EP1646550A1

EP1646550A1 - Floor structure for a driver's cab

Info

Publication number: EP1646550A1
Application number: EP04763182A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Fischer; Oswald Saiber; Karl-Heinz Schuller
Original assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2003-07-17
Filing date: 2004-07-13
Publication date: 2006-04-19
Also published as: DE10332503A1; WO2005012067A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor structure (1) for a modularly designed cab (2) of a utility vehicle. Said cab (2) substantially comprises a front wall module (3), a rear wall module (4), two sidewalls, and a roof element. The inventive floor structure (1) encompasses a first (5) and a second (6) bottom longitudinal beam that extend at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and have a smaller height in a forward section (7) forward being in relation to the direction of driving than in a rear section (8) which is provided with a cab floor (17). Said cab floor (17) essentially rests on the two bottom longitudinal beams (5, 6). The invention is characterized in that the forward section (7) of the first bottom longitudinal beam (5) is less long than the forward section (7') of the second bottom longitudinal beam (6').

Description

Floor structure for a cab

The invention relates to a floor structure for a modular driver's cab of a commercial vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and to driver's cab series with a driver's cab for a low-floor vehicle and with a driver's cab for a high-floor vehicle.

From DE 689 09 570 T2 a cabin structure for a heavy motor vehicle is known, in which the cabin is in a front position on the frame and is essentially made up of five structural elements. These structural elements can be easily connected to one another and each have a simple shape. The structure, composed of the five structural elements, is suitable for forming cabins of the same series, which are designed for vehicles of different dimensions. The mechanical strength and rigidity of this structure is very high.

From DE 100 07 664 AI a floor structure of a truck cab is known. This essentially consists of an approximately hat-shaped engine tunnel plate and, if necessary, several floor plates and floor supports. In this case, two longitudinal beams spaced apart from one another and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are provided as floor beams, each of which consists of a single, multiply bent square tube, the entire bending axes of which lie in one plane. In at least one of its several sections the floor side members have a level height that increases approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as a result of which, for example, the first and / or third sections run at a constant level height and the second and / or fourth sections of the floor side members run with increasing level height. The floor length member integrated into the floor structure of the truck cab is inexpensive to manufacture and fulfills all vehicle-related conditions.

From DE 198 38 941 AI a floor structure of a truck cab with an essentially hat-shaped engine tunnel sheet, possibly several floor sheets and inner and outer longitudinal or cross members is known. In an upper and / or a lower area of the profile of the engine tunnel sheet, upper and / or lower longitudinal edges which are spaced apart from one another are covered and connected to additional, upper and / or lower side members, which are approximately hat-shaped in cross section, for the purpose of longitudinal reinforcement of the engine tunnel sheet. the cross section of the engine tunnel sheet in the area of its upper and / or lower longitudinal edges along the same together with the additional upper and / or lower longitudinal beams approximately forming the shape of closed box girders. The floor structure described is mainly aimed at ensuring sufficient survival space for the occupants in the cab in the event of a truck crash.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying an improved embodiment for a floor structure of the type mentioned at the outset, which in particular makes it possible to design driver's cabs with largely the same structure simply as low-floor or as high-floor vehicles and thus to enable inexpensive variant formation. This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims, advantageous refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea in the case of a floor structure for a modularly structured driver's cab of a commercial vehicle, which has a first and a second floor longitudinal member running at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and wherein the floor longitudinal members have a lower height level in a front section viewed in the direction of travel than in FIG a rear section to make the front section of the first floor longitudinal member shorter in its longitudinal extent than the front section of the second floor longitudinal member. This offers the advantage that only the conventional second floor side member, which is constructed in mirror image of the first floor side member, has to be replaced by a second floor side member with an elongated front section, whereas the modularly constructed driver's cab can remain virtually unchanged. Both a front wall and a rear wall module as well as at least one of the two side walls and a roof element of the driver's cab can therefore be used both for a low-floor vehicle and for a high-floor vehicle, as a result of which the number of parts to be kept in stock or to be stored remains virtually unchanged. Only the side wall, on which either the high-floor or the low-floor entry is provided, has to be adapted to the respective embodiment with respect to a vehicle door.

With the solution according to the invention, the storage costs, the conversion costs during production and the component costs are significantly reduced in comparison to two completely different cab concepts for a low-floor or a high-floor vehicle. In particular, a flexible, simple and quick conversion of the production process from low-floor vehicles to high-floor vehicles and vice versa is possible because the two cab variants differ from each other only in a different side wall and a modified second floor side member and adapted floor panels.

According to a preferred embodiment, a first side sill, which is arranged between an A-pillar and a B-pillar, has essentially the same course as the first floor side member. It also becomes clear from this that both the high-floor vehicle variant and the low-floor vehicle variant have a large number of identical components, and the two variants differ only in a few components.

A particularly advantageous further development provides for a second side sill to be formed in the area of the second floor side member as a low-floor entry frame. The low-floor entry frame takes on the function of the side sill, which forms a cross bracing between the A-pillar and the B-pillar, and a bracket for a low-floor entry.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, identical connecting elements can be provided, by means of which both the floor longitudinal members of the low-floor vehicle and the floor longitudinal members of the high-floor vehicle are each connected to the front wall and / or to the rear wall module. The connection elements are used to connect the individual components, such as the floor length girder with the front or rear wall module, and ensure that the modular cab is held together securely. In order to achieve a production process that is as standardized and therefore rational as possible, it is particularly important to provide the highest possible number of standardized or similar components or production processes. Since the connection elements both for the connection of the floor side members of the low-floor vehicle and for the connection of the floor Longitudinal beam of the high-floor vehicle on the respective front wall or Backplane module are suitable, both cab variants can be manufactured with identical connecting elements, which can save costs in the manufacturing process as well as in storage costs and logistics.

Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following descriptions, reference numerals referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

Show:

1 is a perspective view of a floor structure according to the invention with a low-floor entry frame,

2 is a view as in FIG. 1, but without a low-floor entry frame,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the low-floor entry frame with stair insert.

According to FIG. 1, a modularly designed driver's cab 2 of a commercial vehicle, not otherwise shown, has a sentlichen a front wall module 3 and a rear wall module 4 and side walls, not shown, and a roof element, also not shown. A cab floor 17 of the cab 2 is mainly supported on a floor structure 1, which is essentially formed by two floor longitudinal members, namely a first floor longitudinal member 5 and a second floor longitudinal member 6. The two floor longitudinal beams 5, 6 run at a distance from one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction and have a lower height level in a front section 7 seen in the direction of travel than in a rear section 8. In a high-floor vehicle, the two floor longitudinal beams 5, 6 are constructed in mirror image construction, whereas in a low-floor vehicle, the front section 7 of the first floor longitudinal member 5 has a shorter longitudinal extent than the front section 7 'of the second floor longitudinal member β ". According to FIG conventional high-floor entrance is formed.

At their front ends, the two floor side members 5, 6 are firmly connected to the front wall module 3 via a respective connection element 16, while at their rear ends they are fixedly connected to the rear wall module 4 via a further connection element 16 ', thereby ensuring that the modular is securely held together ensure the built-in cab 2. Both the floor side members 5, 6 "of the low-floor vehicle and the floor side members 5, 6 of the high-floor vehicle of the cabs 2 can each be connected to the front wall module 3 and to the rear wall module 4 via identical connecting elements 16, 16 '.

According to FIG. 2, a first side sill 9 is arranged between an A-pillar 10 and a B-pillar 11 (cf. also FIG. 1) and has essentially the same course as the first floor side member 5. On the two floor side members 5 , 6 or the first side sill 9 and one An engine tunnel sheet (not shown) usually lies on a driver's cab floor 17, not shown. On the passenger side 15, a second side sill 12 is formed in the area of the second floor side member 6 "as a low-floor entry frame 13, which essentially has a U-shape.

The low-floor entry frame 13 is arranged as a mirror image of the first sill 9 between the A-pillar 10 and the B-pillar 11 on the passenger side 15 and is firmly connected to the A-pillar 10 and the B-pillar 11 with one U-leg. The low-floor entry frame 13 thus takes over the task of the second side sill 12 and represents a longitudinal bracing between the A-pillar 10 and the B-pillar 11 on the passenger side 15.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the low-floor entry frame 13 has a lower height level than the front section 7, 7 'of the two floor length beams 5, 6' at a lowest point. In addition, it is possible to design the driver's cab floor 17 as a stair insert 14 in the area of the low-floor entry frame 13 and thus to facilitate entry into the commercial vehicle.

Usually, the low-floor entry frame 13 is provided in the area of the passenger side 15, but it is also conceivable to arrange the low-floor entry frame 13 on one driver side or on both sides.

The floor structure 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is expediently part of a driver's cab series with a driver's cab 2 for a low-floor vehicle and with a driver's cab 2 for a high-floor vehicle. The driver's cabs 2 for the driver's cab series have structurally identical front wall modules 3 and rear wall modules 4, side walls and roof elements, and the floor structure 1 with the floor longitudinal members 5, 6 which are spaced apart from one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction, which likewise in a front section 7, 7 "seen in the direction of travel have a lower height level than in a rear section 8, 8 '. Corresponding to the individual cabs 2, the cab series of the low-floor vehicles also have a second floor longitudinal member 6' with an extended longitudinal extension of the front section 7 ', whereas the cab series of the high-floor vehicles have two mirror-image longitudinal side members 5, 6.

Corresponding to the cabs 2, it is also provided in the driver's cab series that both the floor side members 5, 6 'of the low-floor vehicle and the floor side members 5, 6 of the high-floor vehicle are connected to the front wall module 3 and to the rear wall module 4 via identical connecting elements 16, 16'.

In summary, the essential features of the invention can be characterized as follows:

The invention provides for the front section 7 of the first floor longitudinal member 5 to be shorter in its longitudinal extent than the front section 7 'of the second floor longitudinal member 6'. The floor longitudinal beams 5, 6 and 6 'have a lower height level in a front section 7 and 7' when viewed in the direction of travel than in a rear section 8 and 8 'and are spaced apart from one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

This offers the advantage that only the conventional second floor longitudinal member 6 'has to be replaced by a second floor longitudinal member 6' with an elongated front section 7 'to manufacture a low-floor vehicle, whereas the modularly constructed driver's cab 2 can otherwise remain unchanged. This enables a high number of standardized components or standardized production processes to be achieved, and in particular a flexible, simple and quick changeover of the production process from low-floor vehicles to high-floor vehicles and vice versa.

Claims

claims

1. Floor structure (1) for a modular driver's cab (2) of a commercial vehicle, which essentially has a front (3) and a rear wall module (4) as well as two side walls and a roof element, - with a first (5) and a second (6) in the vehicle longitudinal direction of spaced-apart floor longitudinal members, which in a front section (7) seen in the direction of travel have a lower height level than in a rear section (8), - with a driver's cab floor (17), which is essentially on the two Floor longitudinal members (5, 6) supports, characterized in that the front section (7) of the first floor longitudinal member (5) has a shorter longitudinal extent than the front section (7 ') of the second floor longitudinal member (6').

2. Floor structure according to claim 1, so that a first side sill (9) is arranged between an A-pillar (10) and a B-pillar (11) and has essentially the same course as the first floor side member (5).

3. Floor structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second side sill (12) in the area of the second floor side member (6 ') is designed as a low-floor entry frame (13).

4. Floor structure according to claim 3, so that the low-floor entry frame (13) is essentially U-shaped.

5. Floor structure according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the low-floor entry frame (13) between the A-pillar (10) and the B-pillar (11) and each with a U-leg with the A-pillar (10) or the B-pillar (11) is firmly connected.

6. Floor structure according to one of claims 3 to 5, so that the low-floor entry frame (13) has a lower height level than the front section (7, 7 ') of the floor side members (5, 6, 6') at a lowest point.

7. Floor structure according to one of claims 3 to 6, so that the driver's cab floor (17) is designed as a stair insert (14) in the region of the low-floor entry frame (13).

8. Floor structure according to one of claims 3 to 7, so that the low-floor entry frame (13) is provided in the region of a passenger side (15).

9. cab series with a cab for a low-floor vehicle and with a cab for a high-floor vehicle, - The cabs (2) have identical front (3) and rear wall modules (4), side walls and roof elements, - the cabs (2) have a floor structure (1) with a first (5) and a second (6) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle have floor longitudinal beams which are spaced apart from one another and which have a lower height level in a front section (7) as seen in the direction of travel than in a rear section (8), each with a driver's cab floor (17) which essentially rests on the two floor longitudinal beams (5 , 6), - the cabs (2) of the low-floor vehicles have a second floor longitudinal member (6 ') with an extended longitudinal extension of the front section (7'), - the cabins (2) of the high-floor vehicles have two floor longitudinal members (5, 6) have.

10. Cab series according to claim 9, characterized in that structurally identical connecting elements (16, 16 ') are provided, via which both the floor side members (5, 6') of the low-floor vehicle and the floor side members (5, 6) of the floor vehicle each at the front - (3) and / or are connected to the rear wall module (4).