Space frame automobile body, with a roof and a chassis frame, has vertical support pillars between them as double-shell hollow profiles shaped by high internal pressure

摘要

The automobile body assembly, in a space frame structure, has a roof frame with longitudinal and lateral members, and hollow profile longitudinal members at the floor level. The roof frame is supported on the lower members at the chassis by vertical pillars (3). At least two opposing pillars of the support structure, and especially the B or C or D pillars, are composed of two plates as inner (3a) and outer (3b) shells, welded together at their edges and shaped by high internal pressures. The shells are of different materials, and at least one is a tailored blank. The edge flange (3c) carries a seal for a door or window. The flanges (31a) at the upper end (31) of the pillar are for bonding with the roof frame. The bottom (32) of the pillar is dimensioned to be secured to the lower chassis frame.