GB2433730A

GB2433730A - Convertible vehicle body with strengthened A-column

Info

Publication number: GB2433730A
Application number: GB0615119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andreas Clausen-Schaumann; Klaus Gersmann
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Current assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Priority date: 2005-08-01
Filing date: 2006-07-28
Publication date: 2007-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-28
Also published as: DE102005036587A1; GB0615119D0; DE102005036587B4; GB2433730B

Abstract

A convertible vehicle body ha a left and a right A-column 1 each inclined backwards with respect to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle. A top apron above a windscreen joins the two upper ends 2 of the A-columns in the transverse direction and forms the upper boundary of the windscreen. A supporting bearer 3 extends from the junction between the top apron and the top ends 2 of the A-columns 1, behind the A-column and downwards to the sill structure 4 of the vehicle. The space between the A-column and the bearer may contain a window.

Description

-1-2433730 A convertible vehicle body with an A-column * -The present

invention relates to a convertible vehicle body with an A-column.

The not-previously published DE 102004010161.2 describes an A-column of a convertible vehicle body which has a front first limb, inclined against the direction of travel, in the region above the door siliboard. A second limb of the A-column extends from the top end of the first limb on the top apron downwards and at an acute angle to the first front limb. The two limbs are designed so as to act as load paths if the vehicle overturns.

The aim of the present invention is to improve roll-over protection for a convertible.

This problem is addressed by a convertible vehicle body having the features described in claim 1.

Accordingly to the present invention is directed to a convertible vehicle body comprising a left and a right A-column, each inclined backwards, as seen in the direction of travel, in the region above the door elbow-place line and extending as far as a top apron above a windscreen, the top apron connecting the two upper ends of the A- columns together -2-U in the transverse direction of the vehicle, in which on each side a supporting bearing extends from the junctions between the top apron and the A-columns at an acute angle to the * respective A-column, behind it and downwards as far as a side siliboarcl of the vehicle body. The acute angle is preferably less than 300, 50 that the vehicle body has a dynamic appearance in spite of the supporting bearing.

The passengers in a convertible are especially at risk during accidents in which the convertible overturns, since they are not protected by a solid roof. After turning over, a convertible typically comes to rest inter alia on the two top ends of the A-columns, which are connected together via the top apron. It is therefore important for the safety of * 15 passengers to prevent the A-columns from bending backwards.

This purpose is served by the supporting bearings according to the present invention, which brace the top ends of the A-columns against the side siliboard of the vehicle body. In the event of an overturn, therefore, most of the forces introduced into the top ends of the A-columns are diverted into the side siliboards and do not exert a bending force on the A-columns. This reduces the risk that the A-columns may buckle under very strong forces occurring when a convertible overturns.

Preferably in the region of the door elbow-place line the A-columns each end in a longitudinal bearer extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle downwards as far as the respective supporting bearing. A longitudinal bearer of this construction is used inter alia for fastening a mudguard and extends in the direction, of travel, usually at least as far as a McPherson strut holder. The longitudinal bearer, together with the A-column, forms a triangle in the region above the door elbow place and the supporting bearing. This closed triangular structure has an especially high rigidity and can therefore take especially strong forces.

Advantageously on each side a column base holder extends from the junctions between the A-columns and the longitudinal bearers as far as the side sillboards. There is therefore a second load path via the A-column and the column base holder, in addition to the first load path via the supporting bearings, through which the forces introduced into the top ends of the A-columns after an overturn can be diverted into the side sillboard. This additionally increases the forces which can be taken by the convertible body after overturning, without substantially deforming the A-columns and/or the longitudinal bearers.

In a preferred embodiment a window-pane is disposed in the triangle between the A-column, the supporting bearer and the longitudinal bearer.

Advantageously the pane is of plastics material.

Preferably the pane increases the strength of the vehicle body.

In a preferred embodiment the supporting bearer and the column base holder are connected to one another by at least one covering part or at least one transverse bearer underneath the door elbow-place line.

An example embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawing which the single Figure shows a diagrammatic side view of a convertible vehicle body in the region of an A-column.

The Figure shows part of a convertible vehicle body in space-frame construction. The side view illustrated is the left side of the vehicle body, which is symmetrical with the right side. The Figure shows a left A-column 1, which for aerodynamic reasons is bent backwards and opposite to the direction of travel F. A windscreen extends between the left A-column 1 and a symmetrical right A-column. The two top ends 2 of the A-columns 1 are Connected together by a top apron extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle and also forming the top boundary of the windscreen. A bottom apron connects the bottom ends of the A-columns 1 in the transverse direction of the vehicle, approximately at the level of the door elbow-place line T and forms the bottom boundary of the windscreen. The door elbow-place line T is at the level of the transition between a door body and an adjoining side window above it in a side door of the vehicle. Usually the bottom edge of the windscreen is also level with the door elbow-place line T. On each side a supporting bearer 3 extends from the top ends 2 of the A-columns 1, behind and at an acute angle a to the A-columns 1, seen in the direction of travel F, and downwards to a side siliboard 4 of the vehicle body. The acute angle a is about 25 . The supporting bearer 3 and the A-column 1. are thus inclined opposite to the direction of.. travel F, which gives a dynamic appearance to the convertible, even though the supporting bearer 3 is visible above the door elbow-place line T. The A-columns 1 each end in the region of the door elbow-place line T, at a longitudinal bearer 5 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which extends backwards as far as the Supporting bearer 3 and forwards at least as far as a McPherson strut holder (not shown). On each side a column base holder 6 extends from the junction between the A-columns 1 and the longitudinal members 5 downwards and ends in both cases at a side siliboard 4. The column-base holder 6 and the supporting bearer 3 are connected together by a downwardly sloping transverse member 7 underneath the door elbow-place line, the member extending over the supporting bearer 3 to the side siliboard 4.

In severe accidents, motor vehicles can turn over. Vehicles with a fixed roof give relatively good protection to the passengers owing to the enclosed passenger space, whereas a convertible does not have a fixed roof. After an overturn, the only protection of the passengers against severe injury, especially in the head region, is by the A-column 1, the windscreen, the top apron and any roll-over protection systems near the head supports. It is therefore very important to ensure that the Acolumns 1, the windscreen and the top apron can bend backwards only slightly, if at all, after turning over. This purpose is served by the supporting bearers 3, which brace the top ends 2 of the A-columns 1 against the side siliboards 4. In the event of an overturn, therefore, most of the forces introduced into the top ends 2 of the A-columns 1 are diverted into the side siliboard 4, so that they can exert only slight bending forces on the A-columns 1. The supporting bearers 3 considerably increase the rigidity of the A-columns 1 and thus contribute substantially to the safety of the passengers. In addition, above the door elbow-place line T the supporting bearer 3 together with the A-column 1 and the longitudinal member 5 forms a triangle which owing to its closed structure has high rigidity. A polycarbonate window-pane is disposed in the triangle and is stuck all round its edge to the A-column 1, the longitudinal member 5 and the supporting bearer 3. A pane of this construction has high strength. Owing to the stuck joint, the pane additionally increases the strength of the vehicle body.

Under the longitudinal member 5 the A-column 1 is additionally braced against the side siliboard 4 by the column-base holder 6. This reduces the likelihood that the longitudinal member 5 will bend under the forces introduced into the A-column 1 if the convertible turns over. The column-base holder 6, the supporting bearer 3 and the longitudinal member 5 likewise form a triangle which additionally stiffens the vehicle body.

The triangle is also reinforced by the transverse member 7.

Instead of one or more such transverse bearers 7, the column base holder 6 and the supporting bearer 3 can be connected together by covering sheet portions which will likewise increase the rigidity.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A convertible vehicle body comprising a left and a right A-column, each inclined backwards, as seen in the direction of travel, in the region above the door elbow-place line and extending as far as a top apron above a windscreen, the apron connecting the two upper ends of the A-columns together in the transverse direction of the vehicle, in which on each side a supporting bearer extends from the junctions between the top apron and the A-columns at an acute angle (a) to the respective A-column behind it and downwards as far as a side siliboard of the vehicle body.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1, in which in the region of the door elbow-place line the A-columns each end in a longitudinal bearer extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle downwards as far as the respective Supporting bearer.

3. A vehicle body according to claim 2, in which on each side a column base holder extends from the junctions between the A-columns and the longitudinal bearers as far as the side siliboards.

4. A vehicle body according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which a window-pane is disposed in the triangle between the A-column, the supporting bearer and the longitudinal bearer.

5. A vehicle body according to claim 4, in which that the pane is of plastics material.

6. A vehicle body according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the pane increases the strength of the vehicle body.

7. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 3 to 6, in which that the supporting bearer and the column base holder are connected to one another by at least one covering part or at least one transverse bearer underneath the door elbow-place line.

8. A vehicle body substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompany drawing.