Structural Component for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A structural component for a motor vehicle is provided. The structural component includes a closed hollow profile including fiber composite material, with a profile outer casing surrounding a profile volume. The structural component also includes at least one reinforcing bulkhead which is arranged in the profile volume on at least one section of an inner casing surface of the profile outer casing. The height of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead, perpendicularly from the inner casing surface, in at least one position in which the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged on the inner casing surface, is lower than a passage height of the profile volume in this position.

Claims

1. A structural component for a motor vehicle, comprising: a closed hollow profile made of fiber composite material with a profile casing which surrounds a profile volume; and at least one reinforcing bulkhead which is arranged in the profile volume on at least one portion of an inner lateral surface of the profile casing, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead has, at at least one point at which the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged on the inner lateral surface, a height, starting perpendicularly from the inner lateral surface, which is less than a passage height of the profile volume at the at least one point.

2. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is formed in a substantially triangular, trapezoidal or funnel-shaped manner in side view.

3. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead has, in a peripheral region in which the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged on the inner lateral surface, a peripheral height, starting perpendicularly from the inner lateral surface, which is less than 50% of a maximum height of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

4. The structural component according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead has, in a peripheral region in which the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged on the inner lateral surface, a peripheral height, starting perpendicularly from the inner lateral surface, which is less than 50% of a maximum height of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

5. The structural component according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral height is less than 20% of the maximum height of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

6. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is fastened to the inner lateral surface of the profile casing by way of an adhesive bond.

7. The structural component according to claim 5, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is fastened to the inner lateral surface of the profile casing by way of an adhesive bond.

8. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged in a form-fitting manner on the inner lateral surface of the profile casing.

9. The structural component according to claim 7, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged in a form-fitting manner on the inner lateral surface of the profile casing.

10. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein a coupling device is formed in or on the at least one reinforcing bulkhead, the structural component being couplable to an external device by way of the coupling device.

11. The structural component according to claim 10, wherein the coupling device has a through-opening.

12. The structural component according to claim 10, wherein in a region of the coupling device, an intermediate element is arranged between the at least one reinforcing bulkhead and the inner lateral surface, and the intermediate element has corrosion-resistant material.

13. The structural component according to claim 11, wherein in a region of the coupling device, an intermediate element is arranged between the at least one reinforcing bulkhead and the inner lateral surface, and the intermediate element has corrosion-resistant material.

14. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is formed in a continuous manner in a surface region which is not connected to the inner lateral surface.

15. The structural component according to claim 13, wherein the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is formed in a continuous manner in a surface region which is not connected to the inner lateral surface.

16. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein at least one breaking edge, at which a blow core, which is movable relative to the at least one reinforcing bulkhead and in contact with the latter, is rupturable in a targeted manner, is formed on the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

17. The structural component according to claim 15, wherein at least one breaking edge, at which a blow core, which is movable relative to the at least one reinforcing bulkhead and in contact with the latter, is rupturable in a targeted manner, is formed on the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

18. The structural component according to claim 1, wherein the profile volume is foam-filled in a region of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

19. The structural component according to claim 17, wherein the profile volume is foam-filled in a region of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

20. The structural component according to claim 19, wherein the profile volume is foam-filled only in the region of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a structural component in a sectional front view according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the structural component in a sectional side view according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a structural component in a sectional front view according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the structural component in a sectional side view according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a structural component in a sectional front view according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the structural component in a sectional side view according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a structural component in a sectional front view according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the structural component in a sectional side view according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a structural component in a sectional front view according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the structural component in a sectional side view according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Elements with an identical function and mode of action are each provided with the same reference signs in FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a structural component 10a for a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention. The structural component 10a has a closed hollow profile 20 made of fiber composite material with a hexagonal profile casing 21. The profile casing 21 surrounds a profile volume 23 and has an inner lateral surface 22. Arranged on a portion of the inner lateral surface 22 of the profile casing 21 and thus in the profile volume 23 is a reinforcing bulkhead 30a.

[0042] The reinforcing bulkhead 30a illustrated according to FIG. 1 has, at a point or in a central region at which or in which the reinforcing bulkhead 30a is arranged on the inner lateral surface 22, a height H1, starting perpendicularly from the inner lateral surface 22, which is much less than a passage height H2 (a height orthogonal to the passage direction D) of the profile volume 23 at this point. In an outer region, the reinforcing bulkhead 30a according to FIG. 1 has its maximum height H4. In this region, the reinforcing bulkhead 30a is arranged or supported in a form-fitting manner on the inner lateral surface 22 of the profile casing 21. Here, the reinforcing bulkhead 30a is U- or V-shaped or substantially U- or V-shaped in section.

[0043] In this case, the illustrated reinforcing bulkhead 30a does not, as illustrated in FIG. 1, have to extend across the entire width of the profile volume 23. Thus, the reinforcing bulkhead 30a can be arranged for example only on one or two of the six side faces of the inner lateral surface 22.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the structural component 10a according to the first embodiment in a section along the line A-A in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the reinforcing bulkhead 30a is formed in a substantially funnel-shaped manner in side view. In a peripheral region 31 of the reinforcing bulkhead 30a, in which the reinforcing bulkhead 30a is arranged on the inner lateral surface 22, the reinforcing bulkhead 30a has a height H3, starting perpendicularly from the inner lateral surface 22, which is much less than the maximum height H4 of the reinforcing bulkhead 30a.

[0045] The reinforcing bulkhead 30a illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is fastened to the inner lateral surface 22 of the profile casing 21 by way of adhesive bonding.

[0046] With regard to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the present invention is now described. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a structural component 10b which is similar to the structural component 10a illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The structural component 10b according to the second embodiment differs from the structural component 10a of the first embodiment in particular in that the reinforcing bulkhead 10b is formed continuously, i.e., without edges, in a surface region which is not connected to the inner lateral surface 22.

[0047] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a structural component 10c according to a third embodiment. The structural component 10c illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is distinguished in particular by the fact that a coupling device 40 in the form of a through-opening is formed in the reinforcing bulkhead 30c, wherein the through-opening preferably has a thread. By way of this coupling device 40, the structural component 10c, or the reinforcing bulkhead 30c, is able to be coupled to an external device. The external device can be an axle carrier, a link, a door connection or a similar device for a motor vehicle. In order to connect the external device to the structural component 10c or the reinforcing bulkhead 30c, the profile casing 21 is open on the side of the coupling device 40.

[0048] The structural component 10d, illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is distinguished in particular by the intermediate element 50 which is arranged in the region of the coupling device 40 between the reinforcing bulkhead 30d and the inner lateral surface 22. The intermediate element 50 is, according to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, an annular disk made of corrosion-resistant material such as aluminum or stainless steel, which is pressed into the reinforcing bulkhead 30d or is placed in a corresponding recess therein.

[0049] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show a structural component 10e according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Formed on the reinforcing bulkhead 30e according to the fifth embodiment are a plurality of breaking edges 32, at which a blow core, which is movable relative to the reinforcing bulkhead 30e and in contact with the latter, is able to be ruptured in a targeted manner. Furthermore, in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a foamed-filled region 60 is illustrated in a dotted manner in the profile volume 23 in the region of the reinforcing bulkhead 30e.

[0050] According to the fifth embodiment, the coupling device 40 is configured in the form of a sleeve with a thrust bearing 41 and a protrusion 42. As a result of the thrust bearing 41, the coupling device 40 can be held better in the reinforcing bulkhead 30e under load or load introduction. The protrusion 42 passes through the profile casing 21 according to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 such that it projects beyond the outer surface of the profile mantel 21, or of the hollow profile 20. In spite of the through-opening in the profile casing 21, the hollow profile 20 should be understood, in the context of the present invention, as being a closed or at least as a substantially closed hollow profile.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0051] 10 Structural component [0052] 20 Closed hollow profile [0053] 21 Profile casing [0054] 22 Inner lateral surface [0055] 23 Profile volume [0056] 30 Reinforcing bulkhead [0057] 31 Peripheral region [0058] 32 Breaking edge [0059] 40 Coupling means [0060] 41 Thrust bearing [0061] 42 Protrusion [0062] 50 Intermediate element [0063] 60 Foam-filled region [0064] H1 Height of the reinforcing bulkhead [0065] H2 Passage height of the profile volume [0066] H3 Peripheral height [0067] H4 Maximum height of the reinforcing bulkhead

[0068] The features illustrated with respect to the various embodiments are, of course, not limited to the respective embodiments. Rather, features which have been described with respect to one embodiment may also be the subject of another embodiment. 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.