Abstract
A water channel structure for a motor vehicle includes a water channel side wall where the water channel side wall has an overlap region which is arrangeable in the motor vehicle overlapping a side wall of a motor vehicle body in an overlap plane. A set-off region is disposed on the overlap region where at least a part of the set-off region is spaced apart from the overlap plane.
Claims
1. A water channel structure of a motor vehicle, comprising: a water channel side wall, wherein the water channel side wall has an overlap region and wherein the overlap region is arranged in the motor vehicle overlapping a side wall of a motor vehicle body in an overlap plane; wherein the water channel side wall has a set-off region disposed at a distal end of the water channel side wall and on an end of the overlap region, wherein the set-off region of the water channel side wall is spaced apart from the overlap plane, and wherein the set-off region is disposed within a character edge of the side wall of the motor vehicle body.
2. The water channel structure according to claim 1, wherein the set-off region is curved.
3. The water channel structure according to claim 1, wherein the set-off region is disposed at an angle to the overlap region.
4. The water channel structure according to claim 3, wherein the angle has a range from 5° to 30°.
5. A motor vehicle, comprising: a motor vehicle body having a side wall; and a water channel side wall, wherein the water channel side wall has an overlap region and a set-off region, wherein the set-off region is disposed at a distal end of the water channel side wall and on an end of the overlap region, wherein the overlap region overlaps the side wall in an overlap plane, wherein the set-off region of the water channel side wall is spaced apart from the overlap plane, and wherein the set-off region is disposed within a character edge of the side wall of the motor vehicle body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a known water channel structure and of a side wall of a vehicle body;
(2) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of FIG. 1 in a lateral view;
(3) FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a water channel structure according to the invention and of a transparently illustrated side wall of a vehicle body;
(4) FIG. 4 shows, from the outside toward the vehicle body, a perspective sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 3;
(5) FIG. 5 shows, from the inside toward the vehicle body, a perspective sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 3;
(6) FIG. 6 shows a further lateral sectional view of a water channel structure according to the invention and of a side wall of a vehicle body;
(7) FIG. 7 shows a detail of FIG. 2;
(8) FIG. 8 shows a detail of FIG. 3; and
(9) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a water channel structure according to the invention and of a vehicle body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(10) FIG. 1 shows a known water channel structure 10 and a side wall 40 of a vehicle body. For example, part of the rear-end region of a motor vehicle is illustrated here. In this case, the water channel structure 10 has a water channel side wall 20 with an overlap region 30. The overlap region 30 is arranged in a manner overlapping the side wall 40 of the vehicle body. The water channel structure 10 is in this case fastened, for example by means of spot welding, to the side wall 40 of the vehicle body. Finally, PVC is applied for the purpose of sealing off the water channel shown).
(11) In the lateral view of FIG. 2, as in FIG. 1, both the water channel structure 10, with the water channel side wall 20 and the overlap region 30, and the side wall 40 of the vehicle body can be seen. Furthermore, for clarification, the dashed line shows a relative range for a surface radius in the region of a character edge of the side wall 40 of the body.
(12) FIG. 3 shows a water channel structure 10 according to the invention which, in addition to the features of FIGS. 1 and 2, has a set-off region 50, which is additionally arranged on the overlap region 30. Preferably, the set-off region 50 and the overlap region 30, for example, are formed from a metal sheet. Furthermore, for clarification, the dashed line shows a relative range for a surface radius, smaller than in FIG. 2, in the region of a character edge of the side wall 40 of the body. Since the set-off region 50 requires no further tolerance region at the side wall 40 of the body, the character edge of the side wall 40 of the body may be formed in a more prominent manner, since larger undercuts are possible.
(13) In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the overlap region 30 and the set-off region 50 are arranged at an angle to one another. In the installed state, the set-off region 50 thus points toward the interior of the motor vehicle. This is further illustrated in FIG. 5,
(14) FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3, in which the configuration of the water channel structure 10 is more clearly illustrated.
(15) FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2. Here, the overlap region 30 has a length d.sub.1. A tolerance length d.sub.2 must additionally be provided for tolerance compensation between the side wall 40 and the water channel structure 10.
(16) FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3. Here, the overlap region 30 has a length d.sub.3. The length d.sub.3 is in this case less than or equal to the length d.sub.1. Since the set-off region 50 is angled, however, it is not necessary for tolerance compensation in the form of an overlap to be provided for this. The overlap region 30 and the set-off region 50 therefore have a total length of d.sub.3+d.sub.4 only. In this case, according to the invention, it holds that d.sub.3+d.sub.4<d.sub.1+d.sub.2.
(17) By way of example, d.sub.1=3.5 mm, d.sub.2=3.2 mm and d.sub.3+d.sub.4=4 min may be selected. It goes without saying that other lengths are also possible.
(18) FIG. 9 shows an angle α according to the invention between the overlap region 30 and the set-off region 50. Preferably, the angle α lies in the range from 5° to 30°. Particularly preferably, the angle α lies in the range from 15° to 20°. Alternatively, curvatures, preferably radii, which make possible a similar spacing, are conceivable. Also shown in FIG. 9 is an overlap plane E in which the overlap region 30 and the side wall 40 of the body overlap. The overlap plane E is formed substantially by the overlap region 30. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the angle α is formed between the set-off region 50 and the overlap plane E. According to the invention, as can be seen in FIG. 9, at least one part of the set-off region 50 is arranged spaced apart from the overlap plane E.
(19) The depth T of the set-off can furthermore be seen in FIG. 9. The depth T is the decisive measure for the production of a “sharp, attractively designed” character edge. According to the invention, the depth T of the set-off is reduced with the sealing capability maintained.
(20) For the purpose of the overlap plane E being more clearly visible, the side wall 40 of the body does not abut against the overlap region 30 in FIG. 9. In the installed state, the side wall 40 of the body preferably abuts against the overlap region 30.
(21) Furthermore, the angled-away set-off region 50 simplifies the abutment from below of the water channel 10 against the side wall 40 of the body during joining, since the risk of sheet-metal edges striking one another is reduced.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
(22) 10 Water channel structure 20 Water channel side wall 30 Overlap region 40 Side wall of a motor vehicle body 50 Set-off region E Overlap plane T Depth of the set-off
