DE102019123598A1 - A-pillar and vehicle body with an A-pillar - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an A-pillar (4), in particular for a motor vehicle body (1), the A-pillar (4) being constructed by an inner A-pillar (6) and an outer A-pillar (7) which are connected to one another are connected and which form a cavity between them, the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillar (7) having a front area (8,9) and a rear area (10,11), the strength of the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and / or the outer A-pillars (7) is less than the strength of the rear area (10,11) of the inner A-pillar (6) and / or the rear area (10,11) of the outer A-pillar (7) and / or that the elongation at break of the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and / or the outer A-pillars (7) is higher than the elongation at break of the rear area (10,11) of the inner A-pillar (6) and / or the rear area (10,11) of the outer A-pillar (7).

Description

The invention relates to an A-pillar and a vehicle body with an A-pillar.

In motor vehicles, vehicle bodies are used which are provided in the area of the front side sill up to the windshield frame on both sides of the vehicle with an A-pillar which is intended to protect the structural integrity of the vehicle interior. Such A-pillars are known in that they have an upper region and a lower region, the A-pillar being constructed by an inner pillar and an outer pillar. It is also known that the inner column is more solid than the outer column. This is advantageous in the event of a central impact, the impact energy being absorbed by the front end structure of the body.

In the event of a frontal collision with little overlap between the parties involved in the accident, however, the impact energy is not absorbed by the front structure of the body, since the front longitudinal members are not hit in the event of an impact and instead the front wheel and rigid barrier collide directly with the rocker head and the lower A-pillar. This has the potential to improve the protection of the passenger compartment.

It is the object of the present invention to create an A-pillar and a body with an A-pillar which allows improved protection of the passenger compartment even in the event of a frontal impact with little overlap.

The task relating to the A-pillar is achieved with the features of claim 1.

One embodiment of the invention relates to an A-pillar, in particular for a motor vehicle body, the A-pillar being constructed by an inner A-pillar and an outer A-pillar, which are connected to one another and which form a cavity between them A-pillar and the outer A-pillar has a front area and a rear area, the strength of the front area of the inner A-pillar and / or the outer A-pillars being less than the strength of the rear area of the inner A-pillar and / or the rear area of the outer A-pillar and / or that the elongation at break of the front area of the inner A-pillar and / or the outer A-pillars is higher than the elongation at break of the rear area of the inner A-pillar and / or the rear area of the outer A-pillar.

This has the advantage that the soft area absorbs energy through deformation and, by allowing a local A-pillar deformation, the load on the body areas behind it is considerably reduced, so that the survival space of the occupants is protected in a particularly robust manner and remains essentially undeformed.

The especially vertical separation between the front soft and rear high-strength A-pillar area in the inner A-pillar and in the outer A-pillar leads to additional advantages in the so-called small overlap crash due to the more stable fastening of the front doors, especially the door hinges in the high-strength area, and still allows flexibility in the front area. In addition, there are advantages for other crash load cases such as the roof load cases in the event of a vehicle rollover, in which the higher strength of the outer A-pillar in the rear area has an advantageous effect on the stability of the passenger cell. The high-strength rear area of the outer A-pillar can also reduce intrusions in the event of a barrier side crash in which the vehicle doors are supported as bending beams on the A and B pillars. In addition, this high-strength area has a positive effect on permanent deformation in the event of static door loads, as the deformation of the A-pillar only deforms elastically due to the high yield strength of the high-strength area.

In one embodiment, it is advantageous if the strength of the front area of the inner A-pillar and / or the outer A-pillars is at most half as great or less than the strength of the rear area of the inner A-pillar and / or the rear area the outer A-pillar. In this way, the soft front area can be more clearly delimited from the higher-strength or high-strength rear area.

It is also advantageous if the elongation at break of the front area of the inner A-pillar and / or the outer A-pillars is at least twice as large or more than the elongation at break of the rear area of the inner A-pillar and / or the rear area of the outer A-pillar. This also allows the soft front area to be more clearly delimited from the higher-strength or high-strength rear area.

It is also advantageous if the separation between the front area of the inner A-pillar and the rear area of the inner A-pillar runs essentially vertically or perpendicularly and / or that the separation between the front area of the outer A-pillar and the rear area of the outer A-pillar runs essentially vertically or perpendicularly. This enables a clear differentiation of the areas with a clear assignment of the desired properties and sufficient material can be provided for the individual areas.

It is also advantageous if the areas of the front and / or rear A-pillar with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break are achieved by two separate components which have different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break, which are made from different materials and / or have undergone different heat treatment. In this way, two different components can be assembled that are connected to one another, for example welded.

It is also advantageous if the areas of the front and / or rear A-pillar with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break are achieved by a component which has undergone different heat treatment in different areas or has a different alloy composition as a tailor welded blank component to achieve different strength and elongation at break. A different strength and / or elongation at break can thus be achieved by heat treatment and / or by mechanical treatment of the respective areas.

It is also advantageous if the respective inner and / or outer A-pillar is formed from sheet metal, in particular sheet metal made from steel and / or aluminum. In this way, a good assembly of the front and rear areas can be achieved.

It is particularly advantageous if the rear area of the inner and / or the outer A-pillar consists of a boron-alloyed and hot-formed material such as steel. This defines a high-strength material that can be suitable as the rear area of the respective A-pillar.

It is also advantageous if the rear area of the inner and / or the outer A-pillar is larger than the front area of the inner and / or outer A-pillar. This leaves more material or volume for the more stable rear area, which increases stability.

In a further exemplary embodiment, it is also advantageous if the front area of the outer A-pillar is made larger than the front area of the inner A-pillar. This enables a defined stability on the one hand and softness on the other hand.

It is also advantageous if the inner A-pillar has a greater wall thickness than the outer A-pillar. In this way, the strength or elongation at break can also be modulated.

It is also advantageous if the front area of the inner A-pillar and / or the outer A-pillar is made thinner and / or softer than the rear area of the inner A-pillar and / or the outer A-pillar.

The object of the vehicle body is achieved with the features of claim 13.

One embodiment of the invention relates to a vehicle body, in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one A-pillar or with two A-pillars according to the invention.

It is also advantageous if an A-pillar is provided on each side of the body, as on each side of the vehicle, the lower area of which extends from a front end of a side sill essentially vertically in the direction of the lateral windshield root and / or beyond extends and / or wherein the respective A-pillar, which has an inner A-pillar and an outer A-pillar, which are each directly or indirectly connected to one another at their front and rear ends in the vehicle direction and / or or wherein the lower end of the inner A-pillar and the outer A-pillar are each connected directly or indirectly to the front end of the side sill.

• 1 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht einer Fahrzeugkarosserie mit zwei A-Säulen,
• 2 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht der Fahrzeugkarosserie der 1, jedoch aus einer anderen Perspektive,
• 3 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht der linken, inneren A-Säule der Fahrzeugkarosserie der vorhergehenden Figuren, und
• 4 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht der linken, äußeren A-Säule der Fahrzeugkarosserie der 1 und 2.

The invention is explained in detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. In the drawing show:

• 1 a schematic, perspective view of a vehicle body with two A-pillars,
• 2 a schematic, perspective view of the vehicle body of FIG 1 , but from a different perspective,
• 3rd a schematic, perspective view of the left, inner A-pillar of the vehicle body of the preceding figures, and
• 4th a schematic, perspective view of the left, outer A-pillar of the vehicle body of FIG 1 and 2 .

The 1 and 2 show a vehicle body 1 with a passenger compartment 2 which is surrounded by body structural parts. There are side sills in the longitudinal direction on the sides of the vehicle 3rd arranged, which are arranged under the doors, not shown, and between which the vehicle floor is arranged.

It can be seen that on each side of the vehicle body 1 as on each side of the vehicle, an A-pillar 4th is provided, which extends with its lower area from a front end of a side sill 3rd essentially vertical in the direction of the lateral windshield root 5 and optionally also extends upwards.

The A-pillar 4th has an inner A-pillar 6th and an outer A-pillar 7th on.

The respective A-pillars 6th , 7th can be connected to one another directly or indirectly by corresponding, essentially vertical flanges at their front and rear ends in the vehicle direction and / or the inner A-pillar 6th and the outer A-pillar 7th with their lower end directly or indirectly with the front end of the side sill 3rd be connected.

The vehicle body 1 thus has at least one A-pillar in the example shown 4th or in particular two A-pillars 4th on.

The respective A-pillar 4th is at least through an inner A-pillar 6th and an outer A-pillar 7th constructed, see also the 3rd and 4th . The two A-pillars 6th , 7th are connected to one another and form a cavity between them.

The inner A-pillar shows 6th and the outer A-pillar 7th each a front area 8th , 9 and a rear area 10 , 11 on.

According to the invention is the strength of the front area 8th , 9 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the outer A-pillars 7th is less than the strength of the rear area 10 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the rear area 11 the outer A-pillar 7th and / or is the elongation at break of the front area 8th , 9 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the outer A-pillars 7th higher than the elongation at break of the rear area 10 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the rear area 11 the outer A-pillar 7th .

The strength of the front area is particularly preferred 8th , 9 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the outer A-pillars 7th no more than half as large or less than the firmness of the rear area 10 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the rear area 11 the outer A-pillar 7th .

Also the elongation at break of the front area 8th , 9 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the outer A-pillars 7th be at least twice as large or more than the elongation at break of the rear area 10 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the rear area 11 the outer A-pillar 7th .

In the 3rd and 4th are the front areas 8th , 9 the A-pillars and the rear areas 10 , 11 the A-pillars shown differently. The separation 12th , 13th between the front areas 8th , 9 the A-pillars and the rear areas 10 , 11 the A-pillar is marked by the transition.

The separation 12th between the front area 8th the inner A-pillar 6th and the rear area 10 the inner A-pillar 6th is designed to run essentially vertically or perpendicularly. The separation 13th between the front area 9 the outer A-pillar 7th and the rear area 11 the outer A-pillar 7th is also designed to run essentially vertically or perpendicularly in the example shown.

In the manufacture of the A-pillar 4th can the areas 8th , 9 , 10, 11 of the front and / or rear A-pillars 6, 7 with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break, for example, can be achieved by two separate components that are connected to one another, for example by welding. These two components are designed in such a way that they have different properties with regard to strength and elongation at break, whereby, for example, they are made from different materials and / or have undergone different heat treatment.

Also can the areas 8th , 9 , 10 , 11 the front and / or rear A-pillar 6th , 7th with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break can be achieved by a component which is in different areas 8th , 9 , 10 , 11 has undergone a different heat treatment to achieve a different strength and / or elongation at break.

So-called tailor-made tempering, also called tailored tempering, can be carried out during hot forming in order to achieve the desired properties. For example by quenching in the tool in the rear area 10 , 11 and by slow cooling in the front area 8th , 9 through different mold temperatures.

A tailor-made temperature control can also take place during hot forming: heating of boron-alloyed steel blank blanks to over 900 ° C, whereby the later soft part of the blank (front) is heated to a lower temperature, which means that no or less martensite is formed.

The vertical separation can also be done using tailor-made welded sheets: before the forming process, coils or blanks with significantly different strengths and elongations at break are welded, for example by laser welding. In this way, a component can then be produced in a tool which has two areas with different properties.

The respective inner and / or outer A-pillar 6th , 7th be formed from sheet metal.

Preferably the inner A-pillar 6th and the outer A-pillar 7th formed from steel and / or aluminum, in particular by sheet metal made from steel and / or aluminum.

For example, there is the rear area 10 , 11 the inner and / or the outer A-pillar 6th , 7th made of a boron-alloyed and hot-worked material, such as steel.

In another embodiment, the rear area is 10 , 11 the inner and / or the outer A-pillar 6th , 7th made larger than the front area 8th , 9 the inner and / or outer A-pillar 6th , 7th . Larger means that the expansion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is longer.

Also the front area 9 the outer A-pillar 7th be made larger than the front area 8th the inner A-pillar 6th .

The inner A-pillar can also 6th have a higher wall thickness than the outer A-pillar 7th .

In particular is the front area 8th , 9 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the outer A-pillar 7th in one embodiment thinner and / or softer than the rear area 10 , 11 the inner A-pillar 6th and / or the outer A-pillar 7th .

List of reference symbols

1

Vehicle body

2

Passenger compartment

3

Side skirts

4th

A-pillar

5

Windshield root

6th

A-pillar

7th

A-pillar

8th

Front area

9

Front area

10

Rear area

11

Rear area

12th

separation

13th

separation

Claims (15)

A-pillar (4), in particular for a motor vehicle body (1), the A-pillar (4) being constructed by an inner A-pillar (6) and an outer A-pillar (7) which are connected to one another and which form a cavity between them, the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillar (7) having a front area (8,9) and a rear area (10,11), characterized in that the strength of the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillars (7) is less than the strength of the rear area (10,11) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the rear area ( 10,11) of the outer A-pillar (7) and / or that the elongation at break of the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillar (7) is higher than the elongation at break of the rear Area (10,11) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the rear area (10,11) of the outer A-pillar (7). A-pillar (4) Claim 1 , characterized in that the strength of the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillar (7) is at most half as great or less than the strength of the rear area (10,11) the inner A-pillar (6) and the rear area (10, 11) of the outer A-pillar (7). A-pillar (4) Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the elongation at break of the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillar (7) is at least twice as large or more than the elongation at break of the rear area (10,11 ) the inner A-pillar (6) and the rear area (10, 11) of the outer A-pillar (7). A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separation (12,13) between the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and the rear area (10,11) of the inner A-pillar (6) runs essentially vertically or perpendicularly and / or that the separation (12,13) between the front area (8,9) of the outer A-pillar (7) and the rear area (10,11 ) the outer A-pillar (7) runs essentially vertically or perpendicularly. A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the areas (8,9,10,11) of the front and / or rear A-pillar (6,7) with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break through two separate components is achieved, which have different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break, which are made of different materials and / or have undergone different heat treatment. A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the areas (8,9,10,11) of the front and / or rear A-pillar (6,7) with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break through a component is achieved which has undergone different heat treatment in different areas (8,9,10,11) to achieve different strength and elongation at break. A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the areas (8,9,10,11) of the front and / or rear A-pillar (6,7) with different properties in terms of strength and elongation at break through a component is achieved which has a different alloy in different areas (8,9,10,11) to achieve different strength and elongation at break. A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective inner and / or outer A-pillar (6, 7) is formed from sheet metal, in particular sheet metal made from steel and / or aluminum. A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear area (10, 11) of the inner and / or the outer A-pillar (6, 7) is made of a boron-alloyed and hot-formed material, such as steel, consists. A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear area (10, 11) of the inner and / or the outer A-pillar (6, 7) is larger than the front area (8, 9) ) the inner and / or outer A-pillar (6,7). A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front area (8,9) of the outer A-pillar (7) is larger than the front area (8,9) of the inner A-pillar ( 6). A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner A-pillar (6) has a greater wall thickness than the outer A-pillar (7). A-pillar (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front area (8, 9) of the inner A-pillar (6) and / or the outer A-pillar (7) is thinner and / or softer than the rear area (10, 11) of the inner A-pillar (6) and / or the outer A-pillar (7). Vehicle body (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one A-pillar (4) or with two A-pillars (4) according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle body (1) after Claim 14 , characterized in that on each side of the body, as on each side of the vehicle, an A-pillar (4) is provided, the lower area of which extends from a front end of a side sill (3) essentially vertically in the direction of the lateral windshield root (5 ) and / or beyond it extends upwards and / or wherein the respective A-pillar (4), which has an inner A-pillar (6) and an outer A-pillar (7), which by corresponding essentially vertically extending flanges is directly or indirectly connected to each other at its front and rear end in the vehicle direction and / or wherein the inner A-pillar (6) and the outer A-pillar (7) with their lower end each directly or indirectly with the front end of the side sill (3) is connected.

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