IP Library Granted Patent US 7,594,691
Granted Patent B2
US 7,594,691 · App. 10/599,211 · Granted Sep 29, 2009

Motor vehicle with side-impact reinforcement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,594,691
App. No.
10/599,211
Granted
Sep 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle having a B-pillar, a side-sill arrangement into which the B-pillar extends and a transverse reinforcement that extends in the transverse direction to above the side-sill arrangement and adjacent to a lower end of the B-pillar, is characterized in that a plate-like impact element arranged in the longitudinal direction and upright, is connected on an inside side outer end of transverse reinforcement.

Claims (29)

1. A vehicle ( 2 ), comprising:

two side sill arrangements ( 8 );

two B-pillars ( 10 ) extending into the side-sill arrangements ( 8 );

a transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) extending above the side-sill arrangements ( 8 ) and adjacent to a lower end of the B-pillars ( 10 ) in a direction transverse to the vehicle; and

a plate-like impact element ( 22 ), arranged in a direction longitudinal to the vehicle and substantially upright, the plate-like impact element ( 22 ) having an inside ( 29 ) that is connected to a side outer end ( 28 ) of the transverse reinforcement ( 16 );

wherein the transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) extends between the two B-pillars ( 10 ) and the two side-sill arrangements ( 8 ) of the vehicle and is provided on both sides of the vehicle with an impact element ( 22 ).

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the side outer end ( 28 ) of the transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) is arranged in the direction of travel behind the B-pillar ( 10 ).

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the side outer end ( 28 ) of the transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) protrudes in the lateral direction beyond an outside ( 32 ) of the B-pillar ( 10 ), so that the inside ( 29 ) of the impact element ( 22 ) has a spacing (d) from the outside ( 32 ) of B-pillar ( 10 ).

4. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a lower-edge ( 30 ) of each impact element ( 22 ) is connected to each side-sill arrangement ( 8 ).

5. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a lower edge ( 30 ) of each impact element ( 22 ) is arranged supported against an outside of each side-sill arrangement ( 8 ).

6. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) at least partially covers the side outer end ( 28 ) of the transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) in the B-pillar ( 10 ) in the longitudinal direction.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein an outer surface ( 27 ) of each impact element is arranged vertically or sloped outward from a vertical position at an angle (α).

8. A vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein each angle (α) of the impact element ( 22 ) is adapted to an outer shell contour ( 18 ) of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) extends to a height of about 60 cm above the ground.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each impact element has an essentially horizontal upper edge.

11. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) is bonded and/or shape-fitted with the transverse reinforcement ( 16 ).

12. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) is designed as a plate made of a solid material.

13. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) is designed as a plate-like composite part.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) has an inner shell ( 40 ), an outer shell ( 42 ), and a reinforcement structure ( 44 ) arranged between the inner shell ( 40 ) and the outer shell ( 42 ).

15. A vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) is designed as a honeycomb sheet, in which the inner and outer shells ( 40 , 42 ) consist of sheet metal and the reinforcement structure ( 44 ) consists of sheet metal angled in a zigzag manner.

16. A vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein each impact element ( 22 ) is designed as a honeycomb sheet in which the inner and outer shells ( 40 , 42 ) are formed from sheet metal and the reinforcement structure is designed in the form of honeycomb elements extending in the transverse direction.

17. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein an outer surface ( 27 ) of each impact element ( 22 ) is sloped outward from a vertical position at an angle (α) within a range from 2° to 20°.

18. A vehicle ( 2 ), comprising:

a side sill arrangement ( 8 );

a B-pillar ( 10 ) extending into the side-sill arrangement ( 8 );

a transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) extending above the side-sill arrangement ( 8 ) and adjacent to a lower end of the B-pillar ( 10 ) in a direction transverse to the vehicle; and

a plate-like impact element ( 22 ), arranged in a direction longitudinal to the vehicle and substantially upright, the plate-like impact element ( 22 ) having an inside ( 29 ) that is connected to a side outer end ( 28 ) of the transverse reinforcement ( 16 );

wherein the side outer end ( 28 ) of the transverse reinforcement ( 16 ) protrudes in the lateral direction beyond an outside ( 32 ) of the B-pillar ( 10 ), so that the inside ( 29 ) of the impact element ( 22 ) has a spacing (d) from the outside ( 32 ) of B-pillar ( 10 ).

19. A vehicle according to claim 18 , wherein the impact element ( 22 ) has an inner shell ( 40 ), an outer shell ( 42 ), and a reinforcement structure ( 44 ) arranged between the inner shell ( 40 ) and the outer shell ( 42 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2014
From: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
To: VALMET AUTOMOTIVE OY
Reel/Frame 033765/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2006
From: KOORMANN, MARKUS; EXNER, MARKUS; HESSEL, THOMAS
To: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
Reel/Frame 018290/0962 →