FI117793B - Procedure for the design of vehicle floors and vehicle floors - Google Patents

Description

117793

The present invention relates to a method of forming a floor structure according to the preamble of claim 1 for attaching seats and other interior and furnishings to miniature buses and the like.

The invention also relates to a vehicle floor.

10

In the case of custom-built cars, minivans and similar vehicles, vehicle interiors are often made in small series on an interior trim. The hulls themselves are based on large manufacturer goods or passenger 15 vehicle models and are custom made by small manufacturers in single pieces or in small series. In this way, vehicles tailored for different purposes can be manufactured at a reasonable cost for a variety of applications such as short or long distance passenger transport, various alarm and rescue missions, or even for tourism.

M: The problem with making such vehicles is. · Fast and cost effective construction of sufficiently strong interior structures • · · * ... · 25. Particularly in passenger transport • * * • There are constantly tightening requirements for passenger seats and seat belts to reduce the risk of injury. In future legislation, for example, Ι, | # ϊ each passenger should have a three-point seat belt.

* * · '• "S 30 In practice, this means that the seat belt is. ···. Fastened directly to the seats, otherwise the * · * * * three-point belt is difficult to arrange in places other than the walls of the vehicle * * ^. is directly • · '** · [in the seat, it can also be purchased as a pre-installed * · 4 2 117793 as a whole and does not require the installation of belts and fasteners.

When seat belts are fastened directly to the seats, the seats'. 5 must withstand all passenger loads in accordance with the vehicle regulations. The loads on the seat anchorages will then be higher than if some of the loads could be applied to the vehicle body through the seat belt anchorages. Thus, the floor structure of the vehicle 10 must be strong enough to receive the loads. The floor of vehicles normally used for passenger transport is manufactured on the bare floor of the vehicle and this new floor surface is provided with brackets for seats, refrigerators, AV equipment and other necessary interior components. The seat mounts are usually rails or the like on which the seats can be adjusted. Other décor elements can also be installed permanently.

20 The most common way to make the floor of a vehicle to be decorated is to * attach a new floor structure * at present. by gluing the basket to the floor. Sufficiently firm attachment • · • * ·. ···. effective adhesive grades must be used to ensure this. The problem with these * · • * * is often the toxicity of the adhesive or its harmful [···, 25 substances, which necessitates the use of protective equipment and effective ventilation at work. Another problem with the #. # Production is the slow curing of the adhesives • * '..I. It may take up to two days for the adhesive to cure to dry, and final cure * '30 for two weeks. Because vehicle floor structures often have • · · * ... * paint finishes and various insulating masses and possibly »: * ·“ adhesives, it is difficult to ensure the compatibility of the floor fastener with the materials used during manufacture. Compliance compatibility is further hampered by the fact that car manufacturers do not disclose the exact composition of the substances they use to third parties. Thus, the adhesive to be used must be suitably tested, even if the surfaces to be tested or applied are to be carefully cleaned.

5 Overall, ensuring compatibility makes quality control more difficult. Long drying times, on the other hand, unnecessarily increase delivery times and increase costs because the vehicle has to be stored for drying and work cannot be continued. The adhesive bonding also complicates the surface treatment of the adhesive product 10, since the surface treatment agents must also be compatible with the adhesive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of forming the floor structure of a vehicle in an unfurnished vehicle in a simple and inexpensive manner so that the floor structure can be quickly installed in the vehicle.

The invention is based on the fact that the floor is formed as a self-supporting structure which receives the loads caused by at least the seat anchorages secured to it and which is preferably mechanically secured to the vehicle structure. According to an embodiment, the floor is a * * · '·' / · 25-layer structure fitted with fastening means for at least • * * J 't., for securing seats and preferably for other interior decoration.

More specifically, the method of the invention * * ·: ***: 30 is characterized by what is set forth in claim 1 · · · ···. characterizing part.

• · • · · ♦ · · · «·. The floor of the invention, in turn, is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 4.

The invention provides considerable advantages.

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The self-supporting structure according to the invention can be made prefabricated, whereby the installation itself in the vehicle is fast. Due to the mechanical fastening, no waiting times are created, so that the completion of the vehicle interior decoration work 10 is substantially reduced. Since the structure is self-supporting, the stresses exerted on the seat anchorages do not apply to the vehicle structure. The rigid floor structure also stiffens the body and improves its durability in the event of a collision. This, together with the firm attachment of the seats 15, significantly improves the crash safety of the vehicle. The materials of the floor structure can be selected according to the desired characteristics of the floor, which makes it easy to improve the sound, heat and vibration damping of the vehicle. Electrical or liquid heating is easy to implement in the floor-20 structure or in connection therewith. The floorboard can be made with pre-# ·· V 1. as a formulation in a mold that can be used in efficient • · • 1 ·· manufacturing processes such as vacuum or pressure treatments «« »and reinforcing and resin prepreg ♦ ·· · 25 materials. This results in a stronger floor than direct • 1a • built in-vehicle and easier quality assurance due to better * * a quality manufacturing methods and more controlled manufacturing conditions. Due to the mechanical fastening and: 'the rigid structure of the floor, there is little need for anchorage between the vehicle itself and the floor • 1 · -1 30 since, ···, each fixture to be mounted does not need to be individually mounted * 1 to the vehicle structure.

The invention will now be explained in more detail in the accompanying drawings ♦ ♦ 5! 117793 with the help of software.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

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Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 from below.

Figure 3 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in longitudinal cross-section.

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Figure 4 is a sectional view C-C of Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows the point W in Figure 3.

Figures 6a and 6b show the positions R and T in Fig. 2.

The floor according to the invention consists of composite parts 1 and fastening rails 2 arranged at desired intervals between the composite parts 1. The floor is shaped according to the Vehicle Model 20, i.e. it is made ... including cuts 3 for example for wheel housings and • · 9 • 9 9 .1 vehicle structures.

9 9 9 99 * ... The floor shown in the figures is intended for three ** · rows of benches, so it has three pairs of mounting rails.

The composite parts 1 consist of a core 4 and a shell 9 9 9 * ι # · * 5. The material of the core 4 can be commonly used 9 9 * · * · * core materials such as balsa, polymer foams and aluminum or other honeycomb or 9 9 9.

9 9 9 '9 9 *. «· * 30 substantially influences the heat and sound insulation properties of the 9 floor, so that it can be easily adapted to the 9: *** properties of the floor for different applications.

9 · 9 • '· The shell layer 5 is most preferably fiber reinforced and resinous

9 9 9 »J

9 9 9 "* * bonded layer. The fiber layer material can also be selected from several 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 i 6 117793 combinations of reinforcement and resin. The most common reinforcements today are glass fiber, carbon fiber and aramid fiber. and 5, the core material is bonded to the composite by a resin, for example phenol or epoxy resin, which may be injected or sucked under reduced pressure into a manufacturing mold or pre-impregnated into fibers, thereby softening in the mold The higher the proportion of fibers relative to the resin, the stronger the composite part will be.

Figures 4 to 6b show in greater detail the structure of the composite members 1 and their attachment to the mounting rails 6. In this example, the mounting rails are separate profiles, but could also be formed directly into the mold edges of the composite members with integral composite members 20, e.g.

The shell material could then be used.

· 1 · .. The separate fixing rail for the figures comprises a composite part · '2; 1, branches 7, 8 extending to flat outer surfaces, with * · 1; 3: the distance corresponding to the thickness of the composite part 1. The legs ··· 25 form a U-shaped groove. On the side facing the vehicle floor or chassis • · j · ". The mounting rail is flat and · · · forms a uniform surface with parallel composite parts. 1 flat surfaces. On this side, one layer of cover • · · · ···. 30 to form a uniform surface on this side of the floor. This design is technically advantageous in terms of manufacture and strength.

• 1 • · 1 • · 1 • · · · 2 · · 3 • · Ί 117793

On the opposite side, i.e. the side forming the new floor surface 1, the fixing rail 2 forms a fixing groove 9, the edges 10 of which point towards the center line of the rail. This groove may be used to secure the 5 seats, other interior fittings and temporary equipment, such as wheelchairs, bolted to the vehicle, various wedge mechanisms or other suitable means. In this example, the cross-section of the fastening groove is a rectangle, but of course other cross-sections such as salmon tail can also be used.

In this case, the rail 2 is hollow in the center to adjust the weight. A rail such as the one described is preferably made by extrusion from aluminum or other light alloys or reinforced plastics. If special strength is required for the 15 fastening rails, it can be made of steel. Naturally, the rail shape can be modified, only that it has fastening means 7, 8 for engaging the composite parts 1 and a fastening groove 9 or other similar fastening means for mounting the interior 20. Instead of a continuous groove, you can use a row of holes of different shapes or pre-• • * ·; ·. threaded attachment points, but loses • ·· *. ·· *. . stepless adjustment.

• · * · *.

As shown in the figures, the shell layer 5 surrounds the core 4 on each side, i.e., it forms a closed housing for the core.

• · This type of enclosure construction is strong and the shell provides excellent protection. effectively damage the core during installation and operation. Figures 4 and 6a, 6b show one possible structure for the long sides of the floor • * * Γ 30. Figure 4 illustrates the floor ··· · ... * at the fixing rail 2. At the edges of the long sides, * * · '** are formed at the underside of the floor by flaps; *** · protrusions 11. These are formed by a resin of the skin layer 5 • * · * ·····.

· 117793 8 of reinforced layers extending slightly outwardly from the edge of the shell portion 4 on the floor facing the floor of the vehicle. At the mounting rails 2, the shell part 5 rotates over the rails 2, 8, as shown in Fig. 4.

5 The size of the projections is selected such that the floor provides a wall width suitable for the width of the vehicle and any wall cladding material which fits into the gap between the wall and the floor formed by the projection 11.

10 The number of composite floor members 1 and fixing rails 2 varies with the number of mounting points required and the size of the floor. There are at least two composite parts and only one rail. Instead of rails transverse to the long side of the floor and thus transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, longitudinal rails may be used to allow longitudinal displacement of installed furniture.

... The floor is made, for example, in the following way.

• · 1 • ♦ · .1 20 To form a * 1 * 2 mold for the desired floor model, rails 2 are first fitted, which can be secured with a groove 9 for rails 9. Around the cores 4 • ·, reinforcing fabrics or fabrics are fitted and * «· forming closed packages of core and fabric, • · '· 1 · 1 25 which are placed in a mold between rails 2. Then, the resin is injected into the mold or the resin of the pre-soaked reinforcements is reacted. · * · ..1 maintains a vacuum to allow the resin to settle into the mold *: ··· and between the reinforcements After the resin has cured, the vacuum 30 is removed and the finished product is removed from the mold The floor is now ready to be installed in the vehicle.

• · 1 2

The floor is mounted in the vehicle with mechanical fasteners.

-.... 9 117793

Mounting can be done through holes drilled into the mounting rail, even with U-shaped studs on the vehicle chassis beams or directly to the vehicle chassis with bolts, provided it has sufficiently strong mounting points. Kompo-5 can also be laminated to the pen material or fastening rails, or the fasteners may be pre-assembled during manufacture. These may be threaded holes or protruding bolts. Once mechanically secured, as described above, the floor can also be easily detached from the vehicle if it is converted to another use or disassembled.

In addition to the above, the present invention has other embodiments.

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The contours of the floor edges shall be aligned with those of the interior of the vehicle. This is particularly important when using a standard-made van as a chassis, as it is difficult to make such a change to a chassis already for regulatory reasons. In the case of Fig. 2, an example is given: the oblique surface facing the wall between the driver and the passenger. In addition, the floor may have cuts for the arches of the frame or the edges may be shaped round.

• · · * m ··· • V. 25 At least one or both of the large composite part • *. ***. shell surfaces can be made of aluminum sheet, ·· «especially if aluminum is used as the core material. . ·. honeycomb plate. Aluminum surface is also often used «« ♦ »··. ···. with balsa or polymer foam cores, whereby the surface • * • 30 is glued to the core. Aluminum structures can ·· • ·: be combined with reinforced plastic structures. The floor can be anchored to the vehicle by gluing, welding on the rails, unless the heat input is too high, or otherwise. In this case, however, the advantages of short manufacturing and installation times may be lost, for example due to the delay in the drying of the adhesive. Most preferably, such a floor is also mechanically secured. Seats and other fixtures can be mounted directly on the 5 mounting rails or separate mounting means can be used. The rails may also be used to attach a load or other temporary article. Surface treatment can be done as desired by coating the floor with a surface material, by painting or by forming the desired surface already at the floor manufacturing stage. It is also possible to make the floor modular, even for buses. However, at its most advantageous it is a uniform structure.

15 The floor may also be manufactured by first making a suitable sandwich panel or by using a finished sandwich panel from which pieces of suitable size are cut. These pieces are then glued between the mounting rails. After gluing, the floor is ready to be mechanically fixed to the vehicle. The disadvantage of this method of manufacture is that the floor edges are not as freely moldable as in the case of molds.

* · • · * * · · · · * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 44 ** · • · • 4 * * * · * * * ·· • 4 44 * 4 · • 4

Claims (12)

A method of forming a vehicle floor, wherein - a floor is formed comprising at least two composite parts (1) consisting of a shell portion (5) and a core (4) and of at least one fastening means (2) for attaching - at least one fixture at the floor, - at least one fastener (2) is formed and arranged between the two composite parts (1) in such a way that it joins the composite parts, and - the floor is attached to the vehicle by mechanical fasteners, characterized in that: · · /. - the same fastening means (2) is used to attach the floor ♦ ·· 15 to the vehicle and the fixtures to the floor. • · · • · * * · .Γ! 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor is dimensioned to be self-supporting in order to support the loads caused by the luminaires in such a way that the luminaires have fastening points only in the floor. • * • · · · «• · I ** 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor is formed in a mold in which an underpressure can be achieved. • i · · • · * • · 15 1 1 7793 4. Vehicle flooring, comprising - means for forming a floor surface (1) and means for fixing at least fixtures, - at least two composite parts (1), consisting of a shell portion (5) and a core (4): - at least one fastener (2), which joins at least two composite parts (1) into a piano, self-supporting structure, characterized in that both luminaires and mechanical fasteners can be attached to the vehicle to the same fastener (2). Floor according to claim 4, characterized in that | the shell portion (5) is made of reinforced plastic. «·· ··« ··· Floor according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the fastening means (2) is made of a rail (6), which V. '.' extends substantially along the length of the edges of the composite parts (1) to be joined. • · • * * Flooring according to any of claims 4-6, characterized in that the fastening means (2) is formed of reinforced plastic material into a uniform piece with the composite parts (1) at their edges. . 8. Floor according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that at least one reinforcing material layer (5) extends * · ·. *: cross the rail (6). ie 1 1 7793 Floor according to any of claims 6-8, characterized by a continuous cutting (9) in the fastening means (9) for fixing at least fixtures. Floor according to any of claims 6-8, 5, characterized in that the fastening means (2) lie transversely in relation to the longitudinal side of the floor. Flooring according to any of claims 6-8, characterized in that the fastening means (2) are longitudinally extending in relation to the longitudinal side of the floor. Flooring according to any of the preceding claims 4-11, characterized in that the floor construction has a heating system. · ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · •. • 1 t • · · · · · · · · · 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · * · ·