Reinforcement structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9884652-B2
Application number	US-201615131467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2016
Priority date	Apr 24, 2015
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reinforcement structure for a vehicle. The reinforcement structure has a main extension direction and comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises, or consists of, a more ductile material than the second portion. The first portion and the second portion are joined to each other in an overlap zone extending along the main extension direction, such that the first portion and the second portion extend parallel to each other along the main extension direction in the overlap zone. The present disclosure also concerns a vehicle comprising at least one such reinforcement structure. The disclosure further relates to a method for manufacturing a reinforcement structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reinforcement structure for a vehicle, the reinforcement structure having a main extension direction and comprising:
a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a more ductile material than the second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined to each other in an overlap zone extending along the main extension direction, such that the first portion and the second portion extend parallel to each other along the main extension direction in the overlap zone;
wherein, when the reinforcement structure is mounted in the vehicle, the first portion is configured to form an upper portion of the reinforcement structure, the second portion is configured to form a lower portion of the reinforcement structure, the first portion extends rearwardly of the second portion, the first portion extends away from the overlap zone and upwards, the second portion extends away from the overlap zone and downwards, and the first and second portions do not overlap outside of the overlap zone.

2. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the overlap zone has an extension along the main extension direction in the range of 100-800 mm.

3. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the overlap zone has an extension along the main extension direction in the range of 200-600 mm.

4. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the overlap zone has an extension along the main extension direction in the range of 300-500 mm.

5. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the second portion comprises a stronger material than the first portion.

6. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the first portion and the second portion extend at least partly side by side as seen in a width direction in the overlap zone.

7. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein a wall portion of the first portion is joined to the second portion in the overlap zone.

8. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined to each other by means of welding.

9. A vehicle pillar structure comprising the reinforcement structure according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle pillar structure is an A-pillar structure.

10. The vehicle pillar structure according to claim 9 wherein the reinforcement structure forms an inner reinforcement structure of the vehicle pillar structure.

11. The vehicle pillar structure according to claim 10 wherein the first portion comprises a flange portion forming an upper flange of the inner reinforcement structure.

12. The vehicle pillar structure according to claim 11 wherein the second portion is adapted to continue downwards via a bend to join with an outer reinforcement structure.

13. A vehicle comprising:
a reinforcement structure positioned at a lateral side of the vehicle and having a main extension direction, the reinforcement structure including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a more ductile material than the second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined to each other in an overlap zone extending along the main extension direction, such that the first portion and the second portion extend parallel to each other along the main extension direction in the overlap zone;
wherein the first portion is configured to form an upper portion of the reinforcement structure, the second portion is configured to form a lower portion of the reinforcement structure, the first portion extends rearwardly of the second portion, the first portion extends away from the overlap zone and upwards, the second portion extends away from the overlap zone and downwards, and the first and second portions do not overlap outside of the overlap zone.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the first portion and the second portion extend side by side as seen in the width direction in the overlap zone, the first portion being located facing an interior of the vehicle and the second portion facing outwards.

15. A method of manufacturing a reinforcement structure for a vehicle, the reinforcement structure having a main extension direction and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising:
joining a first portion and a second portion to each other in an overlap zone extending along the main extension direction, such that the first portion and the second portion extend parallel to each other along the main extension direction in the overlap zone, wherein the first portion comprises a more ductile material than the second portion, and wherein, when the reinforcement structure is mounted in the vehicle, the first portion is configured to form an upper portion of the reinforcement structure, the second portion is configured to form a lower portion of the reinforcement structure, the first portion extends rearwardly of the second portion, the first portion extends away from the overlap zone and upwards, the second portion extends away from the overlap zone and downwards, and the first and second portions do not overlap outside of the overlap zone.

16. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the second portion has a greater height, in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction, than the first portion adjacent the overlap zone.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined to each other by welding.

18. The reinforcement structure according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcement structure is configured to be positioned at a lateral side of the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the reinforcement structure is configured to be positioned at a lateral side of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Elfwing Jens

Classifications

• B62D65/00

  Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62D25/02

  Side panels {(B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023)} · CPC title

• B62D21/157

  for side impacts · CPC title

• B62D25/04 Primary

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D25/06

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title