Structural System For An Automotive Vehicle
A structural reinforcement system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, a structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction spaced above a vehicle floor. A further aspect of the present invention provides a cross-vehicle reinforcement beam inside another structural member. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement system in a convertible roof vehicle.
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This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/979,873, filed Nov. 2, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/822,901, filed on Apr. 13, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/499,669, filed on Sep. 3, 2003. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to automotive vehicle structure and more particularly to a cross-vehicle structural reinforcement for an automotive vehicle.
Cross-vehicle body stiffness within automotive vehicles is important in reducing torsional twist and vibration of the body, but also improves the ride and handling of the vehicle. This issue is especially important for convertible vehicles where the removal of the traditional fixed roof structure further decreases vehicle stiffness to the point where four door convertible roof vehicles have been essentially impractical to achieve with conventional body structure. Furthermore, U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (“FMVSS”) 214 relates to side impact collision protection for vehicles. This governmental standard employs a moving barrier, equivalent to a truck bumper, which impacts the vehicle generally at and below a belt-line of the front door and B-pillar. FMVSS 214 puts an added premium on cross-vehicle stiffness.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,694,546 entitled “Motor Car,” which issued to Lancia on Dec. 11, 1928, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,322 entitled “Body Structure for a Rear Carriage of a Convertible,” which issued to Wolf et al. on Aug. 4, 1998, have both attempted to provide some cross-vehicle structure. It is noteworthy, however, that both constructions are attached to a fixed seat back and/or passenger compartment panel. Furthermore, the Lancia construction appears to lack any cross-vehicle structural support that would significantly resist side impacts or torsion, especially for a modern unibody construction vehicle.
In accordance with the present invention, a structural reinforcement system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, a structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction spaced above a vehicle floor. A further aspect of the present invention provides a cross-vehicle reinforcement beam inside another structural member. A variety of structural beam-to-pillar mounting arrangements are also provided in additional aspects of the present invention. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement system in a convertible roof vehicle.
The present invention is advantageous over conventional constructions, in that the present invention significantly improves cross-vehicle resistance to side impact collisions and provides torsional stiffness sufficient for use with a large four door vehicle, such as one having a convertible roof. Spacing the structural beam away from the floor reduces “match boxing” of the vehicle body as compared to traditional, floor mounted reinforcements. Moreover, the beam-to-pillar mounting structures of the present invention significantly enhance side impact resistance as compared to prior constructions. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be shown and described with reference to the following description and appended figures.
An automotive vehicle according to the present invention has a body, a convertible roof and a structural reinforcement system 19. In an alternate embodiment of vehicle 21, shown in
Referring to
Returning to the alternate embodiment of
Reference should be made to
A sixth alternate embodiment system 19 is shown in
Referring to
A first preferred embodiment of the structural system of the present invention is shown in
Referring now to
A generally vertical, steel reinforcing tube 391 is welded to each center pillar 361, within hollow 377, and is attached to a generally fore-and-aft elongated and horizontal reinforcing steel tube 393 which is welded to rocker panel 337 in hollow 387. A reinforcement cross beam 401 is welded to a middle segment of vertical reinforcement tube 391 and is elongated in a generally straight, cross-vehicle and horizontal orientation projecting inwardly between the B-pillars 361. Cross beam 401 is a structural steel tube. An upper diagonal reinforcement tube 403 upwardly and outwardly extends from cross beam 401 and is welded onto an upper segment of vertical reinforcement tube 391, which is considered herein to be part of the B-pillar. A lower diagonal reinforcement tube 405 downwardly and outwardly extends from cross beam 401 and is welded to a lower segment of vertical reinforcement tube 391 and/or rocker reinforcement tube 393. Both B-pillar reinforcement systems are similarly constructed in mirrored symmetry to each other and are connected by the continuous cross beam 401.
A structural outer member 411 is best observed in
A second preferred embodiment structural system of the present invention is illustrated in
A twelfth alternate embodiment has a first sub-variation shown in
A thirteenth alternate embodiment is depicted in
A fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention structural system is illustrated in
Referring to
As shown in
Moreover,
While various aspects of the structural reinforcement system have been disclosed, it should be appreciated that variations may be made which fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, additional accessories can be attached to any of the structural reinforcement beams disclosed herein such as folding tables, lamps, telephones, computers and the like. Furthermore, the beams can alternately be manufactured from composite materials such as glass-filled polymers, metal inserts molded within polymers, and the like. The cross-vehicle beams and reinforcements can also be employed behind rear seats, in front of instrument panels or between other vehicle pillars although various advantageous of the present invention may not be fully achieved. Structural system 19 is preferably employed in a convertible vehicle having four, side passenger doors 213 but may also be used in a stretch limousine having four or more passenger doors and a stationary roof. Bullet-proof armor is optionally mounted along a cross-car plane parallel and internal to trim panels 105. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that alternate beam shapes can be employed. It is intended by the following claims to cover these and any other departures from the disclosed embodiments that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural pillar elongated in a substantially vertical direction behind a front door opening; and
- a structural beam and a structural member surrounding a majority of the structural beam, the structural beam and member being elongated in a substantially horizontal direction and being substantially parallel to each other;
- the structural beam and member being coupled to the pillar.
2. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a first passenger seating area, the front door opening located laterally adjacent the first seating area;
- a second passenger seating area located rearwardly of the first seating area; and
- a second door opening located laterally adjacent the second seating area, the second door opening being located on the same side as and rearwardly of the first door opening;
- the structural beam and member being located substantially between the first and second seating areas.
3. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a convertible roof movable to a raised position, covering the front and rear seating areas, to a retracted position.
4. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first diagonal beam downwardly extending from and coupling a lower side of the structural beam to the pillar.
5. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a second diagonal beam upwardly extending from and coupling an upper side of the structural beam to the pillar.
6. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structural beam is substantially straight between outboard portions of the vehicle.
7. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising aesthetically pleasing interior trim substantially hiding and substantially surrounding a majority of the structural beam and the structural member.
8. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structural beam and structural member are elongated in a cross-vehicle direction.
9. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a corrugated gusset diagonally extending from the structural member.
10. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a majority of the structural beam is spaced away from the structural member.
11. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- at least three additional passenger door openings; and
- the pillar is one of a pair of center pillars upwardly projecting between adjacent pairs of the door openings, at least one of the structural beam and the structural member being rigidly coupled to the pillars;
- wherein the structural beam and the structural member assist the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test 214.
12. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- at least two front seats located in the front seating area, the front seats being independently movable and not restrained by the structural beam and the structural member;
- a central floor tunnel;
- the structural beam and structural member being located at or below a vehicular beltline, and above a vehicular floor, the structural beam and structural member being coupled to the floor tunnel.
13. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structural beam is hydroformed metal of substantially circular cross-sectional shape.
14. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural, primary beam being elongated in a cross-vehicle direction;
- a structural, diagonal beam upwardly extending from the primary beam and inclining away from a vehicular, fore-and-aft elongated centerline.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a substantially vertical body pillar, the diagonal beam being coupled to the pillar.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a substantially vertically extending and structural pillar reinforcement located inside of and affixed to the pillar, the diagonal beam and the primary beam being affixed to the pillar reinforcement.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the pillar is a B-pillar located between front and rear passenger door openings.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a vehicle rocker panel and a second, structural diagonal beam downwardly extending from the primary beam and being coupled adjacent the rocker panel.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a raised vehicle floor tunnel, the primary beam being straight between its ends and attaching to the floor tunnel.
20. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising at least one roll bar coupled to at least one of the beams.
21. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an electronic device coupled to at least one of the beams.
22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the beams are tubular metal.
23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the primary beam includes a rigid wall with a substantially closed cross-section filled with foam.
24. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a vehicle floor, wherein at least a majority of the primary beam is spaced above the floor.
25. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
- a convertible roof movable from an open position behind the primary beam to a closed position above the primary beam; and
- a front seating area and a rear seating area, the primary beam being located substantially between the seating areas.
26. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural member extending in a substantially cross-vehicle direction; and
- a structural gusset extending from an outboard portion of the structural member, the gusset having a corrugated configuration.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a diagonal member upwardly and outwardly extending from the beam toward the same outboard end portion of the beam as the gusset, the diagonal member being structural, the beam being spaced above a vehicle floor.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the diagonal member is a gusset cover plate with a substantially flat middle section.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the diagonal member is an elongated and hollow tube.
30. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:
- a front door opening;
- a rear door opening; and
- a structural pillar disposed between the front and rear door openings;
- wherein the member assists the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test 214; and
- wherein at least one of the member and the gusset are coupled to the pillar.
31. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a convertible roof movable from a raised position to a retracted position substantially below a plane defined by a vehicular beltline, the structural member and gusset being located in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the structural member is a tubular beam.
33. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the gusset has a substantially triangular rear view shape and upwardly extends from the structural member.
34. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a first structural beam being elongated in a substantially cross-vehicle direction;
- a second structural beam being elongated in a substantially cross-vehicle direction, the first and second beams being coaxially aligned with each other; and
- a coupler receiving adjacent in-board end portions of the first and second beams and maintaining the end portions in structural alignment with each other, the coupler allowing some cross-vehicle movement of the first beam relative to the second beam but causing the end portion of the first beam to abut into the end portion of the second beam during a side impact condition.
35. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 34 further comprising substantially vertically extending, structural pillars being coupled to out-board end portions of the respective beams.
36. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 35 further comprising:
- front door openings; and
- rear door openings;
- each of the pillars being disposed between their respective front and rear door openings;
- wherein the beams assist the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test 214.
37. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 34 further comprising at least two front seats substantially located forward of the beams and at least two rear seats being located rearward of the beams, the seats being independently movable and not restrained by the beams.
38. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 34 wherein the coupler is attached to a central and structural floor tunnel.
39. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a diagonal beam upwardly extending from the first beam adjacent an outboard end portion of the first beam, the first and second beams being spaced above a vehicle floor.
40. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:
- a structural beam;
- a structural floor;
- a structural pillar upwardly extending adjacent an outboard portion of the floor; and
- a structural tunnel extending in a substantially fore-and-aft elongated direction, the tunnel being centrally joined to the floor; and
- a reinforcement attached to the tunnel;
- the structural beam extending through at least one of: the reinforcement and the tunnel, in a substantially cross-vehicle direction and having an outboard end portion of the beam coupled to the pillar.
41. The automotive vehicle of claim 40 wherein the beam is spaced above the floor to allow foot room between the beam and the floor.
42. The automotive vehicle of claim 40 further comprising:
- a front door opening; and
- a rear door opening;
- the pillar being disposed between the front and rear door openings;
- wherein the beam assists the vehicle in satisfactorily passing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard side impact test 214.
43. The automotive vehicle of claim 40 further comprising at least two front seats located forward of the beam and at least two rear seats located rearward of the beam, the seats being independently movable and not restrained by the beam, and a structural outer member being elongated in a cross-vehicle direction and surrounding a section of the beam.
44. The automotive vehicle of claim 40 further comprising a convertible roof movable from a raised position to a retracted position substantially below a plane defined by a vehicular beltline.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 3, 2008
Applicant: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corporation (Los Angeles, CA)
Inventors: Mostafa Rashidy (West Bloomfield, MI), George Wolenter (Dearborn Heights, MI), Robert G. Storc (Rochester Hills, MI), James E. Robertson (Rochester, MI)
Application Number: 12/045,937
International Classification: B62D 25/04 (20060101); B60J 7/00 (20060101);