Fiber-reinforced plastic vehicle body structure and manufacturing method thereof

• US 9,758,197 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Seo, Seongwook, Kim, Dae Seung, Do, Log Won
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US14/102,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20140183902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/44 using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/865 completely encapsulated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 23/005 with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like B62D33/044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/06 Fixed roofs non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/043 Superstructures B62D25/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/048 Connections therefor, e.g. joints B62D29/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1044 of parallel stacked sheets only

Abstract

A fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure includes a first frame made of fiber-reinforced plastic or carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and having multiple sections, and a second frame that continuously extends from any one of the multiple sections of the first frame.

Claims

1. A fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure comprising:

a first frame having multiple compartments, each having a closed space made of fiber-reinforced plastic, joined together without seams; and

a second frame that continuously extends from at least one of the multiple compartments of the first frame,

wherein the second frame comprises two horizontal frames, each of the two horizontal frames includes three compartments,

wherein the first frame comprises;

two vertical frames that integrally connect only ends of the two horizontal frames; and

a center vertical frame that is directly connected to the second frame in the middle in a length direction of the horizontal frames,

wherein the first frame and the second frame form roof rails,

wherein each of the two vertical frames of the first frame is formed by any one of the three compartments of each of the two horizontal frames to form L-shaped connecting portions, and

wherein the center frame is formed by a central compartment of the three compartments of each of the two horizontal frames to form T-shaped connecting portions.

2. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the multiple compartments of the first frame comprise three or more compartments which are connected together.

3. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the multiple compartments of the first frame have a trapezoidal shape.

4. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the second frame is perpendicular to the first frame and forms an L-shape.

5. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 4, wherein any one of the multiple compartments of the first frame is the compartment at a side of the L-shape.

6. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the second frame forms a T-shape together with a middle compartment of the first frame.

7. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 6, wherein the middle compartment of the first frame is located in a center of the first frame.

8. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple compartments of the first frame is configured in such a manner that a foam core is coated with the fiber-reinforced plastic.

9. The fiber-reinforced vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic is carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.