IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,187,110
Granted Patent B2
US 12,187,110 · App. 17/584,072 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Body structure for an electrically operated vehicle

Inventors: Thomas Schilling (Sassenburg, DE); Nicole Wallmann (Knesebeck, DE); Ingo Lueken (Tappenbeck, DE); Werner Krauth (Wolfsburg, DE)
Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
B60K1/04B60L50/66B62D25/2036B60K2001/0438
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,187,110
App. No.
17/584,072
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A body structure for an electrically operated vehicle, having an installation space for a traction battery, which space is open toward the vehicle bottom in the vertical vehicle direction, is closed toward the vehicle top by a floor pan part that forms the vehicle floor, and is delimited on both sides in the transverse vehicle direction by a rocker panel that delimits a side-door opening toward the vehicle bottom, wherein a rear body longitudinal member that transitions into the respective rocker panel toward the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal vehicle direction extends on each vehicle side in the rear-end region, and wherein the relevant rear corner of the traction battery is enclosed by an interior corner region, in particular right-angled interior corner region, that stretches between the rocker panel and the front battery cross member.

Claims (21)

1. A body structure for an electrically operated vehicle, the body structure comprising:

an installation space for a traction battery, the installation space being open toward a vehicle bottom in a vertical vehicle direction and is closed toward a vehicle top by a floor pan part that forms a vehicle floor and is delimited on both sides in a vehicle transverse direction by a rocker panel that delimits a side-door opening toward the vehicle bottom; and

a rear body longitudinal member that transitions into a respective rocker panel toward a vehicle front in a longitudinal vehicle direction and extends on each vehicle side in a rear end region,

wherein a rear corner of the traction battery is enclosed by an interior corner region that is right-angled and that stretches between the respective rocker panel and a rear battery cross member,

wherein the respective rocker panel on each side of the vehicle is offset toward the exterior of the vehicle with respect to the rear body longitudinal member by a lateral offset in the vehicle transverse direction,

wherein a rear corner joint adjoins the rear body longitudinal member toward the vehicle front in the longitudinal vehicle direction, the rear corner joint being widened toward the vehicle front in the longitudinal vehicle direction taking up a lateral offset, and the rear corner joint being connected to the respective rocker panel in a force-transmitting manner at a rocker panel connecting point, and

wherein the rear body longitudinal member is a profile part having a U-shaped profile in cross-section with a longitudinal member floor as well as inner and outer side walls raised therefrom, and wherein the U-shaped profile of the rear body longitudinal member, which is open toward a top, is closed in an assembled state by the floor pan part, and wherein the outer side wall of the rear body longitudinal member delimits a wheel space of a rear-end wheel well toward an interior of the vehicle.

2. The body structure according to claim 1 , wherein, in order to form the rocker panel connecting point, the outer side wall of the rear body longitudinal member is lengthened toward the vehicle front at a transition edge with a rocker panel end piece, and wherein the respective rocker panel terminates at the rocker panel end piece and/or the rocker panel end piece delimits the wheel space of the rear-end wheel well toward the vehicle front.

3. The body structure according to claim 1 , wherein, in order to form the rocker panel connecting point, the longitudinal member floor of the rear body longitudinal member is lengthened toward the vehicle front with a joining section that engages under the respective rocker panel and is connected to the respective rocker panel in a force-transmitting manner.

4. The body structure according to claim 1 , wherein, in order to connect the rear body longitudinal member to the rear battery cross member, the longitudinal member floor is lengthened toward the vehicle front with a floor segment that engages under the rear battery cross member and is connected to the rear battery cross member in a force-transmitting manner.

5. The body structure according to claim 4 , wherein the floor segment of the rear body longitudinal member and a cross member floor of the rear battery cross member are connected to one another, creating a double-wall structure as a rigid assembly.

6. A body structure for an electrically operated vehicle, the body structure comprising:

an installation space for a traction battery, the installation space being open toward a vehicle bottom in a vertical vehicle direction and is closed toward a vehicle top by a floor pan part that forms a vehicle floor and is delimited on both sides in a vehicle transverse direction by a rocker panel that delimits a side-door opening toward the vehicle bottom; and

a rear body longitudinal member that transitions into a respective rocker panel toward a vehicle front in a longitudinal vehicle direction and extends on each vehicle side in a rear end region,

wherein a rear corner of the traction battery is enclosed by an interior corner region that is right-angled and that stretches between the respective rocker panel and a rear battery cross member,

wherein the respective rocker panel on each side of the vehicle is offset toward the exterior of the vehicle with respect to the rear body longitudinal member by a lateral offset in the vehicle transverse direction,

wherein a rear corner joint adjoins the rear body longitudinal member toward the vehicle front in the longitudinal vehicle direction, the rear corner joint being widened toward the vehicle front in the longitudinal vehicle direction taking up a lateral offset, and the rear corner joint being connected to the respective rocker panel in a force-transmitting manner at a rocker panel connecting point, and

wherein the rear battery cross member is a U-shaped profile part with a cross member floor as well as front and rear side walls raised therefrom, and wherein the U-shaped profile part, which is open toward a top, is closed in an assembled state by the floor pan part, and wherein the front side wall of the rear battery cross member delimits the installation space for the traction battery and/or is in force-transmitting contact with the respective rocker panel in the vehicle transverse direction, while forming the interior corner region.

7. The body structure according to claim 6 , wherein the rear side wall of the rear battery cross member has an assembly cutout and wherein an outer side wall of the rear body longitudinal member is lengthened with a rocker panel partition part that is passed through the assembly cutout of the rear side wall of the rear battery cross member until force-transmitting contact is made with the front side wall of the rear battery cross member.

8. The body structure according to claim 7 , wherein, in the event of a rear-end collision, a rocker panel load path is formed that incorporates the outer side wall of the rear body longitudinal member, a longitudinal member floor of the rear body longitudinal member, the rocker panel partition part, and the respective rocker panel.

9. The body structure according to claim 8 , wherein an inner side wall of the rear body longitudinal member is lengthened with a battery partition part that is passed through the assembly cutout of the rear side wall of the rear battery cross member until force-transmitting contact is made with the front side wall of the rear battery cross member, and wherein, in the event of a rear-end collision, a battery load path is formed that incorporates the inner side wall of the rear body longitudinal member, the longitudinal member floor of the rear body longitudinal member, the battery partition part, and the front side wall of the rear battery cross member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2022
From: SCHILLING, THOMAS; WALLMANN, NICOLE; LUEKEN, INGO; KRAUTH, WERNER
To: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 059027/0728 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 211 108.4 · Jul 25, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2020066020 · Jun 10, 2020
Related Publication 20220144067A1 · May 12, 2022
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