Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Patent
1993-06-15
1995-03-21
Pedder, Dennis H.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
296188, 296202, 296205, 29557, 29558, 527316, 72254, B62D 2504
Patent
active
053989899
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD
The present invention relates generally to improvements in motor vehicle bodywork fabrication, and more particularly to an improved central pillar assembly (B post) for a passenger car bodywork and fabrication method thereof.
BACKGROUND
In passenger cars of the type having a self-supporting bodywork, the bodywork, including the bearing structure, is typically made from a plurality of sheet metal pieces. The hollow section bearers of the bearing structure are formed by welding together at least two deep-drawn metal sheets. An example where such hollow section bearers are used as central pillars in a vehicle bodywork is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,192,075.
The central pillars of the vehicle bodywork perform an important function in the bearing structure since they provide the necessary rigidity for the passenger compartment. As a consequence, they must be able to withstand heavy loads, especially during a side impact. Due to the requirements expected of such central pillars, the cross sectional configuration of the central pillars must have a conically upward taper over its entire vertical length and must also include a door sealing flange which extends over the entire length as a bearing surface. Furthermore, the central pillars preferably include recesses for receiving door hinges, lock bolts and the like.
In accordance with conventional sheet metal fabrication techniques, it is possible to form a central pillar member having the desired conical cross section which also includes all the necessary recesses formed integrally therewith. However, the rigidity of a hollow section central pillar fabricated solely from two sheet metal halves is insufficient to provide satisfactory protection for the passengers in a side collision. Thus, such structures require extensive and costly reinforcement measures, including the use of several additional sheet metal parts, in order to provide the necessary strength and rigidity characteristics.
The steel sheets used to construct such self-supporting vehicle bodyworks are typically shaped in a deep drawing process. While the dies used for shaping the steel sheets are relatively expensive, they do provide a cost-favorable solution for mass production since they permit large production runs. However, in view of the high investment costs for tooling, the aforesaid process is very cost-intensive for smaller production runs.
A more cost-favorable solution for small production runs is known, for example, from European patent document EP 0 146 716. In this document, a vehicle bodywork construction for a passenger car is disclosed wherein the bearing structure for the bodywork comprises hollow section frame members joined by node connector elements. The hollow section frame members are formed as extruded aluminum sections and the node connector elements are formed as light metal (e.g., aluminum alloy) castings. In addition to providing a more cost-favorable solution for small production runs, the aluminum bodywork disclosed in EP 0 146 716 is both lighter in weight and is more resistant to corrosion than a sheet metal bodywork.
However, in the specific embodiment described according to this prior art, the central pillars which connect the extruded aluminum side roof frame members to the aluminum door sills comprise sheet metal components instead of aluminum components. The reason being is that it is unconventional to use extruded sections for structural components which require a variable cross section, (such as, for example, the conical central pillar in this case) since extruded sections have a constant cross section over their entire length in view of the limitations inherent to the extrusion processes.
A frame-like bearing structure for vehicles comprising multi-chamber extruded sections fitted together by narrow chamber slots is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Document JP-A-59 050 938. According to this document, a compound bearer having diverging branch-like sections is produced by separating the outer walls of the chamber slots at specified lengthwise regi
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patent: 2192075 (1940-02-01), Gregoire
patent: 2197644 (1940-04-01), Krogh
patent: 4826238 (1989-05-01), Misono et al.
patent: 4986597 (1991-01-01), Clausen
patent: 4988230 (1991-01-01), Banthia et al.
Enning Norbert
Klages Ulrich
Reiter Karl
Schmolke Klaus
Winter Karin
Audi A.G.
Dulin Jacques M.
Pedder Dennis H.
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