US 5,398,989 A · Central pillar for the bodywork of a passenger car

Abstract

The invention relates to a conical central pillar assembly for the bodywork of a passenger car, especially a bodywork having a space-frame bearing structure constructed from extruded light metal section bearers and cast light metal joining elements. According to the invention, the central pillar assembly includes a substantially plate-like base section wall having a multi-layer, multi-chamber extruded section disposed thereon. The section chambers in the outermost layers are selectively cut at various heights in step wise fashion in order to produce a desired conical cross section with a wide base portion and narrow top portion. Additional cuts are made in the outermost section chambers to form recesses for accommodating door locks, hinge assemblies and the like. An additional piece, preferably in the form of a light metal casting or a sheet metal stamping, is provided and forms an outer cover for at least a bottom portion of the central pillar.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A central pillar assembly for connecting a roof frame member to a door sill in a passenger car bodywork comprising in operative combination:

a) a generally planar base section wall of a vertical length sufficient to extend between said roof frame member and said door sill, said base section wall having a first inner surface disposed facing an interior passenger space of said bodywork and a second outer surface disposed facing outwardly of said vehicle bodywork;
and
b) a multi-chamber portion disposed on said second outer surface and extending over said vertical length of said base section wall, said multi-chamber portion including:
i) a first plurality of vertically oriented section chambers arranged side by side to form a first layer of chambers on said base section wall outer surface;
and
ii) said first plurality of section chambers are stepped in height in lateral succession such that said central pillar assembly has a generally conical upward taper in side elevation view.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Central pillar for the bodywork of a passenger car

Life of this patent

Central pillar for the bodywork of a passenger car

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19