Bulkhead

In automotive engineering, the bulkhead is part of the body and seals off the passenger cell below the windshield. In cars with a front engine , the bulkhead closes the engine compartment at the rear.

The function of the bulkhead is to keep airflow, waste heat, noise and splash water away from the passengers. In modern self-supporting bodies , the bulkhead also has a stiffening function. In the case of monoposto racing cars with the engine behind the driver, the term flame protection wall is also used.

Splash walls already existed in carriages and early automobiles with rear or underfloor engines . Here the bulkhead forms the front end of the body. Sometimes a folding bench was integrated.

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  Carriage with a bulkhead

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  Daimler motor carriage with bulkhead

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  Advertisement for a Knox Runabout (USA, 1905) with an opening seat in the bulkhead. The handles for the passengers are clearly visible

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  Mercedes with visible wooden bulkhead

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  Splash wall in a more modern car design

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  Splash wall on a Mercedes G-Class

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  Body-in-white with bulkhead

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Technical lexicon  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. TÜV-Nord website. Retrieved October 16, 2011