Lateral wall module for the body of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A lateral wall module extends to the rear in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle at least from an A-pillar as far as a rear wheel mounting, and has a lateral wall structure and also a lateral wall panel connected to the latter. The lateral wall structure, for its part, is constructed from an inner part and a wall part, which is fastened on the outside of the inner part and integrally reinforces the lateral wall module, and is at least partially designed in the sill region in such a manner that it complements the lateral wall panel there. In order to use the lateral wall module in a simple manner for a convertible or a coupe, it is proposed that the lateral wall panel is designed as a single-component pressed part which extends from the rear wheel mounting, firstly, over the lateral roof frame and the A-pillar as far as the front wall pillar and, secondly, over a sideboard as far as the box-section pillar, that the box-section pillar of the lateral wall module runs as far as the upper edge of the side board. The lateral wall panel and the lateral wall structure are designed in profile form in the manner of an open loop, the openings of the loops facing each other in the assembled state.

1 . A method for producing a lateral wall module, a lateral wall structure, which extends to the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least from an A-pillar as far as a rear wheel mounting and comprises an inner part and a reinforcing wall part attached on an outside of the latter, being joined in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a lateral wall panel, which has been deep drawn previously from a blank and cut with window openings and at least one door opening being formed, an inner part of the lateral wall structure being fastened on the outside of a wall part which integrally reinforces the lateral wall module and complements the lateral wall panel in the sill region, comprising: 
 cutting the lateral wall panel extending from the rear wheel mounting over the lateral roof frame and the A-pillar in such a manner that, firstly, the door opening and the window opening situated above the sideboard of the lateral wall panel merge into each other without any interruption and, secondly, an auxiliary frame is formed which, in place of the front wall pillar and the sill section running below the door opening, connects the panel part of the A-pillar and that of the rest of the sill adjoining the door opening to each other,    fixing the side wall panel rigidly and joining the side wall panel to the lateral wall structure, and    severing the auxiliary frame from the lateral wall panel after fixing has taken place.    
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein fixing the side wall panel takes place by clamping the lateral wall panel in a clamping device by retaining tabs which are arranged on the A-pillar and the lateral roof frame of the panel and are formed while cutting the panel after deep drawing the panel.  
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein after the lateral wall panel has been clamped in place, the lateral wall structure is joined to the panel and the retaining tabs are subsequently severed.  
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the panel is fixed in place by joining it to the lateral wall structure and wherein only then is the auxiliary frame which protrudes outward from the panel in the transverse direction of the vehicle severed.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner part and the reinforcing wall part, which is constructed from two shells forming a hollow profile, together with the panel are bonded to one another at connecting flanges.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the inner part and the reinforcing wall part, which is constructed from two shells forming a hollow profile, together with the panel are bonded to one another at connecting flanges.  
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inner part and the reinforcing wall part, which is constructed from two shells forming a hollow profile, together with the panel are bonded to one another at connecting flanges.  
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the inner part and the reinforcing wall part, which is constructed from two shells forming a hollow profile, together with the panel are bonded to one another at connecting flanges.  
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.  
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein notches are provided on connecting flanges of the inner part and of the wall part so that the flanges are arranged in an alternating manner to one another in the joined position of the flanges resting on each other, and wherein, in the joined position, the flanges of the lateral wall structure and of the panel are spot-welded to one another at the locations of the notches.