 is partially shaped like a scale or shingle. Liquid, such as rainwater, can thus flow downwards from the first substructure 12 to the second substructure 16 or the third substructure 18 from above, without this liquid reaching the first adhesive joint 26 or the second adhesive joint 30.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that all features mentioned in the application documents and, in particular, in the dependent claims, are to be afforded independent protection, even individually or in any combination, despite the formal reference made to one or more specific claims. ILM021

[0050] -8-

[0051] Reference symbol list

[0052] 10 Body component

[0053] 12 first substructure component

[0054] 14 first surface shape

[0055] 16 second substructure component

[0056] 18 third substructure component

[0057] 20 second surface shape

[0058] 22 Fasteners

[0059] 24 first coupling area

[0060] 26 first adhesive bond

[0061] 28 second coupling area

[0062] 30 second adhesive bond

Claims

ILM021 -9- Claims 1. Body component (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, with an outer shell which is visible from the outside when the body component (10) is attached to the motor vehicle, wherein the outer shell is made of carbon composite material, characterized by the fact that the body component is composed of two sub-components, a first sub-component (12) and a second sub-component (16), which are individually made of carbon composite material, in which the outer shell is formed with the first sub-component (12) and which are permanently connected to each other by means of an adhesive connection (26).

2. Body component according to claim 1, characterized in that a first surface shape (14), in particular a shell shape, is formed with the first sub-part (12) and a second surface shape (20) is formed with the second sub-part (16).

3. Body component according to claim 2, characterized in that the two surface shapes (14, 20) are aligned at an angle of between 45° and 135°, in particular at an angle of between 75° and 105° to each other.

4. Body component according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second sub-component (16) is provided with a fastening means (22) for permanently attaching the body component (10) to the vehicle. ILM021 -10- 5. Body component according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a third sub-component (18) is provided which is also permanently connected to the first sub-component (12) by means of a further adhesive connection (30).

6. Body component according to claim 5, characterized in that a surface shape (20) is also formed with the third sub-component (18).

7. Body component according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the third sub-component (18) is also provided with a fastening means (22) for the stationary attachment of the body component (10) to the vehicle.

8. Body component according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is designed as a wheel cover for the motor vehicle.

9. Method for manufacturing a body component (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, which has an outer shell to be attached to the motor vehicle, characterized in that first a first sub-component (12) is manufactured from a carbon composite material, furthermore a second sub-component (16) is manufactured from such a carbon composite material, and subsequently the two sub-components (12, 16) are permanently connected to each other by means of an adhesive bond (26).

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