Upright Pillar for a Vehicle Body Structure

The present invention relates to an upright pillar for a vehicle body structure, preferably made of a light metal, that has a side member, the pillar being coupled to the side member disposed underneath the pillar, the pillar having, in a cross-sectional view, the shape of a box-shaped hollow-profile.

European Patent Document EP-PS 0 146 716 discloses a body structure made of light metal which has an upright pillar arranged between a side member and a lateral part of the roof frame, the pillar being made of sheet metal.

An object of the present invention is to provide an upright pillar for a body structure such that, while it can be manufactured at reasonable cost, is easily adaptable to the stylistically given shape of the door joint, and that, in addition, adjacent body parts can easily be connected to the pillar.

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which provides an upright pillar for a vehicle body structure that has a side member, the pillar being coupled to the side member disposed underneath the pillar, this pillar having, in a cross-sectional view, the shape of a box-shaped hollow-profile, wherein the pillar includes an extruded profile and a closing part connected with the extruded profile.

Some of the principal advantages achieved by the present invention are that, as a result of the construction of the pillar from an extruded profile and a closing part connected with it, a low-cost manufacturing of the pillar is achieved. A receiving device for an interior door seal and a fastening of an adjacent body part, such as a fender or side part, can easily be integrated into the extruded profile.

Because of the open profile shape, the extruded profile can easily be adapted to the curved shape of the door joint. By means of the clamped connection, the extruded profile and the closing part can easily be connected with one another by means of laser beam welding without the requirement of an additional chucking device during the welding.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, diagonally from the front, of a body structure of a passenger car constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged lateral view of a pillar of the passenger car placed on a side member.

FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow R of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view according to Line IV--IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a pillar constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a pillar constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a body structure 1 of a passenger car 2 which, in the lateral area, has a door opening 3 which is bounded by a side member 4 disposed underneath it, by a forward pillar 5 (A-pillar), by a rearward upright pillar 6, and by a lateral roof frame 7. The rearward pillar 6, which is also called the B-pillar, lock pillar or, in the case of 4-door vehicles, the center pillar, is placed in a butt-jointed manner on the side member 4 disposed underneath it and is fixedly connected with it. This may take place by a thermal connection (welding), by gluing or by a mechanical connection (riveting, screwing or the like).

On the top, the pillar 6 is either directly or by means of a junction element, which is not shown in detail, connected to the lateral roof frame 7. As shown in FIG. 4, in a cross-sectional view, the pillar 6 has the shape of a box-shaped hollow profile and has a profiled extruded section 8 and a closing part 9 connected with it. In a lateral view, the extruded profile 8, along its vertical course, has a curved shape which is adapted to the course of the door joint (see FIG. 5, for example).

Adjacent to a face 10 of a door body a diagonally extending section 12 is provided on the extruded profile 8 and, on its extreme end. Via a radii-shaped transition area 13, the diagonally extending section 12 is connected with a section 14 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (FIG. 4).

On the diagonally extending section 12, an undercut groove 15 is provided locally into which an inner hose-shaped sealing body 16 is inserted. The sealing body 16 interacts with an side door panel 17 in a sealing manner. The extruded profile 8 has two receiving sections 18, 19 with an approximately U-shaped profile which are arranged at a distance from one another and into which the edge sections 20, 21 of the closing part 9 engage.

The two receiving sections 18, 19 are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, one receiving section 19 being arranged on the free end of section 14, and the other section 18 being arranged adjacent to the undercut groove 15. Each receiving section 18, 19 comprises a straight outer leg 22 and a bent inner leg 23. The inner leg 23 comprises two diagonally extending areas 24, 25, the free end of leg 23 extending away from the inserted edge section 20, 21 of the closing part 9.

Each receiving section 18, 19 is constructed such that, when the closing part 9 is slid in, a clamped connection 38 is established between the closing part 9 and the receiving section 18, 19. In other words, the two legs 22, 23 rest against the closing part 9 while being laterally prestressed.

In the area of the section 14 of the extruded profile 8, which extends in the longitudinal direction, at least one outwardly directed web 26 is molded on which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle and which, in the case of a two-door vehicle, is used for the fastening of a rear side part or of a fender 27 of the body structure 1. The web 26 extends at a narrow distance from the end-side receiving section 19.

An approximately L-shaped end-side flange 28 of the fender 27 rests on one side of the web 26 or on a sheet-metal nut 29 clipped onto the web 26 and, by means of a fastening screw 30 screwed into the sheet-metal nut, is adjustably held in position. The web 26 has an opening for the guiding-through of the fastening screw 30. According to FIG. 4, another web 31 is molded to the extruded profile 8 and extends in parallel and at a distance to the web 26. The fastening of the fender 27 is covered by an exterior hose-shaped sealing body 32 which extends in the area of the door joint 33 and is disposed on a holding strip 34 which is held in position also by the fastening screw 30.

The holding strip 34 has an undercut groove 35 for the sealing body 32 and a longitudinal arm 36, the arm 36 resting against the bent-away flange 28 of the fender 27. On the web 31, an opening is arranged, which is not shown in detail, and through which a tool for the screwing-in of the fastening screw 30 can be guided. After the mounting is completed, the opening is closed by a removable stopper 37.

The closing part 9 is formed by an edged sheet metal part or by an extruded profile part. The extruded profile 8, which has an open shape, and the closing part 9, in addition to the clamped connection 38, are connected with one another by means of gluing, welding, riveting or the like. By means of the clamped connection 38, the extruded profile 8 and the closing part 9 are held in position in such a manner that, for example, a connection is possible by means of laser beam welding without any additional chucking device during the welding.

The closing part 9 has an approximately U-shaped cross-section, the two wall sections, which extend in parallel to one another, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The extruded profile 8, the closing part 9 as well as the remaining body structure 1 are made of light metal (aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, or the like) in certain preferred embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of an upright pillar 6. In this arrangement, the pillar 6 formed by an extruded profile 8 and a closing part 9 extends only from the side member 4 disposed underneath to approximately the level of a belt line 39 of the passenger car 2. An upper end 41 of the pillar 6, via a junction element 40, is connected with an upper side member 42 of the body structure 1 extending in the area of the belt line 39. By way of a plug-type connection, the junction element 40 interacts with the end 41 of the pillar 6 and an end area 43 of the upper side member 42 and, in addition, can be welded to both body parts 6, 42. In addition, the junction element 40 may be constructed such that it can be used as a bearing plate for a folding top linkage which is not shown in detail.

Corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the pillar 6 comprises a lower section 44 extending from the side member 4 to approximately the level of the belt line 39 and a section 45 extending above the belt line 39. The two sections 44, 45 are connected with one another by means of one or several junction elements 46, 47.

In the arrangement, the upper section 45 may have a smaller cross-section than the lower section 44 of the pillar 6. In addition, the upper section 45 may be formed by a closed hollow profile which is manufactured according to the extrusion method.

By means of a stamping operation, the surface 12 may be deformed locally on the contour 49 for receiving a door lock striker. As a result, the door lock striker is prevented from projecting too far into the opening area of the door.

Above and below the fender fastening, the webs 26 and 31 may be adapted to the outer contour of the vehicle by trimming. As a result, it is achieved that the hollow cross-section of the pillar can receive a maximal cross-section.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.