EP3849883A1

EP3849883A1 - Vehicle body

Info

Publication number: EP3849883A1
Application number: EP19736321.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wadim Gasmann; Stefan Meseck
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2018-09-11
Filing date: 2019-06-25
Publication date: 2021-07-21
Also published as: DE102018215366A1; CN112654553B; CN112654553A; WO2020052826A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle body comprising a vehicle pillar (3), in particular a B-pillar, which has a module support (9) that supports functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) of a seatbelt system (19) and/or a pillar cover (17). According to the invention, the module support (9) is part of a pre-assembly unit (VM) which is separate from the vehicle body (50) and in which the functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) and/or the pillar cover (17) are pre-assembled. The module support (9) is joined to at least one pillar-side attachment point (S) of the vehicle pillar (3) according to an assembly process step (ZSB). In order to simplify the assembly process step (ZSB), the module support (9) and the body pillar (3) have a positioning aid (P), by means of which the module support (9) can be pre-positioned correctly in an attachment position, in particular a screw-in position (SP), in which the module support (9) can be joined to the body pillar (3).

Description

description

Vehicle body

The invention relates to a vehicle body according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for assembling a vehicle body according to claim 10.

The B-pillar of a motor vehicle extends in the vertical direction between one

Roof structure and a side sill of the vehicle. The B-pillar acts on the one hand to stiffen the side structure of the vehicle body. On the other hand, attachments are mounted in the B-pillar, such as a belt tractor or the like. In addition, the B-pillar delimits a front entrance and possibly a rear entrance of the motor vehicle. To increase side impact resistance in the event of a side crash, a reinforcing sheet metal part is integrated in the hollow profile of the B-pillar, which counteracts an accident-related deformation of the B-pillar into the vehicle interior.

A generic body pillar, in particular a B pillar, is constructed from an inner sheet metal part of the vehicle and from an outer sheet metal part outside the vehicle, whereby a

Hollow beam is formed with a hollow profile that runs in the vertical direction of the vehicle and is closed in cross section. Are on the sheet metal inner part of the body pillar

Functional elements of a seat belt system and / or a pillar cladding can be installed.

In a conventional assembly sequence, the inner sheet metal part of the vehicle is welded to the joining flanges of the outer sheet metal part already installed in the vehicle body by means of laser and / or spot welding. The assembled vehicle body is fed to a painting process step. After the painting process step, the

Vehicle body fed to an assembly line which has workstations arranged one behind the other in a production direction, in each of which components of the

Seat belt system, such as the belt reactor, the belt deflection, the belt height adjustment, belt end fittings and the like, and the pillar trim can be installed. The belt components are assembled by hand. For manual installation, the worker is in an ergonomically unfavorable body position in the vehicle interior

Vehicle body. Therefore, the assembly for the worker is associated with increased workload and ergonomically unfavorable. A structural element for mounting on a vehicle structure is known from WO 01/70557 A1, in which the B-pillar has a load-bearing support element on which

Cladding parts and functional elements of a seat belt system can be mounted. A structural element for mounting on a vehicle structure is known from EP 1 265 777 B1. Further body structures for a vehicle are known from EP 1 316 484 A1 and from EP 0 730 536 B1. DE 10 2007 045 143 A1 describes a machining or

Manufacturing plant known. A method for producing a vehicle body is known from DE 101 60 885 A1.

The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle body and a method for producing a vehicle body, which compared to the prior art takes place with a reduced manufacturing time and is ergonomically cheaper for the worker in the vehicle manufacturing plant.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1 or 10. Preferred

Developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the functional elements of the seat belt system and the pillar cladding are no longer installed with the body pillar already assembled.

Rather, a module carrier is provided according to the characterizing part of claim 1. The module carrier is part of a pre-assembly unit separate from the vehicle body, in which the functional elements and / or the pillar cladding are pre-assembled. In an assembly process step, the module carrier is joined to at least one column-side connection point of the body column. To simplify the

The module carrier and the body pillar have an assembly process step

Positioning aid on. By means of the positioning aid, the module carrier can be pre-positioned in the correct position in a connection position, in particular in a screwing position, in which the module carrier can be joined to the body pillar.

The provision of the positioning aid according to the invention is particularly advantageous in the case of a fully automated assembly process step in which the assembly process step is carried out with the aid of a robot. In this case, the

The assembly process step can be subdivided into a feed sub-step, a pre-positioning sub-step and an assembly sub-step. The robot guides the in the feed sub-step

Pre-assembly unit for the body pillar. In the pre-positioning substep, the

Pre-assembly unit (i.e. its module carrier) in a screw position on the Body pillar pre-positioned in the correct position. Then the loosely pre-positioned module carrier is screwed to the body pillar in the assembly sub-step. For example, the feed sub-step and the pre-positioning sub-step can be carried out using a feed robot. The sub-assembly step, on the other hand, can be carried out with the help of a separate screwing robot.

In a technical implementation, the module carrier can be screwed into the

Body column can be brought. In this case, the module carrier is pre-positioned in the screwing position in the correct position by means of the positioning aid, in which the module carrier can be screwed to the body pillar to form the screw connection.

With regard to a perfect pre-positioning, the positioning aid can be used as one

Scenery tour to be realized. A first joining partner can join one of the two joining partners, i.e. the module carrier and the body pillar, in the scenery guide

Have positioning bolts that cooperate with a positioning link of the second joining partner. The pre-positioning can be done, for example, by loosely hanging the module carrier in the body pillar.

In the assembled state, the body pillar is preferably constructed from a sheet metal part inside the vehicle and from a sheet metal part outside the vehicle. The sheet metal inner part and the sheet metal outer part form a sheet metal hollow beam with a hollow profile which is essentially closed in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment variant, the inner sheet metal part can directly form the above-mentioned module carrier of the preassembly unit.

The component geometry of the sheet metal outer part can be designed as follows: For example, the sheet metal outer part can have a profile floor, which is external to the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle and which merges into a front profile flank and a rear profile flank at vehicle profile edges (which extend in the vehicle vertical direction). The inner sheet metal part can have a vehicle interior profile floor, which covers the hollow profile of the outer sheet metal part and in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front and to the rear of the vehicle with at least one

Edge flange is extended.

To realize the screw connection, the sheet metal inner edge flange and one of the sheet metal outer part flanks with their screw holes can lie one above the other in alignment. A screw bolt can be guided through the screw holes, the screw axis of which can be aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the case of the above-mentioned component geometry of the inner and outer sheet metal parts in particular, the positioning aid can be implemented as follows: For example, the positioning bolt can be used with a

Project a small cross-section bolt shank from a base surface of the sheet metal outer part flank and have an expanded bolt head. The bolt head can be spaced apart by a clear annular gap from the base surface of the sheet metal outer part flank. With a view to smooth, simple prepositioning, the clear annular gap can be dimensioned larger than the sheet thickness of the sheet metal inner part edge flange on which the positioning link is formed.

For simple pre-positioning, the positioning link can have an insertion section that is open in a joining direction. The insertion section of the positioning link can extend from a trimming edge of the sheet metal inner edge flange by a transverse offset to a transverse stop edge. In addition, the insertion section of the

Position the backdrop at a curve into a vertical, linear backdrop. This can extend by a height offset towards the vehicle up to an upper high-stop edge.

This results in an approximately hook-shaped positioning link. In the assembly process step, the sheet metal inner part is first joined to the sheet metal outer part in such a way that the sheet metal outer part positioning bolt is guided through the insertion section of the positioning link until the transverse stop edge is reached. The opening edge area of the sheet metal inner part positioning link is located in the annular gap between the bolt head and the base surface of the sheet metal outer part profile edge. When the cross stop edge is reached, the sheet metal inner part is lowered, so that the sheet metal outer part positioning bolt is guided along the cross stop edge through the vertical slide track until the high stop edge is reached. In this way, the sheet metal part is pre-positioned in the vehicle transverse direction and in the vehicle vertical direction.

The assembly process step can be in a process chain to manufacture the

Be incorporated vehicle body, which is designed as follows: Accordingly, can

In terms of process technology, a first painting process step takes place before the assembly process step, in which the vehicle body is painted (still without the inner sheet metal part). A second painting process step takes place independently of this, in which the inner sheet metal part is painted as a separate component. Then the painted sheet metal part is in a pre-assembly process step with the functional elements of the seat belt system and / or Column cladding fitted. The pre-assembly unit formed in this way is then joined to the body-side sheet metal outer part of the body column in the assembly process step.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the attached figures.

Show it:

1 shows a side view with a partial elevation of a two-lane vehicle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of a B-pillar with a viewing direction from the vehicle interior.

Fig. 3a the hollow beam of the B-pillar on its own, that is, with dismantled

Pre-assembly unit;

Fig. 3b the pre-assembly unit of the B-pillar on its own, that is, without the hollow support of the

B pillar;

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views through the B-pillar.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are representations, based on which an assembly sequence for assembling the B-pillar is illustrated;

10 to 14 views, with the aid of which a positioning aid is illustrated.

1 shows a motor vehicle in which, in the vehicle longitudinal direction x in the middle of the vehicle area, a side elevation of a side wall assembly in a partial elevation

Vehicle body is highlighted. The vehicle body has a side

Sill 1 on. A B-pillar 3 of the side wall assembly is arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction x behind an A-pillar 5 and connects the sill 1 to a roof structure 7 of the vehicle body in the vehicle vertical direction z. The B-pillar 3 serves on the one hand

Stiffening of the vehicle body and on the other hand for receiving attachments, such as a belt retractor or the like. In FIG. 2, a pillar cladding 17 and a seat belt system 19 are mounted on a hollow sheet metal support 12 of the B-pillar 3 shown in dashed lines. In FIG. 2, the seat belt system 19 has a belt end fitting 21 on the bottom, a belt deflector 24 (FIG. 3 b) and a belt retractor 23 and a height-adjustable deflection fitting 23 for a seat belt 25.

An inner sheet metal part 9 of the hollow support 12 of the B-pillar 3 is part of one of

Vehicle body 50 (FIG. 1 or 9) is separate pre-assembly unit VM, as shown in FIG. 3b. The above belt function elements 20, 21, 23, 24 and a pillar cladding 17 can be preassembled in the pre-assembly unit VM. The pre-assembly unit VM thus formed is joined in an assembly process step ZSB (FIG. 9) to a sheet metal outer part 11 installed in the vehicle body 50.

The structure of the B-pillar 3 is described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

Accordingly, the B-pillar 3 in FIG. 2 or 3 has the hollow support 12 already mentioned. According to FIG. 4 or 5, this is constructed from the inner sheet metal part 9 of the vehicle and the outer sheet metal part 11 from the vehicle. The from the sheet metal inner part 9 and

Sheet metal outer part 11 formed hollow beam 12, in the vehicle vertical direction z extending and in cross-section essentially closed hollow profile 13. Within the hollow profile 13, a reinforcing sheet metal part 15 extends in the vehicle vertical direction z. According to FIG. 3, mounting openings 6, 8 are formed in the sheet metal inner part 9, in each of which the belt retractor 20 and the belt deflector 24 can be positioned. It also points out

The inner sheet metal part 9 in FIG. 3a has a mounting surface 10 for mounting the height-adjustable belt deflector 23.

4 or 5 further shows, the sheet metal outer part 1 1 of the B-pillar 3 is formed with a, in the vehicle transverse direction y vehicle outer profile floor 27, the profile edges 29 according to the vehicle in each case in a front profile flank 31 and in a rear Profile flank 33 passes over. From the two profile flanks 31, 33 each protrude toward the front of the vehicle and the rear flanges 35 of the vehicle. The sheet metal inner part 9 has an interior of the vehicle

Profile floor 39, which covers the hollow profile 13 and which is extended in the vehicle longitudinal direction x to the front and rear of the vehicle with screw-on flanges 41. 4 or 5 at screw connection points S with the sheet metal outer part 1 1. Each of the screw connections S is designed as a double screw connection. To realize such a screw connection S, the respective screw-on flange 41 of the sheet metal inner part 9 and one of the profile flanks 31, 33 of the sheet metal outer part 11 with their screw holes 43 are aligned one above the other, with the interposition of the

Reinforcing sheet metal part 15. This forms a three-layer structure, through which

Screw holes 43 a screw 45 is guided. The screw axis of the screw bolt 45 is oriented approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction x in FIG. 4 or 5. The

Screw-on flanges 41 of the sheet metal inner part 9 are joined in FIG. 4 or 5 with the interposition of the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 on the inside of the two sheet metal outer part profile flanks 31, 33. In contrast, the edge flanges 35 of the sheet metal outer part 11 are connection-free with respect to the sheet metal inner part 9.

For the screw connection S is on the inside of the respective screw flange 41

Inner sheet metal part 9 welded a weld nut 47 to which the bolt 45 is screwed. Accordingly, in FIG. 4 or 5, the sheet metal outer part profile flank 31, the sheet metal inner part screw-on flange 41 and the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 are all in one

Three-layer structure between the weld nut 47 and the bolt head of the bolt 45 clamped together.

5, the vehicle interior profile floor 39 of the sheet metal inner part 9 is offset by a transverse offset Ay from the two edge flanges 35 of the sheet metal outer part 11 towards the vehicle interior. In this way, an enlarged installation space is provided within the hollow profile 13 in order to position a belt retractor 20 therein, as is shown in FIG. 8.

An assembly sequence for assembling the body structure shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9: Accordingly, the vehicle body 50 (still without the inner sheet metal part 9) is initially provided in FIG. 9. The vehicle body 50 is painted in a first painting process step L1. A second painting process step L2 takes place separately, in which the sheet metal part 9, which has not yet been fitted, is painted as a separate component. After the second painting process step L2, a pre-assembly process step V is carried out in FIG. In the preassembly process step V, the functional elements of the seat belt system 19 together with the pillar cladding 17 are preassembled on the lacquered sheet metal inner part 9, specifically to form the preassembly unit VM shown in FIG. 3b. After the pre-assembly, the sheet metal inner part 9 is attached to the in the assembly process step ZSB

Vehicle body 50 added. The joining process is not carried out by a welded connection, but by means of the screwed connections S indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 (that is Double screw connections), so that damage to the already painted sheet metal surfaces is avoided.

10 to 14, a positioning aid P is explained, which simplifies the assembly process step ZSB. By means of the positioning aid P, the sheet metal inner part 9 is pre-positioned in the correct position in a screwing position SP (FIG. 11 or 14) in which the

Inner sheet metal part 9 can be screwed to the outer sheet metal part 1 1 to form the aforementioned screw connections S.

In FIG. 12 or 13, the positioning aid P has a positioning bolt 55 on the profile flank 33 of the sheet metal outer part 11, which projects with a cross-sectionally small bolt shank 56 (FIG. 10 or 12) from a base surface of the profile flank 33 in the vehicle longitudinal direction x and an expanded bolt head 57 has. This is spaced apart by a clear annular gap r from a base surface of the sheet metal outer part flank 33. The positioning bolt 55 interacts with a positioning link 49, which is formed in the screw flange 41. The

10 or 12, a positioning link 49 has an insertion section 52 which is open in the joining direction F (oriented in the vehicle transverse direction y). The insertion section 52 of the positioning link 49 extends from a trimming edge 44 (FIG. 12) of the sheet metal inner edge flange 41 by a transverse offset Ay (FIG. 12) up to one

Cross-stop edge 46. In addition, the insertion section 52 merges into a vertical guide track 53 at a curve. This extends by a height offset Az (FIG. 10 or 12) up to the vehicle up to an upper high stop edge 59.

In this way, an approximately hook-shaped positioning link 49 results

Assembly process step ZSB is first the sheet metal part 9 to the

Sheet metal outer part 1 1 added that the sheet metal outer part positioning bolt 55 by the

The insertion section 52 of the positioning link 49 is guided until the cross stop edge 46 is reached. The opening edge area of the sheet metal inner part positioning link 49 is located in the annular gap r between the bolt head 57 and the base surface of the sheet outer part profile edge 33. When the cross stop edge 46 is reached, this becomes The inner sheet metal part 9 is lowered (see arrow in FIG. 11 or 14). During the lowering process, the sheet metal outer part positioning bolt 55 is guided along the transverse stop edge 46, along the transverse stop edge 46 and with a small clearance, up to the high stop edge 59. In this way, the sheet metal inner part 9 is pre-positioned in the correct position with respect to the sheet metal outer part 11 both in the vehicle transverse direction y and in the vehicle vertical direction z. Reference list of sills

B-pillar

A pillar

Assembly opening for belt deflector

Roof structure

Assembly opening for belt tractor

Sheet metal inner part

Mounting surface

Sheet metal outer part

Hollow profile

Reinforcing sheet metal part

Column cladding

Seat belt system

Belt tractor

End fitting

height-adjustable deflection fitting

Belt deflector

Seat belt

Profile floor

Profile edges

front profile flank

rear profile flank

Edge flanges

Profile bottom of the sheet metal inner part

Screw-on flange

Screw holes

Bleed edge

Bolts

Cross stop edge

Welding nut

Positioning backdrop

Vehicle body

Screw holes

Insertion area 53 backdrop

55 positioning bolts

56 bolt shank

57 bolt head

59 High stop edge r Annular gap

P positioning aid

S screw connection

C clip connection

L1, L2 painting process steps ZSB assembly process step V pre-assembly process step

FR direction of travel

VM pre-assembly unit

F joining direction

Claims

1. Vehicle body with a body pillar (3), in particular B-pillar, the one

Has module carrier (9), the functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) one

Seat belt system (19) and / or a pillar trim (17), characterized in that the module carrier (9) is part of a pre-assembly unit (VM) separate from the vehicle body (50), in which the functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) and / or the pillar cladding (17) are preassembled, and that the module carrier (9) after at least one assembly process step (ZSB) on at least one pillar side

Connection point (S) of the body column (3) is joined, and that to simplify the assembly process step (ZSB) the module carrier (9) and the body column (3) have a positioning aid (P), by means of which the module carrier (9) is in the correct position a connection position, in particular screw position (SP), can be prepositioned, in which the module carrier (9) can be joined to the body pillar (3).

2. Vehicle body according to claim 1, characterized in that the module carrier (9) in screw connection (S) with the body pillar (3), and that the module carrier (9) by means of the positioning aid (P) pre-positioned in the screw position (SP) in which the module carrier (9) can be screwed to the body pillar (3) to form the screw connection (S).

3. Vehicle body according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Positioning aid (P) is a link guide, in which of the two joining partners, i.e. the module carrier (9) of the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body column (3), a first joining partner has a positioning bolt (55) which is connected to a positioning link (49 ) of the second joining partner cooperates in such a way that the pre-positioning is carried out by hanging the module carrier (9) loosely into the body pillar (3).

4. Vehicle body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that, in the assembled state, the body pillar (3) is constructed from a sheet metal inner part (9) inside the vehicle and from a sheet metal outer part (11) outside the vehicle, which has a hollow sheet metal support (12) with a hollow profile which is essentially closed in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle (13) form, and that in particular the sheet metal inner part (9) is the module carrier of the pre-assembly unit (VM).

5 vehicle body according to claim 4, characterized in that the sheet metal outer part (1 1) in the vehicle transverse direction (y) vehicle outer profile floor (27), the profile edges (29) inside the vehicle in a front profile flank (31) and in a rear profile flank (33) passes, and in particular that

Sheet metal inner part (9) has a vehicle-internal profile floor (39) which in the

Vehicle longitudinal direction (x) forwards and / or backwards with one of them

angled edge flange (41) is extended.

6. Vehicle body according to claim 5, characterized in that for realizing the screw connection (S) of the sheet metal inner edge flange (41) and a sheet metal outer part flank (31, 33) with their screw holes (43) are aligned one above the other, and that through the screw holes (43) a screw bolt (45) is guided, and / or that the screw axis of the screw connection is aligned approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x).

7 vehicle body according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the positioning bolt (55) protrudes from a base surface of the sheet metal outer part flank (31, 33) and has an expanded bolt head (57), and that the bolt head (57) around one clear annular gap (r) is spaced from the base surface of the sheet metal outer part profile flank (31, 33), and that in particular the clear annular gap (r) is dimensioned larger than the sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal inner part edge flange (41) on which the positioning link (49) is trained.

8. Vehicle body according to claim 7, characterized in that the

Positioning link (49) has an insertion section (52) which is open in the joining direction (F), and that the insertion section (52) extends from a trimming edge (44) of the sheet metal inner edge flange (41) by a transverse offset (Ay) to a transverse stop. Edge (46) extends.

9. Vehicle body according to claim 8, characterized in that the

Insertion section (52) of the positioning link (49) merges into a vertical link track (53) which extends by a height offset (Az) towards the vehicle up to an upper high-stop edge (59).

10. A method of assembling a vehicle body according to one of the preceding claims.