FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention
of deformation in B-pillar area under side impact..
BACKGROUND1 PRIOR ART
Lower body of vehicle comprises side sill on both left hand side and right hand
side in longitudinal direction of vehicle.
The side sill includes inner panels and outer panels in contact with each other
running continuously from front to rear of vehicle with a vertical structure, Bpillar,
joint with sill structure to which rear door of the vehicle is fixed.
During side impact, in case there is a large amount of..deformation in vehicie
side sill area near B-pillar, it augments chances of injury values owing to
formation of sharp edges inside vehicle cabin.
In order to provide a solution to the above, existing tech~ology consists of
placement of a reinforcement on the outerlinner surface of side sill outer
panel. However, it is associated with the following drawbacks:
- Span of reinforcement cannot be pre-decided as the deformation
following impact can be made availabie only after physical test.
- Stiffness is only provided to one part i.e. side sill outer panel frch inside
or outside.
Hence, the present invention proposes an effective solution by devising a novel
side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle.
_.I.'
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The principal' object of the present invention is to provide side sill reinforcing
structure in vehicle which obviates shortcomings of prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide side sill reinforcing
structure in vehicle which prevents deformation in area close to B-pillar.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide side sill reinforcing
structure in vehicle which avoids possibility of injury to passengers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided side sill reinforcing structure in
vehicle for prevention of deformation in B-pillar area under side impact
comprising a reinforcement interposed between pair of side sill inner and outer
panels at the joinery thereof in proximity to the B-pillar area.
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 of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows: Reinforcement of present invention.
Fig. 3 shows:
Fig. 4 shows:
Fig. 2 shows: Position of reinforcement between side sill inner and outer
panel on one side of joining between pair of inner and outer
panels in the present invention.
Sectional view of sandwitched structure of reinforcement
according to the instant invention.
Location of spot weld in the reinforcement in accordance
with present invention.
Fig. 5 shows: Comparison of deformation between the vehicle with
reinforcement and the vehicle without reinforcement.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The instant invention i~llparts teaching regarding a newly devised side sill
reinforcing structure of vehicle so as to prevent excessive deformation in Bpillar
lower area and at joinery of inner and outer side sill panels under side
impact.
Now, reference may be made to fig. 1 in respect of the above. As can be
obseived from the figure, there is a joint (J) between a pair of adjoining side sill
inner panels (Not shown) and a pair of adjoining side sill outer panels (1, 2), in
which each pair faces each other.
According to inventive concept of the present invention, an auxiliary
reinforcement is provided at the joinery of the aforesaid side sill inner and
outer panels (2 inner and 2 outer) in proximity to the B-pillar area. As
illustrated in fig 2, in which one side of the joinery is indicated, the
reinforcement (R) is interposed between said inner panel (3) and outer panel
(2). This can be more clearly seen in fig. 3. Similarly the reinforcement (R) is
also sandwitched between inner and outer panel on the other side of the
vehicle in side sill area (Not shown).
The reinforcement constitutes a single structure of sheet metal having
substantially an inverted L-section (R) as in fig. 1. The.reinforcement is fixedly
secured to both the inner panels at one end with flange (4) and to both the
outer panels at other end of its longitudinal member (5).
The length of the reinforcement (L) extends on both sides of the joinery (J),ti ll
the end of front inner sill (3) length. The reinforcement is having a plurality of
slots (S) with a gap therebetween at its bottom part i.e. along the end portion of
the longitudinal member (5). Provision of slot is rnade for locating points for
spot welding and for saving material of reinforcement as well. However, upper
part of said reinforcement i.e. flange (4) is not provided with slots due to
requirement of higher stiffness in that portion.
The reinforcement is secured to the inner and outer panels by means of spot
welding. However, scope of the invention is not restricted to the same.
In respect of this, reference may be made to fig. 4, wherein spot welds (T) on
the upper part of reinforcement is required to fix it with side sill inner panels
and lower spot welds (B) impart strength to the area which might rupture and
in turn produce sharp edge in the course of impact.
In conjuction with the above, another reinforcement can be provided on the
inn,er/outer surface of the outer panel in proximity to the B-pillar.
Now, referring to i'ig. 5 indicating deformation in conventional and new model.
The one with proposed reinforcement deforms less at joining of side sill outer
panels (1 and 2).From the sectional view in fig 5, the deformation of models
with reinforcement (TI) and without reinforcement (T2) can be observed,
wherein the model without reinforcement deforms more than the one with
h a
cn reinforcement.
m
n
-Q) cI Here, provision of the reinforcement controls and shifts deformation/probable
i= V
(V sharp edge formation iri sill to rearward of vehicle in order to minimize the risk
E
L
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LL - of injury to occupant.The proposed invention stiffens both outer and inner side
6
oz sill' panels. It is provided in both left hand side and right hand side of 7
0
7 vehicle.Thus, due to positioning of reinforcement at suitable location, the
7
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7
0
deformation is controlled.
I
I Advantageous Features
- Stiffens both outer-and inner side sill panels.
- Controls and shifts deformation/sharp edge in sill to rearward of vehicle
to minimize the risk of injury to occupant.
- Prevention of deformation in B-pillar lower area and joinery of side sill
inner and outer panels.
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:-

W e Claim:
1. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side impact comprising a reinforcement interposed
betwccn pair of side sill inner and outer panels at the juiriery thereof in
proximity to the B-pillar area.
2. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of' deformation in
B-pillar area under side impact as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
reinforcement constitutes a single structure of sheet metal having
substantially an inverted L-section.
3. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side impact as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the
reinforcement is fixedly secured to the inner panels at one end with
flange and to the outer panels at other end of its longitudinal member.
4. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side impact as claimed in any of the preceding claims
h a wherein the length of the reinforcement extends along the length of side
m
m . n sill in the rear direction in B-pillar area near joinery.
5. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side impactas claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the reinforcement is having a plurality of slots with a gap
therebetween at its bottom part constituting the end portion of the
longitudinal member.
6. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side impact as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein another reinforcement can be provided on the inner/outer
surface of the outer panel in proximity to the B-pillar.
7. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side irnpactas claimed in any of the preceding claims
is associated with the advantageous features such as herein described.
8. Side sill reinforcing structure in vehicle for prevention of deformation in
B-pillar area under side impactsubstantially as herein described with
reference to ,the accompanying drawings.