Vehicle component for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11167705-B2
Application number	US-201916693628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle component for a vehicle has a component body which is formed from a core material. The component body has a localized deformation zone which extends flat in the core material, and the deformation zone has a locally variable tensile strength according to a predetermined tensile strength profile configured to influence a deformation profile of the component body upon a force acting on the component body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle component for a vehicle, comprising:
a component body formed from a core material, wherein the component body has a localized deformation zone arranged flat in the core material, wherein the localized deformation zone has a locally variable tensile strength according to a tensile strength profile configured to influence a deformation profile of the component body upon a force acting on the component body,
wherein the component body has a body surface and a sheet thickness corresponding to a material thickness of the component body in a direction of a surface normal axis of the body surface, and wherein the localized deformation zone completely penetrates the component body with respect to the sheet thickness and has an edge portion following a circumference of the localized deformation zone on the body surface, and wherein a tensile strength of the localized deformation zone in the edge region equalizes to a tensile strength of a material of the component body surrounding the localized deformation zone to form a homogeneous tensile strength transition.

2. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein at least two tensile strength plateaus are formed within the localized deformation zone, wherein the at least two tensile strength plateaus have different tensile strengths with respect to each other and with respect to the core material.

3. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein the component body extends along a longitudinal direction, and wherein the localized deformation zone is configured to, in the event of an impact, obtain a deformation course of the component body in a longitudinal direction.

4. The vehicle component of claim 1 , wherein the localized deformation zone has a tensile strength gradient field corresponding to a change in tensile strength along the body surface in the localized deformation zone according to a predetermined tensile strength topography, and wherein the tensile strength gradient field comprises a plurality of localized maxima.

5. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein the component body has a first end edge and the localized deformation zone is at least partially arranged on the first end edge, and wherein the localized deformation zone at the first end edge has at least a local tensile strength minimum, and wherein the tensile strength of the localized deformation zone increases with an increasing distance from the first end edge.

6. The vehicle component according to claim 5 , wherein the component body has a second end edge arranged at an angle to the first end edge, and wherein the localized deformation zone is arranged at least partially at the second end edge.

7. The vehicle component according to claim wherein the tensile strength of the localized deformation zone decreases continuously in a direction of a center of the localized deformation zone.

8. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of deformation zones distributed locally and spaced apart from each other in the component body, wherein at least one of the plurality of deformation zones has a locally variable tensile strength according to a predetermined tensile strength profile.

9. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , further comprising a coupling element arranged on the component body and outside of the localized deformation zone.

10. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein the component body has a force receiving region, and wherein the localized deformation zone is positioned downstream of the force receiving region, and wherein the tensile strength of the localized deformation zone is increased as a distance from the force receiving region is increased.

11. The vehicle component according to claim 10 , wherein the localized deformation zone has a plurality of local tensile strength maxima, and wherein an amount of the plurality of local tensile strength maxima increases within the localized deformation zone with an increasing distance from the force receiving region.

12. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein the localized deformation zone has a plurality of local tensile strength maxima along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein an amount of the plurality of local tensile strength maxima increases within the localized deformation zone from a respective vehicle end to a vehicle center, such that, during an impact of the vehicle, a series of local tensile strength maxima is formed with increasing tensile strength in a direction of an acting force at a vehicle front or a vehicle rear.

13. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component is arranged along a vertical axis in the vehicle and the localized deformation zone has a plurality of local tensile strength maxima in a direction that is transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and wherein an amount of the plurality of local tensile strength maxima increases within the localized deformation zone with respect to a vehicle height.

14. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein the component body is formed in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the localized deformation zone has a cross-sectional length in the longitudinal direction, wherein the cross-sectional length corresponds to at least 0.2 times a component body length in the longitudinal direction.

15. The vehicle component according to claim 1 , wherein an area of the localized deformation zone on the body surface corresponds to at least 0.05 to 0.4 times an area of the body surface.

16. A vehicle component for a vehicle, comprising:
a component body formed from a core material, wherein the component bod has a localized deformation zone arranged flat in the core material, wherein the localized deformation zone has a locally variable tensile strength according to a tensile strength profile configured to influence a deformation profile of the component body upon a force acting on the component body,
wherein the localized deformation zone has a first tensile strength profile and a second tensile strength profile, wherein each of the first tensile strength profile and the second tensile strength profile extends along a straight surface cross section comprising a center of the localized deformation zone, and wherein each of the first tensile strength profile and the second tensile strength profile corresponds to a change in tensile strength from a respective edge point of the localized deformation zone to the center of the localized deformation zone, and wherein the first tensile strength profile has a smaller maximum tensile strength change rate than the second tensile strength profile.

Assignees

• Benteler Automobiltechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Frost Georg
• Lohberg Mathias

Classifications

• B62D21/152

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60R2019/1826

  of high-tension steel · CPC title

• B62D25/04

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D25/00 Primary

  Superstructure {or monocoque structure} sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for {(having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; running-boards, steps, or the like as superstructure sub-unit B60R3/00)} · CPC title

• B60R19/18

  {characterised by the cross-section;} Means within the bumper to absorb impact · CPC title