Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-11-27
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
C296S182100, C296S209000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322135
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 which 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.
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 which 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 having an inner section and an outer section comprising an outer panel structure forming the outer section of the body structure, and an inner closed section structure disposed along an inner side configuration of the outer panel structure and attached to the outer panel structure, the inner closed section structure having a sectional configuration which changes in accordance with changes in the inner side configuration of the outer panel structure and having a closed section which is made of a single member, the outer panel structure having a part which functions as the inner section of the body structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer panel structure is an integral panel forming at least a roof rail outer and a center pillar outer, and the inner closed section structure is integrally disposed along areas of the roof rail outer and the center pillar outer of the outer panel structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer panel structure is an integral panel forming at least a center pillar outer and a side sill outer, and the inner closed section structure is integrally disposed along areas of the center pillar outer and the side sill-outer of the outer panel structure.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer panel structure is an integral panel forming at least a center pillar outer and a roof outer, and the inner closed section structure is integrally disposed along areas of the center pillar outer and the roof outer of the outer panel structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer panel structure is an integral panel forming at least a center pillar outer and a floor outer, and the inner closed section structure is integrally disposed along areas of the center pillar outer and the floor outer of the outer panel structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner closed section structure has a closed section integrally disposed along areas of a center pillar section, a roof section and a floor section of the outer panel structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner closed section structure has a closed section integrally disposed along areas of a center pillar section, a roof section, a floor section and a roof rail section of the outer panel structure.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner closed section structure has a closed section integrally disposed along areas of a center pillar section, a roof section, a floor section and a side sill of the outer panel structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer panel structure is manufactured by press molding, and the inner closed section structure is manufactured by a tube hydraulic forming method.
In still further another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the integral panel of the outer panel 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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patent: 9-30345 (1997-02-01), None
patent: 9-150752 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 10-95365 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 10-95364 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 10-138950 (1998-05-01), None
Harasaki Hayatsugu
Okana Fumio
Mazda Motor Corporation
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Pape Joseph D.
Studebaker Donald R.
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