Patent ID: 12258069

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, the structural or functional description specified to an exemplary embodiment according to the concept of the present invention is intended to describe the exemplary embodiment, so it should be understood that the present invention may be variously embodied, without being limited to the exemplary embodiment.

An embodiment described herein may be changed in various ways and various shapes, so specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail in this specification. However, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments according to the concept of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments which will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, but all of modifications, equivalents, and substitutions are included in the scope and spirit of the invention.

It will be understood that, although the terms first and/or second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For instance, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Similarly, the second element could also be termed the first element.

It is to be understood that when one element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be connected directly to or coupled directly to another element or be connected to or coupled to another element, having the other element intervening therebetween. On the other hand, it is to be understood that when one element is referred to as being “connected directly to” or “coupled directly to” another element, it may be connected to or coupled to another element without the other element intervening therebetween. Further, the terms used herein to describe a relationship between elements, that is, “between”, “directly between”, “adjacent” or “directly adjacent” should be interpreted in the same manner as those described above.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing a particular embodiment only and is not intended to limit the present invention. Singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” or “have” used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. It must be understood that the terms defined by the dictionary are identical with the meanings within the context of the related art, and they should not be ideally or excessively formally defined unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Hereinbelow, an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals given in the drawings indicate like components.

FIG.1is an exploded-perspective view showing a base part10, a tubular part20, and an outer garnish30of a body for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIGS.2and3are perspective view showing a coupling embodiment of the body for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG.4is a view showing a complete assembly of the body for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIGS.5A and5Bare sectional views showing two examples taken along line A-A inFIG.4.FIG.6is a sectional view taken along line B-B inFIG.4.FIG.7is a sectional view taken along line C-C inFIG.4.

Referring toFIGS.1to4, the body for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Conventionally, a monocoque body in which a vehicle body is integrally formed or a frame body in which an upper portion of a vehicle body is coupled to a lower portion after manufacturing the lower portion of the vehicle body has been manufactured.

However, recently, as the number of vehicle types sharing a lower portion platform of the vehicle body is increased, a manufacturing cost is increased in manufacturing the monocoque body.

In order to solve the above problem, in embodiments of the present invention, a lower portion body of a vehicle is manufactured in a monocoque body method and an upper body is then manufactured corresponding to the vehicle so that the body for a vehicle may be applied to various types of vehicles.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the body for a vehicle includes the base part10extended in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and integrally connecting an A pillar to a roof side portion, and made of a plastic material and in which an inside portion is shaped in a rib13, the tubular part20shaped in a steel pipe and extended in a length of a pillar part, and inserted into the base part10in manufacturing the base part10, and the outer garnish30shaped in the longitudinal direction along the base part10, and coupled to the base part10to cover the base part10and to constitute the exterior of the vehicle, and made of a plastic material.

As shown inFIG.1, an upper portion of the body for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention may include the base part10, the tubular part20, and the outer garnish30.

The base part10may be extended rearward from the A pillar of the vehicle along a side surface of the roof of the vehicle to form an upper side surface of the vehicle. The base part10is manufactured by plastic injection molding, and the inside portion thereof may be shaped in the rib13.

As the base part10is manufactured of a synthetic resin material such as plastic, the base part10is formed in various shapes. When a plurality of vehicles sharing a lower portion of a vehicle is manufactured, vehicles may be manufactured in various shapes and there is a cost reduction effect. Furthermore, as the inside portion of the base part10is shaped in the rib13, the weight thereof is reduced and stiffness may be increased.

The tubular part20is formed by extrusion molding using a steel material, and the base part10may be manufactured using a synthetic resin material by injection molding after insertion of the tubular part20.

A flange portion14may be provided at an outer portion of the base part10. The flange portion14is extended in the longitudinal direction and protrudes outward and is coupled to a weatherstrip or a sash16including a window of the vehicle.

The base part10is manufactured by injection molding, and the degree of freedom of the shape thereof is increased. Thus, the flange portion14may be provided to be extended outward from the base part10. The roof, a wind glass, or a door of the vehicle may be mounted to the flange portion14. Furthermore, the base part10is manufactured by injection molding, and a seating space into which an indoor component such as an airbag may be seated may be provided in the interior of the vehicle.

As shown inFIG.8, the tubular part20is manufactured by extrusion molding into a tubular shape from a metal material. After extrusion molding in the tubular shape, the tubular part20is molded in an extended direction of the base part10, and the tubular part20is inserted into the base part10in the manufacturing process before extrusion molding of the base part10, and after insertion of the tubular part20, thus the base part10may be manufactured by extrusion molding on the tubular part20.

Therefore, lack of rigidity of the base part10made of plastic may be reinforced with the tubular part20, thereby improving the rigidity of the vehicle.

After the insertion of the tubular part20, when the base part10is manufactured by injection molding, the outer garnish30may be coupled to the outer portion of the base part10so as to cover the shape of the rib13in the base part10.

After the insertion of the tubular part20into the base part10, the tubular part20may reinforce a coupling force between metal and plastic by an adhesive or laser structuring.

By the above process, the exterior of the vehicle may be generated and the rigidity thereof is additionally reinforced.

The outer garnish30may be molded of a metal material such as aluminum or made of a synthetic resin such as plastic.

The body for a vehicle includes a base frame100made of the metal material and including a front portion110, a rear portion120, and a lower portion130of the body connecting the front portion110to the rear portion120. The base part10may be connected at a front end thereof to the front portion110and at a rear end thereof to the rear portion120.

As shown inFIGS.2to4, as the lower portion130coupled to an upper portion of the body for a vehicle, the base frame100in which the lower portion130, the front portion110, and the rear portion120of the vehicle are integrally manufactured may be formed. The base frame100may be formed in an integral body as the monocoque body shape, or the lower portion130is manufactured first as the frame body and then both the front portion110and the rear portion120may be additionally coupled to the lower portion130. The base part10and the outer garnish30in which the tubular part20is inserted may be coupled in various shapes to an upper portion of the base frame100.

Therefore, in manufacturing various vehicles sharing the lower portion130and differing at each upper portion, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIGS.11A,11B, and11Care views showing various examples of the body for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIGS.11A,11B, and11C, the base frame100constitutes the lower portion of the vehicle, and according to embodiments of the present invention, the base part10and the tubular part20may form a side surface of the pillar part and the roof part of the base frame100.

As shown inFIGS.11A,11B, and11C, the base part10and the tubular part20that are shaped variously and coupled to the base frame may be formed in various types of vehicles in response to customer requirements even in the equivalent base frame100.

The body for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a purpose-built vehicle (PBV), and in the PBV, it is necessary to develop a vehicle suitable for the market of small-volume, multi-variety production.

The PBV is considered in terms of flexibility, design freedom, reduction in the number of components, assembly in a smart factory, weight reduction, cost reduction, space utilization and performance in response to customer requirements. In order to meet the above considerations, the tubular part20is provided as a frame in the base frame100disclosed in embodiments of the present invention and the base part10formed by injection molding is coupled to an outer portion of the tubular part20, so that the above-described considerations may be advantageous in a method of manufacturing various types of vehicle models in comparison to a conventional monocoque body method.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the base part10may be coupled to both the front portion and the rear portion of the base frame100, and the front portion and the rear portion may have the shapes changed variously.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a C pillar extended from the rear portion is formed and is connected to the base part, and the C pillar may be shaped variously.

The PBV may be applied to an electric vehicle platform, and a battery, a motor wheel, and a suspension, which are devices in the drive system, are provided in the lower portion, and the base frame100may be coupled to an upper portion of the drive system, thereby constituting the body for a vehicle.

The body for a vehicle may include an inner bracket41coupled to inner portions of the base part10and the tubular part20and connecting both the base part10and the tubular part20to the front portion110, and an outer bracket42coupled to outer portions of the base part10and the tubular part20and connecting both the base part10and the tubular part20to the front portion110.

As shown inFIG.1, the front end of the base part10may be coupled to the front portion110of the base part10. In order to improve rigidity and convenience of coupling between the front end of the base part10and the front portion110, the inner bracket41may be coupled to an inner portion of the front end of the base part10and the outer bracket may be coupled to an outer portion of the front end of the base part10.

Therefore, when the shape of the front portion110is changed, the base part10may be coupled to the front portion110as the inner bracket41and the outer bracket42are deformed little, and the inner bracket41and the outer bracket42may be deformed in response to a coupling direction of the base part10.

Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced when embodiments of the present invention are applied to various vehicles, and convenience of coupling work can be improved.

The inner bracket41is coupled to an outer portion of an inner plate110aof the front portion110, and the outer bracket42may be coupled to an inner portion of an outer plate110bof the front portion110.

As shown inFIG.2, in order to couple the base part10to the base frame100in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the inner bracket41may be coupled to the outer portion of the inner plate110aof the front portion110of the base frame100. As shown inFIG.5A, the length of the inner plate110aof the front portion110may be preset longer than the length of the outer plate110band thus both the inner bracket41and the outer bracket42may be coupled to the base frame100in the transverse direction from the base frame100while being coupled to a base panel.

Accordingly, on a product line, the base part10may be conveniently coupled to the base frame100in the transverse direction.

The rear portion120of the base frame100has a C pillar121extended toward the roof, and the lower portion130has a B pillar131extended toward the roof. The rear end of the base part10may be connected to the C pillar121and a middle portion of the base part10may be connected to the B pillar131.

FIG.6is a sectional view of a connection portion of the B pillar131. As shown inFIG.6, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to both a coupling method of the base frame100in the transverse direction and a coupling method thereof in a downward direction, and therefore the base part10is connected to the B pillar131to be coupled to the B pillar131.

As shown inFIG.6, an inner portion of a lower end of the base part10is connected to an outer portion of an inner plate121aof the B pillar.

An end of the B pillar131is formed to be inclined inward from the vehicle to be connected to both the base part10and the B pillar connection portion11.

As shown inFIG.6, an outer plate121band the inner plate ma of the B pillar are formed to be inclined inward from the vehicle, so that ends of the inner plate121aand the outer plate121bof the B pillar may be formed to have different heights from each other and the B pillar connection portion11may be coupled to the B pillar131.

Therefore, the body for a vehicle can be applied to either the coupling method of the base part10in the transverse direction or the coupling method thereof in the downward direction.

Embodiments of the present invention include a C pillar bracket50connecting the base part10to the C pillar121. The base part10is coupled to the C pillar bracket50to be connected to an outer plate of the C pillar and the outer garnish30may be connected to a lower end of the outer plate of the C pillar121.

As shown inFIG.7, a rear end of the base part10may be connected to the C pillar121extended forward from the rear portion120of the base frame100. The C pillar bracket50provided for connection of the C pillar121is connected to the base frame100and the C pillar bracket50may be connected to the outer plate of the C pillar121to connect the base part10to the base frame100.

For each type of vehicle, the shape of the C pillar121may be deformed or the shape of the base part10may be deformed, and the shape of the C pillar bracket50is deformed to connect the C pillar121to the base part10to improve the convenience of the manufacturing process.

The base part10may be coupled to the base frame100by mechanical coupling.

As shown inFIGS.5to7, the brackets may be made of plastic or metal, and it is difficult to couple the brackets or the base part10to the metal base frame100only by welding, and the coupling may be achieved by the mechanical coupling such as bolting or riveting.

Therefore, the base part10and the base frame100can be solidly fixed.

FIGS.9and10are views showing an example of the rib13included in the base part10of the body for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The rib13of the base part10may be arranged inside the base part10with an X-crossed shape.

Alternatively or additionally, the rib13of the base part10may have a shape of “H”, “T”, or “-”.

As shown inFIG.9, a plurality of ribs13provided inside the base part10is formed in a crossed direction at an outer surface of the base part10so that the plurality of ribs13may be arranged in the X-shape.

Therefore, there is an effect of bracing even in an impact applied from the outer surface of the base part10.

The plurality of ribs13of the base part10may include a central rib13aextended in an extended direction of the tubular part20and an auxiliary rib13bextended in a direction intersecting the central rib13a.

As shown inFIG.10, the plurality of ribs13provided inside the base part10may be formed in the Ezion-Geber structure referring to the human spine structure shaped of the central rib13aextended in the longitudinal direction of the tubular part20inserted in the base part10and the auxiliary rib13bperpendicularly extended from the central rib13a. Therefore, the rigidity of the base part10can be improved.

Pairs of base parts10, tubular parts20, and outer garnishes30are provided at transversally opposite portions of the vehicle, and a roof member70may be provided to be connected from each of the base parts10toward the roof.

The pair of the base parts10may be provided to be coupled to opposite side portions of the vehicle, and the roof member70is provided to connect the pair of the base parts10to each other above upper portions of the base parts10to support the upper portions of the base parts10, so that the rigidity of the body for a vehicle can be improved.

A roof panel (not shown) or a sun roof (not shown) may be mounted to an upper portion of the roof member70, and the roof member may support the roof panel (not shown) or the sun roof (not shown).

The inner bracket41is coupled to an inner portion of an inner plate110aof the front portion110, and the outer bracket42may be coupled to the inner portion of the outer plate110bof the front portion110.

As shown inFIG.3, in order to couple the base part10to the base frame100in the downward direction of the vehicle, the inner bracket41may be coupled to the inner portion of the inner plate110aof the front portion110of the base frame100. As shown inFIG.5B, the length of the inner plate110aof the front portion110may be preset longer than the length of the outer plate110band the distance between the outer plate110band the inner plate110ais formed shorter than the distance between the inner bracket41and the outer bracket42. Therefore, both the inner bracket41and the outer bracket42may be coupled to the base frame100in the downward direction while being coupled to the base panel.

Therefore, all of the base part10to the roof member70are assembled in a modular shape at an external site, and on the main production line, the base part10is coupled to the base frame100in the downward direction, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified.

The base part10includes a roof connection portion12extended toward the roof to connect the roof to the roof member70, and embodiments of the present invention may include a roof bracket60connecting the roof connection portion12to the roof member70.

As shown inFIG.1, the roof member70may be provided to connect the pair of base parts10to each other and the roof bracket60may be provided to connect the roof member70to the base part10.

The roof bracket60may be variously shaped in response to the shape of the base part10or the roof member70. Therefore, as the body for a vehicle is applied to vehicles with different widths, the efficiency in manufacturing the various types of vehicles can be improved.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.