Group of Motor Vehicles With a Battery Drive Vehicle And/or a Hybrid Drive Vehicle And/or a Fuel Cell Drive Vehicle And/or an Internal Combustion Engine Drive Vehicle

Abstract

A group of motor vehicles contains at least vehicles of two different vehicle types of the following vehicle types: a battery drive vehicle with only one electric motor drive, a hybrid drive vehicle with an electric motor drive and an internal combustion engine drive, a fuel cell drive vehicle with a fuel cell drive, and an internal combustion engine drive vehicle with only one internal combustion engine drive. All of the vehicle types of the group of motor vehicles have a base assembly with a left-side sill structure, a right-side sill structure, an upper base, a lower base, and a central tunnel structure.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A group of motor vehicles comprising: at least vehicles of two different vehicles types selected from the group comprising: a battery drive vehicle having only one electric motor drive; a hybrid drive vehicle having an electric motor drive and an internal combustion engine drive; a fuel cell drive vehicle having a fuel cell drive; and an internal combustion engine drive vehicle (400) having only one internal combustion engine drive; wherein all vehicle types of the group of motor vehicles have a floor pan assembly having a left rocker rail structure and a right rocker rail structure, an upper floor pan and a lower floor pan, and a central tunnel structure; wherein the floor pan assembly of all vehicle types of the group of motor vehicle has an energy storage installation space or additional installation space, respectively, which is disposed between the left rocker rail structure and the central tunnel structure as well as between the right rocker rail structure and the central tunnel structure; wherein, in the battery drive vehicle, drive battery lines as well as vehicle operating equipment lines, vehicle electrical/electrical lines and/or interior ventilation outlet and interior ventilation inlet lines run in the central tunnel structure, and a drive battery assembly is disposed in the energy storage installation space; wherein, in the hybrid drive vehicle, drive battery lines as well as vehicle operating equipment lines, vehicle electrical/electrical lines and/or interior ventilation outlet and interior ventilation inlet lines run in the central tunnel structure, and optionally an exhaust system is additionally disposed in the central tunnel structure, and a drive battery assembly is accommodated in the energy storage installation space; wherein, in the fuel cell drive vehicle, drive battery lines as well as vehicle operating equipment lines, vehicle electrical/electrical lines and/or interior ventilation outlet and interior ventilation inlet lines run in the central tunnel structure, and a drive battery assembly is accommodated in the energy storage installation space; and wherein, in the internal combustion engine drive vehicle, vehicle operating equipment lines, vehicle electrical/electrical lines and/or interior ventilation outlet and interior ventilation inlet lines run in the central tunnel structure, and optionally an exhaust system is additionally disposed in the central tunnel structure.

17. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the central tunnel structures of the different vehicle types differ from one another in terms of their construction.

18. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the central tunnel structure has one chamber or a plurality of chambers which, in the longitudinal direction of the floor pan assembly, extends/extend across an entire length of the floor pan assembly and is/are disposed below one another and/or next to one another.

19. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 18, wherein the chamber or chambers, respectively, of the central tunnel structure is/are configured by a longitudinal chassis beam or a plurality of longitudinal chassis beams, and/or the chamber or chambers, respectively, of the central tunnel structure is/are configured by the upper floor pan and/or the lower floor pan.

20. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein a central tunnel energy storage installation space which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction is configured in the central tunnel structure.

21. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 20, wherein a fuel pressure vessel is disposed in the central tunnel energy storage installation space of the fuel cell drive vehicle.

22. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein a fuel tank is disposed in the energy storage installation space of the hybrid drive vehicle.

23. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein a fuel tank is disposed in the energy storage installation space of the internal combustion engine drive vehicle.

24. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the upper floor pan and/or the lower floor pan are/is configured so as to be integral to the body.

25. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the lower floor pan and/or the upper floor pan are/is releasably fastened.

26. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the upper floor pan and/or the lower floor pan in the region of the central tunnel structure have/has a closable opening which is configured across an entire length of the floor pan assembly.

27. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the left rocker rail structure and the right rocker rail structure are embodied so as to be substantially identical for all vehicle types of the group of motor vehicles.

28. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the floor pan assembly between the left rocker rail structure and the central tunnel structure as well as between the right rocker rail structure and the central tunnel structure comprises crossbeams.

29. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the floor pan assembly is configured for absorbing and transmitting collision loads in a vehicle transverse direction and/or vehicle longitudinal direction, and the rocker rail structure, the lower floor pan, the upper floor pan and the central tunnel structure are constructed in such a manner that said structures and floor pans transmit collision loads.

30. The group of motor vehicles according to claim 16, wherein the rocker rail structure is configured for absorbing collision energy by deformation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor pan assembly of a battery drive vehicle of a group of motor vehicles according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor pan assembly of an alternative battery drive vehicle of a group of motor vehicles according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor pan assembly of a hybrid drive vehicle of a group of motor vehicles according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor pan assembly of a fuel cell drive vehicle of a group of motor vehicles according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a floor pan assembly of an internal combustion engine drive vehicle of a group of motor vehicles according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 follows hereunder.

[0064] A group of motor vehicles according to the exemplary embodiment comprises the vehicle types: battery drive vehicle (100, 100′), hybrid drive vehicle (200), fuel cell drive vehicle (300) and internal combustion engine drive vehicle (400). The vehicle types of the group of motor vehicles have floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 which in some parts are of identical embodiment and in other parts are of different embodiments. All floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 have a left rocker rail 3 and a right rocker rail 5 which are embodied so as to be substantially identical for all vehicle types. Furthermore, all floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 have an upper floor pan 107, 107′, 207, 307, 407 which is a body-in-white component and is non-releasably connected to the body, in particular to the rocker rails 3, 5 and optionally to crossbeams. The upper floor pan 107, 107′, 207, 307, 407 at the same time forms a floor pan for a vehicle interior, that is to say a passenger cabin. Furthermore, all floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 have a lower floor pan 109, 109′, 209, 309, 409 which is an assembly part and is releasably connected to the body, in particular to the rocker rails 3, 5 and optionally to crossbeams. The lower floor pan 109, 109′, 209, 309, 409 is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the body. The lower floor pan 109, 109′, 209, 309, 409 can be removed in particular for the purpose of servicing and repairing. As a result, assembly parts can furthermore be assembled in the floor pan assembly 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 during the manufacturing of the motor vehicle.

[0065] All floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 furthermore have a central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411. Vehicle electrical/electrical lines which are usually also referred to as a cable harness run in the central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411 of all vehicle types. Furthermore, vehicle operating equipment lines such as hydraulic or pneumatic brake lines, windshield washer fluid lines, coolant lines, etc. can run in the central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411 of all vehicle types. Interior ventilation outlet and interior ventilation inlet lines, for example of an air conditioning system, can likewise run in the central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411 of all vehicle types. The central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411 of the vehicle types extends substantially across an entire length of the floor pan assembly 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 and has a plurality of chambers which extend in the longitudinal direction. The central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411 can be configured by one longitudinal chassis beam or a plurality of longitudinal chassis beams. Crossbeams which are not shown in the figures and are conceived for transmitting or supporting, respectively, collision loads in the event of a collision of the respective motor vehicle extend between the left rocker rail 3 or the right rocker rail 5, respectively, and the central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411.

[0066] All floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 furthermore have one left and one right closed additional installation space or energy storage installation space 113, 113′, 213, 313, 413, respectively, which are delimited by the central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411, the left rocker rail 3 or the right rocker rail 5, respectively, the upper floor pan 107, 107′, 207, 307, 407 and the lower floor pan 109, 109′, 209, 309, 409. The energy storage installation spaces 113, 113′, 213, 313, 413 are embodied so as to be fluid-tight. The energy storage installation space 113, 113′, 213, 313, 413 is thus protected in relation to environmental influences, and substances from the energy storage installation space 113, 113′, 213, 313, 413 can likewise not make their way into the environment or into the vehicle interior.

[0067] The floor pan assemblies 101, 101′, 201, 301, 401 of all vehicle types are configured in such a manner that the rocker rails 3 and 5 can absorb collision energy by deformation, in particular in the event of a lateral collision, the structure between the rocker rails 3, 5 including the upper floor pan 107, 107′, 207, 307, 407, the lower floor pan 109, 109′, 209, 309, 409, the crossbeams and the central tunnel structure 111, 111′, 211, 311, 411 being configured so as to be sufficiently stiff in order for collision loads to be transmitted.

[0068] The floor pan assembly 101 of the battery drive vehicle 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The battery drive vehicle 100 has a purely electrical drive having only one externally chargeable drive battery as the energy source, and at least one electric motor for driving the vehicle. The battery drive vehicle 100 can also be referred to as a BEV vehicle (BEV being an abbreviation of battery electric vehicle). The battery drive vehicle 100 does not have any further drive apart from the electric drive.

[0069] A battery assembly 115 is accommodated in the energy storage spaces 113 of the battery drive vehicle 100. The battery drive vehicle 100 thus has a drive battery which is integrated in the body and thus does not have any drive battery which as a separate unit is able to be assembled in a separate housing on the vehicle body. The battery assembly 115 has a plurality of battery modules in which a multiplicity of battery cells are connected by a circuit, a power control unit and a cooling unit for temperature-controlling the battery modules.

[0070] The central tunnel structure 111 of the battery drive vehicle 100 has a longitudinal chassis beam which configures a chamber for receiving operating equipment lines and optionally a cable harness, that is to say vehicle electrical/electrical lines, which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Battery lines of the battery assembly 115 are furthermore accommodated in lateral regions of the central tunnel structure 111 to the left and the right of the longitudinal chassis beam. The battery lines comprise high-voltage lines for the drive, or for charging, respectively, low-voltage lines for controlling the battery assembly 115, and cooling lines having a coolant for temperature-controlling the battery modules.

[0071] The floor pan assembly 101′ of a battery drive vehicle 100′ is shown in FIG. 2 as a variant of the floor pan assembly 101 of the battery drive vehicle 100. Only the difference between the floor pan assembly 101′ and the floor pan assembly 101 is described hereunder. A central tunnel structure 111′ here is configured in such a manner that the central tunnel structure 111′ has one chamber or a plurality of chambers for receiving lines such as operating equipment lines, a cable harness, battery lines, etc., which extends/extend in vehicle longitudinal directions, only in a lower region. Extending in an upper half of the central tunnel structure is a crossbeam structure for absorbing and transmitting collision loads in the vehicle transverse direction such that no continuous routing of lines in the vehicle longitudinal direction is possible here.

[0072] The floor pan assembly 201 of a hybrid drive vehicle 200 is shown in FIG. 3. The hybrid drive vehicle 200 has an electric drive having only one externally chargeable drive battery as the energy source and at least one electric motor for driving the vehicle. The hybrid drive vehicle 200 furthermore has an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle and a corresponding fuel tank as the energy storage unit.

[0073] Only the difference between the floor pan assembly 101 and the floor pan assembly 201 is described hereunder. A chamber which is configured by one longitudinal chassis beam or a plurality of longitudinal chassis beams and in the longitudinal direction extends across an entire length of the floor pan assembly 201 is provided in the central tunnel structure 211, an exhaust system 231 of the internal combustion engine being disposed in this chamber. Additionally provided in the central tunnel structure 211, in the same chamber or in a separate chamber which extends across an entire length of the floor pan assembly 201, are operating equipment lines as well as a cable harness. Battery lines furthermore preferably run in a lateral region of the central tunnel structure 211. The longitudinal chassis beams of the central tunnel structure 211 are conceived in such a manner that these longitudinal chassis beams can also transmit transverse loads, for example in the event of a lateral collision, by way of the crossbeams of the floor pan assembly 301.

[0074] As opposed to the central tunnel structures 111 and 111′, the central tunnel structure 211 is configured so as to be somewhat larger in order to provide sufficient installation space for the exhaust system 231. The central tunnel structure 211 is in particular wider and also higher.

[0075] The upper floor pan 207 can largely be embodied so as to be identical to the upper floor pan 107 or 107′ but differs from the latter two in the central region. The upper floor pan 207 is in particular not embodied so as to be completely flat but has an elevation in the central region.

[0076] A battery assembly 215 is accommodated in the energy storage spaces 213 of the hybrid drive vehicle 200. The hybrid drive vehicle 200 thus also has a drive battery which is integrated in the body. A storage capacity of the battery assembly 215 is less than the storage capacity of the battery assembly 115 or 115′, respectively.

[0077] One fuel tank or a plurality of fuel tanks is/are furthermore accommodated in the energy storage spaces 213 of the hybrid drive vehicle 200. The energy storage spaces 213 by virtue of the larger width of the central tunnel structure 211 are comparatively smaller in the vehicle transverse direction.

[0078] The floor pan assembly 301 of a fuel cell drive vehicle 300 is shown in FIG. 4. The fuel cell drive vehicle 300 has an electric drive having a drive battery, which is normally not externally chargeable, as a temporary storage unit of electrical energy, and at least one electric motor for driving the vehicle. The fuel cell drive vehicle 300 furthermore has a fuel cell for generating electrical energy and a pressure vessel 339 for storing hydrogen under pressure for operating the fuel cell. A fuel cell drive vehicle of this type is also referred to as an FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle).

[0079] A chamber 337 (that is to say an energy storage installation space), in which the pressure vessel 339 of the fuel cell drive vehicle 300 is accommodated and which is configured by one longitudinal chassis beam or a plurality of longitudinal chassis beams and in the longitudinal direction extends across an entire length of the floor pan assembly 301, is provided in the central tunnel structure 311. The central tunnel structure 311 by virtue of a diameter of the pressure vessel 339 protrudes significantly beyond the plane of an upper floor pan 307 of the floor pan assembly 301. The pressure vessel 339 is installed in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Operating equipment lines as well as a cable harness are additionally provided in the central tunnel structure 311 so as to be in the same chamber or a separate chamber which extends across an entire length of the floor pan assembly 301. Battery lines furthermore preferably run in a lateral region of the central tunnel structure 311. The longitudinal chassis beams of the central tunnel structure 311 are conceived in such a manner that these longitudinal chassis beams can also transmit transverse forces by way of crossbeams of the floor pan assembly 301, for example in the event of a lateral collision.

[0080] A fuel cell drive vehicle, which is not shown in the figures, in an alternative embodiment has one pressure vessel or a plurality of pressure vessels which can be accommodated in the energy storage installation spaces 313.

[0081] A further vehicle of the exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, is an internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400. The internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400 can also be referred to as an ICE vehicle (ICE being an abbreviation of internal combustion engine). The internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400 has only one internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle, and at least one fuel tank. The internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400 does not have any electrical drive and accordingly also no battery as an energy source for driving the vehicle, that is to say no drive battery. Of course, the internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400 can have a starter battery which however has a significantly smaller size than a drive battery.

[0082] The floor pan assembly 401 of the internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400 can be constructed in a manner similar to the floor pan assembly 201 of the hybrid drive vehicle 200, with the difference that no battery and no battery lines are provided.

[0083] By virtue of the absent battery, a larger fuel tank, or larger fuel tanks, respectively, or one additional fuel tank or a plurality of additional fuel tanks, respectively, can correspondingly be provided in an additional installation space or energy storage installation space 413 of the internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400.

[0084] Operating equipment lines, a cable harness as well as an exhaust system 413 are accommodated in a central tunnel structure 411 of the internal combustion engine drive vehicle 400.

[0085] In all figures, vehicle lines in the central tunnel structure are illustrated in an exemplary manner as circular disks which are however not provided with reference signs and are not specified in more detail in terms of the type of these vehicle lines. A multiplicity of possibilities for disposing these lines exist. It is a common feature of the vehicle types that these lines in the central tunnel structure run in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the extent that this is expedient and possible.

[0086] Overall, the floor pan assemblies of all vehicle types described are of a fundamentally very similar construction and differ from one another in terms of a central tunnel structure and optionally in terms of a size of the additional installation space or energy storage installation space, respectively, in which the battery and/or the fuel tank or the pressure vessel, respectively, can be accommodated, the size being adapted to the central tunnel structure. From the point of view of construction and from the point of view of manufacturing, it is thus possible for a vehicle model range with different drive concepts to be implemented in a simple manner. As a result, a number of identical parts shared by the described vehicle types is advantageously very large. Any change in the market in terms of the demand for drive concepts can thus be responded to in a rapid and cost-effective manner.