A frame structure of a body for a motor vehicle and a method of making same. The frame structure includes at least one lateral support arrangement which extends in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle between a forward body region and a rearward body region. The at least one lateral support arrangement is arranged to arch over a vehicle occupant compartment above a belt line and is bounded by a roof of the motor vehicle. The at least one lateral support arrangement includes a tube support which is operatively connected with a first reinforcement in a forward body region of the motor vehicle and a second reinforcement in a rearward body region of the motor vehicle. The tube support forms a stiff frame composite for the at least one support arrangement by way of a holding device operatively arranged with the tube supports. The frame structure of the present invention is relatively simple to manufacture and provides optimal stiffness.
A roof side rail has a closed cross-section formed by integrating side rail outer and inner, and a part of the side rail forms an upper edge of a vehicle body side opening. A pipe-shaped reinforcing member is inserted into the side rail from the front side thereof to a part forming the upper edge of the opening, and is fixed to the side rail inner. Therefore, even when cross-sectional areas between the front side of the side rail and the part of the side rail forming the upper edge of the opening differ, both of which are connected to each other via a step part deviated to the largest degree, the stiffness of the step part is increased, and the number of parts and man-hours required for welding are reduced.
The invention relates to a lateral wall module for the body of a motor vehicle and to a method for its production. The lateral wall module extends to the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least from an A-pillar as far as a rear wheel mounting, and has a lateral wall structure and also a lateral wall panel connected to the latter, the lateral wall structure, for its part, being constructed from an inner part and a wall part, which is fastened on the outside of the inner part and integrally reinforces the lateral wall module, and is at least partially designed in the sill region in such a manner that it complements the lateral wall panel there. In order to use the lateral wall module in a simple manner for a convertible or a coupe, it is proposed that the lateral wall panel is designed as a single-component pressed part which extends from the rear wheel mounting, firstly, over the lateral roof frame and the A-pillar as far as the front wall pillar and, secondly, over a sideboard as far as the box-section pillar, that the box-section pillar of the lateral wall module runs as far as the upper edge of the sideboard, and that the lateral wall panel and the lateral wall structure are designed in profile form in the manner of an open loop, the openings of the loops facing each other in the assembled state.
