Wendland, Norbert (Muenchen, DE)
Oancea, Nikolaus (Karlsfeld, DE)

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10/275767

09/18/2003

05/21/2003

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296/203.040

296/187.010

(IPC1-7): B62D025/08

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP,CROWELL & MORING LLP (P.O. BOX 14300, WASHINGTON, DC, 20044-4300, US)

1. Y-shaped rear brace that is resistant to bending and torsion for a base chassis consisting of a cross support (1) running crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the base chassis, a support (2) running in the longitudinal direction of the base chassis, a receiving bracket (3) and two tension/compression bars (4) between the receiving bracket and the beam end, respectively supported roughly in the center of the base chassis.

2. Y-shaped rear brace according to claim 1, wherein the receiving bracket (3) consists of a roughly triangular carrier, which is arranged crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the base chassis.

3. Y-shaped rear brace according to claim 2, wherein the receiving bracket (3) points its tip towards the floor of the base chassis.

4. Y-shaped rear brace according to one of the claims 1 through 3, wherein the cross support (1) and the upper side of the triangular receiving bracket (3) are arranged basically in one plane.

5. Y-shaped rear brace according to claim 4, wherein the support (2) runs from the center of the cross support (1) to the tip of the triangular receiving bracket (3).

6. Y-shaped rear brace according to one of the claims 1 through 5, wherein the receiving bracket (3) is supported by a tension/compression bar (4) on a beam (8, 9), respectively.

7. Y-shaped rear brace according to claim 5, wherein the two tension and compression bars (4) find support in the area of the tip of the triangular receiving bracket (3).

8. Y-shaped rear brace according to one of the claims 1 through 7, wherein each tension/compression bar (4) is supported by the base chassis especially in its center by a support (7).

[0001] The invention relates to a Y-shaped rear brace for increasing the bending and torsional rigidity of base chasses.

[0002] In base chasses for motor vehicles generally a shear panel, a supporting trunk floor or—if the spare tire is stored in the rear area of the chassis—an indentation for the spare tire are incorporated in the rear area, which each form a supporting component that is arranged between the cross support, the rear cross support and the right and left longitudinal supports.

[0003] If for design considerations, e.g. for weight reduction purposes, the shear panel or the trunk floor are eliminated or the indentation for the spare tire or the trunk floor shall be designed as non-supporting components, e.g. out of plastic, the static and dynamic bending and torsional rigidity on the vehicle is lost.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide sufficient static and dynamic bending and torsional rigidity in vehicles without supporting trunk floor.

[0005] The Y-shaped rear brace pursuant to the invention with the features of claim 1 offers the advantage that this measure leads to a considerably increase in the static and dynamic bending and torsional rigidity with minimal weight effect.

[0006] Due to the features listed in the dependent claims, beneficial embodiments of the rear brace provided in claim 1 are possible.

[0007] In particular, it is beneficial when the receiving bracket consists of a roughly triangular carrier or of an alternative receiving design, which is arranged crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the base chassis. Such a receiving bracket can be manufactured easily and simply on one hand and can be easily incorporated in the base chassis on the other hand, especially when pursuant to another embodiment its tip is directed toward the floor of the base chassis.

[0008] When the cross support and the upper side of the triangular receiving bracket are arranged substantially in one plane, it results beneficially in a largely horizontal plane fastening surface, to which e.g. the indentation for the spare tire can be attached.

[0009] In order to achieve a high level of rigidity, the support extends from the center of the cross support to the tip of the triangular receiving bracket and finds support in a beam through a tension/compression bar, respectively.

[0010] When the two tension or compression bars are supported in the area of the tip of the triangular receiving bracket, the forces that are introduced from the support, which is supported basically in the same area, can be safely distributed throughout the base chassis.

[0011] To prevent the tension or compression rods from collapsing, they can beneficially find support especially in their center in a support on the base chassis.

[0012] Further advantages and features of the present invention are described in the following detailed description of an example of a rear brace pursuant to the invention as per the attached drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 the Y-shaped rear brace pursuant to the invention in a view from beneath,

[0014] FIG. 2 a side view of the Y-shaped rear brace pursuant to the invention,

[0015] FIG. 3 a diagonal view of the Y-shaped rear brace pursuant to the invention, and

[0016] FIG. 4 a detailed view of an alternative receiving design.

[0017] In FIGS. 1 through 3 a rear brace pursuant to the invention is depicted. The figures show parts of a base chassis, which is not shown in further detail, in which the rear brace pursuant to the invention has been installed.

[0018] The Y-shaped rear brace consists of a cross support 1 , which is arranged between a right and a left longitudinal carrier 5 , 6 in the rear area of a base chassis. From the cross support 1 extends a support 2 in the longitudinal direction of the base chassis towards a receiving bracket 3 . The support 2 is arranged in the center of the cross support 1 .

[0019] The receiving bracket 2 consists of a substantially triangular carrier, which is crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the base chassis and the tip of which extends downward in the direction of the road. The cross support 1 and the upper side of the triangular receiving bracket 3 are arranged basically in one plane. This results in a substantially horizontal even plane, to which e.g. the indentation for receiving a spare tire can be attached.

[0020] The support 2 that is fastened to the cross support 1 extends from the center of the cross support 1 to the tip of the triangular receiving bracket 3 and is thus included in relation to a horizontal line since the tip of the receiving bracket 3 is located lower than the cross support 1 .

[0021] To achieve a high level of torsional rigidity, the receiving bracket 3 is supported by a tension/compression bar 4 on a beam 8 , 9 , respectively. The tension and compression bars 4 are supported in the area of the tip of the triangular receiving bracket 3 so that to the tensile and compression forces in the receiving bracket a cross-force can be introduced as a resulting force.

[0022] Additionally, each compression bar 4 is supported by the base chassis especially in its center by a support 7 to prevent the compression bars 4 from collapsing.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of an alternative receiving design 10 .

[0024] The preceding description of the example pursuant to the present invention serves only illustration purposes and not the purpose of limiting the invention. Within the framework of the invention various modifications and changes are possible without leaving the scope of the invention as well as its equivalents.