GB2511171A

GB2511171A - Support structure for a vehicle, in particular a side door of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2511171A
Application number: GB201321956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shreya Herlekar
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2013-12-12
Filing date: 2013-12-12
Publication date: 2014-08-27
Also published as: GB201321956D0

Abstract

A support structure 10 for a vehicle particularly a side door of a vehicle. The support structure 10 comprising at least one panel 12 and at least one stiffener 26 by means of which the panel 12 is stiffened. The stiffener 26 being attached to the panel 12 and made of fibre-reinforced plastic, wherein the stiffener 26 comprises a first longitudinal member 30 having a longitudinal extension, a second longitudinal member 32 having a longitudinal extension. The longitudinal members 30, 32 extending parallel in relation to each other and being spaced from one another. At least one cross member 34 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions, the longitudinal members 30, 32 being connected to one another by means of the cross member 34. Optionally the panel 12 is an inner panel 12 of the support structure and may form part of a door for a van. The panel 12 is preferably fabricated from a metallic material.

Description

Support Structure for a Vehicle, in particular a Side Door of a Vehicle The invention relates to a support structure according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such support structures are known from DE 10 2011 054 311 Al, DE 102011 054312A1 and DE 102011 054313A1.Thesupportstructureisasupport structure of a side door of a passenger vehicle and comprises at least one panel and at least one stiffener. The panel is stiffened by means of the stiffener. The stiffener is attached to the panel and made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

Furthermore, US 6 591 949 B2 shows an impact energy absorption member comprising a long member of fiber-reinforced resin of endless shape and a support member to which the long member is fixed in an extended state, wherein the long member has a ratio of thickness t to length L within the range of 1/11000 to 6/1 000 and is capable of absorbing energy per unit weight of at least 3.9 J/g in a pendulum impact test.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support structure for a vehicle, the support structure having a particularly high stiffness and a particularly low weight.

This object is solved by a structure having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to provide a structure of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1, which structure has a particularly high stiffness and a particularly low weight, according to the present invention the stiffener made of fiber-reinforced plastic comprises a first longitudinal member having a longitudinal extension and a second longitudinal member having a longitudinal extension. The longitudinal members extend parallel in relation to each other. Moreover, the longitudinal members are spaced from one another. The stiffener further comprises at least one cross member extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions of the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are connected to one another by means of the cross member. This means the cross member is arranged between the longitudinal members and connects the longitudinal members to one another. Preferably, the longitudinal members and the cross member are formed in one piece.

The stiffener according to the present invention has the form of a frame. Thus, a particularly high stiffness and a particularly low weight of the stiffener can be realized.

Thereby, a particularly high stiffness and a particularly low weight of the support structure overall can be realized.

Advantageously, the stiffener is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Thus, a very high stiffness of the stiffener and the support structure can be realized.

For example, the support structure is a support structure for a door, in particular a side door, of the vehicle. The high stiffness of the support structure leads to a very good protection in the event of a side impact.

Alternatively, the support structure can be a support structure of a side wall of the vehicle.

This results in a very high stiffness of the side wall leading to a particularly advantageous protection in the event of a side impact.

For example, the support structure can be used for a van which usually has lateral support structures having large dimensions. Thus, by means of the support structure according to the present invention a very high lateral stiffness of the van can be realized.

Also other functions of the stiffener in a support structure such as support for the window glass & resistance to oil canning effect can be fulfilled.

For example, the panel is an inner panel of the support structure, the inner panel being covered in the transverse direction of the vehicle towards the outside and the inside with respect to an assembled state of the vehicle by respective cover elements.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a support structure for a vehicle, the support structure comprising at least one panel and at least one stiffener by means of which the panel is stiffened, the stiffener being attached to the panel and made of fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the stiffer comprises two longitudinal members and a plurality of cross members by means of which the longitudinal members are connected to one another; and Fig. 2 a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the support structure.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated with the same reference sign.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a support structure 10 for a vehicle in the form of a van. For example, the support structure 10 is a support structure of a side wall of the van.

Alternatively, the support structure 10 is a support structure for a door in the form of a side door of the van. For example, the door is a sliding door which is translationally moveable in the longitudinal direction of the van in relation to a body of the van. For example, the side door is moveable between a closed position and at least one open position. In the closed position, a door opening of the body of the van is covered by the side door. In the open position the door opening is uncovered at least partially.

The support structure 10 comprises a panel in the form of an inner panel 12 which is made of a metallic material. For example, the inner panel 12 is made of steel. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the inner panel 12 has a framework with two through openings 14, 16.

The through openings 14, 16 are bounded by framework elements 18, 20, 22 and 24 which are formed in one piece. With respect to an assembled state of the van, the framework elements 18, 20 and 24 are arranged one upon the other. The support structure 10 further comprises four stiffeners 26 and 28. Each of the stiffeners 26 and 28 is completely made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), where the matrix is thermosetting resin and reinforcing fibers are Carbon fibers.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, one end of the respective stiffeners 26 is attached to the framework element 18. The other end of the respective stiffeners 26 is attached to the framework element 20. Thereby, the stiffeners 26 extend from the framework element 18 to the framework element 20 across the through opening l4so that the trough opening 14 is bridged by the stiffeners 26.

One end of the respective stiffeners 28 is attached to the framework element 20. The other end of the respective stiffeners 28 is attached to the framework element 22. Thus, the stiffeners 28 extend from the framework element 20 to the framework element 22 across the through opening 16 so that the through opening 16 is bridged by the stiffeners 28. For example, the stiffeners 26 and 28 are welded to the inner panel 12, in particular the framework elements 18, 20, 22. Preferably, the stiffeners 26 and 28, made of the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, are weld bonded to the inner panel 12.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the stiffeners 26 and 28 each comprise a first longitudinal member in the form of a first rod 30 having a longitudinal extension. Moreover, the stiffeners 26, 28 each have a second longitudinal member in the form of a second rod 32 having a longitudinal extension. The longitudinal extensions coincide with the vertical direction of the vehicle with respect to the assembled state of the vehicle (van). The respective rods 30, 32 are spaced from one another.

The stiffeners 26, 28 further comprise three cross members 34, 36 and 38 each. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the respective cross member 36 is arranged between the cross member 34 and the cross member 38 with respect to the longitudinal extensions.

Moreover, the respective cross members 34, 36 and 38 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions. The respective rods 30, 32 are connected to one another by means of the respective cross members 34, 36 and 38.

Thus, the stiffeners 26 and 28 each have the form or the design of a frame so that a particularly high stiffness as well as a particularly low weight of the stiffeners 26 and 28 can be realized.

Moreover, the respective rods 30 and 32 and the respective cross members 34, 36 and 38 are formed in one piece. Thus, the respective stiffeners 26 and 28 can be manufactured in a time-and cost-efficient way.

Since the stiffeners 26, 28 themselves have a very high stiffness, a particularly high stiffness of the support structure 10 can be realized since the inner panel 12 is stiffened by the stifleners 26 and 28 attached to the inner panel 12. This means that carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic can be used as a stiffener application particularly advantageously due to a high stiffness, a high strength, and a low density of the material. Since the inner panel 12 and the stiffeners 26 and 28 are made from different materials, the support structure is a hybrid component which has a particularly high stiffness and simultaneously a particularly low weight.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the respective cross member 38 of the respective stiffener 28 extends beyond the rod 30 and the rod 32 in a direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions of the rods 30, 32. Thereby, a very large surface via which the cross member 38 can be weld bonded to the framework element 22 can be realized.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the support structure 10. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the inner panel 12 has a plurality of through openings 14, 16, 40, 42, 44,46,48, 50, 52 and 54.

The support structure 10 according to the second embodiment comprises a stiffener 26 attached to the framework element 18 on one side and the framework element 20 on the other side. The stiffener 26 extends from the framework element 18 to the framework element 20 across the through opening 16. The stiffener 26 is attached to the inner panel l2so that the inner panel 12 is stiffened by means of the stiffener 26. The stiffener 26 is completely made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic so that a very high stiffness of the support structure 10 as well as a very low weight can be realized.

List of reference signs support structure 12 inner panel 14 through opening 16 through opening 16 framework element framework element 22 framework element 24 framework element 26 stiffener 28 stiffener rod 32 rod 34 cross member 36 cross member 38 cross member through opening 42 through opening 44 through opening 46 through opening 48 through opening through opening 52 through opening 54 through opening

Claims

Claims A support structure (10) for a vehicle, in particular a side door of a vehicle, the support structure (10) comprising at least one panel (12) and at least one stiffener (26) by means of which the panel (12) is stiffened, the stiffener (26) being attached to the panel (12) and made of fiber-reinforced plastic, characterized in that the stiffener (26) comprises: -a first longitudinal member (30) having a longitudinal extension; -a second longitudinal member (32) having a longitudinal extension, the longitudinal members (30, 32) extending parallel in relation to each other and being spaced from one another; -at least one cross member (34) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extensions, the longitudinal members (30, 32) being connected to one another by means of the cross member (34).
2. The support structure (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal members (30, 32) and the cross member (34) are formed in one piece.
3. The support structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the stiffener (26) is completely made of fiber-reinforced plastic.
4. The support structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fiber-reinforced plastic is a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.
5. The support structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (12) is an inner panel (12) of the support structure (10).S
6. The support structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (12)is made of a metallic material.