Undercarriage liner made of plastic for a vehicle

• US 20070114816A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ranger S.p.A., Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Ranger S.p.A., Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Schmid, Markus, Motta, Giovanni, Reiche, Rudolf, Hoelzel, Steffen, Giardini, Marco Pietro
• Application Number:
  US11/476,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20070114816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/204
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/025 Polyolefin vinyl or acrylic copolymers B32B2266/0221, B32B2266/0242
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/558 Impact strength, toughness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/716 Degradable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/718 Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/00 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/065 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/28 impregnated with or embedded in a plastic substance not used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0861 for covering undersurfaces of vehicles, e.g. wheel houses
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/041 Understructures
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/02 Streamlining the undersurfaces B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

An undercarriage liner made of plastic for a vehicle is detachably attached to the adjacent vehicle chassis. In order for an undercarriage liner to have a significantly lower weight per unit of area, and thus a definitely reduced total weight, while retaining the same flexural strength and impact strength, the undercarriage liner, in the form of a sandwich structure, has a lightweight core layer of polypropylene foam or unconsolidated glass-mat-reinforced thermoplastic. The core layer is provided with a thin cover layer of polypropylene fiber-reinforced polypropylene on both sides. The two rigid and high-impact cover layers are each thermally bonded to the core layer.

Claims

1. An undercarriage liner made of plastic for a vehicle, the liner being attachable to an adjacent vehicle body and having a sandwich structure comprising:

a lightweight core layer made of polypropylene foam, and

a thin, rigid, high-impact cover layer made of polypropylene fiber-reinforced polypropylene on each side of the core layer,

wherein each of the cover layers is thermally bonded to the core layer.

2. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two cover layers has a thickness between 0.15 millimeter and 0.5 millimeter, and wherein the undercarriage liner has a total thickness of approximately 3.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters.

3. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the undercarriage liner has a weight per unit of area of approximately 800 grams to 1400 grams per square meter.

4. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the undercarriage liner is compacted to a thickness of approximately 1.0 millimeter to 1.5 millimeter at an edge of a component and at points of application of force.

5. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the undercarriage liner is compacted to a thickness of approximately 1.0 millimeter to 1.5 millimeter at an edge of a component and at points of application of force.

6. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the undercarriage liner is compacted to a thickness of approximately 1.0 millimeter to 1.5 millimeter at an edge of a component and at points of application of force.

7. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

8. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

9. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

10. An undercarriage liner made of plastic for a vehicle, attachable to an adjacent vehicle body, and having a sandwich structure comprising:

a lightweight core layer made of a lightweight, unconsolidated, glass-mat-reinforced thermoplastic with a high air content, and

a thin, rigid, high-impact cover layer made of polypropylene fiber-reinforced polypropylene on each side of the core layer,

wherein each of the two cover layers is thermally bonded to the core layer.

11. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the cover layers has a thickness of approximately 0.15 millimeter.

12. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the undercarriage liner has a weight per unit area of approximately 1100 grams to 1400 grams per square meter.

13. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the undercarriage liner is compacted to a thickness of approximately 1.0 millimeter to 1.5 millimeter at an edge of a component and at points of application of force.

14. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 11, wherein the undercarriage liner is compacted to a thickness of approximately 1.0 millimeter to 1.5 millimeter at an edge of a component and at points of application of force.

15. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the undercarriage liner is compacted to a thickness of approximately 1.0 millimeter to 1.5 millimeter at an edge of a component and at points of application of force.

16. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

17. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 11, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

18. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

19. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 13, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.

20. The undercarriage liner as claimed in claim 14, wherein the undercarriage liner is cut off or folded toward a vehicle chassis in the area of an edge of the component and at fastening points with respect to the adjacent contour of the undercarriage liner.