Reinforcement pillar for a vehicle having an integrated heater duct

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10052938-B2
Application number	US-201615352134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2016
Priority date	Nov 15, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A reinforcement assembly for a structural pillar includes an upper reinforcement that extends over a top of a wheel house and first and second surfaces. An area extends between the first and second surfaces such that the area defines a substantial right triangle over the wheel house. A slot within the area is defined to allow a duct connected to a casing to extend through the upper reinforcement. The reinforcement assembly further includes a lower reinforcement attached to the first surface of the upper reinforcement. The lower reinforcement extends parallel to the wheel house and perpendicular to the floor such that a load path is established through the upper and lower reinforcements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle structural pillar comprising:
an upper reinforcement partially extending over a wheel house, having first and second surfaces, and defining a slot within an area between the first and second surfaces such that a duct extends through the slot and over the wheel house; and
a lower reinforcement attached to the upper reinforcement and disposed adjacent the wheel house, and perpendicular to and secured with a floor defining a load path through the reinforcements.

2. The vehicle structural pillar of claim 1 , wherein the duct is composed of a heat resistant polymer.

3. The vehicle structural pillar of claim 1 , wherein the duct is composed of a carbon fiber composite.

4. The vehicle structural pillar of claim 1 , wherein the lower reinforcement is welded to the upper reinforcement.

5. The vehicle structural pillar of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the upper reinforcement interconnects to the second surface at an angle to increase stiffness.

6. A vehicle comprising:
a structural pillar having upper and lower reinforcements, wherein the lower reinforcement attaches to the upper reinforcement to provide a load path over a wheel house and the upper reinforcement defines a slot between first and second surfaces; and
a heating ventilation and air conditioning system, including a duct that extends between the first and second surfaces through the slot such that the duct extends around the wheel house, proximate a floor and adjacent to the lower reinforcement.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the slot is defined within an area between the first and second surfaces.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the area defines a substantially triangular shape.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the triangular shape of the area forms a right triangle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first surface of the upper reinforcement defines a hypotenuse of the right triangle.

11. A reinforcement assembly for a structural pillar comprising:
an upper reinforcement that extends over a top of a wheel house and includes first and second surfaces, wherein an area extends between the first and second surfaces such that the area defines a substantial right triangle over the wheel house, and defines a slot within the area defined to allow a duct connected to a casing to extend through the upper reinforcement; and
a lower reinforcement attached to the first surface of the upper reinforcement and extending parallel to the wheel house and perpendicular to a floor such that a load path is established through the upper and lower reinforcements.

12. The reinforcement assembly of claim 11 , wherein the slot defines a rectangular shape.

13. The reinforcement assembly of claim 11 , wherein the upper reinforcement further includes at least two corners such that the area forms the substantial right triangle.

14. The reinforcement assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first surface of the upper reinforcement defines a hypotenuse of the right triangle.

15. The reinforcement assembly of claim 11 , wherein the substantial right triangle is further defined by at least corners having angles within a range of 60 to 120 degrees.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Freeman Michael James
• Bodey Jr Richard Allen

Classifications

• B60H1/243 Primary

  located in the lateral area (e.g. doors, pillars) · CPC title

• B62D25/04

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D25/2036

  the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/246

  located in the interior of the vehicle or in or below the floor · CPC title

• B60H1/00564

  of air ducts · CPC title