Vehicle structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086875-B2
Application number	US-201615338871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2016
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle structure includes a frame and a push arm. The push arm is coupled to a first side member of the frame proximate an intersection of the first side member and a first cross-member. The push arm has a main body, a rear surface, and a front surface. The rear surface faces and is adjacent to the intersection. The main body extends forward and laterally in an outboard direction from the rear surface such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member of the frame. The front surface has a first section and a second section both facing forward relative to the frame. The second section is angularly offset from the first section such that the second section and the first section define an obtuse angle therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle structure comprising:
a vehicle frame having a first side member, a second side member and a first cross-member, the first side member and the second side member having respective front ends, the first side member and a second side member extending rearward from the front ends, the first cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member at a location rearward of the front ends, the first cross-member further being rigidly fixed to each of the first side member and the second side member; and
a push arm coupled to the first side member proximate the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member, the push arm having a main body, a rear surface, and a front surface, the rear surface facing and being adjacent to the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member, the main body of the push arm extending forward and laterally in an outboard direction from the rear surface such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from the front end of the first side member, the front surface having a first section and a second section both facing forward relative to the vehicle frame, the second section being angularly offset from the first section such that the second section and the first section define an obtuse angle therebetween.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the second section of the front surface is located between the first section and the first side member.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the second section of the front surface is located inboard of the first section and extends forward of the first section.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first section of the front surface extends in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the vehicle frame in a non-impacted state.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the obtuse angle defined between the first section and the second section of the front surface of the push arm is between 110 and 135 degrees.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the obtuse angle defined between the first section and the second section of the front surface of the push arm is 125 degrees.

7. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the main body of the push arm is an elongated hollow beam with an end plate fixedly attached to a front end thereof, the end plate defining the first section and the second section of the front surface of the push arm.

8. The vehicle structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the main body further includes a pivot bracket welded to the rear surface of the push arm, the pivot bracket being spaced apart from the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member defining a gap between the push arm and the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member in a non-impacted state such that in response to an off-center impact event in which a fixed barrier impacts the front surface of the push arm, the push arm moves toward the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member pushing the pivot bracket into contact with the first cross-member.

9. The vehicle structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the push arm further includes an energy absorbing positioned within the gap and rigidly attached to a portion of the rear surface of the push arm and the pivot bracket, the energy absorbing structure further being spaced apart from the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member such that in response to the off-center impact the energy absorbing deforms.

10. The vehicle structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the energy absorbing structure includes at least a first cup-shaped member and a second cup-shaped member, each of the first and second cup-shaped members having two side walls and an end wall extending between the two side walls defining overall U-shapes viewed in cross-section, side walls of the first cup-shaped member being fixedly attached to the side walls of the second cup-shaped member such that the end walls are spaced apart from one another and are spaced apart from the front suspension structure in the non-impacted state.

11. The vehicle structure according to claim 10 , wherein
the energy absorbing structure further includes a third cup-shaped member fixedly attached to the two side walls of the second cup-shaped member, the third cup-shaped member being spaced apart from the end wall of the second cup-shaped member in the non-impacted state.

12. The vehicle structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the energy absorbing structure, the pivot bracket and the push arm are removably supported on the vehicle frame.

13. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , further comprising
a support bracket having a forward portion releasably attached to a rearward section of the push arm and a rearward portion releasably attached to the first cross-member of the vehicle frame.

14. The vehicle structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the support bracket is releasably attached to the push arm and the first cross-member of the vehicle frame via removable mechanical fasteners.

15. The vehicle structure according to claim 13 , wherein
the support bracket has a forward portion that includes two elongated slots that extend in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the push arm.

16. The vehicle structure according to claim 15 , wherein
the support bracket is releasably attached to the push arm via removable mechanical fasteners that extend through a forward portion of the elongated slots in a non-impacted state, and in response to an off-center impact event the push arm undergoes limited rearward movement that is initially guided by movement of the mechanical fasteners along the elongated slots.

17. The vehicle structure according to claim 16 , wherein
the support bracket is attached to an underside of the push arm and an underside of the first cross-member.

18. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cross-member includes a first end, a second end and a mid-section extending from the first end to the second end, the first end being rigidly attached to the first side member of the vehicle frame and the second end being rigidly attached to the second side member of the vehicle frame with at least a portion of the mid-section being located lower than the first and second side members.

19. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the push arm includes an attachment bracket that extends from a mid-section of the push arm to the first side member at a location forward of the intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Nishikawa Takemi
• Iimi Kazunori
• Tani Takao
• Aimoto Hideo
• Kamizawa Naoki
• Hartley Christopher Robert
• Grattan Patrick Dean
• Mcconnell Perry Bruno
• Wozniak David James
• Mcgory Michael James

Classifications

• B62D21/155 Primary

  Sub-frames or underguards · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D21/06

  of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view · CPC title