Abstract:
A reinforcement module is provided for a motor vehicle body. It may be brought into contact on a body part and fastened thereto. The cited body part having multiple fastening points for motor vehicle components to be mounted. In the reinforcement module, at least one fastener fastened or integrated on or partially in the reinforcement module is assigned to each fastening point of the body part for fastening the door panel module to the vehicle body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National-Stage entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 based on International Application No. PCT/EP2007/004083, filed May 9, 2007, which was published under PCT Article 21(2) and which claims priority to German Application No. 102006021883.3, filed May 11, 2006, which are all hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a reinforcement module for a motor vehicle body, which may be used, inter alia, for vertical struts of a passenger automobile, which are typically referred to as A-, B-, and C-columns. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In addition to ensuring a high level of driving comfort, securing optimum protection of the vehicle occupants is an important concern in the development of new vehicles. While a larger deformation or crumple zone is nominally available in the event of a frontal impact, the requirements for good occupant protection are more difficult to fulfill in the event of a side impact. 
         [0004]    To protect the vehicle occupants, a vehicle must pass collision and/or crash tests before being permitted in the various countries. These include, inter alia, a side impact test according to EuroNCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) using a deformable barrier for the upper vehicle body area and a side impact test according to EuroNCAP using a rigid column for the lower vehicle body area. These tests are being refined and the criteria to be fulfilled are becoming increasingly stricter. 
         [0005]    For compliance with the above collision tests, equipping the vertical struts with local reinforcements to stiffen them is known. This applies in particular for the B-column, which is especially important for ensuring good side impact protection. In manufacturing, all local reinforcements are positioned and welded to the vehicle body in consideration of the tolerances to be maintained. Furthermore, numerous subassemblies are controlled and installed. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, implementing the vertical struts more solidly either as a whole or locally for the purpose of improved side impact protection is known. 
         [0007]    It is at least one object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a reinforcement module for a vehicle body, using which improved occupant protection is achieved. In addition, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary, detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    This at least one object is achieved according to one embodiment with a reinforcement module for a motor vehicle body, which may be brought to rest on a vehicle body part and fastened thereon or therewith. The vehicle body part has multiple fastening points for motor vehicle components to be mounted. At least one fastener fastened on or at least partially in the reinforcement module is assigned to each fastening point for fastening the reinforcement module to the vehicle body part. 
         [0009]    The fastener module is used on one hand for reinforcing the body part as a whole and on the other hand for reinforcing a plurality of local fastening points. For the second function, it is equipped at each of the fastening points of the body part with a fastener, using which the motor vehicle component to be fastened and the reinforcement module may be fastened to the body part. 
         [0010]    Computer-simulated collision tests have shown that a vehicle equipped with the above reinforcement module ensures improved side impact protection according to EuroNCAP using rigid column in comparison to the case of a plurality of fastening points each only having local reinforcement. The reason for this is the stiffening effect of the reinforcement module in the side body area. In addition, for the purpose of improved side impact protection, only a single reinforcement module is to be fastened to the cited body part (e.g., only one single reinforcement module to the B-column), which decreases the production time of the vehicle and thus saves costs. In addition, with uniform side impact protection, in spite of the reinforcement module as an additional part, the weight of the vehicle body as a whole comes out to be less. The reason is that the above-mentioned material thickened areas on the body part are dispensed with and, as will be explained below, a more flexible material mix is possible in the reinforcement module using lighter materials. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, using the reinforcement module, the individual fastening points become more robust in relation to torques acting on the fastening points, by which deformations or lacquer breaks are less probable in case of strain. 
         [0012]    Embodiments are provided which have a screw, a screw nut, a through opening, a catch element, a clip, or a similar object as a fastener. If the fasteners are used to produce a screw connection, the lever arm, which is decisive for the forced work, may be set by the predefinable distance between screw head and screw nut. The fastening point thus becomes more robust in relation to acting torques in the meaning of the statements of the last paragraph. 
         [0013]    One embodiment of the reinforcement module provides a screw as the fastener, and furthermore the reinforcement module has one of its screws projecting through a hole of the body part located at a fastening point in its fastening position on the body part. During mounting, the reinforcement module is applied and its screws are guided through corresponding openings or holes of the body part. A motor vehicle component to be fastened is subsequently brought into contact and the screw connection is completed using a screw nut. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, one embodiment of the reinforcement module may be composed in such a way that a screw nut is provided as a fastener and the reinforcement module is situated in its fastening position on the body part of one of its screw nuts in such a way that a screw which may be guided through a hole of the body part located on a fastening point may be screwed into the cited screw nut. During the mounting, the screw is first guided through a hole of the motor vehicle component to be fastened, then through the body part, and finally through the reinforcement module. 
         [0015]    In an additional embodiment, the reinforcement module has a sleeve in its through opening at the fastening point. A screw may be guided through the sleeve to produce a screw connection. 
         [0016]    A further embodiment of the reinforcement module has flanges for flush application and fastening to a part of a vertical strut. The flange is used to produce a glued connection between reinforcement module and body part. Alternatively to the glued connection, a clip or catch connection may also be selected. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, a further embodiment of the reinforcement module is at least partially manufactured from plastic and/or has multiple through openings. The fastening points are thus not reinforced using heavy weldable metal parts, but rather via lighter materials such as plastics, which also include composite materials. As a function of the local requirements for side impact protection, a more optimum material mix may be selected overall in regard to its weight. The wall thickness for the body part may simultaneously be decreased, so that the vehicle weight may be reduced overall. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, a further embodiment of the invention provides for a motor vehicle having a vehicle body in which a reinforcement module as previously described is fastened to a part of the vehicle body. The body part may be a vertical strut such as the B-column, through which improved side impact protection results for the vehicle using the reinforcement part. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0020]      FIG. 1A  shows a side view of a body part; 
           [0021]      FIG. 1B  shows a top view of a body part; 
           [0022]      FIG. 1C  though  1 F shows sections through the body part of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2A  shows a side view of a reinforcement part incorporated in the body part of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2B  shows a top view of the configuration of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2C  through  FIG. 2F  shows sections through the configuration of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a section according to  FIG. 2C  in the detail view according to a first embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a further section according to  FIG. 2C  in the detail view according to a further embodiment; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a section according to  FIG. 2C  in the detail view according to a further embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding summary and background or the following detailed description. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1   a  shows a body part  1  in a side view and  FIG. 1   b  shows a top view. The body part  1  is a part of the B-column having a fastening point  2  in the form of two holes  3 ,  4  for the upper fastening of the door hinge, a fastening point  5  in the form of a material opening  6 , and a further fastening point  7  in the form of holes  8 ,  9  for the lower fastening of the door hinge. The material opening  6  is used as a cable feed-through and plug fastener for the electrical and control cable of the rear vehicle door. Further fastening points for fastening other vehicle components, for example, for fastening the striker of the door lock or the door brake are not shown for reasons of simplification. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1   c  shows four sections through the reinforcement part of  FIG. 1   b  along lines A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D. It may be seen that body part  1  essentially has a hat-shaped profile and the fastening points cited at the beginning are each located on the floor of the hat profile. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2   a - c  correspond to  FIGS. 1   a - c , but the body part  1  is supplemented by a reinforcement module  10  here. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2   a  shows that it is situated in the hat-shaped profile of the body part  1  and disappears therein in the side view. The reinforcement module  10  may be glued via a flange  11  to the body part  1  or connected thereto via a clip connection (not shown). 
         [0034]      FIG. 2   b  shows that the reinforcement module  10  may, but does not have to be implemented as solid. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2   b , it comprises multiple webs  12  which form a latticed reinforcement module  10  as a whole. There are also through openings  18  between the webs  12 , using which the weight of the reinforcement module  10  may be limited. Selected parts of the reinforcement module  10 , for example, those in the area of the fastening points  2 ,  5 ,  7 , may be implemented as solid. A material mix having lighter and heavier materials may also be selected, whose type and configuration is selected in such a way that the occupant protection is optimum in the event of a side impact. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2   c  shows sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D corresponding to the sections of  FIG. 1   c . Section A-A shows a first fastening point  7 , which is used for the lower fastening of the door hinge. The reinforcement module  10  is implemented as solid there and two screw nuts  13 ,  14  are introduced and/or embedded therein. This may be performed in such a way that the reinforcement module  10  is a plastic block having embedded screw nuts  13 ,  14  at the fastening point  4 . During the mounting, a screw inserted via the holes  8 ,  9  into the cylindrical openings  20  is screwed into the screw nuts  13 ,  14 . 
         [0036]    Section B-B shows the area of a second fastening point  5 , where a plug  21  for the electrical and control cable of the rear vehicle door is fastenable. The reinforcement module  10  is also not implemented as solid here, but rather also allows the passage of a cable having plug  21  through the material opening  6 . The cable may be embedded in the reinforcement module  10  on the side of the reinforcement module  10 . The plug  21  is held suitably by the reinforcement module, for example, using a clip connection (not shown). The body part  1  is reinforced by the reinforcement module  10  on the right and left of the material opening  6  here. Horizontal webs  12  stabilize the reinforcement module  12  as a whole. 
         [0037]    Section C-C shows the area of a third fastening point  2 , where the door hinge is fastened on top on the body part  1 . The reinforcement module  10  also has incorporated and/or integrated screw nuts  13 ,  14  here, as at the fastening point  7 . 
         [0038]    Section D-D also shows an area without a reinforcement module  10 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows a detail view of section C-C at the fastening point  7  for fastening a hinge  15  on the body part  1  having two screws  16 ,  17  screwed into the screw nuts  13 ,  14 . The screw nuts  13 ,  14  are located in the reinforcement module  10  in  FIG. 3 . However, they may also be situated on the side of the reinforcement module  10  facing away from the hinge  15  on its surface  19  and thus be positioned on or at the reinforcement module  10 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows the case corresponding to  FIG. 3 , in which screws  16 ,  17  are introduced into the reinforcement module  10 . By integrating the screws  16 ,  17  into the reinforcement module  10  or, similarly, the nuts  13 ,  14  in the reinforcement part  10  according to  FIG. 3 , the distance screw head-screw nut may be set in a targeted way. If a torque M is exerted on the construction, a smaller force F=M/a acts on the screws  16 ,  17  in the event of a greater lever arm a (this is the distance screw head-screw nut). Due to the increase of the lever arm a, the fastening point may thus be mechanically loaded more strongly in case of a side impact, without local deformations or lacquer breaks occurring there. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a section C-C having a through opening  18 , for example, in the form of a cylindrical opening  20 , at the fastening point  7 , into which a sleeve  22 ,  23  is introduced. During mounting, the screws  16  and  17  are pushed from below through the sleeve  22 ,  23  and screwed to the screw nut  13  or  14  on top above or below the striker plate  24 . 
         [0042]    The above embodiments show that the reinforcement module  10  is used to locally reinforce three fastening points  2 ,  5 , and  7 . It is to be noted here that still further fastening points may be reinforced using the reinforcement module  10 , for example, all fastening points of the body part  1 . The reinforcement is performed using a single reinforcement module  10 , which is connected rapidly to the body part  1  in the mounting using an adhesive, clip, welded, or other connection. The reinforcement of all fastening points is thus performed easily, rapidly, and cost-effectively in relation to a procedure in which the fastening points  2 ,  5 ,  7 , etc. are reinforced individually. Improved protection in relation to intrusions may be achieved for the case of a side impact by shaping and material selection for the reinforcement module  10 . Simultaneously, the weight of the vehicle body may be decreased as a whole in spite of the additional reinforcement module  10 . This is because local material thickened areas in the body part  1  may be avoided and light materials (e.g., fiber composite materials) may also be used for the reinforcement. 
         [0043]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.