GB2384214A

GB2384214A - Vehicle with doors having side impact bars that interlock with a further structural part of the vehicle during a collision

Info

Publication number: GB2384214A
Application number: GB0201210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Blair Dobson; Sidney Edward Fisher; Nigel Victor Spurr
Original assignee: ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems France SA; Meritor Light Vehicle Systems France
Current assignee: Inteva Products France SAS
Priority date: 2002-01-21
Filing date: 2002-01-21
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-21
Also published as: GB0201210D0; GB2384214B

Abstract

Vehicle 10 with doors having side impact protection bars 12a, 12b. The trailing edge of the front door bar 12a has an arcuate recess 16 that co-operates with the leading edge of a cylindrically profiled hinge 14 attached to the leading edge of the rear door bar 12b. During a head on collision the gap 18 between the side impact protection bars 12a, 12b is closed and a the bars lock together preventing the door opening and improving rigidity of the vehicle passenger shell. A second embodiment of the invention is claimed (fig 3) wherein the side impact bar (32) co-operates via a recess (42) with a projection (40) formed at the B-pillar (36). In a collision the projection (40) engages the recess (42) and prevents movement of the bar (32) and the door having a similar effect in increasing the vehicle rigidity.

Description

Vehicle This invention relates to a vehicle with doors having side impact protection bars, and more particularly to engaging means between an impact bar and another structure of the vehicle that lock during a collision.

Side bar impact protection bars are widely used to provide increased protection to occupants of vehicles in the event of a collision. Thus, one or more bars may be located between the inner and outer skins of the door.

The impact strength of vehicle doors during both head on and side collisions is of paramount importance. While, traditional doors with impact bars fixed to an inner door skin provide improved protection for vehicle passengers their performance is limited by the strength of the inner door skin, and the ability of the door latch to keep the door closed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle with a door where the performance of the side impact bar or bars is not limited by the strength of the inner door skin or latch. A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle with doors that are less likely to be forced open during a severe collision than conventional vehicle doors.

In one aspect the invention comprises a door with a side impact protection bar, the bar having a projection or recess that co-operates with a corresponding recess or projection on another structure of the vehicle; so that during a sufficiently severe collision the projection engages the recess to lock the side impact protection bar to the other structure of the vehicle and thereby provide increased rigidity to the vehicle structure.

In a further aspect the invention comprises a vehicle with a door having an inner strengthening member comprising a bar type frame with one or more cross members, the frame having a projection or recess that co-operates with a corresponding recess or projection on another structure of the vehicle; so that during a sufficiently severe collision the projection engages the recess to lock the side impact protection bar to the other structure of the vehicle

and thereby provide increased rigidity to the vehicle structure. Advantageously, this provides for an improved form of door as shown in PCT Application WO 01/23201 Al.

Two particular embodiments of the invention will be described by reference to the following diagramatic drawings in which :- Figure 1 shows a plan view of front and rear door side bar impact bars and associated hinges before a collision, Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 after a severe collision of the vehicle, and Figure 3 shows part of a door with a side impact protection bar in a closed position relative to a central chassis bar member.

A first embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 only shows items relevant to the invention and excludes illustration of the door skins, chassis bars etc.. Thus, the vehicle 10 has a front door a side impact protection bar 12a and a rear door side impact protection bar 12b. The trailing edge of front bar 12a has a arcuate recess 16 dimensioned to co-operate with the leading edge of a cylindrically profiled hinge 14 attached to the leading edge of rear door bar 12b. Normally, recess 16 and door hinge 14 are separated by a gap 18 that ensures that the front door freely opens when unlatched. In contrast, Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 after a relatively severe head-on collision of the vehicle. Collision damage which causes some plastic deformation of some vehicle components will typically force front bar 12a rearwards during the collision until recess 16 engages the leading edge of hinge 14 locking bars 12a and 12b together. This locking action prevents the doors being forced open by the collision and this feature combined with the lateral locked alignment of bars 12a and 12b results in much improved rigidity of the passenger shell of the vehicle during such impacts. Following the impact, the elastic nature of those components plastically deformed will nevertheless allow the projection and recess to separate, allowing the door to open.

In the above embodiment a projection 14 on the rear door bar 12b has been used to engage a recess 16 on the front door bar. The exact shape of the projection and recess may vary and

need nor be curved, for example the shape of the projection and recess could be as described in the second embodiment.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to Figure 3 which shows only part of a vehicle 30, specifically part of a side impact protection bar 32 attached to a rear door skin 34 and having a vehicle B-post member 36, normally integrally formed with the main passenger shell chassis. The side impact bar 32 has near the trailing edge of its inner face a recess 42 dimensioned to co-operate with a projection 40 in the form of a lug integrally formed or attached to B-post member 36. In the event of a collision of the vehicle, either head-on or sideways, lug 40 and recess 42 engage and prevent or substantially limit movement of the bar 32, and hence the door, relative to B-post member 36.

In the above embodiment a recess in a side impact bar 32 has been used to engage a projection in a chassis member 40. The exact shape of the projection and recess may vary widely, providing the basis requirement of engagement of the projection and recess during a collision is met.

The above invention is particularly suitable for use in an advanced vehicle door designs, as shown in PCT Application WO 01/23201 Al, where the strength of the door is principally provided by an inner strengthening member, typically comprising a bar-type frame with one or more cross members. Such doors preferably have a thin continuous non load bearing inner skin to provide a seal. Thus the inner door strenghtening member, like a side impact bar, greatly increases door strength, and can be fitted with at least one projection or recess that co-operates with a projection or recess in the main passenger shell of the chassis; such as a central B-post member located between a front and rear door or other similar chassis door frame member.

The invention provides improved protection by the use of side impact protection bars in vehicle doors by avoiding the relative weakness of a connection between a bar and the rest of the vehicle via a door inner skin. The invention also enhances the structural rigidity of the entire passenger shell by helping to prevent doors being forced open as a result of an impact; thereby allowing the doors to strengthen the passenger shell door frames.

In further embodiments, projections or recesses can be provided as A-posts, B-posts or C-posts in order to co-operate with recesses or projections in adjacent doors.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a door with a side impact protection bar, the bar having a projection or recess that co-operates with a corresponding recess or projection on another structure of the vehicle; so that during a sufficiently severe collision the projection engages the recess to lock the side impact protection bar to the other structure of the vehicle and thereby provide increased rigidity to the vehicle structure.

2. A vehicle with a door having an inner strengthening member comprising a bar type frame with one or more cross members, the frame having a projection or recess that co-operates with a corresponding recess or projection on another structure of the vehicle; so that during a sufficiently severe collision the projection engages the recess to lock the side impact protection bar to the other structure of the vehicle and thereby provide increased rigidity to the vehicle structure.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the projection comprises a lug or a door hinge member.

4. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the recess is arcuate.

5. A vehicle according to Claim 1 wherein the projection or recess is at trailing edge of the bar and the other structure comprises a second vehicle door.

6. A vehicle according to Claim 5 wherein the corresponding recess or projection is located at the leading edge of the second door.

7. A vehicle according to Claim 6 wherein the second door includes a projection, which projection comprises a hinge attached to the second door.

8. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the other vehicle structure is an A-post, a B-post or a C-post.