GB507796A - Improvements in or relating to vehicle bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

507,796. Vehicle bodies. AMBIBUDD PRESSWERK GES. April 22, 1938, No. 12064. Convention date, April 24, 1937. [Class 108 (i)] In a body for automobiles, the principal longitudinal stress-resisting members of the vehicle are constituted by bowed or arched. closed, hollow-section girder members formed by the outer roof panel 10 and an inner reinforcement or reinforcements, the roof panel extending substantially from the lower rear edge of the body to about the upper edge of the windscreen opening 13 or preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, around this opening and down to the front edge 46 of the cowl or shroud. By means of intermediate parts (not shown) the front section of the construction shown in Fig. 1 is supported by a floor unit. As shown in Fig. 2 the outer panel 10 has downturned side portions 10a extending tu the upper edges of the door openings white an inner panel 17, 18, 19 in one or more parts is secured to the outer panel along its edges and at some places between its edges to provide longitudinally-extending box-like members at the sides and in the centre of the roof. In a modification the central box-like member is reinforced by a longitudinal member or members bridging the space between the panel 10 and inner panel and the side portions 10a are connected to or formed with inwardlydirected flanges replacing the parts 19 of the panel. Fig. 3 shows a-construction embodying the last feature and also having separate side members 21 and a panel 20, shaped to provide increased head-room, connected to the members 21 and to the panel 10 at two points. In a further construction, Fig. 5, the inner panel 25, 26 is connected directly only with the flanges 10b and longitudinal reinforcing members 27, 28, 29 are inserted between the inner and outer panels and above the door-openings. In a modification the panel 10 has a central opening which may accommodate a sliding roof or be covered by a separate fabric or other roof part. To transfer stresses to the roof in the neighbourhood of the windscreen, the side posts are formed of hollow section and reinforced by insertions while the rail 15 dividing the windscreen opening may be of cast or forged iron &c.