Vehicle Body and Method for Assembling a Vehicle Body

Abstract

A vehicle body includes a primary vehicle structure and interior vehicle fittings as well as a coupling device for fastening the interior vehicle fittings to the primary vehicle structure. The coupling device is configured to generate a magnetic field, so as to fasten the interior vehicle fittings to the primary vehicle structure without contact. Methods for assembling a vehicle body as well as an edifice are also described.

Claims

1. A vehicle body comprising: a primary vehicle structure; a plurality of interior vehicle fittings; a coupling device for fastening the plurality of interior vehicle fittings to the primary vehicle structure; wherein the coupling device is configured to generate a magnetic field, so as to fasten the plurality of interior vehicle fittings to the primary vehicle structure without contact.

2. The vehicle body (10) of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a magnet and a superconducting material, and wherein the magnet and superconducting material are configured to keep the interior vehicle fittings in a suspended state relative to the primary vehicle structure.

3. The vehicle body of claim 2, wherein the magnet is mounted to the primary vehicle structure; and/or wherein the superconducting material is mounted to the plurality of interior vehicle fittings.

4. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a plurality of magnets arranged at prescribed distances parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and fastened to the primary vehicle structure.

5. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a cooling unit configured to cool at least a portion of the coupling device to a cryogenic temperature range.

6. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the interior vehicle fittings comprise a floor structure for accommodating goods to be transported inside of the vehicle body.

7. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to position the interior vehicle fittings relative to the primary vehicle structure by controlling the magnetic field.

8. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to transmit forces in a x-direction, in a y-direction and in a z-direction of the vehicle body.

9. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body is an aircraft fuselage.

10. A method for assembling a vehicle body, comprising the steps: providing a primary vehicle structure and a plurality of interior vehicle fittings; providing a coupling device for generating a magnetic field; displacing the plurality of interior vehicle fittings relative to the primary vehicle structure along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body to be mounted, wherein the plurality of interior vehicle fittings are guided by the magnetic field without contact during displacement along the primary vehicle structure.

11. An edifice, comprising a load-bearing structure; a plurality of interior fittings; a coupling device for fastening the plurality of interior fittings to the load-bearing structure; wherein the coupling device is configured to generate a magnetic field, so as to fasten the plurality of interior fittings to the load-bearing structure without contact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle body with a primary vehicle structure and interior vehicle fittings, which are fastened in the primary vehicle structure by a riveted connection.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a bending moment progression of a primary vehicle structure and interior vehicle fittings.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a vehicle body with a primary vehicle structure and interior vehicle fittings, which are fastened to the primary vehicle structure by a coupling device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the coupling device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of a magnet and a superconductor as well as a magnetic field according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a magnet and a superconductor as well as a magnetic field according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0051] FIG. 7 shows an aircraft fuselage according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0052] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for a method for assembling the vehicle body according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0054] If the same reference numbers are used in the following description of the figures on different figures, they denote the same or similar elements. However, the same or similar elements can also be denoted by different reference numbers.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle body 10, in particular an aircraft fuselage, with a primary vehicle structure 11 along with interior cabin fittings 12, which are fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11 by means of a fastening device 13, in particular a riveted connection or a screwed connection. For example, the interior vehicle fittings 12 comprise a floor structure 16, to which passenger seats 17 are fastened. The floor structure 16 can further be fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11 by frames 15 or stiffening elements. In addition, FIG. 1 exhibits another floor structure 14 of a cargo space. The vehicle body 10 further comprises interior cabin fitting elements 18, for example storage compartments or ceiling and side wall panels, wherein the interior cabin fitting elements 18 are fastened either to the primary vehicle structure 11 or interior cabin fittings 12.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a torque profile 20 for interior cabin fittings 12 and at least partially for a primary vehicle structure 11. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a torque profile 20 for a floor structure 16 inside of the vehicle body 10. The torque profile 20 depicted in FIG. 2 is here caused by directly fastening the floor structure 16 to the primary vehicle structure 11, since any loads that act on the floor structure 16 are transmitted directly into the primary vehicle structure 11. For example, this results in bending moments both in the floor structure 16 and in the primary vehicle structure 11, which exhibits frames, stringers or other stiffening elements of the vehicle body 10, for example.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a vehicle body 10, which exhibits a primary vehicle structure 11 and interior vehicle fittings 12, wherein the interior vehicle fittings 12 are fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11 by means of the coupling device 19. In particular, the interior vehicle fittings 12 comprises a floor structure 16 in the form of a cabin floor of a passenger cabin of an aircraft. Thus, for example, the vehicle body 10 is an aircraft fuselage of an airliner or transport plane. Apart from the floor structure 16, the vehicle body 10 comprises another floor structure 14 for a cargo space of the aircraft. The floor structure 14 of the cargo space can also be fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11 by means of one or more coupling devices 19. For example, passenger seats 17 are fastened to the floor structure 16 of the passenger cabin. The passenger seats 17 can be fastened in the floor structure 16 by means of seat rails, which are not shown on FIG. 3, for example.

[0058] The vehicle body 10 further comprises interior cabin fitting elements 18, which can be fastened either to the primary vehicle structure 11 or interior vehicle fittings 12. The coupling device 19 makes it possible to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field is configured in such a way as to hold the floor structure 16 in a suspended state relative to the primary vehicle structure 11. In particular, the coupling device 19 is designed to generate the magnetic field, so as to thereby fasten the interior vehicle fittings 12 to the primary vehicle structure 11 without contact.

[0059] Mounting the interior vehicle fittings 12 in a contactless manner relative to the primary vehicle structure 11 makes it possible to provide a damping of impact loads acting on the vehicle body 10 and aircraft fuselage, respectively. Furthermore, vibrations and noises associated with the vehicle body 10 can be transmitted to a diminished extent, i.e., dampened, to the interior cabin fittings 12 and hence to the floor structure 16. As a result, the passenger comfort of passengers seated on the passenger seats 17 can be increased. In addition, mounting the interior vehicle fittings 12 in a contactless manner relative to the primary vehicle structure 11 makes it possible to improve or render more advantageous the bending moment profile in the respective components of the primary vehicle structure 11 and interior vehicle fittings 12. In particular, contactless mounting can prevent bending forces from the floor structure from being directly introduced into the primary vehicle structure 11. As a result, a more uniform distribution of pressure can be provided by the internal pressure on the primary structure 11 of the aircraft.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the coupling device 19 of FIG. 3. The coupling device 19 exhibits a magnet 21, preferably three magnets 21, as well as a superconducting material in the form of a superconductor 22, preferably three superconductors 22. The magnets 21 are here arranged in a U-shaped profile 24 or a bracket-shaped part. As depicted on FIG. 4, a magnet 21 is respectively provided in the two legs of the U-profile 24, wherein a magnet 21 is provided in the web/link of the U-profile 24. The U-profile 24 or the bracket-shaped part, in which the magnets 21 are arranged, can be directly fastened to the primary structure 11. However, it is also possible for the magnets 21 to be fastened directly to the primary structure 11. The floor structure 16 also exhibits a U-shaped profile 26 at an edge, i.e., at an end of the floor structure 16. The U-shaped profile 26 of the floor structure 16 can here incorporate at least one superconductor 22, preferably three superconductors 22, as shown on FIG. 4. A superconductor 22 can here be situated respectively in the two legs of the U-shaped profile 26, and a superconductor 22 can be situated inside of the web/link of the U-shaped profile 26. For example, one end of the floor structure 16 can be introduced or inserted into the recess of the U-shaped profile 26. In other words, the U-shaped profile 26, in which the superconductors 22 are located, can be placed or fitted onto the floor structure 16. The generated magnetic field makes it possible to keep the floor structure 16 with the U-shaped profile 26 or with the superconductors 22 suspended in relation to the primary structure 11. In the suspended state, the U-shaped profile 26 of the floor structure 16 is optionally located in a recess of the U-shaped profile 24, in which the magnets 21 are situated. However, an air gap 25 is always present between the U-profile 26, floor structure 16 and U-profile 24, which is fastened to the primary structure 11, so that the floor structure 16 can be kept in a suspended state 29 relative to the primary structure 11, as a result of which the interior vehicle fittings 12 are fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11 without contact. As depicted in FIG. 4, three air gaps 25 can be provided by the suspended mounting. As a consequence, a floating support of the floor structure 16 or entire interior vehicle fittings is achieved relative to the primary vehicle structure 11 of the vehicle body 10. Also referred to as frozen-flux, this principle ensures a stable state of equilibrium for the relative position of the interior vehicle fittings 12 relative to the primary vehicle structure 11 inside of the vehicle body 10.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a cooling unit 23, which is designed to cool at least a portion of the coupling device 19 to a cryogenic temperature range. In particular, the cooling unit 23 is designed to cool the superconductors 22 to a cryogenic temperature range. For example, the cooling unit 23 is arranged around the superconductors 22, so as to cool the latter. As a consequence, the cooling unit 23 can use a coolant to cool the superconductors 22, for example. The electrical resistance of the superconductors 22 can be significantly diminished by cooling.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows the alignment or arrangement of a magnetic field 21a, wherein the magnetic field is generated by the magnet 21. For example, the magnet 21 can exhibit several partial magnets, which have a specific alignment of the north and south poles relative to each other, so as to provide the alignment of the magnetic field 21a depicted in FIG. 5. In particular, an irregularity or deviation of the magnetic field lines can be generated in the area of the superconductor 22 located in proximity to the magnet 21, so that forces act on the superconductor 22 in such a way that it can be held in a specific position. Thus, FIG. 5 illustrates a suspended state 29 of the superconductor 22, which is fastened to parts of the interior vehicle fittings 12 not shown on FIG. 5, in particular to the floor structure 16. FIG. 5 further depicts a stable state of equilibrium for the position of the superconductor 22 relative to the position of the magnet 21. Arranging several magnets 21 as shown in FIG. 4 makes it possible to achieve an exact positioning or alignment of the superconductor 22 and the floor structure 16 joined thereto. The superconductor 22 further exhibits a cooling unit 23, which is arranged around the superconductor 22 and is designed to conduct a cooling fluid, for example.

[0063] The forces acting on the superconductor 22 and the components of the interior vehicle fittings 12 connected thereto are denoted by arrows in FIG. 6. The magnetic field 12 provided by the magnet 21 or arrangement of partial magnets here exerts a force on the superconductor 22 in such a way that the latter can be kept in a stable state of equilibrium. In particular, this results in a suspended state 29 of the superconductor 22 relative to the magnet 21.

[0064] This in turn causes the interior vehicle fittings 12 to be held in the suspended state 29 as an overall component relative to the primary vehicle structure as an overall component, thereby ensuring a contactless mounting of the interior vehicle fittings 12 to the primary vehicle structure 11. In particular, the force exerted by the magnetic field 21a can prevent a displacement by the superconductor 22 relative to the magnet 21 in an x-direction, i.e., parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 10 or aircraft fuselage, since a force can be transmitted in this x-direction. Analogously, a force can be provided in the z-direction, i.e., along a vertical axis of the vehicle body 10 or aircraft fuselage. Only a slight displacement in this z-direction and in the x-direction is here possible, wherein the superconductor 22 is always returned to the stable equilibrium position shown on FIG. 6 in terms of its position relative to the magnet 21. For example, if the position of the superconductor 22 relative to the magnet 21 is deflected by an impact load acting on the primary vehicle structure 11, this impact load is not transmitted directly to the superconductor 22 and hence to the interior vehicle fittings 12, but rather the superconductor 22 is followed up to the relative deflection of the magnet 21 in an dampened, i.e., delayed, manner, wherein the stable state of equilibrium of the superconductor 22 is always assumed relative to the magnet 21 and thus relative to the magnetic field 21a. This means that the more the superconductor 22 is deflected out of the equilibrium position relative to the magnet 21 and the magnetic field 21a, the greater the restoring force that returns the superconductor 22 into the stable equilibrium position illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0065] FIG. 7 shows a vehicle body 10, in particular an aircraft fuselage 40, which comprises a primary vehicle structure 11 and interior vehicle fittings 12. The interior vehicle fittings 12 comprises a floor structure 16, in particular a passenger floor of the aircraft fuselage 40. In addition, the aircraft fuselage 40 exhibits a plurality of coupling devices 19, with which the interior vehicle fittings 12 are fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11 without contact.

[0066] For example, the coupling devices 19 are spaced apart at prescribed distances 28 parallel to a longitudinal axis 27 of the aircraft fuselage 40, and fastened to the primary vehicle structure 11. To assemble the aircraft fuselage 40, it can be provided that the floor structure 16 is inserted in the longitudinal direction 27, i.e., along the displacement direction 30, into the primary vehicle structure 11, and hence into the aircraft fuselage 40 to be mounted. It can here be provided that the entire interior vehicle fittings 12 is inserted in the displacement direction 30 into the aircraft fuselage 40. This is enabled by virtue of the fact that the interior vehicle fittings 12 or floor structure 16 are supported without contact relative to the primary vehicle structure 11 by means of the coupling devices 19. As a consequence, the floor structure 16 is inserted like a drawer in the displacement direction 30 along the longitudinal direction 27 of the aircraft fuselage 40. During insertion along the displacement direction 30, the magnetic fields generated by the individual coupling devices 19 can provide a force transmission in the y- and z-directions, wherein a force transmission in the x-direction is prevented. This permits a displacement in the displacement direction 30. After assembly or insertion of the interior vehicle fittings 12 into the primary vehicle structure 11, the x-direction can also be blocked by correspondingly adjusting the magnetic field 21a, thereby enabling a force transmission in the x-direction between the interior vehicle fittings 12 and primary vehicle structure 11. By proceeding in this way, prefabricated interior vehicle fittings 12 can be inserted as a complete unit into the primary vehicle structure 11, which is formed by stiffening elements like frames, stringers and outer skin panels, for example, making it possible to significantly reduce the assembly time for the entire aircraft fuselage 40.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for a method for assembling a vehicle fuselage 10. In a step S1 of the method, a primary vehicle structure 11 and interior vehicle fittings 12 are provided. In a further step S2, a coupling device 19 is provided for generating a magnetic field 21a. A further step S3 involves displacing the interior vehicle fittings 12 relative to the primary vehicle structure 11 along a longitudinal direction 27 of the vehicle fuselage 10 to be mounted or along a displacement direction 30, wherein the interior vehicle fittings 12 are guided by the magnetic field 21a without contact during displacement relative to the primary vehicle structure 11.

[0068] In addition, let it be noted that “comprising” does not preclude any other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” do not rule out a plurality. Let it further be noted that features or steps that were described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps in other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference numbers in the claims are not to be regarded as a limitation.

[0069] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.