Lightweight vehicle structure flexibly manufactured
AssigneesEDAG Engineering GmbH, LZN Laser Zentrum Nord GmbH, Concept Laser GmbH, Blm S.P.A.
InventorsMartin Hillebrecht, Michael Schmidt, Eric Fritzsche, Frank Breitenbach, Claus Emmelmann, Frank Herzog, Sergio Raso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A body node for connecting shell-shaped body structures, of a vehicle, the body node having: a first connecting flange for connection to a first shell-shaped body structure, a second connecting flange for connection to a second shell-shaped body structure, a third connecting flange for connection to a third shell-shaped body structure, and a connecting structure rigidly connecting the connecting flanges with each other and, for example, forming a monolithic body with the connecting flanges.
Claims21
A body node for connecting shell-shaped body structures, of a vehicle, the body node being formed in a generative manner, and comprising:
- a first connecting flange configured for connection to a first shell-shaped body structure,
- a second connecting flange configured for connection to a shell-shaped second body structure;
- a third connecting flange configured for connection to a shell-shaped third body structure;
- and
- a connecting structure rigidly connecting the first, second and third connecting flanges with each other and forming a monolithic body with the connecting flanges, the connecting structure including a wall enveloping a cavity, and a plurality of struts or bars being arranged in the cavity, joined to and configured to stiffen the enveloping wall.
A method for manufacturing a body node for connecting shell-shaped body structures, of a vehicle, the body node having a first connecting flange configured for connection to a first shell-shaped body structure, a second connecting flange configured for connection to a shell-shaped second body structure;
- a third connecting flange configured for connection to a shell-shaped third body structure;
- and a connecting structure rigidly connecting the first, second and third connecting flanges with each other and forming a monolithic body with the connecting flanges, the connecting structure including a wall enveloping a cavity, wherein a plurality of struts or bars joining and configured to stiffen the enveloping wall are arranged in the cavity, the method comprising:
- providing a first body structure, a second body structure and a third body structure;
- determining for at least one of the first, second and third body structures an actual geometry including actual dimensions and providing the connecting flanges for the at least one body structure;
- and
- forming the connecting flanges of the at least one body structure to the actual geometry including the actual dimensions in a generative manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.