Description:A VEHICLE SIDE BODY STRUCTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a vehicle side body structure. The present invention is particularly related to the vehicle side body structure having a reinforcement bracket that connects a wheel housing outer, a fuel box panel and a side body outer of a vehicle to reduce the noise perceived by a passenger inside a cabin due to road loads while the vehicle is in motion.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter.
[0003] In vehicles, road noise is a common problem. The reason for these noises is usually the resonance of structural panels that occurs due to the forces entering the vehicle in running conditions. Another cause of the noise is, the tyre interacting with the road.
[0004] Further, due to the running condition of the vehicle, the rear wheel housing area tends to vibrate due to the forces transmitted to it through suspension hard points (road loads).
[0005] Therefore, these vibrations in the rear wheel housing area due to the road loads, lead to the generation of unwanted noise inside the cabin which is called road noise.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, In the existing design the area X (104) is located between the three panels namely, a fuel box panel (102), a side body outer panel (103) and a wheel housing outer panel (101). The area X (104) was a huge pocket area (gap) where there was no connection between the three panels (101, 102, 103). Due to the gap between the three panels (101, 102, 103), there was a strain concentration in area X (104) leading to deformation around the panels as well as generation of unwanted sounds.
[0007] Therefore various solutions were used to improve the deformation problem and reduce the generation of unwanted sounds such as adding of a dampening sheet on the panels (over the bending zone). The dampening sheet dampens the vibration and hence reduces road noise inside the cabin. However, the problem with this solution is that it leads to a weight addition of roughly ~ 1 -2 Kg generally. Also, fumes are generated from the dampening sheet that are hazardous and as such not environment friendly.
[0008] In another solution, the panel’s thickness can be increased. However, increasing the thickness leads to a significant weight and cost addition to the overall vehicle development.
[0009] In a further solution, spot welds can be added. However, the improvement to cost ratio is significantly less through the addition of spot welds.
[0010] It is therefore desirable to reduce the deformation around area X and reduce the generation of unwanted noise due to the vehicle motion.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0011] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0012] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to reduce the deformation around area X and also reduce the generation of unwanted noise due to vehicle motion.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement bracket structure in area X and establishe a connection between a wheel housing outer panel, a fuel box panel and a side body outer panel.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective solution to achieve the above objectives.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0016] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0017] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a vehicle side body having a reinforcement bracket structure, wherein the reinforcement bracket structure is connected to a wheel housing outer panel, a fuel box panel and a side body outer panel of a vehicle. The reinforcement bracket structure defines an L-shaped profile having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, wherein the horizontal portion defines a first longitudinal side and first transverse side and a second transverse side and the vertical portion defines a second longitudinal side and a first vertical side and a second vertical side. A first flange extends outward from the first transverse side of the horizontal portion to connect the horizontal portion with the wheel housing outer panel. A second flange is protruded perpendicularly outward from the second longitudinal side of the vertical portion to fasten the second longitudinal side of the reinforcement bracket structure with the fuel box panel and a third flange extends outward from the second transverse side of the horizontal portion and a fourth flange extend outward from the second vertical side of the vertical portion, the third flange and the fourth flange are provided to connect the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the reinforcement bracket structure with the side body outer panel.
[0018] In an aspect, beads are provided on the L-shaped profile, wherein the plurality of beads extend over the horizontal portion and the vertical portion to match with the L-shaped profile of the reinforcement bracket structure forming an L-shaped bead profile.
[0019] In an aspect, the reinforcement bracket structure is located horizontally along the width of the vehicle.
[0020] In an aspect, fifth flanges extend perpendicularly outward from the first and second longitudinal sides of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion.
[0021] In an aspect, the fifth flange provided on the second longitudinal side of the vertical portion is integrated with the second flange.
[0022] In an aspect, a fastening hole is provided on the second flange to fasten the second flange with the fuel box panel by means of a fastener.
[0023] In an aspect, the first transverse side and the first vertical side are adjacent to each other.
[0024] In an aspect, the second transverse side and the second vertical side are adjacent to each other.
[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0026] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0027] Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle side body structure according to the prior art;
[0028] Fig. 2 illustrates a connection of the reinforcement bracket structure with the panels according to the present disclosure;
[0029] Fig. 3 illustrates a reinforcement bracket structure according to the present disclosure;
[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of the reinforcement bracket structure according to the present disclosure;
[0031] Fig. 5 illustrates a graph depicting a relation between Sound Pressure Level (SPL) according to the present disclosure.
[0032] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0033] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0034] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0035] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0037] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0038] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0039] The present invention discloses a vehicle side body structure and specifically an area X that is formed between the three panels namely, a fuel box panel, a side body outer panel and a wheel housing outer panel of a vehicle. The present invention reinforces the area X by making it rigid such that vibrations entering the vehicle in running conditions as well as deformation around the area X due to vibrations is reduced.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, it shows the placement of a reinforcement bracket structure (200) on the area X (104 as provided in FIG. 1). The reinforcement bracket structure (200) is connected to the wheel housing outer panel (101), a box panel (102) and a side body outer panel (103) of a vehicle.
[0041] The reinforcement bracket structure (200) is located horizontally along the width of the vehicle and the reinforcement bracket structure (200) establishes a connection between the fuel box panel (102), wheel housing outer panel (101) and the side body outer panel (103) for further improving the stiffness of the area X (104 as provided in FIG. 1) and also act as a bridge to constrain the deformations occurring in the area X (104 as provided in FIG. 1).
[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, The reinforcement bracket structure (200) is located horizontally along the width of the vehicle. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) defines an L-shaped profile. The L-shaped profile has a vertical portion (301) and a horizontal portion (302). The vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302) are considered according to the vehicle layout. X direction indicates vehicle width and Y direction indicates vehicle height.
[0043] The vertical portion (301) includes a first longitudinal side (303), a first transverse side (304) and a second transverse side (305). Further, the horizontal portion (302) describes a second longitudinal side (306), a first vertical side (307) and a second vertical side (308).
[0044] The first transverse side (304) and a second transverse side (305) are located opposite to each other on the vertical portion (301). Similarly, first vertical side (307) and a second vertical side (308) are located opposite to each other on the horizontal portion (302).
[0045] Further, the first transverse side (304) on the vertical portion (301) and the first vertical side (307) on the horizontal portion (302) are positioned adjacent to each other. Similarly, the second transverse side (305) on the vertical portion (301) and the second vertical side (308) on the horizontal portion (302) are positioned adjacent to each other.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 4, illustrates the flanges provided on the reinforcement bracket structure (200). A first flange (401) is provided on the first transverse side (304) of the vertical portion (301) and is further extended outward from the first transverse side (304) of the vertical portion (301) to connect the vertical portion (301) with the wheel housing outer panel (101). The connection of the first flange (401) with the wheel housing outer panel (101) is done using spot welding.
[0047] Further, a second flange (402) is provided on the second longitudinal side (306) of the horizontal portion (302). The second flange (402) is protruded perpendicularly outwards from the second longitudinal side (306) of the horizontal portion (302). The second flange (402) is used to fasten the second longitudinal side (306) of the reinforcement bracket structure (200) with the fuel box panel (102).
[0048] Additionally, a fastening hole (407) is provided on the second flange (402) to fasten the second flange (402) and make a connection with the fuel box panel (102) by use of a fastener.
[0049] Furthermore, a third flange (403) is provided on the second transverse side (305) of the vertical portion (301) and is further extended outward from the second transverse side (305) of the vertical portion (301).
[0050] A fourth flange (404) is provided on the second vertical side (308) of the horizontal portion (302) and is extended outward from the second vertical side (308) of the horizontal portion (302).
[0051] Also, the third flange (403) and the fourth flange (404) are provided to connect the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302) of the reinforcement bracket structure (200) with the side body outer panel (103). The connection of the third flange (403) and the fourth flange (404) with the side body outer panel (103) is done by using an adhesive.
[0052] The reinforcement bracket (200) further has fifth flanges (406a, 406b) that are provided on the first and second longitudinal sides (303, 306) of the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302). The fifth flanges (406a, 406b) extend perpendicularly outward from the first and second longitudinal sides (303, 306) of the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302).
[0053] Further, the fifth flange (406a) provided on the second longitudinal side (306) of the horizontal portion (302) is integrated with the second flange (402). The fifth flanges (406a, 406b) restrict deformations in vertical direction and on the side edges to restrict lateral deformation.
[0054] Furthermore, a plurality of beads (405a, 405b) are given on the L-shaped profile. The beads (405a, 405b) extend over the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302) to match with the L-shaped profile of the reinforcement bracket structure (200) further forming an L shaped bead profile. The beads (405a, 405b) help in restricting the deformations of the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302).
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0055] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, Ref. FIG. 5, a graph depicting a relation between Sound Pressure Level (SPL) and frequency is shown to compare the difference between the existing design and the present invention. From the graph, an apparent reduction in road noise (~8.0 dB(A)) inside cabin is achieved with the addition of minimum weight in the present invention.
[0056] The deformation in the area X that is formed between the three panels namely, a fuel box panel, a side body outer panel and a wheel housing outer panel is reduced.
[0057] The road noise performance of the body is significantly improved.
[0058] The comfort inside the cabin is subsequently improved.
[0059] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0060] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature. , Claims:We claim:
1. A vehicle side body structure (100) comprising:
a reinforcement bracket structure (200), the reinforcement bracket structure (200) connected to a wheel housing outer panel (101), a fuel box panel (102) and a side body outer panel (103) of a vehicle, the reinforcement bracket structure (200) comprises:
the reinforcement bracket structure (200) defining an L-shaped profile having a vertical portion (301) and a horizontal portion (302), wherein the vertical portion (301) defines a first longitudinal side (303) and first transverse side (304) and a second transverse side (305) and the horizontal portion (302) defines a second longitudinal side (306) and a first vertical side (307) and a second vertical side (308);
a first flange (401) extends outward from the first transverse side (304) of the vertical portion (301) to connect the vertical portion (301) with the wheel housing outer panel (101);
a second flange (402) protruded perpendicularly outward from the second longitudinal side (306) of the horizontal portion (302) to fasten the second longitudinal side (306) of the reinforcement bracket structure (200) with the fuel box panel (102); and
a third flange (403) extends outward from the second transverse side (305) of the vertical portion (301) and a fourth flange (404) extend outward from the second vertical side (308) of the horizontal portion (302), the third flange (403) and the fourth flange (404) are provided to connect the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302) of the reinforcement bracket structure (200) with the side body outer panel (103).

2. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of beads (405a, 405b) are provided on the L-shaped profile, wherein the plurality of beads (405a, 405b) extend over the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302) to match with the L-shaped profile of the reinforcement bracket structure (200) forming an L-shaped bead profile.
3. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement bracket structure (200) is located horizontally along the width of the vehicle.
4. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein fifth flanges (406a, 406b) extend perpendicularly outward from the first and second longitudinal sides (303, 306) of the vertical portion (301) and the horizontal portion (302).
5. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fifth flange (406a) provided on the second longitudinal side (306) of the horizontal portion (302) is integrated with the second flange (402).
6. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fastening hole (407) is provided on the second flange (402) to fasten the second flange (402) with the fuel box panel (102) by means of a fastener.
7. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first transverse side (304) and the first vertical side (307) are adjacent to each other.
8. The reinforcement bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second transverse side (305) and the second vertical side (308) are adjacent to each other.