Hollow Chamber Support Assembly For A Vehicle

Abstract

A hollow chamber support assembly for a vehicle comprising a hollow chamber support, an insert component designed as a hollow chamber profile, which is arranged in the hollow chamber support with the outer sides of the walls of the insert component spaced apart from the inner wall of the hollow chamber support, and means for holding a first end section of the insert component on an end of the hollow chamber support in its arrangement provided in the hollow chamber support(. The means are designed as clamping means and comprise a clamping element and an abutment element, wherein to clamp the insert component, the clamping element is supported on the abutment element and, in this supported arrangement, acts against the outer side of at least one wall of the insert component.

Claims

1-24. (canceled)

25. A hollow chamber support assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a hollow chamber support, an insert component designed as a hollow chamber profile, which is arranged in the hollow chamber support with outer sides of walls of the insert component spaced apart from an inner wall of the hollow chamber support, and means for holding a first end section of the insert component on an end of the hollow chamber support in its arrangement provided in the hollow chamber support, which means are designed as clamping means and comprise a clamping element and an abutment element, wherein to clamp the insert component, the clamping element is supported on the abutment element and, in this supported arrangement, acts against the outer side of at least one wall of the insert component.

26. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the abutment element is part of a flange plate which is arranged at a free end of the hollow chamber support and is connected thereto, and the at least one clamping element and the insert component engage in a flange recess of the flange plate.

27. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 26, wherein at least one abutment surface provided by the flange plate for supporting the clamping element is formed by a flange or flange portion which is angled relative to a base plate of the flange plate and delimits the flange recess.

28. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 27, wherein the flange or flange portion forming the abutment surface is part of a flange which peripherally encloses the flange recess.

29. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 27, wherein an opening width of the flange recess is tapered by the flange or flange portion forming the abutment surface starting from the base plate.

30. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 26, wherein the flange plate carries an outer peripheral flange which is bent over from the base plate.

31. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 30, wherein the outer peripheral flange is bent over in a same direction as the flange or flange portion forming the at least one abutment surface.

32. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the clamping element has at least two clamping segments opposite to one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the insert component, which are each supported on an abutment surface portion such that a clamping force acting in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the insert component is provided by the clamping element for clamping the insert component.

33. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 32, wherein the at least two clamping segments are part of a clamping sleeve which encompasses the insert component.

34. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 33, wherein the clamping sleeve is formed slotted on one side.

35. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 34, wherein an inner contour of the clamping sleeve is designed complementary to an outline geometry of the insert component.

36. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the clamping element carries at least one locking cam on a side thereof facing towards the insert component, which cam engages in an opening of the insert component.

37. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein: the abutment element is part of a flange plate which is arranged at a free end of the hollow chamber support and is connected thereto, and the at least one clamping element and the insert component engage in a flange recess of the flange plate, the clamping element has at least two clamping segments opposite to one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the insert component, which are each supported on an abutment surface portion such that a clamping force acting in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the insert component is provided by the clamping element for clamping the insert component, and a stop panel is formed on a side of the at least two clamping segments facing towards the free end of the hollow chamber support into which the insert component has been inserted, and the stop panel of the clamping element projects beyond an outer contour thereof engaging in the flange recess of the flange plate.

38. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 37 wherein the flange plate is a first flange plate, further comprising a second flange plate having a flange recess, wherein the second flange plate is connected to the first flange plate, wherein the outer contour of the stop panel or a portion thereof engages in the flange recess of the second flange plate, and wherein the clamping element is clamped with the second flange plate in relation to the abutment element.

39. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 38, wherein the stop panel has a lateral surface which is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the insert component with an inclination direction directed away from the first flange plate and toward the insert component.

40. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the clamping element is a plastic part.

41. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein a second end section of the insert component is supported with at least one second holding means relative to the inner wall of the hollow chamber support.

42. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 41, wherein the second holding means is a nut held on the outside of the insert component and a screw, which passes through a wall of the hollow chamber support, engages into the nut to fix the second end section of the insert component.

43. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the hollow chamber profile of the insert component has multiple chambers.

44. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 43, wherein the insert component has a cross-sectional area with a greater extension in the z direction than in the y direction.

45. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 43, wherein the insert component has, on at least one wall, an inwardly directed slot-shaped groove following a longitudinal extension of the insert component.

46. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the insert component is an aluminum extruded profile.

47. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the insert component has a non-linear longitudinal extension.

48. The hollow chamber support assembly of claim 25, wherein the hollow chamber support is produced from at least two shell components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present disclosure is described hereinafter using an example embodiment with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of two hollow chamber support assemblies, each having a hollow chamber support, connected by a bumper assembly,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an insert component, integrated in a hollow chamber support of a hollow chamber support assembly of FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an isolated illustration of a flange plate attached to a hollow chamber support of the hollow chamber support assembly of FIG. 1,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a clamping element for clamping the insert component,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the clamping element of FIG. 4,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows the insert component of FIG. 2 having the clamping element of FIGS. 4 and 5 fixed thereon,

[0035] FIG. 7 shows an isolated illustration of the base plate, which is connected to the vehicle-side end of a crash box of the bumper assembly,

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a front view of one of the hollow chamber support assemblies of FIG. 1 with a view of the baseplate and with the crash box omitted,

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a sectional illustration through the hollow chamber support assembly along line A-B of FIG. 8, and

[0038] FIG. 10 shows a sectional illustration through the end section of the hollow chamber support assembly along line C-D of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows two hollow chamber support assemblies 1, 1.1. These represent the front longitudinal supports in a vehicle that is otherwise not shown in detail. A bumper cross-member assembly 2 is connected using its crash boxes 3, 3.1 to the hollow chamber support assemblies 1, 1.1. The crash boxes 3, 3.1 are each connected to a flange plate 4, 4.1 used as a baseplate. The bumper cross-member assembly 2 is connected to the hollow chamber support assembly 1 via the flange plates 4, 4.1.

[0040] The hollow chamber support assembly 1 is described in more detail hereinafter. The same explanations also apply to the hollow chamber support assembly 1.1, which is designed in the same way. The hollow chamber support assembly 1 comprises a hollow chamber support 5 which, in the example embodiment shown, is composed of two half-shells. The joining plane is in the x-z plane. The hollow chamber support 5 is shown in an illustrative form and can also have other geometries in a practical embodiment. The hollow chamber support 5 is connected to a flange plate 6 at the end facing towards the bumper cross-member assembly 2. The flange plates 4 and 6 protrude in the radial direction over the components connected to them by a joint connection—the crash box 3 and the hollow chamber support 5. The flange plates 4, 6 have openings in order to be able to connect the assemblies 1, 1.1, 2 to one another by means of fasteners. The fasteners are not shown in the figure.

[0041] In addition to the hollow chamber support 5, the hollow chamber support assembly 1 has an insert component 7 which is arranged in its cavity and follows its longitudinal extension. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the insert component 7 is designed as a hollow chamber profile. While the two half-shells of the hollow chamber support 5 are made of steel plates, the insert component 7 is an aluminum extruded profile in the example embodiment shown. The insert component 7 of the example embodiment shown is designed having two chambers. A groove-like depression 8, 8.1, following the longitudinal extension of the insert component 7, is provided in each of the side walls facing in the y direction. The recess 8, 8.1 is symmetrical to the central longitudinal plane (plane in the x-z direction) in both walls. Due to the recesses 8, 8.1, the insert component is tapered in the z direction in its middle section. In the upper wall 9 of the insert component 7, a locking opening 10 is introduced by a drilled hole. Opposite the locking opening 10 apparent in FIG. 2, there is also such a locking opening 10.1 at the same position in the lower wall 11 (see FIG. 9).

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the flange plate 6. A flange recess 12 is introduced into this plate, the inner contour of which corresponds to the outline geometry of the insert component 7. The insert component 7 is inserted through the flange recess 12 to complete the hollow chamber support assembly 1. The clear width of the flange recess 12 is dimensioned larger than the dimensioning of the insert component 7 in this respect. This takes place against the background that a clamping element 13 is arranged between the border of the flange recess 12 of the flange plate 6 and the insert component 7.

[0043] Such a clamping element 13 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The clamping element 13 of the illustrated embodiment has two clamping segments 14, 14.1, which are opposite to one another with respect to the central transverse plane (x-y plane). The outer contour of the clamping elements 14, 14.1 is adapted to the inner contour of the flange recess 12 so that both surfaces are in planar contact with one another when the clamping element 13 is inserted into the flange recess 12. A stop panel 15 is formed onto the clamping elements 14, 14.1. The stop panel 15 protrudes in parts in the radial direction and thus outwards over the clamping segments 14, 14.1. These sections act as a stop to limit the insertion depth of the clamping segments 14, 14.1 into the flange recess 12 of the flange plate 6. While the clamping segments 14, 14.1 follow the inner contour of the flange recess 12, the stop panel 15 is formed having a rectangular outline. Thus, above all, those sections that protrude over the waist of the flange recess 12 form the above-described stop surface. As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the height of the stop panel 15 is less than the distance of the vertex of the clamping segment 14 from that of the clamping segment 14.1. The clamping segments 14, 14.1 thus protrude with their upper or lower section over the upper or lower end of the stop panel 15, respectively.

[0044] The clamping element 13 is formed in one piece in the manner of a clamping sleeve. The left leg shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is slotted. This facilitates mounting of the clamping element 13 on the insert component 7. Each clamping segment 14, 14.1 carries a locking cam 16, 16.1 on its side facing inwards. These are used to fix the clamping element 13 on the insert component 7 and, in the fixed position, engage in the locking openings 10, 10.1. The slotted design can be formed as a continuous slot. It is also possible that the parts of the clamping sleeve enclosing the slot are connected to one another by a film section in the manner of a film hinge with a certain material specification. The expansion movement is then limited according to the material specifications. For example, such a film hinge section can have a V-shaped cross section, wherein the free ends are molded onto the components of the clamping collar that delimit the slot.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows the clamping element 13 mounted on the insert component 7. With the clamping element 13 mounted on the insert component 7, it is pushed into the flange recess 12 of the flange plate 6 when the hollow chamber support 5, which is the case with the hollow chamber support assembly 1, is supposed to be reinforced or stiffened.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows the flange plate 4, to which the crash box 3 is connected, in an isolated illustration in a top view. The flange plate 4 also has a flange recess 17. This is complementary to the outline geometry of the stop panel 15. If the insert component 7 having its clamping element 13 is pushed through the flange recess 12 of the flange plate 6 and the clamping element 13 is pressed into the flange recess 12, the clamping element 13 is pressed into the flange recess 12 of the flange plate 6 with force by the mounting of the bumper cross-member assembly 2 having its flange plate 4. FIG. 8 shows a front view of the mounted flange plate 4 and the hollow chamber support assembly 1 located behind it having its insert component 7 and the clamping element 13, the front side of the stop panel 15 of which is apparent in FIG. 8.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows, in a longitudinal section, the structure of the hollow chamber support assembly 1 having the insert component clamped by the clamping element 13. The flange clearance 12 of the flange plate 4 is formed by a flange 19 encircling the flange recess 12 and bent over from a base plate 18. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the peripheral flange 19 is inclined toward the interior of the hollow chamber support 5 toward the insert component 7. As a result, the flange recess 12 tapers in the direction toward the interior of the hollow chamber support 5. The clamping segments 14, 14.1 have a complementary shape on the outside and are also inclined in the same direction as the flange 19. The clamping element 13 is a plastic part and is produced with a slight oversize. If the clamping element 13 is seated in the flange clearance 12 when seated on the insert component 7, as shown in FIG. 9, a clamping pressure acting in the direction toward the insert component 7 is provided. If the clamping element 13 has not yet been sufficiently pressed into the flange opening 12 as a result of its mounting in the hollow chamber support 5, this occurs automatically when the bumper cross-member assembly 2 is mounted on the flange plate 6. The flange plate 6 then acts against the sections of the clamping segments 14, 14.1 projecting over the stop panel 15. FIG. 9 also shows that the peripheral surface of the stop panel 15 is also slightly inclined, contrary to the inclination of the outer sides of the clamping segments 14, 14.1. The stop panel 15 is thus used simultaneously for guiding and centering during the mounting of the bumper cross-member assembly with its flange plate 6 on the flange plate 4. When mounted on the flange plate 4, the flange plate 6 is located with its flange recess 17 on the outside to that position where the locking cams 16, 16.1 are located on the inside. Their engagement position is thus secured after the flange plate 6 has been mounted.

[0048] The insert component 7 is equipped with a plastic nut 20 on the outside in the region of its other end section, for example by means of an adhesive bond. The nut 20 is located at that point on the outside of the insert component—here on the lower wall 11—in which it has an opening 21 having an internal thread. The nut 20 is used as a spacer, so that the insert component 7 is held within the hollow chamber support 5 spaced apart from its inner wall, as is carried out at its other end section by the clamping element 13. A screw 22 is used to fix the insert component 7. For this purpose, the screw 22 extends through the hollow chamber support 5. The screw 22 only has small dimensions, for example has a diameter of 4 to 6 mm.

[0049] It is schematically shown in FIG. 9 that the end of the insert component 7 located in the hollow chamber support 5 is spaced apart from a terminus 23. The terminus 23 is shown schematically and can be provided by the hollow chamber support or by another component. The terminus does not have to be provided at right angles to the course of the hollow chamber support. The terminus 23 is only intended to show that a movement of the insert component 7 in the x direction into the hollow chamber support 5 is thereby limited. In case of an accident having a high force absorption in the x direction, the hollow chamber support 5 can therefore initially react independently and unaffected by the insert component 7, while the insert component 7 is not yet involved in a deformation. At best, the insert component 7 is displaced by the applied force in the x direction in the direction of the terminus 23. The plastic locking cams 16, 16.1 shear off in the process, as does the screw 22, which is weakly dimensioned for this purpose. Only when a correspondingly high force is applied do transverse forces above all also reach the insert component 7, which up to that point has not been deformed. For this reason, particularly high forces can be absorbed using the hollow chamber support assembly 1 without the longitudinal support formed by this assembly buckling in or buckling out.

[0050] In the section shown in FIG. 10, it is apparent that the outside of the clamping segments 14, 14.1 is also inclined in the area of the waist, as is their above-described vertex area. Thus, in this example embodiment, a clamping force is also applied to the insert component in the region of its waist.

[0051] The flange 19 of the flange plate 4 enclosing the flange recess 12 is used to apply the clamping force. This thus forms the abutment necessary for applying the clamping force acting on the insert component 7.

[0052] To reinforce the flange plate 4, it has a peripheral flange 24 on the outside, which is bent in the same direction as the flange 19.

[0053] The present disclosure has been described using a longitudinal support of a vehicle as an example embodiment. From this, the simple and problem-free mounting of the insert component 7 in the hollow chamber support 5 becomes clear. If other forces have to be absorbed by the hollow chamber support assembly, another insert component can be used instead of the insert component 7, or the hollow chamber support 5 can be used without an insert component. The hollow chamber support assembly can be equipped with the insert component required for the vehicle being produced in each case during mounting. Either an insert component is inserted into the hollow chamber support before the mounting of the bumper cross-member assembly or it is not.

[0054] The description of the example embodiment also makes it clear that this concept can also be used with other supports in the vehicle.

[0055] The invention has been described on the basis of example embodiments. Without departing the scope of the claims, numerous further options and possibilities for implementing the invention result for a person skilled in the art, without having to explain or show them in greater detail in the context of this disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1, 1.1 hollow chamber support assembly

[0057] 2 bumper cross-member assembly

[0058] 3, 3.1 crash box

[0059] 4, 4.1 flange plate

[0060] 5 hollow chamber support

[0061] 6 flange plate

[0062] 7 insert component

[0063] 8, 8.1 depression

[0064] 9 wall

[0065] 10, 10.1 locking opening

[0066] 11 wall

[0067] 12 flange recess

[0068] 13 clamping element

[0069] 14, 14.1 clamping segment

[0070] 15 stop panel

[0071] 16, 16.1 locking cam

[0072] 17 flange recess

[0073] 18 base plate

[0074] 19 flange

[0075] 20 nut

[0076] 21 opening

[0077] 22 screw

[0078] 23 terminus

[0079] 24 flange