Body Structure Having B-Pillar Reinforcements Formed Integrally and as Curved Tubes, and Correspondingly Formed B-Pillar Reinforcement

Abstract

A body structure for a passenger car has B-pillar reinforcements of which each have an upper attachment section for attachment to the roof area and a lower attachment section for attachment to the floor assembly or to a side sill. The B-pillar reinforcements are formed as integral tubes made of high-strength steel material and, between the lower attachment sections of the tubes and the upper attachment sections thereof, have a curved course having a constant radius of curvature.

Claims

1. A body structure for a passenger car, comprising: B-pillar reinforcements formed as hollow steel profiles, each having an upper attachment portion for attachment to a roof region of the body structure and a lower attachment portion for attachment to a floor assembly or a side sill of the body structure, wherein the B-pillar reinforcements are one-piece tubes made of a high-strength steel material, and the one-piece tubes have a curved course with a substantially constant radius of curvature between their lower attachment portions and their upper attachment portions.

2. The body structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of a safety belt fastening, a door lock fastening, and a door hinge fastening are welded or brazed to the one-piece tubes.

3. The body structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: upper and lower retaining elements, wherein the one-piece tubes are incorporated into the body structure via the upper and lower retaining elements, the one-piece tubes are connected at their upper and lower attachment portions to the respective upper and lower retaining elements in an integrally bonded and/or form-fitting manner.

4. The body structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper and lower retaining elements are configured so as to be pressure-loaded in an event of a side crash of the passenger car.

5. The body structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the following are formed of a fiber composite material: longitudinal roof members of the roof region, the floor assembly and the side sills.

6. The body structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein one or more of the following are formed of a fiber composite material: longitudinal roof members of the roof region, the floor assembly and the side sills.

7. The body structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper and lower retaining elements are adhesively bonded to components formed of the fiber composite material.

8. A B-pillar reinforcement for a motor vehicle body, comprising: a one-piece hollow tube of a high-strength steel material, the tube having an upper attachment portion for attachment to a roof region of the motor vehicle body and a lower attachment portion for attachment to a floor assembly or a side sill of the motor vehicle body, wherein the one-piece tube has a curved course with a constant radius of curvature between the lower attachment portion and the upper attachment portion.

9. The B-pillar reinforcement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one-piece tube is a roll-profiled and laser-seam-welded tube.

10. The B-pillar reinforcement as claimed in claim 8, further comprising one or more of a safety belt fastening, a door lock fastening or a door hinge fastening welded-on the one-piece tube.

11. The B-pillar reinforcement as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a coating provided on the one-piece tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The features shown in the figures and/or explained hereinbelow can also develop the invention individually (i.e. independently of combinations of features which are shown and/or explained).

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger car body structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a central or B-pillar reinforcement according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a passenger car body structure 100 with a roof region 110 and a floor assembly 130. The body structure 100 further has two longitudinal roof members 120 and two side sills 140. At least the longitudinal roof members 120 and/or the side sills 140 can also be formed from a fiber composite material, for example CRP or GRP.

[0024] Central pillars or B-pillars, which are equipped with pillar reinforcements 150, are present in the central region of the body structure 100 on both body sides. According to the invention, these central pillar or B-pillar reinforcements 150 are formed as one-piece tubes of a high-strength steel material, the tubes having a curved course with a constant radius of curvature R (see FIG. 2). The tubes are preferably roll-profiled and laser-seam-welded tubes which are produced in one piece (i.e. not from a plurality of joined-together pieces).

[0025] The pillar reinforcements 150 formed as tubes are attached by their upper ends to the longitudinal roof members 120 and by their lower ends to the side sills 140. The attachment is obtained indirectly by means of upper retaining elements 161 and lower retaining elements 162. The retaining elements 161 and 162 are formed in such a way that they are pressure-loaded in the event of a side crash, this also being taken into consideration in the overall fastening construction for the B-pillar reinforcements 150. The retaining elements 161 and 162 can also be referred to as pillar feet.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail illustration showing a B-pillar reinforcement 150 together with an upper retaining element 161 and a lower retaining element 162. The retaining elements 161 and 162 are formed by way of example as shaped sheet metal parts. At its upper end or its upper attachment portion, the tube 150 is welded or brazed (where appropriate, even adhesively bonded) to the upper retaining element 161. At its lower end or its lower attachment portion, the tube 150 is received in a form-fitting manner in a clip-shaped receptacle of the lower retaining element 162 and additionally welded or brazed (where appropriate, even adhesively bonded). Furthermore, a safety belt fastening 171 and a door lock fastening 172 are welded or brazed to the tube 150.

[0027] The B-pillar reinforcement 150 can be prepared as shown in FIG. 2 and be incorporated into the body structure 100. The connection to the retaining elements 161 and 162 can take place during installation into the body structure 100 or already before the installation. The installation takes place in such a way that the inner side of the arc of curvature points or is directed into the vehicle interior. The retaining elements 161 and 162 have relatively large-area connecting portions by which a planar and even positive connection to the longitudinal roof member 120 or side sill 140 can be produced. In the event of a side crash, the large-area contact region also allows for a very good introduction of force into the longitudinal roof member 120 or side sill 140. Fastening to the longitudinal roof member 120 or side sill 140 can be achieved, for example, by adhesive bonding, welding, brazing, screwing, riveting or the like.

[0028] As can be seen very clearly from FIG. 2, the tube 150 serving as pillar reinforcement has a curved course with a constant radius of curvature or arc radius R. Furthermore, the tube 150 is formed over its longitudinal extent with a uniform or constant round cross section, with other, and in particular non-round, cross-sectional shapes also being possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0029] 100 Body structure (passenger car) [0030] 110 Roof region [0031] 120 Longitudinal roof member [0032] 130 Floor region [0033] 140 Side sill [0034] 150 B-pillar reinforcement, central pillar reinforcement [0035] 161 Upper retaining element [0036] 162 Lower retaining element [0037] 171 Safety belt fastening [0038] 172 Door lock fastening [0039] R Radius of curvature, arc radius

[0040] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.