Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a body panel reinforcement assembly for a vehicle body. More particularly, the embodiments herein relate to a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly for a vehicle body and a method of assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly.
BACKGROUND
[002] A bodyside rear assembly is a portion of a vehicle body between a rear door and a boot portion, and above a rear wheel. The bodyside rear assembly includes a quarter inner assembly and a quarter outer assembly. The quarter inner assembly and the quarter outer assembly are joined with each other to form a box section. The box section provides stiffness to the vehicle body. In general, the bodyside rear assembly is used to provide a fuel lid in vehicles powered by an internal combustion (IC) engine. Generally, in electric vehicles (EV), such as an electric car, a charging port is provided on the bodyside rear assembly of a body of the EV. Alternatively, the charging port is provided on a fender or a front bumper of the EV. Providing the charging port on the bodyside rear assembly on the fender, or on the front bumper requires structures which are complex in design contributing to the design complexity and weight of the EV. Accordingly, weight of the EV has to be optimized for better performance and efficiency of the EV.
[003] Further, in some EVs, the charging port is provided besides D-pillar structure of the EV body. However, providing the charging port besides the D-pillar structure impacts box section of the Body-In-White (BIW) structure of the EV body, which in turn impacts the stiffness of the BIW structure of the EV body. Also, providing the charging port besides D-pillar structure impacts noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance of the vehicle body.
[004] Therefore, there exists need for a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly for a vehicle body and a method of assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks, and which can provide stiffness to the BIW structure of the vehicle body.
OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly for a vehicle body.
[006] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a charging port in a D-pillar structure of the bodyside rear assembly of an electric or hybrid vehicle body.
[007] Another object of embodiments herein is to improve the stiffness of the D-pillar structure of the bodyside rear assembly of the vehicle body, by providing reinforcement members.
[008] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a method of assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly for the vehicle body.
[009] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] Fig. 1 is a side view of a body in white (BIW) inner structure of a vehicle body, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0012] Fig. 2 is a side view of a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] Fig. 3a is a side view of an inner assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 3b is a side view of an outer assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0015] Fig. 4 is an exploded view of an inner assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0016] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of an outer assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 6a is a perspective view of a lower reinforcement member, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0018] Fig. 6b is a perspective view of an upper reinforcement member, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0019] Fig. 7 indicates sectional views at different regions of a D-pillar portion of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0020] Fig. 8 is a flow chart indicating a method of assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0022] The embodiments herein achieve a bodyside reinforcement assembly for a vehicle body. Further, the embodiments herein achieve a method of assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 8, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0023] Fig. 1 is a side view of a body in white (BIW) inner structure of a vehicle body (V), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Fig. 2 is a side view of a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) explained herein below is with respect to the vehicle body (V) of an electric vehicle body. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to use the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) for a hybrid vehicle body or any other vehicle body with minor modification(s) and without otherwise deterring the intended function of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as can be deduced from the description.
[0024] In an embodiment, the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) includes an inner assembly (102) and an outer assembly (104), (as shown in Figures 3a and 3b). The inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) are secured to each other. In an embodiment, the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) are secured to each other by means of welding. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to secure the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) with each other by any other means such as fasteners and the like without otherwise deterring the intended function of the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) as can be deduced from the description. Further, the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) defines a charging port (CP) in a D-pillar portion (D) of the bodyside rear assembly (100).
[0025] Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the inner assembly (102), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the inner assembly (102) includes a panel portion (102a), a pillar portion (102b), and a lower reinforcement member (106). The panel portion (102a) and the pillar portion (102b) are secured to each other. In an embodiment, the panel portion (102a) and the pillar portion (102b) are secured to each other by means of welding. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to secure the panel portion (102a) and the pillar portion (102b) to each other by any other means such as fasteners and the like without otherwise deterring the intended function of the panel portion (102a) and the pillar portion (102b) as can be deduced from the description. Further, the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) defines an inner port (CPi).
[0026] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the outer assembly (104), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the outer assembly (104) includes a pillar portion (104a) and an upper reinforcement member (108). The pillar portion (104a) defines an outer port (CPo). In the secured position of the inner assembly (102) with the outer assembly (104), the inner port (CPi) defined by the inner assembly (102) and the outer port (CPo) defined by the outer assembly (104) are adapted to align with each other. The inner port (CPi) aligned with the outer port (CPo) is adapted to define the charging port (CP) of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100). The charging port (CP) defines a top portion (tCP) closer to the roof and a bottom portion (bCP) away from the roof and towards a bottom portion of the vehicle body. The pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104) together define the D-pillar portion (D) of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100).
[0027] Fig. 6a is a perspective view of the lower reinforcement member (106), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The lower reinforcement member (106) is configured to be provided at the bottom portion of charging port (bCP). The lower reinforcement member (106) defines at least two securing portions (L1, L2). The securing portions (L1, L2) of the lower reinforcement member (106) are adapted to secure the lower reinforcement member (106) with the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104). In an embodiment, the lower reinforcement member (106) is secured to one end of the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and adjacent to the inner port (CPi) through the securing portion (L1). Further, the lower reinforcement member (106) is secured to the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104) and adjacent to the outer port (CPo) through the securing portion (L2). However, it is also within the scope of this invention to secure the lower reinforcement member (106) to any other portions of the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) without otherwise deterring the intended function of the lower reinforcement member (106) as can be deduced from the description. Further, in an embodiment, the lower reinforcement member (106) is secured to the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104) by means of spot welding. The inner port (CPi) of the inner assembly (102) and the outer port (CPo) of the outer assembly (104) facilitate spot welding of the lower reinforcement member (106) with the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to secure the lower reinforcement member (106) to the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104) by any other welding method or any other means such as fasteners and the like without otherwise deterring the intended function of the lower reinforcement member (106) as can be deduced from the description.
[0028] Fig. 6b is a perspective view of the upper reinforcement member (108), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The upper reinforcement member (108) is configured to be provided at the top portion of charging port (tCP). The upper reinforcement member (108) defines at least two securing portions (U1, U2). The securing portion (U1) of the upper reinforcement member (108) is adapted to secure the upper reinforcement member (108) with the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104). Further, the securing portion (U2) of the upper reinforcement member (108) is adapted to secure the upper reinforcement member (108) with the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102). However, it is also within the scope of this invention to secure the upper reinforcement member (108) to any other portions of the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) without otherwise deterring the intended function of the upper reinforcement member (108) as can be deduced from the description. Further, in an embodiment, the upper reinforcement member (108) is secured to the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104) by means of spot welding. The inner port (CPi) of the inner assembly (102) and the outer port (CPo) of the outer assembly (104) facilitate spot welding of the upper reinforcement member (108) with the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to secure the upper reinforcement member (108) to the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104) by any other welding method or any other means such as fasteners and the like without otherwise deterring the intended function of the upper reinforcement member (108) as can be deduced from the description.
[0029] Fig. 7 indicates sectional views at different regions of the D-pillar portion (D) of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Sub-figure A is a sectional view of the D-pillar portion (D) indicating the connection of the upper reinforcement member (108) with the pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104). Sub-figure B is a sectional view of the D-pillar portion (D) indicating the connection of the lower reinforcement member (106) with the pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104).
[0030] In an embodiment, the charging port (CP) is defined at the D-pillar portion (D) of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) (as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 7). The charging port (CP) is adapted to be defined by the inner port (CPi) of the inner assembly (102) and the outer port (CPo) of the outer assembly (104). The lower reinforcement member (106) and the upper reinforcement member (108) are adapted to be secured between the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100). The lower reinforcement member (106) and the upper reinforcement member (108) are adapted to provide stiffness to the D-pillar portion (D) of the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100).
[0031] Fig. 8 is a flow chart indicating a method (200) of assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the method (200) is explained herein below with reference to assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle body (V). However, it is also within the scope of this invention to practice/implement the entire steps of the method (200) in a same manner or in a different manner or with omission of at least one step to the method (200) or with any addition of at least one step to the method (200) for assembling the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) for the vehicle body (V) or for a hybrid vehicle body or any other vehicle body without otherwise deterring the intended function of the method (200) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. In one embodiment, at step (202), the method includes securing the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) by the lower reinforcement member (106) at the bottom portion of charging port (bCP). At step (204), the method includes securing , the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) by the upper reinforcement member (108) at the top portion of charging port (tCP). At step (206), the method includes securing inner assembly (102) with the outer assembly (104) to assemble bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100). The reinforcement members (106, 108) provide stiffness to the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100).
[0032] The embodiments described herein above have several technical advantages including, but not limited to, realization of a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle body (V), which improves stiffness of the BIW structure of the vehicle body (V). Further, the bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) improves NVH performance of the vehicle body (V).
[0033] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0034] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle body (V), said assembly (100) comprising:
a lower reinforcement member (106) adapted to extend between an inner assembly (102) and an outer assembly (104); and
an upper reinforcement member (108) adapted to extend between the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104),
wherein
the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) are adapted to be secured with each other;
said bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) defines a charging port (CP) at a D-pillar portion (D); and
said each of the lower reinforcement member (106) and the upper reinforcement member (108) are adapted to provide stiffness to the D-pillar portion (D) of said bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100).
2. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower reinforcement member (106) is secured to a bottom portion of the charging port (bCP) and said upper reinforcement member (108) is secured to a top portion of the charging port (tCP).
3. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner assembly (102) includes a pillar portion (102b), wherein said lower reinforcement member (106) is secured to said pillar portion (102a) of the inner assembly (102).
4. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer assembly (104) includes a pillar portion (104a), wherein said upper reinforcement member (108) is secured to said pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104).
5. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower reinforcement member (106) defines at least two securing portions (L1, L2).
6. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least two securing portions (L1, L2) adapted to secure said lower reinforcement member (106) to said pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and said pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104).
7. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper reinforcement member (108) defines at least two securing portions (U1, U2).
8. The bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least two securing portions (U1, U2) adapted to secure said upper reinforcement member (108) to said pillar portion (102b) of the inner assembly (102) and said pillar portion (104a) of the outer assembly (104).
9. A method (200) of assembling a bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100), said method (200) comprising:
securing (202), an inner assembly (102) and an outer assembly (104) by a lower reinforcement member (106) at a bottom portion of charging port (bCP);
securing (204), the inner assembly (102) and the outer assembly (104) by an upper reinforcement member (108) at a top portion of charging port (tCP); and
securing (206), the inner assembly (102) with the outer assembly (104) to assemble said bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100).
10. The method (200) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said method comprising:
providing stiffness to a D-pillar portion (D) of said bodyside rear reinforcement assembly (100) by the lower reinforcement member (106) and the upper reinforcement member (108).