GB2464370A

GB2464370A - Vehicle body

Info

Publication number: GB2464370A
Application number: GB0914383A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tim Schmidt
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 2008-10-18
Filing date: 2009-08-17
Publication date: 2010-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-17
Also published as: GB0914383D0; DE102008052251A1; KR20100043134A; JP2010095251A; JP5027199B2; KR101177612B1; GB2464370B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle body 1, in particular of a passenger car, with a compartment 3 which is delimited in the longitudinal direction 4 of the vehicle by a front partition 5 and a rear partition 6. A mounting plate 11 for arranging the automotive battery is fastened on one hand to a cross member 12 arranged between the partitions and on the other hand to one of the partitions 5, 6 or to a further cross member 13, 14 in the region of one of the partitions 5, 6. The cross member 12 may be a hollow body stiffened by spacers inserted into it. Two different mounting plates may be mounted in the compartment, corresponding to left-hand drive and right-hand drive variants of the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle body The present invention relates to a vehicle body, in particular of a passenger car.

A compartment which may be delimited with respect to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle by a front partition and a rear partition may be formed in a vehicle body. Various units of the vehicle can then be housed in such a compartment, such as for example parts of a steering system, wheel suspensions, gear components and also an automotive battery. Provision of a mounting point in the compartment suitable for the installation of an automotive battery may be comparatively expensive, since conventional automotive batteries are of comparatively great weight, have to be mounted upright and furthermore have to be comparatively readily accessible in order to be able to exchange them if necessary.

An arrangement for fastening an automotive battery inside a vehicle body is known from DE 600 24 384 T2. This arrangement comprises a battery-fastening base which serves to fasten the battery and is provided on a floor in a rearward part of a vehicle body. The arrangement furthermore comprises a flat rear suspension cross member, which extends laterally across the vehicle beneath the floor. The battery-fastening base is then arranged within a region of the floor which corresponds in top view to the location of the rear suspension cross member. Thus the battery-fastening base is located on the floor in a region supported by the suspension cross member which is distinguished by increased rigidity.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of devising, for a vehicle body of the type referred to first hereinbefore, an improved embodiment which is distinguished in particular in that a stable fixing for an automotive battery in a compartment of the vehicle body can be produced at comparatively low cost, with furthermore sufficient accessibility to the automotive battery having to be ensured.

The invention seeks to solve or ameliorate a problem of the prior art by the subject of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general concept of arranging a cross member in the compartment and mounting a mounting plate thereon which is furthermore fastened to a partition defining the compartment or to a further cross member provided in the region of this partition. This mounting plate is prepared or configured for mounting an automotive battery. Due to the provision of the cross member passing through the compartment between the partitions it is possible to position the mounting plate virtually as desired with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle. This means that the position of the battery can be adapted dependent on the mounting space along the cross member available in the compartment. In particular, simple adaptation to left-hand drive variants and right-hand drive variants is possible.

Corresponding to an advantageous embodiment, the cross member can be fastened to side members which laterally define the compartment, it in particular being possible to provide for these side members each to be equipped with a fastening bracket to which the cross member is then fastened. In this way, a simple and stable support for the cross member can be brought about. At the same time, the cross member itself can be configured comparatively simply. Furthermore, the spatial position of the cross member can be specifically prescribed by the configuration of the fastening brackets.

Corresponding to a further advantageous embodiment, provision may be made to support the mounting plate directly or indirectly on the vehicle body via precisely three holding points. By using precisely three holding points, the mounting plate can be supported particularly simply without bracing and sufficiently securely and stably, which facilitates mounting.

Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawing and the associated description of the figure with reference to the drawing.

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

Preferred examples of embodiment of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in greater detail in the following description.

The sole Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle body in the region of a unit compartment.

Corresponding to Figure 1, an only partially shown vehicle body 1 comprises a compartment 3 in a rearward structure or preferably as in the example illustrated here in a forward structure 2. Said compartment is defined with respect to a longitudinal direction 4 of the vehicle indicated by a double arrow by a front partition 5 and a rear partition 6. The front partition 5, which can also be referred to as a bulkhead, in the example shown separates the compartment 3 from a boot 7. Thus in a preferred embodiment the vehicle manufactured with the aid of the body 1 is a vehicle with a rear engine.

In contrast, the rear partition 6, which can also be referred to as an end wall, separates for example the compartment 3 from a vehicle interior 8 or from a passenger cell 8. The partitions 5, 6 in this case each extend substantially in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal direction 4 of the vehicle. The compartment 3 is furthermore defined laterally, i.e. in a transverse direction 9 of the vehicle indicated by a double arrow, by side members 10 which are connected securely to the partitions 5, 6. The compartment 3 in the example is designed to be open downwards and thus, in contrast to the boot 7 and in contrast to the passenger cell 8, does not have its own floor.

The compartment 3 serves to house various units of a vehicle built with the aid of the body 1. A unit of this type is for example an automotive battery for supplying power to an onboard electrical system of the vehicle. Further units are for example components of a vehicle steering system and also components of a drive train and individual wheel suspensions. A mounting plate 11 is arranged in the compartment 3 for mounting the automotive battery. In the mounted state depicted, this mounting plate 11 extends in a horizontal plane on which the battery can be arranged. Furthermore, the battery can be fixed to the mounting plate 11. A cross member 12 which extends in the compartment 3 between the two partitions 5, 6 parallel to the transverse direction 9 of the vehicle is provided for fastening the mounting plate 11 in the compartment 3. The mounting plate 11 is now fastened on one hand to this cross member 12 and on the other hand to one of the partitions 5, 6 or to a further cross member 13 in the region of one of these partitions 5, 6. In the example shown, the mounting plate 11 is fastened to a rear -with respect to the longitudinal direction 4 of the vehicle -cross member 13, which closes off the rear partition 6 from below or forms a lower end region of the rear partition 6. Alternatively, the mounting plate 11 could also be fastened directly to the rear partition 6. Likewise, it is in principle possible to fasten the mounting plate 11 to the front partition 5 or to a front cross member 14 arranged in the region of the front partition 5, which cross member closes off the front partition 5 from below or forms a rear end region of the front partition 5. The fastening of the mounting plate 11 to the rear cross member 13 forms a first holding point 15, via which the holding plate 11 is supported on the vehicle body 1.

The cross member 12 is fastened at its lateral ends in each case to one of the side members 10, which defines a second holding point 16 and a third holding point 17, via which the holding plate 11 is supported on the vehicle body 1 via the cross member 12.

For simplified connection between the cross member 12 and the respective side member 10, in each case a fastening bracket 18 is fastened, for example welded, to the side members 10. Alternatively, the fastening bracket can be mounted. The respective fastening bracket 18 forms a defined fastening point for the respective longitudinal end of the cross member 12. In this manner, the cross member 12 can be fastened by its lateral ends particularly simply to the fastening bracket 18 and hence to the side members 10. For example, the cross member 12 can be screwed to the fastening brackets 18. Corresponding to a preferred embodiment, the cross member 12 may be configured as a hollow body. For example, in an expensive embodiment the cross member 12 can be configured as a tube body. To produce a stable attachment of the cross member 12 to the side members 10, corresponding to a preferred embodiment, in each case a spacer element (not shown here) can be inserted into the cross member 12 on the respective lateral ends of the cross member 12, which element results in stiffening of the cross member 12 in the region of the respective lateral end. In particular, the cross member 12 may have a rectangular cross-section in the region of its lateral ends into which the complementarily shaped spacer element is inserted. Between its longitudinal ends, the cross member may preferably have a round, in particular circular, cross-section. The cross member 12 is preferably tubular, i.e. in particular not flat, so that it can absorb high bending stresses transversely to its longitudinal direction. This means that it can be made with comparatively small, arid hence space-saving, dimensions. The lateral ends of the cross member 12 preferably have a through opening through which a screw connection to the respective bracket 18 can be produced. It is clear that the spacer elements used also then have such a through opening.

For attaching the mounting plate 11 to the cross member 12, two spaced-apart holders 19, to which the mounting plate 11 is then fastened, may be fastened to the cross member 12. The holders 19 in this case act as adapters to match the rounded cross-section of the cross member 12 to the flat cross-section of the mounting plate 11. In other words, the holders 19 are adapted on one hand to the preferably rounded outer contour of the cross member 12 and on the other hand form a flat surface for the mounting plate 11 to lie on.

At the same time, the holders 19 create a vertical distance between the cross member 12 and mounting plate 11 which allows the mounting plate 11 to be screwed to the holders 19. By screwing the mounting plate 11 to the holders 19, damage and hence weakening of the cross member 12 by the attachment of the mounting plate 11 to the cross member 12 can be avoided. The holders 19 thus serve to produce the second holding point 16 and the third holding point 17.

A supporting bracket 20 is fastened to the rear cross member 13, in particular by welding. The supporting bracket 20 serves to produce the first holding point 15.

Accordingly, the mounting plate 11 is fastened to this supporting bracket 20. Whereas the mounting plate 11 is fastened to the cross member 12 between the partitions 5, 6 via two corner regions 21, the attachment to the rear cross member 13 or to the supporting bracket 20 takes place only via one corner region 22. This corner region 22 is of recessed/pot-shaped configuration in the example shown, having for example generally circular opening recess therein. It can be seen that the pot-shaped fastening region 22 or corner region 22 in the plane of the mounting plate 11 is open on its upper side. It extends downwards from the mounting plate Ii and is supported on its underside on the supporting bracket 20. Expediently, the underside of the pot-shaped corner region 22 is provided with a floor, i.e. closed. By means of the pot-shaped corner region 22 it is possible in particular to compensate for a difference in height, i.e. a vertical distance between the first holding point 15 and the holders 19 on which the holding plate lilies directly with its underside.

The mounting plate ii in the embodiment shown here has on its upper side a holding crosspiece 23, which projects upwards from the plane of the mounting plate 11 and in the example extends parallel to the longitudinal direction 4 of the vehicle. The holding crosspiece 23 can be used as a lateral stop for the automotive battery. The holding plate ii can furthermore be provided with a pattern of holes 24 which can be used for fastening the automotive battery placed on the mounting plate 11. Depending on battery type, different holes of the pattern of holes 24 may in this case be used. Furthermore, the mounting plate 11 may have reinforcing ribs, preferably on its underside. The reinforcing ribs can in particular form a framework-like reinforcing frame. Furthermore, the mounting plate 11 may have a greater thickness in the region of the pattern of holes 24 or be configured like a block, in order to give the holes of the pattern of holes 24 greater stability.

The mounting plate 11 may preferably be manufactured as a cast part, in particular from aluminium.

The body 1 may form a component of a modular system, with the aid of which vehicles of different types can be manufactured. This modular system may comprise at least two different mounting plates 11. For example, a first mounting plate 11 can be used for a left-hand drive variant of the vehicle, whereas a second mounting plate 11 can be used for a right-hand drive variant of the vehicle. Instead of the mounting plate 11 shown in Figure 1, which is arranged on the right-hand side of the vehicle relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle when driving straight ahead, another mounting plate can also be used, which is then located on the left-hand side of the vehicle. For this, at least one of the holders 19 must be offset. For this, in particular the cross member 12 can be mounted turned over so that the left and right ends of the cross member are transposed. In contrast, the supporting bracket 20 can be used for both mounting plates. Likewise, further configurations are conceivable in which the mounting plate 11 is mounted spaced apart from both side members 10.

In all variants, the mounting plate 11 can be designed such that the supporting bracket 20 can be used in unchanged form. The supporting bracket 20 can be arranged centrally on the body I with respect to the transverse direction 9 of the vehicle. However, the eccentric positioning of the first holding point 15 shown here is preferred. The mounting plate 11, in the embodiment illustrated, in the transverse direction 9 of the vehicle is thus greater than 50% of the distance between the two side members 10. The cross member 12 can additionally be provided as an abutment for fastening the tank. The tank (not shown) in that case is braced from below against the cross member 12.

Claims

Claims 1 A vehicle body, in particular of a passenger car, with a compartment which is delimited in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by a front partition and a rear partition, and with a mounting plate for arranging an automotive battery in the compartment, the mounting plate being fastened on one hand to a cross member arranged between the partitions and on the other hand to one of the partitions or to a further cross member in the region of one of the partitions.
2. A vehicle body according to Claim 1, wherein the cross member is fastened at its lateral ends in each case to a side member of the vehicle body which laterally delimits the compartment.
3. A vehicle body according to Claim 2, wherein one fastening bracket in each case is fastened to the respective side member, to which bracket the cross member is fastened at its respective lateral end.
4. A vehicle body according to Claim 3, wherein the cross-member is configured as a hollow body, with the respective lateral end of the cross member being stiffened by a spacer element inserted into the cross-member.
5. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a supporting bracket to which the mounting plate is fastened to the further cross member or to the respective partition.
6. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the mounting plate is-fastened to the cross member in two corner regions.
7. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the mounting plate is fastened to the further cross member or to the respective partition in a corner region.
8. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the mounting plate in the region of its fastening to the further cross member or to the respective partition is pot-shaped, the pot-shaped fastening region extending downwards and being open on the top in the plane of the mounting plate.
9. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein two spaced-apart holders to which the mounting plate is fastened are fastened to the cross member.
10. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the mounting plate is supported directly or indirectly via precisely three holding points on the vehicle body, it being possible to make provision in particular for the holding plate to be supported directly on the body via a first holding point formed on the additional cross member or on the respective partition and indirectly on the body via a second holding point formed at one end of the cross member and via a third holding point formed at the other end of the cross member.
11. A vehicle body according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the vehicle body is a component of a modular system for manufacturing vehicles which has at least two different mounting plates, one of which is associated with a left-hand drive variant of the vehicle and the other of which is associated with a right-hand drive variant of the vehicle.
12. A vehicle body, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
13. A vehicle, comprising a vehicle body according to any preceding claim.