Patent ID: 12258070

It should be understood that the above-referenced drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of embodiments of the invention. The specific design features of embodiments of the present invention, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

The following reference identifiers may be used in connection with the accompanying drawings to describe exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

1: vehicle body3: upper body10: both side structures11: front pillar13: rear pillar15: roof side17: door supporting pillar20: front roof rail21, 31: pillar bonding end portion30: rear roof rail40: ring reinforcement member41: glass mounting hole43: both side portions45: front portion47: rear portion49: corner portion60: main roof rail member61: first bonding end portion62: second bonding end portion80, 180: sub-roof rail member100, 200: vehicle roof structure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The term “coupled” denotes a physical relationship between two components whereby the components are either directly connected to one another by welding, self-piercing rivets (SPR), flow drill screws (FDS), a structural adhesive, and the like or indirectly connected via one or more intermediary components.

It is understood that the term “vehicle,” “vehicular,” “car,” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles, in general, such as passenger automobiles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicle-based purpose built vehicles (PBVs), hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (for example, fuels derived from resources other than petroleum).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1illustrates a combined perspective view of a vehicle roof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG.2illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vehicle roof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.3illustrates a plan schematic diagram of a vehicle roof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.3, a vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to, for example, a vehicle body1of a purpose built vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a ‘PBV’).

Here, the PBV may be an electric vehicle-based environmentally friendly vehicle that provides a customized service required for an occupant during a time it takes to travel on the ground to a destination.

In one example, the PBV may be utilized as a life module vehicle that provides various customized services to users during a time of moving on the ground to a destination in an unmanned autonomous driving method. Such a life module vehicle is generally referred to as a ‘robo-taxi’, ‘robo-shuttle’, or ‘hailing vehicle’ by those skilled in the art.

The PBV may be manufactured in a one box design with a large interior space. In addition, the PBV may apply a facing type seat to provide a spacious interior space.

The vehicle body1of the PBV includes a skateboard-type of underbody (not shown) (it is also generally referred to as a ‘rolling chassis’ or ‘chassis frame’ by those skilled in the art) and an upper body3assembled to the underbody.

A battery assembly (not shown) and a driving motor may be mounted on the underbody. In addition, the upper body3is a body-in-white (BIW) body coupled to the underbody, and may configure a cabin with a large interior space.

In the present specification, reference directions for describing the following constituent elements may be set, in one example, in a vehicle body front-rear direction (for example, a vehicle body length direction or longitudinal direction), a vehicle width direction (for example, a lateral direction), and a vertical direction (for example, a height direction).

In addition, in the present specification, an ‘upper end portion’, ‘upper portion’, ‘upper end’, or ‘upper surface’ of a constituent element represents an end portion, a portion, an end, or a surface of the constituent element that is relatively upper in the drawing, and a ‘lower end portion’, a ‘lower portion’, a ‘lower end’, or a ‘lower surface’ of a constituent element represents an end portion, a portion, an end, or a surface of the constituent element that is relatively lower in the drawing.

In addition, in the present specification, an end of a constituent element (for example, one end, the other end, both ends, or the like) represents an end of the constituent element in any one direction, and an end portion of a constituent element (for example, one end portion, the other end portion, both end portions, or the like) represents a portion of the constituent element including the end.

On the other hand, the upper body3as described above includes side structures10(hereinafter, referred to as ‘both side structures’ for convenience) provided at both sides in a vehicle width direction, respectively, and the roof structure100for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Each of the both side structures10includes a front pillar11, a rear pillar13, a roof side15, and at least one door supporting pillar17.

The front pillar11and the rear pillar13are provided as pillars having relatively high rigidity in the vehicle body1. The roof side15is connected to upper portions of the front pillar11and the rear pillar13along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. In addition, the at least one door supporting pillar17is configured to support, in one example, a sliding door, and is connected to the roof side15along the vertical direction.

The vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on upper portions of the both side structures10. The vehicle roof structure100may include a large-area roof glass (not shown) for providing a user with a sense of openness of the interior of the PBV.

As described above, the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention has a structure capable of securing the overall rigidity of the vehicle body1when a large-area roof glass is mounted.

To this end, the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a front roof rail20, a rear roof rail30, a ring reinforcement member40, a plurality of main roof rail members60, and a plurality of sub-roof rail members80.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the front roof rail20is connected to an upper portion of the front pillar11of each of the both side structures10in the vehicle width direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rear roof rail30is connected to an upper portion of the rear pillar13of each of the both side structures10in the vehicle width direction.

Here, the front roof rail20and the rear roof rail30may be coupled (for example, welded) to a roof panel (not shown) connected to the roof side15.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ring reinforcement member40is configured to mount a large-area roof glass (not shown) to the vehicle roof structure100.

The ring reinforcement member40may be coupled (for example, welded) to roof panels (not shown) connected to the roof sides15of the both side structures10. The ring reinforcement member40is disposed between the both side structures10and between the front roof rail20and the rear roof rail30.

In one example, the ring reinforcement member40may be provided as a member having a quadrangular shape in which a glass mounting hole41is formed. The ring reinforcement member40includes both side portions43, a front portion45, a rear portion47, and a plurality of corner portions49.

The both side portions43are provided at both sides of the ring reinforcement member40along the vehicle width direction, respectively, and are disposed along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The front portion45is connected to front side ends of the both side portions43in the vehicle width direction. The rear portion47is connected to rear side ends of the both side portions43in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the plurality of corner portions49are respectively formed at connection portions of the side portions43, the front portion45, and the rear portion47.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of main roof rail members60are configured to connect the both side structures10and the ring reinforcement member40.

Furthermore, the plurality of main roof rail members60according to an embodiment of the present invention are configured to transmit a load applied to the both side structures10through the front pillar11and the rear pillar13to the ring reinforcement member40.

Each of the plurality of main roof rail members60may be provided in a plate shape. In addition, the plurality of main roof rail members60may be coupled to a lower surface of the roof panel (not shown).

The plurality of main roof rail members60are substantially connected to the ring reinforcement member40and the front pillar11and the rear pillar13of each of the both side structures10.

The plurality of main roof rail members60may be connected to respective corner portions49of the ring reinforcement member40on an extension line of the front pillar11and the rear pillar13of each of the both side structures10.

Furthermore, the plurality of main roof rail members60may be radially connected to respective corner portions49of the ring reinforcement member40and respective front pillars11and rear pillars13of the both side structures10.

Specifically, the plurality of main roof rail members60may be connected (for example, bonded) to respective corner portions49of the ring reinforcement member40and to both end portions of each of the front roof rail20and the rear roof rail30.

The plurality of main roof rail members60include a first bonding end portion61and a second bonding end portion62as shown inFIG.4.

The first bonding end portion61may be bonded (for example, spot-welded) to pillar bonding end portions21and31of each of the front roof rail20and the rear roof rail30. In addition, the second bonding end portion62may be bonded (for example, spot-welded) to each corner portion49of the ring reinforcement member40.

Here, the first bonding end portion61and the second bonding end portion62may include bonding flanges integrally formed on end surfaces of the plurality of main roof rail members60.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of sub-roof rail members80are configured to radially connect the both side structures10and the ring reinforcement member40together with the plurality of main roof rail members60.

The plurality of sub-roof rail members80are connected to both side structures10and the ring reinforcement member40along the vehicle width direction.

In one example, the plurality of sub-roof rail members80may be connected to respective roof sides15of the both side structures10and the both side portions43of the ring reinforcement member40in the vehicle width direction.

Here, one of the plurality of sub-roof rail members80may be connected to the roof side15of one side structure10and one side portion43of the ring reinforcement member40. In addition, the other one of the plurality of sub-roof rail members80may be connected to the roof side15of the other side structure10and the other side portion43of the ring reinforcement member40.

Hereinafter, an operation of the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference toFIG.1toFIG.4.

First, according to the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ring reinforcement member40is connected to respective front pillars11and rear pillars13of the both side structures10through the plurality of main roof rail members60.

Here, the plurality of main roof rail members60are connected to respective corner portions49of the ring reinforcement member40and to respective front pillars11and rear pillars13of the both side structures10, through the front roof rail20and the rear roof rail30.

In addition, according to the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of sub-roof rail members80are connected to respective roof sides15of the both side structures10and to the both side portions43of the ring reinforcement member40in the vehicle width direction.

Accordingly, according to the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of main roof rail members60and the plurality of sub-roof rail members80may radially connect the both side structures10and the ring reinforcement member40.

Accordingly, according to the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention, as the large-area roof glass is mounted on the ring reinforcement member40, the PBV may provide the user with a sense of openness of the interior space through the large-area roof glass.

The vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention as described so far may transmit the load applied from the front and rear of the both side structures10to the ring reinforcement member40through the front pillar11, the rear pillar13, and the plurality of main roof rail members60.

In addition, the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit the load transmitted to the ring reinforcement member40to the at least one door supporting pillar17through the plurality of sub-roof rail members80and the roof sides15of the both side structures10.

Accordingly, the vehicle roof structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention may have overall connection robustness (for example, stiffness or strength), frame rigidity, durability, impact absorption, and NVH performance of the vehicle body1configured in a one-box design.

FIG.5illustrates a combined perspective view of a vehicle roof structure according to another embodiment of the present invention,FIG.6illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vehicle roof structure according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.7illustrates a plan schematic diagram of a vehicle roof structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as in the previous embodiment.

Referring toFIG.5toFIG.7, a vehicle roof structure200according to another embodiment of the present invention may include at least one door supporting pillar17of the both side structures10, and a plurality of sub-roof rail members180connected to the both side portions43of the ring reinforcement member40in the vehicle width direction.

In the vehicle roof structure200according to another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of main roof rail members60are the same as in the previous embodiment, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the at least one door supporting pillar17may be provided in a pair on each of the both side structures10.

In another embodiment of the present invention, one pair of the plurality of sub-roof rail members180may be connected to a pair of door supporting pillars17of one side structure10and one side portion43of the ring reinforcement member40. In addition, the other pair of the plurality of sub-roof rail members180may be connected to a pair of door supporting pillars17of the other side structure10and the other side portion43of the ring reinforcement member40.

Accordingly, the vehicle roof structure200according to another embodiment of the present invention may transmit the load applied from the front and rear of the both side structures10to the ring reinforcement member40through the front pillar11, the rear pillar13, and the plurality of main roof rail members60.

In addition, the vehicle roof structure200according to another embodiment of the present invention may directly transmit the load transmitted to the ring reinforcement member40to the at least one door supporting pillar17through the plurality of sub-roof rail members180.

The remaining configuration and effect of the vehicle roof structure200according to another embodiment of the present invention as described above are the same as the previous embodiment, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.