Rollover protection element

Abstract

A rollover protection element (4) having a rollover element (5, 10, 110, 210) of elongate configuration and a bumper element (6, 11, 111, 211) connected at a free end of the rollover element (5, 10, 110, 210). The bumper element (6, 11, 111, 211) extends in a width direction of the rollover element (5, 10, 110, 210). The bumper element (6, 11, 111, 211) has a circumferential-side wall and webs that are arranged within the wall, a lower-side region of the wall of the bumper element (6, 11, 111, 211) is connected to the rollover element (5, 10, 110, 210). The webs are arranged in a curved and/inclined manner such that none of the webs lies perpendicularly on the lower-side region of the wall.

Claims

1. A rollover protection element having an elongate rollover element and a bumper element connected at a free end of the rollover element, the bumper element extending in a width direction of the rollover element and having a circumferential-side wall and at least one web arranged within the circumferential-side wall, a lower-side region of the circumferential wall of the bumper element being connected to the rollover element, the at least one web being arranged in a curved manner such that no web lies perpendicularly on the lower-side region of the circumferential-side wall.

2. The rollover protection element of claim 1, wherein the at least one web comprises plural webs that protrude inward from the circumferential-side wall.

3. The rollover protection element of claim 2, wherein the webs protrude inward from the circumferential-side wall and converge in a substantially star-shaped manner.

4. The rollover protection element of claim 2, wherein the plural webs include the at least one web that is arranged in a curved manner and at least one web that runs at an angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the lower-side region of the circumferential-side wall.

5. The rollover protection element of claim 1, wherein the circumferential-side wall has regions of different wall thickness.

6. The rollover protection element of claim 1, wherein the rollover element is of upwardly open configuration and/or has a cutout in a region of the connection of the bumper element.

7. A rollover protection element having an elongate rollover element and a bumper element connected at a free end of the rollover element, the bumper element extending in a width direction of the rollover element and having a circumferential-side wall and at least one web arranged within the circumferential-side wall, a lower-side region of the circumferential wall of the bumper element being connected to the rollover element, the at least one web being arranged in a curved and/or inclined manner such that no web lies perpendicularly on the lower-side region of the circumferential-side wall, wherein the lower-side region of the circumferential-side wall has an outwardly concave curved region that forms an inwardly convex curved region facing into the interior of the bumper element.

8. The rollover protection element of claim 7, wherein the at least one web ends on the curved region.

9. The rollover protection element of claim 7, wherein the at least one web is curved.

10. The rollover protection element of claim 7, wherein the at least one web comprises plural webs that protrude inward from the circumferential-side wall.

11. The rollover protection element of claim 10, wherein the webs protrude inward from the circumferential-side wall and converge in a substantially star-shaped manner.

12. A rollover protection element having an elongate rollover element and a bumper element connected at a free end of the rollover element, the bumper element extending in a width direction of the rollover element and having a circumferential-side wall and at least one web arranged within the circumferential-side wall, a lower-side region of the circumferential wall of the bumper element being connected to the rollover element, the at least one web being arranged in a curved and/or inclined manner such that no web lies perpendicularly on the lower-side region of the circumferential-side wall, and wherein the lower-side region of the circumferential-side wall has an opening.

13. The rollover protection element of claim 12, wherein the at least one web comprises plural webs that protrude inward from the circumferential-side wall.

14. The rollover protection element of claim 13, wherein the webs protrude inward from the circumferential-side wall and converge in a substantially star-shaped manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1a is a diagrammatic perspective view of a rollover protection element.

(2) FIG. 1b is a top view of a carrier element of a vehicle body structure with a rollover protection element.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of the rollover protection element with a first embodiment of a bumper element.

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the part of the rollover protection element of FIG. 2 with a second embodiment of a bumper element.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of a part of a second embodiment of the rollover protection element with a variation of the bumper element of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a part of a third embodiment of the rollover protection element with a the bumper element of FIG. 4 and the spike of FIG. 2.

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of part of a rollover protection element with a third embodiment of the bumper element.

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of a part of a rollover protection element with a variation of the bumper element of FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of a part of a rollover protection element with a fourth embodiment of the bumper element.

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of a rollover protection element with a variation of the bumper element of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIGS. 1a and 1b show a carrier element 1 of a vehicle body structure 2 of a motor vehicle that has a rollover protection element 4 provided as a cassette. The rollover protection element 4 has a drive mechanism 3 for deploying a rollover element 5 of the rollover protection element 4. As an alternative, the rollover protection element 4 can be installed rigidly and can be deployed in a non-automated manner.

(12) The rollover protection element 4 has an elongate rollover element 5 that is deployed and a bumper element 6 connected as a deployable deployment element at an upper free end or end region of the rollover element 5. The bumper element 6 extends as a deformation crossmember in the width direction of the rollover element 5.

(13) The drive mechanism preferably has a spring that is prestressed and blocked in the non-deployed state. The spring is relieved and the rollover element 5 deploys if the blocking of the spring is canceled.

(14) FIGS. 2 to 9 show exemplary embodiments of a bumper element of this type with an upper region of a rollover element.

(15) FIG. 2 shows an upper part of a rollover element 10 that extends vertically. The bumper element 11 is at the upper end of the rollover element 10 and is connected to the rollover element 10 by welded joints 12, 13. The bumper element 11 is configured as a profile element, such as an extruded or extrusion molded profile.

(16) The bumper element 11 has a circumferential-side wall 14 and at least one web 15 within the circumferential wall 14. The circumferential wall 14 of FIG. 2 is approximately semicircular and has a substantially planar lower wall 16 and an approximately semicircular upper wall 17. The web connects the lower wall 16 to the upper wall 17. The lower wall 16 has a bulge or a curved region 18 that reaches into the interior of the profile of the bumper element 11. The web 15 connects the upper wall 17 to the bulge 18 and is curved to divide the interior space of the profile into two chambers 19, 20.

(17) An upper region of the rollover element 10 has two adjacent upwardly open cutouts 21, 22, and the bumper element 11 can expand therein if required by deformation of the bumper element 11. The cutout 21 is wider and deeper than the cutout 22.

(18) A spike 23 is provided on the bumper element and can penetrate an existing glass pane of the hood if required.

(19) The wall thickness of the circumferential-side wall 14 and of the web can vary to achieve a desired force and deformation profile.

(20) The circumferential-side wall 14 and the web 15 that extends from the bulge 18 are configured so that the web 15 is not perpendicular to the lower-side region 16 of the wall 14.

(21) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment with two webs 30, 31 instead of the one web 15 in FIG. 2. Otherwise, the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar. The web 30 runs in a somewhat curved manner and at an angle with respect to the vertical on the left-hand side of the center of the profile of the bumper element 11. The web 31 also runs in a somewhat curved manner and at an angle with respect to the vertical on the right side of the center of the profile of the bumper element 11. The two webs run toward one another in an approximately v-shape and end at the bottom at the bulge 18. The webs 30, 31 form three chambers 32, 33, 34.

(22) FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of FIG. 2, where an upwardly closed cutout 40 is provided instead of the upwardly open cutout 22 of FIG. 2. In other respects, the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4 are similar. The cutout 40 has a web 41 that closes the cutout to the top. The web 41 influences the deformation of the bumper element 11 because the substrate is locally not as flexible as in FIG. 2. A covering 42 also is shown in FIG. 4 and at least partially covers the bumper element 11.

(23) FIG. 5 shows a further alternate to the rollover protection element of FIGS. 2 and 4, in which, instead of the upwardly open cutout 22 of FIG. 2 or the upwardly closed cutout 40, no such cutout is provided. Otherwise, the embodiment is in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Reference is made to the corresponding description in this regard. The cutout, which is not present locally, influences the deformation of the bumper element 11 because the substrate is locally not as flexible as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

(24) The upwardly open cutout 21 is provided merely in the region of the bulge 18.

(25) The way size, shape and location of the cutouts 22, 21, 40 depends critically on the desired profile shape of the bumper element 11 and the relevant profiles of the rollover element.

(26) FIGS. 6 to 9 show further embodiments. The embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 are similar, and the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9 are similar.

(27) FIG. 6 shows an upper part of a rollover element 110 that extends vertically. The bumper element 111 is connected to the upper end of the rollover element 110 by welded joints 112, 113. The bumper element 111 is configured as a profile element, such as an extruded or extrusion molded profile.

(28) The bumper element 111 has a circumferential-side wall 114 and three webs 115 are within the wall 114, as shown in FIG. 6.

(29) Here, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the circumferential wall 114 of FIG. 6 is configured to be shaped irregularly with a substantially planar lower wall 116 and an upwardly widening upper wall 117. The webs 115 connect regions of the upper wall 117 to one another. The lower wall 116 has an opening 118.

(30) The upper web 15 is curved, whereas the lower two webs are approximately straight. The webs 115 are arranged in an approximately star-shaped pattern and divide the interior space of the profile into three chambers 119, 120, 121.

(31) In the upper region, the rollover element 110 has an upwardly open cutout 122 to permit a targeted deformation of the bumper element 111 to take place.

(32) The wall thickness of the circumferential-side wall 114 and of the webs can vary, such that a desired force and deformation profile results.

(33) FIG. 7 shows an alternate to the embodiment of FIG. 6, in which the lower wall closed and has no opening comparable to the opening 118 of FIG. 6. In other respects, the embodiment of FIG. 7 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

(34) FIG. 8 shows the upper part of a vertical rollover element 210. A bumper element 211 is connected at the upper end of the rollover element 210 by welded joints 212, 213. The bumper element 211 is configured as a profile element, such as an extruded or extrusion molded profile.

(35) The bumper element 211 has a circumferential-side wall 214 and webs 215 within the wall 214. Four webs 215 are shown in FIG. 8 and are arranged in an approximately star-shape. The circumferential wall 214 is shaped irregularly with a substantially planar lower wall 216 and an upwardly widening upper wall 217. The webs 215 connect regions of the upper wall 217 to one another. The lower wall 216 has an opening 218.

(36) The two upper webs 215 are of somewhat curved configuration, whereas the lower two webs are approximately straight. The webs 215 are arranged in an approximately star-shape and divide the interior space of the profile into four chambers 119, 120, 121, 122.

(37) The upper region of the rollover element 210 has an upwardly open cutout 223 that allows a targeted deformation of the bumper element 211 to take place.

(38) The wall thickness of the circumferential-side wall 214 and of the webs can vary, such that a desired force and deformation profile results.

(39) FIG. 9 shows an alternative to the embodiment of FIG. 8, in which, instead of the opening 218, the lower wall is configured without an opening, that is to say is closed. In other respects, the embodiment of FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

(40) 1 Carrier element 2 Vehicle body structure 3 Drive mechanism 4 Rollover protection element 5 Rollover element 6 Bumper element 10 Rollover element 11 Bumper element 12 Welded joint 13 Welded joint 14 Wall 15 Web 16 Wall 17 Wall 18 Bulge 19 Chamber 20 Chamber 21 Cutout 22 Cutout 23 Spike 30 Web 31 Web 32 Chamber 33 Chamber 34 Chamber 40 Cutout 41 Web 42 Covering 110 Rollover element 111 Bumper element 112 Welded joint 113 Welded joint 114 Wall 115 Web 116 Wall 117 Wall 118 Opening 119 Chamber 120 Chamber 121 Chamber 122 Cutout 210 Rollover element 211 Bumper element 212 Welded joint 213 Welded joint 214 Wall 215 Web 216 Wall 217 Wall 218 Opening 219 Chamber 220 Chamber 221 Chamber 222 Chamber 223 Cutout