DE102008050313A1 - Carrier component, particularly cross beam component, for motor vehicle, has carrier module and add-on module that is connected with carrier module, which is developed as hollow profile - Google Patents

Abstract

The carrier component, particularly cross beam component, has a carrier module (2) and an add-on module (4) that is connected with the carrier module, which is developed as hollow profile in a sections wise manner. A wall area of one of the module is connected with the other module within an overlap area (6) by an interior high pressure process.

Description

The The invention relates to a modular carrier component after Preamble of claim 1.

In Automotive vehicles have carrier components often attachments on, during assembly to the carrier component must be attached. The one available for this However, standing space is very limited, which is why a joining of carrier components production technically very complex is. In addition, appropriate joints need additional flange surfaces. For this reason, need multi-part carrier components with holders extra space.

In the DE 10 2005 043 504 A1 a support member in the form of a cross member for a motor vehicle is described, which is composed of at least three different modular parts. These modular parts are inserted into each other, followed by a subsequent welding. However, there is the problem that such carriers have to be complex and have high tolerances.

The The object of the invention is a modular carrier component provide, the modules space-saving interconnected can be and which thereby a high flexibility with respect to different model variants.

The Solution to the problem consists in a modular carrier component a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with appropriate and non-trivial further education The invention are in the remaining claims specified.

The Modular carrier component according to the invention of a motor vehicle has at least two modules. One of these Module is a carrier module and at least one more Module is an add-on module, which is connected to the carrier module connected is. Here are both the carrier module as also the add-on module at least partially configured as a hollow profile. You are doing the connection in an overlap area nested, so that in this overlap area an internal module and an external module consist. Further, in this overlapping area is a wall area one of the two modules by a hydroforming process frictionally connected to the other module.

The advantage of this modular carrier component is that individual carrier modules, depending on the requirements with appropriate add-on modules, such as holders or struts can be plugged together and can be joined by a relatively inexpensive and rapid hydroforming process (IHU process) in a tool. Such a frictional connection is very space-saving to produce, as in contrast to the prior art, for example, according to the DE 10 2005 043 504 A1 no joints for welded joints or the like. Must be provided. In the case of different series, which have different carrier components due to their geometry and dimensioning, similarly shaped attachments or add-on modules can be used. This increases the number of identical parts, which in turn lowers the production costs of a vehicle.

The The present invention also has the advantage that on the one hand one-piece Attachments can be used, which due to the If you do not want to do any joining work, make it smaller and more stable. On the other hand, the modularization makes an adaptation of the carrier component to respective local mechanical loads and installation spaces allows by carrying modules in the form of pipe sections used with different wall thicknesses and / or materials which may also be additional contributes to the lightweight construction, because of mechanically little loaded Reduce the wall thickness or use a lighter material can be. Furthermore, almost any Gradients of the carrier component are shown, in which the individual carrier modules or pipe sections as needed can be bent so that very complex carrier forms can be produced. Here, the transformation of the Carrier module, if necessary, also in anyway required Hydroforming for producing the frictional Connection between the two modules done.

In order to in addition to a non-positive and a form-fitting Connection is achieved, it has in a further embodiment the invention shown to be advantageous when the wall portion of the a module by the hydroforming process form-fitting is formed in at least one recess of the other module. This allows a particularly stable connection achieve the two modules together.

The Plug connection in the overlapping area between the at least two modules is preferably formed fluid-tight before the hydroforming process, so no additional action is taken have to be started before with the hydroforming process becomes. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that the Plug connection between the two modules also has an easy game.

In a further embodiment of the inventions The outer module in the overlap area has an inner peripheral groove. In this groove, the inner module, which is inserted into the outer module, axially pressed.

The Insertion of the inner module increased in a circumferential groove On the one hand the tightness in the hydroforming process, on the other hand, the Strength of the connection positively influenced.

The Leakage in the hydroforming process is further increased if on a groove bottom a circumferential sealing ring is inserted.

Especially advantageous is the embodiment of the carrier module then if the inside of the overlap area module that Carrier module is and this in a hollow profile section of the add-on module is inserted.

The Carrier module and the attachment module can through this Construction of different materials. Under different Materials are also different alloys of a metal Understood. For example, the attachment module may be a tunnel strut which consists of an aluminum die-casting alloy during the carrier module consists of an aluminum alloy, which is especially suitable for extrusion. Especially is the carrier module designed as extruded profile.

In Another preferred embodiment is the carrier component a front cross member of a passenger car or a cockpit carrier.

Further Advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings; these show in:

1 a front view of a designed as a cockpit cross member support member for a passenger car with two carrier modules and an arranged between the support modules add-on module, which are each at least partially configured as hollow sections and in an overlap region form-fitting plugged into each other;

2 two perspective views of the an add-on module in the form of a tunnel strut according to 1 which has respective recesses in the region of the respective hollow profile into which a corresponding wall region of the assigned carrier module can be formed or formed in a subsequent internal high-pressure process;

3 an enlarged view of the overlap region between the hollow profiles of the two carrier modules and a hollow profile section of the add-on module before the internal high-pressure process;

4 an enlarged view of the overlap region between the hollow profiles of the two carrier modules and a hollow profile section of the add-on module after the hydroforming process; and in

5 a front view of the formed as a cockpit cross member support member for a passenger car analogous to 1 with the two support modules and arranged between the support modules add-on module, which are at least partially configured as hollow sections and positively inserted into each other in an overlap region, wherein in the respective overlap region, a wall portion of the corresponding support module are formed by the hydroforming process in the respective recesses of the add-on module.

In 1 is shown as two carrier modules 2 for forming a carrier component 16 (see. 5 ) in a hollow profile section 22 an add-on module 4 be plugged in. The trained as a cross member support member 16 is modularized in the manner of a modular system. This insertion is indicated by the two arrows in 1 illustrated. In the add-on module 4 this is an example of a tunnel strut of a passenger car, which is manufactured in an aluminum die-casting process and extends down to a center tunnel down. This connector may possibly be subject to a game or the hollow sections of the modules 2 . 4 are formed so that there is a positive connection in cross-section connector. As will be explained in more detail below, the modules are 2 . 4 optionally also to be pressed together. Basically, the connection described below can also be displayed with other attachments, such as a handlebar console. Therefore, in the further for in the 1 to 5 described tunnel struts the general term attachment module 4 used.

In its upper section has the attachment module 4 the already mentioned hollow profile section 22 on. This hollow profile section 22 is equivalent to two holes or sleeves in which the carrier modules 2 , which are designed in the form of extruded profiles, are inserted.

This again is an exemplary representation. In principle, it is of course possible, but not explicitly shown, a Holprofilabschnitt the add-on module 4 in accordance with broadly designed carrier modules 2 insert. The carrier modules 2 are preferably formed as extruded profiles and thus also as Holprofile.

In 2 is the add-on module 4 shown in the form of the tunnel brace from two different perspectives, with reinforcing ribs 26 serve to reinforce the tunnel brace. Furthermore, a further connection point to another component is provided in the lower area. There is also space for tolerance compensation elements. In the hollow profile section 22 are openings 20 provided for connecting the carrier modules 2 serve and will be discussed in more detail below.

The 3 and 4 show an enlarged section of the hollow profile section 22 of the add-on module 4 with inserted carrier modules 2 , before an hydroforming process ( 3 ) and after the hydroforming process ( 4 ). In this case, the hollow profile section 22 in this embodiment, an overlap area 6 in which the carrier modules 2 and the add-on module 4 overlap each other.

During the hydroforming process, the respective wall area becomes 10 the carrier modules 2 widened, taking it between the add-on module 4 and the carrier modules 2 comes to a very high friction or adhesion. The add-on module 4 forms a kind of sleeve for the carrier modules 2 so that it comes into direct contact with the pressurized fluid. Because the carrier modules 2 overlap area 6 is expanded, the material of the add-on module 4 be designed so that it can withstand the high pressure. In addition, make sure that the add-on module 4 is inserted with little play in the forming tool, so that the Aufweitmaß is not too large.

In 3 is shown as the carrier module 2 end in a circumferential groove 8th , which in the inner region of the hollow profile section 22 of the add-on module 4 is arranged, is inserted. The circumferential groove 8th tapers to a groove bottom 18 towards the end of the carrier module 2 is positively clamped. This is advantageous so that during the hydroforming process, a forming medium can not penetrate from a cavity which is formed by the assembled hollow profiles. The tightness is here optionally by a sealing ring 14 in the groove bottom 18 still increased.

In other words, the carrier module 2 for fluid-tight sealing already in the overlapping area 6 be pressed. Preferably, alternatively, the attachment module 4 inside a radially inwardly leaping annular collar, in both sides of the grooves 8th run. The carrier modules 2 can play with it in the attachment module 4 introduced and into the grooves 8th be plugged in. Through the connector fluid tightness is achieved. This can be increased even further, in which in the groove bottom or groove bottom 18 the seal designed as a ring seal 14 is introduced.

It should be noted that such a circumferential groove 8th particularly well represented by a casting process, in particular by a die casting process. This is especially the case because the carrier modules 2 and the corresponding hollow profile section 22 of the add-on module 4 often do not have a circular cross-section.

It is in 4 further to recognize that between an outer wall 10 the carrier modules 2 and an inner wall 30 of the hollow profile section 22 of the add-on module 4 a recess 12 into which the carrier module through the hydroforming process 2 according to 4 is formed.

For easier insertion of the carrier modules 2 can the attachment module 4 on both sides at the ends and / or the flanks of the annular collars or grooves 8th Introduce chamfers. Furthermore, the openings 20 in the hollow profile section 22 the recesses 12 form, in the other areas of the carrier modules 2 molded or extended. As a result, in particular, the axial strength of the carrier component 16 increase.

In 5 is a complete carrier component 16 represented in the form of a cross member or cockpit cross member, in principle by the described carrier modules 2 and the associated with this by hydroforming attachment 4 is formed. Furthermore, further, not explicitly described attachments 24 on the carrier component 16 appropriate. These attachments 24 are also - like the add-on module 4 - with the carrier modules 2 connected.

The carrier component thus formed 16 can be encapsulated in a further process with a plastic, which the maintenance of the add-on module 4 on the carrier modules 2 even further increases. In this case, it is also possible to add other attachments 24 or represent further functional contours in procedural economic manner in plastic and with the same to inject.

It is also conceivable, on the carrier modules 2 To form surveys on the circumference, which then when inserting the carrier modules 2 into the add-on module 4 in the recess 12 or openings 20 engage.

It should be noted that the structure of the described carrier component 16 On the one hand, it makes it possible to combine different materials. There By in turn it becomes possible for the individual modules (carrier modules 2 , Add-on modules 4 ) to choose the most advantageous manufacturing process. This is z. B. for the tunnel strut, which has a complex shape, the die-casting process. For the carrier modules 2 is a more favorable extrusion process suitable.

In addition, it is through the described cross member 16 possible, various add-on modules 4 how to use the tunnel brace as common parts for different series.

It may also be a weight optimization of the carrier component 16 be achieved. This can be done on the one hand by the material selection already described. On the other hand, the material thickness at any point of the support member 16 adapted to the corresponding loads.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 102005043504 A1 [0003, 0007]

Claims (13)

Carrier component, in particular cross member component, for a motor vehicle with at least one carrier module ( 2 ) and at least one with the carrier module ( 2 ) connected add-on module ( 4 ), which at least partially configured as hollow profiles and in an overlapping area ( 6 ) are inserted into one another, characterized in that in the overlapping area ( 6 ) a wall area ( 10 ) of the one module ( 2 ) by a hydroforming process frictionally with the other module ( 4 ) connected is. Support member according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall portion ( 10 ) of the one module ( 2 ) by the hydroforming process positively in at least one recess ( 12 ) of the other module ( 4 ) is formed. Carrier component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug connection in the overlapping region ( 6 ) between the at least two modules ( 2 . 4 ) is formed fluid-tight before the hydroforming process. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the overlapping region ( 6 ) external module ( 4 ) an inner circumferential groove ( 8th ) into which the inserted module ( 2 ) is pressed axially. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on a groove bottom ( 18 ) a sealing ring ( 14 ) is provided. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier module ( 2 ) in the overlapping area ( 6 ) internal module ( 2 ) and in a hollow profile section ( 22 ) of the add-on module ( 4 ) is inserted. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier module ( 2 ) and the add-on module ( 4 ) consist of different materials. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the add-on module ( 4 ) is a tunnel strut or a handlebar console. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the add-on module ( 4 ) is a die-cast component made of an aluminum or magnesium alloy. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one carrier module ( 2 ) is an extruded profile. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two carrier modules ( 2 ) are provided, which in the hollow profile section ( 22 ) of the carrier module ( 2 ) are inserted from opposite sides. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier component ( 16 ) is a front cross member or cockpit carrier. Carrier component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier component ( 16 ) is at least partially encapsulated in plastic.