Center tunnel for a motor vehicle and method of making same

• US 6,015,183 A
• Filed: 07/08/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Original Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Inventors: Vlahovic, Josip
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US08/893,545
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 296/204
• US Class Current: 296/204
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/20 Floors or bottom sub-units sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006

Abstract

A center tunnel for a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, has a section shape that is open at the bottom and has sections in the form of hollow members that are directed lengthwise, at least areawise. A center tunnel that has a simple design and can be manufactured economically, and which is torsionally rigid and can accept high forces, is formed by a double-walled hollow body manufactured by the internal high-pressure shaping method, viewed in cross section, with spaced wall sections of the hollow body being brought together areawise.

Claims

1. Center tunnel for a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, with the center tunnel, that has a shape that is open at the bottom, having lengthwise sections in the form of hollow members, at least areawise, wherein the center tunnel, viewed in cross section, is formed by a double-walled hollow body produced by the internal high-pressure shaping method, with spaced wall sections of the hollow body being brought together areawise.

2. Center tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a shape of a tube or U in the initial state.

3. Center tunnel according to claim 1, wherein spaced walls of the hollow body, following internal high-pressure shaping, are brought together in mutual contact by mechanical compression.

4. Center tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the abutting wall sections of the hollow body are additionally joined to one another.

5. Center tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the adjoining wall sections are permanently connected to one another by one of welding, gluing, and riveting.

6. Center tunnel according to claim 1, wherein supporting areas for adjoining body parts are formed externally on the center tunnel.

7. Center tunnel according to claim 2, wherein the abutting wall sections of the hollow body are additionally joined to one another.

8. Center tunnel according to claim 3, wherein the abutting wall sections of the hollow body are additionally joined to one another.

9. Center tunnel assembly for a passenger car that has a downwardly open central area, comprising:

a double-walled hollow body produced by an internal high-pressure shaping method, spaced wall sections of the hollow body being brought together.

10. Center tunnel assembly according to claim 9, wherein the hollow body has a shape of a tube or U in the initial state.

11. Center tunnel assembly according to claim 10, wherein spaced walls of the hollow body, following internal high-pressure shaping, are brought together in mutual contact by mechanical compression.

12. Center tunnel assembly according to claim 11, wherein the abutting wall sections of the hollow body are additionally joined to one another.

13. Center tunnel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the adjoining wall sections are permanently connected to one another by one of welding, gluing, and riveting.

14. Center tunnel assembly according to claim 13, wherein supporting areas for adjoining body parts are formed externally on the center tunnel.