Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Patent
1993-03-26
1995-01-31
Mitchell, David M.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
29614611, 49381, 16249, B60J 504
Patent
active
053853830
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
SPECIFICATION
1. Field
The invention relates generally to motor vehicle body construction and more particularly, the invention relates to an improved hollow section door pillar support structure in a motor vehicle body which is formed from extruded light metal components.
2. Background
In the typical modern day passenger car of the type having a self-supporting coachwork, the coachwork, including all of its supporting structural members, is made from sheet metal parts. Also, to improve rigidity, the supporting structural members are preferably formed as hollow section members and are made from two deep-drawn metal sheets which are welded together. Typically, the hollow section members comprise the main load bearing frame members such as the center pillars, bottom sill members, etc. Such hollow section members are also used as front door pillars, on which hinges are mounted for swivel connection of the vehicle doors.
In the particular the example of the hinge-connected door pillar, the parts of the hinge must be carefully adjusted at the time of assembly to ensure a proper fit of the car door within the cutout opening in the vehicle body. By the term "proper fit", it is meant that the door is in alignment with the outer vehicle body contour and that there is a uniform peripheral gap between the cutout opening and the door's perimeter edge. A properly fitted door must also exhibit a smooth swivel action. There are a number of generally known techniques which are used during the assembly procedure to accomplish the desired fit, such as for example, bending the hinge lugs, use of slot connections, use of ball hinges, etc. Typically, these fitting techniques require additional specialized adjustment devices which can make the adjustment work time consuming and labor intensive.
The metal sheets used to construct the self-supporting car bodies as described above are formed by deep drawing. While the dies used for forming the sheet metal into the desired configurations are relatively costly, they do provide for a very high production rate and therefore offer a cost-favorable solution for large series production of motor vehicles. However, due to the high cost of tooling, this technique is very cost-intensive for a small series production.
Accordingly, and with particular regard to overcoming the high cost consideration for small series production, a solution for an alternative car body fabrication technique is known whereby the hollow section members of the supporting structure of the vehicle coachwork are joined together by means of nodal connector elements. Such a technique is known, for example, from European patent document EP 146 716, wherein the hollow section members are formed from light metal extruded sections, most notably aluminum alloys, and the nodal elements are in the form of light metal castings. Besides achieving a more cost-favorable solution for small production runs, additional benefits of such an aluminum frame design include an overall lighter weight bodywork and an improved resistance to corrosion.
In the embodiment of the invention specifically illustrated in European patent document EP 0 146 716, the front door pillar is shown and described as a simple rectangular-section light metal extruded member. This patent document, however, does not specifically address the above described vehicle door fitting and alignment problems nor does it teach or suggest a solution for mounting the vehicle door to the front door pillar in a simple, cost-effective manner.
Accordingly, there is a definite need in the art for an improved door pillar construction of the generic type which facilitates swivel mounting and adjustment of a vehicle door in an easy and cost-favorable manner.
THE INVENTION
Objects
It is a principle of the present invention to provide an improved door pillar assembly which includes an extruded light metal, hollow-bodied, front door pillar construction of a generic type useful in small series production of motor vehicle coachworks and having channels with slot-like holes formed alo
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patent: 959001 (1910-05-01), Tritsch
patent: 1686897 (1928-10-01), Carlson
patent: 1842539 (1932-01-01), Carlson
patent: 2122007 (1938-06-01), Kearney
patent: 4652043 (1987-03-01), Hurlburt
patent: 4881296 (1989-11-01), Marinoni
patent: 5094504 (1992-03-01), Wurl
Enning Norbert
Klages Ulrich
Kreis Gundolf
Timm Heinrich
Audi A.G.
Dulin Jacques M.
Hoge Gary C.
Mitchell David M.
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