Side sill for a vehicle body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821854-B2
Application number	US-201514949989-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2015
Priority date	Nov 24, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle frame structure includes an elongated side sill having an internal space defined by an upper wall, a lower wall, an outer lateral side wall, and an inner lateral side wall. The internal space is partitioned by a vertical rib and a horizontal rib, the perpendicularly crossed vertical and horizontal ribs connecting inside faces of the upper, lower, outer and inner walls. The vertical rib separates the side sill into an outer lateral portion and an inner lateral portion. The outer lateral portion is defined by an outer lateral section of each of the upper and lower wall and the outer side wall. The inner lateral portion is defined by an inner lateral section of each of the upper and lower wall and the inner side wall. The outer lateral portion of the side sill is thicker than the inner lateral portion of the side sill.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle frame structure comprising:
a side sill elongated in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, the side sill having an internal space defined by an upper wall, a lower wall, an outer lateral side wall, and an inner lateral side wall, the internal space partitioned by a vertical rib and a horizontal rib, the perpendicularly crossed vertical and horizontal ribs connecting inside faces of the upper, lower, outer and inner walls, the vertical rib separating the side sill into an outer lateral portion and an inner lateral portion, the outer lateral portion defined by an outer lateral section of each of the upper and lower wall and the outer side wall, the inner lateral portion defined by an inner lateral section of each of the upper and lower walls and the inner side wall, the outer lateral portion of the side sill being thicker than the inner lateral portion of the side sill, wherein the inner lateral section of the upper wall includes a step portion, an outer vertical wall part of the step portion being located laterally inwardly of the vertical rib.

2. The frame structure of claim 1 , wherein the side sill includes an angled wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and connecting the lower wall and the outer side wall.

3. The frame structure of claim 2 , wherein the angled wall portion defines part of the outer lateral portion of the side sill.

4. The frame structure of claim 2 , wherein the angled wall portion defines a mounting location for an associated side sill garnish.

5. The frame structure of claim 1 , wherein outer lateral portion of the side sill is further defined by an outer lateral section of the horizontal rib.

6. The frame structure of claim 1 , wherein the vertical rib has a thickness approximately equal to a thickness of the inner lateral portion of the side sill.

7. The frame structure of claim 1 , wherein the vertical wall part of the step portion includes a flange for attaching an associated side panel, and a horizontal wall part of the step portion defines a mounting surface for one of an associated step garnish and carpet.

8. A vehicle frame structure comprising:
a side sill elongated in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the side sill having an internal space defined by an upper wall, a lower wall, an outer lateral side wall, and an inner lateral side wall, the internal space partitioned by a plurality of internal ribs including a vertical rib connecting inside faces of the upper and lower walls and separating the side sill into an outer lateral portion and an inner lateral portion, a horizontal rib located only in the inner lateral portion and having opposite ends connected to the vertical rib and the inner side wall, and at least one rib located only in the outer lateral portion and angled relative to the horizontal rib, the side sill further including at least one angled wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and connected to the outer side wall, the angled rib spanning between an intersection of the vertical and horizontal ribs and an intersection of the outer side wall and angled wall portion.

9. The frame structure of claim 8 , further including a second rib located only in the outer lateral portion and angled relative to the horizontal rib, the side sill further including a second angled wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and connected to the outer side wall, the second angled rib spanning between the intersection of the vertical and horizontal ribs and an intersection of the outer side wall and second angled wall portion.

10. The frame structure of claim 9 , wherein the one angled wall portion forms part of one of the lower wall and the outer side wall and the second angled wall portion forms part of the upper wall.

11. The frame structure of claim 8 , wherein the one angled wall portion defines a mounting location for an associated side sill garnish.

12. The frame structure of claim 8 , wherein the upper wall includes a step portion, an outer vertical wall part of the step portion being located laterally inwardly of the vertical rib.

13. The frame structure of claim 12 , wherein the vertical wall part of the step portion includes a flange for attaching an associated side panel, and a horizontal wall part of the step portion defines a mounting surface for one of an associated step garnish and carpet.

14. The frame structure of claim 8 , wherein the horizontal rib and the one angled rib intersect the vertical rib at a common node.

15. A vehicle frame structure comprising:
a side sill elongated in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the side sill having an internal space defined by an upper wall, a lower wall, an outer lateral side wall, and an inner lateral side wall, the internal space partitioned by a plurality of internal ribs including a vertical rib connecting inside faces of the upper and lower walls and a horizontal rib connecting the vertical rib and at least the inner side wall, the upper wall including a step portion, an outer vertical wall part of the step portion being located laterally inwardly of the vertical rib, the side sill further including at least one angled wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and connected to the outer side wall,
wherein the vertical wall part of the step portion includes a flange for attaching an associated side panel, and a horizontal wall part of the step portion defines a mounting surface for one of an associated step garnish and carpet.

16. The frame structure of claim 15 , further including a first angled rib aligned with the horizontal rib and connecting to the outer side wall to the vertical rib.

17. The frame structure of claim 16 , wherein the first angled rib spans between an intersection of the vertical and horizontal ribs and an intersection of the outer side wall and the angled wall portion.

18. The frame structure of claim 16 , wherein the side sill includes a second angled wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and connected to the outer side wall, and a second angled rib aligned with the horizontal rib and connecting to the outer side wall to the vertical rib, the second angled rib spanning between the intersection of the vertical and horizontal ribs and an intersection of the outer side wall and the second angled wall portion.

19. The frame structure of claim 15 , wherein the vertical rib separates the side sill into an outer lateral portion and an inner lateral portion, the outer lateral portion of the side sill being thicker than the inner lateral portion of the side sill.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bach Edward W

Classifications

• B62D29/008

  predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded · CPC title

• B62D21/157

  for side impacts · CPC title

• B62D25/025 Primary

  Side sills thereof · CPC title