Motor Vehicle with a Roll Bar Configuration

Abstract

A motor vehicle contains a roll bar configuration which has at least one U-shaped roll bar, a transverse strut, and a connecting element with a receiving opening which accommodates one end of the roll bar. The connecting element can be connected releasably or nonreleasably both to the outer and to the inner body wall which is/are disposed generally vertically and/or horizontally. Furthermore, it is provided, on the connecting element, to arrange bearing points to which a foldable top and/or a belt deflecting lever can be fastened.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, three-dimensional view of a roll bar configuration in a motor vehicle according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, three-dimensional view of a connecting element as seen in a direction of a rear of the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the connecting element taken along the section line III-III shown in FIG. 2 through a receiving opening with ends of the roll bar and of the transverse strut disposed therein; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, three-dimensional view of the connecting element as seen in the direction of the front of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a three-dimensional view of a roll bar configuration 10 according to the invention which is illustrated fitted into a motor vehicle. In this case, the roll bar configuration 10 contains two U-shaped roll bars 11, a transverse strut 12 and a connecting element 20 with a receiving opening 21. One end of a roll bar 11 and one end of the transverse strut 12 are accommodated in each case in the receiving opening 21. The connecting elements 20, which are disposed on both sides between the transverse strut and the inner wall of the body, are of mirror-inverted design. The connecting element 20 is fastened to the outer body wall 23 at a contact surface 22. In the exemplary embodiment, the connecting element 20 is first fastened in a form-fitting manner, but additionally by a screw connection 28 to the outer body wall.

The connecting element 20 is supported horizontally via a contact surface 25 and additionally vertically via a contact surface 26 on the inner body wall which is formed, in the exemplary embodiment, by the roof of the engine compartment. In the embodiment shown, no further fastening elements are fitted on the contact surfaces 25 and 26.

The ends of the roll bar 11, which ends face the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle, are fastened in a suitable manner in or to the transverse strut 12. The ends of the roll bars, which point in the direction of the outer body walls, are accommodated in the receiving opening 21 of the connecting element 20, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a section through the connecting element 20 along the section line III-III shown in FIG. 2 through the receiving opening 21 and the ends, located therein, of the roll bar 11 and of the transverse strut 12. In this exemplary configuration, the transverse strut 12 can be supported via the end of the roll bar 11 in the connecting element 20 and therefore on the outer body walls 23 in the event of loading in the longitudinal direction (transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle). In this case, use is also made of the transverse stability of the tubular end of the roll bar 11, which is additionally held by the receiving opening. In the event of a loading in which forces occur in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or on the vehicle in the vertical direction, the forces are transmitted directly or partially via the end of the roll bar 11 into the connecting element and therefore to the vehicle body. Very high forces introduced lead to the deformation of the cross section of the roll bar 11, with the receiving opening 21 of the connecting element 20 likewise undergoing deformation.

FIG. 4 shows the connecting element 20 from the rear of the vehicle as seen in the direction of the front of the vehicle. A bearing 30 of the top, which is integrated in the connecting element 20 and to which the top is rotatably coupled, can be seen in this view. Transverse forces introduced into the top and, in particular, the tensile forces occurring during the opening and closing of the moving vehicle are absorbed by the bearing 30 of the top and are introduced into the vehicle body via the connecting element 20 and via the contact surfaces 22, 25 and 26 thereof. A belt deflecting lever 32 which likewise introduces high forces into the vehicle body in the event of an impact is also shown here.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising: a roll bar configuration including: at least one roll bar;a transverse strut; anda connecting element with a receiving opening formed therein accommodating one end of said roll bar and also one end of said transverse strut.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said receiving opening is open upward and in a direction of a transverse axis of the motor vehicle.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said roll bar is U-shaped.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: an inner body wall; andan outer body wall, said connecting element on which said transverse strut and said one end of said roll bar are disposed, is supported on said outer body wall and said inner body wall.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said inner body wall on which said connecting element is supported is at least one of generally vertical and generally horizontal.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said connecting element is connected releasably to at least one of said inner body wall and said outer body wall.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said connecting element is connected nonreleasably to at least one of said inner body wall and said outer body wall.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a foldable top coupled to said connecting element.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said connecting element has at least one bearing point and a belt deflecting lever disposed on said bearing point.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said connecting element is an assembled component.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said assembled component is selected from the group consisting of welded structures, worked parts, forged parts, formed parts, and cast parts.