Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Dashboards
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-20
2001-10-23
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Dashboards
C296S072000, C296S182100, C296S208000, C180S090000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to a dashboard cockpit of an automotive vehicle comprising a structural body including “A” pillars.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the concerned field, such a cockpit having a main direction and a length along said main direction is already known, the main direction crossing two lateral sides of the cockpit which are adapted to be located near said “A” pillars of the vehicle. Typically, such a cockpit is adapted to withstand a determined maximum force, and comprises:
fixation means for fixing the cockpit to the structural body of the vehicle and for transferring from one to the other, at least a part of the maximum force,
transversal reinforcing means extending substantially along the main direction.
EP-B-0 185 856 describes such a cockpit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the aims of the invention is to provide for a synergy between some parts of such a cockpit, by avoiding the increase in the number of said parts and by conceiving these ones as multi-functional parts; in this way both a standardization of cockpits and an optimalization of at least some Of the functions of the parts are allowed.
In this aim, a characteristic of the invention provides that the transversal reinforcing means comprise a sole hollow cross beam which extends substantially along the main direction, on at least a main portion of said length, and which defines an air duct and is therefore connected to input means for air and to output means for air (directed towards the vehicle); a mechanical resistance allows said hollow cross beam to substantially withstand (all) the maximum force the cockpit must withstand.
As a consequence, a main portion of the cockpit will have both a function of structural withstanding and a function of optimalized air “distribution”. In this way, compared with usual solutions, this allows to substantially reduce length of air pipes and therefore loss of charge.
According to another characteristic of the invention, both the hollow cross beam (which defines the air duct) and the input means for air and the output means for air, are preferably integrated to a molded structural member, which is essentially made of plastic material, is substantially plate-shaped and is provided with at least some of the fixation means; said structural member being covered with a decorative covering connected thereto. The decorative covering is typically less mechanically shockproof than the structural member.
For fulfilling requirements not easily compatible related to costs, mass production, easiness of manufacturing, reliability and adaptability to various types of vehicles (“monospace”, saloon car, two-door sedan, . . . ) having different styles and therefore different dashboard conformations, the invention recommends that the cockpit comprises:
a first plate extending substantially in an horizontal plane and having a length along said main directions the first plate integrating a first upper portion of duct, open downwards and extending substantially along this direction,
a second plate extending substantially in an horizontal plane and having a length along the main direction, the second plate integrating a second lower portion of duct, open upwards, and extending substantially along this direction,
the first and second plates being connected together in order to define said air circulation duct.
Typically, in an automotive vehicle, vibrations and their transmission are an important problem.
The invention brings a solution to this problem consisting in providing a cockpit comprising an antivibration structure including a bracket to which is connected one of a steering column and a gear lever, for absorbing vibrations (alike to be) transmitted in (or towards) the column or the lever; the antivibration structure comprising at least two fixation areas located apart from each other for defining two connections with the structural body of the vehicle.
The invention describes advantageously this “antivibration structure” so as to have a structure alike to be fitted easily to cockpits intended to different vehicles, to fulfill requirements dictated by these different vehicles and to comply with constraints of reliability and costs in the concerned field; such a structure supplying its “antivibration” function with a mastered efficiency.
As a consequence, another characteristic of the invention recommends that the antivibration structure comprises:
one of an antivibration plate and a bar, extending substantially along the main direction of cockpit, in lower area of the cockpit, and to which is connected the steering column or the gear lever, for transmission of vibrations,
and at least a stem standing under the structure, the stem being connected to connection means for connecting it to the floor of the vehicle, in order to transmit said vibrations towards the floor.
For the above-mentioned considerations, and in order to optimalize the efficiency-costs ratio of the antivibration structure, another characteristic of the invention recommends that the antivibration structure extends from the lateral side of the cockpit which is the nearest to the steering column, to beyond the location area of the steering column, but only on a portion of the length of the cockpit.
Typically, in a vehicle, a heating and/or ventilating unit (which may include an air conditioning function) forms a rather voluminous block which is securely fastened to the structural body of the vehicle.
The invention proposes to take advantage of such a unit for connecting the cockpit to the structural body of the vehicle.
So according to another feature of the invention, the cockpit is preferably connected to heating and ventilating unit, through the antivibration structure, the heating and ventilating unit extending under the antivibration structure and being adapted for generating air at a regulated temperature to the input means for air of said air duct.
As regards said “antivibration structure” a privileged embodiment adapted for matching the above-mentioned double-plate structure and reaching the object of manufacture and effectiveness, as previously identified, consists in providing the antivibration structure with a plate extending substantially in an horizontal plane and having a length along said general direction, the plate being located under the structural member and being connected thereto, as well as to a substantially vertical force strut, at same distance from the lateral sides of the cockpit.
In relation to the connection between the cockpit and the heating and ventilating unit, another feature of the invention recommends that the cockpit further comprises sliding means for slidably connecting the heating and ventilating unit to the cockpit.
Another feature of the invention relates to an automotive vehicle having a longitudinal direction, two lateral sides extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction, and comprising:
a structural body including “A” pillars,
a cockpit (or dashboard) having a main direction and a length along said main direction, the main direction extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and crossing the two lateral sides of the cockpit which are adapted to be located near the “A” pillars of the vehicle, the cockpit being adapted to withstand a determined maximum force, the cockpit comprising:
fixation means for fixing the cockpit to the structural body of the vehicle and for transferring from one to the other at least a part of said determined maximum force,
transversal reinforcing means extending substantially along said main direction,
the vehicle being designed for withstanding a determined front shock punched along substantially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and which is transmitted to the cockpit through the structural body of said vehicle,
wherein the transversal reinforcing means comprises one hollow cross beam extending substantially in said main direction, on at least a main portion of said length, the hollow cross beam defining an air duct
Creutz Lydia
Rahmstorf Peter
Coletta Lori L
Gordon Stephen T.
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
Sai Automotive Allibert Industrie
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