Vehicle center pillar structure
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorChang Sup Hwang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment center pillar structure for a vehicle includes a center pillar including a lower connection portion, a side sill including an intermediate connection portion to which the lower connection portion of the center pillar is joined, a pillar reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the center pillar, and a side sill reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the side sill, wherein the pillar reinforcement and the side sill reinforcement are joined to the intermediate connection portion of the side sill.
Claims20
A center pillar structure for a vehicle, the center pillar structure comprising:
- a center pillar comprising a lower connection portion;
- a side sill comprising an intermediate connection portion to which the lower connection portion of the center pillar is joined;
- a pillar reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the center pillar;
- and
- a side sill reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the side sill, wherein the pillar reinforcement and the side sill reinforcement are joined to the intermediate connection portion of the side sill;
- wherein the pillar reinforcement comprises a bottom flange joined to a top wall of the intermediate connection portion of the side sill;
- wherein the side sill reinforcement comprises a top wall joined to the top wall of the intermediate connection portion;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the top wall of the intermediate connection portion is sandwiched between the bottom flange of the pillar reinforcement and the top wall of the side sill reinforcement.
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body comprising a side opening;
- a center pillar extending vertically in a middle of the side opening, the center pillar comprising a lower connection portion;
- a side sill comprising an intermediate connection portion to which the lower connection portion of the center pillar is joined;
- a pillar reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the center pillar;
- and
- a side sill reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the side sill, wherein the pillar reinforcement and the side sill reinforcement are joined to the intermediate connection portion of the side sill;
- wherein the pillar reinforcement comprises a bottom flange joined to a top wall of the intermediate connection portion of the side sill;
- wherein the side sill reinforcement comprises a top wall joined to the top wall of the intermediate connection portion;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the top wall of the intermediate connection portion is sandwiched between the bottom flange of the pillar reinforcement and the top wall of the side sill reinforcement.
A method of providing a center pillar structure for a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a center pillar comprising a lower connection portion;
- providing a side sill comprising an intermediate connection portion to which the lower connection portion of the center pillar is joined;
- providing a pillar reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the center pillar;
- and
- providing a side sill reinforcement joined to an inboard surface of the side sill, wherein the pillar reinforcement and the side sill reinforcement are joined to the intermediate connection portion of the side sill;
- wherein the pillar reinforcement comprises a bottom flange joined to a top wall of the intermediate connection portion of the side sill;
- wherein the side sill reinforcement comprises a top wall joined to the top wall of the intermediate connection portion;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the top wall of the intermediate connection portion is sandwiched between the bottom flange of the pillar reinforcement and the top wall of the side sill reinforcement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.