Structural Element for a Motor Vehicle Chassis

Abstract

A structural element for a motor vehicle chassis, particularly a chassis of an electrically powered motor vehicle, includes at least two securing sections and a central section which connects the two securing sections. Each securing section can be secured to an outer surface of a motor mounting element of the chassis and/or to an outer surface of a longitudinal member of the chassis.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A component for a chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising: a structural element comprising at least two fastening sections and a central section that connects the two fastening sections, wherein the fastening sections are each fastenable to an outer face of a motor mount shoe of the chassis and/or to an outer face of a longitudinal member of the chassis.

10. The component according to claim 9, wherein the structural element is configured for the chassis of an electrically driven passenger motor vehicle.

11. The component according to claim 9, wherein the central section is arrangeable on the chassis between a drive unit of the motor vehicle and/or a front axle of the motor vehicle on the one hand, and a traction battery of the motor vehicle and/or a power electronics system of the motor vehicle on the other hand.

12. The component according to claim 9, wherein the structural element is arrangeable on the chassis such that the central section extends in a motor vehicle transverse direction.

13. The component according to claim 9, wherein the structural element is arrangeable on the chassis such that the structural element extends substantially in a horizontal plane of the motor vehicle.

14. The component according to claim 9, wherein the structural element further comprises a further fastening section which is formed on the central section and by which the structural element is fastenable to an end wall of the chassis.

15. The component according to claim 9, wherein the structural element is formed as a bent pipe or a bent flat steel bar.

16. The component according to claim 9, wherein the fastening sections and/or the further fastening section each comprise at least one fastening opening for receiving a fastening screw and/or for receiving a fastening rivet.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising: a chassis comprising a motor mount shoe and/or at least one longitudinal member wherein, the motor mount shoe and/or the at least one longitudinal member are each provided with an outer face; and a structural element comprising at least two fastening sections and a central section that connects the two fastening sections, wherein the fastening sections are each fastened to the outer face of the motor mount shoe of the chassis and/or to the outer face of the longitudinal member of the chassis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a front-end part of a motor vehicle comprising a structural element according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a detail of the front-end part from FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a further schematic view of a detail of the front-end part from FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the introduction of force into a vehicle body of the motor vehicle in the event of a frontal collision with a post;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the introduction of force into the vehicle body in the event of a frontal collision with a rigid barrier;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the introduction of force into the vehicle body in the event of a frontal collision with a deformable offset barrier;

[0030] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a collision between the motor vehicle and a deformable offset barrier, the motor vehicle being formed without the structural element according to the application;

[0031] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a frontal collision between the motor vehicle and a post, the motor vehicle being formed without the structural element according to the application;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a detail of a front-end part of a motor vehicle having a structural element according to a second exemplary embodiment; and

[0033] FIG. 12 is a further schematic view of a detail of the front-end part from FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The disclosure relates to a structural element 20 for a chassis 120 of a motor vehicle 100, in particular for a chassis of an electrically driven motor vehicle. The structural element 20 comprises at least two fastening sections 30, 32 and a central section 40 that connects the two fastening sections 30, 32. The fastening sections 30, 32 can each be fastened to an outer face 132 of a motor mount shoe 130 of the chassis 120 and/or to an outer face 142 of a longitudinal member 140 of the chassis 120.

[0035] The disclosure also relates to a motor vehicle 100, in particular an electrically driven motor vehicle. The motor vehicle comprises a chassis 120 and a structural element 20 according to the disclosure. The chassis 120 comprises a motor mount shoe 130 and/or at least one longitudinal member 140. The motor mount shoe 130 and/or the at least one longitudinal member 140 are/is provided with at least two outer faces 132, 142. The fastening sections 30, 32 of the structural element 20 are each fastened to one of the outer faces 132, 142 of the motor mount shoe 130 and/or of the longitudinal member 140.

[0036] According to the exemplary embodiments, the motor vehicle 100 has two longitudinal members 140. The longitudinal members 140 extend substantially in the direction of travel F of the motor vehicle 100.

[0037] The structural element 20 can be fastened to the motor mount shoe 130 at its outer surface 132, to the longitudinal member 140 at its outer face 142 or both to the motor mount shoe 130 at its outer face 132 and also to the longitudinal member 140 at its outer face 142. The longitudinal member 140 is usually welded to the motor mount shoe 130.

[0038] The structural element 20 may also be referred to as a crash bracket or capture bracket.

[0039] The outer faces 132 of the motor mount shoe 130 point from a center of the motor vehicle 10 to the outside, i.e. to the outer skin of the motor vehicle 100.

[0040] Similarly, the outer faces 142 of the longitudinal members 140 point to the outside, that is to the outer skin of the motor vehicle 100.

[0041] The central section 40 of the structural element 20 and/or the structural element 20 itself may be able to be arranged or may be arranged on the chassis 120 between a drive unit 180 of the motor vehicle 100 and/or a front axle 150 of the motor vehicle 100 on the one hand and a battery 160, in particular a traction battery of the motor vehicle 100, and/or a power electronics system 170 of the motor vehicle 100 on the other hand. This configuration is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, in particular.

[0042] The drive unit 180 may also be referred to as the drive topology or as the highly integrated electric drive topology and comprise an electric motor and a transmission.

[0043] The chassis 120 may also comprise a front fender 144. Here, the front fender 144 may extend substantially in the motor vehicle transverse direction Q or extend transversely to the direction of extent of the longitudinal members 140.

[0044] The structural element 20 may be able to be arranged or may be arranged on the chassis 120 in such a way that, when the structural element 20 is in its intended installation position in the motor vehicle 100, the central section 40 extends in a motor vehicle transverse direction Q. The motor vehicle transverse direction Q extends transversely to a direction of travel F of the motor vehicle 100 and extends in a horizontal plane of the motor vehicle 100. This configuration is shown in FIG. 1, in particular.

[0045] FIGS. 1, 3 and 12 in particular likewise show that the structural element 20 according to both exemplary embodiments may have, in a plan view, a tub-like shape that is open substantially at the front.

[0046] The structural element 20 may be arranged or may be able to be arranged on the chassis 120 in such a way that the structural element 20 extends substantially in a horizontal plane of the motor vehicle 100. The horizontal plane runs parallel to a horizontal ground surface on which the motor vehicle 100 rests or moves.

[0047] The structural element 20 may also comprise a further fastening section 42 which is formed on the central section 40 and by means of which the structural element 120 is fastened or can be fastened to an end wall 122 of the chassis 120. This is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in particular. Owing to this configuration, improved introduction of force into the end wall 122 can take place in the event of a crash.

[0048] The structural element 20 can also comprise a holding profile 50. The connection of the structural element 20 or of the fastening section 42 to the end wall 122 can be performed indirectly via the holding profile 50, as is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in particular. The holding profile 50 may be screwed, riveted and/or welded to the end wall 122 and screwed and/or riveted to the fastening section 42.

[0049] The structural element 20 may be formed as a bent pipe or a bent flat steel bar. Here, the structural element 20 may have an approximately constant cross section. The fastening sections 30, 32 and/or the further fastening section 42 can each be formed by shaping the pipe or the flat steel bar.

[0050] The fastening sections 30, 32 and/or the further fastening section 42 may each comprise at least one fastening opening 34 for receiving a fastening screw and/or for receiving a fastening rivet. The fastening opening 34 may be formed by piercing the fastening sections 30, 32.

[0051] Accordingly, corresponding openings may be formed on the outer faces 142 of the longitudinal members 140 and/or on the outer faces 132 of the motor mount shoe 130, the fastening screw and/or the fastening rivet being able to be guided through the openings in order to fasten the structural element 20 to the chassis 120. Owing to this configuration, stable fastening between the structural element 20 and the chassis 120 of the motor vehicle 100 can be established.

[0052] Since the structural element 20 acts on the longitudinal member 140 or the motor mount shoe 130 from the outside, i.e. engages around the longitudinal member 140 or the motor mount shoe 130, low screwing forces can be used when fastening the structural element 20 by means of screws. As a result, the flow of force may be optimized and the fastening screw may be relieved of loading in the event of a crash.

[0053] FIGS. 7 to 10 show illustrations of a collision between the motor vehicle and a deformable offset barrier as well as a post, the motor vehicle being formed without the structural element according to the disclosure. These illustrations illustrate the risk of a connection panel 162 of the battery 160 being acted on by the drive unit 180 in the event of a collision. Such an action on the connection panel 162 can lead to a short circuit in the battery 160, as a result of which the motor vehicle 100 may catch fire.

[0054] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a schematic illustration of the introduction of force into the chassis 120 of the motor vehicle 100 respectively in the event of a frontal collision with a post P, in the event of a frontal collision with a rigid barrier SB and in the event of a frontal collision with a deformable offset barrier B. The course of the introduction of force is represented by means of arrows here.