Module Support Assembly for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A module carrier assembly for positioning between the A-pillars of a motor vehicle body comprising a transverse carrier configured as a hollow body profile and at least one steering column holder connected to the transverse carrier and supported at the outer side of the transverse carrier in the x-direction. The at least one steering column holder is configured as an angle piece and is supported by a support surface provided by a first limb at a first outer wall of the transverse carrier. The steering column holder has a further limb extending below the transverse carrier. The steering column holder carries a support projection which extends through the outer wall of the transverse carrier adjoining the support surface of the steering column holder and up to at least the opposite wall of the transverse carrier. The support projection is connected in a vibration-coupled manner to this opposite wall.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A module carrier assembly for a motor vehicle for positioning between the A-pillars of the vehicle body, the modular carrier assembly comprising: a transverse carrier adapted to extend between the A-pillars and configured as a hollow body profile having a first wall and a second wall; and at least one steering column holder connected to the transverse carrier and supported at the outer side of the transverse carrier in the x-direction, the at least one steering column holder configured as an angle piece and supported by a support surface provided by a first limb of the at least one steering column holder at the first wall of the transverse carrier, the at least one steering column holder having a second limb, the upper side of the second limb extending below the transverse carrier, and wherein the at least one steering column holder carries a support projection supported at the support surface, the support projection extending through the first wall of the transverse carrier and up to at least the second wall of the transverse carrier, the support projection being connected in a vibration-coupled manner to the second wall.

12. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the support projection of the steering column holder has an extension parallel to and configured to be connected to a longitudinal extension of a steering column.

13. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the end face of the support projection is connected under prestress to the second wall of the transverse carrier.

14. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the second wall of the transverse carrier has a support projection accommodation where the end face of the support projection is located.

15. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the second wall of the transverse carrier which adjoins the end face of the support projection has a joining through-opening in the area of the end face of the support projection and wherein the end face of the support projection is connected to the second wall via a joining connection in the joining through-opening.

16. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, further comprising two steering column holders positioned at a distance from each other along the longitudinal extension of the transverse carrier.

17. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the transverse carrier has a semi monocoque construction.

18. The module carrier assembly of claim 7, wherein the transverse carrier has a front half shell and a rear half shell.

19. The module carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the transverse carrier is implemented as an extrusion profile made from a light metal.

20. The module carrier assembly of claim 8, wherein the front half shell and the rear half shell each have an approximate U-shaped cross section and the free ends of the limbs of the U-shaped cross section are beveled for forming a bearing flange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present disclosure is further described on the basis of a depicted embodiment in reference to the appended figures.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a transverse carrier of a module carrier assembly according to the present disclosure having a steering column module connected thereto;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the transverse carrier of the module carrier assembly of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of one of the two steering column holders of FIG. 2;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the transverse carrier of FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a steering column holder connected to a transverse carrier of a module carrier assembly according to the prior art in the same view as FIG. 3; and

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a diagram illustrating the natural frequency increase when using a module carrier assembly according to the present disclosure vis-a-vis a steering column connection according to the prior art.

[0028] Before further explaining the depicted embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] A transverse carrier 1, only partially illustrated in one section in FIG. 1, is part of a module carrier assembly 2. Only the section of transverse carrier 1 which has a craning for connecting a steering column module 3 is shown. Each end of the transverse carrier 1 (not shown) is connected to the inner side of an A-pillar of a motor vehicle respectively. A steering column module 3 having a schematically illustrated steering column 4 is fastened to transverse carrier 1 of module carrier assembly 2. Steering column module 3 is shown only having a few elements, namely having steering column 4 and having a steering wheel 5 connected thereto in the vehicle interior. By its end opposite steering wheel 5, steering column 4 is guided into the engine compartment of the vehicle and, in a manner not shown in detail, is thereto kinematically connected for steering the front wheels of the vehicle. To connect steering column module 3 to transverse carrier 1 of module carrier assembly 2, steering column module 3 has a connection plate 6. This connection plate is connected to two steering column holders 7, 7.1 assigned to module carrier assembly 2. It is quite possible for steering column module 3 to be additionally fastened to transverse carrier 1 by further means. For the connection of steering column module 3, steering column holders 7, 7.1 each have a bore 8, 8.1 which passes through the respective holder so that steering column module 3 can be connected by its connecting plate 6 with the aid of screws or the like to steering column holders 7, 7.1. Of course, the above-described connection of steering column module 3 to transverse carrier 1 is only illustrative and can be implemented in different ways; no limitation is intended or should be inferred. It is essential that the connection of steering column module 3 to transverse carrier 1 is non-positive.

[0030] Transverse carrier 1 of the illustrated embodiment is composed of two half shells 9, 10. Both half shells 9, 10 have a U-shaped profiling in cross section. The ends of the free limbs of the U-profiling are outwardly beveled to form respectively one bearing flange in this manner. The bearing flanges of each half shell adjoin the bearing flanges of the respective other half shell. In the region of the bearing flanges, the two half shells 9, 10 are connected to each other with the aid of a joining, for example by welding. In this way, a hollow chamber profile is formed, the cross-sectional geometry of which changes over the longitudinal extension of transverse carrier 1. It is also conceivable that transverse carrier 1 is produced as a closed hollow profile in the form of a tube or an extruded profile, which may be produced from a light metal such as aluminum or magnesium. In such a case, the bearing flanges are not required. Likewise, for an embodiment of the transverse carrier 1 with half shells, it is not absolutely necessary to form at least one bearing flange. Rather, the U-shaped half shells can also be situated in a flush or overlapping manner and be connected to each other.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows in an enlarged illustration of the section of transverse carrier 1 of FIG. 1, having the two steering column holders 7, 7.1 connected thereto. Subsequently, steering column holder 7 (see FIG. 2a) is described in greater detail. Since steering column holder 7.1 is identical to steering column holder 7, the following explanations apply equally to steering column holder 7.1.

[0032] Steering column holder 7 is implemented as an angle piece and includes a support surface 11 which abuts against outer side 12 of half-shell 10 of transverse carrier 1 facing steering wheel 5. In addition to limb 15 providing the support surface 11, steering column holder 7 has a further limb 13. The upper side 14 of limb 13 extends below half shell 10, and namely up to its joining flange in the depicted embodiment (see also FIG. 3).

[0033] In an approximately vertical direction, bore 8 passes through limb 15 of steering column holder 7 (which provides support surface 11). A screw for connecting steering column module 3 may be passed through bore 8. It is possible to equip bore 8 with an internal thread so that a fastening screw can be screwed by its screw shank into bore 8, the head of the fastening screw being supported on the underside of connecting plate 6 shown in FIG. 1, so that an interlocking of connection plate 6 to steering column holders 7, 7.1 is enabled.

[0034] Starting from its limb 15, with reference to the cross-sectional geometry of the half shell 10 in the illustrated embodiment, steering column holder 7 carries a support projection 17 parallel to the limb 13, which passes through half shell 10 and, with its front end face 18, extends up to the inner wall of opposite half shell 9 (see also FIG. 3). For this purpose, a through-opening 19 is formed into half shell 10, through which support projection 17 may be inserted. The support projection supports itself via end face 18 on inner side 20 of the wall of half shell 9 opposite outer side 12 of half shell 10.

[0035] In order to connect support projection 17 intermaterially to half shell 9, a through-opening 21 is introduced into half shell 9 in one embodiment. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the depicted through-opening 21 is smaller in terms of its dimension than the surface occupied by end face 18 of support projection 17. In this instance, through-opening 21 of the joining is situated in such a manner that end face 18 is supported at inner wall 20 with respect to this through-opening 21 of the joining. Expediently, through-opening 21 of the joining is situated at the center with respect to end face 18 of support projection 17. Through-opening 21 of the joining may intermaterially connect support projection 17 to half shell 20 in this through-opening by a joining process, for example by welding. The cross section shown in FIG. 3 merely shows the arrangement of the individual parts relative to each other; however, it does not show the joining connections necessary for a intermaterial connection of steering column holder 7 to transverse carrier 1.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the support surface of supporting projection 17 provided by end face 18 is approximately half as large as support surface 11 of limb 15. Moreover, it becomes evident from FIG. 3 that the supporting height required by steering column holder 7 on transverse carrier 1 only measures a height which corresponds to less than 50% of the total height of transverse carrier 1. In the shown embodiment, only about one third of the height of transverse carrier 1 is required for the intended support of steering column holder 7.

[0037] In addition to the joining connection between half shell 9 and supporting projection 17, which is made via joining at through-opening 21, holder 7 is also connected in the region of its limb 15 to outer side 12 of half shell 10 by one or a plurality of joining connections.

[0038] The illustration of the support of steering column holder 7 at or in transverse carrier 1 in FIG. 3 shows that not only transverse carrier 2 is stiffened by the special support, but also that, via respective steering column holder 7 or 7.1, a force is skillfully and directly introduced in the same direction, and thus concordantly, into both half shells 9, 10 of transverse carrier 1. Unexpectedly, it has been shown that these measures were able to increase the natural frequency of the steering column installed in the vehicle in a not inconsiderable manner, namely by approximately 1 Hz.

[0039] Steering column holder 7 can be manufactured by way of a casting process from a metal suitable for this purpose. Likewise, it is possible to form the steering column holder as a section of an extruded profile. It goes without saying that also other configurations can be used as well.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a steering column holder connected to a transverse carrier of a module carrier assembly according to the prior art, for comparison to a module carrier assembly 2 according to the present disclosure. The module carrier assembly according to the prior art has steering column holders, which are connected by a joining connection to a half shell on the side facing the steering wheel, but do not have a projection which passes through this half shell and which is supported at the inner side of the other half shell.

[0041] By way of comparison, FIG. 5 shows the vertical frequency of steering column 4 or of steering column module 3 for a connection of the steering column or steering column module to transverse carrier 1 of module carrier assembly 2 using steering column holders according to the present disclosure as previously described (see, for example, FIG. 3), compared to a connection of the steering column module using steering column holders according to the prior art (see FIG. 4). It can be clearly seen that when using the module support assembly according to the present disclosure having its special steering column holders 7, 7.1, the natural frequency is increased in a not inconsiderable manner.

[0042] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations, which are within their true spirit and scope. Each embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

[0043] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub-combinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure.

[0044] In general the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0045] 1 transverse carrier [0046] 1 module carrier assembly [0047] 3 steering column module [0048] 4 steering column [0049] 5 steering wheel [0050] 6 connection plate [0051] 7, 7.1 steering column holder [0052] 8, 8.1 bore [0053] 9 half shell [0054] 10 half shell [0055] 11 support surface [0056] 12 outer side [0057] 13 limb [0058] 14 upper side [0059] 15 limb [0060] 17 support projection [0061] 18 end face [0062] 19 through-opening [0063] 20 inner side [0064] 21 joining through-opening