VEHICLE WITH LAYERED ROOF BUILD

• US 20070236051A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Minatel, Anthony, Roantree, Raymond, Lake, Bryan, Poss, Michael, Janick, James, Mc Guire, Mark, Regiec, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/203.30
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/06 Fixed roofs non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08

Abstract

The invention contemplates a body structure for a vehicle. The body structure includes a roof panel and a side frame. The attachment flange of an outer body side panel includes a roof mounting portion with a dual angle, a glass mounting portion at an angle that matches one of the dual angles, and a transition area where the dual angle of the roof mounting portion tapers to the glass mounting portion with the single angle.

Claims

1. A body structure for a vehicle comprising:

a roof panel having a main section and a side mounting flange extending from and angled greater than 90 degrees downward relative to the main section; and

a side frame including an outer body side panel having an attachment flange with a roof mounting portion, a transition area, and a glass mounting portion;

wherein the glass mounting portion is oriented at a first angle, the roof mounting portion has a roof mounting surface oriented at a second angle that is less than the first angle and an adjacent lower portion oriented at the first angle, with the side mounting flange attached to the roof mounting surface, and the transition area has a first end adjacent to the roof mounting portion having a first portion oriented at the second angle and a lower portion adjacent to the first portion and oriented at the first angle, a second end adjacent to the glass mounting portion and oriented at the first angle, and a tapered region wherein a width of the first portion tapers down to zero from the first end to the second end.

2. The body structure of claim 1 wherein the roof mounting portion includes an upper portion adjacent to the roof mounting surface that is oriented at the first angle.

3. The body structure of claim 2 wherein the second angle is between about 35 and 65 degrees.

4. The body structure of claim 2 wherein the first angle is between about 75 and 88 degrees.

5. The body structure of claim 1 further including a glass panel having a side edge mounted along the glass mounting portion.

6. The body structure of claim 5 wherein the glass panel is a windshield.

7. The body structure of claim 1 wherein the side frame is a left side frame of the vehicle.

8. The body structure of claim 1 wherein the second angle is between about 35 and 65 degrees.

9. The body structure of claim 8 wherein the first angle is between about 75 and 88 degrees.

10. The body structure of claim 1 wherein the first angle is between about 75 and 88 degrees.

11. The body structure of claim 1 further including a brazed joint attaching the side mounting flange to the roof mounting surface.

12. The body structure of claim 1 further including an upper front roof header panel attached to the side frame, and wherein the roof panel includes a front mounting flange that is attached to the upper front roof header.

13. The body structure of claim 1 wherein the angle of the side mounting flange is large enough to cause line contact between the side mounting flange and the roof mounting surface.

14. A body structure for a vehicle comprising a side frame including an outer body side panel having an attachment flange with a roof mounting portion, a transition area, and a glass mounting portion;

wherein the glass mounting portion is oriented at a first angle;

the roof mounting portion has a roof mounting surface oriented at a second angle that is less than the first angle, an adjacent lower portion oriented at the first angle, and an upper portion adjacent to the roof mounting surface that is oriented at the first angle, with the roof mounting surface adapted to be attached to a side mounting flange of a roof panel; and

the transition area has a first end adjacent to the roof mounting portion having a first portion oriented at the second angle, a lower portion and an upper portion, each being adjacent to the first portion and oriented at the first angle, a second end adjacent to the glass mounting portion and oriented at the first angle, and a tapered region wherein a width of the first portion tapers down to zero from the first end to the second end.

15. The body structure of claim 14 wherein the second angle is about 45 degrees.

16. The body structure of claim 15 wherein the first angle is about 83 degrees.

17. The body structure of claim 14 wherein the first angle is about 83 degrees.

18. A body structure for a vehicle comprising:

a roof panel having a main section and a side mounting flange extending from and angled greater than 90 degrees relative to the main section;

a side frame including an outer body side panel having an attachment flange with a roof mounting portion, a transition area, and a glass mounting portion;

wherein the glass mounting portion is oriented at a first angle, the roof mounting portion has a roof mounting surface oriented at a second angle that is less than the first angle and an adjacent lower portion oriented at the first angle, with the side mounting flange attached to the roof mounting surface, and the transition area has a first end adjacent to the roof mounting portion having a first portion oriented at the second angle and a lower portion adjacent to the first portion and oriented at the first angle, a second end adjacent to the glass mounting portion and oriented at the first angle, and a tapered region wherein a width of the first portion tapers down to zero from the first end to the second end; and

a braze joint attaching the side mounting flange to the roof mounting surface.

19. The body structure of claim 18 wherein the roof mounting portion includes an upper portion adjacent to the roof mounting surface that is oriented at the first angle.

20. The body structure of claim 18 wherein the angle of the side mounting flange is large enough to cause line contact between the side mounting flange and the roof mounting surface.