IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,246,136
Granted Patent B2
US 10,246,136 · App. 15/172,503 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Underbody cladding for a two-track motor vehicle and two-track motor vehicle with such an underbody cladding

Inventors: Hubert Scholz (Munich, DE); Roland Schmidt (Stockdorf, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B62D29/041B60G3/20B60G7/001B60R13/0861B62D25/2018B62D25/2027B62D35/02B60G2204/4308B60G2206/10B60G2206/8207Y02T10/88
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,246,136
App. No.
15/172,503
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An underbody cladding is provided for a two-track motor vehicle with wheel-controlling links as part of a rear axle for cladding the underbody. The underbody cladding at least partially extends in a substantially horizontal plane and extends in the direction of the outside of the vehicle close to an inner side of a rear wheel. The underbody cladding is divided into three sections, a front section, a central section and a rear section. The central section extends at least over a region below the wheel-controlling links and is connected at least over part of the width thereof to the front section and/or the rear section. The central section is designed in such a manner that the section can at least partially follow and/or yield to a vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links. The front and the rear section of the underbody cladding can in each case be arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the motor vehicle and cannot follow and/or yield to a vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links.

Claims (41)

1. A component for a two-track motor vehicle having wheel-controlling links as part of a rear axle, comprising:

an underbody cladding for cladding an underbody at least on one vehicle side in a region of the wheel-controlling links of the rear axle such that, when in an installed state on the two-track motor vehicle, the underbody cladding extends under the wheel-controlling links at least partially in a substantially horizontal plane and, at least in a direction of an outer side of the vehicle, extends close to an inner side of a rear wheel of the motor vehicle, the rear wheel being connected via a wheel support to the wheel-controlling links, wherein

the underbody cladding is divided in a vehicle longitudinal direction into three sections comprising a front section, a central section and a rear section,

the central section extends under the wheel-controlling links on one vehicle side, and is connected at least over a part of a width of the central section to one or both of the front section and the rear section,

the central section is configured such that, in the installed state installed on the motor vehicle, the central section at least partially follows and/or at least partially yields to a substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links during driving operation of the motor vehicle,

the front section and the rear section of the underbody cladding are configured to be arranged positionally statically on the motor vehicle such that, when in the installed state, the front and rear sections do not follow and/or yield to the substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links.

2. The component according to claim 1 , wherein the underbody cladding has a unipartite form.

3. The component according to claim 2 , wherein

the underbody cladding is divided, via at least two slots, such that the central section at least partially follows and/or yields to the vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links, and

the at least two slots extend toward the inside of the vehicle from an outer edge of the underbody cladding, the outer edge facing toward the inner side of the rear wheel in the functionally installed state.

4. The component according to claim 1 , wherein

the underbody cladding is divided, via at least two slots, such that the central section at least partially follows and/or yields to the vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links, and

the at least two slots extend toward the inside of the vehicle from an outer edge of the underbody cladding, the outer edge facing toward the inner side of the rear wheel in the functionally installed state.

5. The component according to claim 4 , wherein

a film hinge connects the two slots to one another between ends nearest the inside of the motor vehicle.

6. The component according to claim 5 , wherein the film hinge extends substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the functionally installed state.

7. The component according to claim 1 , wherein

the underbody cladding has a multi-part form, and

the central section is connected via a film hinge to the front section and/or the rear section over at least a part of the width of the underbody cladding.

8. The component according to claim 7 , wherein

the front section and the rear section are composed of a flexible material, and

the central section at least partially has a region composed of an elastic material.

9. The component according to claim 7 , wherein

the central section is divided in the vehicle longitudinal direction into a front subsection and a central subsection,

the central subsection extends, at least over one region, under one of the wheel-controlling links, and

the central section is connected at least over a part of its width to the front subsection.

10. The component according to claim 9 , wherein the central subsection extends under a spring link of the wheel-controlling links.

11. The component according to claim 9 , wherein the central subsection is composed of an elastic material and is connected to the front subsection via a welt connection.

12. The component according to claim 1 , wherein

the central section is fastened at least regionally to one of the wheel-controlling links.

13. The component according to claim 12 , wherein a Cardan bearing provides the fastening of the central section to the one or the wheel-controlling links.

14. The component according to claim 1 , wherein the underbody cladding comprises at least one flow lip.

15. The component according to claim 1 , wherein the underbody cladding is configured for a passenger motor vehicle.

16. A two-track motor vehicle, comprising:

wheel-controlling links of a rear axle;

a rear wheel of the motor vehicle, the rear wheel being connected via a wheel support to the wheel-controlling links;

an underbody cladding for cladding an underbody at least on one vehicle side in a region of the wheel-controlling links of the rear axle such that the underbody cladding extends under the wheel-controlling links at least partially in a substantially horizontal plane and, at least in a direction of an outer side of the vehicle, extends close to an inner side of the rear wheel, wherein

the underbody cladding is divided in a vehicle longitudinal direction into three sections comprising a front section, a central section and a rear section,

the central section extends under the wheel-controlling links on one vehicle side, and is connected at least over a part of a width of the central section to one or both of the front section and to the rear section,

the central section is configured such that the central section at least partially follows and/or at least partially yields to a substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links during driving operation of the motor vehicle, and

the front section and the rear section of the underbody cladding are attached positionally statically on the motor vehicle so as not to follow and/or yield to the substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2016
From: SCHOLZ, HUBERT; SCHMIDT, ROLAND
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 038798/0923 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 225 083 · Dec 6, 2013 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2014073610 · Nov 3, 2014
Related Publication 20160280284A1 · Sep 29, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,296,894