FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to improved side sill and side body outer for weight reduction of
vehicle.
PRIOR ART
In vehicles, the typical side sill section is provided with front door assembly wherein Side
Body Outer is welded with Strength Side Sill and Side Sill Inner. Splash Guard, Side Sill
(resin part) is also used to improve NVH performance which is clip mounted with Side
Body Outer panel.
In conventional design, the Side Body Outer panel is resistance spot welded between
Side Sill Inner, Strength Side Sill and Side Body Outer (3-Ply Spot).
In case with Splash Guard, Side Sill (Plastic part used in Side Sill area for improving
NVH performance), the part is mounted with Side Body Outer with clips. To maintain
the clearance with the Clips, Hole is provided in Strength Side Sill which also helps for
Electro deposition flow. These mounting clips in Side Body Outer also help in Electro
Deposition drainage.
Disadvantages
1. In conventional Side Body Outer, the shape of side sill is extended till the joining
flange of the Side Sill Inner and Strength Side Sill, which results in heavy weight
in Side Body Outer Panel.
2. Due to the side sill shape of Side Body Outer extended till joining flange of
Side Sill Inner and Strength Side Sill, the shape is made in CAM Restriking
operation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved side sill and side
body outer for weight reduction of vehicle which overcomes disadvantages associated
with the prior arts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide improved side sill and side body
outer for weight reduction of vehicle which results in reduction in vehicle weight.
Further object of the present invention is to provide improved side sill and side body
outer for weight reduction of vehicle which leads to easy manufacturing of side body
outer panel.
Further object of the present invention is to provide improved side sill and side body
outer for weight reduction of vehicle which results in more fuel efficiency.
Further object of the present invention is to provide improved side sill and side body
outer for weight reduction of vehicle which makes the vehicle comparatively cost
effective.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided Improved side sill and side body outer for
weight reduction of vehicle comprising of strength side sill and side body outer connected
to each other by a resistance spot welding and side sill inner and the strength side sill are
welded to each other, wherein shape of side body outer and strength side sill is optimized
such as herein described for reduction in weight.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows: conventional joining method of side body outer and strength side sill.
Fig. 2 shows: conventional joining method of side body outer and strength side sill with
splash guard side sill.
Fig. 3 shows: side sill section with new shape of side body outer and side sill without
splash guard, side sill.
Fig. 3A shows: side sill area of the vehicle showing the splash guard side sill.
Fig. 3B shows: side sill area of the vehicle showing the trim line of the side body outer
panel..
Fig. 4 shows: side sill section with new shape of side body outer and side sill with splash
guard, side sill (Detail X).
Fig. 5 shows: side sill section with new shape of side body outer and side sill at mounting
of splash guard, side sill (Detail X).
Fig. 6 shows: provision for electro deposition flow in side body outer (Detail X).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING
DRAWINGS:
In vehicles, the typical side sill section is provided as shown in Fig.1 with front door
assembly (F) wherein Side Body Outer (1) is welded with Strength Side Sill (2) and Side
Sill Inner (3). Splash Guard, Side Sill (4) (resin part) is also used to improve NVH
performance which is clip mounted with Side Body Outer panel 1 (fig.2).
In conventional design, the Side Body Outer panel is resistance spot welded (R) between
Side Sill Inner, Strength Side Sill and Side Body Outer (3-Ply Spot) ( Fig. 1).
In case with Splash Guard, Side Sill (Plastic part used in Side Sill area for improving
NVH performance), the part is mounted with Side Body Outer with clips. To maintain
the clearance with the Clips, Hole is provided in Strength Side Sill which also helps for
Electro deposition flow. These mounting clips in Side Body Outer also help in Electro
Deposition drainage.
To address the aforesaid drawbacks, the invention provides an improved joining method
of Side Body Outer assembly with Side Body Inner assembly in Side Sill area (fig. 3). It
results in weight reduction and facilitates manufacturing of Side Body Outer Panel (1').
The new shape of side sill (3') has additional resistance welding point between Side ~ o d ~
Outer Panel (1') and Strength Side Sill Panel (2') along with sole sealer between the edges
of Side Body Outer. Provision of Splash Guard, Side Sill (S') (Resin part used to improve
NVH performance of the vehicle against stone impingement) is made in Strength Side Sill
Panel (fig. 4 & fig. 5). A plurality of ED flow channels are provided in Side Body Outer
Panel (fig. 6).
Reference may be made to fig. 3. In present invention, the shape of Side Body Outer (1')
and Strength Side Sill (23 is optimized to achieve weight reduction. Joining of Side Body
Outer panel with Strength Side Sill and Side Sill Inner is changed from 3 Ply spot to 2
Ply Spot. Side Body Outer Panel is welded with Strength Side Sill in Side Body Inner
assy and Side Body assy is welded with Under Body assy wherein Strength Side Sill is
spot welded with Side Sill Inner. Sole Sealer is applied (to prevent rust) at the joining
edge of Side Body Outer when resin part (Splash, Guard Side Sill) is used to improve
the NVH performance of the vehicle. Sole Sealer application is not required when
undercoat is applied.
In the prior art, three panels i.e. side sill inner, strength side sill and side body outer are
welded at a point.
In the present invention, side sill inner remains the same. Strength side sill and side
body outer are welded at a point, after which side body outer is discontinued. However,
strength side sill is further extended to be welded with side sill inner. The strength side
sill is extended downwards towards the side body outer. So that, the box section between
side sill inner (3') and strength side sill (2') increases resulting in more strength to the
side body outer thereby reducing load impact on the passengers inside.
Now, reference may be made to fig. 3A indicating splash guard, side sill (Sf) from front
side. Again, fig. 3B shows from the front trim line of side body outer (T), which does not
change withlwithout splash guard side sill (S'). Further, a plurality of holes (H) are
provided in strength side sill for electro deposition (ED) drainage.
The splash guard side sill (Sf) (Resin part) is mounted onto strength side sill (2') by using
clips. Side Body Outer flange at clip mounting locations (C') is modified as shown in fig.
5. At the point of clip mounting on strength side sill (2'), the flange width is reduced to
accommodate clip. Clip can also be provided on the splash, guard side sill mounted on
the strength side sill.
For easier flow of Electro Deposition, Clearance of for ex. 3mm is provided between Side
Body Outer flange (1') and Strength Side Sill (2') (fig. 6).
Advantages of Present invention
1. Increase in size of the box section (which mainly resist the impact load in side
+I crash test) as compared to conventional design due to increase in the size of
Strength Side Sill. This results in the increase of section moment which in turn
improves the side crash performance.
2. Improvement in the electro deposition (ED) performance (for rush prevention)
between strength Side Sill and Side Body Outer due to elimination of overlap
between Side Body Outer in the Strength Side Sill area for ED liquid (Detail Z in fig.
3) -
3. Optimization of the shape of Strength Side Sill in Side Body Outer to achieve weight
reduction of the vehicle.
4. Simplified side sill shape facilitates manufacturing of the side body outer panel.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations
and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the
concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present
invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:-

WE CLAIM:
1. Improved side sill and side body outer for weight reduction of vehicle comprising of
strength side sill and side body outer connected to each other by a resistance spot
welding and side sill inner and the strength side sill are welded to each other,
wherein shape of side body outer and strength side sill is optimized such as herein
described for reduction in weight.
2. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resistance
welding point is provided between the side body outer panel and strength side sill
panel alongwith sole sealer between the edges of side body outer, in which the sole
sealer is applied in case resin part is used otherwise under coat is applied.
3. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein splash guard, side sill is provided on strength side sill panel.
4. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein the side body outer panel is joined with strength side sill and side sill inner
is joined with strength side sill by 2 ply spot.
5. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein the Side Body Outer Panel is welded with Strength Side Sill in Side Body
Inner assy and Side Body assy is welded with Under Body assy wherein Strength
Side Sill is spot welded with Side Sill Inner.
6. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein at the point of clip mounting on strength side sill, the flange width is
reduced to accommodate clip.
7. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein clip can also be provided on the splash, guard side sill mounted on the
strength side sill.
.8. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein Strength Side Sill and Side body outer are welded at a point,
after which side body outer is discontinued and the strength side sill is
further extended to be welded with side sill inner.
9. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the strength side sill is extended downwards towards the
side body outer so that, the box section between side sill inner and strength
side sill increases.
10. Improved side sill and side body outer as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, is associated with the advantageous features such as herein
described.