Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-04-17
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
C296S182100, C296S182100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217109
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a body structure of a motor vehicle, and in particular to a body structure of a motor vehicle that is provided with a structure manufactured by a tube hydraulic forming method or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is conventionally known that a hollow structure is obtained by supplying high-pressure fluid such as oil into a raw tube and deforming the tube into a predetermined configuration by using a tube hydraulic forming method.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 8-337182 discloses a body structure of a motor vehicle which is provided with two hollow structures formed by a tube hydraulic forming method. In the vehicle body structure, the two hollow structures are mutually connected along a partial area of its longitudinal direction.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 9-150752 discloses a vehicle body frame structure that comprises a plurality of hoop-shaped members. The hoop-shaped members are obtained by extruding raw aluminum alloy into hollow members and bending the hollow members. Then, the body frame structure is formed by welding the members to make a doorframe and the like.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 10-218017 discloses a center pillar structure of a motor vehicle that is reinforced by an extruded reinforcement which is made of a single member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,585 discloses a motor vehicle body, which is provided with extruded hollow profiles or structures.
Similar examples of such conventional art are also disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publications No. 10-95364, No. 10-95365, No. 9-30345, No. 10-138950 and No. 8-192238.
Since a hollow structure is formed by uniformly pressurizing a raw tube from its inner side by using a tube hydraulic forming method, the hollow structure can be made from materials such as ultra-high-strength steel. The ultra-high-strength steel has greater tensile strength than material of the conventional structure formed by press molding. As a result, since the hollow structure has greater proof stress and therefore has great strength, the weight of the vehicle body can be decreased. Accordingly, as mentioned above, many vehicle body structures provided with hollow structures formed by the tube hydraulic forming method have been proposed.
However, such hollow structures formed by the tube hydraulic forming method are not enough applied to the vehicle body structure, and various applications of the hollow structures to the vehicle body structure therefore have been demanded.
Further, the application of a hollow structure or a closed section structure made by other than the tube hydraulic forming method to a vehicle body structure also has been demanded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a body structure of a motor vehicle that is both light in weight and increased in rigidity or stiffness.
The above object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a body structure of a motor vehicle comprising a first closed section structure having a first closed section which is made of a plurality of members, and a second closed section structure having a second closed section, the second closed section structure being disposed within the first closed section of the first closed section structure and made of a single member, the second closed section structure having a section configuration which changes in accordance with changes in the inner side configuration of the first closed section structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first closed section structure has the first closed section which integrally forms at least a roof rail and a center pillar, and the second closed section is integrally disposed along areas of the roof rail and the center pillar of the first closed section structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first closed section structure has the first closed section which integrally forms at least a center pillar and a side sill, and the second closed section is integrally disposed along areas of the center pillar and the side sill of the first closed section structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first closed section structure has the first closed section which integrally forms at least a roof rail, a center pillar and a side sill, and the second closed section is integrally disposed along areas of the roof rail, the center pillar and the side sill of the first closed section structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, one surface of the first closed section of the first closed section and one surface of the second closed section of the second closed section are mutually connected at predetermined portions thereof.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, one surface of the first closed section of the first closed section and one surface of the second closed section of the second closed section are mutually connected at predetermined portions thereof by a fixing member penetrating through the surfaces of the first and second closed section structures.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member fixes a door hinge to the first and second closed section structures.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined portion of the second closed section structure is filled with filler material for reinforcement.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of node members are provided along the vehicle front and rear direction within a space between the first and second closed section structures.
In further another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first closed section structure is manufactured by press molding, and the second closed section structure is manufactured by a tube hydraulic forming method.
In still further another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first closed section structure has a flange to which seal means is attached.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description by taking reference with accompanying drawings employed for preferred embodiments of the present invention.
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Harasaki Hayatsugu
Okana Fumio
Mazda Motor Corporation
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
Studebaker Donald R.
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