Abstract:
A structure is provided which is suitable for a passenger vehicle, containing a passenger cell with a windshield frame. For optimization of this structure with regard to advantageous manufacture and purposeful stability, panel structure and windshield frame consist of high-strength non-metallic material, e.g. fiber reinforced plastic, and are structurally joined.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application claims the priority of German Application No. 102 29 400.3, filed Jun. 29, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.  
           [0002]    A commonly owned co-pending application Ser. No. ______, filed Jun. 29, 2003 (Attorney Docket No.: 028987.52313US), based on German application of German Application No. 102 29 401.1 filed on Jun. 29, 2002, describes related subject matter and the same is incorporated herein by reference thereto to the extent that the disclosure aids in understanding the present invention.  
           [0003]    The present invention concerns the structure for a vehicle, specifically a passenger vehicle containing a passenger cell with a windshield frame, which is attached to a panel structure of the passenger cell.  
           [0004]    A prior structure described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,632 has been designed for a passenger vehicle with an open body without fixed members between a windshield frame and rear structure. The windshield frame consists of a surrounding tubular metal member covered with foam material and an enveloping surface.  
           [0005]    European Patent Document No. EP 0 286 058 A2 deals with a self-supporting structural element of composite material for a vehicle structure, that is formed by a panel piece. This panel piece has a transition piece bordered by surface layers. This structural element produces a good strength-to-weight ratio.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,000 discloses a high-strength, glass-fiber reinforced component for an aircraft wing, where the wing is provided with a panel section that contains a core e.g. honeycomb structure embedded in deck panels.  
           [0007]    It is a purpose of the invention to design a structure for a vehicle, specifically a passenger vehicle, including a passenger cell with a high-strength windshield frame that can easily be integrated in the structure.  
           [0008]    The present invention meets said purpose by providing a structure for a passenger vehicle, containing a passenger cell with a windshield frame, which is attached to a panel structure of the passenger cell. Additional advantageous invention feature details are described herein and in the claims.  
           [0009]    The invention offers major advantages in that the panel structure and the windshield frame consist of basically the same high-strength non-metallic material—fiber reinforced plastic, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Besides resulting in an identical-material design of different structural components, it also facilitates a particularly stable windshield frame. Furthermore, the choice of this material allows optimization of manufacturing processes. On the side of the panel structure, the windshield frame is provided with flanges held in position by adhesive bonding to a first and a second panel section of the panel structure, which contributes to a functional connection of said structural components.  
           [0010]    Support columns are provided inside the hollow spaces of the upright columns of the windshield frame, which, combined with the columns of the windshield frame, increase passenger safety during multiple rollovers of the passenger vehicle, in that the support columns will be effective in addition to the windshield frame columns. The metal support columns are connected with retainer plates attached thereto and supported by the panel structure. The retainer plates are bolted to said panel structure.  
           [0011]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above, of a passenger vehicle with a structure according to the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a large-scale cross sectional view along line II-II of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective angular view of a windshield frame column of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a large-scale cross section approximately along line IV-IV of FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    In the drawing FIG. 1, unnumbered structure shown to the right to the right of the reference character  12  is depicted only to show an exemplary environment of the present invention and is therefore not further described herein.  
         [0017]    Of a passenger vehicle  1  with an open body, essentially only one vehicle body structure  2  is shown, which comprises structure  3 . Structure  3  includes a passenger cell  4  with a passenger compartment  5 , housings  6  and  7 , and two diagrammatically indicated vehicle seats  8  and  9 . The passenger cell  4  consists of high-strength non-metallic material such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic composite (CFRP) and has a panel body  10  with a front panel structure  11  and a rear panel structure  12 , joined to a floor structure  13 . The floor structure  13  is bordered on the longitudinal sides  14 ,  15  by cross-sectional box-shaped frame side members  16 , 17  that extend between the panel structures  11  and  12 , and contains a center tunnel  18  that runs between the front panel structure  11  and the rear panel structure  12 ; the frame side members  16 , 17  and the center tunnel  18  extend in longitudinal vehicle direction A-A.  
         [0018]    According to FIG. 2, the front panel structure  11  and a non-metallic windshield frame  19  are structurally joined; the windshield frame  19  also consisting of high-strength fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) just like the remaining structure  3  or passenger cell  4 . The windshield frame  19  is designed as a hollow girder  19  (FIG. 2), which, on a side B facing the passenger cell  4  encloses a bearing panel  20  in a defined width Bdef for a windshield  21 . This bearing panel  20  is provided with support panels  21 ,  22 , its free ends  23 ,  24  being provided with flanges  25 ,  26 . Between bearing panel  20  and windshield  21  one or more adhesive seals are provided. The support panel  21  forms an obtuse or a right angle with the bearing panel  20 ; there is a similar angle between flange  25  and support panel  21 , and the flange  25  forms an obtuse angle           with a horizontal line  27 . With its relatively short, horizontal piece  28 , the second support panel  22  leads away from the bearing panel  20  and joins a piece  29  that extends to the bearing wall  20  in a right or obtuse angle and becomes a horizontal piece  30 . This piece continues as a perpendicular piece  31 , and transitions into the horizontal flange  26 . The flanges  25 ,  26  lead to a first panel section  32  and a second panel section  33  of the panel structure  11  and are there held in position by means of bonding  34 ,  35 . For alignment of the flange  25 , the first panel section  32  is provided with an opening  36 . Furthermore, the hollow space  37  of the hollow girder  19  may be filled with suitable material, preferably foam material, which, among other things, serves to reinforce the hollow girder  19 .  
         [0019]    The windshield frame  19  shows upright columns  39 ,  40 , so-called A-pillars, (FIG. 1), that are provided with hollow spaces  41 , 42  containing support columns  43  (FIG. 3). Each support column  43  consists of metal—high-strength steel or aluminum alloy—and is attached to the front panel structure  11 . The support column  43  is held in position on said panel structure by means of a retaining plate  44 , which retaining plate  44  has legs  45 ,  46  that extend toward each other at an angle (FIG. 4). The legs  45 ,  46  abut the corresponding panel areas  47 ,  48  of the front panel structure  11 . The retaining plate  44  is attached with bolts  49 , which align with the tap holes  50  of a metallic insert  51 . The insert  51  with angular legs  52 ,  53  is integrated in the front panel structure  11  in such manner that this insert is surrounded by border panels  54 ,  55  of the panel structure  11  which enclose a core  54  outside the insert  51 . A corresponding design can be found in EP 0 286 058 A2. Between the support column  43  and the column  39 , foamed material  56  will limit possible relative motion (FIG. 3). This foamed material extends across a relatively small section Tb of the entire length of the support column  43  and adjacent on one free end  57  of said column. Also, the support column  41  consists of three sleeved tubes  58 ,  59 ,  60 , which in this design show a circular cross section and are retained by a press fit.  
         [0020]    The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.