Deformation element for absorbing lateral impact forces in a lateral region of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A deformation element for absorbing lateral impact forces in the lateral region of a motor vehicle has at least two hollow chambers disposed one behind another in the direction of action of the lateral impact forces. An axial extension of which is in each case oriented at right angles to the direction of action of the lateral impact forces. The deformation element has at least one fastening portion for mounting the deformation element on an associated lateral sill portion of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a deformation element according to a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, top plan view of the deformation element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, rear view of the deformation element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, right-hand side view of the deformation element shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a lateral sill reinforcement according to a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of the deformation element according to the preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention mounted on the sill reinforcement according to FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic, perspective partial view of a vehicle body with an integrated deformation element according to a preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A deformation element for absorbing lateral impact forces in a lateral region of a motor vehicle, the deformation element comprising: a deformation body having at least two hollow chambers formed therein and disposed one behind another in a direction of action of the lateral impact forces, an axial extension of said hollow chambers being in each case oriented approximately at right angles to the direction of action of the lateral impact forces; andat least one fastening portion for mounting said deformation body on an associated lateral sill portion of the motor vehicle, said fastening portion extending from said deformation body.

2. The deformation element according to claim 1, wherein said deformation body can be brought into contact with an associated inner body side part in a region of a B pillar of the motor vehicle and at a level of an associated lateral transverse stiffening element of the motor vehicle and can be mounted on the associated lateral sill reinforcement element of the motor vehicle.

3. The deformation element according to claim 2, wherein said at least two hollow chambers is two of three hollow chambers formed in said deformation body and disposed parallel to one another and one behind another in the direction of action of the lateral impact forces, one of said three hollow chambers is an inner hollow chamber facing a motor vehicle interior, one of said three hollow chambers is an outer hollow chamber facing a vehicle exterior, and one of said three hollow chambers is a central hollow chamber disposed between said outer and said inner hollow chambers.

4. The deformation element according to claim 3, wherein said hollow chambers extend axially approximately at right angles to a longitudinal extension of the associated lateral sill reinforcement element and approximately at right angles to a longitudinal extension of the associated lateral transverse stiffening element.

5. The deformation element according to claim 3, wherein said deformation body has undulated side walls of an undulating configuration for forming said hollow chambers with different cross-sectional profiles.

6. The deformation element according to claim 3, wherein said outer and said inner hollow chambers in each case have larger cross-sectional profiles than said central hollow chamber.

7. The deformation element according to claim 5, wherein: said undulated side walls have wave crests and wave troughs; andsaid hollow chambers have approximately equivalent depth dimensions, said inner and said outer hollow chambers are provided in a region of said wave crests and said central hollow chamber is provided in a region of said wave troughs of said undulated side walls in such a way that said inner and said outer hollow chambers have approximately equivalent widths and are configured with greater widths than said central hollow chamber.

8. The deformation element according to claim 2, wherein said deformation body has a lower side facing the associated lateral sill reinforcement element and configured with a step-shaped form complementary to a profile of the associated lateral sill reinforcement element for appropriate support thereon.

9. The deformation element according to claim 1, wherein said deformation body is an extruded profile.

10. The deformation element according to claim 9, wherein said extruded profile is made from a metal alloy.

11. The deformation element according to claim 9, wherein said extruded profile is made from an aluminium alloy.

12. The deformation element according to claim 2, wherein said fastening portion is a flange portion disposed in a lower region of said deformation body, points in the direction of the associated lateral sill reinforcement element and contains an edge for fastening said deformation body to the associated lateral sill reinforcement element by a welding process.

13. The deformation element according to claim 3, wherein said inner hollow chamber has a bearing surface for bearing against the associated inner body side part.

14. The deformation element according to claim 13, wherein said bearing surface has a lateral portion with rivet nuts for attachment to a coupling element of the associated lateral transverse stiffening element.