ROLLOVER PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

A rollover protection device (1) for a passenger car has a supporting device (3) that extends vertically when installed properly. A crossmember (5) is secured on the supporting device (3) and extends in a lateral direction (4) when installed properly. The crossmember (5) is of beam-shaped design and comprises a die-cast, low-pressure die-cast or forged unit (6).

Claims

1. A rollover protection device for a passenger car, comprising: a supporting device that extends in an upward direction when installed properly, and a crossmember secured on the supporting device and extending in a lateral direction when installed properly, the crossmember defining a beam shape with rounded portions and defining a die-cast, low-pressure die-cast or forged unit.

2. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the crossmember comprises a plurality of recesses.

3. The rollover protection device of claim 2, wherein the recesses extend substantially in a longitudinal direction of the passenger car when installed properly.

4. The rollover protection device of claim 3, wherein the recesses are formed substantially directly adjacent to one another on the crossmember.

5. The rollover protection device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the recesses has a substantially closed bottom.

6. The rollover protection device of claim 5, wherein openings of the recesses are aligned alternately toward a front and toward a rear.

7. The rollover protection device of claim 5, wherein the recesses form between 5 and 11 chambers.

8. The rollover protection device of claim 7, wherein a partition wall is formed between two chambers, the partition wall sloping relative to vertical.

9. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the supporting device and/or the crossmember are adjustable in height.

10. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the crossmember is of integral design.

11. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the crossmember comprises at least two interconnected crossmember parts that are welded to one another.

12. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the crossmember has at least one lateral arched overhang.

13. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the supporting device (3) comprises a vertical member and wherein a collar is formed on the crossmember, the collar fitting around the vertical member.

14. The rollover protection device of claim 1, wherein the crossmember is anchored positively on the supporting device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear side of a rollover protection device according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical section along the line II-II in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a lateral region of the rollover protection device 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of an alternative embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of another illustrative embodiment of a rollover protection device according to the invention.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a front side of another rollover protection device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a rollover protection device 1 that comprises a supporting device 3 extending substantially in a vertical direction 2. The supporting device 3 comprises a vertical member 28 that extends in the vertical direction 2. A crossmember 5 extends transverse to the supporting device 3 in a lateral direction 4, and comprises lateral recesses 10 to 12 (nine lateral recesses in this case).

[0037] The recesses 10 to 12 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the crossmember and to the longitudinal extent of a passenger car when the rollover protection device 1 and the crossmember 5 are installed in a vehicle. Arched overhangs 27 are provided in the lateral regions, increasing the contact area and also the deformability and load-bearing capacity of the rollover protection device 1. The radii of the arched overhangs 27 can also be made significantly larger.

[0038] The illustrated crossmember 5 is integral, but can also comprise two different crossmember parts 7, 8 that are connected to one another at a suitable fastening. The fastening 17 of the rear window penetration element can also be seen here. A conical washer, for example, can be provided as a glass penetration element. It is also possible for a vertical or substantially vertical wall to be formed centrally in order to support the cone in a vertical direction.

[0039] The illustrated recesses 10 to 12 extend from the rear 16 to the front 15. An end wall can be provided on the front side 15 to increase stiffness. It is also possible for the recesses to be designed as through holes, given careful rounding.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section that depicts the individual chambers 20 to 22 of the individual recesses 10 to 12.

[0041] FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail, where the connection of the crossmember 5 or the crossmember part 7 to an inner profile 30 of a supporting device 3 can be seen. The supporting device 3 is welded to the inner profile 30 and thus to the supporting device 3. In this case, the inner profile 30 is welded to the supporting device 3 by a top weld seam 31. In addition, an anchoring point 33 can form a positive-locking feature on the supporting device 3 over a certain section. It is also possible for an additional weld seam 32 to be provided.

[0042] The crossmember 5 may have a collar 29, e.g. an encircling collar 29, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to achieve a positive connection between the crossmember 5 and the supporting device 3 or the inner profiles 30 of the supporting device 3. The main weld seam 31 can be provided on the encircling collar.

[0043] An alternative embodiment is also possible where the crossmember 5 has, for example, a hook-shaped portion or at least one hook-shaped portion that interacts with a correspondingly matching hook-shaped portion of another crossmember part 7 or 8 so that the hook-shaped portions result in a fastening overall.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a variant in which a portion 26 increases the extension height. In the retracted state, the installation space can be used over the entire width.

[0045] The crossmember may comprise two crossmember parts 7 and 8 that are fastened to one another at a fastening point 17. In this case, hook-shaped portions 25 and 26 can engage one another or can optionally be welded to one another to provide the necessary stability. The crossmember 5 is arranged on the supporting device 3.

[0046] The crossmember 5 in FIG. 6 has a multiplicity of recesses 10 to 12. The recesses 10 to 12 extend alternately from the front 15 or from the rear 16 into the crossmember 5. A single relatively thin wall 23 or 24 exists between two adjacent recesses 10, 12. The alternating arrangement of the recesses 10 and 11 has the bottoms 14 of the respective recesses situated alternately on the front 15 and on the rear 16. As result, a low weight with a high stability is possible. At the same time, a large width and hence a large contact area optionally can be achieved.

[0047] A reduction in the number of weld seams is optionally possible by anchoring or positive engagement between the crossmember and the supporting device 3 or the inner profile 30 of the vertical member 28.

[0048] Production as a die casting, low-pressure die casting or as a forging makes possible varied and simple machining, thus allowing a saving of effort and costs.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0049] 1 rollover protection device [0050] 2 upward direction [0051] 3 supporting device [0052] 4 lateral direction [0053] 5 crossmember [0054] 6 die-cast or forged unit [0055] 7 crossmember part [0056] 8 crossmember part [0057] 9 longitudinal extent of 5 [0058] 10 recess [0059] 11 recess [0060] 12 recess [0061] 13 longitudinal direction [0062] 14 bottom [0063] 15 front side [0064] 16 rear side [0065] 17 fastening of the rear window penetration element [0066] 20 chamber [0067] 21 chamber [0068] 22 chamber [0069] 23 partition wall [0070] 24 partition wall [0071] 25 portion [0072] 26 portion [0073] 27 arched overhang [0074] 28 vertical member [0075] 29 collar [0076] 30 inner profile