REAR BODY MODULE

Abstract

The invention concerns a rear body module, comprising: a floor panel (1) with at least one mounting (3) for a rear seat and also an upwardly extending rear termination (13), depressions (9) and elevations (11) being formed in the floor panel (1) for strengthening, and a left-hand and a right-hand support (19, 21), which in each case form a C pillar of the vehicle body and fork at their upper end into at least two rails (25, 27), the rails (25, 27) being respectively connected to a rear roof rail (23), and the roof rails (23) being connected to one another by a cross member (29), a reinforcing strut (31) respectively emerging from the cross member (29) and being coupled to the roof rail (23).

Claims

1: A rear body module, comprising: a floor panel with at least one mounting for a rear seat and also an upwardly extending rear termination, depressions and elevations being formed in the floor panel for strengthening, and a left-hand and a right-hand support, which in each case form a C pillar of a vehicle body and fork at their upper end into at least two rails, the rails being respectively connected to a rear roof rail, the roof rails being connected to one another by a cross member, and a reinforcing strut respectively emerging from the cross member and being coupled to the roof rail.

2: The rear body module according to claim 1, wherein a depression for receiving a battery module is formed under the mounting for the rear seat.

3: The rear body module according to claim 1, wherein two mountings for a rear seat are formed in the floor panel and a seat shell is fitted on each mounting.

4: The rear body module according to claim 1, wherein a further rail extends between a support and the roof rail, and a backrest of the rear seat is attached to the further rail.

5: The rear body module according to claim 1, wherein a transportation box is fitted on the mounting for the rear seat.

6: The rear body module according to claim 1, wherein the floor panel, the supports and/or the rails are reinforced by a wire mesh.

7: The rear body module according to claim 1, wherein the floor panel, the supports, the rails, the roof rails and/or the reinforcing struts (31) are produced from a material comprising plastic.

8: The rear body module according to claim 7, wherein the material comprising plastic is a fiber-reinforced plastic, an organometallic sheet or a sandwich structure.

9: The rear body module according to claim 7, wherein the plastic is polyurethane, polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene or epoxy resin.

10: The rear body module according to claim 8, wherein the material comprising plastic is a sandwich structure, which is made up of an upper and a lower sheet and also a polymer foam incorporated between the sheets or a honeycomb structure incorporated between the sheets.

11: The rear body module according to claim 10, wherein the upper and lower sheets are each independently an organometallic sheet.

Description

IN THE FIGURES

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a floor panel for a rear body module,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of a rear body module with installed rear seats,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of a rear body module with an installed transportation box.

[0039] In FIG. 1, a floor panel for a rear body module is represented.

[0040] A floor panel 1 is made up of a sheet-like material, for example a metal sheet or an organometallic sheet. Alternatively and with preference, a sandwich structure, which comprises an upper and a lower sheet, for example as a metal sheet or preferably as an organometallic sheet, between which a polymer foam or a honeycomb structure is incorporated, is used for the floor panel.

[0041] In the embodiment represented here, the floor panel 1 has two mountings 3 for rear seats. Apart from the configuration with two mountings 3 for rear seats, only one mounting is also possible, in which not individual seats but a rear bench seat is then fitted. The mountings 3 for rear seats may also be configured in such a way that they can be used for receiving battery modules. For this purpose, it is possible for example to configure the mountings 3 for rear seats in the form of depressions in the floor panel.

[0042] The front termination 5 of the floor panel 1 is configured in such a way that it can be connected to a floor panel of a central body module. The connection may in this case be realized for example by welding, adhesive bonding, screwing or riveting, the type of connection being dependent on the material of the floor panel 1. If polymer-based materials are used for the floor panel, welding or adhesive bonding is preferred; in the case of metallic materials, welding is preferred.

[0043] Behind the mountings 3 for the rear seats there is a rear portion 7, which can be used for example as a trunk floor. Alternatively in the case of rear-driven vehicles, the region may also be used for receiving an engine. For reinforcement, the floor panel 1 has in the rear portion 7 depressions 9 and elevations 11, which serve for stiffening the floor panel 1. The depressions 9 and elevations 11 may in this case assume any suitable form, for example as represented here with a central branch that forks into smaller branches. The form may in this case accommodate for example other forms of the load-bearing structures of the vehicle body.

[0044] The rear portion 7 is adjoined by a rear region 13, which is aligned perpendicularly in relation to the floor and in which for example mountings 15 for rear lights are formed. Alternatively or in addition to the mountings 15 for rear lights, further mountings for the installation of vehicle parts or accessories may also be formed in the rear region 13.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of a rear body module with installed rear seats.

[0046] For the production of a rear body module 17, the floor panel 1 is connected to a left-hand support 19 and a right-hand support 21. The terms left and right are used here in each case as seen in the traveling direction. The left-hand support 19 and the right-hand support 21 at the same time form the C pillars of the vehicle body. If the rear body module 17 is used for constructing a vehicle with 4 doors, the form of the left-hand support 19 and of the right-hand support 21 preferably corresponds to the form of the rear doors, so that the left-hand support 19 and the right-hand support 21 are in each case part of a door frame.

[0047] The upper termination of the supports 19, 21 is respectively formed by a roof rail 23. In order that the roof rail 23 can be respectively connected to the left-hand support 19 and the right-hand support 21 in a torsionally stiff manner, it is preferredas represented hereif the left-hand support 19 and the right-hand support 21 respectively fork into a front rail 25 and a rear rail 27 and the roof rails 23 are connected to the rails 25, 27.

[0048] To complete the rear body module 17, the two roof rails 23 are connected to one another by a cross member 29. Here too, an additional torsional stiffness can be achieved by a reinforcing strut 31 emerging from the cross member 29 and likewise being connected to the roof rail 23.

[0049] In order to ensure sufficient stability, it is preferred to configure the supports 19, 21, the roof rail 23, the rails 25, 27, the cross member 29 and the reinforcing struts 31 as a hollow profile, an optionally reinforced polymer material preferably being used as the material. In this case, the hollow profile may also be made up of a sandwich material which comprises an upper and a lower sheet with a polymer foam incorporated in between.

[0050] In order to increase the torsional stiffness of the rear body module further, it is preferred to attach to the left-hand support 19 and the right-hand support 21 a rail 33, to which a backrest 35 for the rear seat is fastened. The rail 33 may in this case extend for example between the left-hand support 19 and the right-hand support 21 or else run from the left-hand support 19 or from the right-hand support 21 respectively to the cross member 29. In order to keep the vehicle weight down as much as possible, it is preferred if the backrest is configured with an integrated head restraint. Of course, it is however also possible to provide adjustable head restraints.

[0051] In the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, seat shells 37 are respectively fitted on the mountings 3 for a rear seat. The seat shells preferably have in this case an upholstery. The seat shell 37 and the backrest 35 then form the complete rear seat.

[0052] As an alternative to a two-part rear seat, such as that represented here, it is also possible to install a one-part rear seat with a seat surface and a backrest. In particular whenever the backrest 35 is used for additional stabilization of the rear body module, however, it is preferred to provide two-part rear seats.

[0053] Apart from the embodiment represented here with two individual rear seats, it is alternatively also possible to provide a rear bench. In this case, the backrest and the seat surface respectively extend over the entire width of the rear body module.

[0054] In the embodiment represented here, mountings 39 for battery modules are provided under the seat shells 39. Then, depending on the demand and desired range of the vehicle, if it is electrically driven, additional battery modules can be fitted in the mountings 39.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of a rear body module with an installed transportation box.

[0056] The embodiment represented in FIG. 3 differs from that represented in FIG. 2 in that a transportation box 41 is provided at the position of the right-hand rear seat. For the fastening of the transportation box 41, the seat shell 37 has been removed from the mounting 3 for the rear seat. In addition, the upholstery of the backrest 35 has also been removed. The removal of the upholstery of the backrest 35 allows further stowage space to be gained. In order that the transportation box 41 can be safely taken along in the vehicle, it is preferably firmly connected to a mounting 43 for the seat shell 37. Easy installation and removal of the transportation box 41 can be realized for example by using latching elements for the fastening.

[0057] In order to be able to transport the transportation box 41 easily outside the vehicle, it is possible for example to provide the transportation box 41 with rollers 43, on which it can then be pulled and pushed.

[0058] If, as represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, a mounting 39 is used for a battery module that is fitted under the respective seat shell 37, it is advantageous, as shown here by a seat shell 37 represented in section, to fit a seat cross member 45 in the mounting 3 for the seat shell 37 and to screw the mounting 39 for the battery module to the seat cross member 45 through the floor panel 1. In this way, the mounting 39 for the battery module is firmly connected in the rear body module 17 and the battery module can be fitted when required into the mounting 39 in an easy way.

[0059] If the supports 19, 21, the roof rails 23 and the cross member 29 are configured as hollow profiles, it is possible to lay lines required for the vehicle through the hollow profiles. Furthermore, it is also possible to use the hollow profiles as channels for feeding in fresh air. In this case, ventilation outlets through which fresh air can flow into the passenger compartment may be provided at desired positions in the hollow profile. The ventilation outlets may in this case be openings, it being possible for the openings to be embodied in any configuration desired. For example, it is possible to provide a large number of small openings or else several larger openings. Any configuration desired is possible here. In particular, it is possible for example to configure the outlet openings for fresh air in the course of additive manufacturing. This also makes it possible for example to realize complex 3D grid structures, which make diffuse ventilation possible or by which different ventilation zones can be implemented in the passenger compartment.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0060] 1 floor panel [0061] 3 mounting for rear seat [0062] 5 front termination of the floor panel 1 [0063] 7 rear portion [0064] 9 depression [0065] 11 elevation [0066] 13 rear region [0067] 15 mounting for rear lights [0068] 17 rear body module [0069] 19 left-hand support [0070] 21 right-hand support [0071] 23 roof rail [0072] 25 front rail [0073] 27 rear rail [0074] 29 cross member [0075] 31 reinforcing strut [0076] 33 rail [0077] 35 backrest [0078] 37 seat shell [0079] 39 mounting for battery module [0080] 41 transportation box [0081] 43 roller [0082] 45 seat cross member