DE102007044276B4 - Tie rod of a side impact protection arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Tension strut (1) of a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles, with the following features: • The tension strut (1) is an elongated band with clamping areas (10) at the end and an intermediate central area (20), • The tension strut (1) is edged Installed in a vehicle, • the tension strut consists of several, continuous fiber material webs (2) and a matrix (3) made of a plastic, • the matrix (3) is designed differently in the clamping area (10) and in the central area (20) that the tension strut (1) is rigid in the clamping area (10) and flexible in the central area (20).

Description

The invention relates to a tension strut of a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles.

Side impact protection arrangements for motor vehicles are widely known.

From the DE 195 19 509 A1 is a tension strut of a side impact protection arrangement for a door of a motor vehicle known. The tension strut is an elongated band with end-side clamping areas and an intermediate, middle area. Furthermore, the tension strut is designed for edgewise installation in a vehicle. There are various materials that are suitable for a vehicle door in question. Thus, the materials aluminum, steel or fiber composite material can be used for the door frame, the tension strut or other door parts.

From the DE 102 23 355 B4 Another train strut of a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles is known. The tension strut is an elongated band with end-side clamping areas and an intermediate, middle area. Furthermore, the tension strut is designed for edgewise installation in a vehicle. In addition, the tension strut consists of several, continuous fiber material webs and a matrix of a plastic. Based on the mode of operation, the tension strut is designed as a meander-shaped deformation element. In the case of a side impact, the deformation element is stretched and high shear stresses occur in the matrix between the fiber material webs.

From the DE 600 07 019 T2 Another train strut of a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles is known. The tension strut is a rope that is made of plastic fibers.

Instead of a tension strut shows the DE 10 2004 034 124 A1 a bending beam that serves as impact protection.

A combination of bending beam and tension strut goes out of the DE 44 23 687 A1 and DE 44 23 741 A1 out. The bending beam is designed as a hollow profile. When the bending beam breaks, then the tension strut takes over the further absorption of the energy of the impact.

The invention is based on the object to provide a tension strut of a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles, which offers high protection for the vehicle occupants with low weight.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The tension strut of a side impact protection assembly for motor vehicles is an elongated band having end clamping portions and an intermediate mid portion therebetween. The tension strut is designed for edging into a vehicle. The tension strut is placed at a height where a side impact is expected. Due to the band-like design and the edgewise installation, an indenter hits with a high probability on the extensively formed tension strut, which in contrast to a rope can not slip. The tension strut consists of several, continuous fibrous material webs and a matrix of a plastic. This is a fiber-reinforced plastic, which has a high weight-related strength in a known manner. Particular advantages result from the fact that the matrix in the clamping area and in the middle area is designed differently in such a way that the tension bar is flexurally rigid in the clamping area and flexible in the middle area. With the flexurally soft design of the middle region, only slight shear stresses occur between the individual fiber material webs. High shear stresses would prematurely cause the fibrous material webs in the middle region to fail. The fibrous material webs are mainly stressed in the direction of their longitudinal axis to train. In other words, the flexurally soft formation of the central region does not permit high shear stresses. Therefore, the fiber material webs are loaded in a manner in which they can withstand very high loads. In an idealized borderline case, a pure tensile load acts on the fiber material webs. Due to the flexurally soft design of the central region, a flexible band which can be heavily loaded on a train or a flexible band cable is obtained. The situation is different with the clamping areas, which are rigid in construction and therefore allow a firm, secure clamping.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the different formation of the matrix to obtain a soft, middle region is obtained by firstly different matrix materials, and / or secondly a different material distribution and / or thirdly by separating layers. With all three abovementioned possibilities presented in the abstract one achieves that the middle range comes close to a flexible tension band. A limiting case arises when no matrix material surrounds the fiber material webs at all in the middle region. Then you get a formlabile tension strut. However, this complicates the assembly, which is easier to perform with a rigid tension strut.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the different formation of the matrix is obtained by using a low-strength matrix material in the middle region and a high-strength matrix material in the clamping regions. This represents a concretization of the aforementioned first possibility of matrix formation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the different formation of the matrix is obtained by a reduction of the matrix amount in the middle region of the tension strut. This represents a concretization of the aforementioned second possibility of matrix formation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the different formation of the matrix is obtained by separating layers are arranged between individual band layers of at least one of the continuous fiber material layers and the matrix in the central region of the tension strut. This represents a concretization of the aforementioned third possibility of matrix formation. It is particularly advantageous here if reinforcing tape layers are arranged in the clamping regions instead of the separating layers of the middle region. The reinforcing tape layers of the clamping regions constitute extensions of the middle layer separating layers and can accommodate the multi-axial load of the clamping. The separation layers of the middle region and the additional reinforcement band layers of the clamping region have the same thickness. This results in a simple form of a tension strut with flat sides, which face each other at the same distance. The production of this planar tension strut is inexpensive.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping region is in each case geometrically shaped in such a way that a positive connection with a mount which can be attached to the motor vehicle can be formed. About a form fit can be transmitted in a simple manner high forces.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping area for the positive locking on a dovetail widening. A dovetail shape can be easily formed with a fiber reinforced plastic. Because the fiber material webs can be cut accordingly.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping region has predetermined breaking surfaces which are shearing surfaces. This lends itself to a dovetail form-fitting. Shearing absorbs the energy of a side impact. It is particularly advantageous in this case if the clamping area has a section with folded bends at the end. After shearing the predetermined breaking surfaces, the bends are pulled out in the manner of a concertina. This achieves a high energy absorption.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping area for the molding shot on at least one bend. Here, the height of the fiber material webs remains constant. The kinks can be easily obtained in an appropriate form, if the matrix material is still plastic.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping region has predetermined breaking surfaces which run between two adjacent fiber material webs. This specifies that the break of the tie rod in the clamping area should be done. During fracture, part of the impact energy is transformed into deformation work by gradually shearing off the matrix material.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Showing:

1 a door of a motor vehicle with a side impact protection arrangement with a tension strut, in front view;

1a in the 1 plotted detail Ia, in an enlarged view in longitudinal section;

2 in the 1 shown tension strut, in perspective with outbreaks;

2a in the 2 plotted detail IIa, in enlarged scale;

3 a second embodiment of a tension strut, in perspective with outbreaks;

3a the in 3 shown right chucking the tie rod with associated bracket, in plan view in section;

4 a third embodiment of a tension strut, in perspective with outbreaks;

4a and 4b the in 4 shown left clamping area of the tension strut, wherein 4a an initial state and 4b shows a solid state, in the front view in section.

The 1 shows in conjunction with 1a a door 50 a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles. The side impact protection arrangement has a tension strut 1 on. The tension strut 1 is an elongated band with end clamping areas 10 and an intermediate middle area 20 , The tension strut 1 is designed for edging into a vehicle. The tension strut consists of several, continuous fibrous material webs and a matrix of a plastic.

In the case of a side impact with, for example, the front of another car becomes the tension strut 1 loaded in the middle area on train. The tensile forces are over the brackets 51 transferred into the side, vertical frame posts of the door. From the frame post, a derivation of the tensile forces in the A and B pillar of the vehicle.

The matrix is in the clamping area 10 and in the middle area 20 designed differently. Because the tension strut 1 is in the clamping area 10 rigid and in the middle range 20 to bending. In the middle range, one approaches the characteristics of a flexible, heavy-duty drawstring, which tolerates high tensile stresses. The shear stresses in the matrix between the individual fiber material webs are reduced and are therefore only transferred to a lesser extent to the fiber material webs. As a result, the fiber material webs in the desired manner predominantly and evenly loaded in the pulling direction and thus can absorb higher tensile stresses. The rigid clamping ends, however, allow a secure, fixed clamping. The flexural rigidity is in the direction of the flat side of the tension strut in the clamping areas 10 at least by the factor 4 , especially by factor 16 and preferably by the factor 32 larger than in the middle range 20 ,

• • Erstens durch Trennschichten 4, wie in 2 dargestellt, und/oder
• • zweitens durch verschiedene Matrixmaterialien, wie in 3 illustriert und/oder
• • drittens durch eine unterschiedliche Materialverteilung, wie 4 zeigt.

The different training of the matrix 3 can be achieved in three ways:

• • First, through separating layers 4 , as in 2 represented, and / or
• Second, by using different matrix materials, as in 3 illustrated and / or
• Third, by a different material distribution, such as 4 shows.

All three types of training of the matrix are described in detail below, The 2 illustrates the first possibility. The different training of the matrix 3 is obtained by putting in the middle area 20 the tension strut 1 separating layers 4 between individual band layers 5 from at least one of the continuous fibrous material layers 2 and the matrix 3 are arranged. The separation layer 4 Primarily ensures that the individual band layers 5 are not connected.

The 2a illustrates that in the clamping areas 10 in place of the separation layers 4 of the middle area 20 Reinforcing tape layers 6 are arranged. The middle area shows only the band layers 5 with the continuous fiber material webs 2 on, the fibers mainly in the longitudinal direction of the tension strut 2 are aligned. As a result, the tensile stresses that occur can be easily absorbed. The situation is different in the clamping area 10 ( 2 ), which has a dovetail widening 11 having. As there in a side impact due to the derivative of the forces in the holding part 51 ( 1 and 1a ) is a multiaxial stress state, there are additional reinforcing tape layers in this region 6 ( 2a ) arranged. The additional reinforcement tape layers 6 have non-continuous, so short fiber material webs. The fibers run obliquely or transversely to the longitudinal axis, so that the clamping forces are transmitted well.

Furthermore clarifies the 2a the longitudinal change of the release layer 4 to the reinforcing tape layer 6 , This results in special effects in terms of component function and component manufacturing. With regard to the component function, a bending-smooth medium range is achieved in a very simple way 20 and a stable clamping area 10 achieved. Relative to the manufacture of components, simplifications result from the fact that the thickness of the separating layer 4 and the thickness of the reinforcing tape layer 6 are the same. In a manufacturing step before hardening of the matrix one puts in the middle range 20 between the band layers 5 Spacers in the form of Teflon tapes. The spacers have the same thickness as the reinforcing tape layers 6 on. After solidification of the matrix, the Teflon tapes are removed again to save weight, so that as a release layer 4 an air layer remains. This gives a geometrically simple design tension bar with plane-parallel flat sides.

The 3 illustrates the second possibility of matrix formation. A low-strength matrix material 3a , like an elastomer, is in the middle range 20 and a high strength matrix material 3b , such as a thermoset or thermoplastic, is in the clamping areas 10 used.

The 4 illustrates the third possibility. The different training of the matrix 3 is obtained by reducing the matrix amount in the middle region 20 the tension strut 1 ,

The rigid clamping areas 10 allow a geometric shape, in which a positive connection with an attachable to the car mount 51 ( 4a and 4b ) is bildbar. The 2 and 4 illustrate that the clamping area 10 a dovetail widening 11 having. The 3 illustrates that the clamping area 10 at least one bend 13 and 14 having.

Basically, the tension strut 1 so interpretable that either the failure break in one of the clamping areas 10 or in the middle area 20 he follows. The in the 1 . 1a . 2 and 2a shown tension strut 1 is designed to break in the middle range 20 he follows. The dovetail widening 11 is designed accordingly.

The situation is different with the tie rods 1 the execution of the 3 and the 4 , There are in the clamping areas 10 Breaking surfaces 15 respectively. 15 ' intended. The aim of the fracture surfaces in the clamping areas is to absorb some of the energy of a side impact by doing work by creating external and internal fractures, deformation work and friction work. This will be explained in more detail.

The 3a illustrates that the predetermined breaking surfaces 15 of the clamping area 10 between two fiber material webs 2 or interlaminar. These predetermined breaking surfaces 15 lead to the damage of the delaminations, which during the extraction of the kinks from the holder 51 arise. The parameters for achieving a predetermined interlaminar failure are, for example, the thickness of the strut, the bending angle and the formation of the fiber material webs and the matrix.

On the other hand illustrate the 4a and 4b in that the clamping area 10 Breaking surfaces 15 ' which are Abscherflächen. The shear surfaces are translaminar. Geometrically, the two protruding dovetail triangles are sheared off, with part of the energy of the side impact being used for this purpose. As a result, the energy consumption in the event of a side impact can be increased without significantly increasing the maximum forces and thus the load on the door frame or the A and B pillars. Not shown in 4 that in the clamping area 10 additional reinforcing tape layers are arranged, which have fiber material webs whose fibers extend obliquely and transversely to the longitudinal direction in order to withstand the clamping forces.

The 4 illustrated at the right end of the tension strut 1 a modification. Here, the clamping area 10 an additional section at the end 17 with folded

kinks 18 on. The training is such that after a shearing of the predetermined breaking surfaces 15 ' ( 4b ) the kinks 18 of the section 17 can be pulled out after ad of an accordion, in order to be able to absorb a further amount of energy. The bends 18 be by the indicated, only partially shown bracket 51 pulled. When pulling the kinks 18 it comes to delaminations. The fiber material webs of the section 17 can also be sewn to increase the pull-out work.

In deviation from the illustrated embodiment, the tension strut can also be installed in the rear doors. If the motor vehicle has no rear doors, the tension strut can be mounted directly on the B and C pillars via the end holders. In terms of 1 it is also possible, two superimposed tie rods 1 provided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tension strut

2

continuous fiber material web

3

matrix

3a

first matrix material

3b

second matrix material

4

Interface

5

Band layer, continuous

6

Reinforcement tape layer, only clamping area

10

clamping

11

dovetail widening

13

first bend

14

second bend

15

Predetermined breaking surface, interlaminar

15 '

Predetermined breaking surface, translaminar

17

Section of the clamping area, which is folded in

18

angulation

20

middle area

50

door

51

bracket

Claims (12)

Tension strut ( 1 ) a side impact protection arrangement for motor vehicles, having the following features: • the tension strut ( 1 ) is an elongated band with end clamping areas ( 10 ) and an intermediate middle region ( 20 ), • the tension strut ( 1 ) is designed for edging into a vehicle, • the tension strut consists of several, continuous fiber material webs ( 2 ) and a matrix ( 3 ) made of a plastic, • the matrix ( 3 ) is in the clamping area ( 10 ) and in the middle range ( 20 ) formed so differently that the tension strut ( 1 ) in the clamping area ( 10 ) rigid and in the middle range ( 20 ) is bend soft. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the different formation of the matrix ( 3 ) is obtained by different matrix materials ( 3a . 3b ), and / or one different matrix material distribution and / or by separating layers ( 4 ). Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the different formation of the matrix ( 3 ) is obtained by using a low-strength matrix material ( 3a ) in the middle area ( 20 ) and a high-strength matrix material ( 3b ) in the clamping areas ( 10 ). Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the different formation of the matrix ( 3 ) is obtained by reducing the matrix amount in the middle range ( 20 ) of the tension strut ( 1 ). Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the different formation of the matrix ( 3 ) in the middle range ( 20 ) of the tension strut ( 1 ) Separating layers ( 4 ) between individual tape layers ( 5 ) of at least one of the continuous fibrous material layers ( 2 ) and the matrix ( 3 ) are arranged. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that in the clamping areas ( 10 ) instead of the separating layers ( 4 ) of the middle area ( 20 ) Reinforcing tape layers ( 6 ) are arranged. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping area ( 10 ) is each geometrically shaped so that a positive connection with a mountable on the motor vehicle holder ( 51 ) is bildbar. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping area ( 10 ) for the fit a dovetail widening ( 11 ) having. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the clamping area ( 10 ) Predetermined breaking surfaces ( 15 ' ) which are Abscherflächen. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the clamping area ( 10 ) end a section ( 17 ) with folded bends ( 18 ), designed such that after shearing the predetermined breaking surfaces ( 15 ) the kinks ( 18 ) of the section ( 17 ) are extendable in the manner of a concertina. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping area ( 10 ) for the positive connection at least one bend ( 13 . 14 ) having. Tension strut ( 1 ) according to claim 11, characterized in that the clamping area ( 10 ) Predetermined breaking surfaces ( 15 ), which between two adjacent fibrous material webs ( 3 ).

Images