Structural component

Abstract

A structural component, in particular for a vehicle, includes a beam and at least one energy absorption device which is disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the beam. The beam is profiled and has at least one inner chamber.

Claims

1. A structural component, comprising: a beam; and an energy absorption device; wherein the beam is profiled and has a first inner chamber that is bounded by a first vertically extending wall of the beam and a second vertically extending wall of the beam, wherein the energy absorption device comprises a plurality of crush elements, wherein the plurality of crush elements are disposed in a region of an outer surface of the beam, wherein the region of the outer surface of the beam is laterally surrounded on a first side and a second side by respective projecting walls of the beam, and wherein the respective projecting walls of the beam and the beam are monolithically formed in one piece; wherein the structural component is a body component of a vehicle.

2. The structural component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is formed from fiber-reinforced plastic.

3. The structural component as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic is glass- and/or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

4. The structural component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy absorption device degrades an energy/force acting on the energy absorption device by mechanical disintegration.

5. The structural component as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mechanical disintegration is crumbling.

6. The structural component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy absorption device is formed from glass- and/or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

7. The structural component as claimed in claim 6, wherein reinforcing fibers disposed in the energy absorption device have a respective longitudinal direction oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the beam.

8. The structural component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is a pultruded profile.

9. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a first filling element, wherein the first filling element is disposed in the first inner chamber.

10. The structural component as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first filling element is a foam core or a honeycomb core or a core of solid material.

11. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second inner chamber that is bounded by the first vertically extending wall of the beam and the second vertically extending wall of the beam, wherein a web of the beam that extends between the first vertically extending wall of the beam and the second vertically extending wall of the beam separates the first inner chamber from the second inner chamber.

12. The structural component as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a second filling element, wherein the second filling element is disposed in the second inner chamber.

13. The structural component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second filling element is a foam core or a honeycomb core or a core of solid material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The FIGURE shows a schematic sectional view through a structural component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(2) The FIGURE shows a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a structural component 10. The structural component 10 comprises a beam 11 which is profiled and has two inner chambers 12 and 13. In further embodiments, which are not illustrated, a beam 11 can also have only one individual chamber or more than two chambers. In the FIGURE, the two chambers 12 and 13 are separated from one another by a web 17. In further embodiments, which are not illustrated, a plurality of webs can also be provided. In the chambers 12, 13 there are provided foam cores 20, 20 which here, by way of example, completely fill the chambers 12, 13. In the event of a crash, the web 17 and the foam cores 20, 20 transfer the force, which is introduced into the vertically extending wall (the left one in the FIGURE) of the beam 11, to the vertically extending wall (the right one in the FIGURE) of the beam 11. Instead of the foam core, use can also be made of an alternative filling element, such as, for example, honeycomb cores of thermoplastic, paper, etc.

(3) As can further be seen from the FIGURE, the beam 11 has walls 15 and 16 which project on the left-hand side. These walls 15, 16 accommodate between them one or more energy absorption devices or crush elements 30. The crush elements 30 are thus arranged in a region of the surface of the beam 11. The region of the surface can be laterally surrounded partially or else completely by the walls 15, 16. In further embodiments, the walls 15, 16 can be dispensed with, with the result that the crush elements are not supported laterally.

(4) In the event of a lateral crashhere represented by the force F and the associated arrowa force or energy is exerted on these crush elements 30. The beam 11 counteracts the thrust force F by a counterforce, with the result that the crush elements 11 burst and energy is degraded in the process.

(5) In the illustration in the FIGURE, the thrust force F acts perpendicularly on the beam 11. However, in other cases, the force F can also act at an oblique angle on the beam 11. In these cases, only one force component then acts perpendicularly on the beam 11. The force components which do not act perpendicularly on the beam are taken up by the walls 15, 16. In other words, the walls 15, 16 build up counterforces to support the non-perpendicularly acting force components.

(6) The beam 11 forms the basic structure of a sill, for example. Here, it is formed from endless fiber-reinforced carbon fibers. Here, about 70% of the endless fibers point in the longitudinal direction of the beam 11. About 30% of the endless fibers are arranged at an angle of +45 and/or 45. The fibers are then surrounded by a resin. The foam cores are produced subsequently, by foaming out the chambers in the beam 11. The crush elements are likewise joined subsequently to the existing beam 11.

(7) Moreover, the beam 11 can also have attachment elements, in particular inserts for attaching the high-voltage accumulator. The inserts can be introduced subsequently into the beam or early as with introduction of the foam. The strength of the structural component 10 is sufficient to support the energy accumulator of an electrically operated vehicle.

(8) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.